Jason Bourne

Movie Name: Jason Bourne
Year of Release: 2016

Director: Paul Greengrass

Stars: Matt Damon, Tommy Lee Jones, Alicia Vikander, Vincent Cassel, Julia Stiles, Riz Ahmed, Ato Essandoh, Scott Shepherd, Bill Camp, Vinzenz Kiefer

Genre: Thriller, Action

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6
Trailer

Synopsis:

Following his awarded "Captain Phillips", director Paul Greengrass is back to his most successful franchise, as the director who elevated Robert Ludlum's character, Jason Bourne, to higher levels of popularity. The film introduces us to a new conspiracy. This time around, the runaway Nicky Parsons is the person who brings Bourne out of his hideout (this following the events that took place in "The Bourne Ultimatum"). She discovers more covert operations, including some that tie back to Bourne's past, something he is unaware of. This sets of Bourne on his pursuit for the truth and in the process he becomes the target of some very resilient figures of power, who will stop at nothing to silence him.
Paul Greengrass is a talented director, with many talents, amongst which is his capability of bringing a level of authenticity and realism to how he shoots and captures the events of a film. There's a grittiness and a level of verisimilitude that has become his trademark, something that "Jason Bourne" again brings forth. Sadly though, the film for all its impeccable competence and engaging action set pieces, asks the question - if Jason Bourne does indeed remember everything, why does he need to be "flushed out" and follow another power hungry opponent in order to get the closure he needs. If the character is indeed admired and cherished by the audiences, why not give him something to do beyond what lies in his past? The film in itself is another example of a well oiled production machine, but even Matt Damon's performance is starting to feel tired and devoid of interest. This is one franchise that needs to push the characters forward, if it indeed plans on continuing - look at what "Mission: Impossible" has done, and learn the lesson.

Cafe Society

Movie Name: Cafe Society
Year of Release: 2016

Director: Woody Allen

Stars: Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Steve Carell, Blake Lively, Parker Posey, Ken Stott, Jeannie Berlin, Corey Stoll, Anna Camp, Sheryl Lee, Paul Schneider, Douglas McGrath, Tony Sirico

Genre: Comedy, Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7
Trailer

Synopsis:

Woody Allen's yearly film is upon us, this time going by the title "Cafe Society". The film focuses on Bobby Dorfman, a young jewish man, just arrived in Los Angeles of the 1930s, from Brooklyn. Bobby wants to do something different with his life, besides working in his father's jewelry business. His two other siblings have their own fulfilling lives, particular Ben, who is a well known gangster in the area. Upon arriving in LA, Bobby looks for the help of his uncle Phil, a well respected talent agent to the stars. After a few false starts, Bobby finally starts his job as his uncle's assistant, and begins to meet all sorts of interesting people in the business. He's immediately captivated by the lovely Vonnie, Phil's secretary. However, Vonnie has a boyfriend, something that doesn't prevent Phil from developing feelings for her. When Vonnie's relationship tumbles, Bobby sees an opportunity to pursue her romantically, but the old boyfriend comes back, much to his surprise, particularly when he discovers who the person is.
"Cafe Society" is one of Woody Allen's better films from his latest crop. While not as fantastic as "Blue Jasmine", it still has an effortless charm and ease that almost puts it on par with what he did with "Radio Days" for instance (and that film came out in 1987). The film successfully captures the atmosphere of the old Hollywood, with the trendy clubs, while also capturing the gangster life of New York in the 30s. The film benefits from a fantastic cast with solid performances, particularly Kristen Stewart, Jesse Eisenberg, Parker Posey and Ken Stott, all of whom create characters that have charm, ease and a nicely attuned sense of humor. The cinematography from the fantastic Vittorio Storaro is radiant and stunning (why isn't this man working more?), and the production design of Santo Loquasto impeccable (he's been working with Woody Allen since "Radio Days"). A very good film worth watching.

