Ed's Review Dot Com

Gramercy Pictures (I), Stage 6 Films, Entertainment One,

Dermot Mulroney, Stefanie Scott, Angus Sampson, Leigh Whannell, Lin Shaye

You may recall the Lambert family who had horrible problems with demons trying to steal their children and bring them over to the dark side in Insidious and Insidious Chapter 2. A kind and gentle lady named Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye) helped them to defeat the demon. Well this is a few years before the Lambert story and is a prequel to the other two films. Elise has given up helping people using her psychic abilities because an evil force on the dark side is threatening to kill her, but when Quinn Brenner (Stefanie Scott) turns up on her doorstep asking for help in contacting her deceased mother, Elise explains that she cannot help. But when it becomes obvious that an evil demon is trying to steal Quinn’s soul, she has to step up. This prequel is the story of how Elise overcame her fears and returned to the business of helping out families like the Brenner’s who really need her, and why she was available to help the Lambert’s in the first two movies.

I had the experience of seeing both Insidious and Insidious Chapter Two in a special event at AMC when Chapter 2 was released. I have always felt that the Insidious movies were among the scariest of the new batch of horror films. Both really terrified me. So I was sure I would run out and see Chapter 3 on opening day. For some reason, I put it off, and never got around to watching it. It’s rare that I miss a decent horror film in the theater, as the big screen is so much fun to watch horror films. But it came out this week on DVD, and I really wanted to see it. We waited till dark and put it on the Plasma TV, the biggest in the house, turned out the lights and turned up the sound. It definitely was not as good as the first two, which I rated higher in both cases, but I really enjoyed it. There were a number of times my wife screamed out loud, and I can imagine those were real good theater moments with their big sound systems. But the story is not nearly as complex as the first two, and unlike them, which twisted and turned us around, this was very linear. I cannot say this is as great as the first two were, but at the same time, I would say this is a must see for true horror fanatics such as I. The back fill of how Elise got to the point that she is in was very interesting and we learned more about her. She was definitely the star of the first two films and we didn’t get to know near enough of her story before. I feel like this was a great add to the story, and I would recommend watching them in chronological order, Chapter 3, Chapter 1, and Chapter 2, in that order for a great experience, especially if you have forgotten the first two, or if you have not seen any of these. It’s a superb horror trilogy and well worth the time spent enjoying them all.

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Stage 6 Films, Manis Film, Breaking Ball Films,

Susan Sarandon, Gil Bellows, Ellen Burstyn, Topher Grace, Donald Sutherland, Christopher Heyerdahl

Hazel Micallef (Susan Sarandon) is a small town detective in Canada. Things are not too exciting there and she hasn’t had much to do lately, but when a killer starts leaving gruesome scenes all around the countryside, Hazel is convinced there is more to it than just random killings. With some help, she sets out to solve the crimes and search for the person behind all the horror.

This is a familiar story. It has Fargo written all over it, in fact. Same setting, same female detective trying to stop the killings, same quiet backwoods country town. Yes, this definitely has Fargo written all over it. But on the other hand, also has Susan Sarandon in it. She is really very good, as always, in this role. It is a simple little serial killer flick and “The Calling” has a very specific special meaning here, which you will learn as you watch it. All in all, it’s quite suspenseful, loads of fun to watch Ms. Sarandon nail this character, and though it’s quite suspenseful, it’s all in good humor and a pleasure to watch. Certainly points get knocked off for the obvious stolen material, but the setting is beautiful, the acting is top notch, and it’s an enjoyable film. I enjoyed it, and found it was quite enjoyable, and I can recommend this movie for a great evening watching a crime drama on the couch.

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

Stage 6 Films, RCR Media Group, March On Productions,

Cuba Gooding Jr., Cole Hauser, Jonathan LaPaglia, Ginny Weirick, Drew Waters, Sean Cook, Michael Papajohn, J.P. O’Shaughnessy, David Andriole, Matt Beckham, Brandon O’Neill, Holt Boggs

Allen Campbell (Cole Hauser) is having the worst day of his entire life. It starts when he misses the promotion that he is entitled to and has been promised for a young upstart who doesn’t deserve it. Then he gets home early to find his wife in the bedroom with his best friend. So he heads to the bar in the middle of the afternoon to try to drink the bar dry of Jack Daniels when he tries to start a conversation with a silent man named Jonas Arbor, (Cuba Gooding Jr.) who is a somewhat retired professional hit man. Jonas is not in the mood but when Alan makes a comment about feeling like a human punching bag, Jonas decides to talk to him. They set out on a theoretical list of the 5 people Allan would like to see dead. Allan see’s it as a game, and plays along, but when people on the list start dying in order, Detective McKay (Jonathan LaPaglia is quite suspicious and Allan’s alibi is so far fetched and everything points to him.

