A Street Cat Named Bob
What’s it about?
A recovering heroin addict uses up five of his nine lives when he survives an overdose, gets a leg-up from a case-worker/guardian angel, meets a girl who might help him straighten out his life, tries to reconnect with his father, and is adopted by a street cat.
What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: Homelessness and drug addiction go hand in hand; and this story opens your eyes to what happens on the other side of the tracks, and just how incredibly hard it is to get a second chance. Whilst a little clunky in its telling, the emotional connection of this harrowing, yet heartwarming story will leave you with a tear in your eye, and the knowledge that cats are indeed the best people.
Fifty Shades Darker
What’s it about?
The sequel to Fifty Shades of Grey sees sexually dominant Christian Grey beg his lady love, Anastasia Steel to come (snigger) back into his life, but not without women from his past shaking things up.
What did we think?
Andrew Danyals says: I have to admit that while watching this, I had the urge to be tied up and licked. Or spanked. Pretty much anything to get my mind off this dreadful movie. While it has slightly better eroticism than the first one (not necessarily saying much), the sequel suffers from a discordant narrative that drove me nuts. It’s all over the place. I like seeing the exploration of erotic themes and empowering situations on the big screen but this barely qualifies as the former and still confuses as the latter. I still can’t get over how a film about this sort of sex is somehow so very vanilla.
DISSENTING SQR REVIEW BELOW
Patriots Day
What’s it about?
A retelling of the horrific Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, and the dramatic four-day chase of the Tsarnaev brothers.
What did we think?
Angela Young says: Hollywood dramatising recent tragic events makes me uneasy, so I can’t say I find this film anything other than distasteful and unnecessary. That said, it’s reasonably well told (not too much high-drama BS thrown in with the facts) and a lot of the actors do a pretty good job, including Kevin Bacon and a strangely deflated-looking John Goodman, though Mark Wahlberg’s made-up hero character designed to neatly tie things up is pretty overdone. I’d much rather see a well-made documentary.
Live By Night
What’s it about?
It’s the 1920s, and Ben Affleck is a zoot suit-wearing, machine gun-toting gangster. Sometimes he has feelings, but you can’t really tell.
What we thought
Amy Currie says: Live by Night is overstuffed with plot and takes itself far too seriously. I’m sure the book on which it was based is quite interesting, and that it would have made a decent Netflix series. As it is, it’s not so much a saga as an edited highlights package. It certainly looks pretty, and some of the subplots and characters are genuinely intriguing. They’re gone in a flash, though, and we’re back to more of Affleck not moving his face.
Don’t bother.
Manchester By The Sea
A sombre examination of mourning as a withdrawn and troubled man is unexpectedly left guardianship of his dead brother’s 16-year-old son.
Angela Young says: This film will split audiences. For me, I was seared in two by its utterly real depiction of a pain so awful as to kill a man’s soul. An eccentric soundtrack (from orchestral to choral to swing) and extremely slow pace fits this artistic masterpiece like a glove. Casey Affleck’s portrayal of Lee – now guardian of his late brother’s kid – deserves the Oscar. Michelle Williams’ brief appearances are perfect, and Lucas Hedges is spot on as the kid. A profoundly moving piece on the vast variances of mourning, superbly written and directed.
Split
What’s it about?
A trio of teenagers are kidnapped and imprisoned by a brilliant but strange man with ambiguous motives. Also, it’s an M. Night Shyamalan film, so, you know, take that as you will.
What we thought
Dan Beeston says:If there’s one thing M. Night does well, it is suspense. The problem is that there is always a sword of Damocles distracting you from being in the moment. That notion that you’re waiting for ‘The Twist™’. Ignore that. Split is not ‘The 6th Sense’. It’s just a scary and interesting story told well.
It’s also one where you can’t trust the reviewer’s experience. I can tell that some people will get a lot more out of this than I did and some people will be left frustrated. Ironically, I expect ‘Split’ to be divisive.
What’s Popular
Tully
What’s it about?
GAH! Charlize Theron and Ron Livingston have a third baby! It’s awful. The other two children are bad enough. So many children! Nappies! Sore nipples! Sleep Deprivation! Dear Lord! It’s like one of those educational health films from high school except this time they’re using a more persuasive technique to get you to use condoms. At any rate, a savant babysitter turns up and everything settles down a bit.
What we thought
Dan says: This paints the portrait of parenthood, warts and all, and when Tully finally turns up to get things in order it’s with a sigh of relief from the audience as well. Great moments of cinematography, charming performances and some decently funny jokes allow this film to stick the landing.
If you’re single, watch this film and pat yourself on the back for good decisions made. If you’ve had kids, enjoy watching what you’ve already survived. And if you’ve got a newborn…
God help you.
Breath
What’s it about?
Two young boys growing up in 70s Australia are befriended by a stranger who lures them out of their comfort zone as they struggle with their identity.
What did we think?
