Supremacy (2014)

Genre: Thriller / Drama

Directed by: Deon Taylor

Cast: Joe Anderson, Dawn Olivieri, Danny Glover

Running time: 106 minutes

Upon being released from prison, Garrett Tully, a White Supremacist, gets into a pick-up truck driven by Doreen. Together, they are planning to run a drug errand for their Aryan Brotherhood boss, who is still in jail. Along the way, they get stopped by a Black police officer, and Tully shoots and kills the cop. Now on the run, Garrett and Doreen break into the house of an African-American family, which they take as hostages.

This film, which is based on true events, is carried masterfully by the acting work of Joe Anderson and Danny Glover. Both actors are solid in their respective performances. Anderson was convincing as a racist man caught in a situation that soon becomes impossible to contain. As for Glover, he is very good as an aging man who has made some mistakes and who now wants to settle things without letting anger take over.

Supremacy carries a very important message about racism and tolerance, but it got a tad preachy after a while. The film has been highly criticized for the darkness of its cinematography, but I don’t fault it for that particular trait. To me, that was appropriate. There was a little bit of cheesiness and cliché, but, all things considered, this is a very good movie.

Rating: ««««

Chill Factor (1999)

Genre: Thriller

Directed by: Hugh Johnson

Cast: Cuba Gooding Jr., Skeet Ulrich, David Paymer

Running time: 88 minutes

After taking the fall for a covert military experiment gone awry, that killed over a dozen soldiers on a remote island, and being confined for ten years, Colonel Andrew Brynner assembles a team of terrorists to steal the volatile chemical from the botched experiment and sell it for his own profit to the highest bidder. Brynner locates Dr. Richard Long, who was originally involved in the experiment and who is still doing research on the chemical nicknamed Elvis. The scientist gets shot in the melee that ensues, but, before dying, he escapes and gives Elvis to two civilians, Mason and Arlo, with instructions on how to bring the dangerous chemical weapon to safety.

Honestly, this film is filled with bad acting and clichéd action. There is nothing much more disappointing than a thriller that is not thrilling. The attempts at humor felt forced and ended up being unfunny. As for the action, none of it made sense. With action films, suspension of disbelief is often needed, but, when the story is not compelling and the characters are not interesting, it is difficult to get emotionally invested enough to bother with any of that.

After a couple of big roles early in his career, Cuba Gooding Jr. hasn’t offered much of note. As for Skeet Ulrich, let’s just say he is not really leading man material.

All things considered, I would not bother with this one if it was to do all over again.

Rating: «

Don't Breathe (2016)

Genre: Horror

Directed by: Fede Alvarez

Cast: Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, Daniel Zovatto, Stephen Lang

Running time: 88 minutes

Three young adults from the Detroit area, Rocky, Alex and Money, are making a living breaking into houses to steal various items that they then resell. After finding out about a blind and recluse war vet who received a court settlement after his daughter was killed in a car crash, they decide to break into the man’s house in the night to steal the money, thinking that a man who cannot see a thing will be an easy prey. They soon find out that, in the darkness, the blind man is king.

Don’t Breathe is a very effective horror film. This is not a slasher movie; it is not about killings and blood, it is about atmosphere and mood. The pace is slow and deliberate, but, from the opening scene, you know that things will go terribly wrong for the three young adults trying to steal some money.

In the story development department, I feel that the filmmakers could have done a better job giving a bit of background for all three young protagonists. By only doing it for the Rocky character, they kind of showed their hand a little too much as far as the ending goes.

Acting-wise, all of the cast members did a good job carrying the load of their respective roles.

Overall, Don’t Breathe is a solid horror movie that I highly recommend to the fans of the genre.

Rating: ««««

Cold in July (2014)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Jim Mickle

Cast: Michael C. Hall, Sam Shepard, Don Johnson

Running time: 110 minutes

This film, set in the Texas of the 1980’s, tells the story of Richard Dane, a man who accidently shoots and kills a masked intruder who came into his house at night. He is then stalked and threatened by the father of the man he supposedly killed, but Richard soon finds out that the intruder who died in his house might not be who the cops are saying. So, Richard, his supposed victim’s father and a private investigator join force to try making sense of it all.  

