How to Make a Killing (2026)

Born out of wedlock and cheated out of a multibillion dollar inheritance, a man schemes to reclaim his birthright by currying favor and systematically getting rid of those ahead of him in the family line, while also avoiding some meddling FBI agents and an ex who is onto him. It's a fun, dark crime comedy that is easy to see where it's going for the most part, but pleasant enough in its execution.

3 funerals out of 5

Flight Risk (2025)

A mob informant and possible flight risk is transported via a small private aircraft by a U.S. Marshal and a pilot when things quickly go sideways. It sounds a bit like Con Air, but it's a much smaller story where all the action takes place entirely on the plane. Director Mel Gibson's thriller is occasionally exhilarating and satisfying, if not predictable and by the numbers. If you have no prior expectations going into it, you might find enough to enjoy in it. 

2½ Indian tech support guys out of 5

Under the Silver Lake (2018)

A slacker with a fleeting sense of purpose stumbles upon the makings of a conspiracy while investigating the sudden disappearance of his mysterious neighbor. This movie is a fucking trip. A surreal neo-noir black comedy with deep Lynchian vibes reminiscent of Mulholland Drive. There's so much going on here, it almost shouldn't work, but it all comes together with a semblance of dream logic that reminded me of After Hours. This is the type of film that contains hidden layers of meaning that can linger on in the back of your mind for days at a time. Be careful not to look too deep or you might lose yourself.

4½ hobo codes out of 5

Heretic (2024)

Two Mormon missionaries go knocking on the wrong door. The man who answers challenges their ideologies and puts them through a trial of faith. Hugh Grant digs into this role and relishes in it with utter glee. A lot of the film is steeped in mystery and creates an atmosphere dripping with tension and unease which I dare not spoil. I urge the viewer not to watch the trailers because it takes away so much of the ambiguity. As a bit of dark escapism from the world, I enjoyed getting lost in the philosophical discussions and found myself enraptured from beginning to end.

3½ blueberry pies out of 5

WAR MACHINE [2017]

Director David Michôd takes some broad satirical jabs at the American military in the darkly comical War Machine.
Loosely based on the real life events of the firing of General Stanley A. McChrystal, Brad Pitt turns in a strong performance as a celebrated general who, while serving in Afghanistan, is put under the microscope by a Rolling Stone journalist.
It's not too subtle and takes the piss out of proud America and it's military with a heavy hammer.  It takes turns being funny, scary and sad but never seems to find a solid footing to make the impact it intends to.  Fortunately it's aided by an excellent cast, some making strong impressions with only a few minutes of screen-time.   It's a case of "tell me something I don't already know" but at least it's got some great honest moments to make some of it memorable.

3 excellent reasons not to switch seats out of 5

AMERICAN ULTRA [2015]

Project X director Nima Nourizadeh gives Jason Bourne a stoner makeover in the offbeat action flick, American Ultra.
A smalltown pothead discovers he's a sleeper agent killing machine, who's recently been activated much to the government's dismay, after they've tried to have him eliminated.
It takes the one-joke premise and manages to flesh it out into something with a little more substance than one might expect from such a film.  If not for it's two likable leads, the mean-spirited humor and malicious violence might have sucked out any sort of comedic appeal the flick had going for it.  It's bloody violent and seems to show no remorse in being so, however somewhere within all the smoke there's a small heart giving it a slight purpose.
It's a mess of a film but somehow entertaining if you're not the light-hearted type that believes in the good in everyone.

3 crazy, scary rabid puppies that murder people out of 5

The Calling (2014)

Susan Sarandon, in a rather uninspired role of narcotics abuser and listless rural cop, is on the trail of a series of ritualistic murders. With the help of the rookie transfer (Topher Grace) and her fellow detective (Gil Bellows), they narrowly stumble onto each lead. Despite being pegged as a thriller in the trailer, the pace is extremely slow and many of the performances lackluster. It's blatantly obvious this is director Jason Stone's first feature. I did however find some creep factor in the cinematography portraying the bleak Ontario winter and the performances from Donald Sutherland and Christopher Heyerdahl.

2 attention-getting tennis balls out of 5

INTERSTELLAR [2014]

Christopher Nolan's latest fanboy's wetdream comes in the form of the colossally sized, yet thoughtful, sci-fi drama Interstellar.
It follows the of a team of inevitably doomed explorers who travel through a wormhole in search of a planet that can be support life to allow the human race to continue to exist.  The frighteningly beautiful photography is both lonely and busy as it dizzies the viewer with an overly complex plotline that overpowers the heart of the story.  Nolan has high ambitions but he bites off just a bit more than he can actually chew.  Although he states that the sound effects and music purposely drown out a lot of the clumsy dialogue it comes off as nothing more than frustratingly distracting.
In the end, it's a spectacular visual feast with a wonderful cast that never ceases to entertain and that's where it's at it's most powerful.

3½ bookshelves out of 5

Predators (2010)

Using a plot device that every sci-fi TV series in the history of ever has used, sometimes more than once, means Predators feels like it’s been made hundreds of times before. Swap crab-face out for some other alien and it would play out exactly the same.
Adrien Brody was miscast. The remainder of the team were stock types, especially token female. Michelle Rodríguez must've been busy elsewhere.

2 nobody ever needs to piss out of 5

Spider-Man 3 (2007)

The promise of the Venom symbiote entering the Spidey world got fans in a fap-tizzy prior to the release of film number three, myself included, but it's a huge disappointment. It appears from nowhere and has no motivation. Elsewhere some new characters are similarly devoid of back-story to leave more time for lengthy action scenes that'll please the action junkie or your twelve-year-old niece. Peter has some excellent scenes in a film that almost got the square button half-way through.

2 pills for Jameson out of 5

Take Me Home Tonight (2011)

A huge lump of a turd masked by your typical '80s playlist. Managed to be unfunny, clichéd and unoriginal, with no redeeming feature whatsoever, which is a feat in itself. It did, however, succeed in boring me and inspiring me to kill myself. Why do I torture myself like this?

-1 snort of cocaine out of 5