All Articles

Wanderlust arrives as a comedy directed by David Wain, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd give Wanderlust a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Wanderlust comes into focus without a long explanation: Rattled by sudden unemployment, a Manhattan couple surveys alternative living options, ultimately deciding to experiment with living on a rural commune where free love rules. Acr

Silent Hill: Revelation arrives as a horror film directed by M.J. Bassett, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Adelaide Clemens and Kit Harington give Silent Hill: Revelation a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Silent Hill: Revelation comes into focus without a long explanation: When her adoptive father disappears, Sharon Da Silva is drawn into a strange and terrifying alternate reality that holds answers

The Perks of Being a Wallflower arrives as a drama directed by Stephen Chbosky, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Logan Lerman and Emma Watson give The Perks of Being a Wallflower a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Perks of Being a Wallflower comes into focus without a long explanation: Charlie, a 15 year old introvert, enters high school and is nervous about his new life. Across its 1h 43m running

Chernobyl Diaries arrives as a horror film directed by Bradley Parker, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Jesse McCartney and Jonathan Sadowski give Chernobyl Diaries a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Chernobyl Diaries comes into focus without a long explanation: Six tourists hire an extreme tour guide who takes them to the abandoned city Pripyat, the former home to the workers of the Chernobyl nuclear

Quartet arrives as a comedy directed by Dustin Hoffman, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Maggie Smith and Michael Gambon give Quartet a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Quartet comes into focus without a long explanation: At a home for retired musicians, the annual concert to celebrate Composer Giuseppe Verdi's birthday is disrupted by the arrival of Jean (Dame Maggie Smith), an eternal diva and the f

A Thousand Words arrives as a comedy directed by Brian Robbins, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Eddie Murphy and Cliff Curtis give A Thousand Words a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in A Thousand Words comes into focus without a long explanation: After stretching the truth on a deal with a spiritual guru, literary agent Jack McCall finds a Bodhi tree on his property. Across its 1h 31m running time, Bri

Man on a Ledge arrives as a comedy directed by Asger Leth, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Sam Worthington and Elizabeth Banks give Man on a Ledge a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Man on a Ledge comes into focus without a long explanation: As a police psychologist works to talk down an ex con who is threatening to jump from a Manhattan hotel rooftop, the biggest diamond heist ever committed is in m

The Impossible arrives as a thriller directed by J.A. Bayona, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor give The Impossible a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Impossible comes into focus without a long explanation: The story of a tourist family in Thailand caught in the destruction and chaotic aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Across its 1h 54m running time, J.A. Bay

Big Miracle arrives as a romance directed by Ken Kwapis, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski give Big Miracle a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Big Miracle comes into focus without a long explanation: In small town Alaska, a news reporter recruits his Greenpeace volunteer ex girlfriend on a campaign to save a family of gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the A

Premium Rush arrives as an action film directed by David Koepp, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Joseph Gordon Levitt and Michael Shannon give Premium Rush a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Premium Rush comes into focus without a long explanation: In Manhattan, a bike messenger picks up an envelope that attracts the interest of a dirty cop, who pursues the cyclist throughout the city. Across its 1h 3

The Place Beyond the Pines arrives as a thriller directed by Derek Cianfrance, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Ryan Gosling and Bradley Cooper give The Place Beyond the Pines a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Place Beyond the Pines comes into focus without a long explanation: A stunt rider turns into a robber in order to lead a happy life with his child and lover and grabs the attention of a pol

Mud arrives as a drama directed by Jeff Nichols, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Matthew McConaughey and Tye Sheridan give Mud a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Mud comes into focus without a long explanation: Two young boys encounter a fugitive and form a pact to help him evade the vigilantes that are on his trail and to reunite him with his true love. Across its 2h 10m running time, Jeff Nichols k