There was some real potential here, and there was some good acting, especially from Michael C. Hall and Don Johnson. Unfortunately, the story got so convoluted that the filmmakers completely lost me.

This film has gotten good reviews, so maybe it is just me who was not in the right mood for it. If you folks want to give it a shot, it is on Netflix. As for me, I did not particularly care for it.

Rating: ««

One Night at McCool's (2001)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Harald Zwart

Cast: Liv Tyler, Matt Dillon, Paul Reiser, John Goodman, Michael Douglas

Running time: 92 minutes

Randy, Carl and Detective Dehling are three lovesick men retelling their version of the story of their encounter with Jewel, a woman attracted by the finer things in life.

With such a cast involved, this movie should have been so much better. Unfortunately, the script was unfunny and the delivery was very much uninspired. I got a chuckle out of comedian Andrew Dice Clay in two different roles, with two very distinct looks. Other than those two brief appearances and Liv Tyler’s abundant charm, there is not much else to see here.

Rating: ««

War Dogs (2016)

Genre: Comedy/Drama

Directed by: Todd Phillips

Cast: Jonah Hill, Miles Teller, Bradley Cooper

Running time: 114 minutes

Loosely based on true events, War Dogs tells the story of Efraim Diveroli and David Packouz, two long-time friends who went into business together in their 20’s. They started receiving government contracts to supply weapons to the US troops in Afghanistan. Once they started to gain some traction and to have some success, they decided to take a much bigger contract, which would prove to be much more than they could chew.

This movie was based on a Rolling Stone article written by Guy Lawson. It takes a very light-hearted look at the serious issue of government contracts in war time. It gives the viewer a glimpse of the sad state of things in America, especially in times of armed conflicts. War takes lives, but it also makes a profit for a lot of people.

Jonah Hill and Miles Teller make for a good on screen team. Their chemistry is solid. This film is quite the stretch for Jonah Hill. We are more used to seeing him as a good guy. In War Dogs, he is very convincing as brash, impulsive and manipulative Ephraim Diveroli.

I have also enjoyed the soundtrack of this film, which contains many classic tunes that I have come to love over the years.

All things considered, War Dogs offers a very entertaining look at a serious issue. The film does not take itself seriously, and that is very charming. Some flatter moments, but, overall, I was very much entertained.

Rating: ««««

Louis C.K.: Live from the Comedy Store (2015)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Louis C.K.

Cast: Louis C.K.

Time: 66 minutes

In this comedy special, shot at the famous Comedy Store, in Los Angeles, California, stand-up comedian Louis C.K. tackles such issues as the infamous Boston accent, kids, death and religious.

This certainly is not for those that will get easily offended. There are comedians with dirtier material out there, but Louis C.K. is not the tamest of comics either. I really loved this comedy special and I found myself laughing out loud quite often. Overall, this is a very funny show that I highly recommend.

Rating: «««« 

Alex Cross (2012)

Genre: Action/Thriller

Directed by: Rob Cohen

Cast: Tyler Perry, Matthew Fox, Edward Burns

Running time: 101 minutes

Dr. Alex Cross is a psychologist and police lieutenant in Detroit. With a wife that has a third baby on the way, he is considering taking a better-paying job with the FBI. Before he does, he must try to stop a psychotic killer, Picasso, who drugs, tortures and kills his victims.

This is the third film with the Alex Cross character in it. In the first two, Morgan Freeman was the hired actor. I did not care much for Tyler Perry’s bland performance here. I simply did not feel it with his portrayal of Alex Cross. He made it hard to sympathize with his character, in spite of the dramatic events in the storyline.

Matthew Fox, on the other hand, was really solid as Picasso. What a transformation for the actor; we are quite far from his character in Lost here.

Unfortunately, Fox’s performance was the only high point for me. The screenplay was badly written and the direction made it hard to get on board. I particularly hated the scenes with shaky cameras and blurred images.

Overall, this is a movie that could easily be skipped without missing much.

