Saturday, May 6, 2017
Elvis & Nixon (2016)
The untold true story behind the meeting between Elvis Presley, the King of Rock 'n Roll, and President Richard Nixon.
Quite amusing rendition of an almost unbelievable and absurd encounter; Shannon and Spacey seems to be enjoying their parts.
First Lines: The Journey of Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca
On the 27th day of the month of June, 1527, the Governor Panfilo de Narvaez departed from the port of San Lucar de Barrameda, with authority and orders from Your Majesty to conquer and govern the provinces that extend from the river of the Palms to the Cape of the Florida, these provinces being on the mainland.
The Last House on the Left (2009)
After kidnapping and brutally assaulting two young women, a gang unknowingly finds refuge at a vacation home belonging to the parents of one of the victims: a mother and father who devise an increasingly gruesome series of revenge tactics.
More a reimagination than a remake of Wes Craven's classic shocker this version is effectively produced (on a larger budget) and delivers some gritty shocks of its own.
Maltin*1/2: "Remake of the 1972 horror film is better made but lacks its crude, direct power; this wastes such good actors as Dillahunt and Goldwyn. Not as violent as the original, but still more gruesome than some recent slasher movies."
Friday, May 5, 2017
The Runaways (2010)
A coming-of-age biographical film about the 1970s teenage all-girl rock band The Runaways.
The movie has a good cast and some accurate period detail and emphasizes the conflicts within the band, but is slow-paced and hardly captures the thrill and excitement of an up-and-coming rock'n'roll band.
Maltin***: "Although the genre is well worn, this telling seems genuine and fresh; Fanning and Shannon are exceptionally good...Impressive feature debut for Sigismondi..."
Thursday, May 4, 2017
L'Avenir (2016)
A philosophy teacher soldiers through the death of her mother, getting
fired from her job, and dealing with a husband who is cheating on her.