Unhinged is a 2020 American thriller film directed by Derrick Borte, from a screenplay by Carl Ellsworth. The film stars Russell Crowe, Caren Pistorius, Gabriel Bateman, Jimmi Simpson and Austin P. McKenzie. The film follows a young woman who is harassed by a seemingly unstable stranger following a road rage incident.
Director: Derrick Borte
Cast: Russell Crowe, Caren Pistorius, Gabriel Bateman, Jimmi Simpson, Austin P. McKenzie
Release Date: August 21, 2019
Genre: Action, Thriller
Rated R for strong violent content, and language throughout.
Runtime: 1 h 30min
Review:
Unhinged is best explained as a good bad
movie. Derrick Borte’s mallet punch to
the face of film is thoroughly entertaining for the duration of its
runtime. It’s a brutal trip into madness
that makes this film feel more like a horror film than a straightforward
thriller. At its center is Russell Crowe
who bulked up considerably around the waist to play an embodiment of white male
rage. His performance is far better than
the film deserves, so much so that you’d wish that the script had taken a more
nuanced approach to his character.
Instead it’s a grotesque caricature that Crowe makes intriguing as we
watch his sweaty terror bear rampage throughout the film. Caren Pistoruis is saddled with a character
that isn’t terribly fleshed out or intelligent.
Pistoruis main goal is to react to the terror unfolding upon her. There are plenty of ham fisted attempts a
social allegory but are about as blunt as they come. It’s a shame that the story and characters
are so simplistic because you get the feeling that there is plenty of themes
that cold have been explored to make a truly thought provoking film.
C+
A former soldier teams up with a cop to find
the source behind a dangerous pill that provides temporary superpowers.
Director: Henry Joost, Ariel Schulman
Cast: Jamie Foxx, Joseph Gordon-Levitt,
Dominique Fishback, Colson Baker, Rodrigo Santoro, Amy Landecker, Allen
Maldonado
Release Date: August 14, 2019
Genre: Action, Crime, Sci-Fi
Rated R for violence, bloody images, drug
content and some language
Runtime: 1 h 51 min
Review:
Project Power is the type of film that
instantly feels dated even though it’s trying so hard to be edgy and
kinetic. Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman
direct this film like they are trying to emulate early 2000 era Michael Bay. It’s not as garish or stylized as those films
but it gets really close. The weird part
is that Bay’s bombastic style typically elicits some sort of reaction whether
it be enjoyment or revulsion. Project
Power though doesn’t do that, instead it leaves you generally disinterested. The conceit is basically a superhero movie mixed
with the same general idea from Limitless.
The film’s logic is spotty at best and the actual plot feels generic and
tired. There’s not a single moment
during this nearly 2 hour mess that feels fresh or new. It’s all been done before and typically much
better than presented here. The film’s
saving grace is Jamie Foxx and Joseph Gordon-Levitt who dive into the film and
roles with noticeable gusto plus a strong supporting turn from Dominique
Fishback keeps it from being a total mess.
It’s a shame because Project Power could have been a much more fun movie
than what’s on the screen.
C-
A defiant teenage boy, struggling with his parent's imminent divorce, faces off with an old witch who has possessed the neighbour next door.
Director: Brett Pierce, Drew T. Pierce
Cast: John-Paul Howard, Piper Curda, Zarah Mahler, Kevin Bigley, Gabriela Quezada Bloomgarden, Richard Ellis, Blane Crockarell, Jamison Jones, and Azie Tesfai
Release Date: May 1, 2020
Genre: Horror
Rated R for sexual content and some nudity
Runtime: 1h 36min
Review:
The Wretched is the type of film that feels familiar right from the start with The sheer number is "witch next door" stories it's nearly impossible fit not to be instantly recognizable This entry is never terrifying but directors Brett & Drew Pierce do set up a handful of effective jump scares throughout. Outside of those moments, the film feels more like a love letter to those type of films with a decent sense of self awareness. Seasoned horror fans will likely find plenty of familiar beats throughout, but it’s all shot and performed effectively which makes it an easy watch. On the downside, the majority of the characters are about as one dimensional as they come. John-Paul Howard does decent work in the lead but he's decidedly bland which works against the film's insistence that his character is a bad boy. Piper Curda suffers from the same fate but they do what they can with neither being bad or boring enough to be distracting. Zarah Mahler does the heaviest lifting as the central vessel for the villainous witch. She’s creepy enough but you are kind of left wishing the movie had used her a bit more to make her character more formidable and memorable. The Wretched is an easily disposable horror film that gets high marks for solid direction and performances, it'll likely never end up on any top ten list, but it doesn't really aspire to.
C+
A Catholic girl finds herself having tempting thoughts after an AOL chat turns unexpectedly racy.
Director: Karen Maine
Cast: Natalia Dyer, Parker Wierling, Susan Blackwell, Timothy Simons, Wolfgang Novogratz, Alisha Boe, Donna Lynne Champlin, Francesca Reale
Release Date: July 24, 2019
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Rated R for sexual content and some nudity
Runtime: 1h 18min
Review:
The biggest thing that Karen Maine's newest film has going for it is its tangible sense of authenticity that seeps through the story and performances. The film itself is a study in subtly with every directorial choice being measured and tempered. Coming of age films, especially those dealing with adolescent sexuality, tend to lean more towards hyperbole or caricature. Maine's film goes the opposite direction, opting to keep the entire proceedings honest and relatable. This approach makes the laughs and awkward situations land with much more punch. Natalia Dyer is perfectly cast in the lead role, she never overplays her scenes, delivering a performance that communicated through reactions more so than dialogue. The script is lean but it's savvy enough to critique hypocrisies and contradictions involved while coming to terms with the protagonist's burgeoning sexuality. The supporting actors each have small moments to shine but it's mostly Dyer's vehicle to drive and she's more than capable in the lead. Yes, God, Yes isn't breaking any new ground per say as traverses over some well-worn themes and topics, but it does so with a level of authenticity that makes you care about the personal journey the main character is going through.
A-
