Movie Review: Anyone But You (2023)

Genre: Romantic Comedy  

Starring: Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell, Dermot Mulroney, Bryan Brown, Alexandra Shipp  

Director: Will Gluck  

Running Time: 103 minutes  

Synopsis: In Boston, law student Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and investment banker Ben (Glen Powell) enjoy an idyllic meet cute and a great first date, but misunderstandings quickly transform their burgeoning romance into mutual antagonism. Months later they meet again at the Sydney destination wedding of Bea's sister Halle (Hadley Robinson). Bea and Ben set their differences aside and pretend to be a couple to avoid ruining the event, although both their ex-lovers are also invited.

What Works Well: The Sydney locations are scenic, Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell are a photogenic couple (and frequently under-dress to impress), and a few of the jokes work. A romantic rescue scene in Sydney harbour captures a warm spark.

What Does Not Work As Well: This is as generic as romantic comedies can get, with aggravatingly cliched supporting characters, overly-familiar simplistic complications, unnecessary vulgarity overreaching for edginess, all adults behaving with the immaturity of teenagers, and a nauseatingly saccharine soundtrack. Sydney Sweeney's monotonal performance reeks of awkward disinterest.

Conclusion: Anyone but these two.



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Movie Review: Untraceable (2008)

Genre: Crime Thriller  

Director: Gregory Hoblit  

Starring: Diane Lane, Billy Burke, Colin Hanks, Mary Beth Hurt  

Running Time: 101 minutes  

Synopsis: In Portland, Oregon, the FBI's cybercrimes Agent Jennifer Marsh (Diane Lane) investigates a website livestreaming a cat's death. The horror escalates when the site's next live broadcast features an abducted man's torture, with his demise accelerating with increased viewership. As word of mouth spreads, Jennifer, her colleague Griffin Dowd (Colin Hanks) and Portland Police Detective Eric Box (Billy Burke) race to uncover who is behind the well-hidden site, as the investigators also become targets. 

What Works Well: The dark but prescient premise amplifies the looming dangers of grotesque online spectacles, and challenges the audience to participate in the sadistic voyeurism being condemned. Indeed, the antagonist here recruits the public into the act of murder, with a motive behind the madness further underlining the damage of broadcasting medieval bloodlust. Diane Lane capably carries a heavy dramatic load. 

What Does Not Work As Well: As presented, the villain is exceptionally resourceful and the FBI's investigative skills are spectacularly inept. Director Gregory Hoblit invests heavily in the centrepiece torture and murder showcase scenes and shortchanges good police work. The supporting cast is underpowered, and while Jennifer is surrounded by a past (an absent spouse) and present (a young daughter and mother), the character depth is largely wasted. After an excellent climax, the ending is quite abrupt.

Conclusion: Uncomfortable, imperfect, and worthwhile.



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Movie Review: Appointment In Honduras (1953)

Genre: Jungle Adventure  

Director: Jacques Tourneur  

Starring: Glenn Ford, Ann Sheridan, Zachary Scott, Jack Elam, Stuart Whitman  

Running Time: 77 minutes  

Synopsis: American adventurer Jim Corbett (Glenn Ford) is on a mission to deliver a large sum of money to the rebel forces of deposed Honduran president Prieto. Needing to traverse the jungle to arrive at a rendevouz point, Corbett recruits four convicts led by Reyes (Rodolfo Acosta), and takes hostage bickering wealthy couple Harry and Sylvia Sheppard (Zachary Scott and Ann Sheridan). For Corbett's mission to succeed, the group has to survive wild animals, army patrols, and many double-cross attempts.

What Works Well: The colour cinematography conveys the milieu's sweatiness, and at a duration of 77 minutes, the adventure does not linger.

What Does Not Work As Well: This is a laboriously fake trudge through the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, with awkward-to-bad special effects, plastic and uniformly unlikeable characters, a disinterested cast delivering stiff acting, rudimentary dialogue, and clumsily executed action scenes. At least the zoologists in the audience can debate which of the jungle creatures are actually native to Central America.

Conclusion: Painfully paddles in place.



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Movie Review: Derailed (2005)

Genre: Romantic Crime Drama Thriller  

Director: Mikael Håfström  

Starring: Clive Owen, Jennifer Aniston, Vincent Cassel  

Running Time: 106 minutes  

Synopsis: In the Chicago area, marketing executive Charles Schine (Clive Owen) is married to school teacher Deanna (Melissa George) and father to diabetic teenager Amy (Addison Timlin). On the train into town he meets fellow commuter Lucinda Harris (Jennifer Aniston), and they are attracted to each other. Just as they are about to consummate their affair, criminal Philippe LaRoche (Vincent Cassel) bursts into their hotel room, stealing their money, beating Charles senseless, and raping Lucinda. But worse is to come for Charles, as Philippe starts blackmailing him for large sums of money.

