Mother’s Day: Now, I saw this a while ago. I recall liking it then and found it to be a merciless yarn that proved director Darren Lynn Bousman was maturing as a filmmaker. The cast chewed the scenery leaving Bousman to toy around with the tension. One of the better remakes to come along. Grade: B
Dark Shadows: This is Tim Burton on autopilot. He snaps together amusing moments with his usual, bizarre enthusiasm but the overall construction is a mess on a narrative level. The cast members elevate the material, barely. Mostly forgettable though. Grade: C
388 Arletta Avenue: An eerie movie to reflect on given that the film’s star – Nick Stahl – disappeared in real life, leaving his wife to put out a search for him. He was found in rehab. Then he disappared again. In this voyearistic filmmaking exercise, an unseen creep kidnaps Stahl’s wife, installs hidden cameras all around his house, car and work and watches the man descend into madness while he tries to find her. Overall, the movie works really well…once you accept that this mystery maniac managed to plant cameras in very convenient places. Not a movie for cat lovers. Grade: B
Beyond the Black Rainbow: Trippy, hypnotic but never pretentious. It’s a slow burn, but stick with it. Grade: B+
Chernobyl Diaries: Mediocre and doesn’t break any new ground. The backdrop – in this case, Chernobyl – held my interest though. Grade: C
The Loved Ones: I never quite saw the big deal. Friends rave about it. I see it as another tedious torture flick wrapped in a flashy bow. Grade: C+
Prometheus: The biggest disappointment of the year? Perhaps. I gave it a pass upon seeing it, recognizing its flaws. The more I think about what bothered me, the more frustrated I got with the film. It’s gorgeous-looking, I loved the design and technology. And it has ideas, but none of them are fully realized. You can’t help but feel heartbroken by the missed opportunities. Grade: B-
Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter: Serious as f**k. Sure, there are a few moments where you might chuckle, but the film takes its subject matter very, very seriously. It’s so stuffy. Timur Bekmambetov orchestrates a few decent action set pieces, but once Abe becomes President, the film loses a lot of energy. Grade: C
And there you have it – thoughts on a handful of films I’ve seen since this year has begun. Do you have any favorites? Weigh in using our comment board below!
