Movie reviews of Sandy Schaefer

2016, Drama, History, War

A grisly WWII movie that excels as an action/thriller, but has mixed success in realizing its loftier thematic ambitions.

2016, Drama, Suspense, Mystery

Unlikely to earn the Robert Langdon movie franchise any new fans – and isn’t worth the long wait that it took to get made.

2016, Horror, Suspense

More solid horror film than soulless franchise continuation.

2016, Drama

A work of passion-fueled filmmaking and messy storytelling that struggles to make the grand statement it aims for.

2016, Drama

A heavy-handed variation of the Disney inspirational sports drama formula, but a sincere and well-meaning one too.

2016, Action, Comedy, Crime

A disposable and middling off-kilter heist comedy that squanders its cast’s talents on subpar material.

2016, Drama, Action

Effectively turns the real-world disaster into an action/drama that’s more disturbing than thrilling to watch.

2016, Comedy, Love

A perfectly enjoyable addition to the Bridget Jones franchise, if not a particularly meaningful one.

2016, Drama, History

Amounts to a respectable yet unmemorable account of real-life heroism, despite fine performances and capable direction.

2016, Drama, Love

Strong performances and beautiful cinematography elevate, yet soap opera contrivances and uneven writing hold it back.

2016, Drama, Comedy, Crime

A solid movie, but only partly succeeds at blending Todd Phillips’ brand of bro-comedy with social/political commentary.

2016, Drama, Western, Suspense, Crime

Makes for a contemplative dramatic thriller that is fueled by great performances and strong direction.

2016, Drama, Action, Suspense

Offers solid genre film entertainment, but works better as a character piece than as a pulpy thrill ride.

2016, Adventure, Fantasy

Succeeds as a dramatic reimagining of its predecessor – giving rise to a soulful modern fairy tale in the process.

2016, Action, Suspense

A serviceable Bourne franchise installment, but an uninventive and unnecessary epilogue to the original Bourne movie trilogy.

2016, Horror, Suspense, Mystery

Makes for a lean and mean scare-delivering machine, but is less effective as a supernatural horror parable.

2016, Drama, Suspense, Crime

A stylishly crafted and well-acted dramatic thriller, but breaks little new ground despite fascinating subject matter.

2016, Adventure, Animation, Comedy

Isn’t a mold-breaker for animated movies, but it’s a consistently funny and inspired madcap romp nonetheless.

2016, Adventure, Action

Too overstuffed and rough around the edges to fly high.

2016, Adventure, Fantasy

A technically impressive adaptation of Roald Dahl’s novel – one with whimsy and heart to spare.

2016, Drama, Action, History, War

Well-crafted and tells a worthwhile story, but makes for a better history lesson than moviegoing experience.

2016, Horror, Suspense, Mystery

A stylishly surreal, but hollow, horror/thriller – and another Nicolas Winding Refn film bound to divide audiences.

2016, Action, Comedy, Mystery

Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson’s comedic chemistry save it from being a passable, yet forgettable, mainstream action/comedy.

2016, Horror, Suspense, Mystery

While it isn’t as innovative a horror film throwback as its predecessor, it’s an excellent ghost story in its own right.