Rog's Movie Viewpoint

Trying to save his Arizona ranch, the last thing loner and ex-Marine Jim Hanson (Liam Neeson) needs is more trouble. When he encounters migrants Rosa (Teresa Ruiz) and her 11-year-old son Miguel (Jacob Perez) running from drug cartel assassins, more trouble comes his way. Promising Rosa he will get Miguel to relatives in Chicago, the hardened Hanson and the young fugitive reluctantly take a dangerous road trip. An unlikely friendship develops as the killers, led by relentless Mauricio (Juan Pablo Raba), get closer. With Liam Neeson the main attraction, a full-blown action thriller is expected. But this latest attempt at making a modern western is surprisingly short on action and thrills. Director Robert Lorenz, who helmed the Clint Eastwood baseball drama "Trouble with the Curve", spends most of this film's length on drama and emotion. Mr. Neeson is up to the task, but this is not what the fans look forward to with a title like "The Marksman". The screenplay by

A few years after the tragic death of their son, retired sheriff George Blackledge (Kevin Costner) and his wife Margaret (Diane Lane) face another change in life. Daughter-in-law Lorna (Kayli Carter) remarries and takes their only grandson away from them. The Blackledges leave their Montana ranch and head for the Dakotas to find their grandchild, who now resides with controlling matriarch Blanche Weboy (Lesley Manville) and her vicious clan. After the Weboys refuse to let mother and child go, George and Margaret prepare for a deadly confrontation. Striking emotional drama and a powerful cast highlight this intense modern western. Based on Larry Watson's novel of the same name, director/screenwriter Thomas Bezucha ("The Family Stone") has created an imposing portrayal of family, loss and determination. It follows the structure of "High Noon": character-driven, with the bulk of action at the end. The deliberate slow-pacing allows the main characters to develop whi

As a snowplow driver and recently named Citizen of the Year in a Rocky Mountains resort town, Nels Coxman (Liam Neeson) leads a good life with wife Grace (Laura Dern). But when their son is found dead, he becomes distant from his spouse and is obsessed with eliminating those responsible. The body count begins to rise as Nels works his way up the chain - leading to violent drug kingpin Viking (Tom Bateman) and a final confrontation that includes a rival gang. This grisly revenge drama is laced with dark-edged humor. Based on the 2014 Norwegian film "In Order of Disappearance" (original title "Kraftidioten") starring Stellan Skarsgård, the loose remake feels

David Dunn (Bruce Willis), a security guard with super powers, seeks to put an end to the killing spree of Kevin Wendell Crumb (James McAvoy), a murderer with multiple personalities controlled by The Beast. A deadly encounter between the two gets them captured and sent to an asylum under the care of psychiatrist Dr. Ellie Staple (Sarah Paulson). Another patient, Elijah Price/Mr. Glass (Samuel L. Jackson), has a connection to the new residents that could have devastating results. Director/writer M. Night Shyamalan's latest big screen effort is

Will Sawyer (Dwayne Johnson), a former war vet and FBI Hostage Rescue Team leader, evaluates security for skyscrapers. While assessing China's tallest and safest high-tech structure, fire erupts and he is blamed for starting it. A desperate Will must clear his name and rescue his family, trapped in the blazing building where they are staying. Some bad guys get in the way. Brainless action dominates this derivative thriller. Dwayne Johnson grins and grimaces his way through an array of outlandish stunts, assisted by

Thrown out by her boyfriend (Dan Stevens) for being an alcoholic and out of work, Gloria (Anne Hathaway) heads back to her family's small-town home for a change in life. She becomes a waitress at her childhood friend Oscar's (Jason Sudeikis) bar and spends the after-hours drinking with Oscar  and his buddies Garth (Tim Blake Nelson) and Joel (Austin Stowell). One day, she awakens with a hangover to news reports that a giant creature has attacked Seoul. This monster appears each night at the same time, makes weird gestures and disappears in a cloud of lightning. Gloria soon realizes that the creature is

Interracial couple Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) and Rose (Allison Williams) take their dating to the next level: a weekend getaway to meet her parents. The rural estate of Missy (Catherine Keener) and Dean (Bradley Whitford) seems peaceful and they appear to welcome him into their family. But some startling discoveries give Chris a sense of danger and the need to get out. Heightened suspense and a gripping story make this a top-grade thriller. First-time director Jordan Peele, comedy partner of Keegan-Michael Key, proves with this movie that he can give up his day job. He also wrote this film, which takes the horror genre to a new level. Peele has much to say about society and race with an