MOVIE REVIEW: THE RENTAL

Two couples on an oceanside getaway grow suspicious that the host of their seemingly perfect rental house may be spying on them. Before long, what should have been a celebratory weekend trip turns into something far more sinister.

Director: Dave Franco

Cast: Dan Stevens, Alison Brie, Sheila Vand, Jeremy Allen White, Toby Huss

Release Date: July 24, 2020

Genres: Horror, Thriller

Rated R for violence, language throughout, drug use and some sexuality

Runtime: 1h 29min

Review:

Dave Franco’s debut film is polished but inconsistent.  Franco does a good job of setting up the interpersonal dynamics which gives us a palatable sense of tension from the get go.  He lets it simmer until it comes to boil in the final act with gruesome results.  Unfortunately, most horror fans will see most twist coming a mile away and it’s ultimately a retread of countless home terror type films like The Strangers.  Still a strong cast led by the ever reliable Dan Stevens keeps the whole thing watchable.  He and his cast have great chemistry together which makes these characters feel like living breathing people and not just fodder for the meat grinder.  This gives the film an air of authenticity that makes it easier to overlook some of the story’s shortcomings.  Those horror fans looking for something super gruesome or supernatural will be left wanting because this film is solely focused on the terrible things people do which ultimately might be scarier than anything.

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: PALM SPRINGS

Stuck in a time loop, two wedding guests develop a budding romance while living the same day over and over again.

Director: Max Barbakow

Cast:  Andy Samberg, Cristin Milioti, Peter Gallagher, J. K. Simmons, Meredith Hagner, Camila Mendes, Tyler Hoechlin

Release Date: July 10, 2020

Genres:  Comedy, Fantasy, Mystery 

Rated R for sexual content, language throughout, drug use and some violence

Runtime: 1h 30min

Review:

Max Barbakow's debut film will feel instantly familiar to lots of people who've seen Groundhog Day, 50 First Dates or even the recent horror comedy Happy Death Day.  At times, the film feels like an amalgam of those film’s ideas, but the impressive thing is that Barbakow’s film does not come off terribly derivative even though it is.  His direction is breeze and easy to like especially once the general concept is laid out.  The story itself is very much in line with Andy Samburg’s type of humor, sophomoric but there is always an air of sweetness and general lack of cynicism.  People who enjoyed previous Lonely Island productions like Hot Rod, Popstar or even Brooklyn Nine-Nine will feel right at home here.  Samburg being paired with Cristin Milioti makes the film work far more than it would in lesser hands.  They both share solid screen chemistry which can make or break these kinds of movies.  Together they make for a likeable couple so much so that you will probably overlook the fact that there a strong rom-com vibe throughout the story.  The film could have made better use of J. K. Simmons because his storyline would have been fun to explore but he still makes the film pop when his character pops up.  Palm Springs is the kind of fun, breezy film that’s eager please and it does for the most even though it doesn’t bring a ton of new to the table.

B

MOVIE REVIEW: RELIC

A woman links her mother's increasingly volatile behavior to an evil presence at their family's decaying country home.

Director: Natalie Erika James

Cast: Emily Mortimer, Robyn Nevin, Bella Heathcote, Jeremy Stanford, Chris Bunton

Release Date: July 3, 2020

Genres: Drama, Horror

Rated R for some horror violence/disturbing images, and language

Runtime: 1h 29min

Review:

Natalie Erika James debut film is an impressively crafted horror film that works smartly as an allegory for real life issues.  Her film heavy on atmosphere and light on cheap jump scares which works in the film’s favor.  Its Spartan use of jump scares makes the few that pop up all the more effective.  This story itself runs thru some standard haunted house/ghost story tropes but here you can feel a lot more weight in their actual meaning.  The cast is all understated but effective throughout with the trio of actresses displaying some impressive chemistry together.  Emily Mortimer, Robyn Nevin & Bella Heathcote all bring an air of authenticity and emotions to the entire proceedings.  Each interaction is believably heavy with subtext with very little said outright but there are lingering wounds that are heavily implied.  As is the case with most of these types of films the build up is better than the climax with the finale leaving multiple story threads left unresolved.  Regardless, it’s hard not to appreciate the high level of craftsmanship and talent on display throughout. 

B

Cindy Prascik's Review of The Old Guard

With local cinemas still struggling to get by on a diet of classics and films whose theatrical releases were interrupted by Covid_19, this week I again threw myself on the mercy of streaming services. I really wanted to watch the Tom Hanks movie, but I don't have Apple+ and I *do* have Netflix, so...the Old Guard it was.

Spoiler level here will be moderate, likely nothing a trailer wouldn’t have revealed if you saw one, which I did not.

