By: Dominic La-Viola

If you cut the first 2 minutes of the movie and go with the original ending, before the obvious reshoot this would be a damn near perfect film. One that I would have never guessed was an original film from an American filmmaker. 

Going into this film, I had absolutely no idea what the movie was about, who was in it, who wrote, directed or even did the cinematography for it. All I knew, it was a horror film and it had been getting rather favorable reviews.

I was actually suppose to go see this film two weeks ago or so, for an advance screening a couple days before it came out but then had to cancel. To which I wasn’t overly concerned with until, I seen someone talk about how amazing the movie is. Then I was kicking myself in the ass. 

So I was finally able to redeem myself when I seen that the theater by me had a screening in which I could actually make, since they only had like one screening a day since the movie has come out. 

The film, as I already mentioned briefly, has an opening that not only does the film no justice, in any way, shape or form. There’s no way to describe it, other than down right dumb. 

I knew going in that I was seeing a horror film. Although, I don’t see how that completely tone deaf scene had been seen as an asset to the film or story, or even necessary for that matter.

Honestly as the scene played out, my first thought was okay it’s that kind of horror movie, and by that kind I mean the disowned love child of Hatchet and Wrong Turn 3. 

Then two minutes pasted and all the sudden, we’re no longer in horror movie hell .  The film takes a complete 180 and stays on the path of righteousness until the last two minutes of the movie. Then just like Dirk Diggler, goes right back to the thing that almost destroyed them. 

The first two and last two minutes of the film, appear to be have done after the project wrapped and the producer or the studio saw the film. Then had the idea to put there two cents in. Which as usual, is never a good thing. 

The core of the film is very much a physiological horror. One that is so well crafted and simply brilliant. From the first frame after the Dawson Leery reshoots, up to the post production reshoot ending.

The performances are spot on and never miss a beat. The script is so well written. Giving us both relatable and likable characters, witty dialogue and honest to god, moments that are not only realistic but very much plausible. 

Even though we have seen the whole double booked, air BnB movie already with Barbarian. This film takes a completely different approach. One that is without question is a superior version. 

Delivering the scares without completely going off the deep end of tongue, cheek and chewy. Where Barbarian is very much a movie about a mythical creature created from evil. Bone Lake is very much real. 

Real in the sense that the evil in the film is very much created by human hands, although mythical the killers are not. Twisted and depraved they are. 

Honestly there are some very unrealistic moments in this film…. Okay, actually there is only one, but a rather big one, that can be easily forgiven, due to the culture that we currently live in. Where flash and dash overtakes real , reasonable and responsible.  

The house in which they stay, is the only thing that keeps the film from feeling completely grounded and gritty. It’s called Bone Lake for a reason. The air BnB they stay in for the weekend is a huge, lake house in the middle of nowhere. 

Now I’ll admit, my first thought was that’s completely unrealistic, the story opens and tells us that he quit his job as a community college professor to write full time, and she is going to cover them financially. Of course they do address the money issue.

Her saying how can they afford this place when they’re suppose to be cutting back and watching their money. Of course he says, they’ve been staying in shitty hotels for the entire trip, indicating they’ve been on long vacation. Which still begs to question the money aspect.

Which honestly makes it feel even more unrealistic. Although I will say, while writing this review, I looked at some prices for a weekend at an air BnB at a huge lake house in Maryland, and honestly it’s not that unrealistic for a weekend. $1,500 dollars isn’t nothing to snob your nose at, but it’s not at all as expense as I thought it would have been.  Grounding the one thing I thought was outlandish with the film .

From the moment they get to the house, the film really takes off, more so becaue you know you’re watching a horror film and you’re waiting for something happen. 

The fact that nothing really happens right away and it’s more of a slow burn, psychological horror, really adds to the intensity and overall creepiness to the film. 

It doesn’t really take long to catch on, as far as whom the killers are going to be, given certain scenes. However, there was nothing preparing you for the third act twist, that feels like it came straight out of South Korea. 

