A grizzled baseball scout takes a road trip with his ambitious lawyer daughter. There’s nothing original in this sports/family/romance hybrid, but everything works fine; a professional job all around. Another Eastwood meditation on ageing, with a fine supporting cast.
Tag: john goodman
Evan Almighty (2007, dir. Tom Shadyac)
God chooses a new senator to build an ark. Bland sequel to Bruce Almighty which scrapes by on slapstick, some decent supporting turns, and on Steve Carrell doing his best against iffy CG backdrops. No surprises; one for the unquestioningly faith-friendly.
Arachnophobia (1990, dir. Frank Marshall)
A spider-phobic doctor’s home is the centre of a killer arachnid invasion. Hugely enjoyable comic horror flick, expertly playing as a family-friendly and icky jump-fest. Lots of fun; a rare example of a lightweight genre move which works with all audiences. Recommended.
Always (1989, dir. Steven Spielberg)
A dead pilot returns to allow his former partner to move on with her life. A patchy and sentimental piece (remaking 1943’s A Guy Named Joe), happier in its flying, comic and firefighting action sequences than with the emotional scenes; some pleasures to be had, tho.
Kong: Skull Island (2017, dir. Jordan Vogt-Roberts)
Or, Heart of Kongness. 1973-set mash-up of Conrad, every Vietnam flick ever, and Conan Doyle-ish Lost World stuff, with a bit of Treasure Island thrown in. B-movie fun while it’s on.
Want a different opinion from a member of the 255Review crew? Here’s MA Randall’s take.
Patriots Day (2017, dir. Peter Berg)
Boston cops track the 2013 marathon bombers. Awkwardly-structured, and mechanically sentimental, but an undeniably effective fictionalised reconstruction. Heartfelt, and with a genuinely mesmerising interrogation scene, the film asks some good questions.
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