My Thumped review of Ad Astra
Poetic visuals it may have, but script-wise, this Brad Pitt space epic is spiritual doggerel. #link
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Tag: Thumped
Poetic visuals it may have, but script-wise, this Brad Pitt space epic is spiritual doggerel. #link
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No disrespect to the makers and most of the cast involved, but this film is being decidedly oversold. #link
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Everyone’s gonna have a take on the new Quentin Tarantino film, which opens here tomorrow. Anyway here’s mine. #link
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A reboot of an Eighties cult classic, that’s good? I know, I’m as surprised as you are! #link
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Now that John Wick is decidedly a franchise, the third instalment takes a nosedive. Here’s my review for Thumped, my first since forever. #link
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I liked Robert Redford’s cinematic swan-song just fine, no more and no less. You can read why above or on Medium. #link
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It’s more of an essay about the tarnishing of Pixar’s reputation, if I’m honest. You can read what I wrote at Thumped or on Medium. #link
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Debra Granik’s follow-up to Winter’s Bone lights on similar themes but from a very different angle. Read my review at Thumped or on Medium. #link
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A weighty story but a feast for the senses, The Breadwinner is one of the year’s finest films thus far. See it in cinemas around Ireland and the UK (and on Netflix in the US). And read my review, also on Medium. #link
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“The plot is stripped to the bone, and it’s all in the execution” of what's easily the best new film I’ve seen in months. Also on Medium. #link
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My take on this lurid but tedious spy drama, another miss for J-Law, plus a few words on the even worse Sky animation Monster Family. Also on Medium. #link
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I wasn’t enthralled by Guillermo del Toro’s fishy romantic fantasy, but can’t ignore the good work by Sally Hawkins and Michael Shannon. (Also on Medium). #link
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Spielberg’s spiritual prequel to All The President’s Men is flawed, but a better bet than Old Man Neeson’s latest one-man-army caper. #link
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This barbed black comedy from playwright and filmmaker Martin McDonagh was a bit too detached for my liking. #link
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First film review of 2018 is up, on Thumped.com and on Medium. #link
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Hold those other, glowing reviews you're bound to see with suspicion, as the latest entry in the Star Wars saga is a middling dud. Maybe if some people could step outside their fandom bubble for a minute... #link
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Plus a few words on George Clooney's Suburbicon, which also opens tomorrow. #link
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Vince Vaughn’s strongest role to date here in S Craig Zahler’s ambitious follow—up to Bone Tomahawk, and an avowed exploitation tribute that prompts conflicting feelings. #link
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Based on the true story of the 1983 NI prison break, but its potential as a drama focused on its leads is lost behind its functionally boring escape plot. #link
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Late with this link but anyway: it’s probably better suited for the telly, but what a delightfully ghastly surprise this is. #link
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It’s won awards and it’s getting rave reviews, but I thought it was awful. And I get the feeling if it were anything but an Irish film it would get ripped apart. The only grace is the genuine connection between the two leads, but it’s not a saving one. #link
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One of my films of the year so far, no monkey business. #link
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Never mind the silly title: Edgar Wright’s new one is a real treat that deserves to be seen on the big screen. #link
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Studio Ghibli’s first non-Japanese production, and a beautiful one it is too. Plus a few words on the latest entry in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. #link
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Plus a few words on literal shaggy dog story A Dog’s Purpose. #link
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Technically skilful and visually accomplished, with a great performance by the lead, but dubious themes indeed. #link
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Late with this owing to a busy week: a long-delayed round-up some of my favourite sounds from the last couple of years. Emphasis on the ‘some’, mind you, as all I can think of now are the records I forgot to include. Such is life. #link
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My first film review in weeks, for various reasons mostly related to not being able to make it to press screenings. Shame it’s for another dud, and that’s coming from a fan of the people involved. #link
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Opening tomorrow round these parts, this modern gothic horror is more something to admire from a technical standpoint than to love as a story in and of itself. #link
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It’s bland, it’s pat, it’s sentimental — nothing like the extraordinary true story it sets out to re-tell. #link
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Bittersweet but beguiling, this German comedy-but-not-really is worth its near three-hour running time. #link
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This courtroom drama based on the libel action taken by notorious Holocaust denier David Irving takes too long to shake off the Hollywood tropes and get to the good stuff. #link
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You know what? The more I think about this one, the more I like it. Well, maybe 'like' is too strong a word, but you get my meaning. #link
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So busy this week that I forgot to link this one when it went live on Tuesday evening. Despite what I said before, there might be one more film review from me before the year is out, if I can bring myself to write at length about Collateral Beauty. #link
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Probably my final film review for 2016, since I’m missing a bunch of screenings over the next fortnight. And it’s one I liked, but didn’t love. Give it a watch if it shows up on your streaming service of choice. #link
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I liked it just fine; the story is nothing special, and the songs are blah, but the animation is stunning. #link
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There are two types of Marvel movies, it seems: the entertaining ones, and the rest. This one fits in the former category, thankfully. #link
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This masterclass in cinema is showing exclusively at the Light House in Dublin from today, but you might be able to stream it already. #link
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Going against the grain with this one; it seems to be getting good reviews, but I found it insufferable. Sensing some Emperor’s-new-clothes-ism. #link
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Plus a few words on the atrocious gardening biopic Dare To Be Wild. #link
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A kitchen sink zombie drama that's all about the relationships at its core. #link
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If you're a hardcore fan, you already know the story, but that doesn't mean it's not worth watching. #link
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A classic Robin Hood tale retold with modern complications. #link
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Bit late posting this one, and a few more to come; Fede Álvarez makes up for his horrid Evil Dead remake with a film that has its own problems. #link
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A little bit Brady Bunch, a little bit Little Miss Sunshine; a lot of issues but also a lot that makes it worth a watch. #link
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I've seen some criticism of the technical aspects of this documentary, made by a childhood friend of the slain US combat journalist, but I had no issues with that side of things -- perhaps because I've seen a lot worse. #link
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Problematic themes detract from this better-than-average modern horror #link
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Martyr -- or artist? Brendan J Byrne's documentary proves a convincing argument can be made for the latter. #link
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It's not a good movie, but that's got nothing to do with the main cast being women. #link
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Here's what I spent Pride weekend writing up while my LGBT friends were partying it up, probably. Tickets on sale now. #link
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