Change Your Image
rotex29
Ratings
Most Recently Rated
Lists
An error has ocurred. Please try againReviews
Snatched (2017)
If It's Bad You Want, Its Bad You'll Get
The saddest part of this mom/daughter duo comedy, is that Goldie Hawn had to participate in this stinker after being away from film for 15 years. She should have stayed away, as she still had the chops to have gone out on top, but now she unfortunately will be remembered to have been involved with a very, very, bad movie. Shumer can't roust laughs with another regurgitation of genital based humour, nor can she seem to even improvise; something which should come easy to her as it's any comedian's bread and butter. The reaching for jokes is insulting enough for the viewer, the forcing of a very bad script adds to the hurt. With a story-line that makes little sense at times, we are exposed to characters who seem to have little to do with the plot or are devoid of character development in the example of Wanda Sykes and Joan Cusak playing a gay couple (we can't even be sure of this) with special ops training, spoiling for a fight they never get. Or the incredibly handsome, mysterious "James", the man who creates the love interest for Shumer. He takes her out for dancing and adventure, and then disappears after they are "snatched" to only sheepishly re-appear tied to a chair later in the movie (Sykes and Cusak grab him), admitting to his role in the plot. This is an example of where we are left wondering, why is a gorgeous Australian guy like this trolling pool bar lounges at resorts in Ecuador looking for low to mid- income mother/daughter teams to kidnap? And for what purpose? Do the kidnappers think they are wealthy? Is there some mistaken identity here? If so, nobody told the viewers! In this movie, Amy Shumer's character has no job, and Goldie Hawn's performance revolves around a husband-less retirement,and taking care of three cats. I apologize for being a stickler about having some kind of organized plot, even though its the aim of movie makers to take you on an adventure when you go to the theatre. It's difficult to take this mildly seriously when it makes no sense at all. There is absolutely nothing which feels real in this film, other than the stringing along of stupid characters and less interesting jokes and attempting to weave it into something interesting and funny. The attempts to create some type of chemistry between Shumer and Hawn as a mother and daughter with different visions of their relationship doesn't get us there, and we realize quickly we're watching a film with gold medal attempts to "force' their situation on us, and hope it works. In all, the simple facts are the the writing is poor, Shumer just isn't funny, and Goldie is a sad reprisal of herself, lowering her talent to match both of these unsettling characteristics of the film.
The Magnificent Seven (2016)
Great? No. Entertaining? Hell Yes!
As Hollywood tends to do, it once again attempts to regurgitate another remake of a successful old classic, hoping for a box office victory . Sadly, sometimes success cannot be transcended over 57 years no matter how many special effects are used, whatever adjustments are made to the original story, and in this particular movie, whomever they use to prop up the leading roles of the 7 gunslinger killers banding together to save the town from a villainous, greedy and violent mining magnate. Again, Hollywood not wanting to leave out one single potential ticket buyer, has remade this new version with actors representing a politically correct stew of race, creed, sexual proclivities, gender equality and disassociating emotional behaviours and in hopes of enticing a broader audience. Where the 1960's version of the "Magnificent 7" heroes were primarily white, heterosexual, mentally astute and focused on the task at hand, we now are presented with an African American, a Latino, A Native American, an Asian, and three Caucasians who each has their psychological and physiological balls and chains; Chris Pratt with an overabundance of testosterone boastfully referring to himself as the "world's greatest lover", Vincent D'Onofrio, a violent, religious zealot killing in the name of God, and Ethan Hawke, playing a confederate sharpshooter hearing voices, his past haunting him into night sweats. All that aside, we are given the a more violent version of the original, an obvious by product of our protagonists' individual agendas (which we are not privy to, at least for 6 of the characters, and not until the end). Unfortunately, the movie cannot stand on its story, alone. Its a recognizable rehash of good versus evil, god versus the devil. There is only one place to go and that is where we expect to. The Magnificent 7 will trump the antagonists, send them to Hell, and in the end, vengeance will prevail. Lets not forget that although we have a weak and predictable story-line, a terrible script, we have some damn good actors in this movie. Peter Sarsgaard plays Bartholomew Bogue, the vile and inexplicably violent mine owner, who we can grow to despise quickly. His impish cowardly behaviour sets us up to hate him, and root for the visiting team. Chris Pratt throws his easy-going loose- lipped quips into the mix, and we can buy his shtick. Denzel Washington, although getting long in the tooth, is nothing short of great, although he has little good stuff to spew from a weak script. And finally Ethan Hawke, who can pull together a great character in "Goodnight" Robicheaux a troubled, civil war sharpshooter, sporting greasy hair, facial scar and a gold tooth. In spite of his demons we root for him, no matter how bad he was in his past life. But lets get back to the jist of the movie. Was it great? No. Was it good? On some fronts. Was it watchable. Definitely. Is it Academy Award worthy? No. So lets put aside the lousy dialogue, the predictable story, and the poor quality character development and lets just be mindlessly entertained with a woofer blowing, bang bang soundtrack for two hours and twelve minutes. Good enough for me.
