Tomorrowland

What’s it about?
A headstrong teenage science enthusiast (Britt Robertson) teams up with a bitter inventor (George Clooney) to re-enter a trans-dimensional utopia and save the world from destruction.

What did we think?
Director Brad Bird has made dazzlingly fun movies such as The Incredibles and Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, and while Tomorrowland isn’t as good as his past work, it’s definitely in the same spirit. The visuals are very creative, and the main characters are endearing, with Robertson being an especially lively presence. The plot (co-written with Lost and Prometheus writer Damon Lindelof) is a bit hard to follow and sort of unsatisfying, but it’s still charming enough to be worth the ride.

War Machine Movie Review

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Woman in Gold

What’s it about?
An Austrian woman born into privilege has her life overturned by a political revolt that targets the bourgeois but then rapidly spins into the systematic destruction of entire creeds. In an attempt to reconnect with those she has lost in the past she commits to reclaiming an important and valuable painting that was stolen from her family.

What did we think?
Dan says: This is a film that tries to stand on the emotional shoulders of the horrific acts of World War 2. If you have a strong connection to the tale this may well be enough to ignore the haphazard story-telling and scattershot tonal shifts.

Helen Mirren and Ryan Reynolds spend over two hours telling of the emotional weight and not enough time showing it. If you’re going to tell a true story that’s important, find the important parts of it to tell.

Poltergeist

What’s it about?
When a little girl is stolen away by malevolent spirits, her family must band together to rescue her.

What did we think?

Dominic Barlow says: This remake of the 1982 film has all the modern bells and whistles you’d expect, with computer-generated effects and new technology being used to try to ramp up the spook factor. The cast, including Sam Rockwell as the little girl’s father and Jared Harris as a grizzled paranormal investigator, deliver solidly amusing performances. But amusing isn’t really what horror is going for. On the whole, however, this flick is written and shot too blandly to be especially frightening or fun. Why remake a film if you can’t improve on the original?

Spy

What’s it about?
Susan Cooper (Melissa McCarthy) is a desk-bound CIA operative constantly in the ear of suave and in-the-field Bradley Fine (Jude Law). When he disappears, she gets in on the action to save the world from global disaster at the hands of a nasty Russian arms dealer.

What did we think?
Angela Young says: Let’s face it, McCarthy can do no wrong in comedy – especially when she’s permitted to swear outrageously. And there’s plenty here – it had me spitting out my drink on more than one occasion. F-bombs and even c-bombs rain down from above (some might say too many). Guffaw! The storyline’s the same American, crass crap, but it’s hilariously well done with superb one liner scattered throughout. Rose Byrne’s pretty good as a Russian bitch, and it’s fantastic to see loveable Brit Miranda Hart playing her typical endearing role. Allison Janney as the boss is a genius stroke of casting, too. Explosive laughs out loud virtually guaranteed.

Wild Tales

What’s it about?
In this Oscar-nominated anthology of six darkly funny short stories, ordinary people carry out violent acts of revenge.

What did we think?
Dominic Barlow says: Szifrón has created a compelling feature-length experience out of very different and surprising short films. Each one steadily increases in length and scale, but is also completely self-contained, so the whole film flies by but you’ll be picking your favourites as you leave the theatre. It’s a fun, classy and bloody affair that you should go into knowing as little about as possible.

What’s Popular

Girls Trip

What’s it about?
Middle-aged school friends reunite for a girls weekend in New Orleans which goes a little crazy. Wow. Didn’t see that coming.

What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: If Bridesmaids ‘raised’ the stakes in vulgar comedy, Girls Trip kicks it screaming into the cesspool stratosphere. Shitting in the street is so passé, now we piss on it from a great height. Literally. (And yes, millennials, this is literally being used correctly.) Whilst it veers dangerously close to standard Hollywood schmalz, a surprisingly poignant final speech makes it something you could recommend. But not for your elderly mother. Hell no.

I’ll never be able to look at grapefruits the same way again.

American Made

What’s it about?
A morally flexible airline pilot is recruited by the CIA to fly over Central America. He ends of taking side deals with just about every party available and becomes a highly successful drug smuggler. But how long can he burn the candle at four/five/six ends?

What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: It’d be easy to describe American Made as a Tom Cruise mash-up. Flying with aviator sunglasses? Check. Being shown the money? Check. Flashing a cheeky smile and relying on charisma to get through tricky situations? Check! But while this based-on-a-true-story isn’t blockbuster material it is actually a fun romp combining political satire with larger than life antics that make you laugh AND engage you emotionally. Unexpected depth with nostalgic throwbacks makes this one stand out a bit.

