STACK May 2016 Issue 139

obody is ever surprised to hear of financial people

volved in dodgy stuff. But in the US during the mid-

0s they really pushed the envelope, causing a massive

ousing “bubble” which led to everyday people going

the wall financially and losing their homes. It was a

mplicated series of events that’s mercifully explained

uite clearly in this flick, which is based on Michael

ewis’s 2010 book of the same name. While we follow

ree separate people – an eccentric hedge fund manager

hristian Bale), a trader (Ryan Gosling), and another hedge

fund manager (Steve Carell) – who all profit from the situation, we learn

fiscal intricacies from such experts as, erm, Selena Gomez and Margot

Robbie (in a bubble bath!). Such humorous touches could detract, but

instead they add welcome respite from the movie’s very real drama.

Show me the money.

THE BIG SHORT

Release Date:

12/05/16

Format:

ome 65 million years ago, dinosaurs were wiped out.

ut in an alternate animated universe, the asteroid

hat caused the extinction level event shot right past

ur big blue and green orb. In this world dinosaurs

till rule, with primitive humans performing more

ubservient, pet-like duties.

The Good Dinosaur

tells

f a timid young apatosaurus named Arlo, who suffers

traumatic event while trying to learn to be brave

rom his dad, and finds a friend in a young human

boy. He’s Spot, and while he doesn’t utter much that’s

intelligible, he helps Arlo learn a few life lessons in this latest Pixar

release which, following the splendid

Inside Out

, continues their

push towards tales for slightly older kids. It's also great alternative to

Jurassic World

for those too young for rampaging raptors.

Land before time.

THE GOOD DINOSAUR

Release Date:

11/05/16

Format:

ary Shelley’s classic horror tale comes back to life through

he eyes of Harry Potter, who we first encounter as a

ameless, hunchbacked circus clown. Upon saving a fallen

rapeze cutie, a witness to the feat – one Victor Frankenstein

(

James McAvoy) – sees genius in this apparently hopeless

uman being and liberates him from his miserable life. He

lso drains the pus from his hump (yummy!), produces a

andy back brace, and gives the guy a name – that of his

bsentee housemate, Igor. It isn’t long before Frankenstein

s picking Igor’s brains, while assembling those of various

creatures (along with numerous other body parts) into re-animated

hodgepodge abominations – including that infamous monster. A mixture of

action, sci-fi, thrills and a touch of romance, essentially this does for Shelley’s

tale what Guy Ritchie did for Sherlock Holmes.

Monster makers.

VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN

Release Date:

25/05/16

Format:

0 Rock

and

Parks and Recreation

are two of the

leverest and funniest shows to ever hit TV, so when

eir respective stars – Tina Fey and Amy Poehler

–

team up, you know that things are going to be

onderfully entertaining. Yes they’re playing sisters,

ut if you didn’t know it you’d never guess. Maura

oehler) is the sensible sibling, while Kate (Fey) is the

ild child – complete with teenage daughter to show

r it. When they’re called back to their childhood home

to clean out their shared room, as their parents are

selling up, the memories start flowing. Kate convinces her sister that

they should throw one last party like in the good old days, but this

time Maura gets to finally let her hair down, while Kate is to take the

responsible reins. This isn’t going to end well...

Doing it for themselves.

SISTERS

Release Date:

05/05/16

Format:

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MAY

2016

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