A team of immortal mercenaries struggles to keep its existence secret while unexpectedly finding another of their kind.

I have to admit, dear reader(s), that the Old Guard couldn't quite hold my attention for its duration, though, in fairness, little does these days. The world as it stands is difficult to keep at bay, and it's tough to avoid distractions and interruptions outside the cinema. That aside, the movie does try a bit too hard at times, and some of the dialogue is awkwardly written or awkwardly delivered, or maybe both. It probably could have used at least a small trim as well.

Despite those few small quibbles, the Old Guard gets it mostly right. Characters who have lived for hundreds of years have volumes of backstory, and the movie provides enough, but never bogs down with explaining itself. Its action is well spaced and well paced, and the fight choreography is really good. Characters and those portraying them, faces familiar and not, are engaging; there isn't one of the principals I didn't want to learn more about. Charlize Theron is fantastic, as always, in the lead, and the supporting cast is pitch perfect, too. The Old Guard is beautifully diverse, but never for the sake of it. Everything feels organic; the movie doesn't beat its audience over the head to make a point. The story winds to a nice finish, but definitely leaves plenty of room for prequels or sequels if the demand is there.

The Old Guard clocks in at 125 minutes, and is rated R for "sequences of graphic violence and language."

The Old Guard is a smart, solid action flick that wouldn't have felt out of place in a normal summer of blockbuster superhero fare.

Of a possible nine Weasleys, the Old Guard gets seven and a half. Until next time...

MOVIE REVIEW: THE OLD GUARD

A group of mercenaries, all centuries-old immortals with the ablity to heal themselves, discover someone is onto their secret, and they must fight to protect their freedom.

Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood

Cast: Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne, Matthias Schoenaerts, Marwan Kenzari, Luca Marinelli, Chiwetel Ejiofor

Release Date: July 10, 2020

Genres: Action, Fantasy

Rated R for sequences of graphic violence, and language.

Runtime: 2h 5min

Review:

Charlize Theron is one of those actresses that make pretty much any production better simply by taking part in it.  She’s the type of performer that’s always interesting especially when she has a role that’s meaty enough for her talents.  The Old Guard offers an intriguing and fun role for her even if it doesn’t take full advantage of her talents.  Gina Prince-Bythewood directs the film with an impressive bit of energy even if the story covers some well worn tropes in the comic book genre.  The film’s action sequences are impressively choreographed with some of them being particularly brutal ballets of destructions.  The quieter moments have varying levels of effectiveness with some feeling like genuine character building moments while others feel like they could have been left on the cutting room floor.  The cast plays well off each other even if KiKi Layne comes off as a bit stiff in here and there but for the most part the ensemble make for an engaging group.  Sadly, Chiwetel Ejiofor isn’t used nearly enough which seems like a major misstep and the villain played by Harry Melling is about as stereotypical as they come.  The story does suffer from being a franchise starter with the finale leave a massive open door for future installments.  As a result, it feels like the film doesn’t explore the story to its fullest potential with a handful of story threads left unexplored. 

B-

MOVIE REVIEW: THE KING OF STATEN ISLAND

Scott has been a case of arrested development since his firefighter dad died. He spends his days smoking weed and dreaming of being a tattoo artist until events force him to grapple with his grief and take his first steps forward in life.

Director: Judd Apatow

Cast: Pete Davidson, Marisa Tomei, Bill Burr, Bel Powley, Maude Apatow, Steve Buscemi, Pamela Adlon

Release Date: June 26, 2020

Genres: Comedy, Drama

Rated R for language and drug use throughout, sexual content and some violence/bloody images

Runtime: 2h 16min

Review:

The King of Staten Island offers more than it looks like on its surface.  Sure it’s another Apatow exploration of a man stuck in arrested development but there is a bit more here than usual.  It’s very funny in spots and touching in others with a large part of the pathos coming from Davidson’s proximity to the subject matter.  Since the primary portion of the plot hits close to home for him, his performance is impressive and heartfelt as he avoids any moments of self parody.  It’ll come as a surprise to people who have never seen him outside of skits on SNL, it’s a pleasant surprise but it can’t mask some of the films overall issues. Apatow, after all these years, is still terribly unfocused as a director and it really shows here.  There are multiple sequences that feel like they need some strong edits and tightening overall.  Tone also tends to shift sporadically over the course of the film which lessens the impact of some moments.  Luckily for Apatow his film is stocked with excellent supporting players like Maisa Tomei, Bill Burr, Pamela Adlon and Steve Buscemi.  Together they make the film feel much breezier than you’d expect for a film that’s over 2 hours long.  This film won’t be considered a classic like Knocked Up or 40 Year Old Virgin but it’s definitely one of his better films in recent memory. 

B