Carol, adapted from Patricia Highsmith’s lesbian romance The Price Of Salt, is in terms of its performances and sublime execution, one of the most beautiful films of the year. Therese (Rooney Mara), a smart shop clerk with aspirations, falls for an alluring woman (Cate Blanchett) whose marriage is in demise. Continue reading “Review: Carol (2015)”
Bridge Of Spies reunites frequent collaborators Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks for a powerful but measured Cold War thriller inspired by true events. Insurance lawyer Jim Donovan (Hanks) is recruited to defend Soviet infiltrator Rufold Abel (Mark Rylance, brilliant) in court, with twists unraveling along the way as Jim finds himself dragged into far more serious matters, all of which are expertly employed by screenwriter Matt Charman. Continue reading “Review: Bridge Of Spies (2015)”
The Good Dinosaur is the second Pixar film this year – a warm-hearted, if unmistakably flat adventure that imagines a world in which the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs missed Earth completely. Arlo (Raymond Ochoa) is the focus, a small and timid Apatosaurus whose fear always holds him back. He’s forced to challenge himself, however, when a series of unfortunate events sees him washed up way down river, with only a wild cave boy – whom he names Spot – for help in returning home. Continue reading “Review: The Good Dinosaur (2015)”
Sentimentality oozes from every pore of Fathers & Daughters, Gabriele Muccino’s split timeline drama that has all the tell-tale signs of a soap opera. Award-winning novelist Jake Davis (Russell Crowe) is left to care for his daughter, Katie (Kylie Rogers), after his wife dies in a car accident, while years later Katie, now in her twenties and played by Amanda Seyfried, wrestles with her past. Continue reading “Review: Fathers & Daughters (2015)”
There are certain films that don’t follow through on their initial hype, and then there’s Tangerine, which more than validates its early buzz. Sin-Dee (Kitana Kiki Rodriquez) is fresh out of prison, splitting a celebratory donut with her friend Alexandra (Mya Taylor) when it comes out that her pimp has been sleeping around. Enraged, Sin-Dee scours the bright, dangerous streets of downtown LA for revenge; Alexandra trailing in an foolish attempt to avoid drama. Continue reading “Review: Tangerine (2015)”
An adaptation of Colm Tóibín’s bestselling novel, Brooklyn works well as a study of one girl’s resilience, but lacks the underpinning force to uphold interest. Her life in Ireland aimless, Eilis (Saoirse Ronan) relocates to New York, where she falls in love with an assertive Italian-American (Emory Cohen) only to be pulled back to the comfortable simplicity of home. Continue reading “Review: Brooklyn (2015)”
Kurt Russell leads a top notch cast in the much buzzed about Bone Tomahawk, all of whom chew scenery with relish in S. Craig Zahler’s absurdly fun directorial debut. The clumsy arrival of a drifter sparks the kidnapping of several townsfolk by savages in the middle of the night. Eager for revenge, the local sheriff (Russell) leads a rescue party with the help of his deputy (Richard Jenkins), a crippled husband (Patrick Wilson) and a cocky killer (Matthew Fox). Continue reading “Review: Bone Tomahawk (2015)”
Juvenile humour and bad taste abound in Scouts Guide To The Zombie Apocalypse, a shoddy mix of horror and comedy aimed squarely at pubescent boys. Our heroes – or cliched halfwits more like – are teens Ben (Tye Sheridan), Carter (Logan Miller) and Augie (Joey Morgan), who are forced to put their scouting wits to use when their town is affected by a disease that turns many of the residents into ravenous zombies. Continue reading “Review: Scouts Guide To The Zombie Apocalypse (2015)”
The striking Day of the Dead celebrations provide the backdrop to a dazzling pre-credits opener for Spectre, the follow-up to the most successful Bond entry yet. Director Sam Mendes, who returns along with star Daniel Craig, tries to match pitch thereafter but is let down by an uneven and bloated script. Driven by a message from the dead, Bond (Craig) defies orders set by M (Ralph Fiennes) to track down the man behind the villainous network responsible for many of his past obstacles. Continue reading “Review: Spectre (2015)”
Sundance breakout hit Me And Earl And The Dying Girl masquerades as a typically quirky teen drama, only to reveal itself as something far richer. Awkward teen Greg (Thomas Mann) floats on the outskirts of his high school’s social hierarchies, until fellow student Rachel (Olivia Cooke) is diagnosed with leukaemia. The unexpected friendship that blossoms between them alters his outlook. Continue reading “Review: Me And Earl And The Dying Girl (2015)”
Empty Screens 