OLD
2.5 out of 5 stars
M. Night’s “new trip” isn’t scary nor suspenseful. On the flip side, it’s original, simple, & weird. Krieps & McKenzie are two standouts amongst a superb cast who are left stranded on a mysterious beach that knocks off years of life in an hour. Furthermore, we all are forced to deal w/ lousy dialogue & wildly distracting camerawork. Plenty of ingenious ideas are floating around, yet this body horror thriller fails to take them in any kind of sensible direction. So don’t go in thinking this is a deep dive into mortality, b/c it ain’t. Far from it.
At first, there’s a solid stretch of strange happenings going on that fuels our curiosity. But as the characters rapidly age, our fascination slowly dies. Like w/ almost every Shyamalan movie, we can’t help but anticipate the expected twist & this one isn’t awful yet could’ve been better. It’s the final few minutes that I hate the most. I’m begging you Shyamalan, don’t go back to your The Happening ways. I somehow still believe in you…for now.
NO SUDDEN MOVE
4 out of 5 stars
Cheadle & Del Toro are sensational, leading an all-star cast down a windy road of robbery, murder, & betrayal. Director Soderbergh’s out-of-sight 1950s neo-noir is sharp & richly layered – though what’s new when it comes to this idiomatic filmmaker & his dynamic, distinct style. Significantly set in Detroit, the twists & turns are thrilling as they unfold at a splendid pace, mixing it up w/ a great sense of playfulness that’s there from the start. It’s a crafty crime caper where good guys don’t exist & where trust is a real tricky thing. You’ll be caught off guard in the best possible way.
FULLY REALIZED HUMANS
1.5 out of 5 stars
Leonard does it all – stars, produces, writes, & directs – for his expecting parents dramedy that doesn’t garner the emotional response it’s hoping for. Elliott (Leonard) & Jackie (Weixler) are pregnant w/ their first child. They feel excited, terrified & all of the emotions in between. Their friends are no help, only adding to their anxiety, so they take it upon themselves to get a little crazy to perhaps make them better parents. Most importantly, not be like their parents. Sounds good, but it frolics in absurdity before trying to be heartfelt in its last 15 minutes, & it falls flat. Leonard & Weixler’s chemistry is this witless, uneven story’s one saving grace.
WEREWOLVES WITHIN
3.5 out of 5 stars
A wild & entertaining werewolf whodunnit (based on a video game) set in a small town w/ locals stuck together in a mansion where paranoia is running rampant as none of them trust thy neighbor. Richardson & Vayntrub are awesome & make a dynamite team. The entire ensemble has terrific comedic timing, handing consistent laughs throughout. They have no problem whatsoever in sinking their teeth in to the lunacy that ensues after a dog is gobbled up by a beast on the loose. They’re having a howling good time & so will you. Directed by Ruben & written by Wolff, it’s jumpy, fast-paced, & unpredictable while clawing at our divisiveness. This is a horror comedy done right!
SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY
2.5 out of 5 stars
25 years later & we’re back w/ Bugs Bunny & the Looney Tunes bunch teaming up w/ another basketball legend to play some hoops. There’s really not that much basketball playing going on though, rather it’s a video game come to life where there are no rules. It’s the Tunes vs. the Goons this time around, & it’s a must win if James wants to get his son back. And while it’s more of the same in many aspects, it’s a SJ for a new generation that just might have the original beat minus the soundtrack.
Directed by Lee & assisted by fantastic animation, this family flick is about being yourself & doing what interests you. He throws in some nice acknowledgments of the 1996 movie & a handful of jokes about James’ career for good measure. There are some things that can be found a little irritating such as Cheadle acting the looniest of them all as the villain & WB going excessively overboard in giving any & all of their properties screen-time. But it’s essentially about having fun &, more so for the kiddos than the grownups, it shoots & scores.