Star Trek Beyond

Movie Name: Star Trek Beyond
Year of Release: 2016

Director: Justin Lin

Stars: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin, John Cho, Idris Elba, Sofia Boutella, Joe Taslim, Lydia Wilson, Deep Roy, Melissa Roxburgh, Doug Jung

Genre: Adventure, Action, Sci-Fi

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6
Trailer

Synopsis:

Following the two successful previous installments of this franchise, both directed by J.J. Abrams, "Star Trek Beyond" is tackled by a new director, with Simon Pegg (playing Scotty) also co-writing the screenplay. The film introduces us to the Enterprise crew just as they are coming off 5 years of deep space exploration. Captain Kirk is debating what future lies ahead for him, the same going for some members of his crew. When a derelict spacecraft shows up out of nowhere seeking help, Kirk and their team suit up to assist, only to walk into a trap, which destroys their ship, and leaves most of the crew imprisoned in an alien planet. It's up to their joint efforts to prevent this foe by the name of Krall of destroying all that the Federation has created.
"Star Trek Beyond" is a entertaining feature, boasting some incredible visual effects and sequences that are truly breathtaking. It's also a film that features some sequences that are incredibly silly, almost belonging on the Dean Parisot's satire "Galaxy Quest" (particularly the section of the film where the crew is in the Alien planet). Justin Lin definitely focuses on putting together a film that is dynamic, where there's enough attention given to most of the crew, with each one of them showcasing what has become their defining traits and trademarks. However for all the action that is put forth, the film lacks a strong antagonist, one that actually brings an extra dimension of threat to the proceedings (something that Benedict Cumberbatch managed to create with the previous feature). Nonetheless this is an entertaining feature, with enough smartness and humor that makes it enjoyable to watch. The cast is uniformly good, with Zachary Quinto and Karl Urban having more time to inject some extra dimension to their characters. Worth watching.

Absolutely Fabulous

Movie Name: Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie
Year of Release: 2016

Director: Mandie Fletcher

Stars: Jennifer Saunders, Joanna Lumley, Julia Sawalha, Jane Horrocks, June Whitfield, Mo Gaffney, Christopher Ryan, Kate Moss, Mark Gatiss, Indeyarna Donaldson-Holness, Kathy Burke, Celia Imrie, Robert Webb, Chris Colfer, Emma Bunton, Jerry Hall, Stella McCartney, Jon Hamm, Rebel Wilson, Dawn French, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Barry Humphries, Joan Collins, Wanda Ventham

Genre: Comedy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 4
Trailer

Synopsis:

The iconic duo of Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone is back. The film finds Edina trying to stay relevant in the PR world, as her meager clients are trying to find new representation. While attending a party hosted by Patsy, Edina tries to lure model Kate Moss to her portfolio clientele, but accidentally pushes her over a balcony, throwing her directly into the Thames. Edina finds herself the target of massive hate, and of a police investigation. Wanting to escape the scandal, both she and Patsy fly off to Cannes, with Edina's grand daughter in tow, in the hopes of escaping their legal and financial woes.
The "Absolutely Fabulous" show started as a skit which was part of the French and Saunders sketch show on BBC, and became it's own entity since 1992. The show has gathered a fantastic following throughout the years, with 5 other seasons and some specials popping up since the debut of the first season. Throughout it all, Jennifer Saunders has maintained the caustic and irreverent tone of the show, always piercing at the core of the superficial trends that seem to come and go. Whilst that usually works in the brief format of the show, in this case, the film lacks serious momentum and a well developed storyline that sustains the entire duration of the film. There's definitely some well put jabs to the cult of celebrity, but the film lacks the sparkle and energy that the episodes of the show always possessed. Revisiting these iconic characters is always a pleasure, sadly for all the energy and fun both Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley bring, the film needs a bigger bite to really make it memorable and ultimately funnier. Revisit the show and file this one under quickly forgettable.

