The Ace Black Movie Blog

Showing posts with label Michael Rooker. Show all posts

Saturday, 7 June 2025

Movie Review: Love And Monsters (2020)

Genre: Monster Adventure Comedy

Director: Michael Matthews

Starring: Dylan O'Brien, Jessica Henwick, Michael Rooker

Running Time: 109 minutes

Synopsis: After a military mishap, insects grow to a monstrous size and devour most humans. Seven years later, the few survivors are living in underground shelters. Joel (Dylan O'Brien) is in his early twenties, useless at combat, and contributing little to his shelter community. He re-establishes radio contact with his pre-apocalypse girlfriend Aimee (Jessica Henwick), who is living in another bunker many miles away. On a whim, Joel decides to embark on a dangerous surface journey to reunite with Aimee.

What Works Well: A sense of fun prevails in this original yet old-fashioned coming-of-age, find-yourself comedy. The brisk pacing is peppered by not-bad creature effects, but the main focus is on self-discovery and the essence of family and friendship. Dylan O'Brien gets into the vibe of a journey into adulthood, starting out as insecure and self-doubting, and gradually finding confidence and self-reliance through narrow escapes and plenty of luck. The romance elements are bittersweet enough for the intended audience, a robot adds pathos, and Michael Rooker contributes good survivor crustiness.

What Does Not Work As Well: The action, comedy, and broad messaging are all confined to safe young adult spaces and never threaten to soar or progress beyond obvious beats.

Key Quote:

Joel: I've been sensible all my life. It's gotten me nowhere.

All Ace Black Movie Blog reviews are here.

Saturday, 29 July 2023

Movie Review: The Out-Laws (2023)

Genre: Comedy

Director: Tyler Spindel

Starring: Adam Devine, Pierce Brosnan, Ellen Barkin, Julie Hagerty, Nina Dobrev, Michael Rooker

Running Time: 95 minutes

Synopsis: Bank manager Owen (Adam DeVine) is about to marry his girlfriend Parker (Nina Dobrev). He meets her parents Billy and Lilly (Pierce Brosnan and Ellen Barkin) for the first time, and soon afterwards his bank is robbed. Owen suspects his future in-laws are the famous Ghost Bandits, who have long been pursued by the FBI's Agent Oldham (Michael Rooker). Billy and Lilly have unfinished business with ruthless mobster Rehan (Poorna Jagannathan), while Owen has to keep his bride-to-be safe and earn the respect of her family.

What Works Well: Some of the chase scene enjoy a manic vibe, and veterans Pierce Brosnan and Ellen Barkin cut through the nonsense with a nostalgic edge.

What Does Not Work As Well: This is a lazy and predictable crime comedy, underwritten and overacted in equal measures. Profanity is used as a crutch for a glaring lack of wit, few jokes land, the attempted plot is a childish mishmash of ideas, and Adam DeVine mugs his way into an embarrassing performance. Perhaps not surprisingly, co-produced by Adam Sandler.

Conclusion: The Out-Laws belongs in the outhouse.

All Ace Black Movie Blog reviews are here.

Wednesday, 4 January 2023

Movie Review: The Bone Collector (1999)

Genre: Crime Mystery Thriller

Director: Phillip Noyce

Starring: Denzel Washington, Angelina Jolie, Queen Latifah, Michael Rooker, Luis Guzman, Ed O'Neill

Running Time: 118 Minutes

Synopsis: In New York City, police detective and crime scene investigation expert Lincoln Rhyme (Denzel Washington) is a bedridden quadriplegic, cared for around the clock by nurse Thelma (Queen Latifah). A wealthy industrialist and his wife are kidnapped by a taxi-driving maniac, and the tycoon is soon found dead near rail tracks. Amelia Donaghy (Angelina Jolie) is the first police officer on the scene, and Lincoln recognizes her innate evidence-gathering talent. They work together to try and rescue the murdered man's wife in what proves to be a series of connected grisly incidents.

What Works Well: This slick adaptation of Jeffrey Deaver's book benefits from the novelty of a quadriplegic as the central protagonist, and Denzel Washington is reliably excellent in the role. Rhyme's partnership with Amelia as his on-scene eyes and ears is suitably thorny. Director Phillip Noyce leverages cavernous, spooky, and dark crime scene settings without getting lost in shades and shadows.

What Does Not Work As Well: Thrusting Amelia as a cop with limited crime scene experience into the lead role of a complex and high-profile investigation is a huge leap of faith, while Rhyme demonstrates a remarkable ability to repeatedly connect small and spaced out dots. The nameless murder victims do not generate sympathy, and a sense of repetition creeps in as Amelia flashlights her way through one crime scene after another. The antagonist's backstory is flash fried.

Conclusion: A competent crime drama bumps against the limits of its own creativity.