|
41%
|
The Call (2013)
|
"A tense psychological chiller that ratchets up the tension before collapsing with a predictable finale."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
66%
|
Spring Breakers (2013)
|
"Parents will look on with dismay; others will leave feeling bemused but thoroughly entertained."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
78%
|
Iron Man 3 (2013)
|
"An outrageously entertaining, CGI-soaked tale of foreboding that transforms into a good-natured send-up of everything that proceeded it, replete with gags galore."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
67%
|
Haute Cuisine (2013)
|
"A whimsical view of the woman who fuelled the corridors of power in France with culinary common sense."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
80%
|
Warm Bodies (2013)
|
"An occasionally funny romantic zombie comedy (or rom-zom-com) that offers a fresh twist on Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
68%
|
Trance (2013)
|
"A hugely entertaining but dreadfully convoluted crime romp, in which logic flies out the door as wandering illusions of the mind take hold. "
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
70%
|
The Loneliest Planet (2012)
|
"Scoring a popular hit on the film festival circuit, director Julia Loktev elicits superb performances from a minimal cast."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
37%
|
The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (2013)
|
"Bizarrely, its biggest flaw lies with casting. Carrell is too familiar to convince as a Lothario, Buscemi looks vaguely lost, while Carrey is too long in the tooth. "
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
30%
|
Broken City (2013)
|
"Aside from feeling bemused and confused by the end, the web of deceit that's presented is not even vaguely believable."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
44%
|
The Paperboy (2012)
|
"Nicole Kidman is enthralling in this swampy, deranged neo-noir set in the American south. "
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
45%
|
Beautiful Creatures (2013)
|
"LaGravenese elicits some wonderfully hammy turns, particularly from Irons and Thompson, although a tighter edit wouldn't have gone amiss"
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
64%
|
Anna Karenina (2012)
|
"Wright's staged version tries desperately to gain one's attention (which it does) and engage one's affection (which it doesn't)."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
92%
|
Silver Linings Playbook (2012)
|
"David O. Russell's latest buzz film straddles a fine line between farce and kitchen-sink drama before settling into a groove that gets under one's skin."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
96%
|
Monsters, Inc. 3D (2012)
|
"A shrewdly timed reminder of Pixar's early, heady days, when the animation powerhouse could do no wrong."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
88%
|
Life of Pi (2012)
|
"Flawed it may be, but at its core lies an epic journey that shows Lee reborn as a creative force."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
79%
|
Quartet (2013)
|
"Connolly stands out as the up-to-no-good Scot with a wandering eye, while Smith is in her element as the would-be ma'am."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
49%
|
The Man With the Iron Fists (2012)
|
"Crowe has a blast - and has never been better - in this oversteamed paean to chop-socky classics. With its severe edit, though, the narrative proves almost incomprehensible."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
88%
|
The Angels' Share (2013)
|
"Loach brings a warm-hearted poignancy to this feel-good tale of the more disadvantaged in society who, miraculously, find redemption."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
82%
|
Seven Psychopaths (2012)
|
"It can't hope to match its predecessor for charm and accessibility. Where In Bruges felt droll and gentler in tone, Seven Psychopaths is unwieldy, ramshackle and gory. "
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
75%
|
The Intouchables (2012)
|
"Oscar-nominated, lauded at festivals overseas and now, one of the most successful French pictures of all time, The Intouchables is simply irresistible."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
67%
|
Lawless (2012)
|
"John Hillcoat's tale of Prohibition bootleggers boasts excellent performances, but doesn't feel as focused or nuanced as The Proposition (his last collaboration with Cave)."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
93%
|
Looper (2012)
|
"A delight, a revelation of imaginative storytelling. Willis delivers his most assured performance in years. "
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
79%
|
Ruby Sparks (2012)
|
"Despite its one-gag premise, this quirky indie rom-com delivers in heart and aesthetic."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
79%
|
Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted (2012)
|
"Fast, fun and glowing with neon delight, this third effort in the franchise is enough to encourage kids to seek out their own animal sanctuary."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
31%
|
Total Recall (2012)
|
"The film's downfall lies in its inability to do anything more than titillate with a continuous series of chase sequences."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
87%
|
Bully (2012)
|
"There's something seriously wrong with life in our schools. And Hirsch clearly believes the world must be shown the harsh realities of it."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
93%
