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Hits: 1727
“Kindergarten Cop 2” is not a sequel to the first one. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s character does not reappear nor does the villain from the original 1990 action comedy. This one gets a F for total lack of effort or attention to detail. Lundgren’s character is not even a cop, per se, Agent Zack Reed is in the FBI.
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Hits: 1624
Written and directed by Ricky Gervais “Special Correspondents” is a Netflix Original remake of the 2009 French comedy “Envoyés très spéciaux” (So not quite too original after all.). Starring Gervais, Eric Bana, Vera Farmiga, America Ferrera, Kelly Macdonald and Kevin Pollak (with a cameo by Benjamin Brat) the film retells the tale of two radio journalists who miss their flight to cover a war (insurgence) in Ecuador.
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Directed by Letia Clouston from a screenplay by Jake Helgren (based on a story by Elizabeth Snoderly) “Accidentally Engaged” stars Brant Daugherty (Pretty Little Liars, Relationship Status), Lexi Giovagnoli and guest stars Maureen McCormick (better known to fans as Marsha from The Brady Bunch) in an old fashioned sort of romantic film where the fun quotient outweighs the drama.
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Hits: 1188
The mark of any good film is the urge to immediately watch it again after viewing. “Bone Tomahawk,” with Kurt Russell battling cannibals, is one such film. With just enough truth in the production to make is stand out as a straight up western, this horror film combines genres even better than the 2008 film The Burrowers.
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Hits: 1437
“Wild Card” is a remake of the 1986 Burt Reynolds film “Heat”. Scribed by one of the most prolific and award winning screenwriters in Hollywood, William Goldman, the first film suffered from a fractious atmosphere on set and a so-so reception from the public and critics alike. Director Dick Richards and Reynolds had a falling out on the movie and Burt broke Dick’s jaw before firing the director.
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Hits: 1887
Directed by Kyle Newman and written by John D’Arco “Barely Lethal” is a light trip down teen action comedy lane with Hailee Steinfeld as Agent 83/Megan Walsh. A teen orphan who has been trained to be a black ops assassin practically from birth. The girl is good at her job, the first to be field ready, but she longs to be a real teenager. High school, boys, classes on normal subjects and the school prom are all things Megan dreams of.
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Hits: 2018
Directed by the masterful, and Oscar winning, Barry Levinson (Rain Man, Good Morning Vietnam) from a script by Mitch Glazer (Scrooged, The Recruit) and starring Oscar Nominee Bill Murray, “Rock the Kasbah” is an eclectic mix of Murray, Afghanistan, dodgy American businessmen and the wonder of televised talent shows.
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Hits: 2260
Quentin Tarantino and his publicity heavy film “The Hateful Eight” (It should have been billed as the movie that was almost never made) is entertaining in a “The Thing” meets the west sort of way. Tarantino has said that he was massively influenced by John Carpenter’s film, which also had Kurt Russell in it, as well as TV westerns like “Bonanza.” Although it still feels like this film owes more to Sergio Leone than “High Chaparral.”
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“Uncle John” stars character actor John Ashton who is perhaps best remembered from “Beverly Hills Cop” (as John Taggart) as the title character whose murder of a local bully who has gotten religion consumes his time. The pacing is almost slow motion compared to fast paced thrillers but the film is impossible to stop watching.
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Hits: 1687
It is hard to find fault with the British horror film “Howl.” It delivers some delicious terror courtesy of British Rail, or its imaginary equivalent, and it has some familiar faces and names from the world of horror.
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Hits: 2717
Not having a discernible budget means little in the overall scheme of things. “Kill Kane,” starring Vinnie Jones could have been an edge of the seat thriller. Shane Meadows, for example, made the brilliant Dead Man’s Shoes (with Paddy Considine and Toby Kebbel) for a pittance and the film was unforgettable.
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Hits: 1562
Based on Megan McCafferty‘s book, part of a series, Jessica Darling’s IT List follows the journey of our heroine as she begins junior high school, aka middle school, and all the missteps along the way. Jessica is a young lady who does not get overly excited about dating, finding the right friends or wearing fashionable clothes.
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Hits: 1999
The Fundamentals of Caring is yet another 2016 feel good film with a plucky young person overcoming a horrific condition. In this case Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. While it is all too easy to write this effort off with an unhealthy dose of cynicism, like some critics on some sites (Like, cough, cough; The LA Times.), this road trip film does deliver.