Rating: ««

Welcome to the Rileys (2010)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Jake Scott

Cast: James Gandolfini, Kristen Stewart, Melissa Leo

Running time: 110 minutes

After losing their 15-year-old daughter in a car crash, Doug and Lois Riley have slowly drifted apart, both dealing with the grief in very different ways. During a business trip to New Orleans, Doug meets Mallory, a 16-year-old runaway making a living as a stripper. Doug decides to stay indefinitely in New Orleans to take the young girl under his wing and help her out. Lois, who has not left the house since the death of her daughter, gathers all her courage and gets in the car to drive to Louisiana to see what is keeping her husband there.

Welcome to the Rileys is a wonderful film about grief and about getting over the loss of a loved one. Gandolfini, Stewart and Leo are all great in their respective roles; they manage to make you forget for a moment that these are actors at work. The viewer cannot help but embark on a journey with these characters.

The pace of this movie is slow at first, but it is well worth sticking around for the ride. I think that it was an appropriate choice for the filmmakers. After the tragic events that changed their lives, days had been going by painstakingly slow in the Riley household. Once Mallory came along, things sure did change.

This is a beautiful film that is well worth watching, at least once, if not more. It comes highly recommended from yours truly.

Rating: «««««

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 (2015)

Genre: Science-Fiction

Directed by: Francis Lawrence

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth

Running time: 137 minutes

Katniss Everdeen and a group of rebels travel to the Capitol of Panem to finish their fight against the tyrannical president Snow and kill him. But, Katniss comes to realize that the president of the rebels, Alma Coin, may have a very dangerous hidden agenda.

It was really time for this story to conclude as it was losing some steam in my book. In Mockingjay Part 2, the acting did not feel as inspired and crisp as in the previous three films. And, the film dragged on a little too long. By the end of it, I could not wait for the closing credits. There was a good climax, and then it kept on going.

Still, this whole story conveys a very interesting message about how power corrupts and the fact that what is sometimes perceived as a better option is not always what it seems. This last film of the franchise also offers some very nice visual. Overall, this one is worth seeing if only to get some closure on the story of Katniss Everdeen.

Rating: «««

Bad Moms (2016)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Jon Lucas and Scott Moore

Cast: Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell, Kathryn Hahn, Christina Applegate

Running time: 100 minutes

Amy Mitchell is an overworked and overstressed mother of two. She is always running to go everywhere and she always ends up late, while her husband takes life easy at his own job and does not take care of anything else. After catching her man having an affair over the Internet, Amy decides to slow down and enjoy life with two newly-found girlfriends. Amy soon finds herself at odds with her own kids and with Gwendolyn, the tyrannical PTA president.

Bad Moms is a fun little comedy that does not take itself seriously. The humor is crass and crude, but, heck, to me, that is a strong point. Women will sure love this story, as almost every man in this story is a lazy fumbling bum. Also, Amy meets a single father she falls in love with, and he is a muscle-bound hunk and a great lover. Isn’t that Hollywood for you? Everything falls into place nearly before the end and everybody ends up getting along.

In spite of the clichés and the lack of nuances, this is very good comedy when you take it for what it is meant to be. The ensemble cast seemed to be having fun together and it really worked on screen. For the entertainment value and the well-written crude dirty humor, I give this one high marks.

Rating: ««««

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 (2014)

Genre: Science-Fiction

Directed by: Francis Lawrence

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth

Running time: 123 minutes

After being rescued from the destroyed arena of her second Hunger Games in a row, Katniss Everdeen finds herself in District 13, a new rebel zone who wishes to wage war on the Capitol and President Snow. The president of the rebels, Alma Coin, recruits Katniss to become that living Mockingjay symbol that will inspire the other districts to join the fight.

It is quite easy to get emotionally involved in a storyline like the one in The Hunger Games franchise. The fight against an oppressive authority figurehead has been dealt with many times in the movies, and most of us can relate with the idea of freeing ourselves from someone who has too much power.

The cast is solid, per usual, in this second sequel. Jennifer Lawrence was definitely the right choice. It was also a treat to see the talented Julianne Moore join the team.

While the first two films of this franchise were high on action, the pace was a little slower in Mockingjay part 1. Also, most of the scenes were shot in darker indoor sets. The visuals were a major strong point of the first two movies, so that was a bit of a disappointment.

