Two Line Review: Ruby Sparks (2012)

A brilliant concept that was well explored, but only to the point of maintaining light-heartedness. The film doesn't truly start until Zoe Kazan arrives onscreen with a hugely enjoyable performance.

Thinking Film Rating: 7.5/10

Public Opinion: 7.1/10
Critics Opinion: 7.9/10

Ruby Sparks - Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris

Two Line Review: About a Boy (2002)

A fantastic novel makes its way to the screen in a fantastic way. Grant's performance is a winner, and joined by Hoult, Collette and Weisz, this charming comedy hits you in a big way!

Thinking Film Rating: 8/10

Public Opinion: 7.1/10

Critics Opinion: 9.3/10

About a Boy - Chris Weitz & Paul Weitz 

Two Line Review: Love Actually (2003)

A Christmas film that can be watched all year round! An all-star cast featuring some truly British legends. Heart-warming, funny, and completely irresistible!

Thinking Film Rating: 9/10

Public Opinion:7.7/10

Critics Opinion: 6.3/10 

Love Actually - Richard Curtis

UK Box Office: 26 May

The Hangover Part 3

Overall:

01. The Hangover Part III

  WE: £5,964,619 GTD: £5,964,619

02. Fast & Furious 6

  WE: £3,539,474 GTD: £16,005,880

03. Epic

  WE: £3,190,574 GTD: £3,190,574

The Moth Diaries

Other New Films

07. The Moth Diaries

  £103,228 at 73 locations

13. Something In The Air

  £20,948 at 18 locations

18. Jatts in Golmaal

  £12,649 at 5 locations

The Moth Diaries

World Cinema

07. The Moth Diaries

  WE: £103,228 GTD: £103,228

13. Something In The Air

  WE: £20,948 GTD: £20,948

14. I’m So Excited

  WE: £19,280 GTD: £774,916

*WE = Weekend Total, GTD = Gross-to-Date

Two Line Review: Up in the Air (2009)

A wonderful and thought provoking film led by three great actors giving incredible performances. Funny, surprising and emotional - one to own!

Thinking Film Rating: 9/10

Public Opinion: 7.5/10
Critics Opinion: 9.1/10

Up in the Air - Jason Reitman

Two Line Review: Sex and the City 2 (2010)

Even die-hard fans of the show will have trouble defending this one. A film made purely to bring in the cash - a cliched mess! 

Thinking Film Rating: 2/10

Public Opinion: 3.9/10

Critics Opinion: 1.5/10

Sex and the City 2 - Michael Patrick King

Two Line Review: Sex and the City (2008)

Despite some fabulous outfits and occasional laughs it fails to live up to the status left by the television series. The reason of why the film was made in the first place comes into question.

Thinking Film Rating: 5/10

Public Opinion: 5.2/10

Critics Opinion: 5/10

Sex and the City - Michael Patrick King

Trailer for Sunday: Blue Jasmine

Blue Jasmine

Director: Woody Allen

Starring: Cate Blanchett
               Alec Baldwin
               Peter Sarsgaard

UK Release Date: 20 September 2013

Two Line Review: Adventureland (2009)

A great film for Stewart to show off her talents as an actress. An abundance of recognisable stars come together for an easy watching, lightly comical coming-of-age rom-com. 

Thinking Film Rating: 7.5/10

Public Opinion: 6.9/10

Critics Opinion: 8.8/10

Adventureland - Greg Mottoia

Two Line Review: Monsters (2010)

One of the more realistic monster films - the stars are always on the sidelines of danger, never fully experiencing it's full affects. An interesting film that doesn't quite live up to it's exciting premise.

Thinking Film Rating: 6.5/10

Public Opinion: 6.4/10
Critics Opinion: 7.2/10

Monsters - Gareth Edwards

Two Line Review: Streetdance (2010)

Some fantastic dancing, but the acting and dialogue leave a lot to be desired. Watchable for the choreography and iconic London landscapes but little else.

