A lifeless and insipid sci-fi clutter starring two very uninteresting leads, "Jupiter Ascending" sees the Wachowskis full of creativity and ambition but completely lacking in both story and sense.
"Ex Machina" is a refreshingly chilling and complex story with some faultless performances; the moments that make us gasp in horror are masterfully balanced with the thought-provoking and the humorous, thus keeping the darker elements from overshadowing the final intent.
Editor’s note: 2014 brought us a barrage of great UK-produced films – there was Oscar-nominated biopics such as The Imitation Game and The Theory of Everything, but also more challenging, less-seen gems such as Under the Skin and Frank. We asked our resident UK-based critic Jess Brooman to look ahead at what she’s most excited about […]
Leigh gives us a near epic picture in terms of its length, however due to superb direction and some stellar performances, this can be forgiven; as "Mr Turner" remains both compelling and impressive throughout.
A mark of any great film is its ability to remain fresh and vibrant even after one watches it countless times - "Alien" is such a film - it is quite simply an enduring classic for the ages.
Whilst its simplistic and formulaic narrative still has one or two twists and turns to keep the audience on their toes, "The Keeper of Lost Causes" is a grim and compelling watch that likely won't live for long in our memories.
Featuring excellent performances from the likes of Nicole Kidman, Colin Firth and Mark Strong, "Before I Go To Sleep" will please those who are expecting little more than an average, competently-made mystery thriller.
"The Unbeatables" is a visual treat for the kids, and the football satire is a laugh for the adults, but the script is let down by a tepid romantic subplot, and a particularly anti-climatic finale that fails to rouse audiences as much as it hoped to.
