The Sense of an Ending
What’s it about?
Tony (Jim Broadbent) leads a reclusive, curmudgeonly existence until a letter from his past resurfaces and forces him to confront his flawed recollections of his past in the film adaptation of Julian Barnes’ Man Booker Prize-winning novel.
King Arthur: Legend of the Sword
What’s it all about then?
From the beginnin’. Well, there’s this roguish lad see, an’ ‘e an’ his mates are plannin’ a heist …
‘Old on, ‘old on. Yer sure nothin’ ‘appened before the beginnin’? Aw yeah, that’s right. Ye see (flashback) the kid’s not the bastard son of a prostitute, but actually heir to ye olde Englaland’s throne.
That’s more like it my son. Go on … There’s this magical scimitar an’ rooftop parkour an’ a kind-but-fair oriental fight instructor, y’know, everything you’d expect in 6th century Londinium …
What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: in a gloriously raucous post-Roman-occupied Britanniae, trouble is brewing in a cockney lad’s-own adventure that’s bleedingly obviously directed by Guy Ritchie without having all the promos blaring it at a million decibels. Fast, romance-free, with a (fantastic) soundtrack that makes you go “yeah – that’s what action movie music must’ve sounded like in 629AD”, it’s Lock Stock and One Smoking Excalibur. Exactly what you expect.
Snatched
What’s it about?
A girl who’s just been dumped takes her mum on her romantic trip to Equador after she realises the tickets are non-refundable. They get kidnapped.
Alien: Covenant
A crew of colonists find themselves tracking an alien signal only to find… well, an alien.
Nick Bleeker says: Putting aside the fact that there’s not a lot “new” in Covenant, Michael Fassbender delivers an electrifying performance, the action and gore is insane, and the film looks wonderful. Even shorter review? It’s better than Prometheus.
A Dog’s Purpose
What’s it about?
A dog searches for the meaning of his life by living many lives himself. Yes, there are multiple dog deaths.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: The trailer promised it would be a tear-jerker but A Dog’s Purpose surprisingly turned out to also be very funny and intelligent. Yes, it’s hard to not cry (it was a very dusty cinema dammit – stuff kept getting in my eyes) but you’re left seeing it as an incredibly sweet movie. As someone who has never really recovered from losing his childhood dog, I didn’t think I’d be able to enjoy this one, but I actually really liked it.
What’s Popular
The Merger
What’s it about?
Bodgy Creek’s footy club has no players, no coach, and (unless they merge with a just-as-shitty club) no future … could prodigal son, former AFL rising star and “town killer” Troy Carrington find redemption by saving the Roosters with a motley crew of refugees?
What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: it’s been a long time between drinks for heart-warming Australian comedies, but The Merger is here to shout a round (beer or cordial), rouse a cheer, and yes, coax a tear. There’s romance without being gushy, there’s a morality tale without being preachy, there’s a bratty kid who’s actually pretty damn cool (Raffety Grierson is a revelation), and there’s lots of down-to-earth swearing to remind you of this country’s heart. Shit yeah.
Based on Damian Callinan’s stage play (which is now on my must-see list), The Merger is destined to join other Aussie favourites like The Castle, Red Dog andThe Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert in shining a light on who we are as a people through topical and controversial issues that actually date back over 200 years.
#GoRoosters
Mile 22
What’s it about?
Mark Wahlberg and other angry friends try and transport a guy 22 miles while avoiding death by terrorists.
What did we think?
Nick says: Mile 22 offers nothing but epileptic action, an insanely poor editing job and poorly written, asshole characters. It gets a star because Iko Uwais is solid and at least it’s around 90 minutes long.
The Happytime Murders
What’s it about?
To clear his name of the brutal (yet strangely hilarious) Happytime murders, disgraced ex-cop turned private dick Phil Philips must overcome the bad blood between him and his old LAPD partner. But Phil’s a puppet living in a human world, and we all know puppets are only good for singing and dancing. Not being racist, just telling it like it is.
