The Conjuring: Last Rites

My View: The Conjuring: Last Rites  (2025) R  The Conjuring: Last Rites is about Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga), who, as renowned paranormal investigators, have taken on many a dangerous case. This time, they are confronting a demon they met before, and it may be the last case the Warrens ever take. I thought the first two films of the series were fun and scary rides, providing well-done horror that created a lot of tension throughout their stories. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for this (hopefully) final installment in the Warrens’ story of battling paranormal beings. The film is incredibly long and has far too much exposition, which hinders the story’s momentum, causes it to drag at a snail’s pace. There are many hints to our favorite scary doll named Annabelle, but it’s main focus is on a demon inside a mirror that gets pissed at the Warrens and vows revenge. I’m not sure demons hold grudges or vow revenge. Still, this one seems to be focused on the Warrens, especially on their daughter, Judy (Mia Tomlinson). This connection becomes evident almost immediately, yet Ed and Lorraine appear oblivious to it throughout the film. It seems that too many demon fights have slowed down the Warrens, and besides, in this film, they have retired because Ed is going to have another heart attack any minute. The scares are few and far between, overshadowed by family drama involving both the Warrens and the enormous family where that the mirror has taken up residence in. I got so annoyed by this large family with the kids running around everywhere that I was hoping something, anything, would happen to make them move out (which didn’t happen). The Conjuring: Last Rites is a lame, slow end to a horror series that started so promising. Maybe now, in real life, that comedian has bought the Warren’s collection, including the Annabelle doll, the scares can begin for real, because they weren’t in this film.  My Rating: Cable  The Conjuring: Last Rites Website  Now playing in theaters nationwide.

Indiefest:  Splitsville  (2025)   R  In Splitsville, Carey (Kyle Marvin) and his wife, Ashley (Adria Arjona), are not doing well, and Ashley tells Carey that she has been sleeping around and wants a divorce. Carey freaks out and runs to the house of his friend Paul (Michael Angelo Covino) and his wife Julie (Dakota Johnson). He tells them the news and discovers that Paul and Julie have an open marriage. Things are about to get either very interesting or very disturbing. If you liked the 2019 film The Climb (from the same team of Marvin and Covino), you going to love this film. I am a big fan of The Climb, about two friends where one keeps sleeping with the other’s girlfriends with very funny results. Splitsville is a full-out farce about love, relationships between both lovers and friends. There are a couple of absolutely hilarious fights, one of which, much to our delight, restarts just when you think it's over. Marvin and Covino have incredible chemistry together, and their interplay is so much fun to watch, as they joust over who is sleeping with whom. Adria Arjona’s character is the catalyst of the film, but she gets lost a bit as the focus shifts to the two guys and Dakota Johnson’s character. The star of the film is Johnson, who perfectly plays the serene Julie, who does a magnificent job of playing the object of the guys’ desire but gives both of them a lot of side-eye to their shenanigans. It’s a performance that could have been overplayed easily, but Johnson shows perfect restraint. So, see Splitsville and see who gets to end up with whom and why. It may surprise you.  My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again  Splitsville Website  Now playing in theaters.

Indiefest:  Twinless  (2025) R   Twinless is about two men, Roman (Dylan O’Brien) and Dennis (James Sweeney), who meet in a twin support group for siblings who’ve lost their twin. Together, they forge a unique friendship that fills a void in their lives, becoming inseparable in the process. However, everything begins to change when Roman meets Marcie (Aisling Franciosi), and the situation reveals itself to be more complicated than it initially appears. I enjoyed this film because it does an excellent job of combining topics of loss, grief, and guilt with lots of comedic and heartwarming moments. Twinless is a story of two lost souls that find friendship through loss, proving that opposites attract. What makes this film intriguing and dark is that it features a couple of twists that are both shocking and unexpected. James Sweeney as the shy Dennis and Dylan O’Brien as the hothead Roman make us believe that these two very different characters could become close as their friendship fills a void that both have. Aisling Franciosi is delightful as Marcie, who goes from being a work-friend of Dennis’s to a possible love interest of Roman, much to the dismay of Dennis. Twinless is a film that continually surprises you as you get immersed in their world as two individuals search for comfort and possibly more from each other.  My Rating: Full Price  Twinless Website   Now playing in theaters. 