This simply delightful coming-of-age film is incredibly intimate and wonderfully genuine. It’s unapologetically Australian and that rawness only adds to the emotions of the characterisation. Simon Baker’s directorial debut is ridiculously impressive especially given the constraints of weather dependence and an inexperienced cast. However the cast are magnificent from the two young boys – Ben Spence and Samson Coulter – to the understated Richard Roxburgh.
I grew up in the 70s but in the desert hundreds of kilometres from the surf which sets the background and culture for this flick. The fact it still spoke to me so strongly just shows what an impressive film this is. Slow-paced and stronger for it, this is not a surfing movie as such, but one where surfing is merely important.
Unsane
What’s it about?
Sawyer (Claire Foy) is a young woman starting a new life in a new city but is still traumatised by an incident from back home. After a single session with a counsellor, she unwittingly signs herself in to being committed to a mental instituton. She insists there is nothing wrong with her, but her stay becomes involuntary when the staff begin to question her sanity, and she is forced to confront her greatest fear.
What did we think?
James Tinniswood says: I am so happy Steven Soderbergh is back pumping out movies, especially interesting little gambles like this. Shot entirely on an iPhone but with a good thriller script, this fits in somewhere between his studio and indie/experimental films. Claire Foy is excellent, and Jay Pharoah is also solid support. The ambiguity about what’s really going on gets resolved maybe a bit too early and it becomes more of a conventional thriller, but it’s still an impressive experiment in tension.
Avengers: Infinity War
What’s it about?
Thanos sends his cronies to acquire the remaining infinity stones while our heroes try to stop him. That’s it.
What did we think?
After this movie the term ‘action-packed’ will never be the same. Cramming nearly every Marvel hero into two-and-half hours means non-stop quips and fights. As such, the actual storyline is extremely thin and simple, but the investment in the characters we’ve built up over the past ten years ensures you’ll cheer, laugh and gasp regardless. The sheer number of potential spoiler moments in this movie makes it difficult to write about, but if you’ve enjoyed any of the Marvel films, rest assured you’ll love this ‘roided-up herofest. It’s a delightful romp that is a culmination without being a finale.
Editor's Choice
Tully
What’s it about?
GAH! Charlize Theron and Ron Livingston have a third baby! It’s awful. The other two children are bad enough. So many children! Nappies! Sore nipples! Sleep Deprivation! Dear Lord! It’s like one of those educational health films from high school except this time they’re using a more persuasive technique to get you to use condoms. At any rate, a savant babysitter turns up and everything settles down a bit.
What we thought
Dan says: This paints the portrait of parenthood, warts and all, and when Tully finally turns up to get things in order it’s with a sigh of relief from the audience as well. Great moments of cinematography, charming performances and some decently funny jokes allow this film to stick the landing.
If you’re single, watch this film and pat yourself on the back for good decisions made. If you’ve had kids, enjoy watching what you’ve already survived. And if you’ve got a newborn…
God help you.
Breath
What’s it about?
Two young boys growing up in 70s Australia are befriended by a stranger who lures them out of their comfort zone as they struggle with their identity.
What did we think?
This simply delightful coming-of-age film is incredibly intimate and wonderfully genuine. It’s unapologetically Australian and that rawness only adds to the emotions of the characterisation. Simon Baker’s directorial debut is ridiculously impressive especially given the constraints of weather dependence and an inexperienced cast. However the cast are magnificent from the two young boys – Ben Spence and Samson Coulter – to the understated Richard Roxburgh.
I grew up in the 70s but in the desert hundreds of kilometres from the surf which sets the background and culture for this flick. The fact it still spoke to me so strongly just shows what an impressive film this is. Slow-paced and stronger for it, this is not a surfing movie as such, but one where surfing is merely important.
Unsane
What’s it about?
Sawyer (Claire Foy) is a young woman starting a new life in a new city but is still traumatised by an incident from back home. After a single session with a counsellor, she unwittingly signs herself in to being committed to a mental instituton. She insists there is nothing wrong with her, but her stay becomes involuntary when the staff begin to question her sanity, and she is forced to confront her greatest fear.
What did we think?
James Tinniswood says: I am so happy Steven Soderbergh is back pumping out movies, especially interesting little gambles like this. Shot entirely on an iPhone but with a good thriller script, this fits in somewhere between his studio and indie/experimental films. Claire Foy is excellent, and Jay Pharoah is also solid support. The ambiguity about what’s really going on gets resolved maybe a bit too early and it becomes more of a conventional thriller, but it’s still an impressive experiment in tension.
Avengers: Infinity War
What’s it about?
Thanos sends his cronies to acquire the remaining infinity stones while our heroes try to stop him. That’s it.
What did we think?
After this movie the term ‘action-packed’ will never be the same. Cramming nearly every Marvel hero into two-and-half hours means non-stop quips and fights. As such, the actual storyline is extremely thin and simple, but the investment in the characters we’ve built up over the past ten years ensures you’ll cheer, laugh and gasp regardless. The sheer number of potential spoiler moments in this movie makes it difficult to write about, but if you’ve enjoyed any of the Marvel films, rest assured you’ll love this ‘roided-up herofest. It’s a delightful romp that is a culmination without being a finale.