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Scarface
Shapeless pacing and shoddy production values make for one of the most over-rated film school favorites.
Halliwell says: Absurdly brutalized version of the above, with detailed violence and a superabundance of foul language. Scarface has now become an emigre Cuban, and the film seems to want to make a political statement.
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20th Feb 2012
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No Strings Attached
Devastatingly transparent and unambitious romcom-by-numbers with Natalie Portman.
19th Feb 2012
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Tomorrow, When The War Began
Heartbreak High meets Red Dawn in this bland teen Aussie box office smash.
17th Feb 2012
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Rush
Disappointingly dated, wooden, melodramatic undercover-cops-go-too-far movie. With added Eric Clapton noodling.
15th 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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Chalet Girl
Unambitious @UKFilmCouncil drivel starring many of the usual suspects. I'm talking to you #BillNighy.
12th Feb 2012
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Battle Los Angeles
Stylish, directionless, underdeveloped video game shoot 'em up. Black Hawk Down with aliens.
11th Feb 2012
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The Ghost
Clumsy, inefficient thriller. Was going to say wannabee-Polanski, then I noticed Polanski directed it.
1st Feb 2012
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Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
More mindless big budget tentpole antics. Nothing new to report, Cap'n.
30th Jan 2012
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Ironclad
Shapeless medieval actioner. The medium calibre cast is let down by the shoddy production quality & script.
28th Jan 2012
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Paul
Turgid alien bromance comedy. Disappointing turns from Rogan/Frost/Pegg/Mottola.
26th Jan 2012
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True Grit
Sumptuous, beautifully shot, stylish western. Its slowness is saved by a couple of great set pieces.
23rd Jan 2012
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127 Hours
Bold, confident filmmaking from @DannyBoyleFilm. 57 Hours might have worked better.
23rd Jan 2012
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The Adjustment Bureau
Unsteady retro sci-fi with religious undertones - that once might have starred Jimmy Stewart.
21st 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
Read more 3 star reviews
The Good The Bad And The Ugly
Newly extended scenes only highlight how good every scene is in this masterful western.
Halliwell says: Intermittently lively, very violent and interminably drawn out western with a number of rather hilarious stylistic touches.*
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19th Jan 2012
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Midnight Run
Note perfect action comedy from Martin Brest. Movies don't get much better than this.
18th Jan 2012
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Limitless
Expensive, psychedelic student film exploring sci-fi drug dependency.
16th Jan 2012
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It's Kind of a Funny Story
Disappointing blend of Cuckoo's Nest and 500 Days. @Galifianakisz saves the day again.
14th Jan 2012
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Leon
It seemed derivative at the time, but Luc Besson's hit man flick brought some edgy originality to Hollywood.
13th Jan 2012
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Fallen Angels
WKW's Chungking Express follow-up sacrifices charm for extremist style that has rarely been equalled.
11th Jan 2012
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Hereafter
Bizarre exploration of the afterlife from Clint. Hot on the heels of What Dreams May Come and Lovely Bones.
7th Jan 2012
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The Green Hornet
Dull big screen outing for a second rate superhero - wasting considerable talent and money.
7th Jan 2012
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Mesrine Part 2: Public Enemy No 1
More expensive, directionless French gangster antics. With added Almaric.
4th Jan 2012
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Betrayed
Detailed, absorbing thriller from Costas Garvas, as Debra Winger goes undercover with the KKK.
Halliwell says: Heavygoing piece with Something to Say, but not much to watch.*
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3rd Jan 2012
Read more 4 star reviews
What Just Happened
Dark, stylish, humorous dissection of the movie biz ...that only makes me want to live in LA.
2nd Jan 2012
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Gulliver's Travels
Unambitious, child friendly update to the classic tale.
2nd Jan 2012
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Drive
Still derivative. Still borderline pretentious. Still enjoyable.
1st Jan 2012
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Cool World
Early 90's car crash, as Ralph Bakshi's kaleidoscopic fountain of ideas collides with the mainstream.
30th Dec 2011
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Beginners
Assured, personal, touching, refreshing exploration of love and relationships from Mike Mills.
29th Dec 2011
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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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The King's Speech
A touching, powerful story. Well acted and adequately told.
26th Dec 2011
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ET: The Extra Terrestrial
Spielberg's flawless classic still hits hard, even if my bike still can't fly.
24th Dec 2011
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Finding Nemo
Charming animated aquatics from Pixar. Lacking the emotional sucker punch of their other efforts.
23rd Dec 2011
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Thelma and Louise
Stylish feminist road movie that saw a return to form for Ridley Scott. Feminists might disagree.
Halliwell says: Timely, exuberant and off-beat feminist road movie that manages to say something interesting about the relationship between the sexes.***
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18th Dec 2011
Read more 4 star reviews
Irreversible
Brutal, context-free trawl through a seedy underworld as reverse trauma unfolds. Get your sea legs on.
17th Dec 2011
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Good Will Hunting
Gus Van Zandt's absorbing drama still holds up. Beautifully written, acted, shot and directed.
17th 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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The Bicycle Thief
Italian neo-realist classic, as area man struggles to find work and the necessary tools to do it.
Halliwell says: The epitome of Italian neo-realism, the slight human drama is developed so that it has all the force of King Lear, and both the acting and the backgrounds are vividly compelling.***
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14th 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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The Driver
Moody, but flat and dull original car chase movie with Ryan O'Neal. More influential than it is good.
Halliwell says: Noisy melodrama, very proficient in the screeching tyro department but extremely empty as a character.*
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11th Dec 2011
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Season of the Witch
Surprisingly snappy hokus pokus with Nic Cage and Clay Morrow.
10th Dec 2011
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A Christmas Carol
Another lifeless motion capture animation from a flagging Robert Zemeckis.
9th Dec 2011
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Amazing Grace
Solid, unambitious, but occasionally rousing William Wilberforce biopic.
7th 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
Read more 3 star reviews