What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: believe it or not, there is a story thread running throughout this flick that comments on the racial tensions in Western society, but you can easily ignore that and take Happytime Murders for what it is: a blend of every b-grade buddy cop movie with Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Meet the Feebles.
It’s puerile, clichéd and predictable – in a good way. You know what to expect, it’s done well, and the jokes are more hit than miss.
I hope it moooooooves you in the same way it mooooooved me.
Crazy Rich Asians
What’s it about?
Rachel agrees to accompany her longtime boyfriend to his best mate’s wedding in Singapore, which will involve her meeting the family. Then she finds out he’s one of the country’s most eligible bachelors. He’s also rich… like, crazy rich… and she’s pushed into the spotlight.
What did we think?
Elizabeth Best says: I love the fact that this isn’t an “Asian” movie per se: it transcends race. It’s a blockbuster romantic comedy that just happens to have an all-Asian cast. Because of the wealth of the characters, it’s a feast for the eyes as well as the heart. Thoroughly enjoyable modern take on the Cinderella trope that proves diversity on screen doesn’t just work, it kicks ass.
Also, this movie made me feel really really poor, and really really single. Just saying.
Editor's Choice
The Merger
What’s it about?
Bodgy Creek’s footy club has no players, no coach, and (unless they merge with a just-as-shitty club) no future … could prodigal son, former AFL rising star and “town killer” Troy Carrington find redemption by saving the Roosters with a motley crew of refugees?
What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: it’s been a long time between drinks for heart-warming Australian comedies, but The Merger is here to shout a round (beer or cordial), rouse a cheer, and yes, coax a tear. There’s romance without being gushy, there’s a morality tale without being preachy, there’s a bratty kid who’s actually pretty damn cool (Raffety Grierson is a revelation), and there’s lots of down-to-earth swearing to remind you of this country’s heart. Shit yeah.
Based on Damian Callinan’s stage play (which is now on my must-see list), The Merger is destined to join other Aussie favourites like The Castle, Red Dog andThe Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert in shining a light on who we are as a people through topical and controversial issues that actually date back over 200 years.
#GoRoosters
Mile 22
What’s it about?
Mark Wahlberg and other angry friends try and transport a guy 22 miles while avoiding death by terrorists.
What did we think?
Nick says: Mile 22 offers nothing but epileptic action, an insanely poor editing job and poorly written, asshole characters. It gets a star because Iko Uwais is solid and at least it’s around 90 minutes long.
The Happytime Murders
What’s it about?
To clear his name of the brutal (yet strangely hilarious) Happytime murders, disgraced ex-cop turned private dick Phil Philips must overcome the bad blood between him and his old LAPD partner. But Phil’s a puppet living in a human world, and we all know puppets are only good for singing and dancing. Not being racist, just telling it like it is.
What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: believe it or not, there is a story thread running throughout this flick that comments on the racial tensions in Western society, but you can easily ignore that and take Happytime Murders for what it is: a blend of every b-grade buddy cop movie with Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Meet the Feebles.
It’s puerile, clichéd and predictable – in a good way. You know what to expect, it’s done well, and the jokes are more hit than miss.
I hope it moooooooves you in the same way it mooooooved me.
Crazy Rich Asians
What’s it about?
Rachel agrees to accompany her longtime boyfriend to his best mate’s wedding in Singapore, which will involve her meeting the family. Then she finds out he’s one of the country’s most eligible bachelors. He’s also rich… like, crazy rich… and she’s pushed into the spotlight.
What did we think?
Elizabeth Best says: I love the fact that this isn’t an “Asian” movie per se: it transcends race. It’s a blockbuster romantic comedy that just happens to have an all-Asian cast. Because of the wealth of the characters, it’s a feast for the eyes as well as the heart. Thoroughly enjoyable modern take on the Cinderella trope that proves diversity on screen doesn’t just work, it kicks ass.
Also, this movie made me feel really really poor, and really really single. Just saying.