‘Freaky’: This switcharoo horror movie lives up to its name…for a while

“Freaky” – “Ah, freak out!  Le freak, c’est Chic.  Freak out!” – Chic, “Le Freak” (1978) Vince Vaughn stars in director Christopher Landon’s “Freaky”, and a first glance, perhaps the “Swingers” (1996), “Old School” (2003),  “Wedding Crashers” (2005) actor is caught up in a comic, twisted role play with Owen Wilson, Rachel McAdams, and Heather Graham. Well, he is involved with a role play, but in an unexpectedly way.  Vaughn channels his inner Barbara Harris and his surprising turn as Norman Bates in Gus Van Sant’s “Psycho” (1998) to portray…

‘The Climb’ ascends to hilarious heights

“The Climb” – “In order to get people to love you, you’ve got to get some people to hate you.”  – Robert Braathe Kyle (Kyle Marvin) and Mike (Michael Angelo Covino) are pals. More than pals, these two 30-somethings are BFFs, and in fact, Mike is Kyle’s best man.  Kyle is marrying Ava (Judith Godreche), who is French, and all three – and presumably, family and other friends – are in France for the wedding. Happy days are here! As the movie opens, Mike, an avid cyclist, invites Kyle on…

Movie of the Week: ‘Searching for Sugar Man’

AHFW’s Movie of the Week isn’t a feature but a documentary, a remarkable one.  We urge you to see “Searching for Sugar Man”! “Searching for Sugar Man” (2012) – Director Malik Bendjelloul’s film about folk singer Sixto Rodriguez won the Best Documentary Oscar in February 2013, and this critic thought “Searching for Sugar Man” was the best film – feature or doc – of 2012.   Who is Sixto Rodriguez?  He made two albums in 1970 and 1971, respectively, but this talented singer-songwriter’s career didn’t take off in the U.S.  It…