Flawless isn’t fantastic with an overwrought crime plotline but makes up for it with two fine performances by Robert De Niro and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman who play well off against one another. Still, it’s not an entirely memorable drama and rightfully fell to the wayside compared to each of the actor’s filmography.
The Drownsman actually isn’t a bad movie but it’s also pretty ordinary for the genre and certainly borrows from Nightmare on Elm Street without the memorable villain instead we get something akin to the Swamp Thing. Aside from that, though, the acting isn’t half bad but the idea of water being scary doesn’t quite work and it seems to take itself too seriously to be considered satire either.
Mississippi Burning is a very well made movie with top notch performances by Gene Hackman and Willem Dafoe to go along with a story that, in some instances, resonates with the news of the day. The Blu-ray released by Twilight Time has good audio/video transfers but is on the disappointing side features-wise.
American Buffalo is what you think a stage play adaptation would be with singular locations, though a more open world in the beginning, and all the Mamet-isms you expect from his dialogue. The acting though is good from both Dustin Hoffman and Denis Franz so even though it is a slow film, it might be worth checking out especially if you can’t see the real thing.
Roommate Wanted isn’t a good movie but it is made tolerable by Alexa Vega and Spencer Grammar. However, the DVD cover artwork makes it out to be a horror thriller but instead we get a dark comedy which doesn’t always work but in the end, makes for a time waster, nothing more.
My Dad’s a Soccer Mom is not within my demographic (I have no kids) and family films really don’t appeal to me as the jokes are obvious and often not that funny. That said, some younger viewers will enjoy it and even their parents might be able to sit through it especially considering the vastly short 82-minute running time.
Admittedly, I’m not the biggest fan of supernatural horror or demonic possession flicks with some obvious exceptions (The Exorcist for one) but for some of its flaws, mainly dating itself to the time period with the music and style, Stigmata is a decent enough flick and tolerable thanks to Patricia Arquette and Gabriel Byrne (who two months later would go on to play Satan in End of Days).
The Barber isn’t an altogether terrible movie but it doesn’t exactly break new ground in the genre and greatly benefits from the performance from veteran actor Scott Glenn. The Blu-ray released by Arc Entertainment offers good video/audio transfers and only some deleted scenes and a trailer.
April Love on some levels is a product of its time though with movies like Endless Love and any number of Nicholas Sparks’ adaptations, you take out the musical moments the story is more or less similar from the romantic and melodramatic scenes. That said, it’s not an altogether bad movie though not sure what kind of replay value it has, but Pat Boone and Shirley Jones share good chemistry.
The Vatican Exorcisms can be added to the very long line of found footage movies and this one is not even done particularly very well with bad acting and a really dumb story that offers absolutely no scares whatsoever. The DVD release is pretty basic with minimal bonus material and average transfers.
From the Dark is an effective Irish horror-thriller that, in spite of two main characters who aren’t the most likeable couple, has some scary scenes. Plot-wise, it’s more or less the same as many other independent flicks but if you enjoy the genre, this might be worth at least a rental.
Spare Parts is an inspiring and all around well made drama and features some fine performances from George Lopez to Jamie Lee Curtis and the four young men in the primary roles. The DVD released by Lionsgate is basic but the video and audio transfers are both well done while the bonus material is limited.
Dinosaur Island isn’t a very good movie but for the younger audience (probably 10 and under), it might be worth viewing, anyone older will find the acting to be pretty poor, some bad/cheap visual effects and a story that really isn’t all that interesting. The DVD released by Millennium is basic with no bonus material but the video/audio transfers are both well done.
Bedlam isn’t a terrible movie but it hardly stands out from any of the other horror direct-to-video flicks especially since it’s yet another found footage-like film. The acting is OK, though and I guess if this is your sort of thing, then perhaps it’s worth a rental, otherwise just wait for this to air on SyFy.
Firewalker is by no means a great action-adventure and being released in the mid-80s tried to tap into the same crowd as Indiana Jones but with a weaker script and less charismatic main character (no offense to Norris, but he doesn’t hold a candle to Ford), that said, it’s a harmless flick that the family can enjoy and might be worth a one-off viewing.