Ravenous (1999)

As an allegory for the United States of America, Ravenous is so fucking perfect that it needed to be a comedy. The idea of imagining early Americans as cannibals granted supernatural powers by feasting on human flesh – the extrapolation to the modern day left to one’s imagination – would’ve been hard to stomach played…

Triple 9 (2016)

Modern day cops and robbers tales are all about blurring the lines between criminal and authority, which makes it a perfect fit for John Hillcoat, well known for his fascination with villians and anti-heroes. It’s a pity then that Hillcoat shortchanges himself with Triple 9, squeezing a three-hour story into a two-hour movie, and sacrificing…

Microbe & Gasoline (2015)

French director Michel Gondry is back for another misadventure full of charm, humour and heart. Microbe & Gasoline – screening at the upcoming French Film Festival – is a tale of two teens searching for their place in the world while realising their own independence. Microbe, a.k.a Daniel (Ange Dargent), is the film’s protagonist. He struggles with…

Sucker (2015)

Lawrence Leung is many things – writer, comedian, actor, magician – but most of all he’s a great storyteller. If you’ve watched any of his shows – at a comedy festival or on television – you’d be familiar with his knack for transforming a thin premise into a transfixing tale. Sucker is one such tale:…

Ride Along 2 (2016)

Director, Tim Story returns for another comedy-fueled ride-along with brothers “in-law” James (Ice Cube) and Ben (Kevin Hart). Right from the word go, we are reminded of the characters and their roles in the franchise – James, the tough-guy lead detective and Ben, the goofy sidekick seeking approval. In Ride Along 2, we follow the pair of…

Trumbo (2015)

For a film about a screenwriter’s perseverance for creative expression, Trumbo is rarely as inspired or diligent. Based on the life of Dalton Trumbo (Bryan Cranston), director Jay Roach’s biopic settles for a cordial yet straight-laced snapshot of 1950s Hollywood, unable to elevate political and libertarian motifs off the page. After being unjustly imprisoned for his…

Do I Sound Gay? (2014)

Do I Sound Gay? is documentary by way of dinner party conversation. This largely light-hearted consideration of the stereotypically ‘gay voice’ hews closer to a chat between friends than investigative journalism. Which is fine! For about 45 minutes, the film’s frivolity is what keeps it appealing; director and ‘subject’ David Thorpe – who undergoes speech…

Zoolander No. 2 (2016)

Zoolander is one of the greatest comedies, spinning out its Glamorama-esque premise from a satirical take on male modelling into a deconstruction of masculinity and a surrealistic degradation of plot, where David Bowie adjudicates “walk offs” and the perfect look stops a high-velocity shuriken. Perhaps most importantly, it’s also hilarious, packed to the brim with…

Brooklyn (2015)

Brooklyn is a chick-flick with credentials. That is to say: a well-acted, beautifully staged period melodrama. The film chronicles the challenges faced by a young woman, Eilis Lacey (Saoirse Ronan), as she journeys from Ireland to the States in search of opportunity. Unquestionably small in scope, Brooklyn shines as it draws from the poignant well of…