Leigh Paatsch's guide to movies

FEEL like watching a film but can't decide which one? Leigh Paatsch has you covered with this quick and honest movie guide.

the call

FEEL like watching a film but can't decide which one? Leigh Paatsch has you covered with this quick and honest movie guide.

> THE BIG WEDDING (MA15+) Say "I don't", US, 89 min
In the mood for yet another wacky nuptial knees-up? Best wait around for the next one. This one ain't so hot. Robert De Niro and Diane Keaton are ex-spouses pretending they're still hitched so that the wedding of their son goes off without a hitch. Meanwhile, De Niro's current girlfriend Susan Sarandon fumes in the background, and Katherine Heigl carries on as only Katherine Heigl can. As joyless, witless and hopeless as a movie of this type can possibly get. Even with Robin Williams playing the priest. Rating: 1/5

> BROKEN (MA15+) Disturbing the pieces, UK, 90 min
The nicely threaded life of an 11-year-old girl living in suburban London is nastily torn apart when she witnesses a violent incident near her home. The aftershocks intensify when her father finds himself involved in a damaging neighbourhood dispute that has escalated well beyond repair. A solid, emotionally layered drama that almost dips into soap-opera on a few occasions, then wisely thinks better of it. A fine ensemble is led by Tim Roth, Cillian Murphy, Rory Kinnear and impressive young newcomer Elouise Laurence. Rating: 3/5

> THE CALL (MA15+) Berry operates on emote-control, US, 94 min
This functional, moderately gripping thriller is fair example of getting a little something out of a whole lot of nothing. Abigail Breslin is a teenage girl who has been kidnapped and bundled into the car boot of a psychopath. Luckily, there is just enough juice in her mobile phone to keep a line open to 911 helpline operator Halle Berry, who must effect a roundabout rescue. Berry gets all worried at the other end. Plaudits must go to Berry for humanising proceedings when everything could have got too cynically clinical. When you consider she spends most of the movie emoting into her headset at a computer screen, hers is a fine anchoring effort indeed.Rating: 2.5/5

> THE COMPANY YOU KEEP (M) You can't run forever, US, 122 min
Quality political thriller starring (and also directed by) Robert Redford. He plays Jim Grant, a fugitive political activist who has been wanted by the FBI for over three decades. Now Grant wants to come in from the cold to clear his name on a murder charge that should never have stuck in the first place. There is a lot of a plot to chew through here, and some of it is a little hard to digest if you're not familiar with the radical politics of yesteryear. Thank heavens, then, for the great support Redford draws from support players such as Nick Nolte, Shia LaBeouf, Stanley Tucci and the great Julie Christie. Rating: 3/5

> THE CROODS (PG) A good time at the dawn of time, US, 98 min
This cleverly constructed cartoon adventure is the clear top pick of the holiday new releases across all age groups, even if it seems like it's just an Ice Age with humans replacing animals. Nicolas Cage gives voice to the head of a caveman family forced to look for a new home as the world's land mass divides into continents. It is easy to tell when a voice cast is enthused by the 'toon they're working on, and their positive vibes continually give the film a lift. Better still, the story is surprisingly involving, and the quality of animation is stunning (particularly in

> EVIL DEAD (R18+) Evil reincarnate, US, 91 min
Surprisingly strong and (in)appropriately horrifying remake of the classic 1983 cult gore-fest. First-time filmmaker Fede Alvarez dumps an excessive and impressive bagof tricks all over the screen, while working through that famous tale of demonic possession in the woods. Definitely an acquired taste, but the shocks and aftershocks achieved here are not to be trifled with. Stars Jane Levy, Lou Taylor Pucci, Shiloh Fernandez. Rating: 3/5

> FIRST POSITION (G) When tutu much may not be enough, US, 94 min
This compelling documentary look at a group of children rising through the ranks of competitive ballet is all about pressure. A lot of pressure. To win one of the coveted prizes on offer during the annual Youth America Grand Prix competition, it takes a high degree of mental strength not always found in the very young. The cameras of first-time filmmaker Bess Kargman are invariably present when each of her six subjects reach their individual moment of reckoning. Some rise to the occasion. Some falter at the last hurdle. It is edge-of-the-seat stuff by the close of the film, and not just because of the high stakes in play for all involved. By the time we reach the final performances, Kargman has skilfully imprinted the vividly colourful back stories of the contestants upon the viewer. Rating: 4/5

> HAUTE CUISINE (M) It's all in good taste, France, 95 min
Trifling feelgood fare for foodies. In particular, French foodies. This is the true-ish story of Daniele Delpeuch, a gifted chef who rose from obscurity in the provinces to become the personal cook of French President Francois Mitterand. Catherine Frot is a delight in the lead role, often making this entree-sized material present like a main meal. Co-stars Jean d'Ormesson, Hippolyte Girardot. Rating: 2.5/5

