Mini Reviews
The Dictator (out May 17) is amusing but it had the potential for so much more. I enjoy Sacha Baron Cohen's offensive humour because there's often an intelligent, underlying subtext. That’s again the case here (highlighted by a great closing monologue) but admittedly to a lesser extent than Borat and Bruno. Grade: B-.
Iron Sky (out May 10) is a spoof comedy about Nazis who set up a base on the moon back in the 1940s and are now planning to attack the Earth. It's trying to use the absurd storyline to win laughs but there's only so far you can stretch this idea. A touch disappointing. Grade: B-.
Jiro Dreams Of Sushi (out May 10) is a scrumptious documentary about an 85-year-old sushi maker from Japan and his unmatched dedication to the craft of sushi making. His restaurant has just 10 seats but has been awarded 3 Michelin stars. If this film doesn't make you hungry, nothing will. Grade: A-.
Safe (out May 10) has a higher than average body count but it's still a stock-standard Jason Statham action film. In this effort, he finds himself protecting a young girl with valuable information. Two gangs and a corrupt police force are out to stop him. I'd be ok with this if it tried to offer something a little different... but it doesn't. Grade: C+.
Dark Shadows (out May 10) is disappointing. The lure of director Tim Burton and a half-decent trailer had me thinking this would be a sharp, witty black comedy. Sadly, that wasn’t the case. There were only a handful of genuine laughs… and that puts it on a par with Scary Movie 3. Deserving of praise are the gifted set decorators and make up artists. Grade: C+.
The King Of Devil's Island (out May 3) is a powerful, affecting film that left me wishing I could jump from my seat and help its suffering characters. It's set in the early 20th Century on a remote island in Norway where a group of troubled boys are subjected a brutal disciplinary regime before being allowed to re-enter society. It's amazing. Grade: A.
Trishna (out May 10) is loosely based on Thomas Hardy’s famous novel Tess of the d'Urbervilles and focuses on a young Indian woman from a poor family who is courted by a wealthy man with unclear intentions. There are some beautiful images of India but it’s the muddled storyline that lets the film down. Some of the character's actions are strange indeed. Grade: B-.
Delicacy (out May 3) is a peculiar French romantic comedy/drama about a relationship that develops between two work colleagues. I found the whole film monotonous and I had trouble understanding the growing connection between these characters. Grade: C+.
The Lady (out Apr 19) looks at the life of Aung San Suu Kyi and her long, passionate quest to bring democracy to Burma. A few elements feel Hollywood-ised but this is still an interesting story that opened my eyes to a woman I knew very little about. Grade: B+.
Act Of Valor (out May 3) is about a group of U.S. Navy SEALS who try to rescue a kidnapped CIA agent and foil a terrorist attack. Their acting is far from perfect but I like the use of actual Navy SEALS in the cast - it makes the situation feel more believable. Grade: B.
The Five Year Engagement (out May 3) is a tedious look at two people (played by Jason Segel and Emily Blunt) and their efforts to stay together despite work pulling them in different directions. It's trying to be both a comedy and a drama... but in the end, it doesn't deliver on either count. Grade: C.
