Blood Honey: Movie Review

A campy story with death and bees.

There are a number of working titles floating around including “The Hive” and “The Bequest” but I wonder if they considered the very fitting “Death by Bees”. Not only does this film feature a literal death by bees but it also brings to mind the B-horror films like Killer Bees which should attract the right audience for this campy thriller. Although I’m not sure campy is the right word for a poor story played out very dramatically.		2017 Directed by: Jeff Kopas Screenplay by: Jeff Kopas, Doug Taylor Starring: Shenae Grimes-Beech

The Stanford Prison Experiment: Movie Review

Recreates the experiment with intensity and alarming intrigue.

Based on the psychology experiment conducted by Professor Philip Zimbardo at Stanford University in the summer of 1971, the film The Stanford Prison Experiment is just as shocking even when we know the results. Watching it all unfold in this straight-forward recreation is still distressing, stunning, and alarming thanks to the fantastic ensemble cast and a chronological re-telling that really helps to put it in context		2015 Directed by: Kyle Patrick Alvarez Screenplay by: Tim Talbott Starring: Billy Crudup, Ezra Miller, Michael Angarano, and Olivia Thirlby

Irrational Man: Movie Review

Shifting from drama to comedy with murder.

Irrational Man doesn't feel like a Woody Allen movie, even though it is one. The beautiful cinematography comforts you as it opens with a very odd tone, and we know the older-man/younger-woman relationship story is going to come, but it still doesn't feel right. Part of the problem is that it's supposed to be one of his comedies, even though the lead character, Joaquin Phoenix as Abe, acts as though it's a drama.		2015 Directed by: Woody Allen Screenplay by: Woody Allen Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone

True Story: Movie Review

Stretching out an interesting story and losing the connection to the characters.

True Story is based on the true story of murderer Christian Longo (James Franco) and journalist Michael Finkel (Jonah Hill). Fresh from being fired from The New York Times for making up facts in a story, Finkel learns that FBI Most Wanted man Christian Longo was using his name when captured by authorities. Longo's in jail and Finkel decides to meet with him. Like a cat-and-mouse game set entirely in a prison visitation room, but missing the suspense that is usually supposed to come with a crime thriller.		2015 Directed by: Rupert Goold Screenplay by: Rupert Goold, David Kajganich Based on memoir by Michael Finkel Starring: Jonah Hill, James Franco

Walter: Movie Review

Tips too heavily to the drama side of quirky comedy.

Walter (Andrew J. West) believes his father is God. But he's not Jesus, that was some other guy. Walter has a great comedic premise but then takes itself too seriously for its own good. Walt, or Wally, or Walter, as different people call him by different names, is an emotionally-stilted awkward young man who takes his job (as son of God) telling people if they're going to Heaven or Hell very seriously.		2015 Directed by: Anna Mastro Screenplay by: Paul Shoulberg Starring: Andrew J. West, Justin Kirk

American Sniper: Movie Review

A complex character portrait of a complicated issue.

What we have here is an anti-war film disguised as patriotism, a character study under the guise of action and war, and a character declared as a hero who may or may not be a hero. Chris Kyle (Bradley Cooper) is the celebrated Iraq War veteran, a deadly sniper with over 160 kills. American Sniper is his tragic story revealing the mess that war leaves behind. Not just wife Taya (Sienna Miller) and children, but the psychological remnants of murder.		2014 Directed by: Clint Eastwood Screenplay by: Jason Hall Based on book by Chris Kyle Starring: Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller

Maps to the Stars: Movie Review

Lost in a world of fame, tragedy, celebrity and incest.

Maps to the Stars Or: How To Turn Personal Tragedy Into Fame, Money and Celebrity is how I would title this thoroughly disturbing tale about the Hollywood lifestyle by director David Cronenberg and writer Bruce Wagner. Agatha (Mia Wasikowska) is new in LA, ready for a tour of stars’ homes, chasing the celebrity dream and determined to cash in on her twitter friendship with Carrie Fisher. Oh, and she might have ulterior motives.		2014 Directed by: David Cronenberg Screenplay by: Bruce Wagner Starring: Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska, John Cusack, Evan Bird and Robert Pattinson

Snowpiercer: Movie Review

All aboard the Snowpiercer for a revolution.

