|
29%
|
The Great Gatsby (1949)
|
"Elliott Nugent directs with some atmospheric touches, but can't counter screenwriter Richard Maibaum's verbosity."
|
David Parkinson
|
|
88%
|
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
|
"This is a pleasingly constructed story and any telegraphed plot points only add to the anticipation of some big moments."
|
Paul Jones
|
|
100%
|
Rio Bravo (1998)
|
"Underrated at the time of its release, this majestically paced western is one of the finest achievements of the genre and stands as a career-best for many of its participants."
|
Tony Sloman
|
|
29%
|
All Things To All Men ()
|
"Despite Sewell's laconic ruthlessness, Stephens's steely taciturnity and Byrne's world-weary arrogance, there's an all-round lack of conviction."
|
David Parkinson
|
|
29%
|
Erased (2013)
|
"This solid chase thriller uses a template that recalls Taken, without ever reaching the same heights."
|
David Aldridge
|
|
33%
|
Home (Yurt) ()
|
"The story is too vague and episodic, though it is told with sincerity and passion."
|
Trevor Johnston
|
|
79%
|
A Late Quartet (2012)
|
"Constantly engaging."
|
David Parkinson
|
|
34%
|
The Odd Life of Timothy Green (2012)
|
"Not so much moving as stomach churning."
|
Alan Jones
|
|
82%
|
Papadopoulos & Sons ()
|
"A late pitch at pathos isn't quite so convincing, but otherwise this is a fresh, funny and poignant snapshot of ethnic life in London."
|
Stella Papamichael
|
|
78%
|
Addams Family Values (1993)
|
"This delightful follow-up to The Addams Family is blessed with an even blacker vein of humour than the original."
|
John Ferguson
|
|
13%
|
Stolen (2012)
|
"The hammy criminal leads chew the scenery, with only Huston delivering a remotely convincing performance."
|
Terry Staunton
|
|
0%
|
12 in a Box (2009)
|
"The farce is forced, the gags grate and the standard of playing varies wildly."
|
David Parkinson
|
|
28%
|
G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013)
|
"This dumb ramble isn't a patch on the original."
|
Alan Jones
|
|
68%
|
Trance (2013)
|
"McAvoy plays the inside man out of his depth with a neat blend of mischief and wide-eyed innocence, although it's Cassel's ruthless kingpin who makes the strongest impression."
|
Terry Staunton
|
|
54%
|
Basic Instinct (1992)
|
"Joe Eszterhas shamelessly reworks ideas and themes he had earlier exploited in films such as Jagged Edge and Music Box, but the sheer overheated nature of Verhoeven's direction makes this extremely watchable."
|
John Ferguson
|
|
30%
|
Reincarnated (2013)
|
"The film strikes an impressive balance between serious concerns and several hilarious episodes - usually involving Snoop and his entourage enthusiastically partaking of Jamaica's bountiful crops of marijuana."
|
Terry Staunton
|
|
86%
|
The Servant (1963)
|
"Essentially a two-hander, with Fox admirable as a latter-day Sebastian Flyte and Bogarde (finally nailing his matinée reputation) chilling as the mercenary valet."
|
David Parkinson
|
|
14%
|
Small Apartments (2013)
|
"Despite the film's distinctive look and the best efforts of the willing cast, this amusing, morbid and mildly misanthropic mélange always seems to be straining for effect."
|
David Parkinson
|
|
52%
|
Jack the Giant Slayer (2013)
|
"This is, at best, dull escapism but there are a few reasons to keep watching, including Stanley Tucci camping away as the hissable villain and knight Ewan McGregor being sausage-rolled up by a chef colossus."
|
Alan Jones
|
|
51%
|
Post Tenebras Lux (2013)
|
"The film does come across as an evidently sincere attempt to create a new kind of cinema, but opinion will certainly vary on whether Reygadas really does offer, as his title suggests, light after darkness."
|
Trevor Johnston
|
|
79%
|
Reality (2013)
|
"Garrone's critique of Italy's current cultural vapidity is too indulgently affectionate and lacks both originality and bite."
|
David Parkinson
|
|
67%
|
Cobb (1994)
|
"Ron Shelton, whose Bull Durham and White Men Can't Jump were jokey tales of disillusionment set in the sporting world, here redefines the life of an idol with a certain honest savagery."
|
Thom Hutchinson
|
|
96%
|
The Princess Bride (1987)
|
"An unexpected delight for all the family."
|
John Ferguson
|
|
8%
|
Fire With Fire (2012)
|
"Although it's probably the biggest movie yet to emerge from rapper 50 Cent's production outfit, this damp squib still has "straight to DVD" stamped all over it."
|
John Ferguson
|
|
40%
|
Parker (2013)
|
"The film has some bone-crunchingly good action sequences, one decent one-liner and it's all daftly watchable, but one suspects that this is more of a career high point for Statham than for Hackford."
|
David Aldridge
|
|
52%
|
Broken (2013)
|
"Laurence in particular is dynamic as Norris's young muse, a guileless screen presence who effortlessly charms us back to childhood."
