MOVIE REVIEW: X

 

A group of actors sets out to make an adult film in rural Texas under the noses of their reclusive hosts, but when the elderly couple catches their young guests in the act, the cast finds themselves in a desperate fight for their lives.

Director: Ti West

Cast: Mia Goth, Jenna Ortega, Martin Henderson, Brittany Snow, Owen Campbell, Stephen Ure, Scott Mescudi

Release Date: March 18, 2022 

Genre: Horror

Rated R for strong bloody violence and gore, strong sexual content, graphic nudity, drug use, and language

Runtime: 1h 45m

Review:

Ti West has always shown a deep affinity for 70's horror film with The Innkeepers and House of the Devil serving as prime examples.  X is his loving tribute to Grindhouse horror with heavy homages to The Texas Chainsaw Massacre before it veers into even stranger and grosser territory.  The plot itself is familiar and the first half of the film checks all the requisite boxes.  West does a great job of establishing the setup with wonderfully crafted shots and goofy dialogue from the future victims.  The performances from the cast are fun and loose which fits the film.  His approach is impressively restrained initially which makes the mayhem that follows all the more potent and impactful.  In the latter half of the film you get the strong sense that he wants to make the audience squirm in their seats and for the most part he succeeds.  There's violence and gore aplenty but it's never overly serious or heady.  X is the type of horror film that isn't setting to make some grand statement it just wants to titillate, shock, and even gross you out.

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: PITCH PERFECT 3

After the highs of winning the world championships, the Bellas find themselves split apart and discovering there aren't job prospects for making music with your mouth. But when they get the chance to reunite for an overseas USO tour, this group of awesome nerds will come together to make some music, and some questionable decisions, one last time.

Director: Trish Sie 

Cast: Anna Kendrick, Anna Camp, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, Hailee Steinfeld, Hana Mae Lee

Rated PG-13 for crude and sexual content, language and some action.

Genres: Comedy, Music

Runtime: 1h 33min

Review:

Pitch Perfect started off as a spunky girl power film that took people by surprise.  Sadly, by its third go around it’s lost a large chuck of its forward momentum simply because it’s not the type of story that really warranted 3 feature length films.  The cast remains the strongest component of the franchise and their chemistry is still just as strong as it was before.  Their interactions are the high points of the film even though the story feels hacked together.  The plot this go around seems to have two primary purposes, to get to the next song and dance routine and move along a paper thing story about the USO, DJ Khaled and Fat Amy’s father.  It’s weak and really feels more like an after thought.  It’s a shame because they probably could have gotten more run out of these characters if they’d put just a tad bit more effort.  Sadly, it’s more of a final victory lap before these characters are put to pasture for good. 

C+

MOVIE REVIEW: PITCH PERFECT 2

In this sequel to Pitch Perfect, the collegiate a cappella group called the Barden Bellas enter into an international competition, but they are told it will be impossible to win because they are from the U.S. The girls refuse to give up and vow to be the first Americans to take home the top prize. Directed by Elizabeth Banks, the film stars Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, and Hailee Steinfeld. ~ Erin Demers, Rovi

Director: Elizabeth Banks

Cast: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Brittany Snow, Hailee Steinfeld, Katey Sagal

Release Date: May 15, 2015

Rated: PG-13 Innuendo and Language

Runtime: 1 hr. 55 min.

Genres: Comedy

Review:

Pitch Perfect was one of those films that surprised me when I first saw it and has become a personal favorite.  It was a fun film with some great comedic bite along with some great characters.  A sequel seemed a bit of an odd sale mainly because recapturing that kind of magic is difficult especially in a musical comedy.  The sequel will leave fans content for the most part.  The characters are so much fun that you can kind of ignore the fact that the plot is kind of pedestrian there’s really not much going on.  The film is an overlong by at least 20 minutes.  Thankfully it’s still funny more times than not and all the actresses ease back into their roles comfortably.  Elizabeth Banks does a solid job behind the directors chair delivering some impressively staged musical numbers that are impressively rousing.  Hailee Steinfeld joins the cast and her character is a tad bland for my taste which is a shame since her character is tasked with carrying the torch in an eventual sequel.

B+

MOVIE REVIEW: PITCH PERFECT

IN THEATERS

PITCH PERFECT




A feisty coed joins a collegiate a cappella group and upgrades their song selection for the 21st century during the run-up to a major competition in this melodic comedy from Tony-nominated Avenue Q director Jason Moore. Drifting past the various cliques after arriving at college, Beca (Anna Kendrick) pays more attention to the jams pumping in her headphones than the people she passes on her way to class. But all that changes the moment she stumbles into the one place where every misfit has a voice -- the campus a cappella group. Although the competition amongst the singers proves surprisingly fierce, there's just one aspect of the group Beca can't wrap her head around: All of the songs they perform are at least a decade old. Convinced that they can do better by adding some contemporary tunes into the mix, Beca whips up an exciting new set list that will set the group apart and leave their rivals in the dust. Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, and Rebel Wilson co-star. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Director: Jason Moore

Cast: Anna Kendrick, Skylar Astin, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, Rebel Wilson.

Release Date: Sep 28, 2012

Rated PG-13 for sexual Material, Language and Drug References

Runtime: 1 hr. 52 min.

Genres: Comedy

Review:

It’d be easy to write off Pitch Perfect as a Glee inspired money grab. The truth is that it’s a fun almost tongue in cheek redux of Bring it On with singing instead of cheerleading. Director Jason Moore has a strong sense of what the film is. In doing so he never takes the proceedings very seriously, leaving everything as light and effervescent to make it as easily digestible and enjoyable. At its core the film maintains a steady flow and tenor, only rarely missing a few beats here and there. The script works in spite of tired tropes with some fun dialogue that moves the film through some of cheesier moments. Anna Kendrick, she of strong features, carries this film with lots of help from her strong supporting cast. Kendrick is strong and believable as the lead, even though the character is about as common as a cold, she even impresses with some nice vocals. Rebel Wilson though is scene stealer here, proving she’s got so much more in her talent tool box than just broad laughs. She’s got some strong singing chops and excellent comedic timing. Anna Camp and Brittany Snow fall into their mean girl roles quite well in supporting but important roles. Some fun bit players round out the cast. If the film suffers from a major flaw its it’s length. There’s really no reason for this film to be nearly 2 hours in length and there are plenty of scenes which could have been trimmed or cut all together to streamline the experience.

B-