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Surveillance
Bends
An engrossing Hong Kong tale of the class divide, hampered by inexperienced direction and average performances.
19th May 2013
Read more 3 star reviewsJimmy P (Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian)
Amateur direction and abysmal acting sink this painfully slow turkey.
18th May 2013
Read more 1.5 star reviewsHeli
Boring, drawn out drug cartel anecdote, with occasional ultra-violence.
18th May 2013
Read more 2 star reviewsSearch
The Outsiders
The Complete Novel
Despite Coppola's tinkering, this melodramatic 80s classic still stands up well.
Halliwell says: Oddball youth melodrama, a curious choice for a director with big successes behind him.
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13th May 2013
Read more 4 star reviews
Prometheus
Shoddy prequel that leaves less unanswered questions on second viewing and a bigger sense of vacuousness.
11th May 2013
Read more 2 star reviews
The Double
Bog-standard predictably tricksy spy thriller. Richard Gere in neutral.
10th May 2013
Read more 2.5 star reviews
Ted
Base humour. Wahlberg should know better. Even the funny bits from the trailer were drawn out here.
6th May 2013
Read more 2 star reviews
The Aviator
Solid, but totally unremarkable Brit relationship weepy.
5th May 2013
Read more 2.5 star reviews
Having You
Solid, but totally unremarkable Brit relationship weepy.
4th May 2013
Read more 2.5 star reviews
The Hunter
Patient, confident Australian environmental thriller that builds up to a decent climax.
28th Apr 2013
Read more 3 star reviews
Blow
Forget I'd seen this occasionally enjoyable, sub Scorcese coke-fest. The true-story backbone is the big problem.
27th Apr 2013
Read more 3 star reviews
Emmanuel and the Truth About Fishes
Mis-cast drama, with a touch of horror and a serious case of student filmitis.
26th Apr 2013
Read more 2 star reviews
In A World
LOL-packed comedy set in the competitive world of the voice over artist, with a nicely handled subtext.
26th Apr 2013
Read more 3.5 star reviews
The Five Year Engagement
Lazy Hollywood dross that telegraphs its every move and hides no surprises.
21st Apr 2013
Read more 2 star reviews
Flashbacks of a Fool
Stylish but unnecessarily drawn out faded movie star film. Should have ditched the flashbacks.
14th Apr 2013
Read more 2.5 star reviews
Snow White and the Huntsman
Beautifully shot, restrained fairytale summer tent pole. If only #LOTR was this classy.
13th Apr 2013
Read more 3.5 star reviews
The Amazing Spider-man
Solid, but essentially pointless remix that doesn't really add anything new to cinema.
8th Apr 2013
Read more 3 star reviews
Rock of Ages
Nostalgic music choices, but yes - it is an actual musical.
6th Apr 2013
Read more 2.5 star reviews
On the Beach
Atmospheric, somber, slow-burning, post-apocalyptic drama that fails to ignite.
Halliwell says: Gloomy prophecy which works well in spasms but is generally too content to chat rather than imagine. A solid prestige job nevertheless.**
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6th Apr 2013
Read more 2.5 star reviews
Lockout
Hideously mis-cast, B-grade Euro-blockbuster, with Luc Besson's sticky fingers all over it.
4th Apr 2013
Read more 2.5 star reviews
Ill Manors
Well-handled urban crime drama, that deals with the same old boring cliches.
3rd Apr 2013
Read more 2.5 star reviews
American Psycho
Overblown, vacuous satire that is hampered further by Christian Bale's near-slapstick performance.
Halliwell says: A daft, elegant portrait of a self-obsessed, fashionable, design-conscious man descending into psychosis as a result of his obsessions.**
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25th Mar 2013
Read more 2.5 star reviews
Last Days
Unrevealing, uninvolving, dull meander through the last days of a Kurt Cobain-esque grunge star.
23rd Mar 2013
Read more 2 star reviews
Men In Black 3
Big, brash, glitzy summer blockbuster - that's surprisingly lean, well rounded and entertaining.
22nd Mar 2013
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We Bought A Zoo
Low-effort, cookie cutter sentimental drama that has some merit.
