By Michael C. Woody | Lake Panorama Times

“Shelter”

While Jason Statham is not anywhere close to obtaining an Oscar nomination, most of his films are action heavy with less depth to the stories than most major releases. “Shelter” is an exception to that rule. In this movie, he plays a man in hiding, living off of the coast of some wonderful ocean. One day he witnesses a boat collapse, and he goes out and manages to save a young woman from a sure drowning. This rescue brings him to the attention of the bad guys who have been trying to find where he has been hiding. The rest of the movie is him going to great lengths to avoid these bad guys and make sure that they don’t get either him or this young woman killed. “Shelter” is an above-average Jason Statham film, and it is entertaining, which is, quite frankly, a little surprising. Grade: A

“The Testament of Ann Lee” 

This is one of the year’s strangest movies. The movie stars Amanda Seyfried, who has been in a lot of good movies this year, and it tells us a true story about a woman who became the leader of the Shaker Movement. This religious movement was a spin-off from the Quakers with each having some unique rules for their congregations. I believe the Shaker Movement to be long gone, but they are still known for unique, high-quality wooden furniture. This is an interesting look at an odd splinter religion. Seyfried gives a brave performance as one of its early leaders. Grade: B+

“Melania”

This week’s other oddity is “Melania,” which gives us a well-scrubbed look at our current first lady — a former model who may or may not have found her husband, and our current president, at a Jeffrey Epstein party. According to this film, she could be one of the best first ladies. I would much rather have seen a movie that gives us a less-than-sanitized look at the woman. Her full story has to be more interesting than this movie. Grade: C

“Solo Mio” 

One of the year’s biggest surprises for me is “Solo Mio,” a Kevin James vehicle about a man preparing to marry his fiancée in Rome. No secret here; she leaves him standing on the altar and devastated. Since the trip and honeymoon were both prepaid, he stays and goes it alone. That changes when he meets a new woman. This is not your typical, silly, slapstick, Kevin James film. This man is hurting, and this woman is filling a void for him, and we just go right along with it all. It turns into a charming film and a real crowd pleaser. Grade: B+

“Dracula”

How many Dracula movies have been made? Siri tells me it is more than 170. I am not sure if that incudes this new film, which goes deeper into the story and gives us a different angle — a love story. The angle is unique and has moments, but the movie runs out of gas about three quarters in, and that’s where the silly and misplaced special effects take over. It is also when I mentally checked out. Grade: C

“Send Help” 

Horror director Sam Raimi gives us an almost unrecognizable Rachel McAdams as a nerdy assistant to a new boss (Dylan O’Brien) in “Send Help.” After being reluctantly added to a team business (golf) trip, she and the team are all but wiped out in a mid-air collision. Her boss is incapacitated, so she works to keep him alive and nurses him back to health. Without giving anything away, at this point, the film flips the table on the audience. This plot device left me shaking my head and asking, “Why”? Grade: C

“Wuthering Heights”

I grew up looking at the spine of this book in our living room bookcase, never reading it or even asking what it was about. So, here’s what I discovered: It is about a beautiful young woman and her husband whose lives are interrupted by another man who takes a serious interest in the man’s wife. This threesome is played well by three beautiful people. IMDB shows at least 20 adaptations of this literary classic. Not sure how I missed those? This adaptation has a strong cast with Margot Robbie and her suitor played by Jacob Elordi. The sex is steamy and kinky at times as these two men continue to woo this possibly insatiable young woman. The movie is well-made, well-cast and well-acted but falls flat when everyone has their clothes on. Grade: B

“GOAT”

This is an animated movie about a team of animals playing in a championship basketball game, but they have added a new player. This one is a goat, playing off of the nickname “greatest of all-time” (the GOAT). The animation is wild and crazy, and the characters are all well drawn in an over-the-top animated style, but the story is soft. Most young audiences are not going to know or care, but the adults do. For the inevitable sequel, the writers should spend a little more time on the story. Grade: C

“Crime 101” 

Every once in a while, you see a movie that you know nothing about, and it blows you away. “Crime 101” is one of those. I knew nothing about the film, other than it had a strong cast. Chris Hemsworth plays a thief angling for his last big score. Halle Berry is an insurance exec slowly falling off the corporate ladder. Barry Keoghan is an assassin on the hunt for his next target. And the always reliable Mark Ruffalo is a cop growing more disillusioned by the day. This will be on my (next) year’s “Best Of” list. Grade: A

“EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert”

This is another of those films that will blow you away. I was between high school and college delivering high-end office furniture in Sioux City the summer Elvis died. His death was announced on the radio as we parked the truck for the day. We just sat there in silence. I thought about that day as I watched Bas Luhrmann’s new Elvis concert film. It is an amazing movie and shows us a performer at the top of his fame and the top of his game. This film provided one of the most fun experiences I have had this year. Grade: A

“Scream 7”

This movie that will NOT be on any “best of” list. I saw “Scream,” “Scream 2,” “Scream 6” and now the last in the series… “Scream 7.” I found “Scream 6” mildly entertaining, but I took one step too many in watching “Scream 7.” Sue tapped out quickly so I braved it alone, and the movie started out well. Sometimes, it is amazing how quickly a movie can take a dive, but this one was really quick. It has a dumb plot, too many jump scares and acting at the level of, well, any of the second through fifth “Scream” movies. Grade: D

Michael C. Woody has been reviewing movies on radio and television since 1986. He and his wife, Susan, are residents of Lake Panorama.