War Dogs (2016)
Worth The Ride!
While watching this film about two guys who figured out a way to virtually have the American Government hand them $300 million dollars, I found myself rooting desperately for them, much akin to the Bad News Bears hitting a bottom of the ninth grand slam for the Little League World Series. It wasn't so much about bilking the US government for something as American as guns, it was about a couple of loose playing, fast talking societal rejects getting the upper hand where they just had no business with any hand at all. This movie, which is promoted as being fact based, is definitely worth your time. Jonah Hill plays Efraim Diveroli, a small time hustler who has figured a way to play in in the big game of procurement for Government contracts, specifically supplying arms to the Pentagon. He works on a little known program implemented after it was revealed that US VP Dick Cheney's associates and friends were benefactors of huge government military contracts. The procurement program allows small American businesses to participate in the provision of supplies to the American government's war effort. The beauty of Efraim's methods included scanning the back pages of the government's website listing all contracts up for bid, and then digging out the small, almost overlooked "Requests For Proposals" which the big players understandably avoid. As he says, "I live on the crumbs". His efforts pay off, and he begins to fill his pockets on small contracts, working as a middleman, never touching or seeing the arms he sells, while he dances the nights away in the hot nightclubs of Miami and beds prostitutes for good measure. Enter David Packouz (Miles Teller) who ekes out his living as a "licenced masseuse", dragging his massage table from one waterfront mansion to another. However, he knows there is more out there for him and he's going to get his slice of American Pie. While in the midst of an idea to sell bed sheets to retirement homes in South Florida, he realizes that he has blown his life savings on 64 cartons of sheets, and in spite of his best efforts, he is unable to sell them. He's desperate, his girlfriend is pregnant, and he is resigned to losing his investment and having to refocus his efforts on his massage business, which he is trying to avoid. As luck would have it, during a funeral in Miami, David sees his childhood friend, Efraim Diveroli, recently relocated from California, suntanned and adorned by designer sunglasses sitting a few feet away. A short catch up on the happenings, recounting days as eleven year olds at summer camp, and a night prowling the nightclubs together, before long, Efraim and David are business partners and small arms dealers. Using the same strategy of picking up contracts which nobody wants, David begins to learn the ins and outs of the business quickly and before long, both men have matching Porsches, apartments in same high-rise building on the beach, plenty of cocaine, and money falling out of their pockets in the hot spots of South Beach. What is fascinating about the story however, is the sheer luck which they encounter, when they find a contract on the US government's procurement website for ammunition and arms needed in Iraq which could total over 300 million dollars. They virtually have no idea how to get it, and this is where it all gets interesting, they pull off the impossible. They win the contract, and in loser fashion, they are told their bid was close to $50 million dollars less than the next competing bid, which to them is money left on the table. They can't believe it. However, the story is only beginning here, and it is the vehicle to reveal the depth of integrity and honesty of our protagonists, their personal beliefs and the test of their friendship. Its a roller coaster ride through wrestling and pinning down the American dream through greed and capitalism and how it changes who we are. The bottom line is that this movie comes through on depicting just how greed can lay the groundwork for betrayals on every level of a friendship.