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Hits: 1880
Jarhead 3: The Siege feels like a CoD (Call of Duty) movie minus the first person shooter perspective. The third in a short trio of films that started with the 2005 “biopic” Jarhead with Jake Gyllenhaal, this one leaves the subject of sniping and Desert Storm behind, as did Jarhead 2.
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Hits: 1549
Anyone who has played survival horror video games will appreciate this 2016 movie from John Suits. Written by Dustin T. Benson and starring Rachel Nichols, Missi Pyle, Pat Healy, Alfie Allen, Mekhi Phifer and Paul Guilfoyle; Pandemic is a mixture of different influences.
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There is an long standing axiom that states “too may cooks spoil the broth” and in most cases that is true. In anthology films like Southbound, however, this does not apply. This five tale offering rocks from the very first vignette to its thread tying finale.
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Hits: 1843
The Adderall Diaries is taken from Stephen Elliot’s semi-autobiographical first novel “A life Without Consequences” and the author is quick to point out that this was a work of fiction. Adapted and directed by Pamela Romanowsky (her second feature length film as director) the film follows Stephen Elliot, played by James Franco as he unravels while following a murder case.
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Hits: 1657
Directed and co-written by Jon Binkowski (Lisa Enos Smith was the other scribe on the project) Characterz is set in Florida theme park Old Time Fun Town and is an Indiegogo funded family comedy. Set in the world of “fuzzy” park characters and summertime jobs, the film has a cast full of familiar faces and voices.
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Hits: 1565
Written and directed by Karl Mueller (his second feature in the chair and fifth credit as writer) Rebirth stars Fran Kranz (The Cabin in the Woods, Dollhouse, JourneyQuest) as the feckless “everyman” Kyle. Kyle has a wife, a daughter and a bank job that he loathes.
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Hits: 1414
Written and directed by Abner Pastoll (His second feature length film.) Road Games follows the journey of English hitchhiker Jack (Andrew Simpson). The young Brit is making his way from Nice to Calais to catch a ferry back home. He rescues Véronique (Joséphine de La Baume) from a driver who is arguing with her and the two agree to team up.
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Hits: 1488
In what could be called a loving homage to all those Art House films, including the French New Wave cinema that took the world by storm in the 1950s and ’60s, Trilogie De Tragedie is a pseudo three act offering complete with French subtitles. The three segments, done by different directors all feature Tiffani Fest.
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Hits: 1289
Holidays is the 2016 anthology film to watch for chuckles and the odd disturbing vignette. There is a twist in a few of the tales which range from blackly comic to darkly disturbing. 10 directors do there best to bring some originality to the screen and pay homage to existing classic horror films and themes.
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Hits: 1179
It has been along time coming but at long last Hollywood, or more accurately FOX, have made a Marvel action film for the big kids. The ones who can get into a ‘R’ rated feature without being carded. Deadpool, aka Wade Wilson, joined the super anti-hero verse in the 1990s so this fourth wall breaking sensation is a new kid on the Marvel block.
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Hits: 1349
Written, directed and edited by Steven Alexander RussellTastes Like Medicine is a stark look at relationships, people and trauma. A young man has the love of his life leave him and five years later is invited to her baby shower. He goes through a meltdown at the party and creates a schism within himself. One where reality takes a different path from his own tortured perception of events.
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Written, directed, produced and edited by Sebastian Carrasco Mail Time shows what can be done with a minimal amount of production staff and money. At under 7 minutes long, this “silent” short film proves that “silence is golden” when done properly. (There is one spoken bit of dialogue, but that is done by actor Ed Norton in a clip from the 2006 film The Illusionist.)
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Hits: 1786
Captain America: Civil War has, to date, pulled in a box office returns in excess of $1 billion worldwide. The Russo brothers put their own stamp on this next installment in the development of the Avengers. The film pitted superhero against superhero and introduced another Marvel character while “borrowing” a couple more.
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Hits: 1729
Written and directed byJay Lender and Micah WrightThey’re Watching is a vastly entertaining blackly comic horror film set in Eastern Europe. It is yet another POV film, but without a unique device like the 2015 horror film “Nightlight.” While that medium is wearing out its welcome, this film manages to almost make it work.
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Hits: 1987
Written and directed by Sian Heder (Her first feature-length film.) Tallulah is a drama built around Ellen Page‘s “free spirit” character. Despite being an addictive film it is, ultimately, uncomfortable to watch.
