Review: In Fear (2013)

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In Fear

The unassuming and labyrinth Irish countryside provides the setting for In Fear, a distressing micro-budget horror from first time writer and director Jeremy Lovering that’s sadly let down by an ending that works against what’s been built up over the course of the rest of the film. Unlike other films of its ilk, In Fear’s success boils down to its ability to instil genuine dread through its cramped and unfamiliar environment, rather than using quick, gimmicky shocks for effective, yet quick and hit-or-miss scares. Continue reading “Review: In Fear (2013)” →

Review: Blue Is The Warmest Colour (2013)

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Blue Is The Warmest Colour

It’s been quite the year for Blue Is The Warmest Colour, French director Abdellatif Kechiche’s take on Julie Maroh’s novel of the same name. Soon after the film dazzled critics and scooped the highly coveted Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, talk turned sour as a spat erupted between its director and two leads about the supposedly horrible working conditions on set. In truth, none of that matters as much as the film itself. And what’s been achieved here is nothing short of breathtaking, and the honours it should – and likely will – receive are deeply warranted. Continue reading “Review: Blue Is The Warmest Colour (2013)” →

Review: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)

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Catching Fire

The Hunger Games managed to achieve what the entire Twilight series had tried so hard, yet failed to do: appeal to critics and audiences, while also satisfying the loyal fan base of its adored source material. It had its fair share of impediments though, and was weighed down by the fact it skimmed over many of the bigger issues in favour of displaying a sparkly fantasy tale. Thankfully, with The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, the second instalment in a four-part film series, those complications are been ironed out to an impeccable degree by new director Francis Lawrence. Continue reading “Review: The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013)” →

Review: Gravity (2013)

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Gravity

The culmination of several years of hard work (the film was originally conceived back in 2006), Gravity is an electrifying amalgamation of awe-inspiring visuals, technical innovation and a terrific central performance. Bringing together director Alfonso Cuarón and his son and co-writer Jonas Cuarón, this is a survival story like no other, set against the beautiful, infinitely desolate backdrop of space – one that, in a particularly huge win for IMAX, immerses its audience entirely from start to finish. Continue reading “Review: Gravity (2013)” →

Review: Philomena (2013)

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Philomena

It’s safe to say that Stephen Frears’ post-The Queen career has seen its fair share of ups and downs. While Tamara Drewe was a cheeky and enjoyable romp, it lacked any kind of emotional depth. And his other two efforts, Lay The Favourite and Chéri, were both criticised for being unremarkable (the less said about the former, the better). Philomena, however, which is based on a real-life story, finds the director back on form, with a winning combination of humour and drama creating an enjoyable, yet tender and heartwarming film of exploration and self-discovery. Continue reading “Review: Philomena (2013)” →

Review: Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 (2013)

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Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2

Released in 2011, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs was an unmitigated success for Sony Pictures Animation. It’s hardly a surprise then that a little over two years later, Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2 is upon us. With new directors Cody Cameron and Kris Pearn taking over the reins from Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the sequel is as appealing and visually imaginative as its predecessor. Sadly, the same can’t be said for an unfocused narrative that’s not quite as clever as it thinks it is. Continue reading “Review: Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs 2 (2013)” →

Review: Bachelorette (2012)

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Retailed as a female-centric comedy in the vein of Bridesmaids, Bachelorette is in fact much darker: a deliciously acerbic and wickedly funny debut from skilled writer and director Leslye Headland, who found previous success as a playwright before transferring over to film. Arguably more in line with Mean Girls’ cattiness than the mainstream humour of Paul Feig’s aforementioned hit, Headland’s film is wilder, looser, franker, with a more free-wheeling tone – and it’s all the better for it. Continue reading “Review: Bachelorette (2012)” →

Review: Captain Phillips (2013)

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Based on an unbelievable against-all-odds survival story and the subsequent tell-all book titled A Captain’s Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALs, And Dangerous Days At Sea, Captain Phillips marks the return of acclaimed British director Paul Greengrass. Working from a skilfully crafted screenplay and propelled by an incredibly devoted performance from Tom Hanks, Captain Phillips is a tightly wound thriller that’s every bit as tense and riveting as it is unsettling and deeply moving. Continue reading “Review: Captain Phillips (2013)” →

Review: Turbo (2013)

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DreamWorks Animation have struggled in recent years. After reaping the rewards with successes such as Kung Fu Panda, How To Train Your Dragon and Shrek, the studio, who are often unfairly compared to Pixar, have lost their way somewhat. Their latest feature Turbo, a sort of Fast & Furious for kids, does nothing to buck that continuing trend, and marks what’s possibly the biggest disappointment for the studio. It’s not that it’s bad per se, more that there’s absolutely nothing here to set it apart from similar animated tales. Continue reading “Review: Turbo (2013)” →

Review: The Kings Of Summer (2013)

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The Kings Of Summer

The Kings Of Summer sounds like the ideal Sundance film. It’s no surprise, then, that Jordan Vogt-Roberts’ feature debut made such a strong impression on critics and audiences alike where it premiered earlier this year. Loaded with humour, sincerity and a firm sense of personality, The Kings Of Summer is a small-scale triumph, bolstered tremendously by its talented cast, a spirited screenplay written by fellow newcomer Chris Galletta and a quirky, yet brutally honest tone. Continue reading “Review: The Kings Of Summer (2013)” →