All things considered, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 offered some good entertainment and it was quite decent follow-up to the first two films.

Rating: «««

Angel and The Badman (1947)

Genre: Western

Directed by: James Edward Grant

Cast: John Wayne, Gail Russell, Harry Carey

Running time: 100 minutes

Quirt Evans is a notorious gunfighter that is feared across the land. Having been wounded and seriously hurt, he collapses on the farmland of a Quaker family, who takes the man into their home without any hesitation. As he gains back his health, Evans starts falling for Penelope, the daughter of the farm owner, who preaches to him the family’s ideas about non-violence. Maybe love is all a man needs to change his ways.

This film is a departure from the usual fast-paced action and gun-slinging westerns John Wayne had offered the public up to that point. There is more depth to it, and the acting is decent enough to carry that change of pace well. Overall, this is a good flick for its genre.

Rating: «««

The Big C (2010-2013)

Genre: TV / Drama

Starring: Laura Linney, Oliver Platt, John Benjamin Hickey, Gabriel Basso

Number of seasons: 4

When The Big C starts, Cathy Jamison is a suburban wife in Minnesota who works as a high school teacher. Having been diagnosed with melanoma, she now knows that her expiry date is not that far ahead. At home, she has an immature teenage son and a husband from whom she is drifting further and further apart. She also has a bipolar brother, who is occasionally homeless and always anti-establishment. With death clearly in sight, Cathy wants to live life to the fullest and fix everything around her before she goes.

Laura Linney is absolutely magnificent as Cathy Jamison. She rocks that role like a champ. She makes you embark on her character’s journey and she never lets you go for four seasons. John Benjamin Hickey is also brilliant as Sean, Cathy’s bipolar brother. Though Sean is often abrasive, in spite of his sweet core, Hickey always manages to make him loveable. Gabourey Sidibe is also a highlight of this show, as Andrea, a student of Cathy who soon becomes a very close friend of the family.

The characters in The Big C are well defined; it is a true marvel of writing. And the written words are performed solidly on screen. I also appreciated the fact that the characters are not stagnant; you can see a very nice evolution in all of them as the show progresses. A few plot twists left me scratching my head, but, overall, this is a very good, must-see, TV show.

Rating: ««««

David Cross: Making America Great Again! (2016)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Alex Coletti

Cast: David Cross

Running time: 146 minutes

In his latest comedy special, available now on Netflix, David Cross, better known for playing the hilarious role of Tobias on Arrested Development, pulls no punches. Judging from the frequent walkouts at his live performances, Cross’ own particular brand of political humor is not everyone’s cup of tea.

In this special, quite evidently (based on the title), David Cross discusses Donald Trump and his success, the Republicans in general, the NRA, religions and much more. As you can see, he tackles controversial stuff. The American stand-comic/actor has a very interesting perspective on things.

I enjoyed Cross’s very sardonic delivery. There is a lot of irony here, with various degrees beyond which the viewer has to be prepared to look. Some of the material was not as strong as the rest and a tad preachy, but, overall, this is a very funny show. The Hi, Hitler bit was definitely my favorite. I laughed hard at that one.

 Rating: ««««

Winds of the Wasteland (1936)

Genre: Western

Directed by: Mack V. Wright

Cast: John Wayne, Phyllis Fraser

Running time: 54 minutes

Just as the telegraph is about to replace the Pony Express, partners John Blair and Larry Adams are looking for a new business venture in the field of stagecoaches. In Buchanan City, a local businessman offers to sell them a franchise of his own stagecoach line out of Crescent City, a town that is supposedly booming. Blair and Adams take the deal, but, upon arrival in Crescent City, they realize that it is a ghost town inhabited by two men. Hoping to salvage their investment and make Crescent City viable once again, the Blair enters a stagecoach race to win a government contract for the right to deliver the mail in the area.

Winds of the Wasteland offers a whole lot of very bad acting. John Wayne, still quite young then, is OK, but the supporting cast is absolutely atrocious. And, the story is filled with plotholes that took me right out of the film almost from the get-go. Thankfully, this little western was kept short.

