“The Possession”
The film is proof a movie can be scary without having to resort to an onslaught of blood, guts and profanity that would earn it an R rating.
Director Ole Bornedal gets the maximum chills from gloomy weather, a foreboding soundtrack, lighting trickery, decent special effects and acting performances that sell each startle. And it still comes in with a PG-13 rating.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan continues to show his versatility. He’s gone from the outlandish superhero Comedian in “Watchmen” to the suave nightclub owner in “Magic City” to this believable father. His performance helps make the film work.
Grade: B
“Won’t Back Down”
This feels like a Lifetime film that lacks clarity. It bounces through hot-button issues with such randomness that the central message ends up muddied. Buried under all of the distracting elements is a gem of an idea. But the numerous tangled plots leave this story of class struggle incomplete.
At the heart is the story of two mothers (Viola Davis, Maggie Gyllenhaal) who decide to transform their children’s failing inner-city Pittsburgh school.
They start the long bureaucratic process of taking over the school so they can run it, despite resistance from the faculty, administration, parents and the local teachers union.
Grade: C
Also new
“Taken 2”: Liam Neeson stars in this sequel to the 2008 release “Taken.”
“I Am Bruce Lee”: Documentary on the life of the legendary martial artist.
“Jackie Chan: Crime Story / The Protector”: DVD includes two Jackie Chan films.
Rick Bently, The Fresno Bee (Fresno, Calif.)
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