Now You See Me

Now You See Me (PG-13) 201

Directed by Louis Letterrier

Starring:  Morgan Freeman, Isla Fisher, Mark Ruffalo, Dave Franco, Woody Harrelson, Michael Caine, Jesse Eisenberg, Mélanie Laurent, Common, Elias Koteas, David Warshofsky, J. LaRose and Caitriona Balfe

Here We Go:  A group of elite magicians comes together to pull off some extraordinary, and ultimately illegal, tricks.  I absolutely loved this movie!  It was fantastical, extraordinary, smart and intriguing.  I would say that it's magical, but that would just be lame, right?  Seriously, the amount of awesome in this movie made it worth seeing.  Who doesn't like magic?  The group of actors assembled for this movie are right on point and the ending is just like any magic trick...surprising.  

Bottom Line: It's a treat for the senses, and definitely one that we think is worth seeing! 

The Last Exorcism Part II

The Last Exorcism Part II (UR) 2013

Directed by Ed Gass-Donnelly

Starring:  Ashley Bell, Julia Garner, Spencer Treat Clark, David Jensen, Tarra Riggs, Louis Herthum, Muse Watson, Erica Michelle, Andrew Sensenig and Judd Lormand

Here We Go:  This follow-up to The Last Exorcism brings you life for Nell (Bell) after the last movie.  Not a whole lot to say about this movie.  The Part I was entertaining but at times outlandish, poorly written and plagued with bad acting and bad cinematography.  Part II takes away the "entertaining" and leaves you with poor writing, bad acting and bad cinematography.  The one highlight is that Ashley Bell gives a strong lead performance if you can look past the bad script she had to work with.  

Bottom Line:   Skip it.  

Beautiful Creatures

Beautiful Creatures (PG-13) 2013

Directed by Richard LaGravenese

Starring:  Alden Ehrenreich, Alice Englert, Jeremy Irons, Viola Davis, Emmy Rossum, Thomas Mann, Emma Thompson, Dame Eileen Atkins, Kyle Gallner, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Margo Martindale and Zoey Deutch

Here We Go:  When I initially saw previews for this movie I had high expectations without really knowing what it was about.  The more previews I saw, the lower my expectations.  That being said, I still went into this movie thinking it was going to be entertaining and it did not disappoint.  The overall concept of the movie (based on the novel of the same name) was kinda like taking Twilight and mixing it in a jar with Charmed and seeing what comes out.  The finished product was not bad but the story just didn't seem to reach its full potential.  Jeremy Irons was very well cast and the leads of Alice Englert (Lena) and Alden Enrenriech  (Ethan) were excellent.  There is room for a sequel here but with a poor box office performance this was probably the one and only film in the series.  

Bottom Line:  Watch it.

Killing Them Softly

Killing Them Softly (R) 2012

Directed by Andrew Dominik

Starring:  Brad Pitt, Richard Jenkins, James Gandolfini, Ray Liotta, Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendelsohn, Vincent Curatola, Max Casella and Sam Shepard

Here We Go:  Two knuckleheads rob a mob card game and we spend the rest of the movie watching the repercussions.  With Pitt, Gandolfini and Liotta, this movie had potential but never quite seemed to get "there."  The story was very predictable, though well done.  The acting was good but without a wow factor.  Gandolfini seemed wasted in his role and Liotta does tough guy much better than whining whimp.  Pitt, surprisingly, played the hitman role well and was the highlight of an otherwise average, yet entertaining, movie.  

Bottom Line:  Watch it but don't pay for it.  

World War Z

World War Z (PG-13) 2013

Directed by Marc Forster

Starring:  Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Matthew Fox, Eric Weston, David Morse, James Badge Dale, Elyes Gabel, David Andrews, Michiel Huisman and Julian Seager

Here We Go:  The world is being taken over by zombies and Gerry (Pitt) is a former United Nations investigator who is racing around the globe trying to find a way to prevent the end of mankind.  This is like a cross between Contagion and I Am Legend (but with zombies, of course).  The effects are great, the plot makes sense and the acting is solid, which makes the whole story seem realistic.  The only criticism I have is that the guy sitting behind me would forget how to use his "inside voice" throughout the film and I was lacking any solid objects for throwing that I was willing to dispose of.  But other than that, the movie had several nail biting moments and the zombies weren't walking pixels (bonus!).