Rating: «

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

Genre: Science-Fiction

Directed by: Francis Lawrence

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth

Running time: 146 minutes

In the first sequel of this science-fiction franchise set in the Dystopian world of Panem, we still follow the adventures of Katniss Everdeen. By finding a way to win the Hunger Games as part of a duo with her District 12 mate Peeta Mellark, she really messed up the Capitol’s plans. Now, she’s becoming a symbol of hope for the oppressed people of the districts, and President Snow wants to vanquish her at all costs. So, he orders that the following Hunger Games will feature past winners. Katniss and Peeta are selected again and it is another war for survival. Can Katniss find some allies in her fight against the authority of Panem?

This is a very good sequel to the first movie. The acting is still quite good. It was a treat to see Philip Seymour Hoffman; I miss that actor. Jennifer Lawrence was still solid in the lead role, bringing the right dosage of toughness and vulnerability to Katniss. And, those eyes!

I really dug the fact that they changed the visuals for the second movie. The costumes are different, and so is the scenery. That kept it fresh.

Just like the first film, the sequel is a little bit too long, but it does not drag too much. The pace is good and the story is compelling and interesting. If you suspend disbelief and let this Dystopian world take you in, it makes for a very entertaining ride.

Rating: ««««

Sling Blade (1996)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Billy Bob Thornton

Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Dwight Yoakam, J.T. Walsh

Running time: 148 minutes

Karl Childers is an intellectually disabled man who has been confined to the state mental hospital ever since he killed his mom and her lover with a sling blade at the age of 12. Now supposedly rehabilitated, he is set free to go back to a hometown where he has no one left. With the help of the hospital manager, Karl gets a job at a local garage fixing small engines and he then befriends a 12 year old boy, Frank, and his mother Linda Wheatley. But, can Karl truly fit into society after being locked up all his life?

Billy Bob Thornton, who also wrote the screenplay and directed the film, is absolutely brilliant as Karl Childers. That monologue towards the beginning, when he is being interviewed by a student, is something else. It is important to mention that facial transformation, with no help from prosthetics; that looks painful. It takes a while to get used to the voice and the accent, but it is worth the effort.

Honorable mention to country singer Dwight Yoakam, who made for a very compelling bad guy; he made me hate his character so bad. Acting-wise, the only fail for me is John Ritter, as Vaughan, the gay friend/boss of Linda Wheatley. He came off as very cartoonish to me.

As for the movie itself, the ending is predictable, but the storytelling and the acting from most of the actors are so superb that it is easily forgiven.

Rating: ««««

Jason Bourne (2016)

Genre: Action / Thriller

Directed by: Paul Greengrass

Cast: Matt Damon, Tommy Lee Jones, Alicia Vikander

Running time: 123 minutes

After exposing the CIA’s Operation Blackbriar, Jason Bourne has fallen off the grid. He has recovered from his amnesia and he is earning money in illegal fighting. Former CIA employee Nicky Parsons hacked into the agency’s system and found some information regarding Bourne’s recruitment. She tracks him down and off he is on a new mission. CIA Director Robert Dewey wants Bourne eliminated at all costs, but CIA cyber head Heather Lee is not so sure that is the way to go.

This new installment in the Bourne franchise offers more fast-paced action that takes us around the world, from Iceland, to Germany to Vegas. It is thrilling action movie that knows its role and plays it well.

Once again, Matt Damon inhabits his character flawlessly. I just guess that he takes his anti-gun stance less seriously than Jim Carrey. On a more serious note, Tommy Leee Jones was a very good choice as CIA Director, and so was Vincent Cassel as the hired assassin. The French actor has that bad guy look that works in that sort of role.

Overall, this is a good follow-up to the first three movies of the franchise (did not care much for the fourth one), and they can keep it going if they want to. They managed to keep it fresh enough, which is not always easy when doing sequels. A bit of sappiness in the beginning , but they recovered quite well and finished strong.

