Whiplash

Ohhhhhh. It's quite a while since I was left speechless at the end of a film (I think the last time was Under The Skin). I really struggled with the first two-thirds of a film, with the bullying, with the abuse, with the fact that a teacher at any level was allowed to get away …

Jupiter Ascending

Aw, you know, I totally understand why people will not get on with this film at all. But at least the Wachowskis try to do things a little differently. For example, the eponymous Jupiter at least has some real agency by the end of the film, and makes her own decisions on her own terms. …

American Sniper

Even worse than I had expected, but for totally different reasons. This could have been an interesting film about war and post-traumatic stress disorder. In fact, there are moments when I imagine the film thinks it *is* a film about PTSD. But it's actually just Clint continuing to pontificate about What It Means To Be A …

Ex Machina

Stylish-looking film which asks some really interesting and deep questions about artificial intelligence, yet still felt a little simplistic. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyKqHOgMi4g

Foxcatcher

There's something really eerie and unsettling about the tone of this film, from start to finish. It's clear from the outset that the relationships are not right, without being able to pin things down, and I felt on edge throughout. Solid turns by Mark Ruffalo and Channing Tatum, but Steve Carell's performance as John du …