Bottom Line:  Watch it!

Now You See Me

Now You See Me (PG-13) 2013

Directed by Louis Leterrier

Starring:  Morgan Freeman, Isla Fisher, Mark Ruffalo, Dave Franco, Woody Harrelson, Michael Caine, Jesse Eisenberg, Mélanie Laurent, Common, Elias Koteas, David Warshofsky, J. LaRose and Caitriona Balfe

Here We Go:  A group of magicians pull a Robin Hood and steal from the rich to give to the poor, while alluding the FBI.  This movie was entertaining with a good cast that kept you guessing.  There were twists and turns throughout the movie, and the ending wasn't disappointing.  You get to know who's who, but you never fully understand the lineup.  The ending may not be what you expect, and, just like the rest of the movie, it will take you by surprise.

Bottom Line:  It's magical (see what we did there?). Watch it!

The Call

The Call (R) 2013

Directed by Brad Anderson

Starring:  Halle Berry, Abigail Breslin, Morris Chestnut, Michael Eklund, David Otunga, Michael Imperioli, Justina Machado, José Zúñiga, Roma Maffia, Evie Thompson, Denise Dowse and Ella Rae Peck

Here We Go:  At first I didn't know where this movie was going to go because it seemed like it started with the climax.  However,  you quickly learn that there is more to the plot and that the story is really about redemption, closure and revenge.  I have to point out that the police chase made the LAPD look ridiculously inept while the 911 operator was a superstar.  I  guess since Halle Berry was the 911 operator they had to make her the star but LAPD could have been a little more competent.  And why were there no detectives on this case?  A kid is kidnapped and it is left to a 911 operator and some uniformed officers for a day long chase?  Without ruining the ending I will tell you that it is excellent and doesn't fall into the normal "happy ending."  In fact, the ending makes the entire movie worth watching.  

Bottom Line:  Watch it!

Occupant

Occupant (NR) 2010

Directed by Henry Miller

Starring:  Van Hansis, Cody Horn, Thorsten Kaye, Jamie Harrold, Lou Ferguson, Scott Gregory,
David Little and Dylan Clark Marshall

Here We Go:  When Danny's (Hansis) grandmother passes away, he suddenly inherits her rent controlled apartment.  The catch is that he is forced to stay locked in the apartment for several days, which kicks off a series of events that leads Danny to believe that he's sharing his new space with someone, or something, else.  It's a pretty creepy concept on paper, but it never really comes full circle.  At the end of the movie, you're tempted to think that you just saw a pretty good movie, but then...wait...so when that one guy did that one thing, did it mean this or something else? What did that other thing mean?  And what was that one guy about?  Certain questions are just left hanging there and you end up feeling unsatisfied, and all anyone can agree on is that they just don't have absolute answers.  This isn't your typical horror movie, and that much is refreshing, but that's as far as my compliment will stretch.

Bottom Line:  I don't blame you if you're curious, but watch it only if it's free.

Sucker Punch

Sucker Punch (PG-13) 2011

Directed by Zack Snyder

Starring:  Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone, Vanessa Hudgens, Jamie Chung, Carla Gugino, Oscar Isaac, Jon Hamm and Scott Glenn

Here We Go:  Babydoll (Browning) is sent to a shady asylum where she teams up with other patients and plans an escape.  Sure, at the root of this movie there is definitely a disturbing foundation where girls are taken advantage of and politics and money mean more than the moral high-ground.  But the way that this movie shifts from reality to fantasy, and takes the girls out of their vulnerable roles into being deadly warriors, just makes it all eye candy.  Reality is a dark 1950s world that looks touched by Tim Burton.  Fantasy is world of action packed, robot slaying and full-on combat with some guidance from a sensei-like Scott Glenn.   Mix together an awesome soundtrack, sexy women battling it out with guns and swords, and a larger than life fantasy world, and you end up with a pretty hot movie. 

Bottom Line:  If you like an action packed movie that doesn't follow the typical prototype, this is the movie for you.

