All Articles

Friday Night Lights arrives as an action film directed by Peter Berg, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Billy Bob Thornton and Jay Hernandez give Friday Night Lights a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Friday Night Lights comes into focus without a long explanation: Based on H.G. Bissinger's book, which profiled the economically depressed town of Odessa, Texas and their heroic high school football team,

Miracle arrives as a biographical drama directed by Gavin O'Connor, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Kurt Russell and Patricia Clarkson give Miracle a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Miracle comes into focus without a long explanation: The true story of Herb Brooks, the player turned coach who led the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team to victory over the seemingly invincible Soviet squad. Across its 2h 1

Barbershop 2: Back in Business arrives as a comedy directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Ice Cube and Cedric The Entertainer give Barbershop 2: Back in Business a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Barbershop 2: Back in Business comes into focus without a long explanation: The owner of an historic South Side Chicago barbershop is pressured to sell out to a land developer, b

The Manchurian Candidate arrives as a thriller directed by Jonathan Demme, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Denzel Washington and Liev Schreiber give The Manchurian Candidate a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Manchurian Candidate comes into focus without a long explanation: In the midst of the Gulf War, soldiers are kidnapped and brainwashed for sinister purposes. Across its 2h 9m running time, J

Kill Bill: Vol. 2 arrives as an action film directed by Quentin Tarantino, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Uma Thurman and David Carradine give Kill Bill: Vol. 2 a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Kill Bill: Vol. 2 comes into focus without a long explanation: The Bride continues her quest of vengeance against her former boss and lover Bill, the reclusive bouncer Budd, and the treacherous, one eyed El

The Forgotten arrives as a thriller directed by Joseph Ruben, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Julianne Moore and Dominic West give The Forgotten a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Forgotten comes into focus without a long explanation: After being told that their children never existed, a man and woman soon discover there is a much bigger enemy at work. Across its 1h 31m running time, Joseph Ruben

Hidalgo arrives as an action film directed by Joe Johnston, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Viggo Mortensen and Omar Sharif give Hidalgo a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Hidalgo comes into focus without a long explanation: In 1890, a down and out cowboy and his horse travel to Arabia to compete in a deadly cross desert horse race. Across its 2h 16m running time, Joe Johnston keeps Hidalgo alive in

White Chicks arrives as a comedy directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Marlon Wayans and Shawn Wayans give White Chicks a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in White Chicks comes into focus without a long explanation: Two disgraced FBI agents go way undercover in an effort to protect hotel heiresses the Wilson sisters from a kidnapping plot. Across its 1h 49m running time, Keene

Sideways arrives as a comedy directed by Alexander Payne, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church give Sideways a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Sideways comes into focus without a long explanation: Two men reaching middle age with not much to show but disappointment embark on a week long road trip through California's wine country, just as one is about to take a trip

Christmas with the Kranks arrives as a comedy directed by Joe Roth, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis give Christmas with the Kranks a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Christmas with the Kranks comes into focus without a long explanation: With their daughter Blair away in Peru, Luther and Nora Krank decide to skip Christmas altogether until she decides to come home, causi

Ladder 49 arrives as an action film directed by Jay Russell, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Joaquin Phoenix and John Travolta give Ladder 49 a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Ladder 49 comes into focus without a long explanation: A firefighter, injured and trapped in a burning building, has flashbacks of his life as he drifts in and out of consciousness. Across its 1h 55m running time, Jay Russell

Ray arrives as a biographical drama directed by Taylor Hackford, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Jamie Foxx and Regina King give Ray a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Ray comes into focus without a long explanation: The story of the life and career of the legendary rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles, from his humble beginnings in the South, where he went blind at age seven, to his meteoric rise t