Starring: Jane Levy, Shiloh Fernandez, Lou Taylor Pucci, Jessica Lucas & Elizabeth Blackmore
Screenplay by Fede Alvarez and Rodo Sayagues
Directed by Fede Alvarez
Five friends staying at a remote cabin in the woods unwittingly unleash a demonic presence that consumes them one by one.
Joss owns cabin flicks
now, but this groovy remake
gives you some sugar.
Grade: B+
c2103
By Daniel J. Hoag
Evil Dead is playing now in theaters nationwide.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1288558/
Starring: Zac Efron, Matthew McConaughey, Nicole Kidman, John Cusack, David Oyelowo & Macy Gray
Screenplay by Lee Daniels and Peter Dexter
Directed by Lee Daniels
A reporter returns to his Southern hometown to solve a mystery involving a murdered sheriff and a death row inmate.
Nicole Kidman does
what most of us want to do:
piss on Zac Efron.
Grade: C-
c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
The Paperboy is now available on Blu-ray and DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1496422/?ref_=sr_1
Starring: Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor & Tom Holland
Written by Sergio G. Sánchez
Directed by Juan Antonio Bayona
Based on the true story of a family who struggled to find each other after being separated by the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami.
Hundreds of thousands
dead in Asia, but let’s hear
about some white folk.
Grade: B+
c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
The Impossible is playing now in theaters nationwide.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1649419/
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Gary Oldman, Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke & Guy Pearce
Screenplay by Nick Cave
Directed by John Hillcoat
Based on the true story of the Bondurant brothers, who operated the most lucrative bootlegging business in Virginia at the height of Prohibition.
Shouldn’t LaBeouf be
ruining some big-budget
franchise about now?
Grade: B
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Lawless is available on Blu-ray and DVD today.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1212450/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
Starring: Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Antonio Banderas, Annette Bening, Steve Coogan, Elliott Gould & Chris Messina
Written by Zoe Kazan
Directed by Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris
A lonely, struggling author is stunned when the beautiful ficticious woman he has been writing comes to life.
Kazan’s sparks ignite
burning this star-making turn
right into your heart.
Grade: A-
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Ruby Sparks is available now on Blu-ray and DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1839492/
Starring: Steve Zissis, Mark Kelly & Jennifer Lafleur
Written and directed by Jay Duplass & Mark Duplass
Two fiercely competitive brothers resurrect a decades-old quest to prove dominance through a series of 25 ridiculous events.
It’s the Mumblecore
Olympics in this heartfelt
“blows before bros” flick.
Grade: B+
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
The Do-Deca-Pentathalon is available now on Blu-ray and DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0811137/
Starring: Iko Uwais, Joe Taslim, Donny Alamsyah, Yayan Ruhian & Pierre Gruno
Written and directed by Gareth Evans
When an elite SWAT team raids an apartment building run by a vicious drug lord, they find themselves trapped and under siege by the gangster’s well armed bodyguards and tenants.
Plot dies a gory
death – but at least it’s a cool,
martial art-y death.
Grade: B
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
The Raid: Redemption is available on Blu-ray and DVD tomorrow.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1899353/
Starring: Jason Segel Ed HelmsSusan Sarandon Judy Greer
Written and directed by Jay Duplass & Mark Duplass.
A thirty-something slacker searches for a sign that will point towards his destiny while trying to help his brother, who suspects his wife is cheating on him.
For those who believe
in destiny… or just like
to smoke lots of pot.
Grade: B
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Jeff, Who Lives at Home is available now on Blu-ray and DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1588334/
Starring: Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt & Mark Duplass
Written & directed by Lynn Shelton
Jack is best friends with Iris, his brother’s widow, but a drunken night with Iris’ sister Hannah complicates their growing affection for each other.
Ahhh, indie rom-coms:
far more palatable than
that Heigl bullsh*t.
Grade: B+
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Your Sister’s Sister is playing now in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1742336/
Starring: Sam Worthington, Elizabeth Banks, Jamie Bell, Anthony Mackie, Edward Burns & Ed Harris
Written by Pablo F. Fenjves
Directed by Asger Leth
An falsely-accused ex-cop escapes from prison and climbs out on the ledge of a tall building to serve as a distraction while his brother attempts to steal a valuable diamond that might help prove his innocence.
It’s fitting that this
plot resembles the splattered
corpse of a jumper.
Grade: C
c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Man on a Ledge is available on Blu-ray and DVD on 5/29/12.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1568338/
The Haiku Review 