The Three Stooges
What’s it about?
While trying to save their childhood orphanage, Moe, Larry, and Curly inadvertently stumble into a murder plot and wind up starring in a reality TV show.
What did we think?
I have never understood the appeal of slapstick and this puerile offering has only strengthened my distaste. With incredibly weak writing, infantile humour and extended Jersey Shore character appearances, what’s not to dislike?
Not even seeing Snooky being poked in the eye made it pleasurable. Indeed by the end of the film I felt as if I’d been poked myself.
Brave
What’s it about?
Determined to make her own path in life, Princess Merida defies a custom that brings chaos to her kingdom. Can she undo a beastly curse?
What did we think?
For a movie featuring archery, it’s ironic that Brave doesn’t quite hit the mark. It’s a little predictable and oddly two-dimensional – very strange for a PIXAR offering. The characters are rich, the scenery is stunning but the story just lacks depth and any lasting connection.
I’m not sure whether it’s because the movie has had so many problems with re-writes and re-workings or Disney interfered to make it a ‘safe’ movie, but Brave is a solid movie without the usual PIXAR magic.
Snow White and the Huntsman
What’s it about?
In a twist to the fairy tale, the Huntsman ordered to take Snow White into the woods to be killed winds up becoming her protector and mentor in a quest to vanquish the Evil Queen.
What did we think?
Far better than you expect it to be, though not as good as it could have been. Obviously curtailed from stepping into the darkness and mayhem it so longs for in order to maximise audiences, Snow White nonetheless manages to engage on a more adult level than most popcorn flicks.
A Royal Affair
What’s it about?
After being married to the slightly off-kilter King of Denmark, the Queen finds solace in her relationship (and subsequent romance) with the royal physician. Their enlightened ideals create swift policy change and bring about a revolution in Danish political history, until their affair is discovered and severe consequences result.
What did we think?
Not quite the bodice-ripping, passionate tale that its title might suggest, the film does manage to effectively convey the historical implications of the events in the film. It adheres a bit too strictly to period-piece conventions and doesn’t do much to invest reason to care about the relationship between the lovers. Historical accuracy is given priority over the romantic swoon factor, which makes everything feel somewhat dry. Only Mikkel Folsgaard as the mad King injects a bit of humour and liveliness into the proceedings.
That’s My Boy
What’s it about?
While in his teens, Donny fathered a son, Todd, and raised him as a single parent up until Todd’s 18th birthday. Now, after not seeing each other for years, Todd’s world comes crashing down when Donny resurfaces just before Todd’s wedding.
What did we think?
The world is a dumber place for having this movie in it. Even diehard Adam Sandler fans will struggle to find anything redeeming in a movie that starts with the statutory rape of a 13-year-old and works up to puerile adolescent humour.
Tasteless at best, I don’t think there’s actually a redeeming quality in the entire 114 extremely painful minutes.
Rock of Ages
What’s it about?
It’s 1987 on the Sunset Strip. A small-town girl meets a city boy and they both pursue their Hollywood dreams. Based on the mega-hit stage musical.
What did we think?
Liz says: I’m a musical lover who’s seen Rock of Ages on stage four times. My plus-one was a musical theatre cynic, whose only exposure of ROA was through the flick’s publicity trail. But we both love the glam-rock ’80s music scene and came to the same conclusion: the movie hit some marks and missed others.
It awkwardly straddles the line between comedy and drama, with some numbers that had me rocking out of my seat, and some that left me wanting more. But Tom Cruise, as rocker Stacee Jaxx, was a revelation. And I generally dislike Cruise, so that’s saying something.
It wasn’t amazing, but it wasn’t bad either. It was movie limbo. But it’s certainly not the stage show.
What’s Popular
Let’s Be Cops
What’s it about?
Two friends dress up as policeman and get carried away when they get mistaken for the real thing.
What did we think?
What do you get when you have a cop movie without cops? This. With a simple premise, Let’s Be Cops is really a one-joke wonder trading off the popularity of TV’s New Girl. And for fans of the show that’s probably gong to be enough. Nick and Coach…. er… I mean Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans are likable (and rather similar to their small screen characters) but there’s just not enough in the script for anyone.
For non-New Girl fans, the first half of the movie is sort of okay but it just runs out of direction and laughs. After awhile it feels like you’re the one doing time. Don’t do the crime kids.
The Drop
What it’s about?
Set in the working-class streets of Brooklyn, Bob Saginowski (Tom Hardy) is an unassuming bartender working at his cousin’s bar that operates as a “drop” taking illegal cash deposits from the Mafia.
What do we think?
