Carrie
What’s it about?
A sheltered, bullied girl unleashes telekinetic terror after being pushed too far.
What did we think?
This remake of Stephen King’s classic tale feels almost too faithful to the original and largely unnecessary. Julianne Moore is appropriately creepy as Carrie’s religious zealot mother, while Chloe Grace Moretz gives good crazy eye as Carrie. But were their efforts as believable and memorable as Piper Laurie’s and Sissy Spacek’s Oscar-nominated performances? No. And, frankly, we expected more from the director of Boys Don’t Cry, Kimberly Peirce.
The Fifth Estate
What’s it about?
A “from the headlines” flick in which Julian Assange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Daniel Domscheit-Berg (Daniel Brühl) team up to expose corrupt authority figures through their site WikiLeaks. As the secrets they uncover become more portentous, the company mission statement begins to blur.
What did we think?
Elizabeth says: Firstly, let me say, Cumberbatch’s insanely accurate Aussie accent is a wonder to behold. Now that’s out of the way, this film has a very Social Network feel to it: borderline-Asperger’s genius has idea for company, partners with a like-minded tech whiz, hits the big time, gets a bigger ego, gets paranoid every time partner is credited alongside him, fires partner, looks like an asshole. Does it bring anything new to the table? Not really. Is it interesting? Sort of, if you haven’t already watched the whole drama over the news.
Hunger Games: Catching Fire
What’s it about?
In this sequel to The Hunger Games, Katniss and Peeta become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: It’s rare a movie can improve on the book but now The Hunger Games franchise has done it twice. A strong narrative establishes a gripping tale and, more importantly, a very good action film with strongly developed characters. It improves on the first film by clearly identifying the stakes allowing the viewer to get lost in the ride.
And although this simplification tends to dumb down any real-world political messages, it makes for great viewing. Despite the lack of extra layers, this is possibly the best popcorn movie of the year.
Bad Grandpa
What’s it about?
After his wife Ellie passes, 86-year-old Irving Zisman’s (Johnny Knoxville) quest for a new, prime “piece of tail” is invigorated. This dream is short lived when he’s forced to deliver his grandson Billy to his father after Billy’s junkie mum is jailed. Queue the precocious kid/dirty old man road trip.
What did we think?
Elodie says: You would think that taking a small Jackass skit, adding a scripted storyline and combining it with the traditional Jackass hidden-camera pranks to make a full length movie would fail big time, but it doesn’t. This movie is not for the faint hearted or those who would despise a dude dressing up as an old man for shits and giggles. Bad Grandpa is crude, it’s daring, but most of all it’s hilarious!
Enough Said
What’s it about?
A middle-aged divorcee (Julia Louis Dreyfus) wrestles with the many relationships in her life and discovers that experience is a very different thing to wisdom.
What did we think?
Dan says: This delightfully funny film captures the heart of real relationship trials and tribulations. Imagine that you and your friends were slightly funnier than you are when you’re drunk and that you had a chance to do a second draft of everything you said and you’d almost have this film.
Story buffs will leave feeling unsatisfied but the real meat is in the relationships and the interplay between this extremely talented ensemble doing what they do best.
Disney’s Frozen
We’re SO excited about the next animated Disney movie! We cannot wait.
What do you mean you don’t know anything about it? Watch this now!
What’s Popular
Burnt
What’s it about?
Adam Jones (Bradley Cooper) is a Chef who destroyed his career with drugs and diva behavior. He cleans up and returns to London, determined to redeem himself by spearheading a top restaurant that can gain three Michelin stars.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Imagine spending a fortune on the finest ingredients and bringing them together to create a meal that was “just nice”. Welcome to BURNT. Good quality acting, interesting characters, shell of a good story and yet they don’t quite manage to come together in a satisfying way. It’s not bad but you walk out of the restaurant cinema feeling it’s overrated for what you paid. Some ok stuff for the foodies and Cooper fans but wait for the DVD.
Bridge of Spies
What’s it about?
