Deep Water
It was something of a surprise to see a new Adrian Lyne film appear on Amazon Prime, some 20 years since his last directorial effort. Time may have moved on but Lyne’s style and interests have not, so this is another overheated potboiler to add to his unimpressive CV. Ben Affleck is well-cast as Vic, a seemingly mild-mannered guy married to the seductive Melinda (Ana de Armas). In order to stay married, he allows her to have a series of affairs. But when the men she is sleeping with die, Vic comes under suspicion. I say comes under suspicion, we are quickly left in no doubt about his guilt, so any suspense built up in the first 15 or so minutes completely dissipates.
There is a brooding atmosphere, and Affleck and Tracy Letts as a suspicious family friend are pretty good. Armas struggles in a badly-written role. She is a less likeable character than her serial killer husband, which left me not caring who Vic kills or whether he is caught.
Rating: 5 out of 10
Also on Amazon Prime:
Lucy and Desi
Just a few months after the enjoyable Being the Ricardos, we now have a documentary about the careers and relationship of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnez Jr. It does touch on the twin stories of Lucy’s pregnancy and communist allegations that the feature film concentrated on, but also attempts to provide an overview of the whole of their lives. As a result, it does skirt over the more interesting aspects and I did not enjoy it as much as I did Aaron Sorkin’s movie. However, it is well put together with good access both to interviewees and archive footage. Their appeal still eludes me, but I guess you had to be there.
Rating: 7 out of 10
The Postcard Killings
There is not a whole lot of originality here, with Jeffrey Dean Morgan playing Jacob Kanon, a cynical US cop who travels around Europe on the trail of a pair of serial killers after they murder his daughter. The characters are all thinly drawn and allowing Kanon to join in the investigations is pretty unbelievable. However, the movie moves at a decent pace, and there is a really good twist at about 45 minutes in. Although, after that point, this changes from a who-dunn-it to a will-they-be-caught, it is still quite compelling despite its flaws.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10
Over on Sky, there have been a slew of new releases:
Paul Dood’s Deadly Lunch Break
Social misfit, Paul Dood (Tom Meeton) dreams of stardom and enters a TV talent show. However, when he misses his audition, he goes on a murderous rampage targeting the people who caused him to be late. This sounds like a promising plot and the film has been described as satirical. Unfortunately, I found it embarrassingly amateurish and unfunny. It is hard to believe that a film with a supporting cast that includes Katherine Parkinson, Pippa Haywood, Steve Oram, Johnny Vegas, Kris Marshall, Kevin Bishop, Lloyd Griffith and Alice Lowe should be so laugh free.
Rating: 2 out of 10
Moonshot
I suppose you have to give credit to writer Max Tate for coming up with an original setting for a romcom. Set in 2049, it features Cole Sprouse as an unlucky in love slacker who stows away on a trip to the now colonised Mars and Lana Candor as the woman who helps him and gradually falls for him. That away that premise, though, then the fresh ideas run out, leaving a tired film that is neither romantic enough or funny enough.
Rating: 3 out of 10
False Positive
This is a curious thriller about a couple, Lucy and Adrian (Ilana Glazer & Justin Theroux), struggling to have a baby until they make an appointment at a fertility clinic run by the creepy Dr Hindle (Pierce Brosnan). With shades of Rosemary’s Baby and The Stepford Wives, you will probably be intrigued enough to see this through to the end. In fact the ending manages be both both satisfying in how Lucy handles it and satisfying in the twist that is presented! Muddled but there is just about enough of interest.
Rating: 5.5 out of 10
North Hollywood
A simple story about a young man, Michael, played by Ryder McLaughlin who dreams of being a professional skateboarder with his best mates. But when he gets his first girlfriend, his priorities change. This is not in the same league as the great Mid 90s from 2018, but it is quite effective and features a great performance from Vince Vaughn as Michael’s disapproving Dad.
Rating: 6 out of 10
American Night
A glossy but glum and predictable crime thriller packed full of actors past their prime such as Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Jeremy Piven and Michael Madsen. A muddled plot involves an art forger, the mob and martial arts.
Rating: 3.5 out of 10