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Safe Haven arrives as a thriller directed by Lasse Hallström, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Julianne Hough and Josh Duhamel give Safe Haven a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Safe Haven comes into focus without a long explanation: A young woman with a mysterious past lands in Southport, North Carolina where her bond with a widower forces her to confront the dark secret that haunts her. Across its 1

Mama arrives as a horror film directed by Andy Muschietti, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Jessica Chastain and Nikolaj Coster Waldau give Mama a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Mama comes into focus without a long explanation: Two little girls disappear into the woods the day that their parents were killed. Across its 1h 40m running time, Andy Muschietti keeps Mama engaging in bursts but unable to

White House Down arrives as an action film directed by Roland Emmerich, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Channing Tatum and Jamie Foxx give White House Down a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in White House Down comes into focus without a long explanation: While on a tour of the White House with his young daughter, a Capitol policeman springs into action to save his child and protect the president from a

2 Guns arrives as a comedy directed by Baltasar Kormákur, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg give 2 Guns a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in 2 Guns comes into focus without a long explanation: Two hardened criminals get into trouble with the US border patrol after meeting with a Mexican drug lord, and then revelations start to unfold. Across its 1h 49m running time, Ba

Turbo arrives as an animated adventure directed by David Soren, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Ryan Reynolds and Paul Giamatti give Turbo a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Turbo comes into focus without a long explanation: A freak accident might just help an everyday garden snail achieve his biggest dream: winning the Indy 500. Across its 1h 36m running time, David Soren keeps Turbo engaging in bur

Saving Mr. Banks arrives as a comedy directed by John Lee Hancock, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Emma Thompson and Tom Hanks give Saving Mr. Banks a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Saving Mr. Banks comes into focus without a long explanation: P. Across its 2h 5m running time, John Lee Hancock keeps Saving Mr. Banks careful about tone and generally effective. ⁠ John Lee Hancock shapes Saving Mr. Ba

Insidious: Chapter 2 arrives as a horror film directed by James Wan, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Patrick Wilson and Rose Byrne give Insidious: Chapter 2 a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Insidious: Chapter 2 comes into focus without a long explanation: The Lamberts believe that they have defeated the spirits that have haunted their family, but they soon discover that evil is not beaten so easily

Oblivion arrives as an action film directed by Joseph Kosinski, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Tom Cruise and Morgan Freeman give Oblivion a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Oblivion comes into focus without a long explanation: Jack Harper, a drone repairman stationed on Earth that has been ravaged by war with extraterrestrials, questions his identity after rescuing the woman who keeps appearing in

The Lone Ranger arrives as an action film directed by Gore Verbinski, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer give The Lone Ranger a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in The Lone Ranger comes into focus without a long explanation: Native American warrior Tonto recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid, a man of the law, into a legend of justice. Across its 2h 30m running t

Planes arrives as an animated adventure directed by Klay Hall, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Carlos Alazraqui and Dane Cook give Planes a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Planes comes into focus without a long explanation: A cropdusting plane with a fear of heights lives his dream of competing in a famous around the world aerial race. Across its 1h 31m running time, Klay Hall keeps Planes unable to

Elysium arrives as an action film directed by Neill Blomkamp, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Matt Damon and Jodie Foster give Elysium a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in Elysium comes into focus without a long explanation: In the year 2154, the very wealthy live on a man made space station while the rest of the population resides on a ruined Earth. Across its 1h 49m running time, Neill Blomkamp keeps

42 arrives as a biographical drama directed by Brian Helgeland, and its first strength is a clear sense of purpose. Chadwick Boseman and T.R. Knight give 42 a recognisable human centre before the larger mechanics take over. The central situation in 42 comes into focus without a long explanation: In 1947, Jackie Robinson becomes the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in the modern era when he was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers and faces considerable racism