Alice Through The Looking Glass (3D) **
A feast for the imagination, so the design team has well and truly done its job. It’s Carroll’s eccentric storytelling that’s woefully missing, even while revisiting the individually unique characters.
Category: Drama
LFF 2014: The Silent Storm ***
There is something quite engaging about The Silent Storm when the plot is very thin. It’s a combination of the landscape, the rugged weather and some intense performances that prop it up.
A Hologram For The King ****
Deals with an age-old situation of mid-life burnout within a fascinating environment, but without judgment – even at the end when differences are resolved without dialogue being heard. Hanks fans are in for a unique treat in the Middle Eastern sun.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot ****
Does have a natural energy and kinesis to it from the ever present danger of something erupting – good or bad. The subject matter makes for great movie matter anyway. With Fey at the helm, you do feel reassured of the journey you take into foreign territory – from a comfortable distance too.
LFF 2015: The Brand New Testament ***
Feels like a big box of frogs while breaking religious satirical taboo. It’s very liberating in fact. Even though the finale is a colourful, hallucinogenic one, there just seems to be a missing element.
Midnight Special ****
Its magical quality makes it special, and the core relationship will tug hard at the heartstrings, without you realizing, until the very end, how deep an impact it has made.
The Huntsman: Winter’s War (3D) **
Has potential but follows the wrong lead story. It needed to be strong to justify it being made. It does feel lacking though, without its key character Snow White, even though Frozen fans can get to fantasise about a live-action Elsa.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 **
It’s not that My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 doesn’t have its entertainment value, it’s just it needed to keep the familiarity while cleverly making things fresh.
LFF 2015: Truth ***
A very rousing piece, bolster by its true story, as all corruption should be challenged in a perfect world. It’s also very timely and effective, again, striking a chord in austerity-hit times. If nothing else, this ought to be seen for another awards-worthy, killer Cate Blanchett performance.