Monthly Archives: July 2017

Love that Luc Besson, or as he likes to refer to himself, “Monsieur Luc.” As in, “I prefer to produce. Zat way, when dinner time comes, I say to the director, ‘Bon chance,’ and he says, ‘Leaving, Monsieur Luc? But … Continue reading →

“Battle Scars” wraps itself in the flag, the Corps, the Purple Heart and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. But really, it’s just a lowdown and dirty B-thriller set in the underworld of any city in America that Johnny comes marching home … Continue reading →

Here’s a ferocious little gangland thriller with a Persian twist. “The Persian Connection” is a gangster picture set among Iranian ex-pats living, loving and dallying in the dark side of LA as they grapple with their tortured past. Reza Sixo … Continue reading →

The mean, miserly curmudgeon whom arthritic Maudie has come to work for lays down the law in the cruelest terms. “Let me tell you how it is around here,” Everett bellows. “There’s ME. There’s them dogs. Them chickens. Then YOU.” … Continue reading →

A little mid-summer horror is headed our way this weekend. Curious to see this one, and if it has more suspense and harrowing emotions than the indie Aussie thriller “Killing Ground.” I tend to roll my eyes at supernatural horror … Continue reading →

Harry Dean Stanton has classed up many a small role, from “The Rose” to “Alien,” “Escape from New York,” and “Paris, Texas” to “Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada.” Remember his famous line from “Red Dawn?” “AaaahhhhhhVENGE me, boys!” “Lucky” is … Continue reading →

Style points to the makers of “The Sabbatical” for puncturing, once and for all, the stereotype of “nice” Canadians for all of us below the 49th parallel. The film’s perpetually dyspeptic “hero” is cranky enough to put that “They’re just … Continue reading →

It’s not a fatal failing in “The Big Sick” that its star, co-writer and inspiration, Pakistani-American comic Kumail Nanjiani, isn’t the funniest thing in it. He almost is, right up until Holly Hunter and Ray Romano arrive, delivering the seemingly effortless … Continue reading →

Lean and relentless, patient and pitiless, “Killing Ground” is the sort of thriller that gives horror movies a good name. It’s a reminder that the scariest things we see on the screen aren’t necessarily supernatural — they’re dangers we face … Continue reading →

Huge opening weekend for the umpteenth “Spider-Man” movie, “Spider-Man: Homecoming.” Thursday night and Friday numbers point to a $125 opening, per Deadline.com.  A $50 million Friday for the film, adding the webslinger to the Marvel/Avengers universe, points to an opening … Continue reading →