Review: The Zero Theorem (2014)

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Five year’s since the release of The Imaginarium Of Doctor Parnassus, Terry Gilliam returns with the intriguing, yet much too scattered sci-fi fantasy The Zero Theorem. Set in a dystopian, tech-obsessed future, it starts well and boasts a strong performance by Christoph Waltz as computer hacker Qohen Leth, who loathes the chaotic environment of ManCom and so is relieved when Management (Matt Damon) assigns him to a different task: determining the Zero Theorem. Continue reading “Review: The Zero Theorem (2014)” →

Review: Under The Skin (2014)

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The fact that Jonathan Glazer hasn’t made a film since 2004’s Birth makes sense considering the massive undertaking adapting Michel Faber’s opaque novel Under the Skin proved to be. Years in the making, the film – starring a truly captivating Scarlett Johansson in the lead role – tracks an alien feigned in human skin as she prowl’s city streets in search of vulnerable men. What unfolds, as the alien assimilates bit-by-bit to her new surroundings, is a unique and unforgettable piece of cinema that won’t be to everyone’s taste. Yet those willing to work with Glazer’s deliberately sparse approach, rather than in opposition to it, will find a stirring and quite often delicate inspection of loneliness and sexuality that’s constantly heightened not only by the primitive visual style, but also by Mica Levi’s unnerving score and Scarlett Johansson’s unwavering, captivating and haunting lead performance.

Review: Need For Speed (2014)

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Need For Speed

Adapted from the long-running, hugely successful multi-platform racing series, Need For Speed is the definition of a missed opportunity: a super-charged film that’s potential has been thwarted by an uninspired screenplay, underwritten characters and dull, lifeless action sequences that pales in comparison to a mere iota of what’s been seen and done numerous times in the Fast And Furious franchise – a comparison that proves too obvious to avoid. Continue reading “Review: Need For Speed (2014)” →

Review: 300: Rise Of An Empire (2014)

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300: Rise Of An Empire

It’s been seven years since the inventive and audacious film adaptation of Frank Miller and Lynn Varley’s comic book series 300 dazzled audiences with its hyper-stylised, ultra-violent and bloodthirsty take on Greek history. Its director, Zack Snyder, has moved on to decidedly bigger ventures, leaving first time director Noam Murro to take the directorial reigns of 300: Rise Of An Empire, a sequel that’s tedious, repetitive and ultimately hideous on the eyes. Continue reading “Review: 300: Rise Of An Empire (2014)” →

Review: Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)

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Only Lovers Left Alive

Only Lovers Left Alive isn’t like the vampire films Hollywood have churned out over the years. There’s no sparkle, nor is there much in the way of action or suspense, only people – people with a deep resentment for the world in which they inhabit, who happen to favour blood over food and other liquids. It pays to be different though, and Jim Jarmusch’s film is a stunning subversion that’s entrenched in a wonderful sense of artistry and atmosphere. Continue reading “Review: Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)” →

Review: Mr Peabody & Sherman (2014)

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Mr Peabody & Sherman

Years in the making, Mr Peabody & Sherman – a feature-length animated comedy based on characters that featured on The Rocky And Bullwinkle Show in the late 1950s – marks the latest uninspired release from DreamWorks Animation. It’s not that the film is bad per se, more that director Rob Minkoff’s labour of love unfortunately never feels more than an intermittently diverting series of adventures than a cohesive and worthwhile whole. Continue reading “Review: Mr Peabody & Sherman (2014)” →

Review: The Lego Movie (2014)

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The Lego Movie

First manufactured in 1949, LEGO – a line of colourful, plastic interlocking bricks – have since increased exponentially in popularity and scope. There was an overriding concern, then, when Warner Bros. announced The Lego Movie that it would be nothing more than a ridiculous marketing tool. But then directors and certified miracle workers Christopher Miller and Phil Lord came aboard, and the pieces soon fell into place, enabling a new animation classic to be born. Continue reading “Review: The Lego Movie (2014)” →

Farewell Philip Seymour Hoffman (1967 – 2014)

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Philip Seymour Hoffman – award-winning actor, producer and director – died today of a suspected overdose in his Manhattan apartment. Hoffman, who has been nominated for no less than four Academy Awards since his debut feature performance in Triple Bogey On A Five Par Hole opposite Robbie Coltrane, had appeared at the Sundance Film Festival only two weeks prior to his death, in support of two films: A Most Wanted Man and God’s Pocket. Continue reading “Farewell Philip Seymour Hoffman (1967 – 2014)” →

Review: Cuban Fury (2014)

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Cuban Fury

Built upon an original idea conceived by star and producer Nick Frost himself, Cuban Fury is a million miles away from the films Frost’s name has become synonymous with – and not solely because this one sees him dance. Yet thanks to his indomitable craft, the heart-warming, inspiring message at its core and its crowd-pleasing nature, the film is, by and large, a success, though not one that leaves a particularly lasting impression. Continue reading “Review: Cuban Fury (2014)” →

Review: The Armstrong Lie (2013)

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The Armstrong Lie

Hot on the heels of We Steal Secrets: The Story Of WikiLeaks, acclaimed documentary filmmaker and interrogator Alex Gibney returns with The Armstrong Lie. This time, he turns his attention to Lance Armstrong, the seven-time Tour De France-winning cyclist who somehow extraordinarily managed to hide his dependency on performance-enhancing drugs in plain sight for over ten years, for a documentary that’s both fascinating and repetitive. Continue reading “Review: The Armstrong Lie (2013)” →