Film Guide - November 23, 2012

Cloud Atlas

Cloud Atlas

Published Nov 23, 2012

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Freelancers: In this cop drama, 50 Cent follows in his father’s footsteps and realises revenge is a dish best served cold. Also starring Robert de Niro and Forest Whitaker. *** HH

Fun Size: A teen comedy surrounding Halloween, which offers just enough humour and gags to make for a fun family affair. *** TG:

Prettville: Afrikaans musical set in a 1950s that never was, from the producers of Liefling. Beyond saccharine. *** TS

Rundskop (Bullhead): This Belgian character study is a dark, haunting and wholly original exploration of what it means to be a man. **** AP

Alex Cross: Clichéd plotline and uninspired acting make for a boring film, even if the Detroit architecture is priddy. ** TS

Cloud Atlas: Based on the dense but exhilirating novel by David Mitchell and directed by a madcap trio including the Wachowski siblings (Matrix) and Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run) starring from Tom Hanks to Halle Berry, it’s filmmaking at its most fascinating if not always most successful but especially for Mitchell fans, an absolute must. *** DdB

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days: This third film in the franchise sticks to its dollops of humiliation for humour. *** WP

Five-Year Engagement: A bit long, but leads Jason Segal and Emily Blunt have an easy chemistry and the funny script is surprisingly deep. *** WP

Footnote: A finely drawn portrait of the complicated relationship between a father and son. **** TS

Hotel Transylvania: A sweet story (think Despicable Me) set in Count Dracula’s lavish five-stake resort, where monsters and their families can live it up, free from human meddling – and the assumptions that go with it. *** HH

House at the End of the Street: The by-the-book approach wastes the strong actors, and this tepid horror is low on scares or suspense. ** HR

How I Spent My Summer Vacation: Mel Gibson does Prison Break in Mexico, where action and violence are the order of the day. *** TG

Hysteria: Slightly amusing in the moment, but forgettable movie about the invention of the vibrator. *** TS

Jeff Who Lives at Home: Jason Segel stars as a 30-year-old stoner who still lives with his mom and is a disappointment to his older brother. *** HH

La tete en friche (My Afternoons with Margueritte): Gentle drama about affection between a mother and a son and the love of words, starring Gerard Depardieu. **** TS

L’Elisir D’Amore: Anna Netrebko makes for a bright and cheerful Adina in this Donizetti opera, filmed live at the New York Met. **** PB

Mad Buddies: Leon Schuster teams up with Kenneth Nkosi for a slapstick road trip movie. Crass humour and poo jokes abound. *** if you’re a six-year-old boy; * if you’re not. TS

Madea’s Witness Protection: Tyler Perry attempts to broaden his target audience by bringing a white family into Madea’s home. It's not funny, or novel. ** HH

Moonrise Kingdom: Highly stylised, richly detailed Wes Anderson film about two teenagers who fall in love and run away together, only to be pursued by a bunch of cynical, if rather quirky adults. **** TS

Paranormal Activity 4: The spooks and chills continue but it takes too long to get there. ** TG

Paranorman: This gorgeously animated stop-motion feature rips off horror movies and spoofs classic features with equal abandon. Not for the little ones. *** TS

Peace, Love and Misunderstanding: The combined talents of Jane Fonda, Catherine Keener and Elizabeth Olsen cannot save this cliched mess. ** WP

Piranha 3D: Straining to live up to the self-aware tone layered with gore of the first film, this sleazy sequel struggles to scare up the laughs or fright of the first one, despite the cameos. ** HR

Premium Rush: Adrenalin-fueled action film which has a bike messenger race across Manhattan ahead of a corrupt cop. Engaging characters and great action sequences make up for the predictable plot. *** TS

Ruby Sparks: An inventive romantic fantasy that could sneak in as good counter programming for audiences looking for a break from comics-inspired tentpoles. *** HR

Sammy’s Adventures Part 2: The undersea world is as big, bold and colourful as ever in 3D as the thrilling adventures continue with our loved turtles and friends. **** TG

Searching for Sugarman: Narratively satisfying, Swedish director Malik Bendjelloul’s canny documentary tells the tale of the search for Detroit-born Mexican musician Sixto Diaz Rodriguez. **** WP

Sparkle: A coming-of-age story about music prodige Sparkle (Jordin Sparks) and her journey to stardom; all while juggling trying to hold her family together, romance and overcoming her own insecurities. *** LN

Streetdance 2: Street dance meets salsa. Hot new Latin flavour is added to spice up the dance arena. *** TG

Taken 2: Liam Neeson delivers breathtaking blows in this sequel about a man fighting abductors who are back for revenge. It is an unlikely story, forgettable but pleasantly surprising. *** MV

The Campaign: The crude brand of satire manages to elicit laughs thanks to its well-matched leads. *** HR

The Cold Light of Day: Bruce Willis, Sigourney Weaver and Henry Cavill in a thriller directed by Mabrouk El Mechri. (Not reviewed)

The Odd Life of Timothy Green: It seems like a magical story on paper with a cast that shimmers but this fantasy about a couple’s longing for their own child is pedestrian rather than infectious. *** DdB

The Possession: Relying on hoary ghost story clichés makes for unintentional laughs. ** HR

The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2: Despite the recent off-screen troubles in Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson’s romance – their on-screen love story as Bella, now a newborn, and Edward Cullen remains as intoxicating as ever. Fans will love the intensity of the story as family and friends (of the wolf variety) unite for the biggest battle the Cullens have ever faced. *** DT

Wolwedans in die Skemer: Initially suitably atmospheric, this radio serial doesn’t quite make the transition to the big screen, relying too much on dialogue to further the plot. ** TS

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