Michael Inside
Grim Irish crime/punishment business, with Dafhyd Flynn as an out-of-his-depth average teenager caught holding a package who ends up inside with no way out. You think it’s going to take an Un Prophète type turn, but no – straight down the line shit. Written and directed by Frank Berry.
Wine Country
Moderately amusing comedy about a group of now all grown up women celebrating the fiftieth birthday of one of their number at a Californian vineyard; truths are said, hatchets buried, bonds redefined etc. Sort of a female World’s End, minus the apocalyptic bollocks. With Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch, Ana Gasteyer and Paula Pell, as well as Amy Poehler, who also directs.
King Of Thieves
Really not great take on the Hatton Garden heist, which takes the cheap shot and the low road every time. Not to say there’s not some good performances – the cast includes Jim Broadbent, Tom Courtenay, Paul Whitehouse, Michael Gambon, Ray Winstone and – blink or you’ll miss it – Francesca Annis – but it’s not even the best vault robbery movie Michael Caine has been in. Directed by James Marsh, who did that Northern Irish Troubles tout movie Shadow Dancer.
X-Men: Days Of Future Past
Highly confusing but fairly enjoyable timetravelly spandex mutant romp from Bryan Singer, Jane Goldman, Simon Kinberg and Matthew Vaughn, with Jackman, McAvoy, Fassbender, Lawrence, Berry, Paquin, Page, Dinklage, McKellen, Stewart et al running around with serious expressions on their faces as they try to stop some bad stuff or other happening. Not a fucking clue.
Sleeping Dogs
Excellent low budget 1977 New Zealand near future dystopian drama from future Hollywood star director Roger Donaldson, with pre-big time Sam Neill an ordinary joe out of his depth when a right-wing government declares a state of emergency and puts him in its sights as a resistance leader. Adapted from CK Stead’s novel by Arthur Baysting and cast member Ian Tune, and featuring a great little cameo by Warren Oates as the commander of a unit of bloodthirsty American mercenaries.
Hulk
And Lee is a talented directed, Eric Bana can be a compelling actor, this is not a fun Marvel movie.