End of a Gun (2016)
Where Have You Gone, Steven?
Where did the star of "Above The Law" go? Where is that svelte, femur snapping dude who had us waiting for the next villain to tell him to go to hell? Well, long gone, I guess. An overweight caricature of Steven Segal appears to be starring in a genre where he is no longer in his element. The whispering, slang using ladies man, who could kick the eyes out of a snake at sixty paces, is no more. Instead, we're faced with something we cannot recognize, a man who is attempting to woo us with action hero status, but not quite getting there. His "gangsta" lingo and attitude with the French police (who do not have French accents, curiously) who are investigating his killing of a mobster in a parking lot, just isn't making the grade. We see something that looks so ridiculous and out of place, it causes us to allow the story-line to wisp about in thin air, and we cannot seem to catch it. With a twenty-something cutie (he's rescued from a violent boyfriend) coming on to a bloated, sixty-four year old in Segal, its difficult for any viewer to believe in the story, even those of us who are rooting for the old "Nikko" to jump out at any time. Even in the over- choreographed and under-whelming fight scenes, which quite frankly, have us scratching our heads in disbelief, we come to realize how bad this film is, and how much we long for the Steven Segal of old.
Kevin Can Wait (2016)
Sadly Underwhelming!
Watching the pilot, my expectations were nothing short of Kevin James bringing back his '90s "King Of Queens" sitcom comedic magic to the small screen and entertaining us with his every-man's life and his entanglements in hilarious family situations. However the time which has passed between his first hit show and his recent foray back into television did not help recreate the comedic magic we'd come to love. The retread show "Kevin Can Wait" (the obvious play on the 80's movie title "Heaven Can Wait" with Warren Beatty) stalls out quickly with what looks like a hasty reorganization of the same "King of Queens" premise; juvenile minded,beer swilling blue collar buds, the younger, cute wife who plays the straight-woman providing a constant situational reality check, and an assemblage of kids who conveniently drum up new obstacles for Kevin to manage, much like he did with his live-in father-in law, Arthur in the "King Of Queens" so many moons ago. His twenty-something daughter is moving back in from college to live in the apartment above the garage in Kevin Can Wait, whereas Arthur lived in the basement in the King of Queens. She also brings along her British husband who possesses a handbag full of quirks which don't fall into the thinking pattern of a retired tough guy cop in Kevin, who barely tolerates the living situation. What is hard to swallow here, is the level of talent besides James. It just doesn't cut it, his co-star Erinn Hayes can't punch up the comedy with James, and is often left with the unfunny lines in the script, to fill the 20 minutes. His boozing buddies find themselves the butt of all James' jokes, which is the easy way out for these actors, never pushing any comedic talent out of their mouths. But if we get down to it, the whole problem here is the timing. The attractiveness and story-line of Kevin James' comedy is lost on a virtual regeneration of an old idea, far too long gone to be funny anymore. With the plethora of new comedy shows which are setting the bar much higher than ever before, "Kevin Can Wait" will draw audiences who, like me, will appreciate what once was. James still has it as a good comedian, but this maybe just a bit too big and too much of a task for him to shoulder on his own.
D3: The Mighty Ducks (1996)
About As Bad As It Gets!
This third instalment of the Mighty Ducks hockey trilogy doesn't do the first two justice. Its a god awful movie with a thin plot line, with Emilio Estevez thrown in to attract watchers who expected him to play his previous roles of Mighty ducks coach. His participation in this movie was only a couple of scenes which had me scratching my head. He had the starring role in both previous movies. Sadly, the incorporation of new characters on this team cannot salvage this movie as the poor acting and the terrible skill level of the hockey team in general do not lend itself to any believability. There is absolutely no way a team of this calibre could ever play at the high school or prep school level as this movie depicted and built into a story-line. Disney should have hired actors or at least hockey players to fill in the Ducks team to at least make it somewhat realistic. The Alumni varsity team (the antagonists) were also terrible hockey players and again, it leads to an unrealistic experience for a sports movie. You want to root for the Ducks, but you just can't. They are so bad, they shouldn't even be on the ice. Many of the players, including main actor Joshua Jackson, can barely skate. (most likely they used doubles, it would seem?). As with all sports movies, there is a lesson to be learned here, and its about humility and doing the right thing, but in this case, Disney has done the wrong thing by trying to extend the success of the Duck's movies to this lousy representation of a movie worth watching. NOT RECOMMENDED.