What Works Well: In this cautionary tale about the hazards of infidelity, writer Stuart Beattie constructs a hectic, high-pressure environment to nudge Charles towards danger. Financial pressure, under-performance at work, a busy schedule eroding his time with wife Deanna, and an ill child all contribute to one lapse in judgment. But that's all it takes, and once LaRoche sinks his claws into the vulnerable would-be philanderer, all that Charles holds dear is threatened. Clive Owen and Jennifer Anniston are an appealing lead couple, but Vince Cassel steals the spotlight as a brute of a villain. A couple of narrative twists contribute to a gripping final act.

What Does Not Work As Well: A few unlikely logic leaps are required to make the plot work. 

Conclusion: A smooth ride towards well-crafted perils.



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Movie Review: Beyond A Reasonable Doubt (2009)

Genre: Legal Thriller  

Director: Peter Hyams  

Starring: Michael Douglas, Amber Tamblyn, Jesse Metcalf  

Running Time: 106 minutes  

Synopsis: In Shreveport, Louisiana, television reporter CJ Nicholas (Jesse Metcalf) pursues a romance with lawyer Ella Crystal (Amber Tamblyn), an assistant to politically ambitious District Attorney Mark Hunter (Michael Douglas). CJ develops a theory that Hunter achieves his perfect conviction rate by planting evidence to frame defendants. Assisted by his work colleague Corey Finley (Joel David Moore), CJ decides to expose Hunter by incriminating himself in a murder case with circumstantial evidence. When his plan misfires, Ella is caught between her boss and her lover.

What Works Well: Without having to stretch, Michael Douglas is predictably good in a smallish role, and a game Amber Tamblyn improves as her character grows in prominence. Slick on-location cinematography and quality production values add polish to the mix of romance, courtroom drama, and a bit of street action.

What Does Not Work As Well: This remake of the 1956 Fritz Lang film never overcomes the bizarre premise of a reporter concocting a ridiculous plot to implicate himself in a murder. That it all goes wrong is utterly predictable. A couple of late-in-the-day narrative twists arrive from nowhere, lack conviction, and just widen the plot holes. Jesse Metcalf falls short of the charisma needed to give the suspect material a boost.

Conclusion: Self-condemned to fail.



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Movie Review: Hot Fuzz (2007)

Genre: Comedy Action  

Director: Edgar Wright  

Starring: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Jim Broadbent, Timothy Dalton  

Running Time: 121 minutes  

Synopsis: Overachieving Constable Nicholas Angel (Simon Pegg) of London's Metro Police is promoted to sergeant and shuffled off to the sleepy village of Sandford, Gloucestershire. He finds the local police service under Inspector Frank Butterman (Jim Broadbent) happy to generally do nothing as long as Sandford is competing for the Best Village award. Nicholas partners with Constable Danny Butterman (Nick Frost), the Inspector's son, and meets local supermarket owner Simon Skinner (Timothy Dalton) and other influential members of the Neighbourhood Watch Alliance. When a series of grisly "accidents" claim multiple lives, Nicholas is the only officer to believe a murderer is on the loose.

What Works Well: With Bad Boys II and Point Break as two favourite inspiration sources, this send-up of police action movies leverages all the cliches into over-the-top and mostly on-target comedy. Director Edgar Wright and his co-writer and star Simon Pegg deploy exaggerated violence and manic editing to also skewer traditional quaint English countryside attitudes. Pegg keeps a straight face as the way-too-serious cop who can never switch off, but humanity rises out of the carnage through the friendship he forges with Nick Frost's Danny Butterman. The supporting cast animates the pulse of a village with the darkest of underbellies.

What Does Not Work As Well: With focus meandering towards solving a slasher mystery, the running time drags on, and a couple of ultimately pointless chase scenes run out of breath. The all-guns-blazing final act leans more towards excessive action than wit, and is cluttered by a few too many barely defined side-characters.

Conclusion: Forget the gory deaths, find the missing swan.



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Movie Review: Lust For Gold (1949)

Genre: Western  

Director: S. Sylvan Simon  

Starring: Glenn Ford, Ida Lupino, Gig Young  

Running Time: 90 minutes  

Synopsis: Legends persist of a huge gold mine in the Superstition Mountains near Phoenix. Barry Storm (William Prince) arrives in the region and claims to be the grandson of "the Dutchman", who located the mine decades ago. Many men have since been murdered trying to retrace his steps. Barry interviews old timers and researches state records, and flashbacks reveal the story of his grandfather Jacob 'Dutch' Walz (Glenn Ford). He found the gold then succumbed to the charms of local woman Julia Thomas (Ida Lupino), who was desperate to escape an unhappy marriage to the useless Pete Thomas (Gig Young). Back in the present Barry continues his search for the gold, despite great risks.

What Works Well: Based on a few facts obscured by many legends, this western treasure hunt tale is enlivened by numerous flashbacks to different eras, tracing the gold mine's origins to Mexican adventurers and Apache Indians. The film's heart is the long flashback to Jacob Walz's story and his romance with Julia Thomas, director S. Sylvan Simon portraying them both as conniving products of an uncompromising frontier and deploying Noir touches through Julia's strong femme fatale tendencies. The final chapter of Walz's adventure is a brutal revelation of true colours at the treasure's gateway.

