Nightcrawler
Stunning indictment of TV news. It makes a nice companion piece to Aaron Sorkin’s Newsroom, and features an outstanding performance by an almost cadaverous Jake Gyllenhaal as a freelance news gatherer who it seems will go to any lengths to get his story. Rene Russo makes a welcome rare appearance and Bill Paxton is good in a small role.
Rating: 9 out of 10
The Amazing Spider Man 2
Starts off in a campy style but then gets bogged-down in a more serious story. Does anyone really care about this franchise any more?
Rating: 2 out of 10
Muppets Most Wanted
I liked the muppets as a kid but was underwhelmed by the reboot a couple of years ago and this isn’t as good as that. For those people wanting to hear Ricky Gervais sing only…
Rating: 5 out of 10
Noah
Unintentionally hilarious biopic about the bloke with the ark. Russell Crowe plays it straight whilst trying to remember back to the time when he had some credability.
Rating: 2 out of 10
A New York Winter’s Tale
Jaw droppingly terrible magical-realist tale about reincarnation. Unfortunately in the so-bad-I-wanted-to-rip-my-own-eyes-out bracket rather than the so-bad-it’s-good bracket.
Rating: 1 out of 10
The Lego Movie
A feature length commercial for the child’s toy that mystifyingly had audiences and critics entranced.
Rating: 4 out of 10
Captain America: Winter Soldier
A superior supporting cast – Robert Redford, Toby Jones, Emily VanCamp, and Jenny Agutter help raise this a little above the usual super hero guff.
Rating: 5 out of 10
Ironclad: Battle for Blood
I am not sure that the world was clamouring for this sequel with a mostly second-rate cast. Gory and racy, it is just about watchable.
Rating: 4 out of 10
Robocop
Lacking even the gentle satirical bite that the original had and featuring another phoned-in performance by Gary Oldman, but an OK effort to bring this concept up to date
Rating: 5.5 out of 10
In Your Eyes
Cloying and irritating romantic drama about two people with a telepathic bond. Far from Joss Whedon’s finest hour.
Rating: 2.5 out of 10