Inside Llewyn Davis
What’s it about?
A week in the life of a struggling artist trying to make it in the folk music scene of 1961 set against a backdrop of winter in New York.
What did we think?
Elizabeth says: Interesting but not accessible. There are some really lovely moments here but that’s all they seemed to me: fleeting, disconnected moments. Inside Llewyn Davis feels like awards bait. It wallows so desperately in its own melancholy and is so focused on the insular creative scene that it feels a bit pretentious. It’s like it was crafted purely for the Coen brothers to say “Screw your movie conventions, this is ART and if you don’t like it then clearly you aren’t sophisticated enough.” And everyone else nods in agreement, shouting “It’s brilliant, you’re visionaries!” and pats themselves on the back for being so artsy high-brow wonderful. Except me. Bah humbug.
Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit
What’s it about?
While working undercover as a junior analyst for the CIA, Jack Ryan (Chris Pine) uncovers an imminent terrorist attack designed to destroy the US economy.
What did we think?
Elodie says: If you blink, you’ll probably miss something. And once you’ve missed it, good luck trying to keep up with the plot. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit is fast-paced, action-packed and topical, drawing on issues such as 9/11 and global economic instability for emphasis. At times, the action scenes could be from almost any spy drama. However, Pine meets expectations in a polished performance – he’s shed Captain Kirk and taken on shades of Jason Bourne. Worth seeing, even if only for Keira Knightley’s gawky American accent.
47 Ronin
What’s it about? A Hollywoodisation (I thought I just made up a word, but someone on the internet has already taken credit) of an 18th-century Japanese “national” legend The Revenge of the 47 Ronin.
What did we think?
Casey says: Clearly aimed at an audience that doesn’t like too many words, can’t spell numbers and hasn’t stopped smoking pot since the release of Bill & Teds Excellent Adventure, Ted’s latest romp falls somewhat short of a well-crafted depiction of a compelling Japanese legend.
Flags, costumes, cherry blossoms, traditional architecture, awesome sword fights and cool flippy fabric things are all in this film’s favour. Keanu Reeves, random helpful demons, and awful dialog are not.
Free Birds
What’s it about?
Two turkeys travel back in time to prevent turkeys becoming the main menu piece for thanksgiving.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: This movie will make you wish time travel was possible … so you could go back in time and stop yourself from seeing it. Or go back and stopping the film being made at all.
The script is so badly written it beggars belief. There are far too many ’70s references for grown-ups, none of which are funny. This movie is so bad I can’t even be bothered working in a joke about it being a ‘turkey’. It’s worse than that. Much worse.
Academy Award nominations 2014
BEST PICTURE
“12 Years a Slave”
“American Hustle”
“Captain Phillips”
“Dallas Buyers Club”
“Gravity”
“Her”
“Nebraska”
“Philomena”
“The Wolf of Wall Street”
BEST DIRECTOR
David O. Russell, “American Hustle”
Alfonso Cuaron, “Gravity”
Alexander Payne, “Nebraska”
Steve McQueen, “12 Years a Slave”
Martin Scorsese, “The Wolf of Wall Street”
BEST ACTOR
Christian Bale, “American Hustle”
Bruce Dern, “Nebraska”
Leonardo DiCaprio, “The Wolf of Wall Street”
Chiwetel Ejiofor, “12 Years a Slave”
Matthew McConaughey, “Dallas Buyers Club”
BEST ACTRESS
Amy Adams, “American Hustle”
Cate Blanchett, “Blue Jasmine”
Sandra Bullock, “Gravity”
Judi Dench, “Philomena”
Meryl Streep, “August: Osage County”
BEST ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
“American Hustle”
“Blue Jasmine”
“Her”
“Nebraska”
“Dallas Buyers Club”
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
“Before Midnight”
“Captain Phillips”
“Philomena”
“12 Years a Slave”
“The Wolf of Wall Street”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Lupita Nyong’o, “12 Years a Slave”
Jennifer Lawrence, “American Hustle”
June Squibb, “Nebraska”
Julia Roberts, “August: Osage County”
Sally Hawkins, “Blue Jasmine”
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
Barkhad Abdi, “Captain Phillips”
Bradley Cooper, “American Hustle”
Michael Fassbender, “12 Years a Slave”
Jonah Hill, “The Wolf of Wall Street”
Jared Leto, “Dallas Buyers Club”
BEST ANIMATED FILM
“The Croods”
“Despicable Me 2”
