The Salvation (2014)

Wow, do they ever do a great job setting up the bad guys. Pure evil. The Walking Dead fans will cringe at the similarities to Negan. It’s tough watching this table get set for the battle between our Danish immigrant heroes and the American outlaw villains. Twas a hefty price paid when the dust finally settled on the last henchman.

Rating: B-

Jack Reacher (2012)

This is one shade of a character Tom Cruise has played a number of times. It’s a comfortable leather jacket he feels is at home in, like the one Jack Reacher wears in the film. The plot, of what I can only believe is the first installment of a new movie franchise, is nothing special. Despite that, I remained engaged the entire film. It’s a slick production. I’m more than happy to give up my time in exchange for an above average action flick.

Rating: C+

Black Snake Moan (2007)

This movie defies classification. If I were hard pressed to come up with one, I guess I'd call it a musical. The blues it contains are fantastic. Sam Jackson put in some serious time to get his playing and voice up to par, and it showed. This is a performance he should be very proud of.

Another thing I really liked was the imagery. It's a beautifully shot film—my favorite being the club scene towards the end. This film is raw emotion. The script is unusual to say the least, but it works. Performances are right on, thanks to the skillful direction of Craig Brewer. If you enjoyed his Hustle & Flow as much as I did, this is a must see.

Rating: B+