Adann-Kennn Alexxandar

“Dumb Money” (Biography/Drama/Comedy: 1 hour, 45 minutes)

Starring: Paul Dano, Pete Davidson, Shailene Woodley and Seth Rogen

Director: Craig Gillespie

Rated: R (Pervasive language, sexual material and drug use)

Movie Review:

Based on a true, “Dumb Money,” intriguingly shows how small investors managed to outsmart Wall Street. Paul Dano (“There Will Be Blood,” 2007; “Little Miss Sunshine,” 2006) leads an all-star cast. He plays Keith Gill, who subtly persuades followers of his podcast to invest in GameStop. They do, turning GameStop into one of the world’s most sought-after stock buys. Everyday people become richer quickly through their investments, and wealthy Wall Street elites work diligently to stop them where possible.

 “Dumb Money” is good because it entertainingly shows a group of investors outwitting the rich and powerful. This causes the upper echelon of wealth to strike back. This fiasco that ensued for several weeks caused Congressional hearings and investigations.

 The movie works because of a talented cast. Dano is convincing as the underdog. He has a certain realness that he brings to roles. Shailene Woodley, Pete Davidson and Seth Rogen join Dano. Each brings a certain tangibleness to their performances, despite the usual antics of Davidson, who provides an engaging comical turn as Dani’s brother. However, his comical bits can stereotypically go overboard and become childish at points.

 This movie provides humor and plenty of good dramatic moments that impress. Some moments are too silly for such a serious topic, but all exist in a fun and informative manner.

Grade: B (Good money, spend it to watch “Dumb Money.”)

 “On Fire” (Drama: 1 hour, 20 minutes)

Starring: Peter Facinelli, Fiona Dourif, Asher Angel and Lance Henriksen

Directors: Peter Facinelli and Nick Lyon

Rated: PG-13 (Acting/peril, disturbing imagery and strong language)

Movie Review:

Despite being inspired by real-life events, “On Fire” never really becomes fired up enough to feel the heat. Peter Facinelli and Nick Lyon’s direction never renders characters who are convincing during dire consequences. Additionally, the computer-generated imagery and other visuals do not always appear compelling.

 The Laughlins are a family of four, living in a trailer home in a wooded area. Parents Dave (Facinelli) and an eight-month pregnant Sarah (Dourif), their son Clay (Angel) and Dave’s father George (Henriksen) evacuate suddenly when a wildfire comes closer to their home. The family’s survival depends on their skills and ability to help each other.

 The actor who steals scenes in this movie is Ashlei Foushee. She plays Kayla, a 911 operator who receives multiple calls from people trying to flee the several fires. The stress builds, and she portrays it well. This is especially measurable when the person she is helping is desperately screaming when caught in a fire.

 Only a fool argues in a burning forest. Some characters stop to hug or celebrate when a fire approaches them. Some of their actions appear mere Hollywood tropes to dramaticism when these characters should appear more concerned about being burned.

 Audiences are burned for sure.

Grade: C- (The heat is nominal.)

 “The Blind” (Drama: 1 hour, 48 minutes)

Starring: Aron von Andrian, Amelia Eve and Connor Tillman

Director: Andrew Hyatt

Rated: PG-13 (Action/peril, disturbing images and some strong language)

Movie Review:

“The Blind” starts interestingly and maintains that charm throughout. This movie chronicles the life of Phil Robertson (Andrian) and his marriage to Kay Robertson (Eve). Based on a true story, Phil does not sugarcoat his life and the multitude of sins he committed as a young man. Infidelity, abandoning his new family, spousal abuse and his battle with alcoholism are all showcased.

 Phil Alexander Robertson is the reality TV star from the popular television series “Duck Dynasty.” He is a man of faith, and he exhibits his sins becoming a man of The Almighty.

 Writers Andrew Hyatt (“Paul, Apostle of Christ,” 2018), also the director, and Stephanie Katz, craft an attractive screenplay for those looking for a Christian-based movie. They put Robertson’s life out for people to observe. They show the good and the bad, and Robertson’s younger years appear far from saintly.

 The movie is a biographical slice of Robertson’s life, so the movie moves quickly, hitting mostly the low points of Robertson’s rambunctious early years with his devoted wife Kay and their sons.

 However, the movie starts with his childhood, high school and college years. The moments when he begins dating Kay are charming. The romance with Kay is a highlight of this photoplay. Sadly, the movie allows little time for audiences to know the young couple before they are married with children.

Grade: B- (The seen.)

 “Saw XI” (Horror/Thriller: 1 hour, 58 minutes)

Starring: Tobin Bell, Shawnee Smith and Synnøve Macody Lund

Director: Kevin Greutert

Rated: R (Sequences of grisly bloody violence and torture, language and drug use)

Movie Review:

“Saw” (Director James Wan, 2004) began the franchise that led to “Saw X,” seemingly reboot by director Kevin Greutert (“Saw VI,” 2009; “Saw 3D,” 2010)

 John Kramer (Tobin Bell), known as Jigsaw, is back as the mass-murdering man of many ingenious contraptions to torture victims for their crimes and misdeeds. This outing has Kramer being the victim and seeking revenge with the aid of some past acquaintances. After a group of con artists posing as medical scientists proclaim to cure Kramer’s cancer, he returns to being Jigsaw to enact a lesson of revenge for their lies.

