Philomena
Marnie says: Philomena is “based on a true story” done right. The central premise – one woman’s tireless search for her son, and her strength in the face of heartbreak wrought by the hands of the Catholic Church – is compelling. Dench is a quiet powerhouse, and she and Coogan are delightful as the unlikely companions. Gorgeously captured scenery underscores the honest human drama. With a screenplay full of heart, the film packs an emotional punch yet never manipulates. It’s beautifully nuanced, moving cinema.
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
What’s it about?
Life Magazine’s Walter Mitty works with photo negatives at a time when everything is going digital. He lives beyond his humdrum cubicle walls through a series of elaborate daydreams. When redundancy looms, his existence becomes more fantastic than he ever could have imagined.
What did we think?
Liz says: Stiller’s Mitty is a photo negative in a world of iPads; struggling for relevance but full of potential beauty in and of itself. His transformation from nebbish office worker to fulfilled human was cinematic chicken soup for my soul. The fact I am a journalist staring down the barrel of digital irrelevance myself probably had a little something to do with it, but this film touched me right in the warm fuzzies.
Frozen
What’s it about?
After being orphaned (it’s a Disney movie after all) a pair of contrasting sisters face a world of isolation before a series of events trap the land in an eternal winter. Can the fearless optimist Anna release the icy grip of Anna (loosely based on The Snow Queen)?
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Frozen is a delightful return to classic Disney musical animation. It takes the fresh edginess and strong female characters of recent forays (the amazing Tangled and Wreck-Em Ralph) and combines them with the musical nature of The Little Mermaid. The result is a wonderful tale of friendship, family and frivolity. Simply adorable and one for all ages.
On a side note the preceding short ‘Get A Horse’ is simply incredible and an amazing tribute to the then-and-now of Disney.
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
What’s it about?
The true story* of a man so bad as a news anchor that he redefines how the news is presented. A heart-breaking tale of a man and a shark**.
*Not really a true story
**There is a shark.
What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: By the hymen of Olivia Newton-John this is a funny movie! If you found my opening remark off-putting, avoid Anchorman 2. It’s just as crass as the first. Just as weird. Just as funny. There’s a touch of Monty Python in the surreal nature of many sequences … speaking of surreal, fans of the original gang violence scene won’t be disappointed.
Thankfully I’m not an avid follower of mainstream pop culture these days, so the myriad of celebrity cameos went straight over my head (although I did recognise Kanye). I’m sure for the hip kids of today, this will add a bonus level of frivolity.
Ender’s Game
What’s it about?
Decades after a brutal attack on the human race by aliens, children are now used as generals to coordinate fleet attacks: their reflexes are faster, their thinking has yet to be stymied by age, and they don’t quite comprehend the concept of death. With a new attack imminent, Earth’s defence forces put their faith in a 9 year-old who appears to be “the one”.
What did we think?
Stephen says: It’s taken over 30 years to get this story onto the big screen, and judging from my friends’ reaction to it (his favourite book from childhood), I can see why. The book is apparently a far more cerebral affair to the movie, which is why its author resisted allowing it to be made for so long.
I’m glad he finally caved in, as Ender’s Game is a rollicking adventure of a young man thrust into greatness (a la Hornblower) … but with a hefty dose of psychological game-play and introspective analysis.
There are spectacular effects, an ending that will leave you gasping, and some pretty hefty concepts to wrap your head around.
American Hustle
What’s it about?
Con-man Irving Rosenfeld (a portly Christian Bale) and his lover (a sexy Amy Adams) are forced to work with unpredictable FBI agent Richie DiMaso (a poodle-permed Bradley Cooper). Things get dangerous as DiMaso pushes them to bring down mafia bosses and beloved senators, and Rosenfeld’s unhinged wife (Jennifer Lawrence) might just blow the whole thing.
What did we think?
Elizabeth says: The 1970s are recreated to dazzling effect with David O. Russell getting the most out of his actors. Every performance is rich and layered, and the rumours are true – Jennifer Lawrence steals every single damn scene she’s in. But – and here’s where I get controversial considering the praise that’s been heaped on the film – I feel like American Hustle was less than the sum of its parts. What film was everyone else watching? I mean it’s pretty good but it’s no masterpiece. It’s like Scorsese’s biggest fan tried to emulate the master and came up short. It’s entertaining, it looks great, but it won’t knock your paisley 1970s socks off.
Sidebar: best supported actress goes to Amy Adams, whose every stunning costume seemed designed to give her a healthy helping of sideboob.
What’s Popular
Sisters
What’s it about?
Two adult sisters return to their family home to clean out their room when they find out their parents have sold up. But instead of cleaning, they decide to have the party to end all parties. As you do.
What did we think?
Elizabeth Best says: Sisters is like a massive bender: it starts out strong, full of promise of an electrifying night ahead. The kegs are full, the punch is spiked, your crazy friend Tiffany has already started dancing on the tables and someone has just found your old game of Twister under the couch; how could this night NOT be awesome? But by the end of the night, the party has run out of steam. There’s no more booze, Tiffany is passed out on said table sprawled over some random, and a guy just threw up over the Twister mat. But who cares? The party was still rad while it lasted.
The who’s-who of Saturday Night Live cast all bring some chuckles to the table, but were it not for the presence of my spirit animals aka Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, this could have been a lot less funny.
Point Break
What’s it about?
