STACK January 2017 Issue 147

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e’d consider living off the grid, but the lack of
ternet? Nuh-uh! Ben (Viggo Mortensen) is quite the
nconventional – yet definitely well-meaning – father of
ix kids, all of whom have unique (read “weird”) names
nd don’t have the same umbilical-like attachment to
e ’net as us. As such they live mostly off the land
ithin a forest. But when the mother/wife passes,
en loads up Steve – the family bus – and heads into
ivilisation with his brood to pay their respects. It’s
ere that Ben’s ways of raising his kids are challenged
at every turn, with the most resistance coming from his wife’s family,
who won’t even honour her final wishes. As it merrily messes with
hero/villain tropes, Captain Fantastic raises many questions and
answers very few. But it sure is one entrancing bus trip! AF
Not a superhero movie.
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
Release Date: 04/01/17 Format:
agine taking both Riggs and Murtaugh from the
thal Weapon movies and rolling them into one
aracter. That basically sums up John Link (Mel
ibson) in this thrill-a-minute action blast. Link’s an
-con, keeping his head down, living in a trailer and
king tatts to scrape by. His head’s soon to pop up
a big way, however, when he gets a desperate call
om his estranged daughter, Lydia (Erin Moriarty).
e’s been hanging with some bad dudes, has crossed
em, and they’re not going to let it slide. It’s time
for daddy and daughter to hit the road, but even old allies think twice
about helping them out. With kinetic direction from Jean-François
Richet (Assault on Precinct 13), and some fine screen time from
William H. Macy, Mad Mel is definitely back. AF
Family justice.
BLOOD FATHER
Release Date: 11/01/17 Format:
hen it comes to comedies, Hollywood has been
ering the bar more than raising it in recent years
ell, unless we’re talking dick jokes). Crassness often
urps cleverness, heart and classic tropes such as
pstick and silly hair. Masterminds, loosely based on
997 US$17 million armoured car heist, eschews the
ut for more of the latter stuff – and if there was an
ard for silly hair then Zach Galifianakis would be shoo-
He’s Mike, an adventure-craving armoured car driver.
falls for his new co-worker, who hangs with shady
types and convinces her devotee to rob his place of work. Banishing
him to Mexico, they’ve no intention of giving Mike his cut. But they’re
not the sharpest tools in the shed. Masterminds is silly fun – and worth
watching just for a wondrously weird turn from Kate McKinnon. AF
Get stupid rich.
MASTERMINDS
Release Date: 11/01/17 Format:
i West's slow burn horror films House of the Devil and
he Innkeepers established him as an indie director to
atch, and his first Western is a quirky oater that's quick to
ut to the chase. Think High Plains Drifter meets Quentin
arantino. Ethan Hawke is the mysterious stranger who
ides into town, clashes with the resident villain (James
ansone), and pays a high price that demands vengeance.
est is a master of casting and has assembled another
ool ensemble: John Travolta (who surprisingly has never
appeared in a Western until now) slyly underplays the role of
the marshal, while Karen Gillan and Taissa Farmiga break the stereotypes of
women in Westerns. Ultimately though, it's Hawke's dog, Jumpy, who steals
the show. Hot on the spurs of The Magnificent Seven remake, In a Valley of
Violence proves there's still life in the ol' Western yet. SH (See page 22)
Ti West heads west.
IN A VALLEY OF VIOLENCE
Release Date: 18/01/17 Format:
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30 JANUARY 2017
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