"Whole Lotta Sole"
Starring: Brendan Fraser
Directed by: Terry George
Terry George's "Whole Lotta Sole" may be the first hostage film that makes the audience smile more than cringe. Viewers can't help but root for Jimbo, the penniless young father who holds up a fish market in Belfast, Northern Ireland to pay off his debts to the local gangster. The robbery goes awry, however, and Jimbo finds himself holed up in a local curio shop with a random assortment of hostages, including an Ethiopian refugee, his baby son, two young stowaways and the man who could be his father. The actors keep their performances light and humorous, and co-writers George and Thomas Gallagher's script ensures that the story never takes itself too seriously, which is the film's triumph.
"Deadfall"
Starring: Eric Bana, Olivia Wilde
Directed by: Stefan Ruzowitzky
"Deadfall" is an action-packed film that follows theives after their first heist and their attempt to reach the Michigan-Canada border. Their story intertwines with a former boxer who is also in trouble with the law, bringing crime and murder to a usually-sleepy border town. With dramatic twists at every corner, the movie is sure to leave you at the edge of your seat. The film aslo delves into an exploration of family bonds and the ties that bring people together, leaving the audience simultaneously rooting for an cringing at Bana's portrayal of a domineering older brother.
"Struck by Lightning"
Starring: Chris Colfer
Directed by: Brian Dannelly
Chris Colfer - best known for his portrayal of Kurt on "Glee"- not only stars in this movie, he wrote it. While it sticks to the high school setting in which we are used to seeing Colfer, his character here is generally unlikable and overbearing, a far cry from his best-known role. The film paints him as an ambitious young student journalist with aspirations to make it in the real world as he struggles with an absentee father, a pill-popping mother and a granmother who does not remember him. Beginning with the death of Colfer's character, the film has its dark moments, though it can generally be seen as comedic commentary on high school in a small town.