“Ernest & Celestine”
“Frozen”
“The Wind Rises”
BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
“The Grandmaster”
“Gravity”
“Inside Llewyn Davis”
“Nebraska”
“Prisoners”
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Michael Wilkinson, “American Hustle”
William Chang Suk Ping, “The Grandmaster”
Catherine Martin, “The Great Gatsby”
Michael O’Connor, “The Invisible Woman”
Patricia Norris, “12 Years a Slave”
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
“The Act of Killing”Joshua Oppenheimer and Signe Byrge Sørensen
“Cutie and the Boxer” Zachary Heinzerling and Lydia Dean Pilcher
“Dirty Wars” Richard Rowley and Jeremy Scahill
“The Square” Jehane Noujaim and Karim Amer
“20 Feet from Stardom” Nominees to be determined
BEST DOCUMENTARY SHORT SUBJECT
“CaveDigger” Jeffrey Karoff
“Facing Fear” Jason Cohen
“Karama Has No Walls” Sara Ishaq
“The Lady in Number 6: Music Saved My Life” Malcolm Clarke and Nicholas Reed
“Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall” Edgar Barens
BEST FILM EDITING
“American Hustle” Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers and Alan Baumgarten
“Captain Phillips” Christopher Rouse
“Dallas Buyers Club” John Mac McMurphy and Martin Pensa
“Gravity” Alfonso Cuarón and Mark Sanger
“12 Years a Slave” Joe Walker
BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
“The Broken Circle Breakdown” Belgium
“The Great Beauty” Italy
“The Hunt” Denmark
“The Missing Picture” Cambodia
“Omar” Palestine
BEST MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
“Dallas Buyers Club” Adruitha Lee and Robin Mathews
“Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa” Stephen Prouty
“The Lone Ranger” Joel Harlow and Gloria Pasqua-Casny
Saving Mr Banks
What’s it about?
Based on the true story of Walt Disney pursuing P.L. Travers for the movie rights to her novel Mary Poppins. Except it’s not really about that.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: A truly and wonderful engaging story that warms the heart and moistens the eyes. Nominally the story is about Disney’s pursuit of Travers, but the actual story shows us the world that shaped the author. It’s this side of the movie – rich in characterisation and emotion – that lifts it above an ordinary movie to make it extraordinary. Incredible performances and a wonderful story shine through even the faint tint of Disney propaganda. Don’t miss it! And stay for the credits and some actual recordings of events.
What’s Popular
Zootopia
What’s it about?
The modern metropolis of Zootopia is a city where animals of all kinds coexist in peace and harmony. A young rabbit realises her dream of becoming the first bunny on the police force but has to battle judgement and stereotyping all while trying to solve a missing person’s case. She enlists (forcibly) the aid of a con artist fox and the natural enemies are pushed closer and closer together.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Zootopia is simply a delight. From the incredible animation which showcases not only an intricate city of wondrous detail but also entire worlds of imagination. All held together by an engaging and clever story. Yes it’s predictable – hey it’s still a kids’ movie – but there’s enough for adults to get lost in as well. Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman are outstanding as the rabbit and fox detective duo which touches on politics and race tensions in a very subtle manner. Just great hearty fun.
Eye in the Sky
What’s it about:
A drone-led terrorist capture mission in Kenya takes an unexpected turn, throwing up an intriguing ethical dilemma for all those involved. In one of his last roles, Alan Rickman plays a typically cynical general, with Captain Phillips’ Barked Abdi in a pivotal on-the-ground role.
What did we think:
Angela Young says: This extraordinarily-gripping thriller keeps you guessing and mulling all the way, as you see through the eyes of the frankly bizarre world of modern remote warfare, tiny beetle drones and all. Superb performances from a global cast and an excellent script combine to make this a winner that’ll leave your cogs turning long after you leave the cinema.
It’s got Helen Mirren and Alan Rickman in it. That should tell you all you need to know.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2
What’s it about?
Nia Vardalos, John Corbett and the rest of the cast of 2002’s My Big Fat Greek Wedding return for a sequel involving (who’d have thought?) ANOTHER big fat Greek wedding.
What did we think?
