February movie reviews

In theaters:

SEPTEMBER 5

A really good dramatization of the network coverage of the terrorist attack at the 1972 Olympics. The screenplay got nominated for an Oscar. I was really into the old technology on display, and the film is really riveting even when you know the outcome. 

ONE OF THEM DAYS

This comedy about a couple of women going on a quest to scrape together rent money wound up being a small hit. And I want movie comedy to be a major thing again, but this one only got an occasional chuckle from me, despite the best efforts of Keke Palmer. Every other character in this annoyed the hell out of me. 

NICKEL BOYS

Nominated for best picture, this drama about a pair of kids growing up in a reform school has a really absorbing story. It also has a strange gimmick where the whole movie is told in 1st person POV shots. That works as much as it doesn't. 

LOVE HURTS

The latest in the ever-expanding action genre of ordinary people being secret ass kickers. This time, it's the enthusiastic Ke Huy Quan, who brings a lot of energy to all the fights. Arianna Debose is the love interest, and this movie at least gives her something to do. The movie is forgettable fun. 

HEART EYES

Really liked this one a lot. A hybrid romcom/slasher that actually makes good versions of each. A killer stalks couples on Valentine's Day, and this couple is the super cute Olivia Holt and Mason Gooding from the newer Screams. It really satisfies as both genres. The slasher kills are fun, and the romcom stuff is actually charming. I'd love a franchise out of this. 

CLEANER

Get this. It's like Die Hard...but in a high rise building! A group of bad guys take over the building, and only the trapped outside window cleaner played by Daisy Ridley can stop them. This is actually a pretty solid movie, helmed by veteran Martin Campbell, saving most of its actual action for the very end. Ridley is magnetic as always, proving again she should be a major star. 

Everything else:

THE WASP

Interesting little thriller where Naomie Harris (why is she not a bigger star?) hires Natalie Dormer to kill her husband. Ah, but things are not what they seem. A couple real good twists in this one. 

THE SIX TRIPLE EIGHT

Based on a true story of a squad of black female soldiers who handled mail deliveries in WW2. There is some inherent interest in the story and a few effective moments. But it's directed by Tyler Perry, and he is so out of his depth here. Everything is presented in the cheesiest, most clichéd way possible, and he directs his whole cast to dramatically overact. Do you know how hard it is to make Kerry Washington look amateurish?

THE ICE ROAD

Something about Liam Neeson and the snow. The Grey and Cold Pursuit are 2 of his best movies, and while this one isn't quite as good as those, it's still a good one. And we get Amber Midthunder in sexy badass mode along for the ride. 

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