 As this series continues, John Kramer becomes an agreeable antihero. A sense of pity exists for him here. He is dying and a group of people lied to him. His need for revenge is understandable.

 “Saw X” is dramatic as it is gory horror this outing. It puts a new twist on an old series, where Tobin Bell delivers as usual. He continues to be the most impressive aspect of the “Saw” movies. He is always impressive as Jigsaw.

Grade: B- (See Saw.)

 “The Exorcist Believer” (Horror: 1 hour, 51 minutes)

Starring: Leslie Odom Jr. Ellen Burstyn and Ann Dowd

Director: David Gordon Green

Rated: R (Violent content, disturbing images, language and sexual references.)

Movie Review:

“The Exorcist Believer” is an attempted reboot of the 1973 classic horror “The Exorcist” that starred Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Linda Blair. While this latest movie may be gory, it fails to capture the genuine anxiety the first movie contained.

 Angela (Jewett) and Katherine (O’Neill) are two girls who disappear into the woods. They return three days later with no memory of what happened to them. When it becomes clear a demonic spirit possesses the girls, Angela’s father Victor Fielding (Odom) seeks the aid of Chris MacNeil (Burstyn), the daughter of the once possessed Regan MacNeil (Linda Blair).

 Demonic possession involves two girls this time, but the movie does not deliver double the entertainment. “The Exorcist Believer” appears a mere repeat of the better 1973 movie (Director William Friedkin), which was based on William Peter Blatty’s novel.

 The highlight of the movie is Leslie Odom Jr. (“One Night in Miami…,” 2020). He continues to be a dependable actor. Despite his efforts the return of Ellen Burstyn and a surprise cameo by another start from the 1973 movie, “The Exorcist Believer” fails to make one a believer for the planned trilogy by David Gordon Green director of “Halloween Ends,” 2022 and its two prequels.

Grade: C- (Not a believer of this screenplay.)

 “She Came to Me” (Comedy/Drama/Romance: 1 hour, 42 minutes)

Starring: Peter Dinklage, Anne Hathaway and Marisa Tomei

Director: Rebecca Miller

Rated: R (Language and thematic elements)

Movie Review:

The biggest problem with “She Came to Me” is it tries to be too many genres at once. It bounces between a comedy, a drama and a romance. The genres compete when the dramatic elements of this movie are more engaging. Additionally, too many characters appear overly weird.

 Peter Dinklage stars as Steven Lauddem, a reclusive opera composer who suffers from writer’s block. He is well-known but dodges fans and his financial patrons alike. Anne Hathaway plays his germophobic wife Patricia Jessup-Lauddem, a psychologist. Although she has a maid, she spends her time helping her housekeeper clean and disinfect the family’s house. Enter, Katrina Trento, acted intriguingly by Marisa Tomei. Katrina, a harbor boat captain, becomes Steven’s muse, reinvigorating Steven to craft his art again.

 Peter Dinklage is always a treat to watch in movies. His height may be diminutive, but he delivers gigantic performances, even in lackluster average movies. Peter Dinklage is impressive again.

 He, Hathaway and Tomei deliver amiable performances, but the story in which they exist digresses with an inability to focus on one main genre.

 Director-Writer Rebecca Miller (“Personal Velocity,” 2002), the wife of Actor Daniel Day-Lewis, helms an eccentric group of characters. Individually, they score points. As a group, they are as unfocused as this story. That constitutes a plot that is a scattered-brain one.

Grade: C (She came to me with multiple personalities.)

 “Shelter in Solitude” (Comedy/Drama: 1 hour, 33 minutes)

Starring: Siobhan Fallon Hogan, Robert Patrick and Peter Macon

Director: Vibeke Muasya

Rated: NR (Strong Language and violence)

Movie Review:

Siobhan Fallon Hogan writes and stars in this heartfelt movie that works, even when it slips out of character. It plays like a good drama with bits of comedy that appear misplaced at points. Still, the cast is phenomenal, especially a seasoned Hogan.

 During a COVID-19-plagued United States, former country singer Val (Hogan) forms an unlikely friendship with Jackson (Macon), an inmate with just ten days left before his execution. Val’s life is a mess, but her employment at the prison changes her life to the chagrin of Dwayne (Patrick), the prison’s warden and Val’s older brother.

 Vibeke Muasya (“The Ballad of Jack and Rose,” 2005) directs this movie energetically scripted by Hogan. Muasya directed “Rushed,” 2021, which Hogan also wrote and starred Robert Patrick. The three are a team again for this movie with series overtones and scattered bits of comedy.

 “Shelter in Solitude” is an enjoyable dramedy for such a serious subject matter. As a man waits to die, this movie manages to provide humorous moments that accompany the humanitarian manner Hogan orchestrates. Characters grow and shine as an unfortunate event nears.

Grade: B- (Shelter in a cinema for this movie.)