Gifted

What’s it about?
A man is raising his niece, who is a mathematical prodigy. Once her abilities have been discovered, her grandmother fights for custody.

What did we think?
Imogen says: Watch as one of the Marvel Chrises handsomes his way through this beige movie. It’s got everything you’ve ever seen in a heartwarming film:

  1. a man who’s struggling to raise a child by himself,
  2. (but does it in a unique and quirky way);
  3. an equally unique and quirky child with a special talent;
  4. a two-dimensional love interest character (Jenny Slate, you’re better than this);
  5. a two-dimensional sassy yet wise black neighbour (Octavia Spencer, you’re WAY better than this).
  6. an acoustic soundtrack and predictable outcome.

The Dark Tower

What it’s about?

A dark tower exists that protects the universe from a demonic apocalypse. The tower can be destroyed by the mind of a child. The Man in Black (Matthew McConaughey) is locked in an eternal struggle with the Last Gunslinger (Idris Elba), as one tries to bring the tower down and the other tries to defend it. One child is caught in the middle of it all.

What did we think?

Elizabeth Best says:  I immediately wanted to watch more of The Dark Tower when the credits rolled. Not because it was a stellar movie, but because I felt like there was SO much we didn’t see. Moviemakers saw fit to compress EIGHT Stephen King books into one movie, leaving the intriguing premise feeling rushed and under explained. This needs to be a TV show so I can binge the crap out of it rather than a movie that piqued my interest but left me dissatisfied.

Editor's Choice

Girls Trip

What’s it about?
Middle-aged school friends reunite for a girls weekend in New Orleans which goes a little crazy. Wow. Didn’t see that coming.

What did we think?
Stephen Scott says: If Bridesmaids ‘raised’ the stakes in vulgar comedy, Girls Trip kicks it screaming into the cesspool stratosphere. Shitting in the street is so passé, now we piss on it from a great height. Literally. (And yes, millennials, this is literally being used correctly.) Whilst it veers dangerously close to standard Hollywood schmalz, a surprisingly poignant final speech makes it something you could recommend. But not for your elderly mother. Hell no.

I’ll never be able to look at grapefruits the same way again.

American Made

What’s it about?
A morally flexible airline pilot is recruited by the CIA to fly over Central America. He ends of taking side deals with just about every party available and becomes a highly successful drug smuggler. But how long can he burn the candle at four/five/six ends?

What did we think?
Anthony Sherratt says: It’d be easy to describe American Made as a Tom Cruise mash-up. Flying with aviator sunglasses? Check. Being shown the money? Check. Flashing a cheeky smile and relying on charisma to get through tricky situations? Check! But while this based-on-a-true-story isn’t blockbuster material it is actually a fun romp combining political satire with larger than life antics that make you laugh AND engage you emotionally. Unexpected depth with nostalgic throwbacks makes this one stand out a bit.

Gifted

What’s it about?
A man is raising his niece, who is a mathematical prodigy. Once her abilities have been discovered, her grandmother fights for custody.

What did we think?
Imogen says: Watch as one of the Marvel Chrises handsomes his way through this beige movie. It’s got everything you’ve ever seen in a heartwarming film:

  1. a man who’s struggling to raise a child by himself,
  2. (but does it in a unique and quirky way);
  3. an equally unique and quirky child with a special talent;
  4. a two-dimensional love interest character (Jenny Slate, you’re better than this);
  5. a two-dimensional sassy yet wise black neighbour (Octavia Spencer, you’re WAY better than this).
  6. an acoustic soundtrack and predictable outcome.

The Dark Tower

What it’s about?

A dark tower exists that protects the universe from a demonic apocalypse. The tower can be destroyed by the mind of a child. The Man in Black (Matthew McConaughey) is locked in an eternal struggle with the Last Gunslinger (Idris Elba), as one tries to bring the tower down and the other tries to defend it. One child is caught in the middle of it all.

What did we think?

Elizabeth Best says:  I immediately wanted to watch more of The Dark Tower when the credits rolled. Not because it was a stellar movie, but because I felt like there was SO much we didn’t see. Moviemakers saw fit to compress EIGHT Stephen King books into one movie, leaving the intriguing premise feeling rushed and under explained. This needs to be a TV show so I can binge the crap out of it rather than a movie that piqued my interest but left me dissatisfied.

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