|
The Sapphires (2013)
|
"An Aboriginal girl group's journey from the outback to stardom is an energetic, feel-good triumph."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
81%
|
Beauty (Skoonheid) (2013)
|
"Hermanus's Cannes-feted feature serves as a bold statement on the stereotypical Afrikaans male, now struggling to remain relevant in a post-apartheid South Africa."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
87%
|
The Dark Knight Rises (2012)
|
"Despite some curiously scathing comment on the Occupy movement, Nolan's third and last Batman is an exhilarating, epic finale, with a series-best performance from Bale."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
88%
|
Not Suitable for Children (2013)
|
"Performances are impressive - particularly Snook, who seems destined for greatness - with screenwriter Michael Lucas serving a suitably gentle helping of humour throughout."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
37%
|
Ice Age: Continental Drift (2012)
|
"As with last year's joyful Rio, Ice Age still looks more like a classic cartoon than its competitors. And that, at least, is impressive."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
88%
|
Polisse (2012)
|
"An urgent, fly-on-the-wall affair that plays out like a grittier big-screen take on its more famous, US TV-related cousins."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
89%
|
A Royal Affair (2012)
|
"An 18th-century epic that harks back to the great Amadeus with its sumptuous detail and vision, A Royal Affair is one of the finest, most refreshing period dramas to emerge in a long time."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
50%
|
Swerve ()
|
"A lively, noir-flavoured thriller with classic narrative ingredients and an A-grade Aussie cast in tow."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
80%
|
Get the Gringo (2012)
|
"Whether there's an agenda underpinning the film or not, Gibson is clearly back in his element here, with plenty of wind still in his sails."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
65%
|
The Woman in Black (2012)
|
"A gothic horror tale that studiously avoids any modern gimmicks in favour of classically themed motifs, with a neat twist to Hammer its point home."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
38%
|
Dark Shadows (2012)
|
"If Burton had ever worried that his celebrated brand of eccentricity might one day feel dated or even irrelevant, that unthinkable day may indeed have come."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
67%
|
Trishna (2012)
|
"Despite some typical visual flair, and an affecting soundtrack to boot, Trishna lacks the emotional punch of Hardy's novel, with Pinto and Ahmed's pairing feeling contrived."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
93%
|
Marvel's The Avengers (2012)
|
"Joss Whedon marshals matters effectively throughout, without losing sight of that other key demographic: those who dispensed with their comic books long ago."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
80%
|
Spud ()
|
"A hugely entertaining coming-of-age tale, grounded in realism. Sivan's note-perfect portrayal of the diminutive hero is matched by a razor-sharp Cleese."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
20%
|
The Lucky One (2012)
|
"Sparks's books are more Mills & Boon than The Deer Hunter, with his characters little more than mere sketches. Only the women even vaguely register dramatically here. "
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
67%
|
Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2012)
|
"For those who prefer their otherwise bitter politics lightly coated with sugar, this should suffice. A bolder remit wouldn't have hurt, though, given the source material."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
88%
|
Titanic (2012)
|
"A modern-day take on the classic Hollywood romance, delivered with the kind of panache long thought lost to the sands of time, that proves essentially timeless."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
54%
|
Dr Seuss' The Lorax (2012)
|
"Given its inevitable merchandise tie-ins, this animated eco-preachy affair carries with it more than a whiff of questionable intent."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
84%
|
The Raid: Redemption (2012)
|
"As a dark, grimy journey deep into the belly of the underworld, The Raid is breathtaking and terrifying."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
78%
|
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012)
|
"The Best Exotic will come as a welcome surprise. A sunny but shrewd musing, it offers an oft-ignored section of the cinema-going audience a delightful hit all their own."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
88%
|
Margin Call (2011)
|
"Smart, sharp and dark, J C Chandor's ensemble drama - eliciting defined, defiant performances from an A-grade cast - summons the spirit of David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
92%
|
Headhunters (2012)
|
"A super-slick thriller that doesn't let up, with exceptional performances all round. Make sure you catch it before the inevitable US remake rears its head."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
27%
|
Project X (2012)
|
"It's the party you've only dreamed about, the tagline says. And if you were 17 years old again, you might be inclined to agree."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
|
72%
|
Carnage (2011)
|
"Polanski hasn't had this much fun in years and neither, by the looks of things, has his cast. A wickedly dark delight."
|
Ed Gibbs
|
76%
29%
88%
85%
45%
40%
