Shelter

• Director: Ric Roman Waugh
• Writer: Ward Parry
• Starring: Jason Statham, Bodhi Rae Breathnach, Bill Nighy, Harriet Walter, Naomi Ackie

Grade: C

For the past few years, the early months have graced audiences with the latest Jason Statham action vehicle. With films like The Beekeeper and A Working Man breaking the box office by grossing more than double their budgets worldwide, it shows that the world is not yet done with him. The latest film hoping to join Statham’s string of box office successes is Shelter, a redundant yet competently made action film.

The Rip

• Director: Joe Carnahan
• Writer: Joe Carnahan
• Starring: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Teyana Taylor, Sasha Calle, Kyle Chandler, Steven Yeun, Scott Adkins, Nestor Carbonell

Grade: B-

Amongst cinephiles, the first portion of the year is often referred to as “Dumpuary”, a time when studios dump their less viable projects after the glut of holiday programming. Nobody would accuse The Rip, arriving on Netflix in a mere few hours, of being another byproduct of the trend, but it’s surprisingly one of the more viable offerings in recent memory. It’s not high-minded enough to decry its streaming-only release, but it’s entertaining enough to command the viewer’s attention as more than something to have on in the background while otherwise occupied. It helps that it’s helmed by writer-director Joe Carnahan, who’s a kind of action schlock journeyman, with credits like The Grey and Smokin’ Aces, as he’s able to fill the proceedings with enough intrigue and twists before relying on gunplay or a high body count.