Overall, I absolutely love this movie, it keeps you on the edge of your seat. Intrigued, excited and invested. The film without question draws you in, making you want more. 

The ending scene, like the opening scene, really doesn’t match the rest of the film. Giving this weird and off kilter feel. Never the less, for 98% of the time, the film is nothing less than damn near perfection. 

Overall Rating 4.5 of 5 Stars. 

By: Dominic La-Viola

Kristin Dunst returns to the big screen along side Channing Tatum in the new crime, drama/ comedy, Roofman. The true story a North Carolina robber, whom escapes prison and while hiding out in a Toy’s R Us falls in love with a recently divorced mother who is employed there. 

 Going into this film, I am the first to admit, I was very skeptical. Co-written and directed by Derek Cianfrance. The director behind films such as Blue Valentine, Place Beyond The Pines and The Light Between The Oceans. 

All in which are astonishing films, ones that are both critical acclaimed and beloved by audiences. Yet very differnet than the film in question. Deep, story driven drama’s, that are very much, character study films. Great arthouse style films. 

In his latest directorial effort, we see Derek Cianfrance not only try and tackle a different genre from what he’s familiar with. But he blends three different genres, which within itself can be challenging, even before adding in the factor, one of those is the true story genre. 

Which some may try to argue isn’t necessarily a genre within in itself. Although I would argue the contrary that not only it is, but also one of the hardest genre’s to work within due to lack of control. 

Yes, you can change or alter minor details, or even in some cases change them completely when doing films in which are based on a true story, especially when the details are about historical figures and or times in which there could be room for embellishment. 

Yet a story of this nature. One that is not only recent but can easily be fact checked, you have to stay within the guidelines. 

A similar example of this, The Smashing Machine, which came out just a few weeks prior to this. Another film based on real people. In which the events happened in recent enough time, that any altercation of details would easily discredit the true story aspect of the film and diminish the film completely. 

With that being said, the film does a remarkable job at capturing all the details of the series of events and creating not only a well structured but intriguing film. One that, flows in such a way it feels like watching a movie instead of simply being told a series of events in which merely occurred.  

The comedic moments come at the most genuine and effective times. Painting a perfect picture of who Jeff was, even if some details are embellished. 

From the singles dinner, to moments in which he interacts with the employees of the places he’s robbing. The comedic undertone, works because of the timing and place. 

It was reported by everyone in which worked in the places he’s robbed, that he was very nice and polite to everyone. Never was aggressive. That he really even gave his coat to an employee who didn’t wear one to work, so they wouldn’t be cold in the cooler when he locked them in there. 

Giving the film a well balanced tone, while staying true to the story at hand. Which was the story not of how he became the Roofman, or his time committing the crimes. But the story of how he fell in love with a woman and her children, after being abandoned by his wife and kids, following his arrest. 

The film doesn’t give us details of the ex-wife and her involvement in keeping him from contacting his kids. Although the film does give us enough for us to understand the circumstances and doesn’t hold back.

Giving us an opportunity to see what really drove him, the motives behind his decision to escape. Which is very much the same as the motivation to begin doing what he did.

Which I must add the film does a brilliant job of capturing the feeling of failure and the true intentions behind his actions. All while never glorifying them.

Like almost all films based on true story’s, at the end of the film, it gave us an update and had interviews with the real people, in current time. (When the film was made.) 

All the people who interacted with him, told the same thing, how nice of a guy he was. How he was one of the biggest donators to the toy drive. Which was a key part to his introduction to the church. 

Which the one cop says, yeah he gave all these toys to the children and so on, which is great. But the thing that everyone keeps forgetting is the toys he gave were stolen. 

A hilarious moment of truth, that again, the film did a great job at portraying this person. Creating an interesting and coherent story, all while maintaining truth to the person and story. 

  The story of a person, who yes, made bad decisions and committed crimes. Yet what makes his story unique is not only how he did it. But the way he did it and what he did with his spoils.