Counting Cars (2012)
Interesting and Fact Based: A Good Watch
Great premise for a show, if there weren't throngs of other car restoration shows on TV. But this one is slightly different.
Propped up by the backdrop of glitzy Las Vegas, the show revolves around Danny Koker, a well-known Vegas personality who's business interests not only surround cars, but tattoo parlours and bars. The show is creatively scripted, as most reality shows, and contains obviously cast-ed story-lines examples being one of Koker's cast of characters restoring their own car, or taking on the teaching duties of "airbrushing" to a colleague, all to have a contest at the end to see who is the better airbrush artist. Some shows focus on a specific customer and their story, which can tug at the heartstrings and keeps it interesting. The viewer is filled in on specific facts related to the original vehicle, and is given a glimpse into how Koker and his team are going to approach each project. In the end, Koker and his team do their magic on an automobile or motorcycle raised from the scrapyard, only to bring it back to a greater glory. His work is fabulous and his attention to detail, although good, sometimes shows up on some of the smaller stuff, like headlight chrome which remains pitted and dull remaining on what is a beautifully restored auto. Could be an issue with not being able to find a 60 year old part? So I never said the show was perfect. Barring that, its an interesting watch, however too much time is spent on the story-lines in my opinion, where more could be dedicated to the intricacies of the beautiful work they do, and focusing on the difficulties of exactly how they get it done, like re- manufacturing parts where none are able to be found. Did I mention the headlight chrome? All in all, Koker is an engaging sort. He has what seems an warm TV personality, a good heart and a good soul. He helps out the Vets with doing things for no money, and takes time to look after those who have been dealt a bad hand or have an unfortunate story, which makes this totally watchable. Take a look, it will help you kill 30 minutes.
Bloodline (2015)
Twists, Turns and Captivating Plot!
Having watched the first season of "Bloodline" last year, it was a long wait for season 2 which vaulted itself nicely from the cliffhanger which viewers like me were dangling on and anticipating. With a more sophisticated story-line, the writers have made a successful attempt at character development which is critical for viewer understanding of the implications of each profile and their importance to the story. The unravelling of the family dynamic will keep the viewer captivated, as well as numerous plot twists to keep the tension at an all time high, as each episode escalates into a greater drama for the Rayburn Family. Season 2 will deliver, there's no doubt about it. If you were a fan of "Bloodline" from the first set of episodes, you will not be disappointed in the second round, which by the way, hosts only 10 episodes, a departure from the 13 in the first season. We now look forward to Season 3, which if following the format of Season two, promises to be even better, we would expect.
Misconduct (2016)
Unpredictable Number of Twists!
Although watchable, the writers have tried a little too hard to fool the viewer by adding some late twists and turns. In the end, one is left replaying the movie in their head just to figure out exactly what happened. Al Pacino was close to being a bit player in this movie, his star-power did little to help the fact that this just wasn't a great film on a number of levels. Josh Duhamel and Sir Anthony Hopkins were just not believable in their respective roles as a litigation hungry young attorney and mega-rich corrupt CEO of a pharmaceutical company. Sir Anthony Hopkins just didn't seem ruthless and capitalistic enough for my taste, and any number of older American Hollywood actors could have easily filled the bill with more credibility, such as Christopher Walken or Jack Nicholson, for example. The script was predictable and light, with little character development. It was a good try, but a swing and a miss.
