American Poltergeist (2015)

Donna Spangler, Simona Fusco, Luke Brandon Field

Directed by: Mike Rutkowski (Production assistant on Captain Marvel and Dirty John) yes, those are his best credentials!

Platform: Netflix (UK)

IMDB: 2.2/10

Synopsis: Horrific visions torment Taryn when she, her brother and college pals move into an infamous old house. Then, her bloody hallucinations become all too real.

Verdict: Terrible, simply terrible, never seen such bad acting. TV movies ares better than this! I gave it the 20 minute rule.

American Poltergeist 2 (2013)

Marina Petrano, Christopher Ingle

Directed by: Stephen McKendree (nothing worth noting!)

Platform: Netflix (UK)

IMDB: 2.5/10

Synopsis: After visiting a supposedly haunted forest, a teen girl comes to believe that a violent poltergeist followed her home and is stalking her.

Verdict: oh my god they made a sequel! 

Actually they didn’t, this was filmed 2 years before the first and its original title was “You Will Love Me” and also “The Poltergeist of Borley Forest”, for some reason it was released in the U.S. and Germany as American Poltergeist 2. Yes as terrible as the first one that’s not the first one but still terrible all the same! Gahhhhhhhh!!!! It’s like people wandered onto the set from the street and the director said, “your hired!”

As Seinfeld once said, “You can’t act!”

American Satan (2017)

Andy Biersack (lead singer Black Veil Brides), Booboo Stewart, Ben Bruce

Now check the supporting cast: John Bradley (Samwell Tarley from GoT), Denise Richards, Malcolm McDowell, Mark Boone Junior (Batman Begins, Sons of Anarchy), Bill Goldberg, Bill Duke

Directed by: Ash Avildsen

Platform: NowTV (UK)

IMDB: 5.5/10, RT: 71% Fresh

Synopsis: A young rock band, half of its members from England and half from the U.S., drops out of college and moves to the Sunset Strip to chase their dreams.

Verdict: Boy I’m hitting the stinkers here, the young cast are seriously inexperienced actors. A new band forms and tries to make it big in L.A. and comes across weirdo Malcolm McDowell, he’s obviously the Satan of the story. The music isn’t bad but not enough for me to want to watch more than 20 minutes.

American Ultra (2015)

Jesse Eisenburg, Kristen Stewart, Connie Britton

Directed by: Nima Nourizadeh (Project X)

Platform: recorded from T.V.

IMDB: 6.1/10, RT: 42% Rotten

Synopsis: A stoner - who is in fact a government agent - is marked as a liability and targeted for extermination. But he's too well-trained and too high for them to handle.

Verdict: If you put a stoner movie, Bourne Identity, Kick and RED into a bag, shook it up, you’d get American Ultra, it’s enjoyable enough but I’m not sure it really knows it’s own identity.

American Violence (2017)

Kaiwi Lyman, Denise Richards, Bruce Dern

Directed by: Timothy Woodward Jr (tons of B movies)

Platform: Netflix (UK)

IMDB: 4.5/10

Synopsis: Fascinated by the root causes of violent behavior, world renowned psychologist Dr. Amanda Tyler has an opportunity to interview and analyze death row inmate Jackson Shea. As the interview commences, and Jack's fate hangs in the balance, Amanda must determine whether or not a stay of execution should be granted.

Verdict: Denise Richards wasn’t too bad actually but the rest of the actors were typical straight to video, if I want to watch a movie to understand why people kill, it isn’t going to be this one.

American Wrestler: The Wizard (2016)

George Kosturos, William Fichtner, Ali Afshar and Jon Voight

Directed by: Alex Ranarivelo

Platform: NowTV (UK)

IMDB: 7.2/10

Synopsis: Its 1979 and Iran is going through a revolution, Ali Jahani is considered too small and weak to join the revolutionary guard so is sentenced to clear mines left by the Iraq invasion, facing almost certain death his parents smuggle him out of Iran and send him to America to live with his Uncle for a better life. But it’s the height of the Iran hostage situation and Ali is picked on and shunned, so he joined the floundering wrestling team and finds his calling.

Verdict: For an indie film its actually pretty good, some touching moments and some really good performances, it’s a bit Karate Kid in places but I really enjoyed it.

Amistad (1997)

Djimon Hounsou, Matthew McConaughey, Anthony Hopkins, Morgan Freeman also a young Anna Paquin!