FBI rookie Johnny Utah (Luke Bracey) goes undercover to bring activist/criminal/extreme sportsman Bodhi (Édgar Ramírez) and his gang to justice in a loose remake of the original 1991 film.
What did we think?
Amy Currie says: JOHNNY UTAH is a COOL SPY. He is TROUBLED because EXTREME SPORT killed his BEST FRIEND. BODHI is a COOL GUY. He does EXTREME CRIMES but it’s KIND OF OKAY because he LOVES THE PLANET and is EXTREME. JOHNNY joins BODHI’S GANG to STOP the CRIMES. It is EXTREME and there is SNOWBOARDING and SURFING and PUNCHING and BASE JUMPING OR SOMETHING and EXPLOSIONS and PEOPLE DIE. JOHNNY is CONFLICTED but always EXTREME. Everyone is EXTREME. It is an EXTREME MOVIE and it is TERRIBLE.
Star Wars The Force Awakens
What’s it about?
Two orphans meet in an unlikely series of events that see them fighting forces of evil in the company of a charming smuggler and his giant hairy pet friend.
What did we think?
In a triumphant return to a galaxy far, far away we revisit the fine tradition of a fun space opera. There are a few problems with the story but frankly few will care once the familiar theme song starts and finishes what is a well-polished and entertaining new entry. The performances of Harrison Ford and Daisy Ridley are simply captivating and, with more humour this time around, the future looks bright for this beloved franchise. There’s a fine line between homage, respect and being derivative and there are times it appears Abrams is going out of his way to repeat scenes from A New Hope (both charming and a little irritating) but it makes you feel like you’ve come home even as you immerse yourself in new politics and adventures. A great romp.
The Good Dinosaur
What’s it about?
An Apatosaurus named Arlo becomes lost and during his adventure home makes an unlikely human friend.
What did we think?
In itself The Good Dinosaur is a wonderfully simple and heart-warming tale but it’s this simplicity that is both its strength and weakness. It suffers mainly because we have come to expect so much more from Pixar. Adults won’t enjoy it as much because there’s no intricate multi-layered story with jokes for different ages. Instead we have likeable characters without any real depth and only two emotional scenes to really connect with us. There’s nothing really wrong with the ‘find your way home’ story other than there’s nothing more to it. But the most important thing is that the children WILL enjoy it.
Editor's Choice
Sisters
What’s it about?
Two adult sisters return to their family home to clean out their room when they find out their parents have sold up. But instead of cleaning, they decide to have the party to end all parties. As you do.
What did we think?
Elizabeth Best says: Sisters is like a massive bender: it starts out strong, full of promise of an electrifying night ahead. The kegs are full, the punch is spiked, your crazy friend Tiffany has already started dancing on the tables and someone has just found your old game of Twister under the couch; how could this night NOT be awesome? But by the end of the night, the party has run out of steam. There’s no more booze, Tiffany is passed out on said table sprawled over some random, and a guy just threw up over the Twister mat. But who cares? The party was still rad while it lasted.
The who’s-who of Saturday Night Live cast all bring some chuckles to the table, but were it not for the presence of my spirit animals aka Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, this could have been a lot less funny.
Point Break
What’s it about?
FBI rookie Johnny Utah (Luke Bracey) goes undercover to bring activist/criminal/extreme sportsman Bodhi (Édgar Ramírez) and his gang to justice in a loose remake of the original 1991 film.
What did we think?
Amy Currie says: JOHNNY UTAH is a COOL SPY. He is TROUBLED because EXTREME SPORT killed his BEST FRIEND. BODHI is a COOL GUY. He does EXTREME CRIMES but it’s KIND OF OKAY because he LOVES THE PLANET and is EXTREME. JOHNNY joins BODHI’S GANG to STOP the CRIMES. It is EXTREME and there is SNOWBOARDING and SURFING and PUNCHING and BASE JUMPING OR SOMETHING and EXPLOSIONS and PEOPLE DIE. JOHNNY is CONFLICTED but always EXTREME. Everyone is EXTREME. It is an EXTREME MOVIE and it is TERRIBLE.
Star Wars The Force Awakens
What’s it about?
Two orphans meet in an unlikely series of events that see them fighting forces of evil in the company of a charming smuggler and his giant hairy pet friend.
What did we think?
In a triumphant return to a galaxy far, far away we revisit the fine tradition of a fun space opera. There are a few problems with the story but frankly few will care once the familiar theme song starts and finishes what is a well-polished and entertaining new entry. The performances of Harrison Ford and Daisy Ridley are simply captivating and, with more humour this time around, the future looks bright for this beloved franchise. There’s a fine line between homage, respect and being derivative and there are times it appears Abrams is going out of his way to repeat scenes from A New Hope (both charming and a little irritating) but it makes you feel like you’ve come home even as you immerse yourself in new politics and adventures. A great romp.
The Good Dinosaur
What’s it about?
An Apatosaurus named Arlo becomes lost and during his adventure home makes an unlikely human friend.
What did we think?
In itself The Good Dinosaur is a wonderfully simple and heart-warming tale but it’s this simplicity that is both its strength and weakness. It suffers mainly because we have come to expect so much more from Pixar. Adults won’t enjoy it as much because there’s no intricate multi-layered story with jokes for different ages. Instead we have likeable characters without any real depth and only two emotional scenes to really connect with us. There’s nothing really wrong with the ‘find your way home’ story other than there’s nothing more to it. But the most important thing is that the children WILL enjoy it.