I’m Zehra Phelan, Flavourmag’s resident Film Editor and Entertainment Journalist, each week I bring you my weekly round-up of New Movies in Cinema This Week.
This week we have Top Five, a romantic comedy starring Chris Rock, The Age of Adaline, a tale of one woman’s case of being forever young, HoneyTrap, a romantic crime drama set in South London which is based on a true story, Big Game where we see Samuel L Jackson play the president of the United States and a coming of age film in Girlhood.
TOP FIVE
Andre Allen (Rock), who started his career as a stand-up comedian, has hit the big time in movies; He has a trilogy of smash hit movies under his belt as a talking bear and is engaged to Erica Long (Gabrielle Union), a big & very beautiful reality TV star. However, Allen is super keen to leave the character that made him a star in the past in order to be taken as a serious actor. While on a press tour to promote his next film as a “serious” actor Allen is forced to spend the day with Chelsea (Rosario Dawson), a journalist for the New York Times. As the day progresses Chelsea and Allen become close as Allen opens up about his life and finds his way back to where he began.
Quite surprisingly I walked out the screening quite satisfied with what I had just watched; Top Five is a smart, hilarious feel-good comedy that will go down well with both sexes
For the full review click HERE
See if you liked: Down To Earth, How to lose a guy in 10 Days.
THE AGE OF ADALINE
Adaline Bowman (Blake Lively) has miraculously remained a youthful 29 years of age for nearly eight decades, never allowing herself to get close to anyone lest they discover her secret. However, a chance encounter with a charismatic philanthropist named Ellis Jones (Michiel Huisman) reawakens Adaline’s long-suppressed passion for life and romance. When a weekend with Ellis’ parents threatens to expose the truth, Adaline makes a decision that changes her life forever.
Everything about the film is weak, the plot is unfocused, cluttered, rushed and completely stiff, that includes Lively’s performance. It just seems like it’s tried too hard to follow in the footsteps of those films along the same lines but they just can’t pull it off. This is definitely a rainy Sunday afternoon film.
See if you liked: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Time Travellers Wife
HONEYTRAP
This story follows a young girl, Layla (Jessica Sula), who has been living in Trinidad and has now returned to her estranged Mother in Brixton. Faced with a new life, where things are strange to her she decides to change who she is to fit in. After falling for the extremely handsome bad boy singer Troy (Lucien Laviscount), she gets sucked into being treated badly, but love proves to be blind as she follows him around like a lovesick puppy which only aids in her mistreatment and ultimately a tragic outcome.
Honeytrap is a smart, moving and emotional film which keeps you engaged from beginning to end. It’s great to finally have an “urban” film that feels natural and doesn’t go over the top in its storytelling.
For the full review click HERE.
BIG GAME
When Air Force One is shot down by terrorists leaving the President (Samuel L Jackson) of the United States stranded in the wilderness, there is only one person around who can save him – a 13-year old boy called Oskari (Onni Tommila). In the forest on a hunting mission to prove his maturity to his kinsfolk, Oskari had been planning to track down a deer, but instead discovers the most powerful man on the planet in an escape pod. With the terrorists closing in to capture their own “Big Game” prize, the unlikely duo must team up to escape their hunters. As anxious Pentagon officials observe the action via satellite feed, it is up to the President and his new side-kick to prove themselves and survive the most extraordinary 24 hours of their lives.
This may be a B-movie, but it’s surprisingly good, it’s packed full of pace, action and some big laughs. Thankfully it just doesn’t take itself too seriously, the phrase tongue in cheek comes to mind, it may be aimed at pre-teen boys but I think all adults will enjoy this romp.
See if you liked: White House Down, G.I. Joe Retaliation
GIRLHOOD
Girlhood is set in the lower class suburbs of France, taking a look at the life of a young girl called Marieme (Karidja Toure). She wants more out of life but unfortunately her grades at school aren’t good enough to take her to the next level and her home life is oppressive. A meeting with 3-spirited girls randomly takes place; Marieme’s life takes a change in another direction. She changes her name to Vic, Changes the way she dresses and looks and quits school all in aid to be accepted in this new gang life.
Girlhood, even if a bit too long, is an interesting and intriguing story, full of little twists that will keep you second guessing throughout. A big disappointment, however, was the ending, it left the film feeling like they just gave up and lacked the imagination to seal this otherwise enjoyable film off with the satisfying ending it needed.
For the full review click HERE
OUR PICK OF THE WEEK: TOP FIVE.