Flatliners might have a solid following and while there were some interesting visual elements and solid cinematography courtesy of Joel Schumacher and Jan de Bont, but the story wasn’t something that captivated me despite a very respectable cast.
Backdraft 2 isn’t great but at least I found it to be a serviceable enough of a direct-to-video sequel that I’m not sure many were exactly clamoring for, especially when you’ve got Chicago Fire that can quench the thirst for the fire-mystery subgenre.
The 6 Degrees Collection is another cheap hodge-podge set of movies already released by Mill Creek Entertainment and for those who don’t already own a few of them, it might be worth the $10 price tag as the picture quality was fine and audio adequate enough.
Flatliners is a fun 1990 film that might not be some sort of classic but the entertainment value is there.
The Squid and the Whale is a poignant family drama featuring some really fine performances, the main one being Jeff Daniels who shockingly (or not) did not at least secure an Academy Award nomination. But beyond that, this is a story which transcends generations.
Internal Affairs is a bit of a forgotten crime-drama overshadowed a few years later by Heat and even only 3 years earlier with The Untouchables. Even so, Richard Gere turns in an incredible performance and playing opposite, Andy Garcia is also top notch. I don’t think it’s a perfect movie and I think it had potential to be better, but director Mike Figgis has a good eye and at least makes an above average genre film.
The Stranger Within is not the worst movie I’ve seen this year, but it’s still really bland. The story is all over the place and the acting isn’t anything special, though special credit to Estella Warren for being able to keep a straight face. This is something I’d expect to air on the Lifetime Channel but that might be an insult to Lifetime as some of their movies are at least acceptable entertainment; this one is merely forgettable.
Sexy Evil Genius is a fun low budget film propelled primarily on the cast and their interactions with one another than anything else. The story itself, though, does at least keep you on edge just trying to figure out what the main character’s ultimate goal is. I wouldn’t say this was a memorable film or anything, but it is worth a one-off viewing at least. The DVD itself has acceptable video/audio transfers while the features are underwhelming, though the commentary is enjoyable.