#Middlebury #DVD
Movies reviewed this week have recently been released on video and DVD.
“Underwater” (PG-13) – At the bottom of the Mariana Trench, a group of researchers must suit up and cross a stretch of ocean floor to get from their damaged satellite station to the mother ship or risk a permanent vacation in Davy Jones’ locker. Research engineer Norah Price (Kristin Stewart, who shaved her head for the role) is chief among them, joined by Vincent Cassel as the captain and TJ Miller for comic relief. Director/writer William Eubank must have decided that ocean disaster and claustrophobic deep-sea thrills weren’t enough, so for good measure, the crew is stalked by killer creatures as they venture out into the deep in what look very much like spacesuits.
Michael B. Jordan in “Just Mercy” (Warner Bros. photo)
“Just Mercy” (PG-13) – Michael B. Jordan plays a young, morally ambitious Harvard law graduate who goes to Alabama to seek justice on behalf of poverty- and racism-stricken death row inmates. He starts with Walter McMillian (Jamie Foxx), wrongfully convicted of murder and overcome by hopelessness. I love a legal drama. It’s even better when it’s uplifting and tugs at your heartstrings, but when it’s filled with top-notch actors and based on a true story – well, pass me the popcorn and the tissue box. Also stars Brie Larson, Tim Blake Nelson and O’Shea Jackson Jr.
“The Night Clerk” (R) – Tye Sheridan plays a highly intelligent young man on the Autism spectrum whose voyeur habits put him on the edge of a murder investigation in this neo-noir attempt by director Michael Cristofer. Bart (Sheridan) is a hotel clerk with a peeping problem, as he plants cameras in rooms of the hotel and observes the human interactions within – with an eye to improving his own communication skills. One of these interactions involves a murder. The balance of the plot involves a passel of underused but talented actors: Helen Hunt, John Leguizamo, Ana de Armas. It’s not a bad movie, just terribly slow … too slow.
Dog of the Week
“Final Kill” (NR) – I won’t overburden you with too many plot points – since it’s not like the writer or director went to the trouble. A protection specialist takes one last job guarding a couple who stole a bunch of money from a crime syndicate and plan to spend it on an operation for a family member. Then it descends into terrible action sequence after terrible dialogue sequence with a couple of terrible flashbacks in there too. The film “stars” Ed Marrone – and we’re using our quotation marks for irony here – along with Billy Zane, Dr. Drew Pinsky, Randy Couture and Danny Trejo for like 45 seconds. It feels very much like this group made a bet and everyone lost.
New TV Releases
“Criminal Minds” Final Season
“The Righteous Gemstones” Season 1
“Police Squad” The Complete Series
“Bugs Bunny: Golden Carrot Collection”
© 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.
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