MOVIE PICKS OF THE WEEK - 17-12-17

Star Wars: The Last Jedi - 8 out of 10

Without going into too much depth (as that will be covered by our new video review coming soon), all I will say is I was much happier with this than I was with ‘The Force Awakens’. With some great comedy moments, it looked fantastic, gripping in some of the action moments and I have to say the best thing about it was its originality, this was a Star Wars film I could get on board with. Yes, there were nods to the previous movies but if ‘The Force Awakens’ played a little too close to home with ‘A New Hope’ this for me stood on its own. At least asking for viewers to judge it as its own movie. Plenty of questions arose throughout the story, which really keeps you guessing and we probably still will be guessing right up until the third movie hits. A good solid Star Wars movie, perhaps still living in the shadow of those well loved originals but an enjoyable film that will sit nicely in the franchise.

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The Pirates Of Somalia - 7 out of 10


This tells the story of a young journalist trying to get his big break. He decides to go where no western reporter was daring to go. He goes to try and find out more about the so called “pirates” which were hijacking ships across the Somalian coastline. Based on a true story, this is a solid watch highlighting the issues and struggles this Canadian man has trying to report within this volatile place. Some great moments and a great connection between the two lead roles (Jay Bahadur and Abdi) and it actually boasts a pretty good cast overall with the legendary Al Pacino also included. Overall it’s a good dramatised account of the Jay Bahadur story and well worth a watch.

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Mother! - 8 out of 10


This will simply be the marmite of films. Those who go in with an open mind and “get it” will probably fall in love and many, I suspect, will loathe it without truly understanding what they have just seen. I couldn’t help but love it, it is just so brilliantly bat shit crazy and I quite like movies that make me think I may have accidentally dropped acid in my cup of tea. To list how this film develops would be a disservice to anyone interested in watching it. You will just be baffled at how it does. It just gets stranger and stranger until your mind will probably be asking for mercy. Director Darren Aronofsky has created a quite baffling but undisputedly beautiful looking movie, the Javier Bardem & Jennifer Lawrence combo absolutely nail their part in this strange affair and I implore all of you to watch it just for a sheer experience. Even if you hate this bonkers movie you’ll certainly remember it, that’s for sure! 
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Kingsman: The Golden Circle - 7 out of 10


It was never going to be a sequel for a thinking man, this is just a big dumb action movie but for what it is, it does a pretty good job of distracting someone’s mind for a couple of hours and sometimes we all need that. The action is over the top, the humour is over the top and the overall plot, which includes an Elton John hostage situation, is clearly also over the top but that kind of works in a strange way. Eggsy is back from a good first outing and this is more of the same and is well played by Taron Egerton who has a decent support from Channing Tatum and Jeff Bridges playing Kingsman’s American cousins, ‘the Statesmen’. So If you just want a film to switch off to and have a bit of fun, this will go down a treat.

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Stronger - 8 out of 10


Based on the true story of a victim of the Boston Marathon bombing this is a quite emotional look at the struggle of Jeff Bauman, who is immaculately played by Jake Gyllenhaal. Jeff, who lost both his legs while cheering on the girl he likes at the finish line, was actually the man who identified the bombers and it is both heart aching and heart warming to see how he deals with such a devastating and life changing moment. There will be plenty of tears shed by many for this movie I expect, I certainly was moved in a scene which focused on his experience at a Red Sox game and there were plenty of other scenes,  which would get people reaching for the tissues. ​

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Detroit - 8 out of 10


Fantastic movie which looks at the quite remarkable accounts of some young black men who find themselves in a quite horrific scene during the 1967 riots in Detroit. It’s quite frankly disturbing to think of the racism that many suffered back then and this particular story of police brutality is nothing short of shocking. The cast all do a magnificent job in playing this difficult story out with truly great immensity in parts and it will frighten the life out of any normal minded person to think this could actually take place. Not an easy watch but an essential one!