> THE HUNT (MA15+) Direct hit on uneasy target, Denmark, 114 min
This searing, sincerely powerful Danish drama will drop two tonnes of heartbreak on you. Not a gram is wasted. A superb lead performance from Mads Mikkelsen keeps the ordeal on the right side of bearable. But only just. Mikkelsen plays a rural schoolteacher falsely accused of sexually abusing a young student. The *due process* set in place to deal with cases of such extreme sensitivity picks up a swift and damning momentum. An innocent man becomes a marked man. This is human nature - its best intentions, its worst instincts - simply running its course. Make one simple stumble, and you may never make up all that lost ground. Rating: 4/5

> IRON MAN 3 (M) Reclaiming a full mettle jacket, US, 125 min
A third thunderous adventure for that heavy-metal crimefighter Iron Man, and his eccentric human alter ego Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.). The cataclysmic events depicted in the ferocious finale of The Avengers have left Tony with a serious post-traumatic stress disorder. So when an all-new nemesis known as The Mandarin (Ben Kingsley) - an omnipresent jihadist in the Osama bin Laden mould - begins attacking America from every angle, Tony Stark is not in the best shape to repel the threat. The action set-pieces of Iron Man 3 are where the film truly excels, displaying a creativity and wit that will excite adrenalin-chasing viewers. Performances are consistently strong, in spite of the tonally erratic screenplay. Downey Jr. has definitely re-engaged with his character on a deeper level after the superficial high jinks of Iron Man 2. Perhaps the best effort of all comes from the veteran Ben Kingsley, whose vicious brand of villainy comes with a surprise twist that is cleverly executed at a crucial juncture in proceedings. Co-stars Guy Pearce, Gwyneth Paltrow.  Rating: 3.5/5

> KON-TIKI (M) He came. He Thor. He floated., Norway, 111 min
True stories do not come much more remarkable than that of the late Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl. On a raft made from balsa wood, Heyerdahl sailed all the way from Peru to Polynesia in 1947. His support crew of five had little-to-no maritime experience. Heyerdahl himself could not swim. This polite, stony-faced dramatisation of the voyage is pretty much Life of Pi without the stowaway tiger or the groovy 3D visuals, but with the same amount of sharks and storms. Heyerdahl (played by Pal Sverre Hagen) is, quite rightly, the only character capable of resonating with viewers here. He comes across as both a slightly-mad idealist, and a media-savvy self-promoter (his idea of taking a cameraman along for the ride resulted in an amazing Oscar-winning documentary). Rating: 3/5

> OLYMPUS HAS FALLEN (MA15+) Save the Prez and save the world, US, 117 min
Gormless, guilty-pleasure action thriller, best viewed as the Die-Hard-Hits-The-White-House affair it so clearly wants to be. And to its relative credit, just about is. Gerard Butler is the hard-ass hero of the hour, a Presidential guard who must come to the rescue when his boss is taken hostage by some despicable North Korean terrorist types. Runs about 30 minutes too long, and some of the violence is just too over-the-top for words. Nevertheless, when it is just plain dumb, the overall effect can be just plain entertaining. Co-stars Aaron Eckhart. Rating: 2.5/5

> PERFORMANCE (M) Playing to (im)perfection, US, 105 min
Impeccably acted drama set in the world of contemporary classical music. On the eve of their 25th season together, a world-renowned string quartets is on the brink of falling apart. A key member has been diagnosed with the early stages of Parkinson's Disease. Two married players are heading towards divorce. A film that gets so many of the *the little things* right, particularly the fragile inter-personal dynamic that powers the most creative musical ensembles. The cast is flawless, with Philip Seymour Hoffman and Catherine Keener holding everything together as the couple crumbling to bits. Christopher Walken is also remarkable here, possibly playing his first *normal* character in many moons. Rating: 3.5/5

> THE PLACE BEYOND THE PINES (MA15+) Crime waits for no man, US, 140 min
A sprawling, archly ambitious drama is also very much a three-card trick of a movie. The first two narrative sleights-of-hand are handled exclusively by actors Ryan Gosling (as an outlaw motorbiker) and Bradley Cooper (the rookie cop in hot pursuit).  Each gets a self-enclosed act of the picture to themselves, and rise to the occasion with performances that both near their career peaks. More often than not, there is an undeniable magic in the air. However, when it comes to the grand finale - resting as it does on circumstances sure to break the needle on your Movie-Coincidence-O-Meter - not everyone will blown away by the 'big reveal'. While the contrasts between the main characters are all too obvious, each point of difference is skilfully rendered by Derek Cianfrance, a rare filmmaking talent working on only his second feature. (If you saw his stunning 2010 debut Blue Valentine, this ripples with the same intensely damaged energy.) Co-stars Eva Mendes, Ben Mendelsohn, Rose Byrne. Rating: 3.5/5

