The Company You Keep
A collection of domestic freedom fighters from the seventies have their thirty year hiding spots blown open by an upstart journalist in this well paced chase movie where no one breaks the speed limit.
Dan says: Each member of Robert Redford’s over-the-hill cast feels like a beloved and well worn piece of clothing that Hollywood has decreed is out of style. Combined, the outfit is not only as comfortable as you remember, it has also become retro-cool. LaBeouf stands out like a pure white iPod that nonetheless slips perfectly inside the jacket pocket completing the ensemble.
No surprises in this suspense but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Iron Man 3
What’s it about?
Picking up in the aftermath of The Avengers, Tony Stark is dealing with his brush with death by ignoring the world until a terrorist called The Mandarin brings the battle to Stark’s doorstep.
What did we think?
Anthony says: If you’ve seen the trailers you’ve seen most of the twists and a good deal of the action already. But you’ve not quite seen it all and there’s enough to keep even the rabid fans happy. There are lots of explosions, snarky dialogue and a stunt scene that has to be seen to be believed. The plot is a tad clunky at times but it’s clever, humorous and – most importantly of all – big. Spectacular in parts, even.
It’s not a great movie but it is great fun.
3.75/5.
Song for Marion
What’s it about?
Arthur, a stereotypically cantankerous old man with a complete aversion to fun learns to cope with the death of his wife, Marion, while mending the strained relationship with his son and carrying on Marion’s legacy at the local choir club. Think Glee but with old people.
What did we think?
Matthew says: From beginning to end, Song for Marion is as clichéd and predictable as it comes. If it weren’t for Stamp, Redgrave (and even Arterton), this movie would have fallen completely into the dark abyss of mediocrity. It’s a shame they did not have a huge amount of material to work with and much of the plot seemed to be dragged out and made to appear larger than what it was. It lacked the impact it should have had but the sincere performances and one particular solo still managed to move me to manly tears (a fact that I will strongly deny).
Jurassic Park 3D
What’s it about?
An eccentric billionaire (Richard Attenborough) employs a pair of palaeontologists (Sam Neill and Laura Dern), a rock star mathematician (Jeff Goldblum), and his grandchildren (Ariana Richards and Joseph Mazzello) to earn their seal of approval for his ground-breaking, but woefully understaffed, dinosaur park. All it takes is one rogue technician and a poorly thought out power grid for the aspirant utopia to become a walking, screeching nightmare…
What did we think?
Mitch says: This 3D re-release is a testament to the visual achievement that Jurassic Park really is – here we are, 20 years later, and the animatronic work of Stan Winston and his crew is as captivating and believable as it was 1993, even having gone through the rigours of 3D processing. The film itself as is enjoyable a ride as ever, with the added bonus that now at least you can say you’ve seen a man die on the toilet in 3D.
G.I. Joe: Retaliation
What’s it about?
The G.I. Joes are not only fighting their mortal enemy Cobra; they are forced to contend with threats from within the government that jeopardize their existence.
What did we think?
Anthony says: Putting Channum Tating, the Rock and Bruce Willis together in a movie sounds like a no-brainer. Sadly they must’ve used up all the money on the cast and special effects (which are impressive, it must be said) and none on writers. Or continuity/error checkers. There are a couple of great action scenes but this 110-minute-long action-figure advertisement has more plotholes than…. zzzz. Sorry, what was I writing? I nodded off just thinking about the movie.
Escape From Planet Earth
What’s it about?
An heroic alien being is lured to Earth (aka The Dark Planet) by a false SOS and captured. His smarter but no-so-heroic alien brother sets out to rescue him.
What did we think?
Anthony says: You’ll want to Escape From The Theatre. While the premise of humans being the feared bad guys promises some interest, the fact aliens all seem to act the same way just leaves this film as space junk. William Shatner playing the bad guy is the sole saving grace of a movie that will only appeal to the very young.
What’s Popular
Love and Mercy
Wouldn’t it be nice?
Far From the Madding Crowd
What’s it about?
Intelligent, independent and beautiful Bathsheba Everdene (Carey Mulligan) inherits her uncle’s farm and is determined to “astonish” everyone by making it prosper. As she pursues her goals, she also navigates the courtship of three men: a shepherd, a soldier and her wealthy, mature neighbour.
What did we think?
