The Gambler
What’s it about?
A literature professor (Mark Wahlberg) owes a lot of money to some dangerous people after his gambling problem spirals out of control.
What did we think?
Amy Currie says: This approximate remake of the 1974 film of the same name is full of gangs and high stakes, but isn’t the heisty caper you might expect. Wahlberg’s character has everything going for him, but repeatedly throws himself into harm’s way in fits of depressive whimsy. He’s frustrating and unlikeable, and yet eventually you can’t help but care for him (even as you want to slap him). The get-the-money-in-a-week plot suffers from a few loose threads that seem to be leftovers from the original, but the strong supporting cast is a definite plus, and John Goodman is particularly excellent as an underworld creditor. Definitely worth a look, but be warned – you’ll spend a few hours after you see it trying to decide whether you liked it or not.
The Theory of Everything
What’s it about?
The life and times of renowned theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) and long-time wife Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones), including his scientific breakthroughs and their struggles with his motor-neurone disease.
What did we think?
Dominic Barlow says: Redmayne’s lead performance is far and away the highlight, not only for being so transformative but also for finding deep warmth and humour beneath the mask. Jones is lovely as his faithful wife, and the film uses some nice visual touches to bring certain moments to life, like Super-8 footage and images of deep space. For the most part, though, it’s a bog-standard biopic that taps off the milestones of Hawking’s life without having a distinctive view of its own.
Kingsman: The Secret Service
What’s it about?
Colin Firth is Harry Hart. A super spy from an elite, covert team of self-funded do gooders. He offers an opportunity to a street wise youth to become a better person… who also kills bad guys.
What we thought
Dan says: If the kids from Grange Hill were being trained to kill, and one of their lecturers was Roger Moore you have something that wasn’t Kingsman exactly, but was advertised in the same comic books on the page with X-ray specs and the “fart noise” device.
This is a camp action adventure that glorifies comic book action and violence. It has a great cast of people who look like they’re having a blast. Cinematography, performances and visual effects are all very playful. Best action/comedy since True Lies.
Selma
What’s it about?
In the days after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelowo) decides to use his clout to establish voting rights for blacks who have been systematically disenfranchised and intimidated, using the town of Selma as his battleground.
What did we think?
Elizabeth Best says: It’s almost as if the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr himself came down from the heavens to inhabit the body of Oyelowo for this performance. The fact that he missed out on an Oscar nomination for this is frankly astounding. Selma is a searing and engaging portrayal of a pivotal time in the fight for civil rights that highlights how far we’ve come at the same time as declaring nothing’s changed.
The Interview
What’s it about?
Cheesy TV host Dave Skylark (James Franco) and his producer (Seth Rogen) are coerced by the CIA to kill Kim Jong-Un during an interview.
What did we think?
Elizabeth Best says: If you ban it, they will come. In terms of finding a following, the Sony hack was probably the best thing to happen to this film. The Interview is dumb. It’s irreverent. It has Franco mugging his ass off like… well, like Franco. But it still manages to squeeze more than a giggle or two from an audience probably too ashamed to admit it. So take that, North Korea.
Foxcatcher
What’s it about?
Mark Schultz, under tutelage from wrestling fanatic and all around creeper John duPont, finds himself caught striving for perfection while training athletes in a bid to sweep Seoul Olympics and maintaining a weird bond with his sponsor.
What did we think?
Nick Bleeker says: Pacing issues aside, this is a rather disturbing affair with grand performances from Steve Carrell, Channing Tatum and Mark Ruffalo, but doesn’t give Ruffalo’s character enough time to develop. It’s a very muted film, that relies on less on its dialogue and more on the physical performances from everyone. Bennett Miller shoots it extremely well and precisely, but you can’t help but walk out feeling like it’s missing a soul.
What’s Popular
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 2
What’s it about?
Set to the backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ continues the team’s adventures as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill’s true parentage.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: The much-anticipated sequel to Guardians Of The Galaxy was always going to feature a plethora of one-liners and an awesome soundtrack and it certainly delivers on those. But while it’s heavy on laughs, it’s light on story. Almost two-and-a-half hours is a long running time and even more so when you consider just how little plot exists. Despite this, it’s incredibly entertaining and you will laugh for nearly the entire movie so it will once again make a squillion dollars despite the shortcomings. Between the laughs (most of which are delivered by Draxx, Rocket and Baby Groot this time around) and the cuteness (Baby Groot steals nearly every scene he’s in), there’s a lot to like about GotG2, but sadly the story – and ensuing replayability – is not one of them. And there are FIVE post-credit scenes and only one of them is actually worth sitting there for. Flat ending to the fun.
Free Fire
What’s it about?
A bunch of people meet in a warehouse for a weapons deal. Shots are fired and shit gets real in real time.