Directed by: Steven Spielberg

Platform: NowTV (UK)

IMDB: 7.3/10, RT: 77% Fresh

Synopsis: In 1839, the revolt of Mende captives aboard a Spanish owned ship causes a major controversy in the United States when the ship is captured off the coast of Long Island. The courts must decide whether the Mende are slaves or legally free.

Verdict: I’m always partial to a courtroom drama regardless of subject. Djimon Hounsou and Anthony Hopkins were both excellent in this, especially Hopkins who did 7 pages of his courtroom speech in one take which astounded Spielberg. Great performances, great music by John Williams but I don’t think it’s Spielbergs best, good though.

Amnesia (2015)

Marthe Keller, Max Riemelt, Bruno Ganz

Directed by: Barbet Schroeder (Single White Female)

Platform: Netflix (UK)

IMDB: 6.1/10, RT: 73% Fresh

Synopsis: Jo has come to Ibiza to be a DJ in the club Amnesia. He befriends a solitary woman who's trying to forget her past. As Jo draws her into techno music, Martha puts everything she had previously lived by into question.

Verdict: I watched 20 mins but it wasn’t doing anything for me.

An Actor Prepares (2018)

Jeremy Irons, Jack Huston, Ben Schwartz

Directed by: Steve Clark

Platform: NowTV (UK)

IMDB: 5/10, RT: 38% Rotten

Synopsis: After suffering a heart attack, a world famous, hard-drinking actor is forced to drive cross country with his estranged son (who testified against him in his parents' divorce) on one last madcap adventure.

Verdict: A typical road movie but elevated by Jeremy Irons over the top character, it might not be for everyone, he’s vulgar, crass and unapologetic but it worked for me, you can tell he was having fun and for me he was the worth the price of admission.

An Ordinary Man (2017)

Ben Kingsley, Hera Hilmar, Peter Serafinowicz

Directed by: Brad Silberling (City of Angels, A Series of Unfortunate Events)

Platform: NowTV (UK)

IMDB: 5.4/10, RT: 38% Rotten

Synopsis: Kingsley plays an ex-General in Serbia wanted for war crimes, he’s moved about a lot but defies this by living out in the open which riles his protectors. He is moved to a new house and he encounters the maid for the previous owner and employs her, even though she knows who he is but the question becomes, who is she?

Verdict: I really liked this, Kingsley is excellent playing a character that you should absolutely feel no emotions for, this is also the type of film that doesn’t force the actors to perform an accent instead allowing the actors to speak English in their own accents, takes a little getting used to at first with Kingsley’s broad English accent playing off Hilmar’s Icelandic. This is another film which is elevated above its --script simply based on the performance.

An Unfinished Life (2005)

Jennifer Lopez, Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman, Josh Lucas and Damien Lewis

Directed by: Lasse Halstrom (The Cider House Rules, Chocolat, Salmon Fishing in The Yemen)

Platform: Netflix 

IMDB: 7/10, RT: 52% Rotten

Synopsis: Desperate to provide care for her daughter, down-on-her-luck Jean moves in with her father in-law from whom she is estranged. Through time, they learn to forgive each other and heal old wounds.

Verdict: J-Lo plays an abused woman who has had enough of boyfriend Lewis and leaves him going to her estranged father-in-law, he blames her for the death of his son. It’s a drama about healing old wounds and moving on, it’s Miramax and it does have a TV Sunday afternoon feel to it, a little predictable but Freeman & Redford make the film for me.

Angelica (2015)

Jena Malone, Janet McTeer, Ed Stoppard

Directed by: Mitchell Lichtenstein (Teeth)

Platform: NowTV (UK)

IMDB: 5.2/10, 70% Fresh

Synopsis: A couple living in Victorian London endure an unusual series of psychological and supernatural happenings following the birth of their child.

Verdict: A bit amateurish and frankly boring, turned it off after 20 minutes.

Annabelle (2014)

Ward Horton, Annabelle Wallis, Alfre Woodard, Tony Amendola

Directed by: John R. Leonetti (Mortal Kombat 2, The Butterfly Effect 2, Wolves at the Door, The Silence)

Platform: NowTV (UK)

IMDB: 5.4/10, RT: 29% Rotten

Synopsis: A couple begins to experience terrifying supernatural occurrences involving a vintage doll shortly after their home is invaded by satanic cultists.