Indiefest:  The Threesome  (2025)   R   The Threesome follows Connor (Jonah Hauer-King), who on one unbelievable night, ends up sleeping with not only the girl of his dreams, Olivia (Zoey Deutch), but also a new woman he just met, Jenny (Ruby Cruz). The only problem is that both women end up pregnant, and Connor doesn’t have a clue how to handle this situation. For those of you expecting a typical “follow the rules” rom-com, you will be surprised-- hopefully in a good way. I loved the dynamic between Connor and Olivia, which is fun, snappy, and touching. However, I will admit that Zoey Deutch does most of the heavy lifting in this film. Deutch perfectly embodies the fiery, quick-witted, and strong-willed character who doesn't always follow the rules or her heart. I thought Ruby Cruz, as the quieter yet also humerous Jenny, was fantastic in the role, able to play off of Deutch’s persona with ease. Jonah Hauer-King is a bit of a charmer, but there were times when I felt he was a bit of a weak link. The storyline is inventive and has some great twists and turns to keep you guessing about how everything and everyone is going to end up. Overall, The Threesome is a delightful take on the rom-com genre, making it an enjoyable watch.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee The Threesome Website  Now playing in theaters

Indiefest:  A Little Prayer  (2023)   R   A Little Prayer is about Bill (David Strathairn) and his wife Venida (Celia Weston), who live and work in Winston-Salem. His son David (Will Pullen) works at Bill’s business and lives out back with his wife Tammy (Jane Levy). Bill is concerned that his son is drinking too much, and then learns that David is having an affair with a co-worker. Can Bill help mend the troubled marriage between David and Tammy? A Little Prayer is anchored by the subtle and moving performances of David Strathairn and Jane Levy. Strathairn as the father who struggles to keep his family together, while Levy as the put-upon wife of David, who puts on a brave and positive face, but inside is being destroyed little by little. Strathaim plays Bill as a man who has made mistakes in the past and is trying his best to make amends by being the peacemaker in the family. Unfortunately, his family keeps falling apart, tearing itself from the inside, and there isn’t much that Bill can do. All Bill can do is what he thinks is best, even if it means that things might get even worse. Levy is moving as the woman who always puts on a show of being happy when we see her in moments alone, where the pain and hurt are evident on her face or in her actions, such as wandering off into the backyard alone or being awake in bed while her drunk husband sleeps it off next to her. A Little Prayer is a film about people who have scars that have never healed. These wounds won’t mend until drastic changes are made, and not everyone is capable of making those changes.  My Rating: Full Price  A Little Prayer Website  Now playing in theaters

Indiefest:  Lurker  (2025)  R   Lurker starts when, while working in a retail store, Mathew (Théodore Pellerin) meets Oliver (Archie Madekwe), an up-and-coming pop star. To Mathew’s surprise, he becomes part of Oliver’s inner circle. However, this newfound access may come at a significant price—one that could be a matter of life and death. I had trouble with this film from the start because I never found myself liking or rooting for Matthew. Furthermore, I felt Oliver was a pompous ass from the get-go, as well. The film doesn’t quite know what it wants to be: a moody drama, a tense melodrama, or a suspense film. There is, of course, the subplot that addresses fame and how yes-men and women surround someone in Oliver’s position, and how to fit in; Mathew has to become one of them. However, I had a hard time believing how easily an awkward kid like Mathew made it into the inner circle and became Oliver’s personal documentary filmmaker. I wasn’t engaged in the story, and how it ends seemed too easy to come up with to try to shock us. And by the way, Mathew’s camera work is horrible: I can’t imagine sitting through an entire documentary created by him. It would be nauseating, unlike this film, which was just dull and unbelievable.  My Rating: Cable  Lurker Website Now playing in theaters

Forgotten Film:  The Pumpkin Eater (1964) Jo (Ann Bancroft) is a mother of five who left her 2nd husband, Giles (Richard Johnson), to marry a dashing screenwriter, Jake (Peter Finch), bringing her five children with her. At first, their marriage seems wonderful, but soon Jo feels abandoned as she is left to do the housework and raise the children alone. Things fall apart when Jo finds out that Jake is having multiple affairs and their marriage begins to unravel before her eyes. The screenplay is by Nobel Prize winner Harold Pinter and directed by Jack Clayton, who was nominated for an Academy Award for the 1959 film Room at the Top. The Pumpkin Eater was made during a time when adult audiences were accustomed to stories featuring characters in their 30s and 40s, unlike today's emphasis on teens and young adults. Forget the horrible title of the film and some of the outdate 1960s settings, and marvel at how good an actress Ann Bancroft is. She won her second Academy Award for this role, delivering a moving and brilliant performance. There is a literal knock-down, drag-out fight between Bancroft and Finch that is hard to watch; it is so realistic. The Pumpkin Eater is a film about a woman who is struggling to find happiness, faced with the choice of settling for less or moving on once again.    My Rating: Full Price  The Pumpkin Eater Info  The film is available on Tubi and Amazon Prime