What Does Not Work As Well: Despite ending in a literal cliffhanger, the bookend story is unworthy, with underpowered casting and a profound lack of logic undermining villainous intentions.

Conclusion: Greed persists through the ages.



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Movie Review: The Trials Of Cate McCall (2013)

Genre: Legal Drama  

Director: Karen Moncrieff  

Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Nick Nolte, James Cromwell  

Running Time: 89 minutes  

Synopsis: Lawyer Cate McCall (Kate Beckinsale) is on probation due to an alcoholism problem. Despite support from her Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor Bridges (Nick Nolte), she only has limited visitation rights to see her daughter. As part of her probation Cate is assigned a pro bono case to appeal the murder conviction of Lacey Stubbs (Anna Schafer), and finds enough irregularities in the initial trial proceedings to cast doubt about Lacey's guilt in the mind of Judge Sumpter (James Cromwell). But Cate's apparent moment of triumph is just a gateway for a new set of unexpected problems.

What Works Well: Writer and director Karen Moncrieff confidently wades into the tumultuous life of a bright but flawed protagonist refusing to do anything the easy way. Cate's past and present have merged into one large mess, and Lacey Stubbs' convoluted murder charges add complexity well beyond most cinematic court cases. Kate Beckinsale powers through the ups and downs of the central role with aplomb, ably supported by a grizzled Nick Nolte deploying a lifetime of questionable wisdom.

What Does Not Work As Well: For the 89 minutes of running time, too much is going on. A prior wrongful conviction case hovers over Cate's psyche but receives sketchy treatment, while the Lacey Stubbs case falls victim to plenty of telling but no showing. The final act unsurprisingly unravels, the rush to satisfying resolutions trampling all over important procedural explanations.

Conclusion: A mixed verdict due to ambitious but excessive plotting.



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Movie Review: Soul Surfer (2011)

Genre: Biographical Drama  

Director: Sean McNamara  

Starring: AnnaSophia Robb, Dennis Quaid, Helen Hunt, Carrie Underwood  

Running Time: 106 minutes  

Synopsis: In Hawaii, Bethany Hamilton (AnnaSophia Robb) was born with a love for competitive surfing. She is home educated by her loving parents Cheri and Thomas (Helen Hunt and Dennis Quaid), and enjoys a life-long friendship with fellow-surfer Alana (Lorraine Nicholson). In 2003, 13 year-old Bethany is winning amateur competitions and about to turn pro when she loses an arm in a shark attack. Despite the setback, she is determined to resume competitive surfing.

What Works Well: Based on actual events, Bethany Hamilton's story is wholesome, inspirational, and capable of scaling emotional peaks. Director Sean McNamara gives the faith-based elements due prominence, with Carrie Underwood appearing as a church youth leader, but most of the focus in on a young woman dealing with a most unexpected personal trauma. The harrowing shark attack and its immediate aftermath are handled with shocking elegance, before the drama shifts towards emotional recovery and reset. Passable special effects are used to obscure AnnaSophia Robb's post-attack arm, while gorgeous cinematography enlivens the frequent surfing scenes.

What Does Not Work As Well: An army of writers contributed to the script, resulting in predictably cringey tonal choppiness. While AnnaSophia Robb grows into the role, the adult acting oscillates between competent and one-take expediency.

Conclusion: Rides the waves with humble swagger.



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Movie Review: The Bigamist (1953)

Genre: Romantic Drama  

Director: Ida Lupino  

Starring: Joan Fontaine, Edmond O'Brien, Ida Lupino, Edmund Gwenn  

Running Time: 80 minutes  

Synopsis: In San Francisco, traveling salesman Harry Graham (Edmond O'Brien) and his wife and business partner Eve (Joan Fontaine) are being vetted for an adoption by bureaucrat Mr. Jordan (Edmund Gwenn). Although Harry's reputation in the community is stellar, Jordan senses something is off and keeps digging. His sleuthing leads him to Los Angeles, and the discovery that Harry is also secretly married to Phyllis (Ida Lupino) and a father to a young baby. In flashbacks, a despondent Harry recalls how he ended up leading a double life.

What Works Well: This is a surprisingly sympathetic portrayal of two loves co-existing in one man's heart, and writer Collier Young (Lupino's ex-husband, Fontaine's current husband) studiously refuses to pass judgement. Occupying most of the running time, the details of Harry and Phyllis finding companionship then passion are tragically heartfelt. Harry's love for Eve remains true even as it melds with business partner appreciation, while Phyllis provides domesticity and an escape from loneliness on the road. Director Lupino maintains a sombre tone but also peppers the drama with inside Hollywood jokes, a few at the expense of Edmund Gwenn.

What Does Not Work As Well: With the shock premise surrendered in the title, the mostly mopey tone results in a running time that feels longer than 80 minutes. The annoying lack of courage to hold honest conversations is the catalyst for almost all of Harry's problems.

Conclusion: Relationship status: really complicated.



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