Rock the Casbah
What’s it about?
A French/Arabian co-production in which a family gather after the patriarch dies and secrets are revealed that threaten relationships.
What did we think?
Elizabeth says: Come on guys. Death as a precursor for forced disclosure of dysfunctional secrets has been done. Having the dead guy (a magical Omar Shariff) narrate the funereal action is a gimmick not used frequently enough to differentiate this from any other film of its ilk. It’s all been done – and been done better – before.
Magic in the Moonlight
What’s is about?
A romantic comedy about an Englishman brought in to help unmask a possible swindle. Personal and professional complications ensue.
What did we think?
Cindy says: I confess I’m a Woody Allen tragic, but as a rule, even I can admit only every second film he makes is a real winner. Blue Jasmine was a hard act to follow, and Magic In The Moonlight IS lovely; just not amazing. Lovely scenery, lovely cast, lovely performances, lovely art direction, but something’s missing. For die hard fans and those looking for something, well, lovely.
Locke
What’s it about?
Ivan Locke takes a phone call behind the wheel that will put events in motion to unravel his carefully crafted life.
What did we think?
A man. A car. A phone. A life-changing night.
The audience literally rides shotgun in this tale of Locke’s journey towards personal redemption through his own destruction. Tom Hardy is the only person on-screen for the whole movie and he’s mesmerising. We watch in real-time for 85 minutes as he struggles to rebuild his life while the foundations crumble around him, confined to the driver’s seat and at the mercy of his relentlessly ringing phone. It’s close, it’s personal, it’s intimate and we dare you to try and look away.
Predestination
What’s it about?
A time-travelling temporal agent must hunt down a criminal that’s eluded him his whole life.
What did we think?
The less you know about this film the better. Just know that it’s an Aussie film that looks like an American film, that it has excellent performances from Ethan Hawke and Sarah Snook, that it involves time travel and that your brain may be doing loop-de-loops after it’s over. Don’t think about it too hard – the joy of Predestination is the watching, and the more you ponder the hows and what ifs, the more times you’ll find yourself asking “how?” and “what if…?” Which may send you mad.
The Inbetweeners 2
What’s it about?
The four bumbling English lads you know and love from the series and first film undertake an ambitious Australian holiday resulting in a rollicking (and often disgusting) adventure filled with laughs.
What did we think?
Donna Roberts says: Will, Simon, Jay and Neil are back with another politically incorrect, cringe-inducing escapade involving numerous bodily fluids while wandering around Australia. Reportedly the last instalment of the popular series, the movie is superficial, shallow and vulgar resulting in a hysterically funny sequel in which the boys attempt to replicate an authentic ‘travelling’ experience. If none of the above adjectives bother you then you’ll see this as uproarious – though occasionally grotesque – fun.
The Hundred-Foot Journey
What’s it about?
Forced to flee their homeland, an Indian family moves to France with the hope of educating the locals on their traditional cuisine. The owner of the Michelin-starred restaurant a mere hundred feet across the road (Helen Miren) isn’t too happy.
What did we think?
Elizabeth says: Forget chicken soup for the soul: this is chicken tikka. A tome on cross-cultural tolerance and acceptance as well as being a feast for the eyes, this is a food lover’s paradise. Gorgeously shot, the tale of gastronomic whiz kid Hasan will linger on the palate after the meal is over… if you like that sort of thing. If not, it could be a little too sweet for you.
What’s Popular
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.
Editor's Choice
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.