Cry Wolfe (2014)
God Awful
When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep - not screaming, like the passengers in his car. This was me, screaming to the end of an episode of "Cry Wolfe" because I couldn't find fresh batteries for my remote so I could change the channel or better yet, turn it off. Sobriety has done me no favours. Watching Mr. Wolfe try to solve crimes is akin to watching a mentally handicapped person attempting to solve the "The Gaussian Integral" in mathematics. I think that the show has to be some type of hoax, with Mr. Wolfe perpetuating a grand and hilarious joke on the inebriated viewers who just don't have the gumption or manual dexterity to change channels. This joke will be revealed in the second season which ID has now picked up. So, stay tuned to more of Mr. Wolfe and his cringeworthy skills and expertise as a top rate communicator, a Private Dick, and more importantly, a general Dick.
Mad Dogs (2015)
Needs More Character Development and Deeper Story Line
This show had great promise out of the gate with the pilot, however as it progressed, the storyline seemed to grow weaker. This supported by the introduction of new and random characters who seemed to add little to the plot (i.e Rochelle, the US Attache at the Embassy), or were added late in the series to create unneeded twists (the woman CIA operative). Billy Zane was seen only in the first episode and after that it was up to the viewer to speculate on his role, involvement in the story and his overall character's relationship to the plot and to each of the four men who came to visit him. (It was never really made completely clear). It almost seemed the writers wrote this on the fly, attempting to get the scripts in before the deadlines, without much thought to creating a "good and solid" storyline. The plot seemed to take on a gigantic life of its own without taking the viewer through the intricacies of the characters or story for adequate viewer understanding and digestion. For example, the disappointing thing is that with the great cast (Steve Zaun or Michael Imperioli), that character development was left primarily for our imaginations, with implication and random explanations of the men's past lives introduced at various places in the show. The writers might have included more background on each of the four men and their independent struggles with alcohol and drugs, professional misconduct, divorce, estranged children and marriage problems back in Chicago. As a result, the viewer was left to try to figure out why each of the men had motive for behaviours in the jungles of Belize. This could have been interesting fodder to keep the story going and send it easily into a second season. If it goes to a second season, (which at this point, it shouldn't) a number of improvements could be made to make the whole adventure more palatable.
The Affair (2014)
Weak At Best: Thin Plot Lines, Thick On Cliché
Nothing is worse than an affair without "commitment. The leads in this show who are consumed with cheating on their spouses to fulfil some unknown reasons only privy to themselves, spend more time questioning their behaviors than indulging in them. This leaves the watcher to question exactly what they are watching... Are they more interested in insuring that they can appease their own consciences with rationalization of their actions, or as in many scenes they appear to be constantly looking for a way out, most likely due to the fact their relationship seems to make no sense at all? They don't seem to care about displays of public affection in what is a small town, where everyone knows each other's business, there is no accountability to spouses or children as to their whereabouts, they have wanton disregard for the other's feelings and there is constant dramatic tension within the confines of their sexual relationship, as they seem to be having second thoughts mid orgasm. Thus, the lack of commitment, originality, and completely filled with cliché that accompanies any affair. The premise of them telling their story two different ways to a detective investigating a murder which is again is cliché filler, and for what unknown reason written into the story line, is an interesting premise however, but gets old just four episodes in. How the writers will fill in another dozen episodes should be interesting. Please write something to keep our attention!
