Starring Charlie Plummer, Andy Garcia, Taylor Russell, AnnaSophia Robb, Beth Grant, Devon Bostick, Lobo Sebastian with Molly Parker and Walton Goggins.

Words on Bathroom Walls will be released in Australian cinemas December 10.
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The new Laura Croft (Alicia Vikander) looks like she spent many hours in the gym and as such presents a much more muscular hero than the one that came before. This allows more close ups during the now more convincing physical altercations. Not unlike the transitions made available by Daniel Craig when he became the new Bond all those year ago.

The film still over relies on driving the action scenes with computer generated special effects but the hand to hand combat moments are more visceral than before. The solving puzzle aspect is really only hinted at. This is also an origin story so future films might get the mix more balanced.

There are moments of genuine emotional connection with the on screen actions and actors but unfortunately they are often submerged in a film that struggles to keep the view engaged during its more than ample 118 minute running time. Other reboots have takes a few tries to hit the mark so there is always hope next time around.

Rob Hudson
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Determined to forge her own path, she refuses to take the reins of her father’s global empire just as staunchly as she rejects the idea that he’s truly gone. Advised to face the facts and move forward after seven years without him, even Lara can’t understand what drives her to finally solve the puzzle of his mysterious death.

Going explicitly against his final wishes, she leaves everything she knows behind in search of her dad’s last-known destination: a fabled tomb on a mythical island that might be somewhere off the coast of Japan. But her mission will not be an easy one; just reaching the island will be extremely treacherous.

Suddenly, the stakes couldn’t be higher for Lara, who—against the odds and armed with only her sharp mind, blind faith and inherently stubborn spirit—must learn to push herself beyond her limits as she journeys into the unknown. If she survives this perilous adventure, it could be the making of her, earning her the name tomb raider.

TOMB RAIDER is directed by Roar Uthaug and stars Oscar winner Alicia Vikander in the lead role, Dominic West, Walton Goggins and Daniel Wu.

TOMB RAIDER releases in Australian cinemas on March 15, 2018.
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His new film is another period piece (that makes three in a row) and plays out like a longhand love letter to his past. The Western is set almost exclusively in one room and is dialogue heavy to the extreme. That it works so effectively at it’s almost three hour running time is a testament to his skill with words and his utilization of the right mix of actors and actions. The violence is extreme in the few moments that it occurs and gives the film its rightfully earned R rating.

Tarantino’s films have always rewarded fans of the medium and the new work is rife with references to his earlier films (Red Apple anyone?) and nods to directors he appreciates (Alfred Hitchcock is first to spring to mind). He also revels is doing things his way, so I can’t see even a power couple like Bob and Harvey having the ability to pare back the extended running time.

Investing time in a QT film is always a safe bet because even if you don’t like his work, he creates film dialogue like no other. Discussing his films with your friends after the screening can be almost as much fun as the viewing itself, so sort yourself out after your mandatory trip to spend time with the Part 4 repeat and settle in for a generous treat of a film both time and content wise.

Rob Hudson
www.thehatefuleight.com