Amy Currie says: This film is basically a montage of the entire cast running from one event to another in a very wacky panic. They wave their arms around a lot and pull faces. Man, what a bunch of characters! Family, am I right? Oh, boy.
Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice
What’s it about?
Ideologies clash as the world’s only two public superheroes come to words then blows. But is there more afoot?
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: At the end of the day you go to this movie to watch the two SuperFriends fight and/or to see Wonder Woman finally debut on the big screen. You will not be disappointed on either count. It just takes a while to get there.
For a long movie there’s not as much action as you’d expect but once it finally arrives it’s well worth the wait. The first half of the film suffers from a heck of lot of sub-plots, exposition and lingering shots of Superman as a messianic figure. The conflicting ideas of Superman being above the law, an alien and a hero to all are reasonably well explored and exploited even if Jessie Esienberg’s xenophobic Lex Luthor is more psychotic Joker than measured intellect. Affleck does well as an older, jaded Batman though his propensity to use guns and kill people sits oddly, while Gal Gadot would have stolen the show if she’d been used more.
DC is obviously playing movie catch up and trying to pack so much set-up into the front half of this film detracts from what should have been a quality gritty superhero film that lacked the whimsical one-liners of the Marvel universe. Still it was enjoyable and ends with the promise of so much more. Avoid spoilers and see it early.
Editor's Choice
Zootopia
What’s it about?
The modern metropolis of Zootopia is a city where animals of all kinds coexist in peace and harmony. A young rabbit realises her dream of becoming the first bunny on the police force but has to battle judgement and stereotyping all while trying to solve a missing person’s case. She enlists (forcibly) the aid of a con artist fox and the natural enemies are pushed closer and closer together.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Zootopia is simply a delight. From the incredible animation which showcases not only an intricate city of wondrous detail but also entire worlds of imagination. All held together by an engaging and clever story. Yes it’s predictable – hey it’s still a kids’ movie – but there’s enough for adults to get lost in as well. Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman are outstanding as the rabbit and fox detective duo which touches on politics and race tensions in a very subtle manner. Just great hearty fun.
Eye in the Sky
What’s it about:
A drone-led terrorist capture mission in Kenya takes an unexpected turn, throwing up an intriguing ethical dilemma for all those involved. In one of his last roles, Alan Rickman plays a typically cynical general, with Captain Phillips’ Barked Abdi in a pivotal on-the-ground role.
What did we think:
Angela Young says: This extraordinarily-gripping thriller keeps you guessing and mulling all the way, as you see through the eyes of the frankly bizarre world of modern remote warfare, tiny beetle drones and all. Superb performances from a global cast and an excellent script combine to make this a winner that’ll leave your cogs turning long after you leave the cinema.
It’s got Helen Mirren and Alan Rickman in it. That should tell you all you need to know.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2
What’s it about?
Nia Vardalos, John Corbett and the rest of the cast of 2002’s My Big Fat Greek Wedding return for a sequel involving (who’d have thought?) ANOTHER big fat Greek wedding.
What did we think?
Amy Currie says: This film is basically a montage of the entire cast running from one event to another in a very wacky panic. They wave their arms around a lot and pull faces. Man, what a bunch of characters! Family, am I right? Oh, boy.
Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice
What’s it about?
Ideologies clash as the world’s only two public superheroes come to words then blows. But is there more afoot?
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: At the end of the day you go to this movie to watch the two SuperFriends fight and/or to see Wonder Woman finally debut on the big screen. You will not be disappointed on either count. It just takes a while to get there.
For a long movie there’s not as much action as you’d expect but once it finally arrives it’s well worth the wait. The first half of the film suffers from a heck of lot of sub-plots, exposition and lingering shots of Superman as a messianic figure. The conflicting ideas of Superman being above the law, an alien and a hero to all are reasonably well explored and exploited even if Jessie Esienberg’s xenophobic Lex Luthor is more psychotic Joker than measured intellect. Affleck does well as an older, jaded Batman though his propensity to use guns and kill people sits oddly, while Gal Gadot would have stolen the show if she’d been used more.
DC is obviously playing movie catch up and trying to pack so much set-up into the front half of this film detracts from what should have been a quality gritty superhero film that lacked the whimsical one-liners of the Marvel universe. Still it was enjoyable and ends with the promise of so much more. Avoid spoilers and see it early.