THE BOOK THIEF
Based on a bestselling book, The Book Thief tells the story of Liesel (Sophie Nelisse), a courageous and extraordinary little girl who is sent away to live with a Foster family during World War II in Germany. Leisel learns to read with the help and encouragement of her new family and Max (Ben Schnetzer), a Jewish refugee who they are hiding under the stairs. Max and Leisel become close as the power of words and imagination soon become there only escape from the horrendous events that surround them.
From the studio that brought us Life Of Pi, this period drama just seems a little too safe in its handling of Nazi Germany, not willing to push the boundaries, However what makes this a compiling watch is the strong performances by the cast. Geoffrey Rush shines as the father with his warmth and humour; you can see why the cast have been nominated for a handful of awards. But with any book adaptation this film will be hard pressed to follow in the success book has achieved.
SEE IF YOU LIKED: The Reader, The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas
NON STOP
Bill Marks (Liam Neeson) is a veteran air marshall, tired with the job he views his next assignment not as a live saving mission but just another “desk” job. However this assignment is no routine job. Not long into the flight from New York to London he starts to receive numerous text messages ordering him to get the government to transfer $150 million into a secret account or a passenger will die every 20 minutes.
Starring Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore and the promising young actress Lupita Nyong’o, this action thriller has all the markings of a gripping nail biter, it may just have you on the edge of your seat but nothing really sets this apart from any other action thriller set on plane. To be frank we’ve seen it all before.
SEE IF YOU LIKED: Taken, Air Force One.
RIDE ALONG
Ben Barber (Kevin Hart) is a fast-talking, cocky yet jumpy security guard. James Payton (Ice Cube) is a hot tempered cop and Ben’s over protective potential brother in-law. In order for the two men to bond and get to know each other Ben join’s James on a Ride Along to patrol the streets of Atlanta. Getting caught up in James’s latest case, this is his one and only chance to prove he deserves his sister as his bride, will he stand the test as he embarks on the most insane 24 hours of his life?
This action comedy is yet another “buddy cop” caper we’ve witnessed before, it even takes lines from various other similar films and throws them into the mix, however the energetic comedy deliverance by Hart and the trademark scowling of Ice Cube seems to gel to give some proper belly laugh moments when the injection of life is needed. This is most definitely a hungover Sunday type film to just veg out in front of.
SEE IF YOU LIKED: Think Like A Man.
MY PICK OF THE WEEK: RIDE ALONG.