STACK November Issue 68

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Ben Kingsley plays a dying billionaire who attempts to
prolong his life through a clandestine process known
as 'shedding', in which his consciousness is transferred
into a genetically engineered body (Ryan Reynolds). Of
course there are side effects, but as long as he takes
his anti-rejection drugs he can enjoy a new life as a
thirtysomething. But before long he's overcome by
strange visions that lead him to a Missouri farmhouse,
and a startling revelation. You can guess where the plot
is heading after about 30 minutes but it's still a cool idea,
even if it has been used before in the 1966 thriller Seconds. Reynolds has
done the body swap scenario before (with Jason Bateman in The Change-
Up), only this time you don't really get a sense that it's actually Kingsley's
character who's operating through him – it's just Ryan being Ryan.
Immortality has a price
SELF/LESS
Release Date: 25/11/15 Format:
lthough based on a novel from The Fault In Our Stars
uthor John Green, this charming teen flick is actually
loser in spirit to the films of John Hughes than the
eepy romance of his mega-selling Young Adult hit. Nat
olff, who appeared in the film adaptation of TFIOS, plays
uentin, a shy and nerdish teen who has had a long-time
rush on his childhood best pal, Margo (Cara Delevingne),
ow the quintessential school rebel. One night, she
nexpectedly lures him out for anarchic evening of
mischief and mayhem, leading him to believe that their
old friendship might be heading in an exciting new direction. However,
the next day she vanishes, leaving Quentin – with the help of his pals and
Margo’s best friend Lacey (Halston Sage) – to try and piece together the
clues to where she has gone. A warm and sensitive coming-of-age treat.
Green teens
PAPER TOWNS
Release Date: 25/11/15 Format:
homas Hardy's classic romance gets a visually
avishing makeover that's less ponderous than the
967 version starring Julie Christie and largely faithful
o the book. Carey Mulligan is nicely cast as the plucky
nd independent Bathsheba Everdene (no relation to
atniss), who having inherited a rural estate receives
arriage proposals from three hopeful suitors. In
ine for her hand are a hunky shepherd (Matthias
choenaerts), a sabre-swinging soldier (Tom Sturridge),
and her bachelor neighbour (Michael Sheen). Set against
the backdrop of rural Dorset, this pastoral period drama is anchored
by a headstrong heroine in a field of her own, literally and figuratively
– determined to marry for love alone in an era where matters of class
dictate otherwise.
She shall astonish you all
FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD
Release Date: 11/11/15 Format:
Screenwriter Alex Garland (28 Days Later, Sunshine)
makes his directing debut with this creepy and timely
look at the creation of Artificial Intelligence. A computer
whiz (Domhnall Gleeson) wins a competition to assist
a search engine billionaire (Oscar Isaac) at his remote
research facility – his task is to determine whether or
not a robotic creation named Ava (Alicia Vikander) has
developed true consciousness. Cautionary tales about
the rise of AI are a sci-fi staple, from Skynet to android
boys, but Ex Machina is the first one that utilises the
internet age and our online behaviour to provide a chillingly plausible
explanation of how it might be achieved. Garland has created a
philosophical and thought-provoking minor classic that questions what
it means to be human. Highly recommended.
Play God
EX MACHINA
Release Date: 04/11/15 Format:
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38 NOVEMBER 2015