It is equal parts thriller and scientific exploration and focuses on the human resolve to rise to the occasion and survive despite all the odds. Matt Damon is fantastic as the hyper intelligent astronaut that due to circumstance gets left behind on an aborted manned mission on Mars.

His approach to survival is based around his scientific knowledge and raw will to live but it is tempered by irreverence towards his circumstance and to the authority figures that he has to interface with. This provides the film with some genuinely funny moments and gives the viewer that perfect amount of space to relax in before the drama begins again.

Scott takes the raw material of Andy Weir’s book (and the screenplay by Drew Goddard) and uses it as a basis for a real thrill ride of a film. Damon along with an all-star cast that includes Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels and Chiwetel Ejiofor also deliver fine performances. This is one of those films that deserves to be seen in the dark on a twenty-meter wide screen.

Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/20thCenturyStudiosAUNZ

The action-packed third instalment of the blockbuster Divergent Series, Allegiant takes Tris (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James) into a new world, far more dangerous than ever before.

After the earth-shattering revelations of Insurgent, Tris must escape with Four and go beyond the wall enclosing Chicago. For the first time, they will leave the only city and family they have ever known. Once outside, old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless with the revelation of shocking new truths. Tris and Four must quickly decide who they can trust as a ruthless battle ignites which threatens all of humanity. In order to survive, Tris will be forced to make impossible choices of courage, allegiance, sacrifice and love.

Directed by Robert Schwentke and starring Shailene Woodley, Miles Teller,Theo James, Naomi Watts, Octavia Spencer, Jeff Daniels.

Competition will be drawn 13 April 2016, winners will be notified by mail.

Screenplay writer Aaron Sorkin’s influence can be felt in more than just the words in the film as the Sorkinisms just keep piling up. The famous walk and talk shot is used throughout, as is the uber intelligent and quick witted conversational style. The brain pool on display is never short of exceptional as are the acting chops.

Michael Fassbender as Jobs is fantastic as is Kate Winslet as Job’s right hand woman Joanna Hoffman. Winslet’s take on Hoffman with her strange accent and speaking cadence really brings alive one of the few people in Job’s life that had the measure of the man and his intellect.

For the army of Apple sycophants, this film will present some challenges as Jobs is presented as a deeply flawed human being. The representation here is that he is so driven that he is almost unaware that his humanity is slipping away. In real life those who knew the man can attest to his mellowing out and placing more importance on his family in the later phase of his life. That’s good because the period that this film focuses on makes it feel like it just wasn’t that much fun being Steve Jobs.

Rob Hudson
www.stevejobsmovie.com.au

It is equal parts thriller and scientific exploration and focuses on the human resolve to rise to the occasion and survive despite all the odds. Matt Damon is fantastic as the hyper intelligent astronaut that due to circumstance gets left behind on an aborted manned mission on Mars.

His approach to survival is based around his scientific knowledge and raw will to live but it is tempered by irreverence towards his circumstance and to the authority figures that he has to interface with. This provides the film with some genuinely funny moments and gives the viewer that perfect amount of space to relax in before the drama begins again.

Scott takes the raw material of Andy Weir’s book (and the screenplay by Drew Goddard) and uses it as a basis for a real thrill ride of a film. Damon along with an all-star cast that includes Jessica Chastain, Jeff Daniels and Chiwetel Ejiofor also deliver fine performances. This is one of those films that deserves to be seen in the dark on a twenty-meter wide screen.

Rob Hudson
www.foxmovies.com