Mini Reviews
Searching For Sugar Man (out Oct 4) is a wonderful documentary that looks at the way in which a unknown American musician became a huge star in South Africa in the 1970s. This is superbly told with a strong narrative. It teases you with mystery and then when all is revealed, you'll feel amazed, inspired. Grade: A.
Taken 2 (out Oct 4) is yeah, um, not good. It should be classed as science-fiction given that Liam Neeson is some kind of clairvoyant. The way in which he reads every situation and eliminates the bad guys (who come complete with foreign accents) is laughable. The Austin Powers movies were more believable. Don't get me started on the dialogue. Grade: C-.
Arbitrage (out Sep 27) has a bit of everything - cover-ups, police investigations, family conflicts, cheating husbands, interfering lawyers and dodgy investments. It feels a little staged but the interesting narrative will hold your attention and I like the casting of Richard Gere in the leading role. Grade: B.
On The Road (out Sep 27) was a complete snoozefest. It’s a decent looking cast on paper but this new film from Walter Salles (The Motorcycle Diaries) never got going. Set in the late 1940s, we follow a budding writer’s travels back and forth across the U.S. but for what purpose? Stuff happens. More stuff happens. The end. I couldn’t have cared less what happened to these characters. Grade: C.
Looper (out Sep 27) would rank highly on my list of “believable” time travel movies. It’s energizing to watch a fast-paced action film that challenges the audience. Writer-director Rian Johnson has created an intricate, intelligent storyline that demands you pay attention at all times. Looper is a film to be seen at least once… but more likely… twice. Grade: A-.
Ruby Sparks (out now) was a touch disappointing. I like the idea of a writer bringing a character to life (merging reality & fiction) but the film meanders through its second act and boxes itself into a corner from which a smart, insightful ending is not possible. Grade: B-.
Lore (out Sep 20) comes with a nagging seen-it-before feel (a personal criticism given how many WWII films that I've reviewed as a critic). That said, it's still a worthy movie that draws strength from its interesting characters - a group of German children who have lost their parents and are travelling across the country following the cessation of the war. Grade: B+.
The Watch (out now) ain't worth watching. Four guys form a Neighbourhood Watch group and end up trying to stop an alien invasion. I chuckled a couple of times but it relies heavily on the same jokes over and over. Not a strong enough comedy. Grade: C+.
Diary Of A Wimpy Kid: Dog Days (out Sep 20) is the third in the series and continues to follow Greg and his nerdish adventures (this time over the summer holidays). Fans of the books or earlier films should enjoy but I can't see it having much appeal outside of that. Grade: B-.
Bait (out Sep 20) has a crazy premise that could have been amusing. Instead of Snake On A Plane, we are watching the equivalent of Sharks In A Shopping Centre. Unfortunately, the lack of jokes, cheesy dialogue and so-so special effects leaves it stuck in limbo - it's not an entertaining comedy nor is it an exciting thriller. Grade: C.
Hotel Transylvania (out Sep 20) is an animated family flick about a group of monsters who visit Count Dracula's secret holiday resort for some R&R. It needed a little more humour and better use of the "supporting" monsters but it still has a nice message and an easy to follow narrative. Grade: B.