Verdict: Part of the conjuring universe of which I’ve seen none so I don’t know if I am watching things out of sequence. A couple are attacked in their home, Manson esque and evil is transferred to one of the dolls ala Chucky, from then the mum is harassed by a demon. A couple of jump scares, it’s well acted and looks nice but predictable and doesn’t really offer anything new.

Annabelle:Creation (2017)

Anthony LaPaglia, Samara Lee, Miranda Otto

Directed by: David F. Sandberg (Shazam)

Platform: NowTV (UK)

IMDB: 6.5/10, RT: 71% Fresh

Another entry into the Conjuring franchise and a prequel to Annabelle.

Synopsis: LaPaglia is a doll maker (creator of the Annabelle doll), he and his wife Otto lose their only daughter in a tragic accident. Fast forward 12 years and LaPaglia takes in several orphaned girls and a nun until the girls can be found families, presumably because the previous orphanage closed down. The arrival of the girls prompts an evil spirit to arise and the creation of Annabelle.

Verdict: I enjoyed this more than the last one, better scares, better --script and performances. It ties nicely into the first film at the end and there is a little mid-credits scene.

Annihilation (2018)

Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Tessa Thompson, Oscar Isaac

Directed by: Alex Garland (Ex Machina)

Platform: Netflix (UK) - a Netflix original movie 

IMDB: 6.9/10, RT: 87% Fresh

Synopsis: An event occurs, is it religious, is it Alien? Portman plays ex soldier and current biologist whose husband Isaac is suffering from effects having spent time in what is being called “The Shimmer”. All other attempts to explain the Shimmer have failed, in a bid to help her husband Portman heads into the Shimmer along with other scientists. Told through present time and in flashbacks.

Verdict: A thoughtful but slow sci-fi drama reminiscent of Sunshine (written by Garland) and Event Horizon. Based on the first book of the Southern Reach trilogy by author Jeff VanderMeer. I enjoyed it, I thought it looked great and was well cast but it is a slow story which might put off others.

Anon (2018)

Clive Owen, Amanda Seyfried, Colm Feore 

Directed by: Andrew Niccol (Gattaca, Lord of War, In Time)

Platform: NowTV (UK) - a Netflix Original Movie

IMDB: 6.1/10, RT: 38% Rotten

Synopsis: In a world where there is no such thing as anonymity and crime is solved immediately, a rash of murders happen where the victim sees what the killer sees creates a real whodunnit. Investigated by a detective played by Clive Owen he tracks down hacker Seyfried who has the ability to make memories disappear and to be truly invisible, but is she the killer they are after?

Verdict: Heavily influenced by PKD especially Minority Report it’s pretty much paint by numbers with Owen playing his usual deadpan role. Seyfried is good in a different type of role for her, the tech on display is ok but it’s a pretty forgettable movie.

Antwone Fisher (2002)

Denzel Washington, Derek Luke, Joy Bryant

Directed by: Denzel Washington (directorial debut)

Platform: NowTV (UK)

IMDB: 7.3/10, RT: 79% Fresh

Synopsis: Inspired by the true story of Antwone Fisher who himself wrote the screenplay. Fisher (Luke) a young man in the Navy has anger issues and is sent to a psychiatrist (Washington), as time goes on his past is explored as he comes to grips to what happened to him in his life so far.

Verdict: An excellent drama, it’s hard to believe that Derek Luke was a newcomer when this film was made as he is excellent and plays well off Washington, it’s a fantastic story and very touching. Recommended!

Any Given Sunday (1999)

Al Pacino, Dennis Quaid, Cameron Diaz, James Woods, Jamie Foxx and a host of other recognisable actors.

Directed by: Oliver Stone

Platform: NowTV (UK)

IMDB: 6.9/10, RT: 52% Rotten

Synopsis: Pacino plays the coach of the Miami Sharks who are on a losing streak, his veteran QB (Quaid) is out injured as well as his 2nd choice so 3rd choice (Foxx) is drafted in who isn’t always a team player, Pacino is also having to deal with new general manager Diaz who he clashes with. 

Verdict: Stones movie taking a look at the behind the scenes of an NFL team, a lot of the action scenes feel like MTV produced them but in amongst all of that are some good performances by Foxx and Pacino is at his shouting best. The movie was vastly more interesting than the NFL game I attended at Wembley last year.

