Tag: Film

Review: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014)

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Mockingjay - Part 1

After the action-heavy drive of the previous instalments, The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 is decidedly sober and contemplative in comparison, but no less thrilling. Bunkered down in District 13 after being saved from the Quarter Quell, Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) reluctantly concedes to become the face of the rebel uprising. Her reluctance quickly turns to intensity, however, as President Snow (Donald Sutherland) continues his tight dictatorship, using Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) as bait.  Continue reading “Review: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014)” →

Review: What We Do In The Shadows (2014)

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What We Do In The Shadows

Flight Of The Conchords alumni Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi reunite for What We Do In The Shadows, a supremely funny vampire mockumentary. Viago (Waititi), Deacon (Jonathon Burgh) and Vladislav (Clement) are three friends living together in modern-day New Zealand. They also happen to be blood-sucking vampires, and it’s up to them to show new boy Nick (Cori Gonzalez Macuer) the way when he’s bitten by 8000-year old Petyr (Ben Fransham).  Continue reading “Review: What We Do In The Shadows (2014)” →

Review: The Skeleton Twins (2014)

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The Skeleton Twins

Kirsten Wiig and Bill Hader are the beating heart behind The Skeleton Twins, a bittersweet and sharply observed offbeat drama. They star as Maggie and Milo, estranged siblings who are brought back together after the latter’s botched suicide attempt. As each struggles with their own problems, as well as a dark childhood, Maggie and Milo slowly realise that they’re better together than apart.  Continue reading “Review: The Skeleton Twins (2014)” →

Review: The Imitation Game (2014)

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The Imitation Game

Benedict Cumberbatch continues to dominate the big screen, starring in Headhunters director Morten Tyldum’s historical thriller The Imitation Game.  Master mathematician and cryptanalyst Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbatch) finds himself plunged into the underbelly of World War II when he’s hired by the British government – along with a team of code breakers – to crack Nazi Germany’s supposedly impenetrable Enigma code and end the war. Continue reading “Review: The Imitation Game (2014)” →

Review: Interstellar (2014)

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Interstellar

A sci-fi thriller that drags more than it soars, Interstellar finds director Christopher Nolan favouring spectacle over substance. Cooper (Matthew McConaughey), a former astronaut-turned-farmer, is struggling to survive on a ravaged Earth. When a last-ditch attempt to save mankind presents itself, Cooper leaves his family behind for the outer reaches of space.
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Review: Say When (2014)

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Say WhenSay When (titled Laggies in America) is perhaps Lynn Shelton’s most commercial film to date – a quarter life crisis comedy that’s charming, even in spite of its prosaic script. Keira Knightley stars as Megan, an undirected 20-something who balks at her long-term boyfriend’s marriage proposal. In need of a temporary respite, she takes Annika (Chloë Grace Moretz) – a 16-year-old whom she bonds with – up on her offer of shelter. Continue reading “Review: Say When (2014)” →

Review: Horns (2014)

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Horns

Daniel Radcliffe takes another unexpected turn, transforming from iconic boy wizard Harry Potter to a man-turned-devil in Horns, Alexandre Aja’s adaptation of Joe Hill’s fantasy novel. Falsely accused of murdering his sweetheart Merrin (Juno Temple), Ig (Radcliffe) is outlawed by his fellow townspeople. After a night of drinking, he wakes up with two horns – a bizarre development that holds the key to finding Merrin’s real killer. Continue reading “Review: Horns (2014)” →

Review: Nightcrawler (2014)

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Nightcrawler

Jake Gyllenhaal makes a startling impression in Nightcrawler, an electrifying and nerve-wracking thriller from writer and director Dan Gilroy. Louis (Gyllenhaal), a skeletal, yet sharp-witted victim of the recession, inadvertently stumbles into the competitive world of night crawling. Armed with a video camera and police radio, Louis proceeds to capture pervasive footage of crime scenes, swiftly selling it off to news stations together with his soul. Continue reading “Review: Nightcrawler (2014)” →

Review: Jimi: All Is By My Side (2014)

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A year in the life of rock legend Jimi Hendrix is documented in John Ridley’s ill-conceived and tedious biopic Jimi: All Is By My Side. Jimi (Andre Benjamin) is discovered by Keith Richards’ misses Linda (an utterly wasted Imogen Poots) after playing a gig with Curtis Jackson in New York. Now with a manager, Hendrix relocates to London, where he meets Kathy (Hayley Atwell) and slowly rises through the musical ranks. Continue reading “Review: Jimi: All Is By My Side (2014)” →

Review: This Is Where I Leave You (2014)

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This Is Where I Leave You

Shawn Levy takes a break from his usual comedy-heavy fare to direct the spare family drama This Is Where I Leave You. After catching his wife in bed with his boss, Judd (Jason Bateman) sinks into a deep depression, worsened by the news of his father’s death. Upon venturing back to his childhood home, Judd attempts to reconnect with his mother (Jane Fonda) and his three siblings (Tina Fey, Corey Stoll and Adam Driver), each of whom is harbouring their own problems. Continue reading “Review: This Is Where I Leave You (2014)” →