Thinking Film Rating: 6/10

Public Opinion: 5.6/10

Critics Opinion: 7.7/10

Streetdance - Max Giwa, Dania Pasquini

Director Profile: Baz Luhrmann

Baz Luhrmann

Currently In the Box Office: The Great Gatsby

Opening Weekend: £4,095,325 at 522 locations

Known for: Moulin Rouge, Australia

Author’s Favourite: Moulin Rouge

Critics Opinion: 7.6/10, Public Opinion: 7.6/10

Most Academy Awards: Moulin Rouge

Won 2 Oscars inc. Best Art Direction

Highest Critical Acclaim: Strictly Ballroom

Critics Opinion: 9.5/10

Highest Public Acclaim: Moulin Rouge
 Public Opinion: 7.6/10

Highest Grossing: Australia

Worldwide Box Office Gross: $211.3m

Debut Feature: Strictly Ballroom

Won 3 BAFTAs inc. Best Production Design

Two Line Review: Drunken Master (1978)

The classic Jackie Chan kung fu film! Filled with amazing martial arts, over-the-top acting and slapstick comedy. If taken with a pinch of salt, a hugely enjoyable and fun film.

Thinking Film Rating: 8/10

Public Opinion: 7.5/10

Critics Opinion: 7.7/10

Drunken Master - Yuen Woo Ping

UK Box Office: 19th May

Fast and Furious 6

  Overall:

  01. Fast and Furious 6

    WE: £8,717,534 GTD: £8,717,534

  02. The Great Gatsby

    WE: £4,095,325 GTD: £4,095,325

  03. Star Trek: Into Darkness

    WE: £3,678,228 GTD: £15,553,765

Aurangzeb

  Other New Films

  13. Aurangzeb

    £27,938 at 37 locations

  18. Rangeelay

    £13,314 at 10 locations

  21. Beware of Mr Baker

    £10,356 at 11 locations

I'm So Excited

  World Cinema

  10. I’m So Excited

    WE: £45,728 GTD: £726,464

  13. Aurangzeb

    WE: £27,938 GTD: £27,938

  14. A Hijacking

    WE: £25,225 GTD: £68,971

*WE = Weekend Total, GTD = Gross-to-Date

Two Line Review: Into The Wild (2007)

A beautifully shot, deep and emotional story into the life of a man that answered the call of the wild, and the people he met along the way. Perfect direction and performances.

Thinking Film Rating: 9.5/10

Public Opinion: 8.2/10

Critics Opinion: 8.2/10

Into The Wild - Sean Penn

Two Line Review: The Inbetweener's Movie (2011)

A worthy transition from TV to film, there are less cringeworthy moments but even more extreme antics with a few surprisingly sweet moments from the four protagonists. 

Thinking Film Rating: 8/10

Public Opinion: 6.7/10
Critics Opinion: 5.4/10

The Inbetweeners Movie - Ben Palmer

Two Line Review: Life As We Know It (2010)

An interesting scenario spin on a less than average rom-com. The chemistry between Heigl and Duhamel is watchable but unfortunately cannot carry this predictable film past that. 

Thinking Film Rating: 5/10

Public Opinion: 6.4/10

Critics Opinion: 2.8/10

Life As We Know It- Greg Berlanti

An Exciting Trailer for Sunday: The History of Future Folk

The History of Future Folk

Directors: John Mitchell, Jeremy Kipp Walker

Starring: Nils d'Alaire
              Jay Klaitz
              Julie Ann Emery

UK Release Date: Not Yet Known

Short Film for Saturday: Blown Minded (2013)

Blown Minded

Filmmaker: Carine Khalife


The incredible textures add a depth and sense of wonder to this animation that is completely powerful. The colours and pace conveying a strong array of emotions. The filmmaker's influences seem to have been paintings, possibly those of Van Gogh, and, just like the paintings of Van Gogh, this too is a work of art.

Two Line Review: The Sweeney (2012)

A decent British grit-flick lead by Winstone and Drew in a great partnership as hard-nut cops. Shorten the gun chases and turn down the overly dramatic music and we’d have great ride. 

Thinking Film Rating: 7/10

Public Opinion: 6.1/10

Critics Opinion: 4.6/10

The Sweeney - Nick Love

Two Line Review: In Time (2011)

An extremely interesting concept but didn’t develop past the initial idea. The world felt simplistically black and white with a standard action film plot.

Thinking Film Rating: 4/10

Public Opinion: 6.6/10

Critics Opinion: 3.6/10

In Time - Andrew Niccol

Two Line Review: Mean Girls (2004)

A brilliant script with razor sharp dialogue from Tina Fey and good performances particularly from McAdams. Very much a guilty pleasure of a film. 

