Two-thirds okay all-female re-cast reboot, one-third CGI mess that ruins a fine running gag, Busters ’16 is nevertheless an interesting misfire with breakout performances from Jones & McKinnon. A noble-but-daft idea to attempt in the first place.
Author: Eamonn
Writes. Latest: 2019: East of England - a noir thriller.
Other books: Benches of Louth (2018); Juggernaut: a sequel to Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde (2017); Torc, (2016); The Prospect of This City (2015). Twitter: @eamonngriffin
Wild Card (2014, dir. Simon West)
A burnout Las Vegas hard man gets a shot at redemption. Episodic but fun, this is superior Stathamism, based on a 1980s William Goldman novel, and a minor Burt Reynolds vehicle. Many Vegas tropes played with, some OK action, and a decent Xmas soundtrack.
Raging Bull (1980, dir. Martin Scorsese)
Biopic of Italian-American boxer Jake LaMotta. Unflinching warts-and-all account of the turbulent life and times of the New York middleweight, based on LaMotta’s autobiography. One of Scorsese’s finest, and thus one of the greatest American films.
John Wick (2014, dir. Chad Stahelski & David Leitch)
A retired assassin returns to the fray. A glorious stylised neo-noir action flick with a neat mythology, splendid choreography, crisp direction, some sly humour, and committed performances all round. The 2014 state of the action movie-making art.
The Witches (1966, dir. Cyril Frankel)
A newcomer to an English village finds she’s in the middle of a coven on a recruitment drive. Straightforward Hammer black magic thriller which makes something of the contrast between the twee rural locale and the over-the-top rituals.
Mojave (2015, dir. William Monahan)
A disillusioned Hollywood actor falls foul of a serial killer. Part existentialist Tinseltown treatise, part straightforward stalker thriller. A passion project made with the writer/director’s starry mates (Goggins, Wahlberg) helping out. Not terrible.
Carnage Park (2016, dir. Mickey Keating)
A bank-robbing couple on the run stray onto a psycho’s personal amusement park of murder. Grim though effective retro-horror drawing inspiration from the likes of Hills Have Eyes and Texas Chainsaw Massacre. Much blood in the desert dust ensues.
Cell (2016, dir. Tod Williams)
A cellphone-spread virus zombifies the US. Decent, downbeat, and low-key adaptation of the 2002 Stephen King novel, with some solid performances from now B-list talent, and a few interesting ideas among the generic z-apocalypse road-movie-on-foot tropes.
The Trust (2016, dir. Alex Brewer & Benjamin Brewer)
Vegas, present day. Mismatched burnout cops Cage and Wood plan a heist on a mob-controlled safe house. Smart little black comedy thriller with a focus on character rather than action. Low-key, but worth your while, and with some decent twisty plot work.
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