An adaptation of Colm Tóibín’s bestselling novel, Brooklyn works well as a study of one girl’s resilience, but lacks the underpinning force to uphold interest. Her life in Ireland aimless, Eilis (Saoirse Ronan) relocates to New York, where she falls in love with an assertive Italian-American (Emory Cohen) only to be pulled back to the comfortable simplicity of home. Continue reading “Review: Brooklyn (2015)”
Kurt Russell leads a top notch cast in the much buzzed about Bone Tomahawk, all of whom chew scenery with relish in S. Craig Zahler’s absurdly fun directorial debut. The clumsy arrival of a drifter sparks the kidnapping of several townsfolk by savages in the middle of the night. Eager for revenge, the local sheriff (Russell) leads a rescue party with the help of his deputy (Richard Jenkins), a crippled husband (Patrick Wilson) and a cocky killer (Matthew Fox). Continue reading “Review: Bone Tomahawk (2015)”
Juvenile humour and bad taste abound in Scouts Guide To The Zombie Apocalypse, a shoddy mix of horror and comedy aimed squarely at pubescent boys. Our heroes – or cliched halfwits more like – are teens Ben (Tye Sheridan), Carter (Logan Miller) and Augie (Joey Morgan), who are forced to put their scouting wits to use when their town is affected by a disease that turns many of the residents into ravenous zombies. Continue reading “Review: Scouts Guide To The Zombie Apocalypse (2015)”
The striking Day of the Dead celebrations provide the backdrop to a dazzling pre-credits opener for Spectre, the follow-up to the most successful Bond entry yet. Director Sam Mendes, who returns along with star Daniel Craig, tries to match pitch thereafter but is let down by an uneven and bloated script. Driven by a message from the dead, Bond (Craig) defies orders set by M (Ralph Fiennes) to track down the man behind the villainous network responsible for many of his past obstacles. Continue reading “Review: Spectre (2015)”
Sundance breakout hit Me And Earl And The Dying Girl masquerades as a typically quirky teen drama, only to reveal itself as something far richer. Awkward teen Greg (Thomas Mann) floats on the outskirts of his high school’s social hierarchies, until fellow student Rachel (Olivia Cooke) is diagnosed with leukaemia. The unexpected friendship that blossoms between them alters his outlook. Continue reading “Review: Me And Earl And The Dying Girl (2015)”
Dope has accrued tremendous buzz along the festival circuit, but it’s not quite the all-out, convention exploding master stroke many have it pegged as. Malcolm (Shameik Moore) has college in his sights, determined not to let his rough upbringing hold him back. But when a party leaves him in possession of drugs, he must think quick before his life is ruined. Continue reading “Review: Dope (2015)”
After their successful pairing in Adventureland, Kristen Stewart and Jesse Eisenberg reunite for a ropey stoner comedy that coasts on their individual wits and chemistry rather than its own thrills. Perpetual stoner Mike (Eisenberg) – who is in fact a sleeper operative – has plans to propose to his girlfriend Phoebe (Stewart). But when he’s targeted for elimination, his program is activated, leaving him battling for survival. Continue reading “Review: American Ultra (2015)”
The directorial debut of regular Ben Wheatley collaborator Steve Oram, Aaaaaaaah! takes a unique and screwy conceit and runs with it. Alpha male Smith (Oram) – with his sidekick Keith (Tom Meeten) in tow – emerges from a wooded area and sets upon the unnamed city’s suburbs, where he stakes his claim on a female (Lucy Honigman) and her tribe. Continue reading “Review: Aaaaaaaah! (2015)”
Absolutely Anything, dreamt up by the team behind Monty Python, is yet another poor excuse for a British comedy, set to do absolutely nothing for Simon Pegg’s career. Randomly selected by an alien council for an experiment to secure Earth’s survival, Neil (Pegg) is bestowed unique powers – powers that he quickly abuses. Continue reading “Review: Absolutely Anything (2015)”
Like fellow TV series The Inbetweeners before it, Bad Education receives the big screen treatment, resulting in an absurdly silly comedy that’s scattered with laughs. Hapless teacher Alfie Wickers (Jack Whitehall) is determined to take his class on an end of term blow out. But when his plans for Las Vegas are scrapped, they head to Cornwall instead, where things quickly take a turn for the chaotic. Continue reading “Review: The Bad Education Movie (2015)”
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