The true story of the 2013 Boston marathon bombings and subsequent man hunt is an accomplished film with some powerful scenes. Mark Wahlberg and director Peter Berg team up for the third time, after Lone Survivor and Deepwater Horizon, for another based on fact American disaster film. Each time they have improved on their previous … Continue reading Patriots Day
The premise of Fist Fight is high concept and low coherence. On the final day of school, cut backs are being made and permanently flustered teacher Andy (Charlie Day) through a series of random events accidentally gets colleague Strickland (Ice Cube) fired. Strickland, who appears to be the school disciplinarian, counter intuitively decides this situation … Continue reading Fist Fight
Hugh Jackman returns as The Wolverine for reportedly the last time in a much more adult take on the comic book movie. Logan is a 15 rated movie and features gory violence, lots of swearing and most interestingly is much more of a character led story. The year is 2029 and mutants are all but … Continue reading Logan
Toni Erdmann is a hard sale for a UK cinema audience but it absolutely rewards on an emotional level those who watch it. A German comedy with subtitles and a running time of 162 minutes that is about a father and daughter who struggle to connect might not seem worth your time but it really … Continue reading Toni Erdmann
Denzel Washington brings to the screen a play by August Wilson, filled with searing performances and meaty dialogue but hamstrung somewhat by its lack of cinematic quality. Troy (Washington) is a middle-aged man working as a refuse collector trying to get through to Friday every week. He is filled with bitter regrets of not being … Continue reading Fences
William (Matt Damon) and Tovar (Pedro Pascal) are mercenary warriors searching for gunpowder. Chased by hill tribesmen they seek refuge at The Great Wall where they discover a vast army fighting off monsters. Will they stay and fight or escape with the weapon they seek? Clearly, we all know what they will do, but it … Continue reading The Great Wall
Keanu Reeves returns as the mythical John Wick in a blistering display of gun-fu action. Picking up straight from the end of the first film, Wick's retirement is postponed again when Santino D'Antonio (Riccardo Scamarcio) calls in a "marker" that compels Wick to do a job for him. Mayhem ensues and fighting and action aficionados … Continue reading John Wick: Chapter 2
Arrival released in November last year and was a spectacular film. The "extended" version appears to be a misnomer however and is perhaps the poorest advertising strategy I have seen to get people to watch a Best Picture Oscar nominated film. This re-release is simply the theatrical cut with an 8 minute featurette at the end. … Continue reading Arrival (Extended Version)
The true story of Ray Kroc (Michael Keaton), a salesman who stumbles upon a burger stand, run by two brothers called McDonald. What follows is a story about a family run restaurant which slowly succumbs to becoming a commercial behemoth. Keaton is highly watchable when performing his sales patter, but it can sometimes be a … Continue reading The Founder
Based on the true story of Richard and Mildred Loving, who were arrested and convicted by the state of Virginia for the crime of interracial marriage and banished from the state. Their case would find its way to the Supreme Court. Written and directed by Jeff Nichols, the filmmaker behind Take Shelter, Mud and Midnight Special … Continue reading Loving
