Big George Foreman (2023)

Genre: Biographical / Drama
Directed by: George Tillman Jr.
Cast: Kris Davis, Jasmine Matthews, Forest Whitaker
Time: 129 minutes

 

This film relates the story of heavyweight boxer George Foreman, who overcame a youth of extreme poverty to become Olympic champion and then World Heavyweight boxing champion. After a fall from grace, he quits his sport, finds his faith, and becomes a preacher. Financial troubles bring him back to boxing, and, at the age of 45, he becomes the oldest world champion in the history of the sport.

The story of George Foreman is very compelling in itself. It is easy enough to root for the man. So, I roll my eyes a little bit a times when the filmmakers were laying it on thick in places. Still, the cast did a good job, and I was entertained.

Rating: «««

Saw V (2008)

Genre: Horror
Directed by: David Hackl
Cast: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Scott Patterson
Time: 92 minutes

 

FBI agent Peter Strahm escapes the dangerous game in which he was left by detective Mark Hoffman, who is the accomplice of the dead Jigsaw Killer. After recuperating, Strahm delves even deeper in the whole Jigsaw file, while Hoffman is promoted to lieutenant and put in charge of the investigation in the Jigsaw murders.

This film suffered greatly from a lack the actual Jigsaw killer and lost some steam in the process. It just felt like the filmmakers were dragging their feet in the storytelling so as to make the whole thing last longer than it should. Some of the visuals and psychological horror stuff were still effective, but there was something missing here.

Rating: «««

Saw IV (2007)

Genre: Horror
Directed by: Darren Lynn Bousman
Cast: Tobin Bell, Costas Mandylor, Scott Patterson
Time: 92 minutes

 

John Kramer AKA the Jigsaw Killer might be dead, but it seems that he had a plan in place, with various accomplices, for one final devious game to play out, in which he leads the authorities on a wild chase to find out the truth.

The violence is raw and extreme here. Some might be bothered by it, but I did not mind. I appreciated getting a backstory on how John Kramer became the Jigsaw killer. It helped give more depth to a character that you can start to understand a little better.

I found the story compelling here, and it all kept me guessing all the way through. And I also appreciated Donnie Wahlberg finally paying for that NKOTB stuff.

Rating: ««««

Saw III (2006)

Genre: Horror
Directed by: Darren Lynn Bousman
Cast: Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, Angus Macfadyan
Time: 108 minutes

 

The Jigsaw Killer, who we now know is John Kramer, has escaped police custody and he is keeping on with his deadly games, with the help of his apprentice, Amanda. Amanda kidnaps doctor Lynn Denlon so she can keep John, who has terminal cancer, alive long enough to see a grieving father complete his test about forgiveness.

While the second installment showed greater focus in storytelling, the plot becomes a little jumbled again. The violence and gore aspect of it is still effective in getting a reaction. It’s rough, raw and dirty, which I can appreciate. And it keeps the viewer guessing, which is also very cool.

Rating: «««

Book Club: The Next Chapter (2023)

Genre: Romantic Comedy
Directed by: Bill Holderman
Cast: Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenburgen
Time: 108 minutes

 

While the COVID-19 pandemic was in full force, the four best friends from the Book Club kept meeting online. Now, they are back together in person, and a member of the group is getting married. The four women decide to finally do the trip to Italy they never did before, so as to have a bachelorette party.

This was a nice follow-up to the first Book Club film, released in 2018. It was an appropriate touch to add the aspect of the pandemic for a group of aging characters. While not as fresh and tight as the original, plot-wise, this was still an entertaining flick with laughs and tender moments.

Rating: «««

Saw II (2005)

Genre: Horror
Directed by: Darren Lynn Bousman
Cast: Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith, Donnie Wahlberg
Time: 93 minutes

 

The Jigsaw Killer finds himself in police custody, but he has put the pieces in place for a new game, where he has locked Detective Eric Matthews’s teenage son in a room with former convicts that were arrested by the cop. They are being poisoned by a nerve agent and they have two hours to find the antidote before they die.

With the pieces firmly in place for the global story, this second installment is much more focused and compelling. The acting is good and the action keeps you on the edge of your seat. Some scenes are quite memorable in being tough to watch.

Rating: ««««

Saw (2004)

Genre: Horror
Directed by: James Wan
Cast: Cary Elwes, Danny Glover, Monica Potter
Time: 103 minutes

 

The Jigsaw Killer is striking fear, targeting various people who, according to him, are not living their lives to the fullest. He abducts them and forces them to play a game, where they must inflict unimaginable pain on themselves and others in order to survive. His latest two targets, an oncologist and a photographer, wake up tied by the ankle in the same dilapidated bathroom with instructions coming in slowly about how to save themselves and their families.

This film packs quite a punch in the psychological horror department. There is some effective gruesomeness also. It just feels like it lacked focus in this first installment, as it went back and forth, while attempting the put all the basic pieces in place. Still, it is a decent first movie in a horror franchise. Things would get better.

Rating: «««

Autumn Born (1979)

Genre: Drama
Directed by: Lloyd A. Simandl
Cast: Dorothy Stratten, Roberta Weiss, Ihor Procak
Time: 74 minutes

A rich young woman is kidnapped and brought to a secret school of discipline at the request of her uncle in an effort to get her to give up her shares into her dead parents’ company.

This is a horrible movie. Some might call it erotica, but it truly feels like porn without the sex. It’s seedy and cheap, with really bad acting and a thin plot, but without any payoff. I was curious about this film after reading about the sad story of lead actress Dorothy Stratten, who was killed by her ex-boyfriend at the age of 20. Found this film on Youtube. At least it was short.

Rating: «

The Bucket List (2007)

Genre: Comedy / Drama
Directed by: Rob Reiner
Cast: Jack Nicholson, Morgan Freeman, Sean Hayes
Time: 97 minutes

 

Mechanic Carter Chambers and billionaire Edward Cole both end up in the same hospital room, both terminally ill with lung cancer. After striking up an unlikely friendship, they decide to go on a road trip to accomplish a small list of things they want to do before it is too late for them.

As a big Jack Nicholson fan, I have seen this particular film a few times, and I still enjoy it. Nicholson and Freeman have a great chemistry on screen and the plot offers a compelling story that is sure to make you laugh, smile and shed a tear. Some of the sets look badly fake, but I can easily forgive that aspect of things. This film never fails to pull me in and make me forget about life while it lasts.

Rating: ««««

Oppenheimer (2023)

Genre: Biographical
Directed by: Christopher Nolan
Cast: Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Matt Damon, Robert Downey Jr.
Time: 180 minutes

 

Based on the 2005 biography titled American Prometheus, this film tells the story of theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, with a particular focus on his studies, on his leadership of the Manhattan Project during World War II and on his fall from grace following a 1954 security hearing launched by some enemies he had made over the years.

This is a brilliant film. It requires the viewer’s full attention, going back and forth through the time period discussed, but it is well worth the effort. The subject matter deals with a fascinating part of American history and it is all brought to life on screen by a talented director and a great ensemble cast. Visually speaking, also, this movie never ceases to amaze. I fully intend on seeing this one again and again.

Rating: «««««