House Party 3 (1994)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Eric Meza

Cast: Christopher “Kid” Reid, Christopher “Play” Martin, Bernie Mac, TLC

Running Time: 100 minutes

Kid is planning to marry his girlfriend Veda, all the while trying to make some headway in the music business with his partner Play. As the bachelor party comes along, nothing goes as planned.

They really should have quit while they were ahead with the first sequel, because this third installment in the House Party franchise was a waste of time. The story is uninspired and the new elements to the supporting cast are horrid. Bernie Mac’s Uncle Vester is so over-the-top, it is grating. The band Sex as a Weapon, played by TLC, was annoying beyond words. A few moments made me chuckle lightly, but it was not enough to make this enjoyable.

Rating: ««

Richard Jewell (2019)

Genre: Biographical / Drama

Directed by: Clint Eastwood

Cast: Paul Walker Hauser, Sam Rockwell, Kathy Bates, Jon Hamm, Olivia Wilde

Running Time: 129 minutes

This film is inspired by the true events of the Centennial Olympic Park bombing, during the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympics, and their aftermaths. It showed how security guard Richard Jewell, who found and reported the suspicious package responsible and then helped evacuate people to reduce the damage, was later suspected by the FBI to be the main suspect.

The performances of Paul Walker Hauser, Sam Rockwell and Kathy Bates are clear highlights here. They carried that film. They made you care for their characters. Olivia Wilde did the best she could with what she was given. Her performance as Kathy Scruggs, the real-life reporter who first exposed Jewell as the prime suspect of the bombing, was a little big, but it is clear the filmmakers were not going for subtlety here. Scruggs was to be seen as the “bad guy”, whether it was justified or not.

In that sense, this film had a clear agenda: Defending Richard Jewell’s honour once and for all. The performances on screen did a great job at making us feel sympathy for a man whose life was ruined by a witch hunt that left its mark.

Rating: ««««

House Party 2 (1991)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Doug McHenry and George Jackson

Cast: Christopher “Kid” Reid, Christopher “Play” Martin, Martin Lawrence

Running Time: 94 minutes

Kid is going to college to fulfill his dead father’s dream for his son, but his education money gets taken by people posing as rap music producers. With his friend Play, he organizes a big pajama party on campus to raise the funds so he can continue his studies.

This is a sequel for the movie House Party, that came out just one year before. It is dedicated to the memory of Robin Harris, who played Pops in the original and died by the time it was released. It is still an entertaining look at a certain era that was not so long ago but that was still much different than today. The clothes, the hair, the music, the dance moves; it is all there. There is more depth in this one, with the part about becoming an adult, but a little bit of the magic has been lost from the original to the sequel.

Rating: «««

The Christmas Chronicles (2018)

Genre: Christmas

Directed by: Clay Kaytis

Cast: Kurt Russell, Judah Lewis, Darby Camp

Running Time: 122 minutes

Christmas was always a fun and magical time for the Pierce family. But, after the husband and father died on the job as a firefighter, the widowed wife and mother started working extra hard to support her family. Siblings Teddy and Kate used to be close, but they are slowly growing apart in Teddy’s teenage years. A chance encounter with Santa Claus, on Christmas Eve, might be the glue that brings them back together again.

This is a very charming film. Sure, it is cheesy, as any Christmas movie would be, but the good acting and the humorous script make it all quite enjoyable. Nice surprise appearances by Steven Van Zant and Goldie Hawn.

Rating: ««««

El Camino (2019)

Genre: Thriller

Directed by: Vince Gilligan

Cast: Aaron Paul, Jesse Plemons, Charles Baker, Matt Jones

Running Time: 122 minutes

This film serves as an epilogue to the Breaking Bad series. The movie picks up where the last episode ends. Jesse Pinkman escapes the Neo-Nazi compound where he was held captive in an El Camino. As the authorities are trying to locate him, Jesse drives around trying to find the cash to finally buy that new life for himself.

Aaron Paul does an awesome job here carrying much of the load action-wise. He managed to really show on screen all of the layers of his character. Vince Gilligan also did great work as the director.

Overall, this was a very thrilling last farewell. I will miss these characters.

Rating: ««««

House Party (1990)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Reginald Hudlin

Cast: Christopher “Kid” Reid, Robin Harris, Christopher “Play” Martin, Martin Lawrence

Running Time: 100 minutes

A group of three high school friends take advantage of the fact that one of them has an empty house to themselves available to have a party and, hopefully, score with girls. Many events make sure that this party is not going to run smoothly.

This is a very entertaining flick. Watching it with today’s eyes, it brings you back to those times and it is a lot of fun.

Rating: ««««

Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

Genre: TV / Drama / Author’s Favorites

Starring: Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn, Aaron Paul

Number of seasons: 5

Walter White is a genius of chemistry who, for various reasons, has settled into a job as a high school teacher of that science. When the series starts, he also works part-time in a car wash to earn extra money to support his family. After finding out that he has lung cancer, Walt decides to cook meth with a former student of his, Jesse Pinkman, to insure his wife’s and kids’ financial well-being long after he is gone. As he hides his business under the nose of his DEA cop brother-in-law, Hank, Walt starts to find more power in the drug business than he has ever had before.

