http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1764234/
Pitt
is on excellent form; exuding cool whilst surrounded by misguided characters
all doomed to fail where he will persistently succeed. Stunningly shot
(especially the shots!) with a nicely contained criminal plot and a desolate
urban atmosphere, my only complaint is the incessant hammering home of the
media-based political economics.
Four stars
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1623288/
The animation in this stop-motion zombie kids film is
outstanding, but everything else about it is almost instantly forgettable.
Yawn!
Two stars
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1276104/
Yes, it’s brilliant. No, Joseph Gordon-Levitt does not look anything like Bruce Willis. Maybe, they’ve managed to make a time travel movie that doesn’t blag your head with innumerable impossibilities. A great story, as you’d expect from Johnson (plus violence!), but still ultimately leaves room for too much “yeah, but…”.
Four stars
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1535438/
Unsurprisingly engaging performances from Streep and Jones render this middle-aged rom-com emotionally stirring and gently amusing. No surprises to the story arc though, and Jones’ ultimate change of heart still feels implausible.
Three stars
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1340800/
This mole hunt mystery is fairly hard work, with many
characters, shady dialogue and unclear chronology. But at the same time it’s
gripping and superbly acted, and as the climax approaches it’s difficult not to
want Gary Oldman’s Smiley to crack the case.
Requires high levels of concentration though.
Three stars
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1547234/
Spectacularly silly but fantastically fun, this fast-paced cycle-courier
thriller has one of the most bat-shit mental baddies I’ve seen in a long time
and a hero you can’t help but root for in Joseph Gordon-Levitt. If you don’t take it too seriously it’s a hugely
entertaining chase.
Three stars
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1343727/
Fantastically
violent and drastically cool, this 18-rated remake is a worthy reinvention of
the comic books’ Judge. It’s short,
brutal, low on dialogue, and set almost entirely in a scaled-up 3D version of
the block from The Raid. Silly and
straightforward, but so much fun.
Four stars
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1212450/
Stunning cinematography, bleak and brutal violence and
extremely powerful performances don’t quite combine to produce the heroic
classic that this could have been.
Undoubtedly accomplished, but lacking that special something that draws
you mind, body and soul into a movie. Lawless but not flawless!
Four stars
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0844286/
Another quirky, funny and heartfelt indie masterpiece from
Rian Johnson. The bizarre tale of conmen
brothers follows a lovely trajectory from their first con to their last. Johnson has created a fantastic set of
characters that are handled perfectly by a solid cast (particularly Brody and
Weisz are magical).
Five stars
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1298649/
Mediocre comedy from four comedians that should have combined to give us much more than that. There are a few funny jokes but several of the plot turns are misguided and Ayoade is underplayed. Worth a watch for the laugh-out-loud moments but it’s not going to be a memorable one.
Two stars
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1966604/
This intriguing and unsettling documentary leaves you feeling suspicious of everyone involved. Although the balance of viewpoints doesn’t feel quite fair, the mystery is presented from enough angles to keep you guessing. It’s cinematographically accomplished too, with skilled combination of interviews, real footage and re-enactment.
Four stars
