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‘Criminal’ can’t be saved by a game Kevin Costner

Criminal Written by Douglas Cook and David Weisberg Directed by Ariel Vromen U.K., U.S., 2016 Should you browse through the A-list caliber of the cast and decide to give Criminal a chance, don’t. A film where CIA agents swap minds with violent sociopaths seems like it should be a fun surprise like 2014’s Lucy, but …

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‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’ is the unmissable summer blockbuster of 2014

In 2011, the thought of rebooting Planet of the Apes seemed foolish. Then Rise of the Planet of the Apes came out, and blew audiences away. As a result, expectations were high for Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the follow up to 2011’s successful venture. The results are remarkable, as Dawn offers not only a brilliant summer blockbuster, but also an emotionally powerful testimony to the nature of war and humility.

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‘RoboCop’ remake merely forgettable, instead of being an outright misfire

RoboCop Written by Joshua Zetumer & Edward Neumeier and Michael Miner Directed by José Padilha USA, 2014 Paul Verhoeven’s science-fiction films RoboCop and Total Recall take place in different environments and eras, but share a similarly raucous, ramshackle, satiric attitude. These films are products of their time, filled with garishly practical effects and grimy, tactile …

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The ‘RoboCop’ remake, though not entirely successful, makes an admirable attempt at re-purposing the concept

RoboCop Written by Joshua Zetumer Directed by José Padilha USA, 2014 The remake of RoboCop is a largely different beast to Paul Verhoeven’s original film, and is all the better for choosing not to be a slavish re-creation minus the trademark ultra-violence. The 2014 take may be less gory and far less cartoonish, but there …

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‘The Fifth Element’: Masterpiece or Mess?

Quick question; does a flamboyantly camp and knowingly ridiculous science-fiction adventure costumed by Jean-Paul Gaultier and written by a teenager obsessed with 50’s and 60’s Belgian/French futuristic pulp comics sound like a good idea? The idea that any cynically minded executive would immediately stab his thumb in the air at the pitch of The Fifth Element is as fanciful as the bizarrely hypnotic and anachronistically beautiful world (or worlds) in which it is set.

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‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula’- a sensual, gothic love triangle adapted from classic tale

Bram Stoker’s Dracula Directed by Francis Ford Coppola Written by James V. Hart 1992, USA There was a time where horror films were not all about torture porn, found-footage or demonic possessions – this was a time when the genre was less indulgent in killing people. Francis Ford Coppola is known for his epic productions, …

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‘True Romance’ – Essential viewing

True Romance Directed by Tony Scott Screenplay by Quentin Tarantino 1993, USA “Not since Bonnie and Clyde have two people been so good at being bad”. Written by one-of-a-kind Quentin Tarantino (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction) and directed by Tony Scott (Top Gun, Hunger, Crimson Tide), True Romance is if anything consistently entertaining. This outlaw-lovers-on-the-run flick …

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‘Lawless’ is disappointingly unremarkable in nearly all respects

Lawless Written by Nick Cave Directed by John Hillcoat USA, 2012 Director John Hillcoat and musician Nick Cave have collaborated numerous times since the late 1980s, from Cave having starred in Ghosts… of the Civil Dead to composing Hillcoat’s adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. Lawless marks their second collaboration involving Cave as screenwriter, following …

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‘True Romance’ – The Director’s Cut

  True Romance Directed by Tony Scott Screenplay by Quentin Tarantino 1993, USA “Not since Bonnie and Clyde have two people been so good at being bad”. Written by one-of-a-kind Quentin Tarantino (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction) and directed by Tony Scott (Top Gun, Hunger, Crimson Tide), True Romance is if anything consistently entertaining. This outlaw-lovers-on-the-run …

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‘The Dark Knight Rises’ is entertaining, compelling, intense, and incredibly ambitious

The Dark Knight Rises Directed by Christopher Nolan Written by Christopher Nolan and Jonathan Nolan USA, 2012 Christopher Nolan doesn’t half-ass things. Unlike a lot of summer-movie directors, he knows how to deliver a true spectacle. His dedication to telling a complete story about one of pop culture’s most beloved superheroes is remarkable. This determination …

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EIFF 2012: ‘Lawless’ is disappointingly unremarkable in nearly all respects

Lawless Written by Nick Cave Directed by John Hillcoat USA, 2012 Director John Hillcoat and musician Nick Cave have collaborated numerous times since the late 1980s, from Cave having starred in Ghosts… of the Civil Dead to composing Hillcoat’s adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. Lawless marks their second collaboration involving Cave as screenwriter, following …

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10 Great Performances in Average Films

Full credit for this concept belongs to Mark Kermode… Given the law of averages, it’s fairly common that as film fans we’re far more likely to run into a stinker than we are a new classic, or worse still a underwhelming slice of anti-climax that promised so much more. Quite often that leaves us deciphering …

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Supporting Actors: The Overlooked and Underrated (part 5 of 5)

Gary Oldman as Jackie Flannery in State Of Grace (Phil Joanou, 1990, USA): Long considered one of the most talented actors in cinema, it’s very strange that his outstanding acting as the younger brother of Ed Harris’ local crime boss in this underrated film doesn’t get talked about nearly enough when discussing Oldman’s body of …

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Empire Presents Big Screen, Day 1: ‘Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy,’ ‘Immortals,’ and more

The broken lift leading to the press centre was an initial augury that something was amiss. Moving for the first time from the comfy environs of the National Film Theatre to the cavernous interiors of London Docklands O2 centre, Empire magazines weekend celebration of all things movie initially got off to a rocky start. My …

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