FENCES [2016]

Actor/director Denzel Washington adapts Fences, the 6th part of August Wilson's Pittsburgh Cycle plays, for the cinema.
Washington plays a deeply flawed working class black man in the 60's who, with the help of his wife (Viola Davis), raises a family who all face the consequences of his own frustrations.
There's no razzle dazzle here nor is there any attempt to break any new grounds in storytelling or film-making.  However the film stays grounded with solid scriptwriting and strong performances, with Davis stealing the show as she holds the entire film on her shoulders.  I'd go so far as to say Washington and Davis probably hold the honor of having the best onscreen performances of 2016.  Which makes it enough to forgive it's minor weaknesses.

3½ roses for Rose out of 5

SUICIDE SQUAD [2016]

Director David Ayers digs the DCEU's grave just a little more deeper with the third film in the negatively received franchise, Suicide Squad.
After Superman's death in BvS, the government decides it's time to assemble a team of disposable warriors, in the form of a group of imprisoned super-villains, should they ever face such a powerful alien-like threat again.
It's an intriguing refreshing premise to root for the villains but after some heavy duty studio meddling we get yet another superhero film with Hot Topic anti-heroes who are less intimidating than the new Supes and Batsy.  It's not nearly as nihilistic as it seems to think it is and that's mostly due to the poorly written characters that all fall flat on their faces, even if some of the performances are particularly spot-on (not you Leto. You just sucked).  The irksome attack of instantly familiar pop/rock songs every other minute felt like it wanted to be a 90's Michael Bay version of The Dirty Dozen but it doesn't have the attitude or heart to ever feel it.

2 homicidal math lessons out of 5

ENDER'S GAME [2013]

After nearly 30 years since it was first published, fans of Orson Scott Card's sci-fi/war youth novel Ender's Game are finally given the big screen treatment by director Gavin Hood.
Does it live up to expectations?  Thankfully it mostly does, with only a few minor "grumble-grumble" moments but you can't please everybody.  It doesn't quite get as into Ender's head as much as the book nor does it explore it's many themes and instead opts for more of a eye-popping spectacle and that's all right.  It never bores and has just enough character to keep the plot driving forward with each action sequence.  A very fine sci-fi film to introduce the kids to that will keep the parent's attention from beginning to end as well.

3½ Little Doctors out of 5

PRISONERS [2013]

Canadian director Denis Villeneuve has a knack for leading the viewer down some dark, disturbing and truly haunting passageways.
Prisoners is no exception.
A beautifully lit thriller that's dreadfully cold, tightly calculated and more emotions and reactions within each scene you can't help but want to follow each character as they go their separate ways.  This is easily Hugh Jackman's absolute  best work to date as he layers his troubled character with so many demons, emotional complexities and vulnerabilities that your heart wrenches with each thought he makes.
Quite easily one of the best films of the year that won't be for everybody due to it's cold, unsettling atmosphere.

4½ bunny socks out of 5

BEAUTIFUL CREATURES [2013]

The comparisons to the more popular supernatural teen romance franchise are inevitable with The Fisher King writer Richard LeGravenese's Beautiful Creatures.
Only what we have here is something much more enjoyable than sparkly vampires with a story that can easily be predicted by the first 5 minutes but it doesn't really matter.  The characters are more interesting, the dialogue is punchier & funnier and the actors are far more appealing, including Jeremy Irons, Emma Thompson and Emmy Rossum turning in some delightful hammy and diabolical performances.  All in all, if there were a franchise, I'd have no problem watching more.

3 three dimensional movies out of 5

THE HELP [2011]

Kathryn Stockett's debut novel, about the civil rights movement in 1960's Mississippi, The Help is brought to the screen carried by a strong ensemble cast and wonderful script courtesy of director Tate Taylor. 

With subject matter as dark as it is, most films would fall fate to overly dramatic tear-jearking but The Help manages to tug at the heart strings with wonderfully fleshed out characters and perfectly timed humour.  I went in expecting weepy eyed, preachy schmaltz and came out rather surprised it was 100 times better than that.

3½ Special Chocolate Pies out of 5

EXTREMELY LOUD & INCREDIBLY CLOSE [2011]

Director Stephen Daldry puts on his schmaltzy Oscar suit for the adaptation of Jonathan Safran Foer's 9/11 aftermath novel Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close.

The story itself could have had great intentions but got lost along the way to ruthlessly tug at the heart strings and make us feel good.  Those intentions are so crystal clear it's pretty offensive the producers didn't think anybody would see right through this Oscar bait bullshit.
What a manipulative pile of shit.  

1 answer in the palm of the hand out of 5