Hello movie fans and welcome to the first installment of Halloween Horror Fest, a month long special on Matthew Liedke on Film all about the genre that’s around to create chills and thrills.
For this year’s HHF, I’ll be looking back at horror movie performances and celebrating the best of the best. This will go over what makes them good, memorable and in some cases downright award worthy.
Continue reading “Halloween Horror Fest 2016: Honoring Lugosi and Lee”
The start of America’s worst oil disaster is brought to the big screen in “Deepwater Horizon,” directed by Peter Berg, who previously helmed “Lone Survivor.”
Much of the film takes place on the now infamous drilling rig and while many true-to-life characters are featured, the movie mainly focuses on Mike Williams, played by Mark Wahlberg. After the initial setup, showing Williams’ home and family life, the movie picks up with him going back to the rig with his coworkers Andrea (Gina Rodriguez) and Jimmy (Kurt Russell).
Once the characters are on the rig, the film documents how the disaster of Deepwater Horizon unfolded, from the BP company skipping on safety checks to the eventual explosions and finally the evacuation of the rig.
Continue reading “REVIEW: ‘Deepwater Horizon’ Is Worth A Watch Thanks To Its Immersive Intensity”
It’s a “Training Day” reunion in this western remake, with Director Antoine Fuqua teaming up with Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke once again.
This edition of “The Magnificent Seven” follows the same formula as the 1960 picture as well as the 1954 movie “Seven Samurai.” Denzel Washington plays a lawman named Chisolm who’s convinced to help a small town that’s being terrorized by a mine owner. To help him hold off the nefarious Bartholomew Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard), Chisolm recruits six other gunfighters and western frontiersmen to join the battle.
The movie goes on to explore the ragtag group of outlaws meeting up, helping the town prepare for the upcoming combat and learning to work together for the single cause.
Continue reading “REVIEW: Not A Western Classic, But “Magnificent Seven” Is A Fun Shoot ’Em Up”
This true sequel to the 1999 found footage picture brings audiences back to a familiar place, and that’s not just in reference to the location. On top of the movie’s setting, this edition also borrows heavily from the first film’s formula.
Ignoring the 2000 film “Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2,” this flick opts to just be a direct sequel to the original and follows the character James. James is the brother of Heather Donahue, who was one of the people who went “missing” in the original picture. Since her disappearance in rural Maryland, James has been obsessed with trying to discover her whereabouts and finds a clue by way of an internet video.
In response, James and a group of his friends go out into the same woods that the previous crew ventured into in an attempt to pick up more pieces of the puzzle. However, once they enter, eerie things start happening to the protagonists.
Clint Eastwood’s directing chops are once again on display here in “Sully,” making for some of the most tense movie sequences put to screen so far in 2016.
This picture follows the story of Captain Chesley ‘Sully’ Sullenberger (Tom Hanks), a pilot who landed a commercial airliner on the Hudson River in January 2009. The film picks up in the immediate aftermath of the landing, with Sully still in New York City and meeting with safety and transportation officials for a review of what happened.
As the days go on, the movie explores Sully’s reaction to his sudden fame, his questioning of whether or not he did the right thing and his response to panels of flight officials who are investigating the landing.
Continue reading “REVIEW: Suspenseful Filmmaking And Great Performances Help ‘Sully’ Soar”
The dramatic landing on the Hudson River by Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger will be recreated on the big screen this weekend with the release of a movie about the famous pilot. Playing the captain who made the daring landing is one of Hollywood’s best, Tom Hanks. With that in mind, it’s a good chance to look back at the actor’s significant career.
Continue reading “The Top 10 Tom Hanks Movie Performances (Written pre ‘Sully’)”
Sometimes the summer provides some of the best movie moments of the year, but they often go overlooked during award season. So, to make up for it, I’ve come up with the Summer Movie Awards, giving credit to flicks that come out in the warmest months.
Take note horror characters, never go in a creepy looking house.
“Don’t Breathe” tells the tale of three home robbers trying to make enough money to get out of a dilapidated area of Detroit. The trio, including Rocky (Jane Levy), Alex (Dylan Minnette) and Money (Daniel Zovatto), get a major opportunity for a big score when they are tipped off about a blind man who is sitting on hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The three eventually begin their plan to break in and pull off the heist, but they don’t get very far. It’s not long before the would-be robbers find out that the person their stealing from, despite being blind, has complete control over his senses. On top of this, they also find out that the Blind Man (Stephen Lang) is aggressive and ready to kill all of the trespassers without mercy.
Arthur Bishop has returned for some more assassination attempts, albeit being more reluctant this time around.
In this follow-up to the 2011 picture, “The Mechanic Resurrection” carries on the story of Bishop (Jason Statham) who now lives in isolation in Brazil.
His peace is shattered, though, when he’s forced into a job by an old nemesis named Crain (Sam Hazeldine). The main reason why he’s forced to do more assassinations is because Crain is holding Bishop’s new girlfriend Gina (Jessica Alba) hostage.
Continue reading “REVIEW: “The Mechanic’ Franchise Didn’t Need A Resurrection”
Meryl Streep could very well get some award attention again for her performance but Hugh Grant shouldn’t be overlooked in this picture.
“Florence Foster Jenkins” follows the story of a real life New York City woman who was heavily involved in the area’s musical scene. While she knew and was on largely good terms with many of NYC’s musicians, artists and composers, though, she herself didn’t have the best singing talent.
The film picks up with her taking singing lessons in 1944 with help from her husband St Clair Bayfield (Hugh Grant) and a young composer named Cosme McMoon (Simon Helberg). Despite her continued practice, though, Jenkins doesn’t particularly improve over time. However, Jenkins believes she’s a world class singer and it’s up to the film’s other character to help her continue to believe the product she’s putting out.
Continue reading “REVIEW: Streep, Grant Shine In The Fantastic ‘Florence Foster Jenkins’”
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