Weird Credits:  From the credits of The Conjuring: Last Rites:  Costume Cutter

Coming Soon to a Screen Near You:  Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale  (2025)  PG  In Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, the household is on the brink of social disgrace with Mary (Michelle Dockery) in the middle of a very public divorce and the family facing financial ruin. The Crawleys will have to embrace change if Downton Abbey is to survive. This is the third and final film of the series. There will be a small tribute in the film to the late Maggie Smith.  Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale Website  In theaters on Friday, September 12, 2025.

Until Next Time!

The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It

Note to readers: I have started going to movies in the theaters, having received my two shots and passed the two-week standby period, wearing a mask at all times and following social distancing. Most of the films I am reviewing are still movies that I watched at home, but I will note in the review if I saw them in a theatre. I am not going to tell you whether or not to attend a theatre. Just be aware of the risks, do your research, and follow the instructions to the letter.

My View:  The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It   (2021) R  Ed and Lorraine (Patrick Wilson, Vera Farmiga) are back, and this time, they are fighting for the soul of a young man who has been charged with murder, and his defense is that a demon-possessed him. First a note: This was my second screening to see with an audience (others have been critics only), and it was not a good experience. Between the people who cannot go an hour and a half without checking their phones and the guy who did a running commentary on every scene to his seat mate, I did not enjoy being back in the theatre. That being said, you need to see horror films in a theatre with an audience to get the full effect. I have enjoyed this series, some films less than others, but the films that involved the Lorraine’s have been fun and scary. This one puts the series back on track, where the focus is not just the frightening thing they are investigating but also the love and respect that the couple has for each other. The plot is a little weak, and unlike many horror films, you are asked to believe that this film is based on fact. Still, it’s a fun ride and has quite a few scares, most of which aren’t based on the ‘jump out of the dark’ kind. And it’s always enjoyable to watch Vera Farmiga, and Patrick Wilson work on the screen together, as their on-screen chemistry is excellent. Overall, I had fun on another adventure into the strange and weird with the Lorraine’s.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee    The Conjuring Website  The film is currently playing in select theatres and on the HBO Max platform.

Familyfaire:  Spirit Untamed  (2021)   Lucky Prescott (voiced by Isabela Merced) lost her mother and now has been sent by her father from the city to a small frontier town. Her life will be changed forever when she meets a wild mustang named Spirit. This is one of those animated films where young kids will have a good time, but parents will be bored. While the film has a good heart, the plot feels like it is a movie based on a TV series. The animation is nothing to get excited about and looks a little dated. If you have someone who is crazy about horses in your family, then by all means, check it out, but it’s a relatively simple story that could have been told in 30 minutes…or wait, maybe it was.    My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Spirit Untamed Website   The film is currently playing in select theatres. 

Indiefest: Breaking Boundaries: The Science of Our Planet (2021)   Legendary broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough and scientist Johan Rockström examine the collapse of the Earth’s biodiversity and how this crisis can still be averted. We see the world through the eyes of Attenborough and scientist Rockström, which give us a rather bleak picture that we, humans, have pushed the Earth’s delicate tipping point to the wrong way, a way that will lead to our inevitable destruction. The things that we have done, such as car emissions, over-farming, over-fertilizing, overfishing, have put us on a destructive course that will be hard to overcome. The first two-thirds of the film is incredibly disturbing, showing us how our greed and self-worth have destroyed the climate balance of the planet we live on and that we have ignored scientists' pleas for the last 50 years to stop these catastrophic ways. The last third of the film does give us hope, telling us that, hey, you can get it together and make things better, but it’s going to make sacrifices and work in order to do it. I came away from this film depressed and angry, with not a lot of hope, but maybe that’s what we need. We need a hard kick in the butt and perhaps a slap across the face, like this film, to get us to realize that we must act now and not later.   My Rating: Bargain Matinee   Breaking Boundaries Website  The film is currently available on the Netflix platform.  