|
Damon Wise
|
|
38%
|
The Guilt Trip (2012)
|
"It never quite delivers juggernaut-sized laughs, but the sharp-tongued sparring between the two leads pops and fizzes throughout, with Streisand in particular showing she's still an intuitive and naturalistic comedian."
|
Terry Staunton
|
|
85%
|
Side Effects (2013)
|
"An intelligently crafted story, which is briskly paced and highly suspenseful - until a crude and puerile payoff in the third act."
|
Stella Papamichael
|
|
——
|
Verity's Summer ()
|
"Views of the Northumberland coast are sublime but, for all its sincerity, this is self-consciously arty and a little stultifying."
|
David Parkinson
|
|
14%
|
Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013)
|
"[A] fast and furious all-action continuation of the classic fairy tale ..."
|
Alan Jones
|
|
67%
|
Stoker (2013)
|
"Kidman's immobile, slightly scary face is used to great effect; Goode oozes malevolent charm; and Wasikowska skilfully keeps you guessing as to whether India is an angel or a monster."
|
Lucy Barrick
|
|
100%
|
Osaka Elegy (Woman of Osaka) (Naniwa erejî) (1979)
|
"Mizoguchi regular Isuzu Yamada contributes a superb display of abused decency, but it's the director's astute visual sense that gives the picture its power."
|
David Parkinson
|
|
54%
|
Secret Beyond the Door... (1949)
|
"The result is heavy going and pretentious."
|
Allen Eyles
|
|
81%
|
Braveheart (1995)
|
"It succeeds in bringing to life the reality of Scottish patriotism and brilliantly captures the spirit of revolution."
|
Thom Hutchinson
|
|
42%
|
The Greatest Show on Earth (1952)
|
"As usual, DeMille megaphones his direction to let us know where we've been, where we are and where we're going, but this is marvellous entertainment, nevertheless."
|
Thom Hutchinson
|
|
87%
|
Terms of Endearment (1983)
|
"This is American mainstream movie-making at its best."
|
John Ferguson
|
|
95%
|
The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
|
"This multi-Oscar-winning classic, adapted from Thomas Harris's bestseller, was responsible for giving cinematic serial killers a better image, thanks to Anthony Hopkins's enthralling portrayal of Hannibal Lecter."
|
John Ferguson
|
|
——
|
Ollie Kepler's Expanding Purple World ()
|
"Writer/director Viv Fongenie works hard to assess the impact of schizophrenia on sufferers and those around them, but any claims that this movie is Donnie Darko meets Billy Liar are well wide of the mark."
|
David Parkinson
|
|
71%
|
Forrest Gump (1994)
|
"One can sneer at it, but one can't ignore it."
|
Adrian Turner
|
|
89%
|
Gandhi (1982)
|
"While Kingsley (who took one of eight Oscars) is the glue that holds this epic piece together, you must relish a cast that includes John Gielgud, Edward Fox, John Mills, Martin Sheen and Roshan Seth."
|
Andrew Collins
|
|
100%
|
The Earrings of Madame De... (Diamond Earrings) (1954)
|
"Deliciously blending Sacha Guitry's The Pearls of the Crown and Ophüls's own La Ronde, this is just about as polished as European cinema gets."
|
David Parkinson
|
|
98%
|
Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence In The House Of God (2012)
|
"[A] harrowing exposé of child abuse within the Roman Catholic Church, which reveals the extent the Vatican has been actively involved in covering up crimes committed by priests."
|
David Parkinson
|
|
76%
|
Moulin Rouge! (2001)
|
"You will either fall in love with every camp flourish, or find yourself exhausted after 20 minutes. It's a singular achievement either way."
|
Andrew Collins
|
|
11%
|
Sammy's Adventures 2 (Sammy's avonturen 2) ()
|
"Fast, fun and cutely done, it tells the tale of two turtles who wind up stuck inside a Dubai aquarium and have to pool resources with their fish-mates to escape."
|
David Aldridge
|
|
0%
|
Run For Your Wife ()
|
"Unfortunately, there's no irony or retro self-awareness about this adaptation, which is played as if the last 30 years simply haven't happened."
|
David Aldridge
|
|
70%
|
Jianyu (Reign of Assassins) (2010)
|
"A female warrior attempts to leave her killing days behind in this polished but overblown Chinese period swordplay adventure."
|
Jamie Healy
|
|
45%
|
Beautiful Creatures (2013)
|
"Beautiful Creatures is perfect filler for teens left bereft by the end of the Twilight films."
|
David Aldridge
|
|
94%
|
I Wish (2012)
|
"It's Koreeda's subtly elliptical storytelling and measured control of character, locale and pace that makes this so engaging."
|
David Parkinson
|
|
47%
|
A Liar's Autobiography - The Untrue Story of Monty Python's Graham Chapman (2012)
|
"Even at 85 minutes, the movie often drags as if there was insufficient quality material to draw upon."
|
Brian Pendreigh
|
|
80%
|
Warm Bodies (2013)
|
"It's not seamless, but Hoult carries the burden gracefully, even with a lopsided gait."
|
Stella Papamichael
|
47%
45%
95%
99%
65%
61%
