Mini Review - The Dark Tower
The Dark Tower (out Aug 17) is based on the Stephen King book series and follows a boy who travels to a parallel universe to help save the planet. I can't speak for the novels but this film was dull. It rushes between events, character development is slight, and Matthew McConaughey is a weak, confusing villain. Grade: C+.
Mini Review - Hampstead
Hampstead (out Aug 17) may be based on an actual events but this is a contrived story filled with superficial characters. It's the tale of a widow with financial difficulties (Diane Keaton) who befriends a homeless man (Brendan Gleeson) who lives nearby. Grade: C.
Mini Review - Annabelle: Creation
Annabelle: Creation (out Aug 10) is a tired horror-thriller that relies on familiar tricks and formulas and lacks originality. A group of girls find themselves terrorised by a creepy-looking doll with a mysterious past. Grade: C+.
Mini Review - Logan Lucky
Logan Lucky (out Aug 17) marks the return of Oscar-winning director Steven Soderbergh after 4 year absence. In the same vein as his Ocean's Eleven franchise, this is a fun heist flick about some not-so-smart guys who try to break into the bank vault at a major US speedway. While I wish the characters relied more on skill than luck, this is still entertaining. Grade: B+.
Mini Review - Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets
Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets (out Aug 10) is a fun, cool, wild ride. The script isn't groundbreaking but the futuristic world created by director Luc Besson elevates it above other action films we've seen this year. It had my attention from start to finish. Grade: A-.
Mini Review - Wind River
Wind River (out Aug 10) is a drama about an FBI agent investigating a homicide in Wyoming. The performances are fine and the setting is beautiful. That said, the screenplay is slow in places and the actions of the characters don't always ring true. Grade: B-.
Mini Review - The Time of Their Lives
The Time of Their Lives (out Aug 10) is a corny, unrealistic comedy/drama about two elderly women who on a series of wild escapes while heading to France for a funeral. It's really hard to buy into. Grade: C.
Mini Review - An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power
An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power (out Aug 10) is the follow up to the Oscar winning documentary from 2006 and looks at climate change today as well as the lead up to the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015. It's not quite as energising as the original but it's a film that still needs to be seen by as many as possible. Grade: B.
