Movie Review: Midnight Special

So, the other day I had the opportunity to see an early screening of Midnight Special. I jumped at the chance, having been rather intrigued by the trailer. I was also intrigued to see what writer/director Jeff Nichols would do with a science fiction film, following a couple really good dramas in Mud and Take Shelter. Not to mention Michael Shannon is an excellent actor. On top of seeing the film, there was the added bonus of a Mondo 7” vinyl containing a couple of tracks from the soundtrack. So, how did it turn out? Well, good and bad, leaving the experience decidedly in the middle of the road with its ultimate fate yet to be decided.

Movie Review: Jane Got a Gun

Jane Got a Gun has finally arrived in theaters, some three years after it was shot. The movie has a production history that is the thing of legends. Unfortunately, the product that ends up on the screen is less than legendary. In fact, the movie is downright forgettable. It is a shame, too, as the cast is actually a good one, and a lot of the shots look fantastic. It really had all the parts needed to make a good movie, everything just conspired to ensure that this movie ended up not being good. Beyond that, the studio just snuck it into theaters, even upping the theater count from 400 to over 1200, but with no ad campaign, it was almost assured to fail.

Movie Review: The Gift (2015)

The Gift is a mediocre summer thriller that feels like what it must be like to read an airport drugstore thriller. It has all the elements needed to tell the story and on the surface is compelling enough, but it fails to really do anything other than go through the motions. It is a movie that involves the audience, but while it gives the semblance of depth, it seems more content to just sit on the surface and let the audience bring their own ideas to it, like a “Choose Your Own Adventure” book, only it gives the plot and you have to give it character.