The Contender

The Contender; Actors aplenty excelling at what they do in a political game that tackles enduring issues of optics and impressions and the double standards across party and gender lines. Bridges, Allen and Oldman are perfect in their roles and the script and supporting cast deliver on top of it; B+
 

To Live and Die in L.A.

To Live and Die in L.A.; Violent, gritty noir set in sunny California. Casting is phenomenal, as characters convincingly straddle the line between good and evil. Wang Chung score seems dated, yet gives the film its flavour. Action scenes are absolutely thrilling and shocking; A-

Fear

Directed by:  James Foley
Starring:  Mark Wahlberg, Reese Witherspoon, William Peterson, Alyssa Milano
Running Time:  1h 36min

Good teenage flick, soundtrack interesting but it played too much of the same band and at one point it even played the same song over with no plot intentions.  Performances and casting are dismal and the whole movie has trouble finding a reason behind its actions.  It plays like a "what do we do now" type of production and gives no meaningful history to support the characters' behaviours.  I do give credit for the gruesome scene used to make the viewer's emotions come out.  Never has a film gone so far to just simply get a reaction out of its viewers.  Fine for a scary night at home but a waste in any other purpose.

Grade: D+