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054 MAY 2015 JB Hi-Fi
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.
Portrait of an artist.
MR. TURNER
A viral text message bearing the
name of this film shuts down
the US in this indie apocalypse
thriller (yes, another one).
Gotham's Ben McKenzie and
Entourage 's Adrian Grenier
are amongst an ensemble
of college friends who use
this cyber-armageddon as an
excuse for an end of the world
reunion to reminisce, bicker,
and get high. Oh, and try to
survive – especially when the
National Guard shows up. Aptly
described by one critic as "A
hybrid of The Big Chill , The
Trigger Effect and Into the Wild",
this is more about Gen Y and
their first-world problems than
fallout and toxic zombies.
GOODBYE WORLD
Release Date:
20/05/15
Format:
The romance factor in Song One
is cranked up to 11, so if you're
in the mood for trembling lips
and long glistening gazes, this is
straight up your alley. We follow
anthropology student Franny
(Anne Hathaway), who makes it
her mission to convince famous
musician James Forester (Johnny
Flynn) to play at her comatose
brother’s bedside, in the hope
he will be revived. Hathaway is
so sensitive, it seems like she'd
bruise if you breathed on her, but
her genuine chemistry with Flynn
and excellent delivery overcomes
any cloying dialogue. Also, we
should all watch everything that
involves Mary Steenburgen,
because she’s brilliant.
SONG ONE
Release Date:
27/05/15
Format:
Release Date: 06/05/15 Format:
Writer-director James Ward Byrkit's minimalist – but
ultra high concept – sci-fi thriller unfolds during an
LA dinner party, while a comet is passing through
Earth's atmosphere. The eight guests begin to suspect
something strange is afoot when mobile coverage
drops out, phone screens crack, and the power goes
out. Things get even weirder following their retrieval
of a box from a neighbouring house, which contains
numbered photos of themselves – one of which was
taken on that very night. We're not going to spoil
what's going on, but all is revealed relatively early in the piece,
allowing the viewer to fully appreciate the second half's myriad twists
and turns. Simple, scary, and ingeniously constructed, Coherence
stays true to its title, despite its serpentine structure. • See page 42
Night of the comet.
COHERENCE
Rom-com regular Katherine
Heigl is actually eerily convincing
as a homicidal homemaker in
this black comedy, which may
have something to do with the
actress's rumoured offscreen
persona. When the rigid Mona
(Heigl) discovers her spineless
husband Don (Patrick Wilson)
has impregnated a young and
attractive colleague, she calmly
shoves her beloved along a path
of ever more devious and twisted
methods to remove the woman
from their carefully planned lives.
Heigl is ferocious and Wilson
quite delightful, but there aren't
any curveballs here. And Home
Sweet Hell is no Serial Mom,
even though it wants to be.
HOME SWEET HELL
Release Date:
21/05/15
Format:
This is the feature debut of actor
Scott Foley (good old Noel from
Felicity), who wrote the blackly
comedic script after he realised
family pressures were hindering
him from seeing his old mates.
It's about a group of male adult
pals who decide to snuff one
controlling wife in their midst,
which isn't a charming premise
even without knowing Foley
dreamed it up from his own
(apparently sour) life's fodder.
While the initial set-up does
actually promise a few laughs, the
film flops itself flat in the second
half, but is still worth it for Patrick
Wilson’s brilliant performance.
And you should pick the allusion
to a certain Hitchcock classic.
LET'S KILL
WARD'S WIFE
Release Date:
06/05/15
Format:
Release Date: 06/05/15 Format:
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