Mini Review - Is This Thing On?
Is This Thing On? (out Feb 5) is directed by Bradley Cooper and is based on the true story of a man, recently separated from his wife, who rediscovers his zest for life after stumbling into a bar and performing stand-up comedy. It digs a little deeper than the average romantic comedy with nice lead performances from Will Arnett and Laura Dern. Grade: B.
Mini Review - Saipan
Saipan (out Feb 5) transports us back to the 2002 FIFA World Cup and is a dramatized interpretation of a stoush in the Irish football team between captain Roy Keane and coach Mick McCarthy. This feels way too simplistic with the supporting folk come across as caricatures. I’d have preferred a documentary approach where we hear from the actual people involved. Grade: C+.
Mini Review - We Bury the Dead
We Bury the Dead (out Feb 5) is a seen-it-all-before apocalyptic movie where a woman (Daisy Ridley) goes in search of her missing husband amongst a sea of zombies in Tasmania (of all places). Production values are fine but the story is not interesting enough. Grade: C.
Mini Review - Addition
Addition (out Jan 29) is an Australian romantic drama starring Teresa Palmer and Joe Dempsie and is based on a 2008 novel authored by Toni Jordan. It's about two strangers who unexpectedly find love but there are a few bumps along the way. It feels like we only get a surface-level view of these characters. I wanted more. Grade: C+.
Mini Review - Send Help
Send Help (out Jan 29) brings back memories of Triangle of Sadness in that it's about shifting power dynamics between two people stuck on a deserted island following a plane crash. I enjoyed the unlikeable characters and unexpected plot points. That said, it's a bumpy screenplay with a few events feeling goofy and contrived. A mixed bag. Grade: B-.
Mini Review - Blue Moon
Blue Moon (out Jan 29) is set almost entirely in one location and follows acclaimed lyricist Lorenz Hart as he interacts with an assortment of people in a New York bar in 1943. I’d have preferred a bit more drama/narrative but it’s hard to fault the lead performance of Ethan Hawke who makes it an interesting character study. Grade: B.
Mini Review - It Was Just an Accident
It Was Just an Accident (out Jan 29) is a movie you won’t soon forget. Wikipedia labels it a “thriller” but the plot is so absurd (in a good way), that I’ll describe is as an extremely dark comedy. The less you know going in the better! Winner of the Palme d'Or at Cannes, it deals with politics, retribution, and forgiveness. Grade: A-.
Mini Review - Mercy
Mercy (out Jan 22) is a futuristic film where criminal cases are presided over by virtual judges and if you can’t prove your innocence, you’ll be executed. Great idea but the screenplay is a mess. One of the year's worst. Grade: C-.