Indiefest: Undine (2020)   Undine (Paula Beer) works as a historian lecturing on Berlin’s urban development, and she has a secret. When the man she loves leaves her, she is bound by an ancient myth that she must kill him to survive. I loved this dark, rich fairy-tale of a film about a mysterious woman and her quest for love. We are enchanted by Undine, played by the magical Paula Beer, right from the start when we see her meet her lover, who wants to break up with her. She gives him an ultimatum; stay at the cafe while she gives a lecture, or if he leaves, she will be forced to kill him. The film never goes out of its way to tell you who or even maybe, what Undine is. We just know that she is someone or something not to be messed with. Beer is perfect in the role of a woman seeking love and is caught up in all its wonder while knowing that this love might have a price. Undine has everything, mystery, the hint of possible murder, lust, longing for love, and the magic that it can bring.   My Rating: Full Price   Undine Website  Now playing in select theatres including Landmark Midtown Art Cinema

Indiefest: All Light, Everywhere (2021)   This documentary explores how we see and use surveillance technologies and how they have become a fixture in our world, often changing our point of view. This fascinating and engaging film covers a wide range of subjects from the history of photography and how it influenced police work on criminal behavior, the ethics of surveillance, and an inside look at the world of Axon, a company that created the Taser and now is the supplier of body cams to the majority of police departments across the country. The film opens to let us know that our eyes have a ‘blind spot’ and that our brain fills in the blind spot. Cameras, on the other hand, aren’t supposed to have a blind spot. They are supposed to record things accurately and without prejudice. However, what this film shows us is that surveillance cameras also have a blind spot, and that can have consequences. This film shows us that there is always a point of view, and that perspective can be controlled….a blind spot.   My Rating: Full Price   All Light, Everywhere Website   The film is currently playing in select theatres. 

Indiefest:  The Courier (2020) PG-13   British businessman Greville Wynne (Benedict Cumberbatch) is enlisted to be a spy, going undercover to get intelligence on a potential nuclear missile attack on Cuba. Under the leadership of Emily Donovan (Rachel Brosnahan), Greville forms an alliance with Oleg (Merab Ninidze), a Russian source, to try to stop the end of the world as we know it. What if you were an ordinary British citizen, with a wife and a young son, working as a salesman who travels overseas a lot because of his job. Your home life is good after a bit of trouble due to an affair you had, but that is all behind you. One day you are invited to lunch and meet with two people who want you to travel to Russia, meet a high ranking official and bring back a piece of paper. Oh, and by the way, that piece of paper might save the world from a nuclear war.  What would you do?  So starts the well done and interesting spy drama The Courier based on true events on how a salesman became one of the most important spies of the Cold War. Benedict Cumberbatch is so well cast as somewhat rigid and slightly snooty Greville Wynne, a man who’s one talent is that he can sell anything to anybody and uses that advantage to become a courier, bring secrets about the Russian missiles being established in Cuba. The tale is gripping and as the film goes on, builds the tension as Greville becomes more involved with the spy mission. The film lags a bit near the end but that can be expected as his job as a spy winds down.I saw this in the theatre but it will work just as well at home on a DVD or Blue-Ray. Overall, The Courier is an intriguing and exciting spy thriller that doesn’t disappoint.    My Rating: Full Price     The Courier Website   Now available on DVD and Blu-Ray.

Forgotten Film: In Bruges (2008) R  After a hit on a priest has gone horrible wrong, hitmen Ray (Colin Farrell) and Ken (Brendan Gleeson) are told to go to Burgees, Belgium to hideout. While Ken sees it as a perfect vacation, Ray is miserable, and things start to go bad, very bad. Harry (Ralph Fiennes), the man who hired Ray to do the hit, decides that Ray must be done away with. I don’t want to go too much into the plot because some of the surprises are so much fun, but this is a blast to watch. Farrell does some of his best work as the hitman that would rather be anywhere else in the world than this beautiful city, and Gleeson is a wonder to watch as the hitman who decides to take advantage of this holiday. As the crime lord who can’t stop cussing, Fiennes is hilarious, and the action sequences are incredibly well done. And wait until you see the ending.   My Rating: Full Price     In Bruges Info

Weird Credits: From the credits of The Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do It: Environment Artist

Coming Soon To A Screen Near You: Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain        (2021)  A documentary on Anthony Bourdain, the beloved yet cranky man who peeled the curtain back on the world of the chef’s kitchen and became a media superstar in his approach to travel, food and culture. I hope to get just a bit of an insight into such a complex and interesting but troubled man.    Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain Website 

Until Next Time!

