A long-underground former radical has to go on the run when his new identity is revealed. Well-made, intelligent political thriller with a cast of character actors to die for. A little low-key for some, maybe, but this is a movie that delivers well on its own terms. Recommended.
Tag: Brendan Gleeson
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005, dir. Mike Newell)
Harry is mysteriously selected to take part in a wizarding tournament at Hogwarts. Fourth and perhaps the best of the sequence, balancing a stand-alone story with the developing Voldemort narrative. Little for series entrants, but a confident and well-made movie for fans of the books and the films to date.
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018, dir. Joel & Ethan Coen)
Six tales of the Old West, each taller than the last. Splendid Western anthology, packed full of quirky moments and character actors, with a few stars plainly having fun. Not exactly commercial, though; Netflix is a good home for this Coen brothers confection.
Paddington 2 (2017, dir. Paul King)
Paddington ends up in prison after being wrongly convicted of a treasure map theft. Machine-tooled sequel balancing community spirit, slapstick, musical numbers and a climactic train chase. Expertly done, with a fine cast, especially a gleeful Hugh Grant.
Green Zone (2010, dir. Paul Greengrass)
An idealistic soldier discovers the truth about WMDs in 2003 Iraq. Sleek action-led thriller which dramatises a key event in recent world history. Simplistic in its approach but undeniably thrilling, with several great sequences.
Live By Night (2016, dir. Ben Affleck)
The rise of a hoodlum during Prohibition. Handsome, lovingly made, but slow, baggy, and uninvolving gangster pic. Clearly a labour of love, but too indebted to its source novel’s structure to make an engaging movie, despite good moments along the way.
255 Review 