Overall, the film has its funny moments that are equally balanced out by the dramatic tone of the film and nature of the story. Fanatic performances, in which Dunst and Tatum have believable on screen chemistry. 

  To which I have to add, it’s such a joy to see Kristen Dunst on the silver screen again, prior to this Civil War was her first major film in sometime and I’m excited to see what she does next. 

Overall Rating 4/5 Stars. 

By : Dominic La-Viola

Disney is at it again with their newest film. Tron Ares. The third installment to their already existing IP franchise, Tron.  A film franchise that has been 45 years in the making. 

No really. The first film came out back in 1982, with Tron, which didn’t get its first sequel with Tron Legacy until 2010. Almost 30 years after the first film hit theaters.

Now Disney is no stranger to remakes, reboots and sequels, even decades after the original films debuted. 

Although with this one, with this one I am a little curious and don’t really see the appeal. From my knowledge Tron Legacy, wasn’t a monster at the box office or really do anything positive for Disney in the sense of financial success. Then to top it off, it’s been over a decade since the last film has been released. So I can’t see there being a huge fanbase. 

The lack of fandom and the time gap between films however does explain and play a huge part into why the film is set up the way it is. A standalone film, that merely references the first two films in the beginning, summing them up with almost no detail other than the main characters being ancestors of the current ones. 

You don’t have to have seen either of the original films to understand or even follow this one. For the film is very much spoon feed to you, with a very simplistic story. 

There is new technology in which, you can create anything from a computer program and bring it into the real world. Pretty much like a 3D printer. If a 3D printer, could print actual food, to stop world hunger or AI super soldiers that not only appear to be human, but are indeed very much alive, without the need for food, sleep or water. 

Of course there is one catch, that neither one of the two companies can maintain the product for more than 29 minutes. Of course, thats until the heirs  to the Flynn company.  Find the code needed to plug into the software, hence giving the creation infinite life. Timeless and real. 

The entire movie, is simply Julian, the antagonist, trying to capture Eve the protagonist, to extract the code from her mind and then kill her. That’s the entire plot in a nutshell, so to speak. 

Story and plot are lacking and almost completely missing from the film. It’s almost as if they let AI write the script to save money and used that money to dump everything into the visual effect. Although even with that being said, the movie actually works, although not for reasons you would think. 

Yes, story telling is at the core of filmmaking, and although the story is simple and very straight forward. So mind numbing at times, that it feels like youre missing something. Yet leaves you blissful. 

The film works, because it not only knows that, it leans into it, completely. 

At no point in this movie does it try to be story driven or even remotely creative in that aspect. The dialogue is neither witty or really thought provoking. Yet you’re intrigued to hear what they’re going to say next.

Closest we come to having meaningful conversations in the film are between Eve and Ares. Which tries to spark a connection, without making it weird or as if it’s pushing what would normally be a romantic story ark. 

The film has its moments where you think it’s going to try and be something more then what it is, but it never really catches. Which really is a good thing, for there is only one moment in where we have a truly ehh moment, which is the not so climatic, climax. Followed by a light and fun saving grace, that brings the chewiness in and makes everything stick just right. 

By the time the movie is nearing past its runtime, it ends. Which is a blessing for by the time the movie starts to feel everlasting, and bland, you get an anti problematic revolution.  What feels like a fight scene cut short, due to being over budget and behind schedule, before hitting you with the hay-maker.  The one and only Hollywood blockbuster ending that we all know, love and miss. 

Overall. I have to admit, the visuals are stunning and the story is simple, yet interesting enough to keep you not only entertained but engaged. Not necessary a great movie, or even a good one. But to the contrary an incredibly fun movie, that is worth the price of admission. 

Overall Rating- 4/5 Stars. 

By: Dominic La-Viola

How does one describe the new film from the legendary screenwriter, turn director Shane Black. 

