Capsule Reviews - July 9, 2021

68 Kill (2017)

A risqué, sometimes flat-out offensive, but oh-so entertaining comedy / crime film written and directed by Trent Haaga, about the theft of a lot of money and a guy who has nothing but bad luck with the ladies. Chip (Matthew Gray Gubler) has one hell of a crazy night thanks to his out-of-control girlfriend Liza (AnnaLynne McCord) and $68,000 in stolen cash. 68 Kill was reminiscent of Martin Scorsese’s ‘80s classic After Hours, with Chip falling victim to a number of women as his night from hell spins further and further out of control. It’s a crazy movie, and I really had a great time watching it. Highly recommended!
Rating: 8.5 out of 10









In the Bedroom (2001)

Todd Field’s powerful drama about a middle-aged married couple, played by Tom Wilkinson and Sissy Spacek, whose son (Nick Stahl) begins seeing an older, recently separated woman (Marisa Tomei). The woman's estranged husband (William Mapother) is the jealous type, and comes from the town’s most influential family. It proves a recipe for disaster, and before the film’s halfway point, a tragedy occurs. From there out, the story takes some very dark turns. Wilkinson is great as the laid-back dad who accepts his son’s relationship, while Spacek plays the loving mother who nonetheless objects to the romance. This is not an easy movie to watch; it will take you down some troubling roads, and the final scene is one that stayed with me for days. It’s really strong stuff. In the Bedroom was nominated for five Academy Awards that year, for Best Picture, Best Actor (Wilkinson), Best Actress (Spacek), Best Supporting Actress (Marisa Tomei), and Best Screenplay. It’s a movie you won’t soon forget. Check it out
Rating: 9 out of 10









The Red Shoes (2005)

An uber-creepy South Korean horror flick about a seemingly possessed pair of red (make that pink) shoes and what happens to the young mother (Kim Hye-Su) who finds them on the subway. Director Kim Yong-Gyun’s The Red Shoes is a supernatural tale, but also a mystery, and I liked how its story unfolded. The lead character isn’t always the most likable person in the movie (and she does something early on to cement her status as an anti-hero), but that doesn’t stop us from being invested in what happens to her and her young daughter.
Rating: 8 out of 10