George Clooney stars as a financial TV host held hostage live on air in this silly, yet undeniably thrilling slab of popcorn entertainment. The hostage taker is Kyle Budwell (Jack O’Connell), an irate investor who lost thousands as a result of a tip made by Lee (Clooney). Jodie Foster, who returns to the directors chair five years after The Beaver, is efficient behind the camera; the pace is taut and tension kept high. Continue reading “Review: Money Monster (2016)”
Declaring the arrival of former Skins stars Jack O’Connell with a ferocious, star-making performance, Starred Up is an outstanding and unflinching prison drama from director David Mackenzie, whose career sparks new life after a string of middling efforts. Prematurely transferred to the same prison as his estranged father (Ben Mendelsohn), teenage offender Eric (O’Connell) soon attracts the unwelcome attention of the prison wardens when he fails to curb his foul behaviour. Continue reading “Review: Starred Up (2014)”
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)”
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