Insurgent
Things happen in the Divergent sequel, but mainly in dreams. Remember when films for young adults involved Californian future-wives going to the mall? Times have changed. In a post-recession age, … Continue reading
Wild Card
Jason Statham stars in a non-Jason Statham film. Sound the klaxon! My best understanding of gambling addictions comes from, of all things, a Futurama joke: “A casino where I’m winning? … Continue reading
Chappie
Who or what corrupted Chappie? This is the question asked by the talking heads in the opening montage, implying the robot was of sound mind until a bad influence caused … Continue reading
Dying of the Light
Dying of the Light could be interpreted as a parable for Paul Schrader’s career. The writer/director keeps fighting for what he believes in, against a system more interested in the … Continue reading
Shaun the Sheep Movie
The resurgence of silent cinema never happened. Not that this was to be expected –The Artist was a commemorative piece; a celebration of Hollywood before audiences melted over the dulcet … Continue reading
The Boy Next Door
Estrangement causes people to do the strangest things. Schoolteacher Claire Peterson (Jennifer Lopez) finds herself separated from her husband (John Corbett), who would rather have flings in San Fransisco than … Continue reading
No Manifesto: A Film About Manic Street Preachers
In true Manic Street Preachers fashion, No Manifesto overstates, under-delivers, but is too endearing not to admire. The film promises “a vérité mash-up experiment that will turn the traditional rock’n’roll … Continue reading
Jupiter Ascending
Jupiter Ascending combines the Cinderella story with a space opera. Our hero, Jupiter Jones (Mila Kunis), is an immigrant of no defined country who spends her days cleaning toilets in … Continue reading
Big Hero 6
Films designed for children are promotional exercises — a gateway drug into branded action figures, Happy Meals, and maybe a spin-off TV series. Big Hero 6 goes one further by … Continue reading
A Most Violent Year
Nothing corrupts more than righteousness. Pure good and evil only exist in fiction; in reality, it’s the sense of right and wrong, and the way it effects those in the … Continue reading
Chris Wilson / Film Scratches 