This is a surprising cat and mouse story. Very Alfred Hitchcockish…this film is no doubt one you missed, and a hidden gem that ought to be taken out and given another look. All the evidence points to Allan, yet we know it’s not his fault, but on the other hand, maybe he is to blame. Suddenly he wishes he never made the damn list! This is truly suspenseful, and surprisingly Cuba Gooding carries the heavy weight and deep dark secrets and surprises until he lets us know the truth at the right moments. This is a roller coaster ride, and we all feel completely out of control along with Alan as his world implodes all around him and try his damnedest he’s unable to put a halt to it.

This film gathered cobwebs until it was just released on DVD, and gosh, I hope people give it a chance, as it’s way better than I could have ever guessed. This is not the Cuba Gooding from “Snow Dogs”, “Boat Trip” or the gosh awful “Norbit” but he plays this multi dimensional part evil, part desperate bad guy perfectly. I would never have cast him in a role this heavy, but he proves he can handle it 100%. I was impressed. There are so many facets of this film, and I am very certain if you take the opportunity to watch it, like me, you will be impressed with this quality of this hidden gem!

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

TriStar Pictures, Stage 6 Films, Our Stories Films,

Angela Bassett, Paula Patton, Laz Alonso, Loretta Devine, Meagan Good, Tasha Smith, Julie Bowen, DeRay Davis, Valarie Pettiford

It’s culture war when Jason Taylor (Laz Alonso) invites his mom (Loretta Devine) who are down home poor southern family from very humble settings to his wedding to Sabrina Watson (Paula Patton) at her rich family’s Martha’s Vineyard mansion. Things start off badly when they don’t arrive to meet Mama, but send someone to pick her up. From there it goes bad to worse, as Jason’s mother is offended by the French speaking mixed racial and uppity Watson family, so she does her best to break them up before they start. At first the Watson’s are appalled at Mama’s behavior, but as it turns out, they have a few secrets and problems of their own. In the end, it’s too much for them to take and Jason and Sabrina figure it’s time to call off the wedding.

This is a very funny movie. The characters are well developed. It’s a black movie that isn’t really. As a white person, I can completely understand the problems and issues of these families. It’s easy enough for this old Caucasian to understand, because the same problems face us all. The details may be different, but at some time or another we feel like we’re out of our element, trying to fit in with someone who feel is above us or below us. Either way, it’s comfortable. I didn’t understand the meaning of “Jumping the Broom” and I didn’t know this custom existed. It was nicely explained by Mrs. Taylor, and was a defining moment in the film. We have problems and challenges no matter how high on the horse we think we are.

The whole rest of the characters too are very interesting, and there’s enough meat and potatoes to the storyline to make it interesting all the way through the film, but the bottom line is that it’s very funny. It’s also very PG-13, so there is no nasty stuff in this film. It’s good for all but the very young ones who will probably be bored. Otherwise it’s a really fine film. Very well done, and well worth putting this in your queue!

EdG – EdsReview Dot Com – A Movie Review Blog

Stage 6 Films, Insight Film Studios

Cuba Gooding, Val Kilmer, Michael Ironside

Hardwired is a solid “Very Long Wait” film on Netflix, but as some guy said in a review,  a very long wait does not necessarily make it a great film.  A lot of people hated this movie, and I think I can understand their reasoning.

It’s very science fiction, and it’s been done…with the evil corporations and rebel individual who tries to fight the establishment.  Cuba Gooding wasn’t fabulous in this film, but he didn’t suck either.  It’s a Canadian film, which is fine, but it’s not real big budget and there are some silly premises that wouldn’t cut it in a big budget Hollywood film, but it was interesting and it is an interesting premise.  A man was in a car accident and should have died.  Because he had no ObamaCare, he was saved by the previously mentioned “evil corporation” as a test subject.  Turns out they’re implanting recievers in peoples brain to sell advertising space.  After all, they’re running out of places to put up billboards, so why not in our heads? Well, naturally Cuba doesn’t buy their products, and the chase is on.

I went in not expecting a lot, and I wasn’t disappointed.  I enjoyed the time I spent watching it, and though it isn’t great, it was ok.  I like science fiction films, and the action was pretty good, and the chases didn’t suck.  I bought the concept and just watched and enjoyed the ride.  If you are not too critical and not looking for the best picture nominee, then you might enjoy this one too.  I definitely did.