The melodramatic The Best of Me is the latest adaptation of a novel from Nicholas Sparks, a bestselling author best known for The Notebook. Sparks writes overly sentimental romantic novels to a well established and increasingly predictable formula – rain drenched passionate kisses and young lovers from different social classes kept apart by family, prejudice,…
Thirty years after the last (and third) instalment, 12 years in the making, director George Miller (Happy Feet) is back with more of the post apocalyptic horror of Mad Max. But this time it is English actor Tom Hardy (The Dark Knight Rises) instead of Mel Gibson, who plays the road warrior Max Rockatansky. Haunted…
On May 8, 1945, VE Day, the royal princesses Elizabeth and Margaret ventured beyond the gates of Buckingham Palace to celebrate the end of the war in Europe and mingle with the celebrations on the streets of London. That much at least is true. But what follows in A Royal Night Out is the product…
Inspired by true events, this fantasy adventure tells the story of a young woman’s extraordinary journey from Japan to Minnesota, in search of a mythical fortune. The titular Kumiko (Rinko Kikuchi from Babel) lives a shy and solitary life in a cramped Tokyo apartment shared only by her beloved pet rabbit Bunzo. She is 29…
This simple, low budget New Zealand and Australian co-production is a two-handed romantic drama that is reminiscent of the Before trilogy from Richard Linklater. It basically follows a couple as they wander through the streets of Christchurch while they try to work out where their relationship stands. Charlie (Dustin Clare, from TV series Spartacus) left…
Psychiatry and religion are two crutches that people turn to in times of trouble, seeking help, spiritual guidance and comfort. But these twin sources of help are also double-edged swords and have often been exploited for darker purposes. With religion, the dark side is often the suicide cults with their brainwashing, manipulation and the ability…
Around this time of year, a young man’s thoughts (cinematically speaking) will turn to huge, special effects laden blockbusters, as the US “summer” movie season gets into full swing (this year so far we’ve already had Fast & Furious 7 and Avengers: Age of Ultron). While those movies definitely have their place, sometimes it’s good to have a…