Thinking Film Rating: 9/10

Public Opinion: 6.9/10

Critics Opinion: 8.3/10

Mean Girls - Mark Waters

UK Box Office: 12th May

Star Trek: Into Darkness

Overall:

01. Star Trek: Into Darkness

WE: £8,424,109 GTD: £8,424,109

02. Iron Man 3

WE: £3,179,291 GTD: £31,350,552

03. 21 and Over

WE: £580,467 GTD: £1,912,534

    

Mud

Other New Films

07. Mud

£238,825 at 71 locations

14. The Reluctant Fundamentalist

£34,072 at 29 locations

15. Go Goa Gone

£34,072 at 29 locations

I'm So Excited

World Cinema

08. I’m So Excited

WE: £142,114 GTD: £615,131

15. Go Goa Gone

WE: £34,072 GTD: £34,072

16. Love Is All You Need

WE: £34,031 GTD: £776,803

*WE = Weekend Total, GTD = Gross-to-Date

Two Line Review: Notting Hill (1999)

A fantastically British film that embraces the romance that can occur between people from different worlds. Beautiful performances, stunning cinematography and a wonderfully written script!

Thinking Film Rating: 10/10

Public Opinion: 6.9/10

Critics Opinion: 8.3/10

Notting Hill - Roger Michell

Two Line Review: Run Fatboy Run (2007)

An entertaining British Rom-Com with Simon Pegg at the helm. A great British ensemble and fine direction from Schwimmer make for a funny and charming little film.

Thinking Film Rating: 7.5/10

Public Opinion: 6.6/10

Critics Opinion: 4.8/10

Run Fatboy Run - David Schwimmer 

Two Line Review: Mrs Doubtfire (1993)

A childhood classic with enough humour and emotion to keep the adults entertained. Williams is as amazing as ever in the title role. Watch for laughs, love and that warm fuzzy feeling at the end!

Thinking Film Rating: 10/10

Public Opinion: 6.7/10

Critics Opinion: 7.1/10

Mrs Doubtfire - Chris Columbus 

An Exciting Trailer for Sunday: Captain Phillips

Captain Phillips

Director: Paul Greengrass

Starring: Tom Hanks
              Catherine Keener
              Christopher Stadulis

UK Release Date: 11th October 2013

Two Line Review: Source Code (2011)

An interesting concept but let down by a weak storyline and performances. The strong patriotic overtones and lack of rounded characters distract from engaging with the film.

Thinking Film Rating: 5/10

Public Opinion: 7.5/10

Critics Opinion: 9.1/10

Source Code - Duncan Jones

Short Film for Saturday: Pantheon

Pantheon

Director: Frederick Lloyd

A fantastic short film from a group of very promising filmmakers. An excellent design and sound work really help bring this story alive.

Won 2013 Best Film Best Score and Best Production Design at Screentest UK National Student Film Festival.

Original score used in theatrical trailer for Zero Dark Thirty, 2012.

Nominated for a large number of other awards.

Two Line Review: Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)

Segal shows his talents as both a writer and an actor is this easy-watching, funny and memorable film. An easy to relate to movie with some wonderful characters and some hilarious moments.

Thinking Film Rating: 9/10

Public Opinion: 7.2/10
Critics Opinion: 8.4/10

Forgetting Sarah Marshall - Nicholas Stoller

Two Line Review: The History Boys (2006)

Some fantastic acting and a charming script from Bennet. Particular love for the 80's based soundtrack. Unfortunately, cannot truly compete with the staged version.

Thinking Film Rating: 7/10

Public Opinion: 6.7/10
Critics Opinion: 6.5/10

The History Boys - Nicholas Hytner

Two Line Review: Easy A (2010)

In an attempt to be clever, the film presents characters that are too extreme to be believable. This is just another American teen movie despite literally stating that it's the opposite.

Thinking Film Rating: 2/10

Public Opinion: 7.1/10

Critics Opinion: 8.5/10

Easy A - Will Gluck

Two Line Review: Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012)

A comic and lightly morbid film with some incredibly tender moments and an immensely emotional ending. A touching performance from Carell but perhaps Knightly was a tad too quirky. 

Thinking Film Rating: 7.5/10

Public Opinion: 6.7/10 

Critics Opinion: 5.5/10

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World - Lorene Scafaria

UK Box Office: 5th May

Iron Man 3

Overall:

01. Iron Man 3

  WE: £6,305,660 GTD: £24,474,098

02. 21 and Over

  WE: £772,048 GTD: £772,048

03. Olympus Has Fallen

  WE: £672,592 GTD: £5,101,656

All Stars

    Other New Films

    04. All Stars

      £563,426 at 413 locations

    07. I’m So Excited

      £310,832 at 87 locations

    08. Dead Man Down

      £294,053 at 310 locations

I'm So Excited

World Cinema

07. I’m So Excited

  WE: £310,832 GTD: £310,832

11. Love Is All You Need

  WE: £78,038 GTD: £678,061

19. Lucky DI Unlucky Story

  WE: £17,371 GTD: £66,567

*WE = Weekend Total, GTD = Gross-to-Date

Two Line Review: The Story Of Qiu Ju (1992)

An engaging look at the modern Chinese judicial system, and through that the human spirit. The thought-provoking nature is nicely aided by the documentary style.

