Les Miserables
What’s it about?
Gladiator pursues Wolverine who takes in a dying Catwoman’s daughter (Red Riding Hood) after liberating her from Borat and the mad woman from every second Johnny Depp movie.
What did we think?
Anthony says: Fans of the story will leave satisfied though diehard musical nuts will shudder a bit at the inconsistent quality when they hear the people sing. There are minor quibbles, but at the end of the day you can’t complain about a reasonably faithful screen adaptation. Fans unfamiliar with the musical may leave a little exhausted but I’m sure I’m not on my own when I say it was fun without being exceptional.
Hitchcock
What’s it about? In a moment of triumph, Alfred Hitchcock’s relevance is questioned. He responds by attempting the unexpected and foolish.
“The only way to get rid of my fears is to make films about them” – Sir Alfred Hitchcock
Stephen says: Hitch had a lot of fears, and thankfully his greatest was self-doubt. It spurred him to create Psycho, which is the setting for this charming dual-focus biopic.
Full of wit, insights and fascinating anecdotes about the creation of Psycho, and the fiendish psyches of the masterful storyteller and his ingenious wife Alma as they battle the fears of Hollywood and each other … like a good Hitchock film, great fun, and not what you expect.
The acting is superb, and let’s just save time and give the Best Actress Oscar to Helen Mirren. She deserves it purely for her mesmerising ‘blonde speech’.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
What’s it about?
Tempted by promises of untold gold, a group of film-makers are lured back to Middle Earth where they magically expand a small novel into three long feature films.
What did we think?
Anthony says: Despite being bloated and excessively drawn out, it turns out the first film of the Hobbit trilogy is actually fun. With familiar characters, backdrops and the obligatory NZ tourism shots there is a sense of relaxing into a comfortable chair while watching. Which is fortuitous because it’s a long movie and feels more like set-up than a story in its own right.
Having said that I have to admit the sense of fun does over-ride the cynicism and negativity. It’s enjoyable, interesting and a visual feast. Good characterisation combines with a sense of whimsy to provide more comedy than LOTR which is a fair reflection of the original novel. I’m surprised but it actually is a worthy addition to the franchise*.
* even if the franchise will be unnecessarily long by the end of it.
Jack Reacher
What’s it about?
Tom Cruise plays Jack Reacher. A calm yet intense individualist reminiscent of Ethan Hunt, John Anderton, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell and, let’s face it, Tom Cruise (pre-couch).
Jack casually struts and punches his way through what begins as a suspenseful procedural thriller. At some point a clerical error appears to have shuffled in every other film genre available. Jack is emotionally unaffected as he travels through Bond style action, Arnie one liners, Whedonesque banter, torture-porn and stooges slapstick before finally settling on eighties style buddy cop to round out the evening.
What did we think?
Dan says: Cruise manages to hold this shamozzle together like an affable tour host on a poorly written theme park ride. His dedication to ticking off the cliches no matter what aisle of the video store they come from is admirable.
Ultimately this adds up to a fun romp but try not to think about it too much on the drive home or you’ll just get frustrated.
This Is 40
What’s it about?
Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann reprise their roles as Pete and Debbie, aka “the other people” in Knocked Up, of which this entirely unnecessary but still kind of likeable film is a spin-off sequel. Pete and Debbie are turning 40, but Debbie’s not quite ready for the reality of what that means and Pete is dealing with mounting financial pressures like a hero by not telling his wife. Hilarity, arguments and reconciliations ensue.
What did we think?
Mitch says: Hey, remember that two-hour-long episode of Modern Family that featured an alarming number of middle-class white people and also Leslie Mann’s boobs?
Oh, wait. That was this. That was this film.
Life of Pi
What’s it about?
A young man who survives a disaster at sea is hurtled into an epic journey of adventure and discovery. While cast away, he forms an unexpected connection with another survivor … a fearsome Bengal tiger.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Like a fine meal, Life Of Pi is better once you sit and reflect upon it. But there’s a fine line between satisfied digestion and an unsettling feeling in your stomach. Visually, this film is majestic and the characterisation wonderful. In fact the early stages provide an unexpected depth and layering that was both thought-provoking and had me salivating for more.
And then it hit the second act with our protagonists adrift and the layering simply disappeared. And suddenly it became quite two-dimensional before two distinctly unexpected moments late in the film – one surreal and one TOO real – left your mind racing.
Only time and reflection will tell if it leaves you a little empty after a few hours or if the platter Ang Lee serves up fills you to the brim. It’s probably not for everyone – and indeed will upset some – but it’s a thoughtful piece for hungry minds.
What’s Popular
Insurgent
What’s it about?
Part two in the Divergent trilogy sees our heroes, Tris (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James) attempt to uncover the truth about their society’s rigid faction system and bring down its Machiavellian government.
What did we think?
Lisa Clifford says: Insurgent begins where Divergent left off – a little disorientating for those unfamiliar with the first installment or novels. For a dystopian teen drama, it’s a pretty bleak look at the lengths some will go to for power and pulls no punches when it comes to violence and death. The strong cast does their best with the at-times mediocre dialogue. The story moves along a reasonable pace, spurred on by some decent edge-of-your-seat action sequences. An improvement on its predecessor, Insurgent builds to a satisfying climax while effectively setting up the final installment in the trilogy. Fans of the books and the first film will enjoy.
