Genre: Comedy, Romance

Year: 2011

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Jenna Fischer, Christina Applegate, Nicky Whelan

Director: Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly

My Review: Written (in part) and directed by the Farrelly brothers (Peter and Bobby). Starring Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Christina Applegate, Jenna Fischer and others. The movie's title equals the entire story. Hall Pass = A week off from marriage to do whatever you want without consequences. Rick & Fred (Owen Wilson and Jason Sudeikis) play two married dudes who are constantly checking out other women. When their wives get sick and tired of their chauvinistic attitudes, they grant them a 'Hall Pass' - If you've seen the trailers for this movie, you've seen the entire movie. There really isn't any reason to watch the entire movie. The plot is just as shallow as the directors - Why do I keep watching their movies? The Farrelly Brothers direct 'Click Bait' movies. Often exploitative, always shallow (have you seen Shallow Hall?), their movie appeal to the lowest of our emotions. If you're looking for a 1 hour and 45 minute lobotomy, you've found the correct movie. You will chuckle, maybe laugh, but ultimately, your life will be an hour and forty five minutes shorter. The only redeeming feature of this movie? The nudity and the hot actresses… I suck. This movie gets a 2 out of 5.

Summary: A couple of married guys are always looking at other women. Their wives are fed up with their behavior, and grant them a 'hall pass': a week off their marriage allowing them to do anything. But the guys take their time and their week is almost up. What they don't realize is that at the same time their wives make connections of their own.

Genre: Thriller, Crime, Drama, Mystery

Year: 2014

Country: USA

Rating:

Starring: Jeremy Renner, Robert Patrick, Jena Sims, Robert Pralgo, Hajji Golightly

Director: Michael Cuesta

My Review: A 'true story' based upon the journalist (Gary Webb) who investigated (in the 90s) the CIA's role in the funding of the Nicaragua 'Freedom Fighters'. Without 'official' financing, the CIA decided that it made sense (in the 80s) to purchase and sell cocaine to Americans in order to fund the Contras. Screenplay by Peter Landesman (Also wrote screenplays and directed: Parkland, Concussion, Mark Felt: The man who brought down the White House) is based upon books (Kill the Messenger & Dark Alliance) by Nick Schou and Gary Webb. Directed by Michael Cuesta. Starring Jeremy Renner, Robert Patrick, Jena Sims and others. This biography follows the dramatic twists and turns of Gary Webb. Working for the San Jose Mercury Times, Gary is investigating the trail of money which connects the CIA with the cocaine epidemic of the 80s with the Contra rebels of Nicaragua. Doing your job can be dangerous if you're a journalist; even more so if you decide to investigate the CIA's shady underside. While the CIA initiates a smear campaign against Gary, Gary digs deeper - Now defending his wife, his family, his life. It's not a theory if the conspiracy can be proven, and that's exactly what Gary did with his book. This thrilling movie deserves watching. Without people like Gary, these high crimes would go unchecked and forgotten. "National security and crack cocaine in the same sentence. Does that not sound strange to you?" Excellent acting, direction and a story so powerful it can't be ignored. I give this a 4 out of 5. See also: American Made.

Summary: Based on the true story of journalist Gary Webb. The film takes place in the mid-1990s, when Webb uncovered the CIA's past role in importing huge amounts of cocaine into the U.S. that was aggressively sold in ghettos across the country to raise money for the Nicaraguan Contras' rebel army. Despite enormous pressure not to, Webb chose to pursue the story and went public with his evidence, publishing the series "Dark Alliance". As a result he experienced a vicious smear campaign fueled by the CIA. At that point Webb found himself defending his integrity, his family, and his life.

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Thriller

Year: 1960

Country: UK

Rating:

Starring: Dennis Lotis (Richard Barlow), Christopher Lee (Alan Driscoll), Patricia Jessel (Elizabeth Selwyn / Mrs. Newless), Tom Naylor (Bill Maitland), Betta St. John (Patricia Russell), Venetia Stevenson (Nan Barlow), Valentine Dyall (Jethrow Keane), Ann Beach (Lottie), Norman MacOwan (Reverend Russell (as Norman Macowan)), Fred Johnson (The Elder), James Dyrenforth (Garage Attendant (as Jimmy Dyrenforth)), Maxine Holden (Sue), William Abney (Policeman), Andy Alston (Villager Lighting Pyre (uncredited)), Ted Carroll (Coven Member (uncredited)), Nickolas Grace (Minor Role (uncredited)), Anthony Lang (Coven Member (uncredited))

Director: John Llewellyn Moxey

My Review: Black & White film that came paired with another horror movie (Horror Hotel). Screenplay by George Baxt. Directed by John Llewellyn Moxey (Downfall (1964), Strangler's Web (1965) - Best known for television shows and made for TV movies: The Avengers, The Saint, Mannix, Dial M for Murder, The Night Stalker (led to the TV series: Kolchak the Night Stalker)). Starring Patricia Jessel, Dennis Lotis, Christopher Lee and others. This low budget production (British production) is quite a thriller. Some of the camera shots and angles are outstanding. The acting is so, so. Patricia Jessel plays an excellent screaming damsel in distress. Nan Barlow (played by Patricia Jessel) is a young student on vacation in New England. She decides to stay at a hotel rumored to have connections to witch craft. The sleepy town of Whitewood, Massachusetts hides a sinister secret beneath the Raven't Inn hotel. Nan should have heeded the warnings of the minister who declared "Leave Whitewood tonight. I beg of you. Leave Whitewood before it's too late!" The movie is quite a chilling production. Dark, foreboding and creepy, the soundtrack definitely helps to instill a sense of dread while watching this dreamlike black and white movie. If only this reproduction were better quality. I give the film a 3 out of 5.

Summary: A young coed (Venetia Stevenson playing Nan Barlow) uses her winter vacation to research a paper on witchcraft in New England. Her professor recommends that she spend her time in a small village called Whitewood. He originally cam from that village so he also recommends she stay at the "Raven's Inn," run by a Mrs. Newlis. She gets to the village and notices some weird happenings, but things begin to happen in earnest when she finds herself "marked" for sacrifice by the undead coven of witches. It seems that the innkeeper is actually the undead spirit of Elizabeth Selwyn, and the "guests" at the inn are the other witches who have come to celebrate the sacrifice on Candalmas Eve. As one of them said when Nan walked away, "HE will be PLEASED."