Last Vegas

What’s it about?
Four school yard chums reconnect in their twilight years. They aim to celebrate the bachelor party of the last of their band to get hitched. They each have their own burdens to shrug off, but before they do, they’ll need to dehumanise some surgically enhanced women.

What did we think?
Dan says: Hollywood loads four of their best into the chamber and fires ageist and misogynistic bullets into the corpse of the “Dude Adventure” story. What were they thinking? I mean, Morgan Freeman was in Shawshank Redemption for Christ’s sake.

The film ties together like a jigsaw puzzle with numbered pieces. I could tell you most of the stories ten minutes in. But just when you think it’s irredeemable, Robert De Niro and Kirk Douglas show you just why they’ve been in the business for so long and manage to inject maybe not heart, but at least some still-warm blood into this hollow cadaver. Your parents will love it.

Maleficent

Angelina Jolie as the evil Maleficent?  Perfect.  Magnificent even.  This new sneak peek trailer is bound to make anyone excited for the release of this revamped classic fairy tale.  Lana Del Ray accompanies the eeriness with her re-imagined cover of the tune “Once Upon a Dream”.  The extra touch of the Maleficent’s dark castle behind the Disney logo is clever as well.  Let’s hope the movie will live up to my new found expectations.

Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones

What’s it about?
Recent high school graduates and best friends Jesse and Hector face the same demonic forces that terrorise the protagonists of the previous Paranormal Activity films in this Latino spin-off of the “found footage” horror franchise.

What did we think?
Marnie says: Another day, another demon. There are a couple of scary moments in The Marked Ones, which is presented as a “cousin” rather than a direct sequel, but overall it is too formulaic to be effective. Though focusing on Latin-American characters, the film bypasses the opportunity to expound on Catholicism’s approach to demonic possession, which could have been gripping. Fans will appreciate details about the series’ established characters but The Marked Ones lacks the satisfying shock of the unfamiliar that made its predecessors successful, and the dissatisfying ending so transparently sets the scene for yet another instalment that the whole thing left a bad taste in my mouth.

The Wolf of Wall Street

What’s it about?
The spectacular rise and fall of unscrupulous, hard-partying New York stockbroker Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio). Based on Belfort’s memoir of the same name.

What did we think?
Belfort, his partner in white-collar crime (a brilliantly tubby-again Jonah Hill) and their boys club are utterly repulsive yet simultaneously make you feel like you need to get more, amid their constant daze of yachts, drugs and hookers.

The film doesn’t pull its punches on the more sinister, unhinged aspects of Belfort’s life either, as reality – and the law – starts to catch up with him. So many great performances round out this often uproarious picture, especially Australia’s Margot Robbie and a brief, hilarious turn from Matthew McConaughey. Desensitise your moral compass before viewing.

Lone Survivor

What’s it about?
Based on the true story of four Navy SEALs whose covert operation goes badly wrong in Afghanistan and they find themselves hemmed in by overwhelming Taliban numbers.

What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: A surprisingly touching piece that depicts not only the bond between soldiers but the gruesome nature of modern warfare and the difficult choices faced. An unexpected focus on the human side of the SEALs made this war movie quite relateable and a startling twist late in the film will have you believing in humanity again – and possibly worrying for the innocents caught up in these wars.

Those expecting a mindless Mark Wahlberg action movie will be initially disappointed but later delighted despite the graphic blood and deaths.

Grudge Match

Imagine a boxing movie about Rocky vs Raging Bull. Then watch this trailer.

I’m unconvinced but seeing the preview screening shortly so watch this space for a review shortly.

What’s Popular

X-Men Apocalypse

What’s it about?
The X-Men must reunite to face a nearly immortal and super powerful mutant who plans to bring on the apocalypse.

What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: At one point one of the characters in the film comments that the third movie is never as good. It’s as if director Brian Singer was signalling his surrender. Certainly this instalment doesn’t fail because of it’s lack of ambition; it’s just that there’s very little new or even exciting. The same aspirational tone of Xavier having the same argument with grief-stricken Magneto? Check. Cameos for the fanboys? Check. Impressive fx? Check. Unveiling new fan favourites of the ensemble? Check (though we hardly explore them at all). A cliched story hinging on hoping for the better? Check.

It’s what it’s missing that lets it down. A coherent, flowing story for a start, and while movies don’t automatically need a twist this one sure needed something. The clever layers that set the previous movies in the franchise apart are well and truly missing.

Perhaps the expanding cast and easter egg nods to comic book fans will be enough for some but in my opinion this could be the apocalypse for the mutant franchise. To be fair there’s a degree of comic book movie fatigue around at the moment but it doesn’t change the fact this flick is simply not fresh or even very smart.

