The last decade of Vegas performer Liberace’s life, from the perspective of his lover Scott Thorsen. A well-played and effective biopic, made with Soderbergh’s customary deftness, getting beyond the camp and rhinestones to explore the frailties of two people drawn to each other out of lack.
Tag: eamonn’s reviews
Red Hill (2010, dir. Patrick Hughes)
The arrival of a transferred deputy to a remote Australian community coincides with the escape of a vengeful murderer. While the plot elements don’t quite work, this is nevertheless a well-staged and good-looking contemporary Western/horror hybrid, with a couple of mythic touches and a great villain.
Tag (2018, dir. Jeff Tomsic)
Five school friends have been playing the same game of tag for 30 years. Based on a true story, this is a solid action-comedy with a couple of moments of dark genius. The denouement is emotionally-manipulated, but by then the flick’s earned enough goodwill to let matters slide. Unexpectedly good, and thus a recommendation.
The Secret Life of Pets 2 (2019, dir. Chris Renaud & Jonathan del Val)
Dog Max’s family gains a child; elsewhere, there’s a zoo tiger to rescue. Episodic and somewhat contrived sequel that delivers in some scenes, but which doesn’t hang together as a movie. Some sharper jokes this time out though, and both a lovely chase climax and a lesson learned for our protagonist.
The Secret Life of Pets (2016, dir. Chris Renaud & Yarrow Cheney)
A New Yorker’s pet dog has to cope with a new arrival, and then getting lost in the city. Okay animation that dispenses with its potentially-subversive title in the first few minutes for something more linear and straightforward. Bright, though, with some good gags. Fun while it’s on. A sequel soon followed.
Arkansas (2020, dir. Clark Duke)
Two low-level drug dealers find themselves in a new state, working for a new boss. Low-key, novelistic drama (adapted from the John Brandon book) with thriller elements. Its gentle pace and lack of narrative drive may infuriate some, but there’s plenty to appreciate if you go with it.
Dark Waters (2019, dir. Todd Haynes)
A lawyer investigates an environmental conspiracy linked to chemical company Dupont. Based on a true story, this sober drama is deliberate and effective. Oddly, the weak link is producer/star Ruffalo, who’s simply 20 years too old to be playing the lead, despite his sterling efforts. A sturdy cast of character actors helps things along.
Madman [AKA Madman: The Legend Lives] (1982, dir. Joe Giannone)
![Madman [AKA Madman: The Legend Lives] (1982, dir. Joe Giannone)](https://255review.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/madman-poster.png?w=326)
Camp counsellors in upstate New York invoke an urban legend: an axe-wielding maniac who killed his family, and who’ll come for anyone who calls his name. Riffing on the same source material as The Burning and others, Madman is a perfunctory entry in the slasher subgenre, though with a couple of interesting visual moments, and an odd downbeat ending.
Fall Break [AKA The Mutilator] (1984, dir. Buddy Cooper & John Douglass)
![Fall Break [AKA The Mutilator] (1984, dir. Buddy Cooper & John Douglass)](https://255review.files.wordpress.com/2020/08/the-mutilator-fall-break-poster.png?w=328)
Students vacation at a beach house owned by the alcoholic father of one of their number; but Dad’s had a psychotic break. Minor slasher pic with a semi-professional cast, but some excellent make-up effects and an oddly jaunty soundtrack. For genre completists perhaps, but there are some quirky moments of interest.
Abduction (2019, dir. Ernie Barbarash)
Two men work to find missing family members; an interdimensional conspiracy is revealed. Modest Vietnam-set martial arts action with an SF/fantasy twist. No dafter than, say, Doctor Strange, but interesting to see attempted at this budget level. Very competent fight choreography is the selling point here. Ignore the poster; nothing to do with the movie!