Set in 2031, 17 years after a climate change experiment went awry and froze the entire world, all that is left is a technologically advanced train called the Snowpiercer and its occupants. It’s a post-apocalyptic movie, and yet it’s historically accurate. Take any revolution in history, place it on a train in the future, and you have Snowpiercer. It’s an action movie, but it’s also a thoughtful character piece.		2013 Directed by: Joon-ho Bong Screenplay by: Joon-ho Bong Based on Le Transperceneige Starring: Chris Evans, Jamie Bell and Tilda Swinton

Locke: Movie Review

Brilliant character study navigating the decisions between good and bad.

Locke stars Tom Hardy as Ivan Locke. He’s a construction manager by day and by night, well, this particular night, he’s driving. The film is the hour and a half trip from his construction site to London, and it’s going to take him as far away from his previous life as he could get in that time. He makes and receives a series of phone calls that define his life and start shaping what his life is no longer going to be when, or if, he reaches his destination.		2013 Directed by: Steven Knight Screenplay by: Steven Knight Starring: Tom Hardy

Enemy: Movie Review

An overly abstract psychological relationship drama that is not the thriller it’s supposed to be.

Presented as a psychological thriller, “Enemy” stars Jake Gyllenhaal as Adam Bell, a University professor of political history. Adam isn’t a particularly happy individual – he has hurtful sex with his girlfriend (Melanie Laurent) and avoids conversations with coworkers. But one unsuccessful avoidance leads him to an interesting discovery. When watching a recommended movie (even though he doesn’t like watching movies), he sees a small bit actor who is identical to himself.		2013 Directed by: Denis Villeneuve Screenplay by: Javier Gullon Based on the novel by Jose Saramago Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal

Blue Jasmine: Movie Review

Jasmine and Ginger through shady eyes and poisonous hearts.

Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) lived the high life in New York with her financial businessman husband, Hal (Alec Baldwin), and all the jewelry and parties she could want. With great success comes great failings, and with her husband in jail and all their assets taken, Jasmine comes crashing down. All the way to San Francisco. Broke and desperate, Jasmine moves in with her estranged sister. And Jasmine’s downward spiral continues.		2013 Directed by: Woody Allen Screenplay by: Woody Allen Starring: Cate Blanchette and Sally Hawkins

At Any Price: Movie Review

A small character study that doesn’t lead to anything as interesting as it should.

At Any Price is a small Midwestern film about a small Midwestern family in a small Midwestern town. It translates well for any farming community. It also translates well for any character study fans, but it’s the thrilling elements that should have been heightened to make it a better movie overall. The continual build-up of the interactions between father and son don't lead anywhere you'd expect, and don't really lead anywhere you'd want.		2012 Directed by: Ramin Bahrani Screenplay by: Ramin Bahrani and Hallie Elizabeth Newton Starring: Dennis Quaid and Zac Efron

The Iceman: Movie Review

The Iceman lives up to the name but falls a little short on the potential of the story.

“The Iceman” is Richard Kuklinski (Michael Shannon) the mob hit-man who was responsible for 100 murders. It’s an interesting story and it’s a true one. The film knows that and uses all the facts to move the story note-by-note. That unfortunately makes the film slightly less interesting than it otherwise could be. The Iceman is so nicknamed because of his emotionless attitude to killing.		2012 Directed by: Ariel Vromen Screenplay by: Morgan Land, Ariel Vroman Starring: Michael Shannon, Winona Ryder

Like Someone in Love: Movie Review

A peculiar relationship dissected as subtly as possible.

