Sky High

Sky High; Silly, teenage superhero film imagines high school stratified by superpowers, on top of all the other tropes. Messages are aplenty, but never too overbearing as the adult cast has fun playing around in tights. Solid family entertainment with a good soundtrack; B

Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood

Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood; Evokes mood & menace of era w/masterful performances yet still underwhelms in its rewriting of history. Seems one of our most beloved filmmakers is more in love w/his own fancies than the audience’s journey, though we will follow him anywhere; B+

The Fate of the Furious

The Fate of the Furious; For a first time Furious watcher, this was a solid fun action film that knows what to do with its pieces, making the most of the insanely amazing ensemble, giving them all plenty to flex at; A-

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2

Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2; More heartfelt, w/cruder jokes & cuter Groot. Matching Vol. 1 is an impossible task, sequel is solid fun; B+

The Hateful Eight

The Hateful Eight; Why watching movies exists. What screenplays are all about. A new Tarantino film is an event. Masterful stage craft; A

Breakdown

Directed by:  Jonathan Mostow
Starring:  Kurt Russell, J.T. Walsh, Kathleen Quinlan, M.C. Gainey
Running Time:  1h 33min

Walsh's last role is a minimal one but he definitely acts creepy and questionable.  And that's the problem with the film is that EVERYthing is creepy and questionable.  What starts out as Deliverance: The Sequel quickly becomes the breakdown of Russell.  Along the way he is thrown clues, thrown red herrings, and thrown around. He plays the tole well but there are way too many motives and actions left unaccountable.  And I guess that's the way it would be in real life but it really leaves the viewer unsatisfied.  Still, if you're looking for suspense and action in the B-movie style there's plenty of that here.  Plenty of stunts and scary moments, which eventually mount to a well done B-movie.

Grade: B-