The Box is a nebulous psychological thriller from writer/director Richard Kelly. Based on a Richard Matheson short story, a young couple is presented with an offer to receive $1 million if they push a button, but as a result someone will die. Starring Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, and Frank Langella, the casting is pretty good. But the script is a convoluted mess. It teases out some fascinating mysteries, but they devolve into inexplicable nonsense. Still, Kelly is able to create an atmospheric mood and builds the suspense incredibly well. Yet ultimately, The Box is a poorly executed film that loses its sense of mystery by getting caught up in minutia.
A smart and provocative drama, Crash challenges audiences with complex racial and social issues. Set in LA during Christmas, the film follows several groups of people, including two police officers, a pair of thieves, a Hollywood director, a Middle-Eastern shop owner, as their lives intersect. The discussion of race relations during the season of “Peace on Earth and Goodwill toward Men” is quite apt, and while the racial messages may be heavy handed at times, there are some truly powerful moments that stay with you long after the film ends. Equally as impressive is the ensemble cast (Don Cheadle, Sandra Bullock, Ryan Phillippe, Terrence Howard, Thandie Newton), as each actor delivers a strong, compelling performance. Shades of gray and ambiguity surround each character, giving them an authenticity that keeps them from becoming two-dimensional stereotypes. Additionally, the filmmakers refrain from giving clear-cut answers, or making judgments; letting the audience come to their own conclusions instead. Crash is a raw, hard-hitting drama that takes a challenging look at society, and forces the audience to confront their preconceptions.
Carol is a romantic drama that tries to get by on the talent of its two lead actresses alone, and it almost works. The story follows a divorcée who befriends a department store clerk while Christmas shopping, and asks her to join her on a holiday road trip. Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara give strong performances. However, there’s something disturbing about their characters’ relationship; as Blanchett comes off as rather predatory and manipulative. Additionally, the plot doesn’t really go anywhere and the character development is poor. But the production values, costumes, set designs, cinematography, and score, are exceptionally well-done; creating an atmospheric and picturesque vision of the 1950s. Yet Carol is ultimately an unsatisfying film that’s pretty pointless.
Beyond Christmas (aka Beyond Tomorrow) is an unconventional yet strangely charming holiday romance. When their guests fail to show for their Christmas party three old gentlemen toss their wallets into the street as impromptu invitations, and from that they befriend a teacher and an aspiring singer who soon begin to fall in love. The performances are pretty good, and director A. Edward Sutherland impressively keeps the film moving at a steady pace while also developing the budding friendships and romance. The special effects are also well-done and hold up remarkably well. It’s a tad predictable and a little melodramatic at times, but Beyond Christmas is an entertaining film with a positive message.
A Shirley Temple classic, Heidi is a touching film about redemption and the bonds of family. The story follows an orphaned girl named Heidi who’s taken to live with her hermit grandfather, but just as they’re starting to bond her aunt abducts her and sells Heidi to a rich family to be a playmate to their invalid daughter. Shirley Temple gives a terrific performance and has great chemistry with Jean Hersholt; who plays her grandfather. And per usual, a cute little dance number is worked in that features some elaborate costumes. Heidi is a beloved holiday classic and really highlights Shirley Temple’s amazing talent to light up a screen and win over the hearts of audiences.
From Rankin/Bass comes the whimsical holiday classic ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas. Inspired by the Clement More poem, the story follows a clock maker in Junctionville who builds a giant clock that plays a Christmas song hoping that it’ll make amends to Santa Claus after a disillusioned mouse had an open letter published in the paper calling Santa out as a fraud, putting the whole town on his naughty list. Joel Grey leads the cast, and gives an excellent rendition of the poem. Also, the songs are incredibly fun and catchy (especially “Even a Miracle Needs a Hand”). However, the animation is a little weak, with rather crude designs and bland coloring. Yet despite its flaws, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas is a delightful animated special that captures the spirit of the season.
Home Alone 3 steers clear of the mistakes of the previous films, and makes all new ones. While home sick during Christmas break, 8-year-old Alex Pruitt is forced to defend his neighborhood against a group of mercenaries who are tempting to steal a top secret computer chip that was smuggled in a toy that was accidentally given to Alex. Whereas 2 went too dark and violent, 3 goes too cartoonish and slapstick. Where the first film thought small, with just a pair of common burglars, 3 goes big, with a team of international terrorists. Still, there’s some cleverness in how this new, original home alone situation is set up; but it quickly devolves into garbage. The main problem with Home Alone 3 is that it’s so pacified that it doesn’t have the darkness or edginess needed to believe that these are real characters, or that this situation is dangerous.
