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Film

’Split” delivers shocks, surprises to recommend

Friday, 20 January 2017 07:08 By Glenn Kay For the Sun

Rating: ««« out of 4 stars

Running Time: 117 min.

In case you haven’t been on the internet or been reading film reviews in the past 10 years, director M. Night Shyamalan has become something of a polarizing figure. His first group of projects drew raves, but some audiences have since turned on the filmmaker. Personally, I feel like he’s taken far too much heat over the years. Like any director, he’s had a few big misfires, but has begun to find his footing recently in some smaller projects.

His latest is another little film that falls into the latter category. Split is a creepy thriller about a troubled man named Kevin (James McAvoy) who suffers from Dissociative Identity...

‘xXx: Return of Xander Cage’ delivers muddled action

Friday, 20 January 2017 07:05 By Glenn Kay For the Sun

Rating: «« out of 4 stars

Running Time: 107 min.

Sometimes, the term “they don’t make them like they used to” doesn’t necessarily have a negative connotation. This week brings a new title in the sequels-no-one-was-clamoring-for category. Honestly, does anyone look back at 2002’s xXx with an overwhelming feeling of warmth or nostalgia? Well, xXx: Return of Xander Cage assumes that you do. Not only that, but it also doesn’t seem compelled to offer anything fresh or different upon its return.

Truthfully, one can guess the reason that this feature was been seemingly generated out of the blue. Star Vin Diesel’s Fast & Furious franchise is nearing its close. This sequel...

DVD/Blu-ray Roundup for Jan. 20, 2017

Friday, 20 January 2017 07:03 By Glenn Kay For the Sun

Welcome back to a new edition of highlights arriving on Blu-ray and DVD. It’s a busy report, with plenty of releases both big and small, critically praised and reviled. So if you can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure and give one of these titles a try!

BIG NEW RELEASES!

Come and Find Me - In this independent thriller, a man’s girlfriend mysteriously disappears. He goes on the hunt for her, but finds himself in danger after discovering that she has been living a double life. Reviews were good for this feature. A few complained that the plotting was slow and events weren’t clarified enough by the close. However, more felt the performances were...

‘Live By Night’ can’t find its footing

Friday, 13 January 2017 04:39 By Glenn Kay For the Sun

Rating: «« out of 4 stars

Running Time: 128 min.

Sometimes despite the best of intentions, things just don’t work out. The period drama Live by Night is based on a well-regarded novel by Dennis Lehane (Mystic River, Gone Baby Gone and The Drop among many others). The movie has an excellent cast and crew, some very impressive imagery and strong individual moments. Yet, this tale doesn’t end up translating well to the screen. In fact, it’s a bit of a muddle. There’s too much material here and events feel both rushed and slow-moving at the same time.

Set in the Prohibition era of the 1920s, the plot follows outlaw Joe Coughlin (Ben Affleck). He’s a crook, but generally a...

DVD/Blu-ray Roundup for Jan. 13, 2017

Friday, 13 January 2017 04:32 By Glenn Kay For the Sun

Welcome back to another edition highlighting the newest DVDs and Blu-rays coming your way. There’s an interesting mix this time out with plenty of curiosities. So if you can’t make it out to the movies this week, be sure to give one of these titles a try!

BIG NEW RELEASES!

The Accountant - Ben Affleck stars in this action/thriller about an assassin with autism who hides his illegal activities while working as a registered accountant. When he’s called in on a big corporate account, he and his coworker become targets. Reviews were split for the final product, complimenting the performances but suggesting that the story was contrived and that the enterprise came...