Ghosbusters

Movie Name: Ghostbusters
Year of Release: 2016

Director: Paul Feig

Stars: Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Leslie Jones, Kate McKinnon, Chris Hemsworth, Ed Begley Jr., Karan Soni, Charles Dance, Neil Casey, Andy Garcia, Katie Dippold, Bill Murray, Sigourney Weaver, Matt Walsh, Michael Kenneth Williams, Annie Potts, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson

Genre: Adventure, Comedy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6
Trailer

Synopsis:

Paul Feig's winning streak continues, with his update of the celebrated Ivan Reitman film, "Ghostbusters". The film follows the story of two childhood friends, Erin Gilbert and Abby Yates, who both went their separate ways after writing a joint book on the paranormal. Erin is currently trying to get tenure at Columbia while Abby is continuing to do research on the paranormal in a lesser known University. A series of paranormal events brings them together, alongside the expert physicist Jillian and Patty, who used to work in the subway system. Jointly they create the Ghosbusters venture, in order to investigate the paranormal events that are happening throughout the entire city.
Paul Feig is a director who smartly captures the interactions between his comedic actors, and therein lies the strength of his features. "Ghostbusters" is a perfect example of that - even if the film lacks an effective villain (one that actually has a real motivation), the film lives by the relationship between the main characters in the group, and they all get a chance to shine. The rapport between the actresses elevates the general tone of the film, that becomes quite distinct from the original. Kristen Wiig in particular is fantastic, making her character Erin, the brainy yet awkward scientist who is reluctant in tackling the paranormal investigation, but then fully embraces it. The film tramples a bit when it relies heavily on visual effects (particularly in the final act), but there's such a sense of joy and complicity between the cast that it makes these elements easily tolerable. This is a film that doesn't take itself seriously, and though inspired by an iconic legacy, trails a path of its own. Worth watching.

The Legend of Tarzan

Movie Name: The Legend of Tarzan
Year of Release: 2016

Director: David Yates

Stars: Alexander Skarsgard, Samuel L. Jackson, Margot Robbie, Christoph Waltz, Djimon Hounsou, Simon Russell Beale, Jim Broadbent, Casper Crump, Osy Ikhile, Antony Acheampong

Genre: Adventure, Action

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 2
Trailer

Synopsis:

After concluding the Harry Potter series, director David Yates is back with another iconic character being transposed to the big screen, namely the legendary Tarzan. The film is an adaptation of the stories by Edgar Rice Burroughs, and follows the story of John Clayton, Lord of Greystoke, who finds himself being used in the midst of political machinations that involve the mineral richness of Africa. The film introduces us to the mythical origins of John, when his family died in Africa and he was raised in the jungle by apes.  Currently living in London with his wife Jane, John has no interest in going back to Africa. However he is persuaded to go back when he knows there's bigger interests working behind the scenes, and those interests involve enslaving and killing people.  Once in Africa John quickly discovers the real agenda behind the invitation for him to come back to the area where he grew up. And things get much worse very quickly when Jane is kidnapped. It's up to him and his friends to stop these fiends from destroying his homeland and kill his wife.
David Yates is a director who has carved a name for himself with adaptations of very successful books. His films don't particularly exhibit a distinct point of view, but are competent and bring to life intricate and larger than life stories. Tarzan is a character with such history, both literary and in the numerous adaptations that it has had for the screen. One has to ask if it's worthwhile telling a story about such a character these days - the films with Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O'Sullivan from the 1930s are without a doubt, the most iconic adaptations this character has had (the flawed Hugh Hudson film "Greystoke" from 1984 didn't fare very well). "The Legend of Tarzan" specifically manages to get so many things wrong, on top of which are also all the possible cliches that exist for an action/adventure film. The opportunity here was ripe for a reinterpretation of what this character is, but sadly aside from the striking visual effects, nothing much works. Scenes are cut rather randomly, alliances and opponents shift gears (and apparently disappear) without much thought and consistency. The lead female character is not given much to do, while Samuel L. Jackson's character is the humorous sidekick, in what is a true disservice to the actor's career. Christoph Waltz as the main villain again recycles what he has done for the past three or four films (his character is basically repeating the mannerisms from his iconic Hans Landa from Quentin Tarantino's "Inglourious Basterds") and has absolutely no depth, intelligence or true menace. The score from Rupert Gregson-Williams is a poor copycat of something Thomas Newman has done (far better) before. The best thing about the film is Alexander Skarsgard's efforts, who frankly deserves a better film. To be avoided.

