As autumn arrives and the leaves begin to change, so does the types of films that arrive in the theater. This is the onset of “actor season,” when better films supplant the weeds of summer. These five are out now and all five feature great actors.
I use a “5 finger” scoring system, with 5 being superb, 4 excellent, 3 just a movie, 2 suitable only for free viewing and, since decorum prevents the use of a single digit, a film rated a complete zero describes at “Dreaded Fist of Badness.” Since it is almost impossible to make a truly awful film that manages to get released, Fist films would best be rewarded by the audience getting to pummel all those involved who foist such dreck inside our wallets.
Here are September’s five:
The Equalizer – 3 fingers, almost 4. Denzel Washington’s Charles Bronson-like vigilante film breaks no new ground other than to showcase why this brilliant actor is a gift to movie fans everywhere.
Gone Girl – 4 fingers. A riveting story and Rosamund Pike’s Oscar nomination-worthy performance offset the film dragging 20 minutes too long and, while somewhat flawed in execution, it still entertains fans of the book as well as those like me who haven’t read it.
The Skeleton Twins – 4 fingers. Bill Hader and Kriten Wiig’s outstanding teamwork make this sad story of grown twins emotionally fractured by their father’s suicide well worth seeing and worth the 10 year wait to get the film made.
My Old Lady – 2 fingers. Pairing Maggie Smith with Kevin Kline and Kristen Scott-Thomas cries out for more than this at times plodding dramedy manages to deliver.
A Walk Among the Tombstones – 3 fingers. Liam Neeson gives another strong tough guy performance as a former cop determined to take the law into his own hands; but we leave the theater wondering if he has typecast himself so much that everything he does now is blurred in the same colander.
Those are your current quickies. Support your favorite actor . . . and see you at the theater.