Draft Day

Reminiscent of Moneyball in that this is a sports film about a subject that shouldn’t be interesting – the day of the annual NFL draft – but I found it gripping. Kevin Costner has his best lead performance in years and this is only let down a little by an unnecessary romantic sub-plot.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Starred Up

British prison drama that brought the extremely promising Jack O’Connell to lot of people’s attention. Feels like a modern day ‘Scum’ with its unflinching portrayal of life behind bars. Very good support comes from Rupert Friend, Peter Ferdinando and particularly Ben Mendelsohn. The highlights of the film are the riveting group therapy sessions. However, it is let down slightly by an overwrought last 20 minutes.
Rating: 8 out of 10

Reasonable Doubt

Potentially an excellent legal thriller – the plot involving a district attorney becoming involved with a serial killer was a good one – is let down by clichéd direction, a clumsy script and a twist that is revealed far too early. Gloria Reuben shines as a cop investigating the case.
Rating: 5 out of 10

Frontera

A worthy but very dull drama about illegal Mexican immigrants in the US. It goes without saying that Ed Harris is excellent, but there is little else to recommend.
Rating: 4.5 out of 10

Endless Love

It makes sense to remake a bad movie rather than good one, but it makes no sense to remake it this badly! Barely watchable drama about a rich girl falling in love with a boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Both the leads – Alex Pettyfer and Gabriella Wilde are wooden and unsympathetic.
Rating: 2 out of 10

Out of the Furnace

It has been a year for low key thrillers set in unfashionable parts of America – Joe, The Drop, God’s Pocket, Blue Ruin, and Cold in July have all been wholly or partially successful. Before any of those, Out of Furnace came out early in 2014. A real slow burner with a highly impressive cast – Christian Bale, Woody Harrelson, Willem Dafoe and Sam Shepherd – this is definitely one to catch on Netflix now.
Rating: 7.5 out of 10

The Book Thief

A film that was heavily trailed earlier in the year but them sunk without a trace, and it is easy to see why. Despite the best efforts of Emily Watson and Geoffrey Rush, this tale of a Jewish family in the second world way offers nothing new and is way too long.
Rating: 4 out of 10

Ride Along

Unless you are a Kevin Hart fan, best to avoid this buddy cop ‘comedy’ that has precious few laughs, and wastes the talents of Bruce McGill as the clichéd Lieutenant character.
Rating: 4 out of 10

Hello Carter

Decent British comedy drama about one man’s life spiralling out of control over the course of an evening. Not in the league of something like After Hours, but it has the always welcome presence of Jodie Whittaker as the sparky love interest, though Paul Schneider is terrible as an American film star who becomes mixed up in the events.
Rating: 6.5 out of 10

The Past

Immaculately acted French drama about a man visiting his ex wife as she is about to get married again. Well observed for the first two thirds of the film but the last part of it doesn’t live up to that beginning. Ali Mosaffa is particularly good as the ex husband.
Rating: 7 out of 10

The Stag

Another film let down by its final act, though the very last scene is nicely played. The story of a man’s stag weekend going out of control is a little predictable, but enjoyable enough with an excellent performance by Andrew Scott as the best man.
Rating: 6 out of 10

Maps to the Stars

Way over the top drama of lives in Hollywood is typical David Cronenberg stuff in many ways, but far from his best work. This uneven film is kept watchable by John Cusack in his best performance in ages, Julianne Moore and the brilliant Mia Wasikowska.
Rating: 6 out of 10