JOE BELL
2 out of 5 stars
Miller gives a heart wrenching breakout performance as Jadin – a gay high schooler living in Oregon whose father Joe (Wahlberg) sets out to walk by foot from Oregon to NYC to bring awareness to the homophobia & bullying his son has endured. It’s quite refreshing to see Wahlberg step into a role like this, trying something that’s not action oriented. Based on a true story, this rigid father-son drama’s message is of the utmost importance in sharing – it’s just that director Green & writers Ossana & McMurtry take it down an extremely emulative road that’s emotionally manipulative & shallow. Their glaring approach is the furthest thing from a character-driven, complicated journey. Unfortunately, if not for the performances from Miller & Wahlberg, the film would altogether fail in its hope to resonate w/ audiences. Given the subject matter, that’s the last thing you want to happen.
ZOLA
3 out of 5 stars
What starts out as a short trip to Florida for dancers Zola & her new bestie Stefani to make easy money goes off the f’n rails in a hurry. Inspired by a notorious Twitter thread, writer/director Bravo doesn’t hold back, bringing style & a refreshing, privy viewpoint to one wild, frightening, & unpredictable ride that’s absolutely astounding. That’s not to say this isn’t messy, because it is. There are more than a few moments that allow this fever dream to lose its fascination & incitement. The sudden ending also just doesn’t feel right. At the same time, the humor that’s injected in the more unexpected & uncomfortable parts work perfectly. And on top of that, there’s no looking away from Paige & Keough – who are outstanding in a salvo of outrageousness.
PIG
4.5 out of 5 stars
What an exceptionally unexpected character-driven drama from Sarnoski. With his feature film directorial debut about a secluded truffle hunter who goes looking for his kidnapped pig, he could have forged ahead w/ a bleak revenge tale that I’m sure would’ve been fine. He instead goes bolder w/ something much more peculiar & philosophical, an emotional exploration of grief & a search for meaning where it really counts that are stupefying to see unfold.
Wolff is terrific, yet it’s the introspective & remarkably refined portrayal from Cage that you won’t soon forget. I enjoy a raging Cage as much as the next person, though this Cage has been hiding for quite some time. For anyone out there thinking his best acting days are behind him – you’re going to feel foolish after watching what he does for the love of a pig.
THE FOREVER PURGE
2.5 out of 5 stars
The Purge series hasn’t been scary for awhile now, but has always been somewhat effective in its action & suspense. And with the fifth & final installment, where the true terror begins after The Purge ends, both are present but come in small doses. The cast is particularly strong here, & perhaps the most frightening part of all of The Purge movies (including this one) is this crazy shit is seriously plausible. However, where this haphazard horror franchise continues to mostly fail is going through the trouble of trying to have its finger on the pulse of America without having anything significant to say. DeMonaco (the writer of all of these) & director Gout can’t change the anarchy from feeling pointless.
ROADRUNNER: A Film About Anthony Bourdain
3.5 out of 5 stars
Throughout director Neville’s lovingly engaging & emotional exploration of the chef, the writer, the TV star, & the provocateur – a sadness is constantly present but so is a walloping pleasure of hearing him in his own words discuss such an extraordinary life the only way he can. Still, as we listen to interviews conducted w/ family & friends, there’s no question he was a complicated, tortured guy. This doc keeps it respectful yet doesn’t shy away from it, being almost as unapologetic as Bourdain himself. Why he chose to end his life might forever be a question w/ no definite answer. Nevertheless, none of it dampens the intimate, jaw-dropping adventures he took us on from the kitchen to across the globe. If anything, it serves as a kick in the ass to live life to the fullest. What he witnessed & shared while he was here is amazing & will live on long after we’re all gone.
FALSE POSITIVE
2 out of 5 stars
Writer & star Glazer is magnetic as Lucy, a woman who desperately wants to be pregnant, but once her dream comes true – that’s when the living nightmares begin & there ain’t no chalking them up to “mommy brain.” From her husband Adrian (Theroux) to our first introduction to Brosnan’s Dr. Hindle & his nurses at his fertility clinic, nothing feels normal. However, this predictable, tepid thriller from writer-director Lee is unable to work up any sort of suspense to keep us invested. Its message of a woman having no control over her own body gets twisted, especially by the end, which by then it all becomes a bit too propesterous & trivial. Glazer is by far the only one delivering when it counts.