Tom Hanks plays Cold War figure James B. Donovan, an insurance lawyer who defends a Russian spy arrested in America and is then tasked with negotiating his exchange for a pair of American prisoners in Berlin.
What did we think?
Nick says: No-one knows how to move a film camera like Spielberg, and Bridge of Spies shows that he’s still on his game. He’s got a great cast to work with, best of which is Mark Rylance, who plays the Russian spy with understated charm. The first half has some terrific suspense sequences and character moments, and while there’s less of those to enjoy in the procedural-like happenings of the second half, the ending drives the emotion home and makes the whole film well worth seeing.
Black Mass
What’s it about?
A dramatic retelling of Whitey Bulger and his rather rocky “alliance” with the FBI.
What did we think?
Nick says: Depp delivers a terrific performance that I’d count as Oscar nomination worthy and the ensemble shines when they’re given room to breathe, but there are a few questionable narrative choices and a lack of striking imagery that would have made this something special.
The Intern
What’s it about?
A 70 year-old retiree (Robert De Niro) gains an internship at an online fashion store run by a harried young woman (Anne Hathaway). Hijinks and life lessons ensue.
What did we think?
Lisa says: On paper, The Intern sounds like simple, inoffensive fun. It’s a cute concept, helmed by an accomplished (in this genre) director and has a great cast.
Disappointingly the end result is far less than the sum of its parts. The tone is incredibly uneven, varying from sweetly sad, to zany, to hackneyed and borderline offensive.
The second half of the film is especially a drag, weighed down by preachy dialogue and plot points that seem both improbable and clichéd at the same time.
Only tolerable if you’re home alone with nothing better to watch.
Editor's Choice
Burnt
What’s it about?
Adam Jones (Bradley Cooper) is a Chef who destroyed his career with drugs and diva behavior. He cleans up and returns to London, determined to redeem himself by spearheading a top restaurant that can gain three Michelin stars.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Imagine spending a fortune on the finest ingredients and bringing them together to create a meal that was “just nice”. Welcome to BURNT. Good quality acting, interesting characters, shell of a good story and yet they don’t quite manage to come together in a satisfying way. It’s not bad but you walk out of the restaurant cinema feeling it’s overrated for what you paid. Some ok stuff for the foodies and Cooper fans but wait for the DVD.
Bridge of Spies
What’s it about?
Tom Hanks plays Cold War figure James B. Donovan, an insurance lawyer who defends a Russian spy arrested in America and is then tasked with negotiating his exchange for a pair of American prisoners in Berlin.
What did we think?
Nick says: No-one knows how to move a film camera like Spielberg, and Bridge of Spies shows that he’s still on his game. He’s got a great cast to work with, best of which is Mark Rylance, who plays the Russian spy with understated charm. The first half has some terrific suspense sequences and character moments, and while there’s less of those to enjoy in the procedural-like happenings of the second half, the ending drives the emotion home and makes the whole film well worth seeing.
Black Mass
What’s it about?
A dramatic retelling of Whitey Bulger and his rather rocky “alliance” with the FBI.
What did we think?
Nick says: Depp delivers a terrific performance that I’d count as Oscar nomination worthy and the ensemble shines when they’re given room to breathe, but there are a few questionable narrative choices and a lack of striking imagery that would have made this something special.
The Intern
What’s it about?
A 70 year-old retiree (Robert De Niro) gains an internship at an online fashion store run by a harried young woman (Anne Hathaway). Hijinks and life lessons ensue.
What did we think?
Lisa says: On paper, The Intern sounds like simple, inoffensive fun. It’s a cute concept, helmed by an accomplished (in this genre) director and has a great cast.
Disappointingly the end result is far less than the sum of its parts. The tone is incredibly uneven, varying from sweetly sad, to zany, to hackneyed and borderline offensive.
The second half of the film is especially a drag, weighed down by preachy dialogue and plot points that seem both improbable and clichéd at the same time.
Only tolerable if you’re home alone with nothing better to watch.