Trouble often comes in threes. It can sometimes comes in more increments than that and it can come fast and it can come furiously. It especially can come to those who are good deep down, people who have nothing but the best interests of their friends and families in mind. The new British thriller Bypass presents this dilemma to its viewers and it is a bleak and sobering look at the limits one man will go to provide for those he loves. Director Duane Hopkins, who gave us another depressing look at the British middle class in 2008’s Better Things, continues to provide a dark outlook in his premise and a story which is full of constant misery.
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I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story
In 1969, the world was rocked by something so great, so monumental and so important that it is considered one of humanity’s greatest modern achievements. No, I’m not talking about man landing on the moon. I’m talking about Sesame Street, a show which revolutionized children’s TV programming forever. The highly popular program combined education and entertainment seamlessly through song, humor and lots of furry creatures. These creatures were puppets manipulated by a crack team of individuals who certainly knew what they were doing. One of these individuals was (and still is) Caroll Spinney, a man who has been a working member of Sesame Street since its inception. He is better known as Big Bird and he’s even responsible for giving life and voice to Oscar the Grouch. The documentary I Am Big Bird: The Caroll Spinney Story shines a spotlight on the man inside the bird suit and it’s really quite moving.
Everly
There is really something truly great about female action heroes. Hot chicks with guns who kick ass provide for some of the more entertaining cinematic fare. Women scorned who get revenge on predominantly male oppressors has been a crowd-pleasing formula for decades. From the Pam Grier blaxploitation flicks of the 1970s to Sigourney Weaver in the Alien franchise to Jennifer Lawrence in the more recent The Hunger Games films, let’s face it, audiences like to see strong women on film strike back against evil. The new Salma Hayek actioner Everly is just what the people want and it is certainly a bloody good time. Sure, it bears a striking resemblance to Kill Bill but that’s okay because it delivers the goods and then some.
Out of the Dark
Ghosts on film provide for some of the more creepy modes of storytelling. Shadowy creatures combined with creaking floors and a fear of the unknown often make the moviegoing experience a genuinely scary one. The new B-movie thriller Out of the Dark has more of these elements and then some and while it isn’t of the utmost quality, it does offer some rather decent shocks and some pretty solid performances from it lead actors. Set and filmed in Colombia, it is an average spookfest that is good for a momentary chill but other than that, it’s just low grade thriller that doesn’t have much to offer other than fine acting.
White God
There are premises in movies that don’t always work. Then again, there are premises that work in the beginning but eventually fall apart. The new Hungarian drama White God is one of the latter and while it is fine from a stylistic standpoint, the plot itself is pretty ludicrous. In fact, it’s so silly that it pretty much borders on moronic. This is a film that could have been great but it takes a downward spiral in pretty unfortunate territory. If you are interested in fine Hungarian cinema then this film is not it. The only reason might be if you are a dog lover because this movie has lots of those.
Hot Tub Time Machine 2
Time travel is something film has tackled in more ways than one. The idea of traveling from one moment in time to another is a truly fascinating concept and one of the basic topics explored in science fiction. In 2010, Hot Tub Time Machine took that concept and added gross-out humor. John Cusack, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson and Clark Duke played a ragtag group who stumble across a, well, hot tub time machine. The four men then embark on a wild adventure as they venture back to the 1980s and all hell breaks loose. While the film wasn’t a cinematic masterpiece, it did garner a strong cult following and for purposes of this review, an even more ridiculous sequel.
The Rewrite
The woes of the one-hit wonder have been cleverly documented on film all too well. Movies like Barton Fink and Wonder Boys have tackled the subject exquisitely and numerous scribes throughout history have fallen victim to this unfortunate case of writer’s block. The new rom-com The Rewrite is based on the possibility that a once great creator can become a bit frozen when it comes to creating. Throw in a quirky plot, a pleasant setting and a superb supporting cast and you definitely have something worth checking out. It is a film that doesn’t break any genre rules or offer anything particularly new, just a cute story and a fine cast of actors.
White Rabbit
For some reason, many psychological thrillers are set in the South or in parts of America that are rural, trailer park-littered or downright white trashy. It’s the go-to location for films that dig deep into the human mind and expose darkness, grit and in some cases, psychosis. White Rabbit is one such film and while it has a lot of the conventional thriller movie tropes, it does offer some fresh faces in the cast and some rather inventive filmmaking techniques. Not all audiences will find this picture appealing. In fact, it’s almost guaranteed that it will repel some and be considered in many instances, quite offensive. The psychological aspect can be a bit of a tough pill to swallow and the tension between the characters is palpable. Basically, it’s a dark film with a lot going for it.
A Convenient Truth
In 2006, Al Gore unloaded on us An Inconvenient Truth, a documentary film that hoped to enhance the public’s knowledge of global warming and stir change from us all. It was a very important film which shed light on a topic many of us don’t really think about. The film was a wake up call for many and it did shift people’s perceptions of Earth climate change and what can be done to save the planet. The new film A Convenient Truth takes a cue from the Al Gore film but this time, rather than being a documentary of supreme importance, it is a ludicrous “mockumentary” that aims to fulfill one mission: to make audiences laugh.
Enter the Dangerous Mind
The psychological thriller is one of cinema’s most reliable and entertaining genres. Characters riddled with mental problems can be the basis for fascinating stories and will certainly keep audiences on their toes. The indie shocker Enter the Dangerous Mind succeeds in continuing the genre’s tropes and it is a film that will probably require a few viewings to sink in and fully appreciate. It stars young Jake Hoffman (son of Dustin Hoffman) and his performance here is not only disturbing but powerfully genuine. Viewers should take note because this is a truly haunting and very well-crafted picture.
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