"The Stepfather"

Dylan Walsh
Sela Ward
Penn Badgley
Amber Heard
Sherry Springfield
Paige Turco
Nancy Linehan Charles
Marcuis Harris
Braeden Lemasters





PG13           101min           2009


Michael Harding (Penn Badgley) returns home from military school to find his mother Susan (Sela Ward), happily in love with a man known as David Harris (Dylan Walsh). He seems like the perfect father and husband to everyone - except Michael, who suspects that he isn't quite the man he seems to be.

First off this is a remake from the 80's and it had two sequels. Never saw so I can't comment on them. Here's what I do know. This “The Stepfather” was creepier than most and having experience something similar they can go off quicker than him.

Dylan Walsh plays this psychologically damage man to a perfection. There's a part where he asks toward the end “Who am I here?” that one question tells you everything you need to know about this character in nutshell. You see the edge of this character but everything he does can be explain and rationalized, even-though they are the action of an irrational person. What does that say about man?

The acting in “The Stepfather” was above par and I think that helped it from becoming one of those common psych-thriller. There was a lot of build before anything unravels. Which made it all the more sinister. Overall with the acting this wasn't that bad of time. It's not one of the best thrillers I've seen but it did at moments give off a “Disturbia” feeling.

I give “The Stepfather” 3 out of 5.

"Law Abiding Citizen"

Jamie Foxx
Gerard Butler
Bruce McGill
Colm Meaney
Leslie Bibb
Regina Hall
Michael Irby
Gregory Itzin
Christian Stolte
Annie Corley
Richard Portnow






R           108min           2009



A brilliant sociopath who orchestrates a series of high-profile murders that grip the city of Philadelphia - all from inside his jail cell - and the prosecutor assigned to his case who realizes he is the only one who can end the reign of terror. Written by Overture Films


Butler's performance had me gripped and rooting for him. Most would call him the villain of the story but I found him to be an anti-hero. He is charismatic and makes valid points. I felt that Foxx's Rice was too arrogant and never truly learned his lessons. Its more lip service to Butler's Shelton.

I think people will walk away from this film missing the point, Shelton was trying to make. I think people are too jaded to get the message. If Shelton were a real life person and had held Philadelphia in that kind of siege, it would have greater impact.

I was entertain from beginning to end. This was one of the better written thrillers. This films stays together from beginning to end. The ending made sense even if I didn't agree with it.

“Law Abiding Citizen” is a tour de force. Its one of those film that reminds me of that John Travolta speech at the beginning of “Swordfish”. If you don't remember or did not pay attention, go back and watch it. That speech and explosive are worth the viewing.


I give “Law Abiding Citizen” 5 out of 5.

"The Rebound"

Catherine Zeta-Jones
Justin Bartha
Lynn Whitfield
Art Garfunkel
Joanna Gleason
Jake Cherry
Kelly Gould











R           97min           2010


25-year-old Aram Finklestein (Justin Bartha) is hired as babysitter by 40-year-old mother Sandy (Catherine Zeta-Jones) for her son Frank and her daughter. They start to love each other.

This one of the best romantic comedies I've seen all year. It was modern breaking many of the stereotypes out there today. This is a movie that felt real and made me laugh when I needed to laugh. It never felt like a fake relationship.

If you did not know, “cougars” have become main stream and popular. Ladies I do use the term affectionately. This was a that has not been seen in many romantic comedies. I hope the success of this film will open the door to more “cougar rom-coms”. Because God knows Older men and younger women have been done to death.

This is a comedy that works the comedy in realistically. The situations of life that are funny. It never tried to hard to be funny it just was.

This is one of the more realistic relationship I have seen on screen. From the development, climax, and to its demises it all seem real. Even the rekindling of the relationship seem real. It left you feeling hopeful for the relationship but never telling you how this relationship was going to work. Its for you to decide.

I give “The Rebound” 4 out of 5.