ESCAPE ROOM: Tournament of Champions
2.5 out of 5 stars
The bar wasn’t set especially high by Escape Room, but its follow-up is definitely better w/ higher stakes & more extravagant rooms to get the hell out of. From the beginning, this obtuse psychological horror series has been limited in what it has to offer. It’s easy to see the story isn’t its strong suit, & the characters are skin-deep to say the least & the rules in which they play by get more & more confusing. Regardless, when it comes to the fascinating, heart-stopping scenarios where there’s little time to survive – that’s what fans came to see & won’t leave dissatisfied.
SUMMER OF SOUL
4 out of 5 stars
I bet you’ve never heard of The Harlem Cultural Festival. It happened the same year as Woodstock, except its footage hasn’t seen the light of day in fifty years. QuestLove makes his directorial debut w/ an electric doc about this monumental musical event where change was in the air for not just a city but an entire culture. The music, the socio-political bearing, & the buoyant energy can be seen, heard, & felt. No matter if on stage or in the crowd, the festival has left a lasting effect on the thousands of lives who shared in a beautifully transcendent, uplifting experience. They still can’t believe it actually happened. While it will obviously never compare to being there, for the rest of us – this is the next best thing when witnessing history in the making back in 1969.
THE BOSS BABY: FAMILY BUSINESS
2 out of 5 stars
Director McGrath returns to bottle-feed audiences an unnecessary yet inevitable sequel that follows in its predecessor’s footsteps of not getting the job done. There’s a little baby tomfoolery that’s amusing, but even w/ the addition of Marsden, Goldblum, & Sedaris – the story can’t stay still long enough to make any of its busy parts worth watching. While the message of growing up & growing apart resonates, the spy mission side of it is weird & pesty. This drooling head honchos animation is simply not in the business of being unwonted or having fun.
WOLFGANG
3 out of 5 stars
While this is a plain bio-doc, it does have some deliciousness to offer. Driven by proving his abusive step-father & others along the way wrong, Puck’s brilliance, fear of failure, & risk-taking in the kitchen revolutionized the food industry. As a result, Puck inadvertently became the “celebrity chef” OG by doing what he loves to do w/ a big personality on the side. Director Gelb transitions throughout from Puck’s home & upbringing in Austria to a rewarding career (blessed by incredible longevity) w/ no future finis. It’s certainly inspiring &, of course, the food looks very flavorful; but it’s Puck’s family & making peace w/ his past that serves us something we can really chew on.
THE TOMORROW WAR
2.5 out of 5 stars
Director McKay’s first live-action feature is a sci-fi spectacle that wants to do so much, yet ends up not doing enough. There’s flashes of fun involving time jumping & annihilating aliens. Howbeit, it’s a big dope for a lot of the time, all the while taking itself too seriously & being longer than necessary. Pratt is the hero we need, but Richardson is the MVP – exhibiting the perfect sort of energy & humor that this silly story needs more of. All in all it’s easy escapism that audiences will favor for what it is; though McKay & writer Dean could’ve certainly done more w/ their intriguing premise, coupled w/ probably the two coolest things about this – the creatures & their origin.
SNAKE EYES: G.I. Joe Origins
2 out of 5 stars
G.I. Joe is making a come back w/ this origin story of our favorite masked ninja assassin, except it’s not invigorating enough to give the Hasbro property the boost it needs. Directed by Schwentke, this martial arts actioner isn’t a borefest, but it’s not too inventive either. Ignoring the tropes & predictability is doable, yet there’s no looking past the poorly planned fight scenes. There are some that play out worse than others, but there’s absolutely no excuse when the action doesn’t deliver in a movie that claims to be…ummm…an action movie. It also wouldn’t hurt to include a joke or two to lighten things up a bit. Rest assured, Golding is the right guy for the job. Though as the titled character – he’s trapped inside a bland story that he can’t fight his way out of, simultaneously stripping Snake of showing any signs of a personality. Here’s to hoping the sequel will allow him to break free & show us what Snake can really do.
Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.
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