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Directed and co-written by Jenna Ricker (her second feature length film) The American Side stars Greg Stuhr (who was the other scribe on the film) as PI Charlie Paczynski. Charlie is more or less old school. He does not carry a gun or a cell phone and he smokes like a proverbial chimney.
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Hits: 2031
Written by first time director Adam Alleca, Standoff is a verbose thriller that stars heavyweight actors Laurence Fishburne and Thomas Jane along with the excellent child actress Ella Ballentine (who already has 16 credits to her name). The film focusses upon this intimate cast after a murderous open and despite the claustrophobic nature of the setting entertains.
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Written and directed by Bob Nelson (his first time in the chair) The Confirmation is clearly influenced by the 1948 Vittorio De Sica classic Bicycle Thieves. It could even be considered a “re-working” or modernization of the Oscar nominated film. The plots are interchangeable:
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In 2007 Bulgarian iconographer Jordan Opitz shot and killed a drug addict whom he believed burgled his home. The young addict also ran towards the artist wielding a screwdriver. Jordan used a modified gas pistol to shoot the young man who ran off and died later.
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Hits: 1925
Crossing Point is a capable action thriller that stars newcomer Shawn Lock as Michael; a gringo tourist in Tijuana whose girlfriend is kidnapped. He is forced to run cocaine across the border to San Ysidro or she will die. He has 12 hours to make the drop. The drugs cannot be damaged, stolen, lost or confiscated. If any of these things happen both Michael and Olivia will be executed.
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Hits: 1951
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It is a sport not known for being kind to its participants. Long term fighters are damaged, like the United Kingdom’s Frank Bruno for example. Boxing has been referred to as the “Gentleman’s Sport” and Touch Gloves infers that it still is. Ray Herbert and his gym use boxing as a societal aid, helping young, and not so young, inner-city kids find an outlet for aggression.
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Hits: 1750
It took almost three years for this tepid and troubled remake of “Hannie Caulder” to be released. Taking so long, in fact, that co star, and co-writer of Jane Got a Gun, Joel Edgerton wrote, directed and co-starred in his own film, “The Gift.”
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Hits: 1826
In many ways Mothers and Daughters should have been a runaway chick flick hit. It had a bevy of very talented and beautiful actresses in the lead roles and all have chops for days. A cast that featured two Oscar winners and one Oscar nominee should have been near perfect. However the film is more mellow-drama than flat out drama and felt little more than a television “movie of the week.”
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Hits: 2307
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Forsaken, the 2016 western starring both the Sutherland’s could be seen as Kiefer’s version of the Clint Eastwood film Unforgiven. Not in texture, however, as Sutherland’s film is much less downtrodden. While there are control issues in the story, the town and scenery are nowhere near as bleak as Eastwood’s oater.
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Hits: 3257
In a perfect world the “rave” or more accurately the EDM fest, XOXO could really be as depicted in this film. A place where young people can get lost in the music and not worry about overdosing on ecstasy (E) or being mugged, shot, stabbed or attacked (or even dying).
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Hits: 2691
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Written and directed by Tony Elliot (his first feature length film at the helm) ARQ stars Robbie Amell and Rachel Taylor as a couple caught in time. The film takes place in a dystopian post apocalyptic world and provides a different take on “time travel.” The two people are caught in a repeating cycle, so it is spin, rinse, repeat, over and over and over…
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Hits: 2401
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Written and co-directed by Rick Anthony (Bryce Schlamp also sat in the director’s chair and had a cameo as Lucas’ boss in the film) Patient 62 is a thriller and action film with a science fiction theme.
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Nanette Burstein (who has a number of documentaries under her belt including the 2002 film “The Kid Stays in the Picture” which was a close look at coke head film producer Robert Evans) takes on John McAfee. Burstein does a good job peeling back the multiple layers of B.S. that surrounds the software tycoon and megalomaniac.
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Written and directed by Oz Perkins (son of Anthony), I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House is his second feature sitting in the driver’s seat and it shows promise beyond measure.
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Hits: 1384
Written and directed by K. Patrick Tutera, The Last Hurrah is, in essence, a loving homage to film noir and another archetype of the time, the femme fatale. It is an intimate look at two people who were married and had a child together.
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Hits: 1487
Written and directed by Christopher Di Nunzio (A Life Not to Follow, Under the Dark Wing) Delusion is a slow dark look at the grieving process set against an urban backdrop. There is a mixture of the paranormal and a touch of evil as a man tries to come to grips with his wife’s death.