Month: January 2018

‘Small Town Crime’ is a middling curiosity

Jeff Mitchell

“Small Town Crime” – “Well, I was born in a small town.  And I live in a small town.  Probably die in small town.”  –  John Mellencamp, “Small Town” Mike Kendall (John Hawkes) lives in a small town, out west in the high desert, where blue skies reign, the ground sports varied shades of brown and snowcapped peaks hold court in the distance.  Writers/directors Eshom and Ian Nelms filmed outside Salt Lake City, Utah, but within the movie, the exact locale is not important. Mike’s own well-being is not terribly…

‘The Commuter’ takes too many familiar turns

Jeff Mitchell

“The Commuter” – “You have no idea who you are up against.” – Oliver (Kobna Holdbrook-Smith), a train passenger Michael MacCauley (Liam Neeson), a New York City insurance agent who just lost his job, finds himself mired in two seemingly impossible situations.   He and his wife, Karen (Elizabeth McGovern), are financially struggling, and now, Michael is out of work.  Cutting back on expenses and eating ramen noodles seven days a week will not save enough money to cover their mortgage and son’s upcoming tuition to Syracuse University. (By the way, according to Google,…

‘Hostiles’ is a purposely grim, well-acted but incomplete western

Jeff Mitchell

“Hostiles” – “He’s a butcher.” – Capt. Joseph J. Blocker (Christian Bale) “Then the two of you should get along just fine.” – Jeremiah Wilks (Bill Camp) For decades, Capt. Joseph J. Blocker (Bale) has lived his adult life immersed in violence via his chosen profession in the U.S. Calvary.   After spending a career hunting down and killing Native Americans, he has become hardened and emotionally inhibited – something less than human, without a hint of light or angelic joy – after causing and witnessing so much death. His commanding…