House at the End of the Street

House at the End of the Street (PG-13) 2012

Directed by Mark Tonderai

Starring:  Jennifer Lawrence, Max Thieriot, Elisabeth Shue, Gil Bellows, Nolan Gerard Funk, Eva Link, Allie MacDonald, Jordan Hayes, Krista Bridges and James Thomas

Here We Go:  Mother and daughter move into a rental that comes with a neighbor that has a back story that involves murder and an unsolved disappearance.  I would categorize this movie more along the line of thriller or suspense, rather than horror, but you still have a few moments mixed in where you jump in your seat.  The director did a good job with letting suspense build and dragging things out just a little bit longer than you expect just to really take you off guard.  One of the things that I really liked House at the End of the Street is that about half-way through things take a change and you end up wondering what the heck is going on.  From the middle onward there are a few twists and a some pretty decent Ah-Ha moments.  

Bottom Line:  If you're looking for something deep and graphic, I'd look elsewhere, but otherwise this is a pretty good thriller.

Mama

Mama (PG-13) 2013

Directed by Andres Muschietti

Starring:  Jessica Chastain, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau , Megan Charpentier, Isabelle Nélisse, Daniel Kash and Julia Chantrey

Here We Go:  Two little girls are left to fend for themselves in a cabin in the woods, but a supernatural mother comes forward to raise them for years as her own.  Mama is a twisted, creepy movie with a good back story and a solid ending.  The little girls were so believable that they easily sold the story with their expressions alone.  Just watching little wild children scurrying around is disturbing enough, but then enter the evil mother and littlest one looking like an adoring lunatic and the creep-factor increases.  It must be said that Jessica Chastain played her part beautifully - her reactions and delivery are so real that you can easily forget that she is just acting.    The ending could have easily gone for predictable, but I think there's enough of a twist to take you off guard.

Bottom Line:  Watch it!

The Hills Have Eyes

The Hills Have Eyes (R) 2006

Directed by Alexandre Aja

Starring:  Kathleen Quinlan, Vinessa Shaw, Emilie de Ravin, Aaron Stanford, Desmond Askew, Dan Byrd, Robert Joy, Ted Levine and Michael Bailey Smith

Here We Go:  A family goes on a road trip, their vehicle is ambushed in the desert and they are basically hunted as they strive to a find a way to survive.  This movie has some disturbing bad guys, eerie settings and a continuous string of desperation for the good guys, which adds to the creep-factor.  On the other hand, there are so many moments that make you want to yell common sense at the characters that you can't help but end up feeling like they deserve anything that comes their way.  There are a few moments that will  make you jump and a good dose of gore.

Bottom Line:  Watch it for some mindless entertainment, but only if it's free.

Dorian Gray

Dorian Gray (2009) R

Directed by Oliver Parker

Starring: Ben Barnes, Colin Firth, Ben Chaplin, Rebecca Hall, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Caroline Goodall, Emilia Fox, Douglas Henshall, Fiona Shaw and Maryam d'Abo

Here We Go:  Oh Dorian...what a screw up you are.  The innocent Dorian (Barnes) is influenced by a man with no moral compass to just do whatever he wants and lead a life of indulgence.  Eventually, Dorian becomes a complete creep and basically takes down those closest to him.  Watching this movie was like watching something on how STDs happen, followed by why not to do drugs, and then the downfalls of alcohol.  As Dorian continues to butterfly as the world's biggest warning label, you see that people are aging and he's not.  Good concept, but it felt like the movie dragged on for awhile and the repetitive debauchery quickly became dull.  The ending was well done and there's a even a jump-in-your-seat moment.

Bottom Line:  Watch it but only if it's free....or if you want to scare a troublesome teenager straight.

House Hunting

House Hunting (2013) R

Directed by Eric Hurt

Starring:  Marc Singer, Art LaFleur, Hayley DuMond, Janey Gioiosa, Paul McGill, Rebekah Kennedy, Victoria Vance and Emma Rayne Lyle

Here We Go:  Think "Groundhog Day" meets "The Amityville Horror."  The basic plot of the movie is interesting:  people are drawn to an isolated house and they soon discover that, no matter how far they wander from the house, they always end up right back where they started.  Unfortunately, the writing and acting don't live up to the potential of the story.  Then there's the little ghost boy wearing Halloween makeup around his eyes...it's just lame.  House Hunting is good for having something on in the background while you're doing other things but this should not be the focal point of your evening of entertainment.  I will give the writers credit for a decent ending that brought the story full circle.  One of the biggest problems was that there did not seem to be any climax.  There was a beginning, a long middle that dragged out, and then the movie ended.  