Rating: ««««

The Hunger Games (2012)

Genre: Science-Fiction

Directed by: Gary Ross

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth

Running time: 142 minutes

In the Dystopian post-apocalyptic nation of Panem, each of the 12 districts of the country much send a boy and a girl to fight in The Hunger Games, a TV show where the contestants fight to the death until one remains. When her young sister is chosen to represent district 12, Katniss Everdeen decides to sacrifice herself and volunteer to take her sibling’s place.

While the science-fiction genre is not my usual cup of tea, I must admit that I really liked The Hunger Games. The story is compelling and pulls you in, as we can all relate considering the voyeuristic world we live in where some are exploited by those who see a profit to make in the misfortune of others.

Jennifer Lawrence is excellent as Katniss Everdeen, a young woman with a strong personality. The actress brings a good mixture of vulnerability and underlying subtle toughness to the main role in The Hunger Games. The supporting cast is also very good.

What grabbed me the most about this film, though, is the cinematography. The sets, the costumes, the makeup and the way the images were shot, it all made for a great time of movie-watching.

Now, the movie was tad long and there is a bit of cheesiness to it all, but, still, The Hunger Games offers a good dose of solid entertainment.

Rating: ««««

And the Oscar Goes To... (2014)

Genre: Documentary

Directed by: Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman

Cast: Anjelica Huston, Billy Crystal, Tom Hanks, Whoopi Goldberg

Running time: 87 minutes

As a very big cinephile, I was truly excited to see this 2014 documentary that details the history of the Academy Awards from the beginning, in the 1930’s, and I was not disappointed.

Over a little less than 90 minutes, this great documentary covers a lot of ground. From the impact of the McCarthy days on the movie business, to the racial situation, to the impact of television, it was all discussed. I particularly appreciated the fact that the filmmakers did not try to skirt around the controversies. From the small number of black nominees and winners to the time Marlon Brando sent a Native American woman to accept his Oscar for The Godfather, it was all there.

There were a few poignant moments, such as Jane Fonda discussing the time where she accepted the Oscar for her sick father, Henry Fonda. Also, there was the footage of Hattie McDaniel’s acceptance speech for the award she received for her role in Gone with the Wind.

In this documentary narrated by Anjelica Huston, we hear from people such as Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Crystal, Jane Fonda and many more. It is truly a gem for the movie lovers out there. I wish they could have gotten comments from Jack Nicholson, since he’s one of the people I associate more closely with the Academy Awards, but it was not to be. Still, I thoroughly enjoyed this film.

Rating: «««««

The Desert Trail (1935)

Genre: Western

Directed by: Cullin Lewis

Cast: John Wayne, Mary Kornman, Paul Fix

Running time: 54 minutes

A rodeo star and his gambler friend are framed for the armed robbery and murder of the rodeo official and they have to escape the authorities until they can find a way to prove their innocence.

This 1935 western is a cheesy little B movie, the likes of which John Wayne was known for, especially in his early career. Exaggerated fistfights and horse chases, bad acting from most of the cast, and a story on which not much effort was put; all the elements of a B movie were there. Wayne was decent in the main role, though he had not really found his groove yet, and so was Mary Kornman. The horse chases looked like they were going in fast-forward, which made me laugh quite a bit.

Overall, The Desert Trail can be quite easily skipped without worrying about missing much. Unless you’re a fan of John Wayne or of the genre, don’t bother.

Rating: ««

Artifact (2012)

Genre: Documentary

Directed by: Bartholomew Cubbins (Jared Leto)

Cast: Jared Leto, Shannon Leto, Tomo Milicevic

Running time: 103 minutes

This very compelling documentary discusses the battle that ensued between the band Thirty Seconds to Mars and their record label, EMI, after the company filed a 30 million dollars lawsuit against the musicians for trying to get out of their deal over issues with royalties.

In this documentary, we see the three members of Thirty Seconds to Mars, Jared Leto, Shannon Leto and Tomo Milisevic work on the album that would eventually be called This is War, with producers Flood and Steve Lilywhite, with a huge lawsuit hanging over their heads and not knowing if this music they were recording would eventually be released.

Singer-songwriter-actor Jared Leto, who directed this film under the pseudonym of Bartholomew Cubbins, came off as a truly passionate artist here. He brilliantly conveyed the mood of these artists in a very stressful time. You can see him, his brother Shannon and his second bandmate Tomo go through a wide range of emotions.