“Like Someone in Love” is Abbas Kiarostami’s follow-up to the mind-bending relationship drama “Certified Copy”. Dissection of the title alone provides so many interesting clues and directions for the film to take in addition to what was analyzed previously. And while it does in fact address those interesting ideas (indirectly), it is as minimal as any film-going audience could possibly stand.		2012 Directed by: Abbas Kiarostami Screenplay by: Abbas Kiarostami Starring: Rin Takanashi, Tadashi Okuno, Ryo Kase

Trance: Movie Review

Twisting straight away from reality and into ridiculous nonsense.

Danny Boyle’s new thriller “Trance” seemingly has the ability to put its audience in an hypnotic state making them think that this is actually good as it twists and twists and twists away from reality, and logic, and coherence. I get why people would want to like it – it stars a naked Rosario Dawson and a deliciously enigmatic turn by James McAvoy, and features an intense score which amps up the volume with suspense.		2013 Directed by: Danny Boyle Screenplay by: Joe Ahearne, John Hodge Starring: James McAvoy, Rosario Dawson, Vincent Cassel

Sexy Evil Genius: Movie Review

So far from genius, the insanity of Nikki undoes the good character and acting work that came before.

Four strangers are mysteriously brought to a Los Angeles bar by a femme fatale-style ex-girlfriend they all have in common. That kind of set up for “Sexy Evil Genius” can be hit-or-miss; it's an especially odd case when it hits and misses in the same film. First we meet Zach (Seth Green) he's Nikki's old high school flame, and then we meet Miranda (Michelle Trachtenberg) from her recent lesbian days and she knows the most about Nikki. Primarily that she killed her last boyfriend. Uh, oh.		2013 Directed by: Shawn Piller Screenplay by: Scott Lew Starring: Seth Green, Katee Sackhoff, Michelle Trachtenberg, Harold Perrineau and William Baldwin

Stoker: Movie Review

Visually telling a horror film with a downplayed story but cinematic pizzazz.

“Stoker” is all about appearance. An elegant exterior covering up insidious actions and motives. The story begins with the death of India Stoker’s father. A somber India mourns at the funeral while her mother livens it up with an interest in Charlie. An uncle India never knew existed. But the film begins with photography, after all it is all about appearance in every possible way. Probably to cover up the lack of story.		2013 Directed by: Chan-wook Park Screenplay by: Wentworth Miller Starring: Mia Wasikowska, Matthew Goode and Nicole Kidman

Side Effects: Movie Review

Morally ambiguous characters in a deceptive, complex thriller plot.

In “Side Effects”, Emily (Rooney Mara) is feeling hopeless, suffering from prolonged effects of abandonment issues, unsure how to proceed in her life. Her husband, Martin (Channing Tatum) has just come home from prison, serving time for insider trading. But Emily doesn’t know what she should be feeling; Emily doesn’t know how to feel what she should be feeling. Psychiatrist Dr. Jonathan Banks (Jude Law) is exactly what the doctor ordered.		2013 Directed by: Steven Soderbergh Screenplay by: Scott Z. Burns Starring: Rooney Mara, Jude Law, and Catherine Zeta-Jones

The Master: Movie Review

 

Destructive forces taking us on an historical ride through the allure of cults.

Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix) is a sexually-frustrated World War II Navy vet who struggles to find his place in the world when he returns to America. He excels at mixing highly-toxic liquids into consumable alcoholic concoctions and seducing women, but neither are self-fulfilling careers. Then he meets The Master, Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman), a charismatic cult leader perfecting his writing and theories.		2012 Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson Screenplay by: Paul Thomas Anderson Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Amy Adams

Compliance: Movie Review

Straight-forward approach to the realistic depravity of mankind.

“Compliance” is about how far people will go to a voice of authority. Sandra (Ann Dowd) the manager at a fast food restaurant is called by an Officer Daniels (Pat Healy) and is told to interrogate and search the young employee Becky (Dreama Walker). It’s yet another example of the Milgram experiment in real life. The drama is not just based on one true event, but a true event that occurred 70 times.		2012 Directed by: Craig Zobel Screenplay by: Craig Zobel Starring: Ann Dowd, and Dreama Walker