Insidious: Chapter 2

My View:  Insidious: Chapter 2  (2013)  PG-13   The Lambert family is back together after Josh (Patrick Wilson) went into an astral dimension called, the Further, and saved his son from a demon.  The family’s happiness is short lived, though, as paranormal events start to occur again, and the family notices that Josh is acting strangely.  Did Josh really come back from the Further, or is he possessed by a demon? The first film, Insidious (2010), was a scary, imaginative film that didn't go for the cheap scare and had a well thought-out plot.  Unfortunately, the second film is just a rehash of the first film with a plot that is too easy to figure out and too few scary moments.  This film does try to use the first film as a springboard by showing us scenes from the first, but this one comes off tired and unimaginative as the other world, "The Further," isn't as scary the second time around.   My Rating:  Cable  Insidious: Chapter 2 Website 

Indiefest:  Short Term 12 (2013)  R   Grace (Brie Larson) works as a supervisor at a foster-care facility for at-risk teenagers.  Her boyfriend, Mason (John Gallagher Jr.), works with her at the home.  Grace’s world is changed when Jayden (Kaitlyn Dever), a troubled teenaged girl, enters the facility, and Grace sees herself in Jayden.  Brie Larson gives one of the best performances of the year as the tough, but kind-hearted Grace.  She is able to show, just in her eyes, all the pain and empathy that her character has.  I also loved the scenes between Grace and Mason, as both actors bring a nice, comfortable chemistry that two people who have been together for awhile should exhibit.  The supporting cast of kids are good, and Larson plays off of them with an ability to show us she has dealt with their problems before, possibly in her own life.  This is a film that gives you hope for kids who are troubled, and there are people out there trying to help them and give them some sort of feeling of family, even if that family is not ordinary.   My Rating:  I Would Pay to See it Again   Short Term 12 Website

Indiefest:  Jayne Mansfield's Car (2012)  R  The Caldwell’s are a proud family with deep southern roots, but the family has never recovered from Jim’s (Robert Duvall) wife, Naomi, divorcing him for an Englishman whom she married and with whom she moved to England. Jim is then forced to raise a large family on his own. The family doesn’t see their mother for years.  Then, almost thirty years later, the Caldwell’s learn that their mother died, and her final wish was to buried in Alabama. The body will be accompanied by her British family, including Kingsley (John Hurt), the Englishman she married. Both families are full of interesting characters including Skip Caldwell (Billy Bob Thornton), who has never recovered from his stint in the Navy during World War II, and his brother, Carroll Caldwell (Kevin Bacon), also a WWII vet who now has long hair and protests the Vietnam War.  The film, set in Alabama in 1969, is a large ensemble piece that has Tennessee Williams overtones.  Thornton has made each character just a little too out there, including his own, who has a thing for fast cars and British accents so much that they almost come off too one dimensional.  I would have liked Kevin Bacon’s part as the Vietnam vet who is now an anti-war protester, bigger as it seemed that there was a much deeper story than what we got to see. I loved the look of the film as cinematographer Barry Markowitz did an outstanding job showing the back roads and old plantations of the South. The film’s soundtrack uses music from garage bands of that era, to great effect, which gives the movie a down to earth feel. As you would expect, the best parts of the film are when Duvall and Hurt are on-screen, but the film seems to lose its way with such a large cast and never quite figures out how to propel the plot along or even how to finish it.  My Rating: Bargain Matinee  Jayne Mansfield's Car Facebook page