Bottom Line:  Watch it when you cannot find anything else.

Compliance

Compliance (2012) R

Directed by: Craig Zobel

Starring:  Sophia Lin, Craig Zobel, Theo Sena, Lisa Muskat, and Tyler Davidson

Here We Go:  What in the hell?!  I get that this movie is based on real life events, but the sheer fact that these people were this dumb in real life makes watching this movie painful.  I had to watch it just to see.  My torturous curiosity nagged at me until I couldn't take it anymore and I watched.  I watched with my jaw on the floor and threw in the occasional scoff, which I took as my body's way of checking that I hadn't actually slipped into some sort of stupidity induced coma.  The acting was decent, specifically, Sophia Lin's.  However, it's impossible to get past that these people are acting out things that actually happened.  The people that inspired this movie should be entered into a program for adults with special needs.

Bottom Line:  Watch it to settle your curiosity, OR to remind yourself that you're smarter than an entire restaurant staff.

The Woman in Black

The Woman in Black (2012) PG-13

Directed by: James Watkins

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Ciarán Hinds, Janet McTeer, and Liz White

Here We Go:  Harry Potter can't be a father in a horror movie!  No, wait.  Yeah, he can and he nailed it.  This movie was pretty damn good, and it made me jump several times, which is not an easy feat.  It had a good story line, plenty of drama, a spooky house that's clearly haunted and kids... let's face it, kids are scary.  To make things even better, the ending wasn't predictable.  Way to go, Harry Potter, you done good.   

Bottom Line:  Watch it!

Nine Dead

Nine Dead (2009) R

Directed by: Chris Shadley

Starring: Melissa Joan Hart, John Terry, Chip Bent...and a bunch of other people I've never heard of.

Here We Go:  I was ready to hate this because Sabrina the Teenage Witch can't act, but Melissa Joan Hart was decent with what she had to work with.  On the other hand, the strip club owner tried his hand at acting like he was related to the producer.  How did he get booked?  Drunken casting call at a local Fridays?  Either way, it wasn't a movie to write home about, but it was still fun to sit around throwing around guesses about what the hell was going on and why.  

Bottom line:  Check it out but only if it's free.

Session 9

Session 9 (2001) R

Directed by Brad Anderson

Starring: David Caruso, Peter Mullan, Stephen Gevedon, Paul Guilfoyle, Josh Lucas, and Brendan Sexton III

Here We Go: The movie is set around the naturally creepy Danvers State Hospital.  The location is what makes this worth watching because until about the last ten minutes you don't really encounter anything "scary."  It's a slow developing story that introduces you to an asbestos abatement team working to clean out the abandoned hospital in just one week. The movie seems to try to go to great lengths to show you details of the asbestos abatement process (mostly unnecessary for the plot) but at the same time the work crew uses the wrong equipment and seemingly has no problem breathing in asbestos or rubbing it into their eyes during breaks.  If you get past the technical deficiencies, the story is solid and the acting of Caruso and Mullan as the two main characters is excellent. The ending left something to be desired but the first 90 minutes are worth watching and the setting of the hospital makes for an interesting story. 

Bottom Line: Worth watching but don't spend money for the rental.

Abduction

Abduction (2011) PG-13

Directed by John Singleton

Starring: Taylor Lautner, Lily Collins, Alfred Molina, Jason Isaacs, Maria Bello, Sigourney Weaver, Michael Nyqvist, and Dermot Mulroney

Here We Go:  Abduction is one of those movies that keeps you on your toes and interested from start to finish.  Nathan (Taylor Lautner) has a insanely intense father (Jason Issacs), and it's hard to understand the family dynamic, but then things start rolling.  As soon as you think you know what's going on, a new twist enters the picture, and you have to start putting the pieces together again.  During the movie, I actually said that "this movie has it all." There's action, suspense, mystery, and Taylor Lautner shirtless... if you're into that kinda thing.  It's a smart movie that comes with plenty of "Oh!  I get it now" moments.


Bottom line: Watch it.  There's something for everyone.