Final 'Jurassic' parks all over the place; 'Hustle' hits some three-pointers

Friday, June 10, 2022

Final 'Jurassic' parks all over the place; 'Hustle' hits some three-pointers

What words can possibly describe yet another theme park sequel, "Jurassic World Dominion"?

Long? Check. Lame? Yep (especially since its returning dinosaurs are now too plentiful to inspire much awe). And seriously tame? You betcha (and that's not even considering the endless number of times that Chris Pratt, back as courageous dino trainer Owen Grady, reaches out his left hand as if to pet one of his favorite beasts).

The mixed bag of "B"-movie dynamics might remind some of westerns (lassos and horses), jungle adventures (poachers), creature features (giant bugs) and huge-monster flicks, complete with ancient '50s-era tropes to allow the sizable "Dominion" cast to either run from danger or, perhaps, keep posing en masse for photo opps.

By the way, even with the return of Laura Dern, Sam Neill and Jeff Goldblum, all as environment friendly scientists from early franchise films, the only real human scene-stealer becomes genuine star-in-the-making DeWanda Wise ("The Harder They Fall"), as a mercenary pilot with a conscience.

Meanwhile, dino protector Claire Dearing (Bryce Dallas Howard), back again to double as action heroine and Grady's love interest, gets one of the few truly memorable moments by going underwater to elude a giant predator. On the other end of the congested proceedings, the corporate villain of the piece -- or, at least, an oddly cast Campbell Scott portraying the closest thing to one -- has liittle to do but look like the poster boy for bewilderment.

Truth be told, despite the huge and well-deserving success of Steven Spielberg's triple Oscar-winning original a full 30 summers ago, "Jurassic Park" has been slowly melting in the dark ever since. Maybe this alleged "epic conclusion" finally -- and thankfully -- really will put a lid on it.

Rated "PG-13" by MPAA: intense sequences of some violence and language; 2:26; $ $ and 1/2 out of $5

Adam Sandler remains on his game as producer and star of "Hustle," a by-the-book basketball story that hoopsters will embrace and others may simply tolerate.

Actually, it's the comic-turned actor still doing his thing of busting chops, all the while playing a hard-working, ever-traveling pro scout trying to achieve a coaching dream and, thus, spend more time with his family. The husband-wife partnership offered by Sandler and Queen Latifah forms a surprisingly strong element here in the midst of the former's keen desire to make a star out of a young man he discovers during a pick-up game in Spain.

The performance from current Utah Jazz power forward Juancho Hernangomez, as Sandler's pet project, is a pivotally fine one, and Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards stands out, too, as a trash-talking hotshot competing for first-round draft glory.

Otherwise, an assortment of NBA stars, legends and connections make mostly quick appearances. A few among many range from current Slovenia homeboy Luka Doncic, to all-timer Allen Iverson still "talkin' 'bout practice," to Kenny "the Jet" Smith (swell as a friendly sports agent), and even wealthy superfan James Goldstein showing up to watch a secret game only a handful of insiders know about. (And, I still say that guy looks a lot like late, great rocker Tom Petty.)

("Hustle" remains in a few select theaters and is streaming now exclusively on Netflix.)

Rated "R" by MPAA: for language; 1:58; $ $ $ out of $5

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Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse ($ $ $ $ and 1/2)

The Little Mermaid ($ $ $ $)

Fast X ($ $ and 1/2) "Even with four Oscar winners, furious action rules one more time."

Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie ($ $ $ $)

Book Club: The Next Chapter ($ $ and 1/2)

Guardians of the Galaxy Volume 3 ($ $ $ and 1/2)

Discontinued ($ $ $)

Peter Pan & Wendy ($ $ and 1/2)

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret ($ $ $ and 1/2)

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I Like Movies ($ $ $ $)

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Moving On ($ $ and 1/2)

Champions ($ $ $ and 1/2)

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Creed III ($ $ and 1/2) "Director/star Jordan hits hard; Screenplay still needs more punch."

Cocaine Bear ($ $) "Love the wild title predator, not the movie."

Ant-Man and the Wasp ($ $) "Crawls instead of buzzes."

Sharper ($ $ $) "Not bad, but shoulda been, uh, even sharper."

MINI-REVIEW: Knock at the Cabin ($ $ and 1/2) "This alleged thriller from noted supernaturalist M. Night Shyamalan, a man famous for movies with plot surprises, can boast an original twist of its own even before the projector begins to work. That's because it is only the second screenplay director Shyamalan has not penned alone, here joining forces with a couple of first-time feature writers in adapting a Paul Tremblay novel ("The Cabin at the End of the World") for the big screen. Maybe that's why 'Knock' becomes more of a slow burner than a persistently riveting take, despite a quartet of home invaders, led by a nice-guy (and occasionally creepy) schoolteacher portrayed by big Dave Bautista. Their chilling message to the cabin-dwelling family of three: Please help us save the world by killing one of your own. Unsettling? Yes, of course it is. A thoroughly engaging watch? Not in this Anthropocene."

