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Surveillance
Donnie Darko
Post modern, post @DougCoupland time travel flick that favours style over substance.
19th May 2012
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Gimme The Loot
Engaging low-key indie drama debut about graffiti bombers in NYC that won at @SXSW.
11th May 2012
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Rampart
Mood music in the key of dark, dark blue: Woody Harrelson's v bad cop is a shoot first, kick later kind of guy.
3rd May 2012
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We Bought A Zoo
Matt Damon bonds w kids and Scarlett Johansson over tigers. Standard Cameron Crowe rock OST.
1st May 2012
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The Muppets
Fuzzy get-felt-gang-back-together feel-good antics. Man Or Muppet? song v Conchords, bonus Dave Grohl cameo.
21st Mar 2012
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State of Grace
Early 90s gangster pic - with juvenile Penn, Oldman and Reilly doing a dry run for 'The Departed'.
Halliwell says: Dull and plodding gangster movie.
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28th Feb 2012
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The Eagle
Roman action/drama that covers the same ground as 'Centurion', with twice the style and half the pace.
25th Feb 2012
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London Boulevard
Surprisingly acceptable mockney caper. Think The Long Good Friday with flashes of Only Fools & Horses.
18th Feb 2012
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No Man's Land
Surprisingly stylish slice of 80s action with @CharlieSheen ...like Point Break, without surfboards.
14th Feb 2012
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The Lincoln Lawyer
Matthew McRomcomedy gets semi-serious in this tricksy courtroom drama ...an updated Jagged Edge.
13th Feb 2012
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Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
Improved op, Simon Pegg lightens Cruise control. Overlong, vertigo stunts IMAX-ready.
23rd Jan 2012
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Reds
Portentous historical epic from Warren Beatty. Ambitious in scale and production, it sadly fails to get going.
Halliwell says: Interminably long but full of quality, this immensely detailed work was a most unlikely project to succeed in the eighties, but its very strangeness enabled it to break even.**
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21st Jan 2012
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Limitless
Expensive, psychedelic student film exploring sci-fi drug dependency.
16th Jan 2012
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Ratatouille
There's a rat in the kitchen, what can Pixar do? Serve up a MasterRat toon. Hard sell, but it works.
3rd Jan 2012
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Megamind
The superior rock OST is virtually all that distinguishes this from 'Despicible Me'.
27th Dec 2011
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Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Super fast paced, thoughtful action movie - that stretches things a little too far.
27th Dec 2011
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She & Him
A Very She & Him Christmas
Zooey and M. Ward croon through the classics. There's one day this is good for.
25th Dec 2011
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Speed
Pop quiz asshole! Keanu's 90's runaway bus classic has not matured with age.
16th Dec 2011
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The Russian Ark
An ambitious amble through Russian history - with a single tracking shot and a cast of thousands.
15th Dec 2011
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Norwegian Wood
Disappointingly dull and lifeless Murakami adaptation, despite the high calibre of talent involved.
15th Dec 2011
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Despicable Me
Decent enough sub-Pixar evil genius adventure. Shrink ray included.
12th Dec 2011
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Morning Glory
Smarter rom-com, with a not-terrible turn from Harrison Ford.
5th Dec 2011
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Biutiful
Grim and uninspiring slice of life in the Barcelona underworld.
5th Dec 2011
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The Iron Lady
Spooky, Oscar-bothering turn from Meryl Streep as Thatcher, recalling No 10 life with a phantom Denis.
24th Nov 2011
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Che: Part One
Well crafted but unremarkable biography following the student hero's part in the Cuban Revolution.
20th Oct 2011
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Tintin
Plus: non-stop action, good gags, pace and functioning alcoholic hero. Minus: uncanny valley look hard to love.
16th Oct 2011
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American Horror Story
Loopy, OTT haunted house hysteria from Ryan "Nip/Tuck,Glee" Murphy. Jessica Lange gets best lines.
14th Oct 2011
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Contagion
Post-Sars Outbreak update w big international cast. Convincing, but does it say more than "global virus = v bad news"?
11th Oct 2011
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Cyrus
Mumblecore goes mainstream, though this black comedy still keeps it dark and indie.
11th Oct 2011
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Real Steel
Amusing, one-dimensional kids action movie, the likes of which we haven't seen since 'Over The Top'.
7th Oct 2011
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DJ Shadow
The Less You Know The Better
Got a definite late 90's vibe but these beats are booming. Welcome back.
7th Oct 2011
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The Ides Of March
Tightly wound, narrow-focus political thriller w Ryan Gilbey working the room for Gov Clooney.
6th Oct 2011
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The Kids Are All Right
Engaging family dynamics drama that goes off the boil in act three.
2nd Oct 2011
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Wilco
The Whole Love
Touching on the musical bravery not seen since A Ghost Is Born this is a return to form. Ish.
26th Sep 2011
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Skying
The Horrors
Fleshing out their sound with every release, this is the most solid so far. Esp Endless Blue.
26th Sep 2011
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Terra Nova
Promising big budget dino romp about time-travelling colonialists. Avatar's grumpy army guy does same role.
11th Sep 2011
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The Social Network
Solid direction, tight script and great acting make a Facebook movie as interesting as it can be.
10th Sep 2011
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Blonde Redhead
Union Chapel
Remarkable songs and venue, unremarkable performance. Could have been a radio session.
6th Sep 2011
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Four Lions
Edgy, challenging black comedy from Chris Morris that doesn't quite deliver, but certainly provokes.
5th Sep 2011
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The Cool Kids
When Fish Ride Bicycles
Retro style diluted when stretched over a whole album but some nice jams
2nd Sep 2011
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We Are Augustines
Rise Ye Sunken Ships
Formed out of the ashes of Pela this is a worthy debut. Welcome back boys
2nd Sep 2011
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Baxter Dury
Happy Soup
Sounding more and more like his dad this is a worthy follow up to Floorshow. Loving Isabel
1st Sep 2011
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Lifeguards
Waving At The Astronauts
Thundering, rock tinged entry into the Bob Pollard cannon. W/ Doug Gillard
15th Aug 2011
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Exit Through The Gift Shop
Interesting street art expose, that unfortunately descends into tedious farce.
14th Aug 2011
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The Other Guys
Hilariously stupid buddy cop movie, which defies expectation to flourish beyond an inflight scenario.
12th Aug 2011
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Submarine
Decent if overlong stab at over-articulate/awkward teen romcom set on Welsh coast. Good OST from Alex Turner.
3rd Aug 2011
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Source Code
Jake Gyllenhaal replays 8 min loop on doomed train; can he find bomber/girl/way out in time? Kind of works.
3rd Aug 2011
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Hanna
Stylish Euro riff on teen assassins w Saoirse Ronan. Fairytale edge, Cate Blanchett wicked CIA witch, few plot Qs.
1st Aug 2011
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Skateland
Nicely shot but over-confident and under-developed suburban nostalgia drama, set in early 80's America.
28th Jul 2011
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The Karate Kid
Decent enough 80s classic remake, though the kids are 5 years younger and it's relocated to China.
21st Jul 2011
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