Arrival Movie Review
Amy Adams is Dr. Louise Banks, a linguist expert that the government recruits to help communicate with one of the alien entities that have arrived at twelve points around the globe. She is the soul of the story. Joining her is Jeremy Renner as Ian Donnelly, a theoretical physicist with a very well developed sense of wonder about the world.
The story is told in a non-linear manner and subsequently every scene must be paid attention too. The film is also shot with a very subdued colour ...
Inferno Movie Review
The latest edition skips the third Brown book, The Lost Symbol and drops Harvard University professor Robert Langdon (Hanks) into the usual world of intrigue. Conspiracies play a more reduced role this time and the film plays out with more action and less intrigue. The action is largely set in Venice, which is an excellent choice as it’s one of the world’s most unique looking cities.
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The casting is not the film’s strongest suit as Hanks and lead actress Felicity Jones as his ...
The Girl On The Train Movie Review
Every film viewing session, while being a great collective experience should be assessed without the bias of others. We’ve all had to endure watching films when those around us are so obviously not enjoying themselves. It enacts a real negative vibe and is as rude as those that chomp and plastic wrap rustle their way through the entire film.
Assessing The Girl On The Train as its own entity is also a bit difficult with so much press comparing it to Gone Girl. This sets up the audience ...
The Nice Guys Movie Review
Crowe is unafraid to play a role far removed from his usual on-screen persona and he lets his advancing age and lack of fitness give the role a realistic and well-worn feel. It’s one that is free from the false heroics that mar so many similar roles. Gosling gets the nuance just right between glamour boy idiot and heart of gold father. These two play off each other and the friendship that builds between them is so naturally developed; it’s a real pleasure to behold.
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Hail, Caesar! Movie Review
Viewers with a basic knowledge of cinema history will be paid dividends as the references to a glorious past arrive with regularity. From references like the dance extravaganzas of Busby Berkeley to the screwball comedy of Cary Grant, the love and respect is up on the silver screen for all to see.
A familiar cast of characters is evident and Josh Brolin, George Clooney, Frances McDormand and Scarlett Johansson are just a few regulars that do justice to the always-impressive words of the ...
Risen Movie Review
Naturally, given the story, the torture porn of The Passion is mostly absent here and in its place is a fictionalised account of a Roman Tribune, Clavius (Joseph Fiennes), and his efforts to locate Jesus' (Cliff Curtis - makes sense) resurrected personage before he once again inspires Judaeans to reject the good, wholesome Roman way of life endorsed by Prefect Pontius Pilate (Peter Firth).
On the strength of the trailer, Risen looked to be an interesting study on the juxtaposition of ...
A Bigger Splash Competition
From the director of the Academy Award® nominated I Am Love comes a psychological suspense drama that will invite audiences into the fragile and dangerous world of relationships.
When a glamorous couple decide to vacation on a remote Italian island, their rest is disrupted by the sudden visit of an old friend and his luscious daughter. Suddenly, what was supposed to be a perfect romantic getaway turns into a whirlwind of jealousy, passion and danger, sparking some flames that should not ...
Secret In Their Eyes Movie Review
The acting this time around features A-list actors and includes Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman and Chiwetel Ejiofor (whose name I can now both remember and pronounce!). They work very hard at selling the emotion and sorrow of what was a very tragic event and it’s hard not to be drawn into the pathos.
The trouble occurs as it so often does when the film reaches its crescendo in the last reel. The events in question cannot be mentioned here due to spoiler alerts but suffice to say the ...
Crimson Peak Movie Review
It must be said that the film looks fantastic and features visuals never before seen but the plot and action staging is so predictable, it drains all the energy out of the experience. In some genres this would not drive the knife into the heart but with the horror/thriller genre nothing is worse than predictability.
Also not helping is the film score by Fernando Velázquez that telegraphs emotions with such an obvious touch. It’s a shame really as the cast, which includes Mia Wasikow...
Sicario Movie Review
This is a modern day tale of drug running and Mexico/America border politics and it draws you in with bold strokes. It then details the character’s action in such a way as to illustrate the horrors that both the innocent and guilty have to endure during these drug wars.
The screenplay leads you to make certain assumptions about the main protagonists actions and it’s to its satisfying complexity that right up until the end of the last reel there are still surprises left in store.
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