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evin Hart has struggled a tad to find vehicles worthy of
is undoubted talents and this high concept comedy –
ltimately – has to be seen as another missed opportunity.
owever, if you can get over the far-fetched premise –
ould anyone getting married really ever have to hire a
est man? – Hart’s quickfire repartee will keep his fans
appy for now. The American comic plays the titular
edding specialist, who sets out to pull off the never-
efore-attempted ‘Golden Tux’ – the provision of a fake
est man plus seven groomsmen – for the desperate
Josh Gad, who has been fibbing to his bride-to-be ( Big Bang Theory’s
Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting) about his colourful collection of friends. It’s a bit
hit-and-miss on the gag front, but there are a few nice surprises, like Gad’s
unexpected prowess on the dancefloor.
Arranged marriage
THE WEDDING RINGER
Release Date: 20/05/14 Format:
ollywood's output of inspirational true stories continues
o introduce viewers to individuals who triumph over
ncredible odds. Louis Zamperini's story is a great example;
n Olympic athlete who became a bombardier during World
ar II, he survived a plane crash into the ocean, and spent
7 days adrift before being captured by the Japanese Navy,
hen interred in a POW camp. Unbroken is a testament
o Zamperini's courage and fortitude, adapted from Laura
illenbrand's bestselling biography (with input from the
Coen brothers) and directed for the screen by Angelina
Jolie. It's a big, epic and ambitious film, and Jolie impressively pulls it off;
you can't fault her skill behind the camera, nor the committed performance
by rising star Jack O'Connell (Starred Up). But something gets lost in
translation: the film is never as involving or as moving as it should be.
A World War II story of resilience and redemption
UNBROKEN
Release Date: 20/05/14 Format:
he infamous Bullingdon Club – whose alumni include
ritish PM David Cameron and London Mayor Boris
ohnson – is the thinly disguised subject of this venomous
roadside against privilege from director Lone Scherg (An
ducation). Here, the centuries old Oxford University dining
lub of the title has just taken on two new members: Miles
ax Irons) is a wealthy but liberal first year student, while
listair (Sam Claflin) is an arrogant toff struggling to follow
his brother's footsteps – a legendary former member.
The jolly japes and hazing rites take a darker turn, however,
when the club convenes at a remote gastro pub for their annual dinner and
Miles’ relationship with working class student (Holliday Grainger) comes
under scrutiny. A withering attack on class snobbery and how it continues
to taint Britain’s ruling establishment, The Riot Club is a bilious treat.
The filthy rich Portrait of an artist
THE RIOT CLUB
Release Date: 14/05/15 Format:
Mike Leigh departs from the housing projects of
contemporary England for his third foray into historical
drama. Set during the 19th century, Mr. Turner charts the
final 25 years in the life of J.M.W. Turner, considered to
be one of Britain's greatest landscape artists. Leigh's
portrait focuses on the relationships that shaped the
cantankerous and capricious painter during this period:
notably his father, his housekeeper and lover, and an
ex-mistress. Episodically constructed and exquisitely
shot on a widescreen canvas, this biopic is anchored by
a superb performance from Timothy Spall, who received the Best Actor
award at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival for his portrayal of Turner as a
grunting, toad-like eccentric prone to moments of warmth. A must-see for
lovers of quality British period drama.
MR. TURNER
Release Date: 06/05/14 Format:
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38 MAY 2015 JB Hi-Fi