Vice

Bale’s Dick and Rockwell’s Bush don’t rock well enough to bail out Mckay’s Big concept which falls Short as present day politics Anchor down one Man’s character study. Stylistically opposed of its titular character, Vice’s vice is its reliance on heavy-handed set-pieces to set up its inherently obvious unitary message.

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Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri

The violence, depth and moral ambiguity fit the McDonagh bill, and though the characters are astoundingly strong and fantastically flawed, the scripting is looser than Bruges, and the ending less inevitable. Occasional comedic moments stretch too far tonally, but the drama definitely delivers while McDormand and Rockwell, well… they rock.

Cowboys and Aliens

Independence day in Arizona. James Bond’s magic bracelet helps him fight not so Super eight thousand alien gold-diggers, because they stupidly abducted Indiana Wayne’s milkshake hungry son. Ham-handed character development, ridiculously silly story, and inanely Wilde phoenix scene add up to a film that tries too hard. Camp vs. A-listers.

Iron Man 2

RDJ wrestles with Rourke and a bit of Batman-esque gloom and despair in this solid sequel. Inverts its predecessor with weak first half but strong second, excluding the actual super-villain showdown which still feels a bit quick. SJ & SJ make welcome additions to the team, but Rockwell, well… rocks.

Choke

Clark Gregg adapts Palahniuk’s novel with the finesse of a high-school film-student. Over-played jokes, over-acted performances, and twisty attempt to pull one over on the audience leave everyone waiting for the film to be… over. Rockwell and MacDonald perform characteristically well, but even they can’t breathe life into this film.

Moon

David Bowie’s son directs this sublime psychological sci-fi flick that shoots for the moon and lands incredible performance(s) from star, Sam Rockwell. Reminiscent of Solaris and 2001, but only in the best possible ways. A strong story saves the film from subpar special effects; not for fans of Michael Bay.

Heist (2001)

Mamet’s highbrow dialogue slapped on an overly complex, perpetually twisty story. Compelling to the half-way point then loses steam. Decent performances of unsympathetic characters don’t particularly help the film. Great source of one-liner quotes and clever heist scenes. Otherwise a generally uninteresting crime caper. Totally inane plotting of female lead.