This remains one of my favorite TV shows of all-time. All of the character, whether they are main or supporting, are all well developed and interesting. And the cast chosen to deliver them on screen were all solid in their roles. The script is absolutely badass. So many scenes come to mind as must-see. I have seen this again and again, and I will revisit it again someday.

Rating: «««««

Leatherface (2017)

Genre: Horror

Directed by: Julien Maury and Alexandre Bustillo

Cast: Stephen Dorff, Lily Taylor

Running Time: 90 minutes

After the Sawyer family kills Sherriff Hartman’s daughter, the police officer puts the Sawyers’ youngest, Jedidah, in a mental institution. Twenty years later, Jedidah, now named Jackson, escapes with a couple of other patients and nurse Elizabeth White as an hostage.

This film serves as a prequel to the original and offers a view of how Leatherface became who he is. Here, the authorities are the bad guys and the murderous family is just a victim of the system. Weird logic, but those are the times I guess. At this point, this whole franchise is tired and should just be put to rest.

Rating: «

The Irishman (2019)

Genre: Drama

Directed by: Martin Scorsese

Cast: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci

Running Time: 209 minutes

Based on the book I Heard You Paint Houses, by Charles Brandt, The Irishman is the story of Frank Sheeran, who went from meat truck driver to working as a hit man for the Bufalino mafia family and for Jimmy Hoffa. Sitting in a senior home, Sheeran, portrayed brilliantly by De Niro, reflects upon his life.

This epic crime drama is what you get when a great movie director such as Martin Scorsese takes on a project he really cares about and he hires the right cast to get the job done. Over the course of 3.5 hours, the director weaves a compelling tale while going back and forth in time through his story. And he never loses us along the way.

Robert De Niro is magnificent in the lead role. Many have lamented that he was done and way past his prime because of his recent output, but De Niro just proved he still has it when the project is right. Beyond the makeup to make him look younger and older, De Niro’s whole physiognomy changed for this role. He walked differently, even, and he made you believe this character.

Al Pacino is also brilliant as Jimmy Hoffa. Again, you forget the actor at work and you believe the character. It was a nice treat to see Joe Pesci again.

All things considered, this is a wonderful film that I plan on seeing again and again to fully measure its brilliance through time.

Rating: «««««

Overboard (2018)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Rob Greenberg

Cast: Eugenio Derbez, Anna Faris, Eva Longoria

Running Time: 112 minutes

Kate Sullivan is a single mother of 3 working 2 jobs while studying to be a nurse. Working as a cleaning lady, she meets Leonardo Montenegro, a pretentious rich playboy living a live of luxury on his boat. Leonardo is mean to her. After finding out that the man is now laying in the hospital suffering from amnesia after an accident, she picks him up, pretending to be his wife, to seek revenge on him.

This remake of the 1987 original, starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, but the roles are reversed. That is Hollywood at its worst. Instead of being original, let’s just remake something while inverting the positions of power and adding a different culture for good measure, just to look more inclusive.

This new version of this tale lacks the charm of the original. A few cute moments, but, really, it is just reheating a meal that was just passable when freshé

Rating: ««

Ballers (2015-2019)

Genre: TV / Comedy

Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Rob Corddry, John David Washington

Number of seasons: 5

Ballers focuses on Spencer Strasmore, a retired NFL player who is trying to find a second career for himself as a financial advisor to football players. We also see Joe Krutel, Spencer’s friend and business partner, a short and bald widower working hard to fit into a world of big athletic men. Finally, we see various football players going through various obstacles through their career or after-career.

This show is well written, because, in spite of the fact that I know nothing about football and do not care to learn, I still enjoyed it. The characters are interesting and multi-layered, the dialogues are sometimes funny and sometimes sad but always compelling, and the pace of the action makes it never dull.

I also found that they ended the show at the right time, as it was about to become very repetitive, with Spencer Strasmore aiming high and always finding all the odds against him.

Rating: ««««

Broad City (2014-2019)

Genre: TV / Comedy

Starring: Abbi Jacobson, Ilana Glazer

Number of seasons: 5

This sitcom, created by its two main stars, Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer, started as a web series. It tells the story of the friendship between two girls in their 20’s living a life of adventures in New York City. There is sex, pot-smoking and working as little as possible all the while chasing dreams of something better.

It took me a bit of time to get into this show, but it finally grew on me. This is a very entertaining show, with lots of crude humor but a bit of sweetness too. The running gag about Abbi’s beautiful butt made me laugh, and I was happy not to be alone in noticing. The secondary characters were also interesting and well developed. The cameos by Shania Twain and Hillary Clinton were nice surprises. Some of the humor was a little outlandish and over-the-top, but, overall, this is a good sitcom.

