Passengers
What’s it about?
When a spaceship malfunctions, two passengers on a 120-year voyage to a new home planet wake up from their sleep state 90 years too early.
What did we think?
Elizabeth Best says: Take a sci-fi flick, throw in some romance, a few major (and kind of messed up) ethical dilemmas, and a healthy dose of tension and you have a movie that will almost certainly promote robust discussion of that “what would you do?” variety after the credits roll. In what seems to be a trend in movies these days, the trailer for Passengers is a little misleading. Without spoiling things, the premise of this movie is a LOT darker than we are led to believe.
La La Land
What’s it about?
An aspiring actress (Emma Stone) and a jazz musician (Ryan Gosling) meet and fall in love in Los Angeles, musical style.
What did we think?
Elizabeth Best says: La La Land is simultaneously a loving homage to the golden age of cinema and completely uncharted filmic territory; nostalgic and new all at once. It delivers the feelings of falling in love in a heady, melodic rush that’s absolutely captivating. It channels films such as Singin’ in the Rain and An American in Paris while navigating the modern pitfalls of romance. But it’s so caught up in the quirky and magical “newness” of its concept that towards the middle it seems to rely solely on that. Unfortunately, this means the pacing feels at odds with the gloriousness of the rest of the film. But the magic returns for a finale guaranteed to take your breath away.
Collateral Beauty
What’s it about?
An advertising executive (Will Smith) totally shuts down when tragedy strikes. His “concerned” friends (Kate Winslet, Edward Norton, Michael Pena) try to help when he starts questioning the universe and writing letters to the concept of Time, Death and Love.
What did we think?
Elizabeth Best says: The intriguing trailer for this film is a lie. The concept, so artfully set up in the preview, is destroyed minutes into the film, creating a jarring effect that leaves a bitter, mean-spirited aftertaste. Collateral Beauty is emotionally manipulative, and seems to be created specifically to tug so fucking hard on heartstrings that it makes some kind of discordant non-musical cacophony of awfulness. It’s a movie purely about emotions that feels like it was made by someone who doesn’t understand how to human AT ALL. It gets two stars for what I thought the concept was, and the rest of the three taken off for what the actual movie robbed me of.
Assassin’s Creed
What’s it about?
A condemned man is rescued to take part in an experiment that allows him to connect to his ancestor’s memories using science… What? Really? How on Earth does that even…? Okay, Fine. That’s the story.
What we thought
Dan Beeston says:
I’m not sure if it was a problem with the mix but the film was SO LOUD that I felt flattened. The images flash by like they’re trying to cure Malcolm McDowell of his violent tendencies. No character seems sympathetic or even interesting. The story makes no sense. This film made me feel like a grandfather trying to program a VCR at a rave concert. The experience was a physical torture and I had to walk out after an hour.
Fuck this film
Red Dog: True Blue
What’s it about?
We learn about the early days of iconic outback canine Red Dog, and follow his adventures with his first ever BFF in this Aussie prequel.
What did we think?
Angela Young says: If you’re a softie, a dog lover, or you just don’t have a heart of stone, you probably loved the original Red Dog film. That loyal streak of red fluff who stole an outback town’s heart and gave a much-needed boost to the Australian film industry. Well, now we’re learning all about how he came to be out bush in the first place, and while it’s not quite such a heart-tugger as the first one, you’re probably going to still need some tissues if you go, and I recommend you do. Sterling effort from lead teenager Levi Miller (though Bryan Brown’s a bit iffy, sadly), but it’s the gorgeous Phoenix that steals the show as a four-legged star in the making.
Batman: Return of the Caped Crusaders
What’s it about?
Holy nostalgic cash-in! Adam West’s Batman returns in all his camp glory! Facing more villainous villainy than Aunt Harriet can begin to imagine!
What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: If you love 60s Batman, this will wipe away the pain of having to endure the histrionic horror of Batman V Superman forever. With three original cast; winks to the classic beyond-bad staging techniques; decent impressions of Penguin & Joker; and a storyline as lame as the originals; it’s a blast that matches, and occasionally exceeds expectations. It’s brave, bold, stupid fun.
What’s Popular
The Leisure Seeker
What’s it about?
Ailing septuagenarians flee imminent nursing-home confinement by taking one final road trip in their beloved Winnebago.
What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: facing your impending death isn’t an everyday movie topic, and while The Leisure Seeker handles the topic with sensitivity and humour, the first half is meandering and turgid, seemingly to set up the far more entertaining second. Beautifully acted by Donald Sutherland as a retired professor in the final stages of dementia and Helen Mirren as his frail, doting wife, the film lacks the celebration of life it requires (and several opportunities exist within the film for these moments but are passed over for commentary on the frustration on human frailty).
Euthanasia advocates will appreciate this film, but people battling with depression would be advised to only see it with a friend.
