12 – 111mins – 2016
CULT ENCOUNTERS OF THE ABSURD KIND
Sometimes critically commended films can disappoint you on a personal level. Sometimes even films which, on paper, sound exactly like something you typically adore, can leave you cold. Sadly, rising director Jeff Nichol’s sullen sci-fi drama (and his breakout studio hit following the indie success of 2012’s Matthew McConaughey-led Mud) manages the dubious honour of a double-whammy for me.
18 – 113mins – 2016
CATWALK ON THE WILD SIDE
With youth and beauty on her side, innocent orphan Jesse (Elle Fanning) makes waves on the LA fashion scene, ruffling feathers amongst her old – and less natural – contemporaries. But underneath their flawless skin, stick-thin frames and bitchy attitudes the perfection-hungry models are hiding a more insidious secret which could spell danger for the waif-like “deer in headlights.”
Written by: Matt Haig
Illustrated by: Chris Mould
Published in the UK by: Canongate, 2015
266 pages
YOUNG SAINT NICK
While I openly appreciate that I am far beyond the target demographic for this Primary school-skewed prequel detailing how a lonely and underprivileged woodcutter’s son grew up into the magical gift-giving, mince pie-munching Father of the festive season, I was on the lookout for an easy Christmas read to get me in the spirit. This much-applauded “future Classic” (as broadcaster-cum-novelist Simon Mayo hailed it) from the Number One Bestselling author of The Runaway Troll sounded like the perfect pick.
U – 42mins – 2014
Showing in the UK: ITV2, Christmas Day, 7.20am
ELF OFF THE SHELF
Having recently rewatched – and thoroughly enjoyed – the 2003 Will Ferrell film, I put on Buddy’s Musical Christmas expecting a sequel adventure, albeit it in a condensed, more kid-ified medium. Imagine my surprise when it quickly became apparent that this 2014 stop-motion animated TV special is not a follow-up to Jon The Jungle Book Favreau’s festive comedy but a felt-flavoured repurposing.
15 – 83mins – 2015
QUITE EARLY ONE MORNING
Dylan Thomas has described his own classic BBC radio play (later a theatrical production and 1972 Richard Burton-starring film) as “strangely simple and simply strange,” and no finer analysis can I make. Director Kevin Allen hoped his new filmic adaption would help bring this bizarre school-taught masterpiece to a new contemporary audience, but going in fresh I struggled greatly with this surreal and unorthodox kaleidoscope of ‘normal’ Welsh life.
Written by: Helen Fielding, 2016
Published in the UK by: Jonathan Cape
217 pages
BACK WITH A BUMP
Squished betwixt first sequel The Edge of Reason (1999) and 2013’s hugely successful – and for some, highly contentious – comeback Mad About the Boy in Bridget’s flitting and flighty chronology, this companion novel to Universal Pictures/Working Title’s new hit film (which I reviewed HERE) is a warm, gigglesome and agreeable, if threadbare, read, inspired by Helen Fielding’s newspaper columns published in The Independent.
15 – 112mins – 2015
ELITE ENCOUNTERS
Belatedly released straight to region 2 DVD with an unremarkably insipid title replacing the US variant Zipper (oo-er!), The Conjuring 2‘s Patrick Wilson is perfectly cast in this intriguing highly erotic political drama inspired by a real life scandal as a professional man enticed into illicit affairs with a string of high-end escorts while congress remains in his wavering, once-focused sights.
12A – 133mins – 2016 – 3D
SUPER TROOPERS
Ostensibly an orphan, Jyn Erso (Felicity Inferno Jones) has had a less than rosy upbringing after her mother was gunned down and her science officer father, Galen (Mads Doctor Strange Mikkelsen), kidnapped by the Galactic Empire to assist them in completing their “planet killing” orbital monstrosity, the Death Star. Rescued from an Imperial camp, Jyn is recruited by Mon Mothma (Revenge of the Sith’s Genevieve O’Reilly) and the Rebel Alliance to join Cassian Andor’s (Diego Luna) ragtag team of Rebels on a mission to track down Galen and seize the plans to the super-weapon in order to locate a weakness.
GLASS KNUCKLED WHITE WARRIOR
Courtesy of a much-appreciated check disc from Fetch Publicity I had the opportunity recently to review the long-gestating modern reimagining of Jean-Claude Van Damme’s hard-hitting 80’s revenge flick, with the action icon returning to the franchise alongside faces fresh (Alain Moussi) and familiar (Dave Bautista, Gina Carano).
Click THIS LINK to get taken directly to my blow-by-blow account over at the 80’s Picture House.
Kickboxer: Vengeance is out NOW on region 2 DVD and Blu-ray from Kaleidoscope Home Entertainment (UK).
U – 74mins – 1997
TURN OF THE TIDE?
A triptych of cute-if-repetitive straight-to-video sequels in as many years was obviously enough for writer Dev Ross and director Roy Allen Smith. Both departed the Great Valley prior to this fifth diddy dino-delight, and most of the voice cast followed suit.
The CR@Bpendium 