The Last Ride (2011)
Worth a Watch
In a word, I found the movie to be quite entertaining, in part, because it mentions at the beginning that it is based on true events. I don't understand the $9 million dollar budget, as it looks like a movie that would have been shot for TV or straight to video. That aside, "The Last Ride" depicts a heart-warming study into a small piece of life of one of the most beloved and greatest country artists of all time, Hank Williams. As in most of his career, he was "looked after" by those around him, due to his unreliability in part as a result of terrible alcoholism and drug use (morphine to dull the pain of his spina bifada). This movie depicts a situation where everyone around him does their best to care for him, in their own way, to love him, and in the end, understand his poor choices, to a degree. On the downside, I think the movie tries hard to gain the empathy of the watcher, however falls short in endearing Williams character as a tortured soul, looking for acceptance in anyone he would meet. It might have been the acting. It bared a sad existence for the country legend, but it also was a story of an evolution of friendship between two men from different worlds who only knew each other a few days. I am not sure that casting Henry Thomas as Hank Williams was the right one. It seems that the quirky nature of Thomas' depiction of Williams seemed forced, looked unnatural. Jesse James on the other hand, played his young driver well, and believably acted a 19 year old kid who was taking a lesson in life from a master, (Williams) who had virtually seen and done it all, at the young age of 29. I was also mystified by the casting of Kaley Cuolco (Big Bang Theory), in that she didn't possess the "naturalness" of someone who lived in the '50s (I did), lacked the "southernness" for someone who was born and raised in the area, and seemed to be too "old" to be the love interest of Williams young driver. I think there might have been better choices for this role. I was also confused at the seeming lack of recognition that people had for Williams as one of the biggest music stars of the era. Some of the scenes where intelligent characters for example, such as a small town judge, didn't recognize him as a famous figure, once he was standing before him. This seemed very strange throughout the movie. The viewer only got a glimpse of his notoriety and fame when a bar owner at the end of the movie told the young driver, "Tell him my stage is his stage, anytime". Overall, the movie is a good watch. Its entertaining and interesting. I am not sure however, if it really was a top notch representation of the kind of character Hank Willams was, in the end.
Dads (2013)
Verifiably Terrible!
I have to admit, I watched the pilot and had a few laughs. I set it on my DVR as I thought I might enjoy watching it and give it a chance. Simply, I watch now if I have nothing else to do, as my curiosity is hinged on how bad each episode is getting. Its like watching a car crash, you can't look away. That's how bad this show is. I am never offended by the jokes or stereotyping, its just that the writing is absolutely terrible and the story-lines are worse. For someone like Seth McFarlane to write and produce this show, with the success and wit of Family Guy, somehow seems paradoxical.The wit in this show is non- existent, the reliance on one-liners to carry the humour when they are so badly written is evident. This is where the show falls down, and further damaged by the addition of a laugh track, when they advertise that it is filmed in front of a live audience? What gives? The actors are playing beneath their capability, and the only bright lights are the Dads themselves, Martin Mull's dry humour is not wasted here, however when entangled with such bad scripts, it's a shame. He's a great comedic actor and can deliver good performances in this dud. Typical fluff is included of course, like any sitcom, with little Asian cutie Brenda Song (there is always a lot of deference to her race in the script, for laughs) as part of the cast...she's pretty, but slightly chunky in the legs and butt and Hollywood is filled with beautiful, young Asian actresses who could have brought a whole different level of "sexy" to the show which may have offset some of the problems with the writing. And then there's Vanessa Lachey. She's pretty, but definitely showing her age (mid thirties)and totally miscast for the wife of one of Ghost Games partners. In my estimation, there is no need for Lachey to be in this show? Why not two single guys running their company, and building relationships with women as part of the story lines? They run a video game development company after all, a young minded place where fantasy and hormones could run wild and some good stories could come out of that concept if the producers are intent on bringing the sex factor into the show. Why is one of the company partners married, and what does it bring to the show? As well, there is absolutely no believable chemistry between Vanessa Lachey and her sitcom husband, Giovanni Ribisi, and its awkward to watch, and frankly, she could easily be written out of the show with no one noticing. I am unclear of why, other than getting a male audience to watch, that she is in the show ? This is a symptom of how bad the show has become. She has some talent as a TV host in other endeavours, but as an actress, she is weak and it shows. Song, on the other hand, has a lot of previous comedic acting gigs and does bring the some fodder for jokes and stereotyping, the "Asian factor" as I imagine was the original thought process on the concept in adding her to the show. In the pilot, it in included her as a stereotypical Asian fantasy girl (dressed in a schoolgirl outfit, with a short, short little skirt in a very submissive role) to set the tone for what was to come in the series. Seth Green constantly stretches for laughs, his lines in the scripts are based on unfunny one liners and its easy to tell, that half the time, his heart doesn't even seem to be in the delivery. His sitcom dad Peter Reitgert can prop him up in many of the scenes, but here again, there is little chemistry or back story to this relationship. So for Dads, based on lack of character development, use of actor "props" (Lachey) for no apparent reason or need, a terrible unfunny script and storyline from show to show, using laugh tracks because of the weakness in writing, makes this show a complete and total stinker, and not worth the 22 minutes on TV every week. Recent story lines included getting involved with the Mafia to help with a video game they were producing, and a very unfunny mobster made recommendations of a "know it all" actual meatball (as in spaghetti and meatballs) characters to be included in the game. And to top it off, the actor playing the mafia figure was absolutely terrible with stereotypical mafia talk, and an unbelievable story in hiring him as a consultant, when he shows how stupid he is through the script he is delivering. The believability of the show is constantly a problem. Stupid writing, stupid ideas and not funny stuff. Frankly,I am surprised this show hasn't been cancelled and even more surprised that Seth McFarlane and team haven't yet seen how poor this show is and done something about it. Has success Family Guy gone to their heads and they are so arrogant that they think this drivel is funny? I hope not. because it sure looks like it.