Kevin McCallister turns into Damien in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. No longer content with stirring-up mischief at home, Kevin goes to New York City to terrorize a 5 star hotel; and when that doesn’t satisfy him, he tracks down the Wet Bandits and flat out attempts to murder them. The film tries to pass off the same shtick in a new setting, but it doesn’t work. All of the innocence and charm that the first film had is gone now that Kevin is seeking out trouble, and he appears not to have learned any lessons from losing his family the first time. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is violent, humorless schlock tied in a bow.
Renowned writers/directors John Hughes and Chris Columbus team up to make the blockbuster family comedy Home Alone. In a twist on the usual Christmas themes of family togetherness, 8-year-old Kevin McCallister is accidentally left home alone for Christmas. Unfortunately, it doesn’t hold up very well as a family film. The story is uneven and the characters aren’t that likeable. The whole film rides on Macaulay Culkin, and he’s not as cute and lovable as the film wants you to believe. Despite the occasional heartwarming moments, Home Alone is a silly, cartoonish romp without much substance.
Home Alone for a new generation, Christmas Break-In is derivative tripe. When her parents forget to pick her up from school Izzy ends up snowed in during a blizzard, and is soon pitted against a group of robbers that take shelter at the school and hold the janitor hostage. Child actress Cameron Seely has tremendous screen presence and charisma, making for an excellent lead. If only the same could be said for her adult co-stars, who give phoned in performances at best (Sean O’Bryan especially). And the writing is bad, with awful dialog and cliché after cliché after cliché. Also, the music is extremely heavy handed. Yet while it’s not a well-made film, Christmas Break-In has its heart in the right place and some fun moments.
Pottersville is a strange and clichéd holiday film. After discovering that his wife is having an affair, Maynard Greiger goes on a drunken tear dressed up in a Halloween costume and is mistaken for Bigfoot, which at first proves to be a boom for tourism for the town but soon draws the wrong kind of attention from hunters and exploitation television. Starring Michael Shannon, Judy Greer, Ron Perlman, Christina Hendricks, and Ian McShane, the film has a great cast; though their performances are pretty weak. Also, the plot is ridiculous and the jokes are rather lame. But worse than any of that is the score, which is incredibly heavy-handed. Trying to force some Christmas magic, Pottersville just doesn’t work.
From Netflix comes the children's animated holiday special Alien Xmas. Up at the North Pole in Christmas Town the elf children gather round as Santa regales them with the strange and bizarre tales of X, an alien from a race of greedy aliens who learned the spirit of Christmas when he was taken in by an elf family while scouting for an impending invasion. The writing is kind of clever, using a materialistic holiday for an anti-materialism message, and satirizing pop culture, all the while hitting the usual holiday moments and imagery. And the animation style is pretty good; having the crisp look of CGI, but also a bit of a stop-motion feel. While it's not exactly a holiday classic, Alien Xmas is an entertaining family film.
The manger thief is back for more holiday adventures in Angela’s Christmas Wish. Missing their father who’s working abroad, Angela and her brothers attempt to find a way to get him home for Christmas and make a new friend in the process. The animation is improved from the first short, and is a lot more crisp and smooth, and the movements are more fluid. And again a touching Christmas song is featured. However, the pacing is kind of slow and the plot is fairly predictable. Still, while it has its flaws, Angela’s Christmas Wish is an entertaining family film.
The animated holiday special Angela’s Christmas is a bit of a heartwarming tale that has the spirit of the season. The story follows a young girl who, after attending a Christmas mass, returns to the church to warm the Baby Jesus figure with her coat and ends up taking him home, causing a stir throughout the town. The animation is a little wooden but has a beautiful color scheme and soft, warm character designs that set a light, whimsical tone. Also, the music (specifically “Angela’s Song”) is well-done and helps to enhances the emotionally beats. It’s not the most ambitious or magical holiday film, but Angela’s Christmas is a charming and fun Christmas special.
Universal screws up yet another classic with Dolittle, a goofball children’s film with no heart. Robert Downey Jr. takes on the role of the good doctor who talks to animals and has become a recluse following the death his wife, but is called upon when the Queen falls deathly ill to find the mysterious Eden Tree whose healing properties is the only thing that can save her. The main problem is Downey, who is just not a likable or sympathetic character with his off-putting, antisocial behavior. Also, there are too many animal characters, and the villains are caroonishly evil. Still, the CGI is impressive and there are some fun action scenes. Young audiences may enjoy Dolittle for its zany silliness, but there’s little else going for it.
From Steven Spielberg and Richard Donner comes the classic adventure film The Goonies. Written by Chris Columbus, a group of misfit kids setoff on an adventure to find the fabled treasure of notorious pirate One-Eyed Willy. The cast is just spectacular, and the kids give fun, authentic performances. And the set designs are amazing, with intricate “booty traps” and a breathtaking pirate ship. Additionally, the music of the film is excellent; from the score, which wonderfully captures all of the excitement and adventure, to the sensational Cyndi Lauper hit theme song “The Goonies ‘R’ Good Enough.” A seminal film of the 1980s, The Goonies is full of thrills and still holds up.