> A PLACE FOR ME (MA15+) There's no place like home. Even if it's broken, US, 92 min
This quality dram-edy gives off the instant warmth of a well-made TV pilot you would happily hope would be swiftly developed into a series. An eager-to-please storyline pitches divorcee writer William (Greg Kinnear) still pining for his ex-wife Erica (Jennifer Connelly), even though she is now happily married elsewhere. An elsewhere, I should add, that William sometimes keeps under surveillance in the dead of night. Meanwhile, the ex-couple's offspring - both gifted authors in their own right - are both working through the process of falling in love for the very first time. For Samantha (Lily Collins), this means ending an imposing track record of promiscuity. The same goes for her younger brother Rusty (Nat Wolff), save for the fact it is his virginity he must farewell. Hard to sincerely gripe with any aspect of A Place for Me. The characters are skilfully established and expanded, their respective journeys resonate in a straightforward manner, and there's barely a scene that shouldn't be here. Rating: 3/5

> SNITCH (M) The Rock takes it all for granite, US, 111 min
In Snitch, that likeable lunk Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson puts his serious acting hat on. Just like you, I never knew he owned one. What's more, it doesn't seem to fit so good. While this gap in The Rock's skill set won't have you liking the lunk any less, it does take the edge off a crime thriller that was never all that sharp to begin with. He plays an everyday dad looking to save his son - facing a stretch in jail - by infiltrating a murderous Mexican drugs cartel. As you (should never) do. There's a few enjoyable scenes of trucks being driven in anger, and machine-guns being fired very inaccurately. There's also a lot of scenes where The Rock and the dramatic arts carry on as if they don't like each other much. Co-stars Susan Sarandon, Barry Pepper. Rating: 2/5

> SPRING BREAKERS (R18+) Youth? You can't handle the youth, US, 92 min
I can get an accurate review of Spring Breakers down to just three letters : EPN. Or if you prefer, three words : Every. Parent's. Nightmare. Yep, this downright unsettling mood piece about four teenage girls cutting loose on America's notorious equivalent of our own notorious Schoolies Week is here to melt the worried minds of every mum and dad it possibly can. In its rare moments of complete clarity, Spring Breakers captures a hedonistic vision of heaven, hell and hangovers for high-schoolers with irksome precision. At other moments, the movie disappears inside a shambolic heat shimmer, where it is mighty hard to make out who is saying or doing what. Stars Selena Gomez, James Franco. Rating: 2.5/5

> STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS (M) Keeping our eyes on the Enterprise, US, 128 min
Courtesy of gifted filmmaker J.J. Abrams, 2009's origin-story-driven Star Trek was just the reboot up the backside the long-running franchise needed. The belated sequel Into Darkness delivers more of the exciting goods, even if it settles for a slight, but noticeable downscale of impact. The new mission of the Starship Enterprise is to hunt down the mysteriously sinister John Harrison (Benedict Cumberbatch), a former Starfleet officer now looking to destroy his one-time allies. Naturally, odd-couple buddies Kirk (Chris Pine) and Spock (Zachary Quinto) are leading the charge across deep space to save the day. The familiar likes of Uhura (Zoe Saldana), Bones (Karl Urban), Sulu (John Cho), Chekov (Anton Yelchin) and Scotty (Simon Pegg, still fighting a hilariously losing battle with that half-cocked Highlands accent) all have limited, yet crucial roles to play in the tumult to follow. Into Darkness functions best when operating purely in cinematic thrill-ride mode. Production design and special-effects are first-class, as expected. Only a vaguely underwhelming ending removes some of the shine from a gilt-edged offering. Rating: 3.5/5

> TABU (MA15+) Old, new, bothered and blue, Portugal, 116 min
A tale of two time-shifted paradises, one lost and one found. In the present day, an elderly woman in the Portuguese city of Lisbon wonders what became of her once-glamourous life. The reasons why can found in the past, when her younger, married self falls in love with a seductive adventurer in the wilds of Africa. A film of two distinct sections and a multitude of tricks and tropes, Tabu is definitely a unique movie experience. The stylised aesthetic in play - the old-timey B&W cinematography is just one of many unusual choices by director Miguel Gomes - may leave some viewers cold. Others will be utterly riveted. The risk (and return) is all yours. Rating: 3.5/5

> TRANCE (MA15+) Total recoil from total recall, US, 111 min
A beguiling and bewildering new mystery from filmmaker Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire). Is Simon (James McAvoy) forgetting to remember? Or remembering to forget? When a priceless painting in his keeping goes missing and Simon cannot recall its whereabouts, the amnesiac art dealer is sent to a hypnotherapist (Rosario Dawson) for assistance. As hypnosis is all about plugging into the power of verbal suggestion, Boyle's job as director is to somehow alternate the current so that the verbal becomes visual. Some sequences in Trance achieve this task brilliantly. Other sections - particularly in a very convoluted final act - pose challenges to the viewer that will push some to the brink of outright frustration. By all means, expect to be entertained and excited, but don't be too surprised if you are often exasperated as well. Rating: 3.5/5