Dying to Belong (1997)
Predictable, but Watchable
One of Hilary Swanks first films, she does a fair job as student Lisa who joins a fraternity in her first year of college. What she doesn't know, is that the members of the fraternity mean girls and the story unwinds after her friend dies during a hazing incident which is propagated by the bad members of the frat. Lisa is torn between keeping fraternity secrets and doing the right thing, by telling investigators what she knows. Her boyfriend (Paul Michael Gossaler) tries to aid her in telling investigators about the activities of the frat, but he runs into problems which prevent him from helping. In the end of course Lisa does the right thing and the girls are implicated, but getting there is an edge of your seat ride, with a lot of predictability.
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013)
Horrendous
What a waste of 95 minutes. Predictable laughs and downright stupid dialogue and humour. The plot is awful with Jim Carrey playing a "Cris Angel" type character with pain based magic, who is challenging a traditional duo magician act (Carell and Buscemi)found in the big hotels in Vegas. They are competing with each other for a feature act role in a new, big hotel in Vegas, owned by a rich dude, played by James Gandolfini. Steve Carell is terrible as usual, and was miscast for this role, with acting that was over the top and using his infantile noises in attempts to bring humour to some scenes. Jim Carrey shouldn't have bothered with this role, he has lost his luster as a comedian and tried too hard. It showed. However, Steve Buscemi as Carell's partner in magic is watchable as usual, old magician and mentor Alan Arkin was at least funny in some spots, and a bright light (if there was one) was Olivia Wilde, although her character and place in the storyline as a female magician intern was weak, and did not mesh with the plot. This movie had so much more potential. Its too bad. Terrible movie all round.
The Woman in Black (2012)
A Predictable, Overused Concept
The premise of this film and story is about a ghost with a score to settle, terrorizing all those who enter a Gothic, uninhabited mansion separated from the town by a lake where the tides cut it off from escaping from it at night. This is very much like the concept of the remote hotel located in the snow covered mountains, cut off from civilization by snowed in roads in "The Shining". Except Stephen King is a master writer and a master of horror story telling, which is much better than this film or story. This film, set in the early 1900's, even with it's macabre and evil setting, backed by grey skies and even greyer landscape, is nothing more than "bump in the night" predictability layered through-out the film. The expectation that the lawyer (Daniel Radcliffe) sent to this home to sift through papers left by the dead occupant to settle a last will and testament, is going to encounter some scary stuff is just what it is; some run of the mill scary stuff one can see coming a mile away. The horror is overt and placating. The mystery is missing. It's expected. The plot line is thin. A long dead woman whose son had tragically died in a sunken vehicle and been left at the bottom of a marsh, meandered through the dark hallways of the house and cemetery outside to threaten anybody in its path. As the story progresses, until the dead son is retrieved from the bottom of the marsh, the spirit cannot rest. The plot finally settles in on the lawyer attempting to accomplish finding the dead son, as a result of some very astute detective work, as one would expect, in establishing exactly what the problem was. Again, its predictable, its too long, and if you want a good film with this imitated concept, watch The Shining. Its a better bet for the money, and surely will scare the hell out of you.