Steven Spielberg’s World War II epic 1941 is a piece of junk that’s ridiculously stupid. An all-star cast has been assembled, and includes Dan Aykroyd, John Belushi, Christopher Lee, John Candy, Slim Pickens, and Ned Beatty, which only adds to the tragedy of the film. The story follows a paranoid California coast that’s awaiting a Japanese invasion in the days following the Pearl Harbor attack in December of 1941. The satire, and the comedy all around, is done in poor taste and has no real poignancy to it. The plot is a jumbled mess at best, and few of the characters are likable. Failing on nearly every level, 1941 is an epically disappointing film that misses the mark by a mile.
A provocative and introspective World War II drama, A Midnight Clear explores the complexities of war. While on a recon mission in the Ardennes forest in the winter of 1944 an American intelligence unit comes upon a German platoon that wants to surrender. Starring Ethan Hawke, Gary Sinise, Peter Berg, and Kevin Dillon, the film has a strong cast. The performances however, aren’t that good; but then neither is the writing. Still, the plot addresses some interesting issues of morality, along with the challenges faced by soldiers. Additionally, the sets and costumes create an authentic World War II look and feel. A Midnight Clear has some problems, but even so there’s something compelling about the characters and their story.
From Guy Ritchie comes the quirky crime drama The Gentlemen. The story follows an English drug kingpin who’s selling off his marijuana farms and getting out of the business, but finds that someone is trying to spoil the deal. Starring Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Michelle Dockery, Colin Farrell, and Hugh Grant, the film has a great cast that delivers strong performances. The plot’s a little hard to follow at times, but the characters are well-written and the dialog has Ritchie’s usual humor and wit. There are also some pretty good action scenes that are intense and exciting. While it has a few weaknesses, The Gentlemen is a solid film that’s entertaining and full of intrigue.
Based on the Valiant comic series, Bloodshot is an exciting sci-fi thriller. After being killed by a terrorist US Marine Ray Garrison awakens in a lab and learns that he has been brought back to life and altered using cutting edge technology that allows him to regenerate. Vin Diesel, Eiza González, and Guy Pearce lead the cast and give strong performances. And the film explores some interesting themes; such as identity and the separation of man and machine. Also, the special effects and fight scenes are incredibly well-done. It’s a little formulaic at times, but overall Bloodshot is entertaining and action-packed.
A betrayal of the original, Brahms: The Boy II is a rote supernatural thriller. After a home invitation a family moves to the countryside to help their traumatized son who’s gone mute, but when he finds an antic doll things take a frightening turn. Katie Holmes leads the cast but doesn’t do her best work, as the performances are all pretty weak. And the writing is incredibly poor; which is surprising given that it’s the same writer as the first film. The reconning of a supernatural element comes off as a desperate move and doesn’t feel like a natural progression of the story. Still, the mystery is intriguing and delivers some chills. Yet while it has its creepy and suspenseful moments, Brahms: The Boy II is a lazy and uninspired horror film.
The Boy is a creepy and suspenseful horror film. The story follows an American nanny who’s hired by a wealthy English couple to look after a porcelain doll named Brahms, who they treat as a surrogate son after having lost their real son in a fire; but when the nanny neglects to properly care for the doll strange things begin to happen. Lauren Cohan leads the cast and gives an especially strong performance. And the script is well constructed, particularly in how it sets up the plot and builds mystery around the doll. However, the pacing can be kind of slow at times and some parts of the plot don’t quite work. Still, while it may seem like a typical possessed doll type film, The Boy delivers a few chilling surprises.
Once again 12 Monkeys delivers an extraordinarily mind-bending season full of shocking twists. Season 3 picks up with Cole searching for Titan, where Cassie is being held captive, and after finding her he learns that she has given birth to their son; leading them to go rogue in order to search through time to find him and stop him from becoming The Witness. James Callis joins the cast as a reoccurring character and delivers and excellent performance. And, Emily Hampshire continues to steal the show with some of the most bizarre and funny scenes of the entire series. The writing is also quite impressive, crafting an extremely elaborate and compelling story in just 10 episodes (as opposed to its usual 13). Incredibly powerful, Season 3 of 12 Monkeys takes its characters (and audience) on a remarkable journey.
