It’s the weekend again, and that means Film Focus. Here’s Mike Laidman with what’s new in local theaters.



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It’s always nice to see a big movie with big stars succeed - and I don’t mean just at the box office. All too often big-budget flicks are assumed to be good fun, but to shy away from real drama, real emotions, and real heart.

This week’s Deepwater Horizon stands out from the crowd with excellent reviews all-round. And next, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter rounds out this long-lived series, which debuted back in 2002. Let’s join Milla Jovovich for her last stand against the undead - a stand that began 15 long years ago.

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Mike Laidman

Welcome to another edition of Film Focus. I’m Mike Laidman.

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Deepwater Horizon (2016, Peter Berg)
Dramatization of the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster.

On April 20th, 2010, one of the world's largest man-made disasters occurred on the Deepwater Horizon in the Gulf of Mexico. This story honors the brave men and women whose heroism saved many on board, and change everyone's lives forever.
The movie is able to take this sensitive subject matter and give it the respect that it deserves. It makes effective use of its titular man-made disaster to deliver an uncommonly serious -- yet still suitably gripping -- action thriller. There is tension, there is compassion. Viewers are transported to the oil rig on that fateful day, and the emotions and sense of foreboding are palpable.

The filmmakers were truly walking a tightrope as they put this one to screen. How to properly portray the courage and sacrifice of the men and women on beard while also making a movie with enough action and thrills to justify a 100 million $ + budget. The results speak for themselves. If you’re looking for an action movie with real heart, then look no further: this is your ticket to ride for this weekend.


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Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (2017, Paul W.S. Anderson)
What follows after Resident Evil: Retribution.

Picking up immediately after the events in Resident Evil: Retribution, super soldier Alice, now stripped of her psychic powers, is the only survivor of what was meant to be humanity's final stand against the undead. Now, she must return to where the nightmare began - The Hive in Raccoon City, where the Umbrella Corporation is gathering its forces for a final strike against the only remaining survivors of the apocalypse. Forming alliances and rallying survivors in Raccoon City, prepare for a climactic battle against the Umbrella Corporation and its ravenous hordes of the undead.

Based off of the popular video game franchise of the same name, this is the 6th installment in the series. It’s bloody and relentless, with the action coming in seemingly endless waves. This finale tries to do a bit more than the others to focus on the story, which is noticeable and appreciated, but don’t expect miracles from a franchise based off video games about hunting zombies.