Home
What’s it about?
Oh, an alien on the run from his own people, lands on Earth and makes friends with the adventurous Tip, who is on a quest of her own.
What did we think?
Erin Lane says: Not even the voices of Jim Parsons and Rihanna can save Home from a terrible blandness. Their presence might help the film’s popularity and, to be honest, it probably needs all the help it can get. The forced Boov dialogue – more Jar Jar than Yoda – grates and there are so many little morals coming at you that it’s hard to see what a child would go away with from the movie. A poor plot without a consistent theme just makes it difficult viewing for adults. It alternates between too cutesy and too clever for its own good (for example Tip is a nickname because her name is Gratuity). Kids might possibly like the cute aliens (who change colour with emotions) but let’s face it, cute aliens have been done before and much better.
Big Eyes
What’s it about?
It’s the early ’60s, and Walter Keane (Christoph Waltz) is famous for his kitsch, sentimental paintings of big-eyed children. But it’s all a con – the paintings were actually created by his wife Margaret (Amy Adams), and she’s had just about enough of living in his shadow.
What did we think?
Amy Currie says: Director Tim Burton dials down his trademark spooky-quirky to make a biopic, and there’s not a Depp or Bonham Carter in sight. Adams finds the sweet spot between downtrodden and determined, and Waltz manages to be both the comic relief and a genuinely menacing presence. There’s still enough Burton-ness to make the world seem just a little larger than life (and the gorgeous sets and costumes make the audience want to run away to the ’60s) but it trails off into a made-for-TV ending. Worth seeing, but cross your fingers it doesn’t start a big-eyed art revival.
Run All Night
What’s it about?
A former mob hitman gets caught in a web of conflicting loyalties and goes on the run trying to protect his estranged son from his good friend and boss.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Run All Night is edgy, gritty, character driven and fun – everything you want in an action thriller. But despite a solid Liam Neeson performance he’s actually the biggest problem with it. His very presence robs the film of any unpredictability turning it into a by-the-numbers Neeson film (albeit an interesting one). The exploration of loyalty and the complexity of friendship and family is probably worth the price of admission but with someone else in Neeson’s role you’d truly be on the edge of your seat. Great performances and intriguing plot are let down by an eventual lack of tension.
Editor's Choice
Insurgent
What’s it about?
Part two in the Divergent trilogy sees our heroes, Tris (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James) attempt to uncover the truth about their society’s rigid faction system and bring down its Machiavellian government.
What did we think?
Lisa Clifford says: Insurgent begins where Divergent left off – a little disorientating for those unfamiliar with the first installment or novels. For a dystopian teen drama, it’s a pretty bleak look at the lengths some will go to for power and pulls no punches when it comes to violence and death. The strong cast does their best with the at-times mediocre dialogue. The story moves along a reasonable pace, spurred on by some decent edge-of-your-seat action sequences. An improvement on its predecessor, Insurgent builds to a satisfying climax while effectively setting up the final installment in the trilogy. Fans of the books and the first film will enjoy.
Home
What’s it about?
Oh, an alien on the run from his own people, lands on Earth and makes friends with the adventurous Tip, who is on a quest of her own.
What did we think?
Erin Lane says: Not even the voices of Jim Parsons and Rihanna can save Home from a terrible blandness. Their presence might help the film’s popularity and, to be honest, it probably needs all the help it can get. The forced Boov dialogue – more Jar Jar than Yoda – grates and there are so many little morals coming at you that it’s hard to see what a child would go away with from the movie. A poor plot without a consistent theme just makes it difficult viewing for adults. It alternates between too cutesy and too clever for its own good (for example Tip is a nickname because her name is Gratuity). Kids might possibly like the cute aliens (who change colour with emotions) but let’s face it, cute aliens have been done before and much better.
Big Eyes
What’s it about?
It’s the early ’60s, and Walter Keane (Christoph Waltz) is famous for his kitsch, sentimental paintings of big-eyed children. But it’s all a con – the paintings were actually created by his wife Margaret (Amy Adams), and she’s had just about enough of living in his shadow.
What did we think?
Amy Currie says: Director Tim Burton dials down his trademark spooky-quirky to make a biopic, and there’s not a Depp or Bonham Carter in sight. Adams finds the sweet spot between downtrodden and determined, and Waltz manages to be both the comic relief and a genuinely menacing presence. There’s still enough Burton-ness to make the world seem just a little larger than life (and the gorgeous sets and costumes make the audience want to run away to the ’60s) but it trails off into a made-for-TV ending. Worth seeing, but cross your fingers it doesn’t start a big-eyed art revival.
Run All Night
What’s it about?
A former mob hitman gets caught in a web of conflicting loyalties and goes on the run trying to protect his estranged son from his good friend and boss.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: Run All Night is edgy, gritty, character driven and fun – everything you want in an action thriller. But despite a solid Liam Neeson performance he’s actually the biggest problem with it. His very presence robs the film of any unpredictability turning it into a by-the-numbers Neeson film (albeit an interesting one). The exploration of loyalty and the complexity of friendship and family is probably worth the price of admission but with someone else in Neeson’s role you’d truly be on the edge of your seat. Great performances and intriguing plot are let down by an eventual lack of tension.