What did we think?
Elizabeth Best says: Ever wanted to skip the beginning boring part of a movie and get right to the climax? Free Fire is ALL CLIMAX; an hour and a half of gangsters shooting the shit out of each other, on a claustrophobic set. It’s tense, it’s exciting, it’s even gross in bits. It has a touch of the Reservoir Dogs about it except without the flashbacks. Only thing is, the flashbacks (ironically) are what move the story forwards and without them, the bullet fatigue eventually sets in. The concept is truly kick-ass, it’s just a shame they didn’t do a bit more with it.
My Pet Dinosaur
What’s it about?
A town is plunged into chaos when a boy accidentally makes a new friend. And by make, we mean literally and figuratively. The title probably gives that away though.
What did we think?
While it doesn’t exactly tread new ground, My Pet Dinosaur is a delightful throwback to kid’s movies of the 80s. It’s a positively endearing reminder of youth, imagination and love. It would be easy to lump in with a post-Spielbergian genre, but great acting and good characterisation more than overcome the cliches. It’s good solid fun and wonderful to see a movie for all ages that doesn’t talk down to kids or get too caught up in itself.
Get Out
What’s it about?
A young black man visits his girlfriend’s wealthy white family at their mansion in the woods for the first time, but when he gets there, things seem seriously weird.
What did we think?
True horror is not monsters or ghosts – it’s humanity. And nowhere is this more evident than in Jordan Peele’s Get Out. An incredibly intelligent look at racism, the insidiousness of political correctness and modern America, it’s a movie that defies easy categorisation though it slips into a revenge flick. The true strength is that it will make you uncomfortable mentally long after the credits have rolled. Insightful and witty, it’s a must see not only for film lovers but anyone interested in equality or racial dynamics. Superb.
GET OUT opens in Australian cinemas on May 4.
Editor's Choice
Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 2
What’s it about?
Set to the backdrop of Awesome Mixtape #2, ‘Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2’ continues the team’s adventures as they unravel the mystery of Peter Quill’s true parentage.
What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: The much-anticipated sequel to Guardians Of The Galaxy was always going to feature a plethora of one-liners and an awesome soundtrack and it certainly delivers on those. But while it’s heavy on laughs, it’s light on story. Almost two-and-a-half hours is a long running time and even more so when you consider just how little plot exists. Despite this, it’s incredibly entertaining and you will laugh for nearly the entire movie so it will once again make a squillion dollars despite the shortcomings. Between the laughs (most of which are delivered by Draxx, Rocket and Baby Groot this time around) and the cuteness (Baby Groot steals nearly every scene he’s in), there’s a lot to like about GotG2, but sadly the story – and ensuing replayability – is not one of them. And there are FIVE post-credit scenes and only one of them is actually worth sitting there for. Flat ending to the fun.
Free Fire
What’s it about?
A bunch of people meet in a warehouse for a weapons deal. Shots are fired and shit gets real in real time.
What did we think?
Elizabeth Best says: Ever wanted to skip the beginning boring part of a movie and get right to the climax? Free Fire is ALL CLIMAX; an hour and a half of gangsters shooting the shit out of each other, on a claustrophobic set. It’s tense, it’s exciting, it’s even gross in bits. It has a touch of the Reservoir Dogs about it except without the flashbacks. Only thing is, the flashbacks (ironically) are what move the story forwards and without them, the bullet fatigue eventually sets in. The concept is truly kick-ass, it’s just a shame they didn’t do a bit more with it.
My Pet Dinosaur
What’s it about?
A town is plunged into chaos when a boy accidentally makes a new friend. And by make, we mean literally and figuratively. The title probably gives that away though.
What did we think?
While it doesn’t exactly tread new ground, My Pet Dinosaur is a delightful throwback to kid’s movies of the 80s. It’s a positively endearing reminder of youth, imagination and love. It would be easy to lump in with a post-Spielbergian genre, but great acting and good characterisation more than overcome the cliches. It’s good solid fun and wonderful to see a movie for all ages that doesn’t talk down to kids or get too caught up in itself.
Get Out
What’s it about?
A young black man visits his girlfriend’s wealthy white family at their mansion in the woods for the first time, but when he gets there, things seem seriously weird.
What did we think?
True horror is not monsters or ghosts – it’s humanity. And nowhere is this more evident than in Jordan Peele’s Get Out. An incredibly intelligent look at racism, the insidiousness of political correctness and modern America, it’s a movie that defies easy categorisation though it slips into a revenge flick. The true strength is that it will make you uncomfortable mentally long after the credits have rolled. Insightful and witty, it’s a must see not only for film lovers but anyone interested in equality or racial dynamics. Superb.
GET OUT opens in Australian cinemas on May 4.