Rollerball is an interesting vision of the future which, if the NFL is an example, seems to have come to fruition. The acting from James Caan is terrific and Norman Jewison’s direction is swift and although hardly the perfect movie, it’s still well worth checking out.
Weekend at Bernie’s is a fantastic comedy and a classic that has stood the test of time and has plenty of replay value even though technically with a plot like this, it shouldn’t have worked but due to the cast and jokes that actually hit their marks, it’s a film well worth checking out if you haven’t already.
After a rough start, Vampire Academy finds its footing into the second act with characters one could care about and dialogue that is sharp and actually quite funny if not only merely amusing. However, the star of this picture, and somebody I hope can find bigger and more wide ranging projects, is Zoey Deutch who is incredible and could be the saving grace.
Devil’s Due might not be the worst found footage movie I’ve encountered in the last few years but it sure as hell (no pun intended) is the dullest with the first 50-minutes of either boredom as we watch somebody else’s home movie or laugh out loud at some unintentional funny moments, but the final sequence isn’t bad and is actually fairly impressive, yet it can’t quite make up for the rest of the film.
Two Rode Together might not be the greatest western, and certainly not a memorable one for either director John Ford or James Stewart, yet it’s still an enjoyable movie worth at least one look if anything.
The Firm is a well made crime-drama based on a very popular TV movie that starred Gary Oldman. Paul Anderson and Calum MacNab both give great performances and the story, albeit doesn’t quite resonate as an American, is still engaging enough.
3 Days to Kill is yet another Luc Besson-scripted, plug-n-play movie that doesn’t really offer anything new to the genre and yet despite all its problems, still manages to be at least a serviceable action-thriller worth a look.
Pompeii is plagued by ho-hum direction and a poor screenplay and story that fails to give any breathing room for, especially, character development and a reason why we, the viewer, should even care about the events or the relationship.
Way of the Wicked tries to be a combo of The Omen and Twilight and fails at both angles with hackneyed acting and a story that stumbles around until the predictable and painful end.
Survival Code actually isn’t an entirely terrible flick but it is a low budget, made-for-TV affair with some standard action and fight scenes. Even so, some might find it to be mildly entertaining and with a short running time, makes for a quick watch.
“Enterprise”: Season Four was a big step forward for the series producing some of the best and most memorable drama maybe through all of the “Trek” series. Unfortunately, thanks to so-so ratings and a floundering network, it was too little too late; at least now it’s memorialized on Blu-ray high-definition and filled with a plethora number of features.
The Deep End is a mostly well acted drama-thriller with Tilda Swinton giving a great performance while Goran Visnjic, attempting to follow in the footsteps of “ER” alum George Clooney, seems out of place but gives it his best.
Great Expectations is yet another well-intentioned adaptation and the cast on the surface appear to be right for their parts, but together with an uneven script and poor pacing makes for a film that never quite gels in spite of a respectable crop of actors. I can’t say this is a particularly bad movie but this certainly not something I will have any desire to revisit anytime soon.
The Terminal is a nice small yet big drama featuring yet another solid performance from Tom Hanks re-teaming with director Steven Spielberg. It is a bit long clocking in over two hours but it’s still an immersive film that has held up well over the 10 years since its release.
Johnson Family Vacation is a dud of a comedy though I can’t place a whole lot of blame on the cast, Cedric the Entertainer in particular, and more so on the dull and unfunny script. It’s one of those movies that isn’t fondly remembered and is more of an afterthought when comparing similar films.