Brainscan is a fun 1990s horror-comedy starring Edward Furlong still on fire post Terminator 2, and has elements of The Nightmare on Elm Street, even if the writing or acting isn’t the best.
The Driftless Area isn’t a great movie but it’s still watchable thanks to a few strong performances, specifically Anton Yelchin, Zooey Deschanel and John Hawkes. The DVD released through Sony is pretty basic with only one extra while the video/audio transfers are OK.
Grace of Monaco might’ve been well meaning and the production and costume designs are well done and the performance by Nicole Kidman wasn’t bad but it’s easy to see why it failed to go to theaters and instead aired on Lifetime instead. However, when a movie opens with “the following film is a fictional account inspired by real events,” you’re already behind the eight ball.
Draft Day isn’t a great movie and probably ranks in the bottom half of sports films, but there’s some entertainment value and Kevin Costner helps to elevate the material far beyond what it deserves. The direction is at least interesting by Ivan Reitman and the supporting cast, albeit not well utilized, is respectable.
Parts Per Billion had a lot going for it including an impressive cast who, Frank Langella and Gena Rowlands especially, turn in fine performances it’s just that the story never quite gelled and some of the character’s actions were beyond dumb. But beyond that, it was a slow and honestly boring movie to plod through and there are plenty others with a similar plotline that are a lot better (see: Contagion and Perfect Sense).
Dave is a nice movie filled with fine performances from Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver. Sure, it’s predictable and more than outlandish in its premise (bit of a stretch that he looks exactly like the President), but it’s one I’ve had fun watching throughout the years.