Francesca Percy says: I haven’t read Thomas Hardy’s novel, on which this is based, so I came to the story fresh. And it was excellent. It reminded me of a Merchant Ivory production, but it was grounded by the many hardships of the time and didn’t stray into sentimentality. It’s worth the price of the ticket just for the lush scenes of rural English life, but I was also entirely caught up in the story. The characters, particularly Bathsheba’s suitors, might have easily been one-dimensional stereotypes, but they were fully-realised and beautifully performed, and the subplots were just as affecting as the central focus on Bathsheba’s pursuit of a life of integrity and purpose, without compromise. I think I may have to read the book!
Strangerland
What’s It About?
When two teenage children vanish into the outback, their parents’ already troubled marriage unravels further.
What Did We Think?
Amy Currie says: This home-grown drama doesn’t quite know what it wants to be. Psychological drama? Whodunit? Neither? Parents Nicole Kidman and Joseph Finnes go for gritty, but look disconcertingly groomed and shiny for residents of an outback town (new arrivals, it’s true – but new arrivals from ANOTHER outback town). Our Nicole’s performance is surprisingly good for a while, but ends up veering into samey melodrama, while local cop Hugo Weaving is as solid as ever. The beautifully shot film is obviously trying for a sense of mysterious uncertainty, but it’s one thing to leave questions unanswered and another to leave them frustratingly ignored.
Jurassic World
aka Jurassic Parks and Recreation
What’s it about?
A theme park filled with living dinosaurs has put its chaotic past behind it and has been trading for years but their newest creation may be more than they can safely contain.
What we thought
Dan says: It’s impossible to measure up to the original Jurassic Park. It showed us movie monsters that we’d never seen before that reignited interest in the field of palaeontology. This script tries to out-do its predecessor with some truly absurd conceits. The strangest thing is that they all manage to work. The characters make some dumb decisions but the universe logic is tight and the action thick and visceral. People who love dinosaurs made this film and people who love dinosaurs will gobble it up.
Editor's Choice
Love and Mercy
Wouldn’t it be nice?
Far From the Madding Crowd
What’s it about?
Intelligent, independent and beautiful Bathsheba Everdene (Carey Mulligan) inherits her uncle’s farm and is determined to “astonish” everyone by making it prosper. As she pursues her goals, she also navigates the courtship of three men: a shepherd, a soldier and her wealthy, mature neighbour.
What did we think?
Francesca Percy says: I haven’t read Thomas Hardy’s novel, on which this is based, so I came to the story fresh. And it was excellent. It reminded me of a Merchant Ivory production, but it was grounded by the many hardships of the time and didn’t stray into sentimentality. It’s worth the price of the ticket just for the lush scenes of rural English life, but I was also entirely caught up in the story. The characters, particularly Bathsheba’s suitors, might have easily been one-dimensional stereotypes, but they were fully-realised and beautifully performed, and the subplots were just as affecting as the central focus on Bathsheba’s pursuit of a life of integrity and purpose, without compromise. I think I may have to read the book!
Strangerland
What’s It About?
When two teenage children vanish into the outback, their parents’ already troubled marriage unravels further.
What Did We Think?
Amy Currie says: This home-grown drama doesn’t quite know what it wants to be. Psychological drama? Whodunit? Neither? Parents Nicole Kidman and Joseph Finnes go for gritty, but look disconcertingly groomed and shiny for residents of an outback town (new arrivals, it’s true – but new arrivals from ANOTHER outback town). Our Nicole’s performance is surprisingly good for a while, but ends up veering into samey melodrama, while local cop Hugo Weaving is as solid as ever. The beautifully shot film is obviously trying for a sense of mysterious uncertainty, but it’s one thing to leave questions unanswered and another to leave them frustratingly ignored.
Jurassic World
aka Jurassic Parks and Recreation
What’s it about?
A theme park filled with living dinosaurs has put its chaotic past behind it and has been trading for years but their newest creation may be more than they can safely contain.
What we thought
Dan says: It’s impossible to measure up to the original Jurassic Park. It showed us movie monsters that we’d never seen before that reignited interest in the field of palaeontology. This script tries to out-do its predecessor with some truly absurd conceits. The strangest thing is that they all manage to work. The characters make some dumb decisions but the universe logic is tight and the action thick and visceral. People who love dinosaurs made this film and people who love dinosaurs will gobble it up.