 Rating: ««««

Texas Chainsaw 3D (2013)

Genre: Horror

Directed by: John Luessenhop

Cast: Alexamdra Daddario, Dan Yeager, Trey Songz

Running Time: 91 minutes

Following the events of the original film, the Texas farmhouse where those young adults were butchered was burnt down by the town’s people in an act of vigilante justice. Loretta Sawyer tries to run away from the flames, with her baby daughter Edith Rose, but she gets killed by Gavin Miller, who then steals the baby to raise her as his own with his wife. Decades later, Edith Rose, who grew up as Heather Miller, receives a letter saying that she inherited her biological grandmother’s house. She travels to rural Texas, with her boyfriend and two friends, to claim her new house and find out about who she is.

Again, this is your typical slasher film, with lots of blood and guts to go around. The big difference is that, now, Leatherface is the misunderstood anti-hero and the victim of society. It is a sign of the times, I guess, but that is still weird to me.

The film is somewhat entertaining, in spite of its flaws. The acting is decent, but some of the shortcuts taken in storytelling made no sense. For example, who goes out for errands leaving some hitchhiker he or she just picked up alone on his or her property?

Rating: «««

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning (2006)

Genre: Horror

Directed by: Jonathan Liebesman

Cast: Jordana Brewster, Taylor Handley, R. Lee Emey

Running Time: 91 minutes

In this prequel to the 2003 remake, we find out how Leatherface became who he is after being adopted by the Hewitt family and how his uncle Charlie kills the local sheriff and assumes his job and identity. A pair of brothers traveling through Texas with their girlfriends before going to Vietnam encounter the Hewitt family after a car accident.

I really enjoyed this prequel. The acting was pretty good, especially on R. Lee Emey’s part. He looked totally demented on screen. He was absolutely believable in his role. There was a lot of violence, with blood, guts and gore, and I was quite entertained. The action was fast-paced and kept me hanging on, with a nice surprise at the end.

Rating: ««««

The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

Genre: Horror

Directed by: Marcus Nispel

Cast: Jessica Biel, Jonathan Tucker, Erica Leerhsen

Running Time: 98 minutes

In this remake of the 1974 original, five young adults on a road trip through rural Texas encounter a young woman walking aimlessly along the highway. After she climbs in, visibly distraught, she starts rambling and then produces a gun with which she shoots herself in the head. Horrified by the traumatic event, the group of five young adults stop to alert the authorities, and find themselves in the grips of Leatherface and his murderous family.

While certainly not as stylistically good as the original, this horror film was well done. The acting was pretty good, especially compared to some of those sequels that came after the Tobe Hooper classic. I like how they added a bit of sleaziness and sexuality, while not going overboard with it.

While the action was supposed to be set in 1973, the film did not have that vintage feel to it. The way the characters were dressed and the way they were delivered on screen did not feel 70’s to me.

All things considered, this was an entertaining flick.

Rating: «««

Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Next Generation (1995)

Genre: Horror

Directed by: Kim Henkel

Cast: Renée Zellweger, Matthew McConaughey, Robert Jacks

Running Time: 86 minutes

A group of four teenagers encounter Leatherface and his murderous family after leaving their senior prom in a hurry following a lover’s dispute.

This installment in the Texas Chainsaw Massacre franchise is definitely an improvement after the two that came before. For one, the acting was better. It helped to have such talents as Renée Zellweger and Matthew McConaughey in the cast. The story was also more interesting, though some twists and turns in the plot were quite weird, even for the slasher film genre. This was closer to the original, though the filmmaker tried to get too fancy with it.

Rating: «««

Seth Myers: Lobby Baby (2019)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Neal Brennan

Cast: Seth Myers

Running Time: 61 minutes

Seth Myers is better known as a late night talk host, wearing a suit and sitting behind a desk. I was curious to see what he had to offer on stage, doing stand-up comedy. His new Netflix comedy special, recorded live in front of a Minneapolis crowd, is a very funny one. Myers discusses relationships, his wife and kids, parenting, his roots and politics. The stuff is cute, sometimes a little too much for my taste, but the set is tight and the delivery is solid. I was thoroughly entertained here.

Rating: ««««

Sebastian Maniscalco: Stay Hungry (2019)

Genre: Comedy

Directed by: Rik Reinholdtsen

Cast: Sebastian Maniscalco

Running Time: 65 minutes

Sebastian Maniscalco is very good storyteller that brings a lot of energy to the stage. Here, he discusses relationships, spin class, going to the gym, pregnancy photoshoots and much more. This comedy special starts strong, but they Maniscalco lost me a little as the material grew weaker. Still, there were quite a few laugh at loud moments.

Rating: «««

Leatherface: The Texas Chainsaw Massacre III (1990)

Genre: Horror

Directed by: Jeff Burr,

Cast: Kate Hodge, Villiam Butler, Ken Foree. Viggo Mortensen

Running Time: 85 minutes

Leatherface and his cannibalistic family stalk and prey upon a group of people stranded on the backroads of Texas.

This horror sequel is boring as heck. Maybe because it was amputated of a lot of material, due to a rating dispute, but nothing much happens here. The acting is uninspired and the plot is not much better. By the end, I had to wonder what the point was. It was funny to see Viggo Mortensen here and the little girl was creepy. Other than that, not much to remember after its over.

Rating: «