Tag: Review

Review: Turbo (2013)

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Turbo_zpsbea84302

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)” →

Review: Le Week-End (2013)

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Le Week-End

Le Week-End marks somewhat of a return to smarts for director Roger Michell. After helming two disappointments in a row (the mildly entertaining Morning Glory and the dreary Hyde Park On Hudson), Michell reteams with regular screenwriter and friend Hanif Kureishi for their third feature collaboration and an altogether richer affair. Together, they’ve carved a resonant, heartfelt and adult drama that’s exponentially superior to Michell’s aforementioned missteps. Continue reading “Review: Le Week-End (2013)” →

Review: Silver Linings Playbook (2012)

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After spending the past eight months undergoing therapy in a mental institution, former high school teacher Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper) returns to suburban Philadelphia and into the lives of his parents, Pat Sr. (Robert De Niro) and Dolores (Jacki Weaver). Wasting no time in attempting to straighten himself up and win back his wife, Pat comes to a deal with Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a troubled widow and force of nature, that sees him become her partner for a Continue reading “Review: Silver Linings Playbook (2012)” →

Review: Beasts Of The Southern Wild (2012)

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Hushpuppy (Quvenzhané Wallis), a courageous and untamed six-year-old explorer, lives with her father, Wink (Dwight Henry), in a remote community known as the Bathtub. Living in a detached, yet idyllic society, Hushpuppy has, like the other dwellers, been forced to mature quickly and become entirely self-sufficient, spending her days finding food to keep herself alive. Their stark way of life is tested, however, when a fatal storm rears its ugly head, bringing about the Continue reading “Review: Beasts Of The Southern Wild (2012)” →

Review: Sister (2012)

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Simon (Kacey Mottet Klein), an unprosperous, yet headstrong and determined young boy, lives in the shadows of a wealthy and sprawling ski resort with his older sister, Louise (Léa Seydoux). Using his skills as a sprightly child, Simon braces the cold each and every day to travel up to the soaring ski resort and steal food and provisions to ensure him and his sister don’t succumb to extreme poverty. However, as Simon starts to attract some unwanted attention, Louise Continue reading “Review: Sister (2012)” →

Review: Skyfall (2012)

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When a hard drive containing top-secret data is lost in the field, James Bond (Daniel Craig) is sent to recover it. However, when the mission ends badly and the information finds itself in the hands of an intimidating threat with immense skill, M (Judi Dench) must come to terms with her troubled past, reacquaint herself with an old friend and do everything in her power to ensure MI6 – and every single one of its undercover operatives – withholds its position as a Continue reading “Review: Skyfall (2012)” →

LFF 2012 Review: Keep The Lights On (2012)

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When documentary filmmaker Erik Rothman (Thure Lindhardt) first meets Paul Lucy (Zachary Booth), he’s a bright and warm publishing lawyer. However, as the years pass and their relationship develops from one of occasional sex to one supposedly rooted in trust, Paul’s drug usage increases from mild stress relief to ripe addiction. Unwilling to lose hope that Paul’s habit will subside and he’ll return to the person he once was, Erik must find a way to love him regardless of Continue reading “LFF 2012 Review: Keep The Lights On (2012)” →

LFF 2012 Review: Beyond The Hills (2012)

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Alina (Cristina Flutur) returns to the impoverished Romanian community of her childhood in the hope of reuniting with Voichita (Cosmina Stratan) and returning with her to Germany and a new life. Upon arrival though, Alina discovers that Voichita has set up a new life for herself in a remote monastery and replaced her love with that of God. Undeterred, yet at the risk of her own mental wellbeing, Alina desperately tries to undermine the monasteries priest (Valeriu Andriuta) Continue reading “LFF 2012 Review: Beyond The Hills (2012)” →

Review: Hotel Transylvania (2012)

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In a bid to keep his daughter, Mavis (Selena Gomez), from discovering the truths of the real world, and to provide afflicted monsters with an ideal hideaway from the supposedly troublesome humans, Dracula (Adam Sandler) builds a high-end hotel in a secluded part of a dark, trap ridden forrest.  But, on the weekend of Mavis’ 118th birthday, when his attention should be solely on her, a curious backpacker, Jonathan (Andy Samberg), stumbles into the hotel and brings with Continue reading “Review: Hotel Transylvania (2012)” →