17th Mar 2013
Read more 3 star reviews
Any Given Sunday
Glitzy, predictable NFL movie that wishes it had Michael Mann in charge instead of Oliver Stone.
14th Mar 2013
Read more 2.5 star reviews
Margin Call
Taut, economical thriller with a strong cast filling out some juicy roles as the financial bubble bursts.
12th Mar 2013
Read more 4 star reviews
Chronicle
Decent enough superhero flick that paints itself into the usual shapeless, found-footage corner.
8th Mar 2013
Read more 3 star reviews
Houdini
Tony Curtis gets a wriggle on in this short, functional, not particularly magical biopic.
Halliwell says: Superficial biopic with more attention to romance than to interesting detail. Some zest in the playing is killed by claustrophobic studio sets.*
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7th Mar 2013
Read more 2.5 star reviews
Bones Brigade An Auto biography
Decent, surprisingly moving doc about the radical neon superheroes of sk8. Lance wins.
6th Mar 2013
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Detachment
Depressing, stylish exploration of the perils of supply teaching from @TonyKaye.
2nd Mar 2013
Read more 3.5 star reviews
The Decline of Western Civilization
Essential, but hilariously dated state-of-the-union doc of LA's 80s punk scene.
Halliwell says: Quirky and fascinating study of some of the unlovelier aspects of youthful rebellion; it makes an interesting companion piece to the director's first feature film, Suburbia.*
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28th Feb 2013
Read more 2.5 star reviews
Witness
Brilliantly written and directed thriller that weaves through many classic tropes, plus carpentry.
Halliwell says: As much about the meeting of cultures as about cops and robbers, this is one of those lucky movies which works out well on all counts and shows that there are still craftsmen lurking in Hollywood.***
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28th Feb 2013
Read more 4.5 star reviews
Jeff Who Lives At Home
Mumblecore goes main stream (ish), as quirky suburban comedy meets unexpected drama.
24th Feb 2013
Read more 3 star reviews
Battleship
Independence Day meets Pearl Harbour, in one of the best movies-based-on-a-toy ever.
23rd Feb 2013
Read more 2 star reviews
To The Wonder
The lights are on but nobody's home, as Terence Malick's stylish tone poem comes close to self-parody.
22nd Feb 2013
Read more 3 star reviews
Purple Rain
50% less acting than I remembered, but Prince's epic self-centred pop promo holds up surprisingly well.
22nd Feb 2013
Read more 3 star reviews
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Pretentious, self consciously quirky Oscarbait that strangely fails to connect.
17th Feb 2013
Read more 2.5 star reviews
Avengers Assemble
Shallow, unmotivated superhero ensemble with the occasional thrill.
16th Feb 2013
Read more 2.5 star reviews
Peggy Sue Got Married
Interesting time travel companion to #BTTF, held back by Coppola's pedestrian direction.
Halliwell says: It plays like and extended Twilight Zone, but with plenty of interesting details to back up and excellent leading performance.**
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15th Feb 2013
Read more 3 star reviews
Live Free Or Die Hard
Diluted actioner with plenty of decent moments + appalling finale.
15th Feb 2013
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The Artist
Classy, post modern love letter to cinema, that's a couple of reels too long and not as subtle as 'Hugo'.
10th Feb 2013
Read more 3 star reviews
The Iron Lady
Kaleidoscopic, meandering wander down a well trodden path of Mrs Thatcher anecdotes and impressions.
9th Feb 2013
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The Decoy Bride
Shockingly pedestrian Scottish tourist board turkey, squandering some semi-decent talent.
8th Feb 2013
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Contraband
Effortless smuggling thriller with Marky Mark on auto-pilot. Not #TheOtherGuys.
8th Feb 2013
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Wanderlust
Anaemic hippie comedy, with a sub-par turn out from that Paul Rudd that we like.
2nd Feb 2013
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The Dictator
Ali G delivers this generations 'Coming To America'. You'll be embarrassed to find yourself laughing.
1st Feb 2013
Read more 2 star reviews
Zero Dark Thirty
Slightly self-important and shapeless wander through the post-war on terror landscape.
31st Jan 2013
Read more 3 star reviews
The Grey
Stylish direction, cinematography and music help elevate this otherwise standard man vs nature movie.
30th Jan 2013
Read more 3 star reviews