It’s the week after the Academy Awards, and you know what that means? It’s the dregs for new movies. This week, choose from a well-made but not very good horror movie or a well-made but not very original action movie; both of which star big time, talented actors.
Focus
Will Smith plays a con artist in this slick flick. The premise: he’s training a much younger, extremely gorgeous woman to be a con artist, too (Margot Robbie). In the course of her training, he falls for her. Of course. Extremely James Bond-esque things happen in between.
Perfect For: Anyone who loves a good caper and witty banter; also: the premise reminds me a bit of the TV show about two ex-spies, Burn Notice, which is a great underrated show.
What the Critics Say: Smith and Robbie have good chemistry; enough to make you forget all the plot holes. Writes Entertainment Weekly: “What keeps the film humming along as smoothly as it does is the chemistry and charisma of its leads.”
Our Take: With a 66% on Rotten Tomatoes, I could be charmed into seeing it.
Watch the Trailer:
The Lazarus Effect
Flatliners crossed with Blair Witch, Mark Duplass and Olivia Wilde, two capable actors, star as a pair of lovers and scientists working on a way to bring the dead back to life. When one of the experiments goes awry, and Wilde drops dead, the team sets about resurrecting her. Things, as you can imagine, do not go well.
Perfect For: Fans of creepy horror films such as Blair Witch, Paranormal Activity, the Hills Have Eyes, et cetera, et cetera.
What the Critics Say: Horror movies are rarely unleashed for critical review, because critics will chop them to pieces. The Wrap has one glowing review, but the Hollywood Reporter is more cautious. They write: “Director [David] Gelb displays a reasonably sure hand in his debut narrative effort, although he relies far too heavily on predictable jump-scares and a recurring motif in which the screen goes black for a few seconds before revealing the next scary visual.”
Our Take: Duplass and Wilde are good actors, but not that good.
Watch the Trailer:
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