Thinking Film Rating: 7.5/10

Public Opinion: 7.4/10

Critics Opinion: 8.6/10

The Story Of Qiu Ju - Zhang Yimou

Two Line Review: Salmon Fishing In The River Yemen (2011)

A light-hearted feel-good film with plenty of heart. The off-beat, quirky subject keeps the film feeling fresh and entertaining but it still has it’s slow moments.

Thinking Film Rating: 7/10

Public Opinion: 6.8/10

Critics Opinion: 6.7/10

Salmon Fishing In The River Yemen - Lasse Hallström

Two Line Review: School Of Rock (2003)

An fun and easy to watch Jack Black comedy. With a great soundtrack and some fantastic musical performances from the kids; this is something that can be watched again and again. 

Thinking Film Rating: 7.5/10

Public Opinion: 7.0/10
Critics Opinion: 9.2/10

School Of Rock - Richard Linklater

An Exciting Trailer for Sunday: The Grandmaster

The Grandmaster

Director: Wong Kar Wei

Starring: Tony Leung
              Zhang Ziyi
              Chang Chen

UK Release Date: Yet to be Announced

Short Film for Saturday: Father and Daughter

Father and Daughter

Director: Michael Dudok de Wit

An emotional journey perfectly visualised by simple yet extremely effective animation and story. A thought-provoking film of brilliance.

Won 2001 Best Animated Film Academy Award

Director Profile: Susanne Bier

Susanne Bier

Currently In the Box Office: Love Is All You Need

Opening Weekend: £202,086 at 131 locations

Known for: In a Better World, After The Wedding

Author’s Favourite: Open Hearts

Critics Opinion: 9.6/10, Public Opinion: 7.6/10

Most Awards: In a Better World

Won 1 Oscars for Best Foreign Film

Most Critically Acclaimed: Open Hearts

Critics Opinion: 9.6/10

Highest Grossing: After The Wedding

Worldwide Box Office Gross: $11.6m

Hidden Gem: Den Eneste Ene

Biggest Danish Box Office of the nineties

Debut Feature: Freud Flyttar Hemifran...

Won Best Supporting Actress at European Film Awards

Upcoming Projects: Serena

USA/Czech Republic production starring Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper

An Exciting Trailer for Thursday: The Way, Way Back

The Way, Way Back

Director:  Nat Faxon & Jim Rash

Starring: Steve Carell
              Toni Collette
              AnnaSophia Robb
              Liam James

UK Release Date: Yet to be announced.

UK Box Office 28th April

Iron Man 3

Overall:

1. Iron Man 3

  WE: £13,702,836 GTD: £13,702,836

2. Olympus Has Fallen

  WE: £912,823 GTD: £3,966,377

3. Oblivion

  WE: £682,134 GTD: £9,357,791

  

The Look Of Love

   Other New Films

   7.  The Look Of Love

     £208,432 at 209 locations

   14. Bernie

     £32,915 at 28 locations

   32. Im Nebel

     £3,703 at 2 locations

Love Is All You Need

   World Cinema

   9. Love Is All You Need

     WE: £129,387 GTD: £503,411

   18. Dans La Maison

     WE: £15,630 GTD: £758,799

   23. Sadda Haq

     WE: £10,230 GTD: £247,840

*WE = Weekend Total, GTD = Gross-to-Date

Two Line Review: City of God (2002)

Fantastic performances in a shocking yet beautiful film. A gripping film that would stay with you long after the last credit roles. Incredible work from Meirelles and Lund.

Thinking Film Rating: 10/10

Public Opinion: 8.7/10

Critics Opinion: 9/10

City of God - Fernando Meirelles & Kátia Lund

Short Film for Wednesday: The Laughing Policeman

The Laughing Policeman

Director: Marcus Armitage

A crazy trip of a film with a great story, the animation style fits the subject perfectly. This director is one to look out for.

Official Selection - Animated Encounters, Bristol 2012
Official Selection - This Is England Festival, Rouen 2012