Another attempt to bring Richard Stark’s infamous character from page to screen. An unlikely action/comedy that somehow works. A movie of the week, that isn’t great, however better than anyone would expect it to be.  A film that five years ago would have been released across 2500 screens.

Any and all of the above would suffice, for all are deemed true. The new Amazon Prime Original, Co written by Shane Black, in which he also directs, has a stellar cast with Mark Wahlberg, LaKeith Stanfield, Rosa Salazar and Keegan-Michael Key. 

The film centers around Wahlberg’s character Parker, who after a job goes wrong, has to embark on what seems to be another job in order to right the wrongs of the previous one. 

Which from the opening of the film, the job seems to be botched from the start. Going in without knowing anything about the film. The opening feels as I missed part of the movie, or they were merely ripping off Reservoir Dogs, opening the film mid heist, instead of end heist. 

Although we quickly learn that, that heist wasn’t the heist that really mattered, until it did. Which is something I think a lot of people are going to miss, due to a dismissive attitude towards a movie of the week. 

As someone who has never read any of the 20 plus novels in which the character is based on, I can’t speak on how true the film is to the character in the original text. 

However I can say with confidence that the film delivers on bringing such a character to life, in a larger to life way. Wahlberg, with the help of a rather well crafted script, is able to make the character of Parker, equally charming as bad ass, while being intelligent and witty. 

The film does a fantastic job of creating a heist film that is both entertaining and intriguing while simultaneously holding a few cards up its sleeve that make the ending something different than you would expect. 

All the  while dropping hints throughout the movie, that there is more going on than what we’re lead to believe. Not to mention, the character of Parker is incredibly more interesting and intelligent than the film allows us to believe. 

A close reference that is similar but not quite the same, would be the Amazon Original Series Reacher. Taking an already established character and bringing them to the screen in a way previous attempts have failed to do so. 

With this being a movie of the week, for a streaming service, even one as large as Prime. The perceived notion before the film even starts is that, it’s going to be mediocre at best. 

However that isn’t the case with this one, and I think it will be judge harshly for its form of release. The script is far more clever and well crafted than many of films that have gotten theatrical releases, yet no one has given it the recognition it deserves. 

Through out this film, there are hints and rather straight forward moments that offer up the plot twist at the end. Little nib it’s planted in the rather modest dialogue that indicates there was a bigger plan all along.

The first job, by the end of it, is nothing more than a small time robbery. One that doesn’t match the skill set of the team, especially our main character Parker, who up til this point. Has been made out to be a grandmaster thief and marksman. Who’s is obviously overly skilled and intelligent to be doing jobs of this magnitude. 

Leading us to believe that the movie is setting itself up to be a mere slapstick comedy, with some rather expensive action scenes that ended up being nothing more than eye candy for the kids. 

A misconception that hurts the films overall playability due to the fact that the film premiered on streaming. Already losing the audiences full attention before the film even begins. 

At the end of the day, Wahlberg plays the character of Parker in a  sly, funny, witty and macho enough to carry the film, and engage viewers to maintain their attention. 

According to what I have read up on the character, Parker is suppose to be a methodical, ruthless, highly skilled criminal who specializes in large scale heists. A criminal with a code, which includes killing when suitable. 

Which the film depicts perfectly in the sense, without being a perfect film. With just the right  blend of humor and action, it’s hard to think anyone but Shane Black, would have pulled off this film. With moments that appear to be going down the path of tropes and mediocrity are saved by sharp contrast to what is often seen. 

There is more to this film than what one will properly notice on the first viewing. Although I doubt many will give this film a second one, let alone a proper first one. 

While the comedic undertone, helps move the film along without being to dreadful and heavy. Making for a lighter viewer experience.  I think if the comedic moments were a little more dry, and or less frequent during scenes in which were meant to be intense and dramatic. The film would have a more fuller feel. Enticing the viewer a second viewing sooner rather than later. 

Overall Rating  3.5 / 5 Stars.