Artifact offers a very interesting look at the complicated relationship between artistry and business and the commercialization of music. These times are more difficult than ever for people wanting to make a living with music. I highly recommend this documentary.

Rating: «««««

What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Sam Weisman

Cast: Martin Lawrence, Danny DeVito, Bernie Mac

Running time: 94 minutes

Kevin Caffrey makes a comfortable living as a thief. When he goes to snarky businessman Max Fairbanks’ mansion, hoping to find some worthy treasures, he gets caught by the owner, who calls the police. Fairbanks takes Caffrey’s ring by telling the officers that it was stolen from him. Since the piece of jewelry is a gift from his new girlfriend, Caffrey decides to wage war on Fairbanks to get it back.

I am a big fan of Danny DeVito, but he was not given much to work with here. As for Martin Lawrence, I can take him in very small doses. The man has a few mimics that he brings back in every role. The two of them did not seem to have much on-screen chemistry. I think it was a clash of styles that did not mesh well.

What’s the Worst That Could Happen? is a very unfunny comedy. Most of the jokes miss the mark and I could not wait for the whole thing to be over.

Rating: «

Margin Call (2011)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: J.C. Chandor

Cast: Kevin Spacey, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons

Running time: 109 minutes

Margin Call tells the story of an unnamed Wall Street investment firm who goes through the massive dumping of toxic assets to reduce its exposure at the outset of the financial crisis of 2007-2008.

J.C. Chandor wrote the script for this film and also directed it. Margin Call deals with a very heavy and technical financial situation, which is not something that everybody will grasp easily, but Chandor still managed to make the whole thing compelling. It sure helped that he was supported by a great ensemble cast of talented people. The only actress that felt out of place for me was Demi Moore: I really did not feel like she was the right choice. Otherwise, no complaint acting-wise.

Though a little heavy in the technical sense, Margin Call is still a very good film. It carries a very important message about those people who prioritize financial considerations over the human ones.

Rating: ««««

Homegrown (1998)

Genre: Comedy / Drama

Directed by: Stephen Gyllenhaal

Cast: Billy Bob Thornton, Hank Azaria, Ryan Philippe, John Lithgow

Running time: 115 minutes

After seeing their boss getting killed, a trio of small-time marijuana harvesters decides to try to keep the business going long enough to cut a deal for their pot.

I remember seeing this film long ago because I am a Billy Bob Thornton and I was also curious to see how well Jon Bon Jovi could do as an actor. Thornton has played much better roles and the New Jersey singer is a much better frontman than actor.

I watched it again to see if my perception would change, and there is still not much to say about Homegrown. The comedy aspects are not really funny, the storyline is lame and not compelling, and the acting is sub-par. By the end of it, you can’t help but wonder what the point of actually making this film was. Lots of misused talent in this one.

Rating: «

Harley Davidson and The Malboro Man (1991)

Genre: Action

Directed by: Simon Wincer

Cast: Mickey Rourke, Don Johnson, Chelsea Field

Running time: 98 minutes

Set in what was then seen as the future 1996, two longtime friends, Harley Davidson and The Malboro Man, decide to stage a bank robbery with a few allies to help a friend save his bar from being closed. Unfortunately, the armored truck they rob is loaded with a new dangerous drug called Crystal Dream instead of money. With this new unwanted loot in their possession, the two men will have to contend with the bank president, who works on the side dealing the drug, and his hired group of assassins.

One should not go into this movie expecting a great all-time classic. What we have here is a fun little action flick that does not take itself too seriously. Rourke and Johnson were in top form and they really worked well off each other. They came off as true friends. The story itself is a bit silly, but it is compelling, and I found it easy to root for the two main characters. They were two flawed antiheros instead of invincible ass kickers, and that can be charming and fun for this type of film.

Harley Davidson and The Malboro Man is a kind of guilty pleasure guy film. Motorcycles, scantily-clad women, good music, fights, chaos and chases. Taken as such, it can be a good time of movie-watching.

Rating: «««