Mind-blowing and action-packed, Season 2 of 12 Monkeys changes the direction of the series. After seizing the time machine in 2043 the 12 Monkeys send several Messengers into the past to end time itself, and it’s up to Cole and Railly to track them down and stop them. The show changes up a lot of the character dynamics; with Railly turning into a hardcore resistance fighter after having been stuck in the future, Cole teaming up with Ramse in the past, and Jennifer being turned against the 12 Monkeys (becoming a rogue). And the performances are a lot better for this, giving the actors more to do; especially Emily Hampshire as Jennifer, who breaks out and becomes the most charismatic and interesting character of the series. The writing too is extremely impressive; particularly in how it develops a mythos for time and ties together the various factions (showing them interconnecting throughout time). Also, Madeleine Stowe, star of the original film, makes a guest appearance in the season finale and gives an incredible performance. Extraordinarily riveting and full of adventure, Season 2 of 12 Monkeys is a transformative season that takes the series to a new level.
Based on the Terry Gilliam film, SyFy’s 12 Monkeys television series is exciting and full of thrills. In Season 1 a time-traveler from 2043 named James Cole is sent back to 2015 to kill a genetics researcher believed to be behind the release of a virus that wipes out the majority of the human race, but he soon discovers that there’s more to the virus’ release than he had believed, and begins to work with a virologist named Cassandra Railly in order to track down who creates the virus and where and when it’s released. The plot gets quite complicated at times (with up to 2 to 3 time jumps an episode), but by the end of the season it all ties together and makes sense. Additionally, the show makes a number of homages and allusions to the film throughout the episodes. However, some of the casting is weak; particularly Amanda Schull, who doesn’t seem right for the role of Cassandra. Still, the over-arcing story is intriguing, and does a good job at building suspense and mystery. And the issues it presents about time travel and the moral qualms that arise about the value of life are quite interesting. The first season of 12 Monkeys is a bit of a rough start, but it shows potential.
Nothing spoils a Christmas like the Army of the 12 Monkeys. Presenting one of the most challenging and intriguing perspectives on time-travel, Twelve Monkeys tackles issues of time paradoxes, alternative time-lines, and predestination. Set in a dystopian future where humanity is forces to live underground, a group of scientists, using criminals as test subjects, sent James Cole back in time to collect information about the virus that wiped out most of humanity and made the surface uninhabitable, but Cole soon becomes confused about what’s real and what isn’t. Both Bruce Willis and Madeleine Stowe give strong performances, but it’s Brad Pitt’s performance that’s the most captivating (stealing every scene he’s in). And, Paul Buckmaster’s score does a great job at setting an eerie and foreboding tone. Twelve Monkeys is a bold film that’s dark and complex, yet is fully engaging, with a provocative story that challenges audiences (and continues to on repeated viewing).
Kristen Bell and Ian Somerhalder star in the techno-horror film Pulse. Co-written by Wes Craven, the story follows a group of college students who are being attacked by extra-dimensional beings who have found a gateway into our world through electronic signals. The plot doesn’t make a lot of sense, and other than a few jump scares, there’s nothings all that frightening. Still, director Jim Sonzero sets an atmospheric and foreboding tone that heightens the tension and suspense (what little there is). While Pulse is largely weak and ineffective, it manages to deliver a few chills.
A derivative and monotonous horror film, FeardotCom fails to deliver any scares. A police detective and a CDC agent investigate a series of bizarre deaths that appear to be linked to an internet site. The plot holes and contrivances abound, and the camera warping and distortions are distracting as all hell. Stephen Dorff and Natascha McElhore lead the cast, but give lackluster performances and do a piss-poor job at selling their romance. And while some of the torture and death scenes are disturbing, most of them try too hard and come off as gratuitous. FeardotCom is a weak and ineffectual film that mishmashes a lot of things that don’t work together.
The Twilight Saga comes to an epic conclusion in Breaking Dawn - Part Two. In this final chapter the Volturi assemble their forces to destroy the Cullen clan after getting word that Bella has an immortal child; in response, the Cullens attempt to rally vampire clans from around the world to come together to make a stand against the Volturi. The script does a solid job at adapting the novel, and the performances are fairly good. Additionally, the film delivers some of the best fight sequences of the entire series; as they’re extremely well-choreographed and intense. A strong finish, Breaking Dawn - Part Two provides a fitting end to Bella and Edward’s story.
Breaking Dawn Part 1 is a befitting and enthralling start to the final chapter of The Twilight Saga. While on her honeymoon with Edward, Bella discovers that she’s pregnant and her determination to keep the child at the risk of her own life tears apart the vampire and werewolf clans, taking them to the edge of war. The film perfectly captures the romance, humor, suspense, and horror of the material. Going to the darkest reaches of the series, some truly disturbing and foreboding themes are delved into. However, there are the usual rough spots with awkward dialog, weak CGI, and rushed plot points; but the story comes together in a compelling and satisfying way. Imaginative and daring, Breaking Dawn Part 1 brings the saga to an extraordinary place that leaves the audience wanting for more.
