Tag: film

REVIEW: Lackluster Mystery, Dull Acting Sends ‘Girl On The Train’ Off The Rails

A complex murder mystery unravels in “The Girl on the Train,” a movie that starts off with a scene based on the title.

Emily Blunt plays a divorcee named Rachel, a woman struggling with alcoholism who rides a train through New York state on a daily basis in a sort of daze. On a day-to-day basis, Rachel passes by the home she used to share with her husband and reminisces while also watching another couple, Megan (Haley Bennett) and Scott (Luke Evans) with envy.

On one day in particular, Rachel happens to see something after getting off at a train stop, but because of her drunken state, she has trouble remembering.

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Halloween Horror Fest 2016: Honoring the performances of Piper Laurie and Sissy Spacek

Just a warning to start, this post will have spoilers.

Like “The Exorcist,” “Carrie” was a 1970s horror flick that managed to snag some attention from the Oscars, something that’s become rare in today’s award season.

In this case, both lead actresses Piper Laurie and Sissy Spacek were nominated for their performances in the 1976 adaptation of the Stephen King novel. Looking back at the picture, there’s no doubt that both women deserved the nominations.

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Halloween Horror Fest 2016: Honoring Lugosi and Lee

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.

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REVIEW: ‘Deepwater Horizon’ Is Worth A Watch Thanks To Its Immersive Intensity

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.

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REVIEW: Not A Western Classic, But “Magnificent Seven” Is A Fun Shoot ’Em Up

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.

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REVIEW: ‘Blair Witch’ Has A Few Thrills, But Not As Memorable As Its 90s Counterpart

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.

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REVIEW: Suspenseful Filmmaking And Great Performances Help ‘Sully’ Soar

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.

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The Top 10 Tom Hanks Movie Performances (Written pre ‘Sully’)

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.

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2016 Summer Movie Awards

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.

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REVIEW: Despite Unlikable Characters, ‘Don’t Breathe’ Has Edge Of Your Seat Thrills

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.

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