Capsule Movie Show Reviews - April 2010

The Crazies (2010) ***
Finally a remake I rather enjoyed. The new Crazies wisely bypasses a lot of aspects of Romero's 1973 original (How can one compete with that master's films?) and is a refreshingly no frills thrill ride.

Bad Lieutenant Port Of Call New Orleans (2009) ***1/2
Werner Herzog's take is neither a remake nor a sequel... It's a totally bizarre, sometimes hilarious look at a man's descent into hell. Easily Nicholas Cage's best role since he left Las Vegas. I had a blast.

Don McKay (2010) **
Thomas Hayden Church plays a high school janitor who returns to his home town and gets mixed up with one very kooky Elisabeth Shue. The film tries pretty hard to be a Film Noir with a personality but comes off like a Coen Brothers clone.

Did You Hear About The Morgans? (2009) **1/2
Not nearly as bad as everyone had it out to be, Marc Lawrence's newest film is a lot like his others. It's a loving homage to the more formal screwball comedies of the 1930's. It's greatest weakness is a lack of what made those films in the past really work... real chemistry between the leads.

Women In Trouble (2009) ***
Writer/Director Sebastian Guiterrez is trying (though not entirely successful) to give Pedro Almodovar a run for his money in this love letter to the ladies. Several interlocking stories of women (often on the verge of a nervous breakdown) provide ample moments for it's good cast to shine. A follow-up entitled "Elektra Luxx" is expected to be released later this year.

Black Dynamite (2009) **
I really wanted to enjoy this ode to Blaxploitation past, but the film makes a cardinal sin in merely attempting to spoof bad movies of the era rather than being a straight ahead spoof of films of the time. It's kind of like spoofing an Ed Wood movie... It's completely pointless unless you're doing in straight from the heart. The films of that era were certainly made on the cheap, but often by people who believed they were making something fun and entertaining for it's audience. Black Dynamite ends up condescending the genre it loves so much.

In The Loop (2009) ***
This razor sharp Brit comedy garnered itself an academy award nomination this year for it's screenplay. Deservedly so as it's a super fast paced and often witty satire on our current political climate. Peter Capaldi was the standout in the superb cast as the most foul mouthed spin doctor you'll ever meet.

Adam (2009) ***
Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne star in this look at a man struggling with Asperger's Syndrome after his father dies and leaves him to fend for himself in the real world. A surprisingly sweet and well acted romantic drama.

Pontypool (2009) ***
A deadly virus infects a small canadian town turning anyone with an open ear into a raving lunatic. A radio DJ and his small crew find themselves struggling to survive and spread the message before it's too late. A surprisingly intellectual and tense film that could have benefited from a tighter pace, but there's no denying it's power and the performance of his career by Stephen McHattie.

The Slammin' Salmon (2010) **
Broken Lizard's latest about a group of waiters competing to have the best service of the night feels slack and unfinished. There are some laughs, but they are few and far between. A far cry from the anything-could-happen feel of their now cult status favorite, the slob comedy Super Troopers.

**** excellent

***1/2 very good
*** recommended
**1/2 not bad
** not so hot
*1/2 skip it, buddy
* don't even think about it, mister