Solo: A Star Wars Story
What’s it about?
A young Han Solo escapes a hard life to meet a friendly wookie and become a pilot and smuggler in a galaxy far, far away.
What did we think?
Anthony says: I have to admit I had a bad feeling about this, and while it isn’t a masterpiece, nor is it the disaster I was half-expecting. After an uneven and stuttering start that just doesn’t work, Solo finally finds a rhythm when it becomes a simple heist movie. Donald Glover’s Lando threatens to steal the show though he ends up underutilised. It’s not going to be remembered as a classic but it ticks most of the boxes for Star Wars fans looking to a young Han Solo’s life. The characters are fun even if the storyline lacks intense depth.
Gringo
What’s it about?
Downtrodden businessman Harold (David Oyelowo) is caught up in cartels, kidnapping and corporate conspiracies during a business trip to Mexico.
What did we think?
Amy Currie says: I would be perfectly happy watching this on hour six of a long-haul flight. I would then never think about it again in my whole life.
Gringo is a pleasant enough darkly comic caper, but an admittedly impressive cast can’t quite save it from a meandering plot.
Deadpool 2
What’s it about?
An anti-hero tries to protect a young boy from a time-travelling half-robot… wait, isn’t that the Terminator? #RipOff
What did we think?
Anthony says: It was always going to be difficult to follow up such a successful and original first movie, and it has to be said Deadpool 2 doesn’t have the same impact as its predecessor. However, the jokes are funnier – both in intelligence and irreverence – and there’s a little more pathos. Unfortunately, there are a few pacing issues with an odd lull or two breaking up the quips, but to be frank they’re soon forgotten. It truly excels with its music choice; not only in the cool-song-I-loved-this-one way, but the subtleties that add another layer of humour (I can’t go into detail without spoiling it so I won’t). And the early-credit scene is not only hilarious but has upped the stakes on how stories could be told. <redacted-spoiler-redacted>
At the end of the day it’s a great movie and I’m not just saying that because Ryan Reynolds has a gun and apparently knows my address.
Editor's Choice
The Leisure Seeker
What’s it about?
Ailing septuagenarians flee imminent nursing-home confinement by taking one final road trip in their beloved Winnebago.
What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: facing your impending death isn’t an everyday movie topic, and while The Leisure Seeker handles the topic with sensitivity and humour, the first half is meandering and turgid, seemingly to set up the far more entertaining second. Beautifully acted by Donald Sutherland as a retired professor in the final stages of dementia and Helen Mirren as his frail, doting wife, the film lacks the celebration of life it requires (and several opportunities exist within the film for these moments but are passed over for commentary on the frustration on human frailty).
Euthanasia advocates will appreciate this film, but people battling with depression would be advised to only see it with a friend.
Solo: A Star Wars Story
What’s it about?
A young Han Solo escapes a hard life to meet a friendly wookie and become a pilot and smuggler in a galaxy far, far away.
What did we think?
Anthony says: I have to admit I had a bad feeling about this, and while it isn’t a masterpiece, nor is it the disaster I was half-expecting. After an uneven and stuttering start that just doesn’t work, Solo finally finds a rhythm when it becomes a simple heist movie. Donald Glover’s Lando threatens to steal the show though he ends up underutilised. It’s not going to be remembered as a classic but it ticks most of the boxes for Star Wars fans looking to a young Han Solo’s life. The characters are fun even if the storyline lacks intense depth.
Gringo
What’s it about?
Downtrodden businessman Harold (David Oyelowo) is caught up in cartels, kidnapping and corporate conspiracies during a business trip to Mexico.
What did we think?
Amy Currie says: I would be perfectly happy watching this on hour six of a long-haul flight. I would then never think about it again in my whole life.
Gringo is a pleasant enough darkly comic caper, but an admittedly impressive cast can’t quite save it from a meandering plot.
Deadpool 2
What’s it about?
An anti-hero tries to protect a young boy from a time-travelling half-robot… wait, isn’t that the Terminator? #RipOff
What did we think?
Anthony says: It was always going to be difficult to follow up such a successful and original first movie, and it has to be said Deadpool 2 doesn’t have the same impact as its predecessor. However, the jokes are funnier – both in intelligence and irreverence – and there’s a little more pathos. Unfortunately, there are a few pacing issues with an odd lull or two breaking up the quips, but to be frank they’re soon forgotten. It truly excels with its music choice; not only in the cool-song-I-loved-this-one way, but the subtleties that add another layer of humour (I can’t go into detail without spoiling it so I won’t). And the early-credit scene is not only hilarious but has upped the stakes on how stories could be told. <redacted-spoiler-redacted>
At the end of the day it’s a great movie and I’m not just saying that because Ryan Reynolds has a gun and apparently knows my address.