The Secret Life of Pets

Movie Name: The Secret Life of Pets
Year of Release: 2016

Director: Chris Renaud, Yarrow Cheney

Stars: Louis C.K., Eric Stonestreet, Kevin Hart, Jenny Slate, Ellie Kemper, Albert Brooks, Lake Bell, Dana Carvey, Hannibal Buress, Bobby Moynihan, Chris Renaud, Steve Coogan, Michael Beattie

Genre: Animation, Comedy, Adventure

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6

Synopsis:

"The Secret Life of Pets" is the latest release from production company Illumination Entertainment, who has released successful films such as "Despicable Me", "The Lorax" and "Minions". "The Secret Life of Pets" follows the story of Max, an adorable little dog, who lives with his owner Katie in NY. Max has a nice routine in place: he gets to hang out with other pets from the building where he lives, enjoys alone time with Katie eating nice treats, until things dramatically change. Katie brings a new dog from the pound, by the name of Duke, and their sibling rivalry immediately starts. During their park excursion, they both get into a brawl, that sends them in an adventure all over New York and Brooklyn.
"The Secret Life of Pets" is the latest in a series of animated features that places the focus of the adventures on animals, but unlike other features where the animals are the target of anthropomorphism, in this case, the pets remain as such, only with very distinct personalities. The film places our hero through a series of hurdles with the intent of teaching him the power of compassion and sharing. It's not the most imaginative of the animated features being released (particularly when compared to the wonderful "Inside Out"), but it tries to compensate that with a lot of humor and an array of supporting characters that represent the perfect behavior of pets as we have come to know them. The talented voice cast does a good job of bringing these characters to life, particularly Lake Bell and Jenny Slate who are wonderful in their roles. The animation and character design is simply fantastic, as is the score of the supremely talented Alexandre Desplat. A good, yet easily forgettable, animated feature.

Billy Elliot

Movie Name: Billy Elliot
Year of Release: 2000

Director: Stephen Daldry

Stars: Jamie Bell, Julie Walters, Gary Lewis, Stuart Wells, Jean Heywood, Jamie Draven, Joe Renton

Genre: Drama

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 8
Watch it on Amazon

Synopsis:

"Billy Elliot" was Stephen Daldry's debut film, after a celebrated theater career, and was an auspicious debut for the talented film maker (the film was nominated for three Academy Awards, amongst many other recognitions). The film, written by Lee Hall, follows the story of Billy Elliot, an 11 year old boy from a small village in England. Billy lives with his widowed father, older brother and his grandmother, who is afflicted with Alzheimer's disease. Billy's father sends him to the gym to learn boxing, but he accidentally discovers a ballet lesson while there (they're using the gym on a loan), and without his father's knowledge, Billy starts taking classes, under the supervision of the strong willed Mrs. Wilkinson. When his father discovers these developments, an immediate whirlwind of reactions comes about, but eventually there's a realization that Billy's talent may be in dance after all.
"Billy Elliot" is a film that manages to be simultaneously endearing, heartwarming and socially conscious. Stephen Daldry successfully creates a vivid rendering of what was like to live in England during the early 80s, and the struggles that were being felt by the vast majority of the working class. On top of this, there's a layer of whimsicality, brought on by the power of music and dance, and how art can salvage a life in the middle of the most dire circumstances. It's a film that looks at prejudices, and presents a realistic approach of how they are tackled, and is indeed a story about the power of perseverance and belief. Even if the film does have some recognizable cliches, such as the stoic father, the strong willed teacher and a few others, in the end it brims with energy and joy that is impossible to deny. It's a film that celebrates art and dreams, with wonderful performances from Jamie Bell, Julie Walters and Gary Lewis. A very good film always worth revisiting.