Green Room

What’s it about?
Teen angst, neo-nazis and punk rock. What could go wrong?

What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: “Pretentious twaddle” was all I thought for the first half hour: a meandering tale following a punk band that’s rejected the internet because music is “in the now”. Then they get a paying gig. Character backstory is over. Now everyone is going to die by bite, blade or bullet cartridge.

Patrick Stewart is the creepiest neo-nazi you’re going to see in a long, long time.

 

The Boss

What’s It About?
When rich CEO and motivational speaker Michelle Darnell (Melissa McCarthy) goes down for insider trading, all her assets are frozen. She vows to get back on top, using a little girl’s brownie selling business to do it.

What Did We Think?
Elizabeth says: A diabolically awful movie, somewhat saved by the fact that Tyler Labine is so damn likeable and Melissa McCarthy is one fucking funny woman to watch.

Eddie The Eagle

What’s it about?
The story of Eddie Edwards, the notoriously tenacious British underdog ski jumper who had to overcome a biased system and a lack of talent before charming the world at the 1988 Winter Olympics.

What did we think?
Despite the abundance of cliches this movie is full of heart. Helped along by the charismatic Hugh Jackman and an incredible performance from Taron Egerton, Eddie The Eagle is that rare beast whose warmth and sheer entertainment value overcome the lack of charisma of the lead character. In fact, if it hadn’t been a true story you would dismiss it as unbelievable schmaltz. As it is you’ll find yourself both cringing and cheering for Britain’s most unathletic Olympic representative who reminded us that the Olympics is just as much about participation as it is about winning.

You’ll find your spirits soaring along with Eddie. Probably the feel-good flick of the year.

Editor's Choice

X-Men Apocalypse

What’s it about?
The X-Men must reunite to face a nearly immortal and super powerful mutant who plans to bring on the apocalypse.

What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: At one point one of the characters in the film comments that the third movie is never as good. It’s as if director Brian Singer was signalling his surrender. Certainly this instalment doesn’t fail because of it’s lack of ambition; it’s just that there’s very little new or even exciting. The same aspirational tone of Xavier having the same argument with grief-stricken Magneto? Check. Cameos for the fanboys? Check. Impressive fx? Check. Unveiling new fan favourites of the ensemble? Check (though we hardly explore them at all). A cliched story hinging on hoping for the better? Check.

It’s what it’s missing that lets it down. A coherent, flowing story for a start, and while movies don’t automatically need a twist this one sure needed something. The clever layers that set the previous movies in the franchise apart are well and truly missing.

Perhaps the expanding cast and easter egg nods to comic book fans will be enough for some but in my opinion this could be the apocalypse for the mutant franchise. To be fair there’s a degree of comic book movie fatigue around at the moment but it doesn’t change the fact this flick is simply not fresh or even very smart.

Green Room

What’s it about?
Teen angst, neo-nazis and punk rock. What could go wrong?

What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: “Pretentious twaddle” was all I thought for the first half hour: a meandering tale following a punk band that’s rejected the internet because music is “in the now”. Then they get a paying gig. Character backstory is over. Now everyone is going to die by bite, blade or bullet cartridge.

Patrick Stewart is the creepiest neo-nazi you’re going to see in a long, long time.

 

The Boss

What’s It About?
When rich CEO and motivational speaker Michelle Darnell (Melissa McCarthy) goes down for insider trading, all her assets are frozen. She vows to get back on top, using a little girl’s brownie selling business to do it.

What Did We Think?
Elizabeth says: A diabolically awful movie, somewhat saved by the fact that Tyler Labine is so damn likeable and Melissa McCarthy is one fucking funny woman to watch.

Eddie The Eagle

What’s it about?
The story of Eddie Edwards, the notoriously tenacious British underdog ski jumper who had to overcome a biased system and a lack of talent before charming the world at the 1988 Winter Olympics.

What did we think?
Despite the abundance of cliches this movie is full of heart. Helped along by the charismatic Hugh Jackman and an incredible performance from Taron Egerton, Eddie The Eagle is that rare beast whose warmth and sheer entertainment value overcome the lack of charisma of the lead character. In fact, if it hadn’t been a true story you would dismiss it as unbelievable schmaltz. As it is you’ll find yourself both cringing and cheering for Britain’s most unathletic Olympic representative who reminded us that the Olympics is just as much about participation as it is about winning.

You’ll find your spirits soaring along with Eddie. Probably the feel-good flick of the year.

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