“Woman of the Hour.” / “The Royal Hotel.” / “Crisis.”

“Woman of the Hour” (2023, Netflix) crime thriller directed by and stars Anna Kendrick, based on the true story of serial killer Rodney Alcala and his 1978 appearance on the television show “The Dating Game” in the midst of his murder spree. 

       A lot could have been done to make this movie more dramatically engaging but it simply fell into stereotypical lumbering recitation. No flesh, no fire. 

       Anna Kendrick as game show contestant Cheryl Bradshaw lacks the eager tension and fierce cool that the character could have projected. Daniel Zovatto as the serial killer woefully tried to look cute but lost (or confused) a hint of evil that lurked in the Rodney persona. Tony Hale as the game show host is both bored and boring. 🎥💻📽

“The Royal Hotel” (2023, Hulu) Australian psychological thriller, inspired by the 2016 documentary “Hotel Coolgardie” by Pete Gleeson. My easy click was due to Julie Garner. Still, she’s in my fantasy vibe as Ruth Langmore in “Ozark.” She doesn’t get to snipe those bladed curses here but still some shades of Ruth. 

       Plot: Two young American backpackers, Hanna and Liv, are travelling through Australia. After running out of money while partying in Sydney, they take up an employment agency's offer to work as bartenders at the Royal Hotel, a pub in a remote outback mining town. Ms Garner is Hanna and Jessica Henwick, equally engaging and eye-candy, as Liv. Plus add the usually effective Hugo Weaving as pub owner Billy. And then we have a bunch of feeling macho men with female names or just weird names: Dolly, Matty, Torsten, and Teeth. And a young actor who always irritates me, Toby Wallace. 

       Although the story is problematic for its implausible flow, for some reason, I enjoyed it. Crazy, isn’t it? Or maybe it’s all about Julie Garner. That’s it! 🎥💻📽

“Crisis” (2021, Amazon Prime) crime thriller, which deals with fentanyl addiction. Gary Oldman leads an ensemble cast, which includes Armie Hammer, Greg Kinnear, Michelle Rodriguez, Luke Evans, and Johnny's daughter Lily-Rose Depp.

       This movie was the highest-grossing independent film at the U.S. box office in its opening weekend, earning. It was also the highest-grossing film playing in limited release that time. Etc etcetera.

       I am not saying that “Crisis” is a badly-made movie that tackled a timely scourge. It is not too bad at all but not what I rate as A. Fine ensemble acting although Evangeline Lilly as a recovering addict avenging the death of her son is a little bit overacting. Mr Oldman is good old Gary, always awesome. 

       But the entire exercise is nothing but derivative of what we already saw. The writing lacks some imagination and, although the snow/ski opening sequence offered some coolness, the ensuing scenes are just what are expected. As I said, not too bad but not goodah either. 🎥💻📽