Swiss Army Man

Movie Name: Swiss Army Man
Year of Release: 2016

Director: The Daniels

Stars: Paul Dano, Daniel Radcliffe, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Richard Gross, Timothy Eulich, Antonia Ribero, Marika Casteel, Andy Hull, Aaron Marshall

Genre: Adventure, Comedy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 6
Trailer

Synopsis:

"Swiss Army Man" is the debut feature for the team of directors Dan Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, both of whom operate under the moniker "The Daniels". Their first feature, which debuted earlier this year at the Sundance Film Festival, follows the story of Hank, a young man stranded on an island. Hank is about to commit suicide when he sees a corpse ashore. Upon further investigation, Hank discovers that the farting corpse, who he eventually names Manny, is a suitable companion who can help him through the isolation he had been feeling and even a good aid in order to get back to civilization, in particularly to Sarah, the girl he has always idolized.
The feature debut of The Daniels is filled with interesting ideas, and simultaneously a huge heart, which makes the film something that people can gravitate towards. There are very strong influences from the work from french filmmaker Michel Gondry (particularly in the visual inventiveness), and the screenplay at times also feels very influenced by Charlie Kaufman, sadly without much of its depth and heart-wrenching sincerity. It's a film that is arresting mostly due to the commitment of its main actors, who truly embrace their characters and the challenge they find themselves in, allowing for some terrifically humorous situations, sadly the final act just doesn't feel quite as well tied up (it feels as if though the final act just doesn't match the tone that was so successfully captured before). It is nonetheless a film with a lot to admire, with two great performances from Paul Dano and Daneil Radcliffe, with a fantastic cinematography from Larkin Seiple. A very good start from this interesting duo.

The BFG

Movie Name: The BFG
Year of Release: 2016

Director: Steven Spielberg

Stars: Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill, Penelope Wilton, Jemaine Clement, Rebecca Hall, Rafe Spall, Bill Hader, Adam Godley, Daniel Bacon, Olafur Darri Olafsson, Jonathan Holmes

Genre: Adventure, Fantasy

Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7

Synopsis:

Following the easily forgotten "Bridge of Spies", director Steven Spielberg is back, with one of his most endearing films, the adaptation of Roald Dahl's "The BFG". The film follows the story of a young orphan by the name of Sophie, who gets taken by a gentle giant whom she names BFG. He takes her since one evening she spots him around her hometown, and since he doesn't want to be discovered, he takes her along to his native land. His fellow giants however, don't share his kind and gentle touch - they eat people and have a general nasty attitude, including towards BFG. Sophie eventually devises a plan to teach those louts a good lesson, and for that she enlists the help of the Queen of England. What follows is a lesson in collaboration between all the parties involved.
Steven Spielberg collaborated for the last time with screenwriter Melissa Mathison for this adaptation (they collaborated previously on "E.T."). The film once again focuses on a young hero at odds with a world that has its fair share of sadness and loneliness. It's another hero whose inner strength surpasses all disbelief and who finds an ally, love and acceptance from another outsider, much like herself. Young Sophie is very much the "Spielberg"-like hero, filled with love, saddened by some traumatic events, but capable of love and filled with an indomitable will. This is a film filled with a joyous tone, where dreams are indeed manufactured, captured and brought to life. The film features fantastic visual effects, and great performances from Mark Rylance and the young Ruby Barnhill. The score from John William is beautiful, as is the cinematography from Janusz Kaminski. A very good film from a master of storytelling.