Living ($ $ $ $)

The Son ($ $)

Women Talking ($ $ $ and 1/2)

M3GAN ($ $ $)

A Man Called Otto ($ $ $ and 1/2)

The Pale Blue Eye ($ $ $ and 1/2)

I Wanna Dance with Somebody ($ $ and 1/2)

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Babylon ($ $ $)

Puss in Boots: The Last Wish ($ $ $ and 1/2)
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Avatar: The Way of Water ($ $ $ $)

Nanny ($ $ and 1/2)

Empire of Light ($ $ and 1/2)

Emancipation ($ $ and 1/2)
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White Noise ($ $ and 1/2)
The Inspection ($ $ $ and 1/2)

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The Swimmers ($ $ $)

Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery ($ $)
The Fabelmans ($ $ $ and 1/2)

Spirited ($ $ and 1/2)

Devotion ($ $ $ and 1/2)
She Said ($ $ $ $ and 1/2)

The Menu ($ $ and 1/2)

The Wonder ($ $ $ $)
Black Panther: Wakanda Forever ($ $ $)
Good Night Oppy ($ $ $ and 1/2)

MINI-REVIEW: Causeway ($ $ $ $) "Jennifer Lawrence and Brian Tyree Henry knock it out of the park as a pair of wounded souls looking for peace and contentment in the Big Easy. Finding anything close to such security, of course, appears rather difficult considering the pains of personal experience each has been confronting. Two-time Oscar-winner Lawrence speaks volumes here even when she's not saying much, while Tony- and Emmy-Award nominee Henry soars in the role of newfound therapeutic friend trying to heal himself. The little treasure from first-time feature director Lila Neugebauer is streaming exclusively now on AppleTV+."

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The Return of Tanya Tucker ($ $ $ and 1/2)

The Banshees of Inisherin ($ $ $ $ and 1/2)

MINI-REVIEW: Armageddon Time ($ $) "If not for the performance of Anthony Hopkins, as a smart and loving grandfather, this alleged '80s-era memoir from writer/director James Gray would disgrace parents, teachers and just about every adult surrounding the major brat it centers upon. That would be a creepy 12-year-old (Banks Repeta), who simply becomes dreadfully unlikable, thanks to each malfeasant move he makes. Talk about revisionist history, "Armageddon" also creates an assortment of fictitious moments -- such as bringing in two apparent members of the Trump family -- simply to pin blame on events occurring then for the political meanderings going on now. Yeah, right."

The Retaliators ($ $ $ and 1/2)

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Petite Maman ($ $ $ and 1/2)

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MINI-REVIEW: All My Puny Sorrows ($ $ $ $ and 1/2) "This small Canadian indie will make you laugh and cry with its intelligent and touching story of a family now mostly consisting of five women trying to avoid one more tragedy in their lives. Famous sisters played by Sarah Gadon (as a world-class pianist) and the exceptional Alison Pill (a novelist) are at the center of it all, along with always-solid Mare Winningham, as their roll with the punches mom. Michael McGowan's direction and script -- particularly filled with brilliant dialogue -- offer plenty to ponder, as well."

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READ MORE FROM JOHN HERE AT TIFF 47
Spielberg memoir brings home top 'People's' prize
CIFF vets find Gravitas and indie choices in live return
Halfway home but 10-day film feast still has tasty menu
Tribute Awards and weekend stars go live again
Cleveland meets Toronto, each with 47th fests on tap
North America's largest film showcase begins Sept. 8

2022's Top 10 movies (in alphabetical order):

All My Puny Sorrows (mini review above); Avatar: The Way of Water; The Banshees of Inisherin; Cha Cha Real Smooth; Emily the Criminal; Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues (mini review above); She Said; TÁR; Triangle of Sadness

2021 Top 10 movies (in alphabetical order): Belfast, Coda, Cyrano, A Hero, Jockey, Licorice Pizza, The Lost Daughter, The Rescue, The Tragedy of Macbeth, West Side Story

No Top 10 films in 2020 (Covid pandemic)

See John's Top 10 films of 2019

See John's Top 10 films of 2018

See John's Top 10 films of 2017

See John's Top 10 films of 2016

See John's Top 10 films of 2015

See John's Top 10 films of 2014

See John's Top 10 films of 2013

See John's Top 10 films of 2012

See John's Top 10 films of 2011