Andrew Stewart says: This is a movie that builds slowly, storing small pieces of intense energy away until the pressure gets too much and it explodes all over the screen in the most satisfying way. The ending is gripping and is a fitting crescendo to the complex character development carefully crafted throughout. Both Hardy and the late James Gandolfini (The Sopranos) make this mobster thriller worth seeing.
The Mule
What’s it about?
In 1983, a meek Australian footballer (Angus Sampson) is detained by local law enforcement for seven days, until he passes the heroin he is smuggling in his stomach.
What did we think?
Dominic Barlow says: For the first 45 minutes, the film is a dark comedy with a hapless, loveable hero under serious pressure. After that, things go from strangely funny to just strange, because we spend roughly as much time in the affairs of the no-good cops and crooks around him. There’s some nice period touches, with high-panted outfits and TVs tuned to the America’s Cup, to create a muddy feel of middle-class Australia. It’s also stacked with fine performances from the likes of Hugo Weaving, John Noble and Noni Hazelhurst. On the whole, though, it’s a grubby crime caper that doesn’t have much humour, and not much intrigue either.
Interstellar
What’s it about?
With humanity facing a ticking clock on earth, a band of scientists launch a mission to space to find a way to expand into the universe.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: During Interstellar I occasionally found myself reminded of the strong emotional impact that 2001: A Space Odyssey had on me as a child which was wonderful. It took me awhile (luckily we had almost three hours) to realise that while it was emotive it was actually a little light on substance. Sure there are some interesting themes and thought provoking concepts (despite some highly theoretical science) but Interstellar’s greatest failing is its obvious US target demographic.
With WAY too much exposition and Nolan’s inexplicable and incessant need to wrap every little end up neatly, what starts out as a majestic movie capturing both the wonder and terror of being in space sadly finishes feeling like a cliched film from just about any genre. Is it good? Yes. Are the effects impressive? Hell yes. Will you enjoy it? Probably. Will you rush out to see it a second time? Doubtful.
Editor's Choice
Let’s Be Cops
What’s it about?
Two friends dress up as policeman and get carried away when they get mistaken for the real thing.
What did we think?
What do you get when you have a cop movie without cops? This. With a simple premise, Let’s Be Cops is really a one-joke wonder trading off the popularity of TV’s New Girl. And for fans of the show that’s probably gong to be enough. Nick and Coach…. er… I mean Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans are likable (and rather similar to their small screen characters) but there’s just not enough in the script for anyone.
For non-New Girl fans, the first half of the movie is sort of okay but it just runs out of direction and laughs. After awhile it feels like you’re the one doing time. Don’t do the crime kids.
The Drop
What it’s about?
Set in the working-class streets of Brooklyn, Bob Saginowski (Tom Hardy) is an unassuming bartender working at his cousin’s bar that operates as a “drop” taking illegal cash deposits from the Mafia.
What do we think?
Andrew Stewart says: This is a movie that builds slowly, storing small pieces of intense energy away until the pressure gets too much and it explodes all over the screen in the most satisfying way. The ending is gripping and is a fitting crescendo to the complex character development carefully crafted throughout. Both Hardy and the late James Gandolfini (The Sopranos) make this mobster thriller worth seeing.
The Mule
What’s it about?
In 1983, a meek Australian footballer (Angus Sampson) is detained by local law enforcement for seven days, until he passes the heroin he is smuggling in his stomach.
What did we think?
Dominic Barlow says: For the first 45 minutes, the film is a dark comedy with a hapless, loveable hero under serious pressure. After that, things go from strangely funny to just strange, because we spend roughly as much time in the affairs of the no-good cops and crooks around him. There’s some nice period touches, with high-panted outfits and TVs tuned to the America’s Cup, to create a muddy feel of middle-class Australia. It’s also stacked with fine performances from the likes of Hugo Weaving, John Noble and Noni Hazelhurst. On the whole, though, it’s a grubby crime caper that doesn’t have much humour, and not much intrigue either.
Interstellar
What’s it about?
With humanity facing a ticking clock on earth, a band of scientists launch a mission to space to find a way to expand into the universe.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: During Interstellar I occasionally found myself reminded of the strong emotional impact that 2001: A Space Odyssey had on me as a child which was wonderful. It took me awhile (luckily we had almost three hours) to realise that while it was emotive it was actually a little light on substance. Sure there are some interesting themes and thought provoking concepts (despite some highly theoretical science) but Interstellar’s greatest failing is its obvious US target demographic.
With WAY too much exposition and Nolan’s inexplicable and incessant need to wrap every little end up neatly, what starts out as a majestic movie capturing both the wonder and terror of being in space sadly finishes feeling like a cliched film from just about any genre. Is it good? Yes. Are the effects impressive? Hell yes. Will you enjoy it? Probably. Will you rush out to see it a second time? Doubtful.