Apostle (2018)

Dan Stevens, Lucy Boynton, Mark Lewis Jones and Michael Sheen

Directed by: Gareth Evans (The Raid, The Raid 2)

Platform: Netflix (UK) - Netflix Original Movie 

IMDB: 6.3/10, RT: 80% Fresh

Synopsis: Its 1905 and Stevens is sent by his father to bring back his sister who has been kidnapped by a cult living on a secluded island, as he infiltrates and searches for his sister not everything on the island is as it seems, the island holds a lot of secrets.

Verdict: It starts off like The Wicker Man but quickly evolves into its own thing with more of an emphasis on horror, the cinematography is fantastic, the set design is spot on and creates a really atmospheric setting. The performances are all good especially Michael Sheen as you would expect. I really enjoyed it but it unfortunately drags at the end as it gets dragged down by its subplots. It could have done with 20 minutes cut from it for a tighter movie.

Approaching the Unknown (2016)

Mark Strong, Luke Wilson, Sanaa Latham

Directed by: Mark Elijah Rosenberg (directorial debut)

Platform: Netflix UK

IMDB: 4.8/10, RT: 43% Rotten

Synopsis: Captain William Stanaforth is on a one-way solo mission to take the first steps in colonizing Mars. Like all pioneers throughout history, Stanaforth will face insurmountable odds and life and death decisions as he rockets bravely through space.

Verdict: Approaching boredom!

Arena (1989)

Paul Satterfield, Hamilton Camp, Claudia Christian (Babylon 5)

Directed by: Peter Manoogian (ton of B movies)

Platform: Netflix UK

IMDB: 5.3/10

Synopsis: A human becomes an unlikely rising star in the biggest fighting tournament in the galaxy that's dominated by alien species.

Verdict: Bad acting, bad costumes, worse soundtrack, 80s B movies. 

Armed Response (2018) - produced by WWE Studios, yep World Wrestling Entertainment.

Wesley Snipes, Anne Heche, Colby Lopez (WWE star Seth Rollins)

Directed by: John Stockwell (Into the Blue)

Platform: Netflix UK

IMDB: 3.8/10, 0% Rotten

Synopsis: A team of highly trained operatives find themselves trapped inside an isolated military compound after its AI is suddenly shut down. The crew begins to experience strange and horrific phenomena as they attempt to uncover what killed the previous team.

Verdict: Typical DTV fare, Snipes must still owe the government money. Hey Gene Simmons is in it!

Armoured (2009)

Columbus Short, Matt Dillon, Laurence Fishburne, Jean Reno

Directed by: Nimrod Antal (Predators)

Platform: NowTV (UK)

IMDB: 5.7/10, RT: 40% Rotten

Synopsis: A newbie guard for an armored truck company is coerced by his veteran coworkers to steal a truck containing $42 million. But a wrinkle in their supposedly foolproof plan divides the group, leading to a potentially deadly resolution.

Verdict: Another boring B movie actioner. This actually came out in theatres, $27million budget.

Assassins Creed (2016)

Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons

Directed by: Justin Kurzel (Macbeth)

Platform: Netflix UK

IMDB: 5.8/10, RT: 18% Rotten

Synopsis: Through a revolutionary technology that unlocks his genetic memories, Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender) experiences the adventures of his ancestor, Aguilar de Nerha, in 15th Century Spain. Callum discovers he is descended from a mysterious secret society, the Assassins, and amasses incredible knowledge and skills to take on the oppressive and powerful Templar organization in the present day.

Verdict: Inspired by the series of Ubisoft games, I watched for an hour before turning it off, the cast were fine, the action when in the past were fine but I just didn’t really care and was a little bored to be honest. Having been a big fan of the first two games I had avoided watching this when it was released and now I know why.

Atomic Blonde (2017)

Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, John Goodman

Directed by: David Leitch (John Wick, Deadpool 2)

Platform: NowTV UK

IMDB: 6.7/10, RT: 78% Fresh

Synopsis: Based on the graphic novel “The Coldest City” Theron plays an MI6 agent sent to Berlin in 1989 (on the verge of the wall coming down) to recover a list containing information about spies (ala Skyfall and one of Mission Impossible movies). 

Verdict: As you would expect from this director the action scenes are top notch as is Theron, it’s got a great soundtrack but the film follows a formula of pumping out a well known 80s tune just as an action scene is about to happen. The fight scene in the stairwell is awesome and would fit in with the Punisher/Daredevil TV show. It does come across as style over substance but there is enough action to compensate and Theron is great. McAvoy is also top notch although he appears to have borrowed Tyler Durdens wardrobe.