“The House With A Clock In Its Walls”
It’s not even quite officially Fall but time to think Halloween. This hard-to-remember title is a spooker for not too little kids- rated PG starring Jack Black & 2-time Oscar winner Cate Blanchett. It’s about a 10 year old who goes to live with his uncle in a creaky old house with a mysterious tick-tocking in its walls. The kid accidentally awakens the dead. I didn’t see it but on the plus side, it’s described as having old school storytelling. But there are also complaints that it’s dull with an inappropriate comedic tone. Still, it gets 61% on Rotten Tomatoes. Not a bad report card at all!
“Life Itself”
From the creator of “This Is Us” so I couldn’t wait to see. Like “This Is Us”, there’s a gimmick… this time it’s interconnecting stories- human destinies intertwined. Which made it hokey, Hallmarky, and pretty predictable once you catch on to the intertwining thing. Which is a shame. And it’s too too long at 2 hours. I loved the first story with Q friend Olivia Wilde, the always superb Oscar Isaac (these two have crazy chemistry) along with Annette Bening and Mandy Patinkin (seen most recently on “Homeland”). If only the rest of the movie was so well written and surprising. Oh well.
1 1/2 ♥
“American Dresser”
Written/directed/starring big Q104.3 fan Carmine Cangialosi starring Tom Berenger (who will be on “Sonstein Sunday” a week from this Sunday) along with Bruce Dern, Gina Gershon, and Penelope Ann Miller. With the title song by Billy Gibbons! Think “Easy Rider” 50 years later. Berenger plays an alcoholic Vietnam Vet whose wife (Gershon) just died leaving behind a big secret. He hits the road on his motorcycle with his best bud from ‘Nam (Keith David – who co-starred with Berenger in “Platoon”) to heal and repair damages. Great music. Great stars. Worth the ride. It’s in theaters & VOD.
2 1/2 ♥