My movie catch-ups continue, and this week I finally got to this tale of the LA streets. Training Day (2001) is a tense ride-along that is both entertaining and harrowing. It's no surprise this is the movie that put Denzel Washington on the map. His performance as Alonzo is what makes the whole film. Washington manages to play someone both hate-able and charming. He's got both a reserved and explosive energy that keeps you focused on him. Ethan Hawke is no slouch either, contrasting nicely with a naive, but earnest, character. Despite this film feeling of its time, it surprised me how much relevancy it had. It was probably one of the early movies to show the police in a not-so-flattering way. It's not a deep dive into the systemic issues of the police force, but it starts that conversation. All in all, this is a tense and engaging crime story that I recommend. Watch it if you haven't; this one's a Good.

I like to call movies like 'Sinister', "yell at the screen" experiences--even though none of the characters can hear you, it doesn't stop you from loudly offering up helpful tips, and advice! They never take it though, try as I might, they still always go to investigate what that loud thump was in the dark, or check out what's going on up in the attic. Why must they always do this? Right, it's a horror movie, that's just the way it is!

I avoided The Purge when it hit theatres last summer because of the mixed word of mouth . . . and my tendency to avoid going to the theatre. Strange for a critic, I know. But, with the sequel looming, I figured it was high time to catch up with this Blumhouse production. How does it rate? Stick with me! In the future, a wealthy family is held hostage for harboring the target of a murderous syndicate during the Purge, a 12-hour period in which any and all crime is legalized.

I still haven't seen the Ethan Hawke vehicle The Purge, but it was a pretty big hit on a very small budget, so logic dictates we get a sequel. The teaser for said sequel, The Purge: Anarchy, hit the web today, and we've got it for you in all it's chaotic glory. Without further adieu:

The preview for what feels like the latest in a long line of home-invasion movies surfaced today, only this one comes with a pretty high concept . We've discussed the Ethan Hawke flick The Purge before . Given the country's overcrowded prisons, the U.S. government begins to allow 12-hour periods of time in which all illegal activity is legal. During one of these free-for-alls, a family must protect themselves from a home invasion. Sound familiar? This is a cool idea for sure, and the movie looks promising, but I'm not sure playing up the home-invasion angle will sell The Purge in the wake of other flicks like You're Next .  Still, good pedigree here given this is produced by the minds behind Paranormal Activity and Sinister . And Hawke and co-star Lena Headey are usually reliable.  We'll know more when The Purge opens May 31. Source: JoBlo.com Related articles How do you fix America? By legalizing all crime for one night a year in The ...

When so many lightweight PG-13 films have permeated the horror genre it's refreshing to come across one that tries to grab you by the balls and drag you into some dark corner. Sinister attempts to do that, and mostly succeeds. A true- crime writer finds a cache of 8mm "snuff" films that suggest the murder he is currently researching is the work of a serial killer whose career dates back to the 1960s. Co-writer/director Scott Derrickson does a few things wrong but a whole lot right. On the downside, everything is too God damn dark in Sinister. Sometimes it's hard to tell what's going on. Would someone turn on a light already? Jesus ! That gripe aside, I like that Derrickson takes his time with this picture. Nothing happens quickly. The entire film is a slow burn as we discover what's going on along with Ethan Hawke 's writer. And what's going on is pretty much, well, Sinister. There's some great scares in this movie. I particularly...

Universal Studios has released the plot crunch for Platinum Dunes and Blumhouse Productions' thriller The Purge. We haven't talked about the project at all here on the site, so seems like a good time to start. Here we go: In an America wracked by crime and overcrowded prisons, the government has sanctioned an annual 12-hour period in which any and all criminal activity — including murder — becomes legal. The police can’t be called. Hospitals suspend help. It’s one night when the citizenry regulates itself without thought of punishment. On this night plagued by violence and an epidemic of crime, one family wrestles with the decision of who they will become when a stranger comes knocking. When an intruder breaks into James Sandin’s gated community during the yearly lockdown, he begins a sequence of events that threatens to tear a family apart. Now, it is up to James, his wife, Mary, and their kids to make it through the night without turning into the monsters from w...

That's right, there's not one word of dialogue or exposition uttered in the below R-rated preview for the upcoming horror flick Sinister -- a film some are calling the scariest of the year. We originally intended to review Scott Derrickson's film on our season opener, but its release was delayed until Oct. 12, so pooh on that. No worries. It looks uber creepy, so we're all over it like a fat kid on some kind of candy. Ethan Hawke stars as a true-crime novelist who discovers that a family was murdered in his new home . . . and that his family could be in the path of an evil supernatural entity. I dig this trailer a lot. It's a prime example of how sound and images play a key role in scary movies. You don't need buckets of blood to be unsettling -- although we never object to gore in The Basement -- and this trailer is unsettling. Now turn out the lights and watch!

An absorbing, gritty police drama with bursts of realistic violence. Actually the entire film, with its three intersecting stories, plays stark, honest and brutally real. And, with Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke and Wesley Snipes leading the cast, there's enough intensity and well-acted performances to fill a dozen movies. The film does have its cliched moments, but the strong cast and director Antoine Fuqua's talent for crafting high tension push the picture through them. One of the better cop films since Fuqua's own Training Day. A Good review from The Basement on this one.

Mike S. is back with another one, and I figured I (Jason) would throw my two cents into the mix. What are your thoughts about the Spierig Brothers' take on vampires? Mike S. While there are certain parts of its execution that could've been improved, I would have to say that I enjoyed Daybreakers. I really liked the film noir elements that were used for some of the camera shots, wardrobe, and tone. The use of dreary greys and blacks with chilly blue artificical light gave a nice sense of an essentially souless society. The cast was well chosen, and while not necessarily realistic, they weren't exactly cookie cutter characters, either. I especially enjoyed Sam Neill's turn as a vampire. The action when it occured was quick, thumping and well filmed. Unlike the usually clean dining of most movie vampires, these vampires are rather messy... almost like savage zombies in their feasting. The message of managing natural resources, and trying to find alternatives sourc...