Blackhat
Back in the 1990s, during his heyday, any new release from Michael Mann was a big deal. His latest effort Blackhat barely got a cinema release before resurfacing on-demand a couple of months later.
Starring Chris Hemsworth as a computer hacker recruited to thwart cyber crime, this is a decent techno thriller full of typically stylish Mann touches. It does fall foul of the usual problem of someone tapping away on a keyboard isn’t very cinematic and Hemsworth doesn’t convince as a computer mastermind, but there are enough good set pieces, and it has a plot that moves along at a nice pace.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10
Hyena
Seemingly another in the endless list of British crime / gangster flicks. Hyena is actually a cut above the norm, despite its usual story of corrupt cops, eastern-European villains, drugs, and prostitution. Pleasingly not everything presented as black and white, giving the plot a more complex feel, and Peter Ferdinando is very good as the policeman trying to do the right thing.
Rating: 6 out of 10
Best of Enemies
It is always refreshing to see a documentary about a subject you know nothing about. I was unaware of the series of TV debates between the liberal Gore Vidal and the conservative William F. Buckley Junior in 1968. The debates took place whilst the Democrats and Republicans held their party congresses and during a turbulent time as the anti-Vietnam war protest began to escalate.
They were both distinctly of their time but also shaped the future of political discourse. The contempt the two men held for each other was simmering until one outrageous remark brought it to the surface. Truly fascinating, with some illuminating talking head pieces, this is highly recommended. Admittedly, the sympathies of the film makers lie squarely with Vidal, bit that shouldn’t spoil your enjoyment.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
While We’re Young
Noah Baumbach’s uneven directorial career takes an upturn with his best film since 2005’s Squid and the Whale. An insightful comedy drama starring Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts as a long standing couple, Josh & Cornelia, who are befriended by a much younger pair Jamie & Darby (Adam Driver and Amanda Seyfried).
Stiller’s faltering career needed a shot in the arm, and this film is just what was required, resulting in him giving his best performance for a long while. His scenes with Watts (also very good) are really believable, and this is, for the most part a very well written film. On the downside, it does suffer from giving away the funniest moments in the trailer that I saw so many times during its cinema release, so that they fall a little flat. The message at the end of the film does seem a little odd too, but I forgave it that because of all the good moments beforehand.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10