Indiefest:  In A World (2013)  R  Carol (Lake Bell) is a not too successful voice-over coach where she makes sure that TV and Film stars get their accents right on-screen. She lives at her dad’s house, a legendary voice-over artist named, Sam Sotto (Fred Melamed), who constantly reminds Carol that he is the best. Carol’s luck changes when she makes the final cut to be the voice on a huge movie trailer franchise, a job that could change her life. Her only problem - her main competition is a guy she used to date, named Gustav (Ken Marino), and worse yet, her father.  This is a pleasant little comedy that, while the plot can be a little clunky, is fun to watch because of the performance of Lake Bell.  Bell shines on the screen, and we instantly like her from the start when she is shown working with Eva Longoria, trying to get her to do a Cockney accent for a film.  The film shows a world that we know little about but are exposed to on a daily basis, the job of the voice over artist.  This film is filled with characters that are behind the scenes in the entertainment industry but are full of egos that are as large as the latest box office winning actor, and these characters are willing to double-cross even family to get that next job.  My Rating:  Bargain Matinee  In A World Website

Forgotten Film:  La Femme Nikita (1990)  R  In the French film, Nikita (Anna Parillaud) is a drug addict whose only concern is her next fix.  She gets in on a robbery of a pharmacy with some of her friends and in the botched attempt, she kills a cop.  While in jail,  she is drugged and kidnapped by a secret government organization.  She is given the choice of dying (her captors have already faked her death in prison) or becoming an assassin for this secret organization.  Now, Nikita is cleaned up and goes from a degenerate drug addict to a femme fatale, a trained assassin, given only the toughest jobs, jobs that she may not come back alive from.  This is a tough, gritty film where it seems that we and Nikita are always kept slightly in the dark.  Parillaud, as Nikita, gives a complex performance that dazzles you with her ability to make you like her character, a character who doesn't have a lot of redeeming qualities.  The plot keeps you guessing, and the action sequences are extremely well done.  If you like action films with a female that can kick butt, this film is for you.  My Rating: Full Price   La Femme Nikita info

In Case You Missed It (A Film Just Released on DVD / Blue-ray):  Star Trek Into Darkness  (2013)  I loved the first J.J. Abrams Star Trek (2009) but feel this was a weak sequel.  The story has plot holes the size of the Enterprise, and it tries too hard with the one-liners that Kirk and the rest of the gang seem to spit out at an alarming pace. Overall, the film is a fun adventure that just doesn’t have a lot of heart to it.  It’s a  film that could have been so much more, but just never lived up to its pedigree.  My Rating:  Bargain Matinee  Star Trek Into Darkness  

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Jayne Mansfield's Car:  eBook Producer

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Captain Phillips (2013)  I am hearing great things about this Tom Hanks performance as the true-life Captain Richard Phillips, who, in 2009, was in charge of the first U.S. flagged ship to be hijacked by pirates in more than two hundred years.   Captain Phillips Website

Until Next Time!

Turbo

Family Faire:  Turbo (2013)  PG   Theo (Ryan Reynolds) dreams of being the best race car driver in the world, just like his hero, five-time Indianapolis 500 champ Guy Gagne. There is just one problem Theo is an ordinary garden snail. Theo’s life changes when, by accident, he gets sucked into the supercharger of a drag racer and his DNA mixes with nitrous oxide, which results in a snail with super speed. Now, Theo can live up to his nickname, Turbo, and make his dreams come alive.  This is a movie that kids will love since it's is filled with bright colors, lots of movement and likeable characters. Adults may find the storyline a little too simplistic and not engaging.  The story drags in places , and it seemed to move at a snail’s pace, taking forever to get to the Indy 500. Ryan Reynolds doesn’t bring a lot to the character of Turbo , but I did enjoy Samuel L. Jackson as the racing snail, Whiplash and Paul Giamatti as Turbo’s reluctant and always cautious, Chet.    My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   Turbo Website

                                                            

My View:  Red 2  (2013)  PG-13   Your favorite retired black-ops are back. Frank (Bruce Willis) is just trying to fit in and live the normal life with his girlfriend, Sarah (Mary-Louise Parker) when he is notified by Victoria (Helen Mirren) that Interpol is on the hunt for him. To clear his name, he gets the gang back together on a quest to hunt down a missing portable nuclear device.  I really enjoyed the first film, Red (2010), but this one wasn’t as much fun. In the first film, we didn’t know any of the characters, so some of the joy of the film was getting to know their quirks and their specialties. Also, the first film seems much more tongue-in-cheek.  It's a fun film, and, any time you get to see Helen Mirren shoot a big gun, it’s a win. The film has lots of huge explosions, shoot outs and some really cool fight sequences with a new member of the team, Korean martial artist, Byung-hun Lee. I will say I missed Ernest Borgnine, who sadly died before this film was made.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee    Red 2 Website

