The Retirement Plan

 

A crime thriller starring Nicolas Cage as a beach bum with a secret government past sounds enticing enough. There are most likely going to be entertaining fight scenes, amusing dialogue, and no doubt another iconic look created for Cage himself. Unfortunately, The Retirement Plan, slips into the worn-out predictable film category where there is very little to redeem itself. 

After getting caught up with dangerous criminals, Ashley and her daughter Sarah seek out help from her estranged father, Matt. But when crime boss Donnie and his henchman Bobo catch up with them, Ashley soon finds out that her father had a secret violent past she knew nothing about.

Full review over at Filmhounds.

A Haunting in Venice

 

Murder mysteries will never die. There will always be another gruesome death, a new case, a new set of suspects, and of course a detective to solve the crime. Although A Haunting in Venice is very, very loosely based on Agatha Christie’s Hallowe’en Party, basically only using some character names and the extremely bare bones of some of the plot, it makes for an exciting new prospect. With such a loose adaption, you have no idea what to expect, making this a fresh take on Christie’s classic. 

Its 1947 and Hercule Poirot has retired to Venice but his solitude is interrupted by the arrival of an old friend, crime writer Ariadne Oliver. She persuades him to join her at a séance to help her debunk the medium, Joyce Reynolds. But when it is revealed that someone in the house was previously murdered, followed by another supernaturally charged murder, Poirot is forced to take the case and find out if ghosts really do exist.

Full review over at Filmhounds HERE.

Daliland

 
When a film centres around a specific time for a prolific person in history, there is a danger that the film will feel restrictive and have precious few areas to explore. With little over 90 minutes, we are given a look into the last years of world-famous Spanish surrealist artist, Salvador Dali, but not focusing on his final works, ailing health, or a closer look at his relationships with his wife or band of followers. This is a biopic but through the eyes of someone who knew him for a short while. Those biopics that want to delve deep but never quite go as far as you would hope. However, there is a great performance from Sir Ben Kingsley to revel in.

Full review over at Filmhounds HERE.

Theater Camp

 

There are those who love theatre and all that it entails and there are those who literally live for, breathe for and eventually die for the theatre. The latter group would no doubt have gone to some kind theatre camp and honed their craft, found their passion, met their crowd, or had their hopes dashed. A mockumentary-esque film following the teachers and students as they get through 3 weeks of absolute organised chaos sounds like it could be uplifting and potentially hilarious. Filled to the brim with stereotypes and incredible talent, Theatre Camp is both exhausting and at times, heartwarming. 

When the beloved founder of AdirondACTS, a theatre camp in upstate New York, ends up in a coma, her clueless social media focused son Troy is sent in to keep the camp running. But with the camp in financial difficulty, Troy, along with the chaotic mix of eccentric and loyal teachers, they must find a way to keep the camp open and the debut of a brand-new musical have its night on stage.

Full review over at Filmhounds HERE.

Fool's Paradise

 

We’re no stranger to the darker vapid self-serving side of Hollywood being portrayed on screen so any new film that aims to have a fresh new take will pique interest. Charlie Day’s directorial debut wants to be said new fresh take, and although delightfully satirical, it doesn’t quite hit the heights you want it to. However, it is immensely entertaining, jarring, uncomfortable and feels all too near reality, plus the blend of darker jokes and basic slapstick actually works well. 

An adult John Doe, with the mental capacity of a 5-year-old is abandoned in downtown LA. He is spotted by a Hollywood producer as he happens to resemble a notoriously difficult method actor. From this moment, Latte Pronto, is born. Dragged through from one ordeal to the next, one minute the talk of the town the next a disgrace. And all the while accompanied by his struggling publicist, Lenny, who seems just as clueless as him.

Full review over at Filmhounds HERE.

Blackout - Fantasia Film Festival

 

We’re no strangers to the supernatural in film and we have all definitely been exposed to a typical creature feature. Trying to find a fresh new angle on a subject that has been made countless times before is a difficult task but writer, director and producer Larry Fessenden has possibly found a way to do so by way of a character study and dark self-discovery in Blackout.

Full review over at Filmhounds HERE