My View:  The Conjuring  (2013)  R   The Perron family (Lili Taylor, Ron Livingston) is being terrorized by a mysterious presence in their old family farmhouse, so they bring in Paranormal Investigators, Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) to get rid of the entity. This case may be bigger, though, than anyone ever thought.  This is a damn scary film that is firmly situated in the true horror genre. It takes a while for things to really start happening, but once they do, watch out because there are a lot of things that go bump in the night. The dialogue is a little clunky and occasionally funny as the film is set in the early 1970’s. Overall, this is a scary film that delivers truly frightful, intense scenes. The film does ask you to believe that the Paranormal Investigators are the real deal, but it’s just a little price to pay for such a fun ride.   My Rating: Full Price    The Conjuring Website

My View:  R.I.P.D.  (2013)  PG-13  Detective Nick Walker (Ryan Reynolds) is killed in a shootout and discovers that there is a whole other dimension inhabited by the spirit world. Now Nick works for the R.I.P.D – the Rest in Peace Department, the police force of the undead. Partnered with Roy Pulsipher (Jeff Bridges), Nick has to stop evil spirits from taking over the living world.  This film went downhill almost from the start as a chase scene goes on with some of the worst CGI special effects that I have ever seen.  Every one of the characters in this film seemed be inspired by 1950’s cartoons, and bad ones at that.  Bridges performance is especially disappointing as he has decided to go over the top with his cowboy accent and bigger than life facial expressions.  Reynolds looks as if he wishes he was in another movie and the usually reliable Kevin Bacon, playing Nick’s best friend, just never connects with his character or the audience. Thirty minutes into this film, I was looking at my watch, hoping that this film was almost done.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t.  My Rating:  You Would Have to Pay Me to See it Again   R.I.P.D. Website

Indiefest:  Fruitvale Station  (2013) This is the true story of the last day in the life of Oscar (Michael B. Jordan), a 22-year old man who was killed by transit cops in the Bay area of California one New Year’s morning. This film will make you angry and sad at the same time.  The cast is astonishing, led by Jordan’s breathtaking performance as Oscar. The film was shot in documentary style at most of the actual locations, which allows you to get inside the world of Oscar. The film is heartbreaking from the beginning where we see the actual camera phone footage of Oscar’s death. This is one of those films you will walk out of and immediately start talking about it. This is one of my must see smaller films of the summer, and you shouldn't miss it.    My Rating: I Would Pay to See it Again    Fruitvale Station Website

Indiefest:  Crystal Fairy  (2013) Jamie (Michael Cera) and his friends are traveling through Chile when they encounter a woman (Gaby Hoffmann) who calls herself, Crystal Fairy. The gang, with Crystal in tow, embark on a quest to find a psychotropic cactus that they plan on eating while on a beach. It’s a trip they never will forget. Cera’s character, Jamie, is extremely unlikeable as he is all about his needs and wishes and doesn't  about other people.  Cera definitely does a good job projecting that selfish attitude. Hoffman is the main reason to see this film, though, as she is perfect in the role of the always talking, sometimes maddening, self-proclaimed Crystal Fairy. This film doesn’t quite hit the mark, but the performances are worthy, just as long as you don’t partake of the psychotropic cactus.   My Rating:  Bargain Matinee   Crystal Fairy Info

Forgotten Film:  Tumbleweeds  (1999)   PG-13   Mary Jo Walker (Janet McTeer) is a single mother who usually picks the wrong man to get involved with. When things get messy, Mary Jo’s instinct is to run. Ava (Kimberly J. Brown) is her long suffering daughter who has gotten used to moving to new towns and starting life over. When Mary Jo once again gets involved with the wrong man, Ava, must take a stand and get her mother to face her fears. This is a moving drama that relies on the great chemistry between McTeer and Brown. Mary Jo is one of those characters whom you just wish would grow up a little, especially since her bad decisions affect her daughter so deeply. This is an interesting, smart film with excellent performances.  My Rating:  Full Price    Tumbleweeds Info

Weird Credits:  From the credits of Red 2:  Origami services provided by

Coming Soon to a Theatre Near You:  Prince Avalanche  (2013) Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch star in this film about two highway road workers who, while working in an isolated area, talk about their life and loves. The trailer is very funny, and the film is directed by David Gordon Green, who gave us Pineapple Express (2008).   Prince Avalanche Website

Until Next Time!