STACK NZ Aug #65

39 / 62

Opposites attract and two worlds collide in the latest
adaptation from prolific (and formulaic) romance specialist
Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook, Dear John, et al). Cowboy
Scott (son of Clint) Eastwood falls for college senior and
art gallery intern-in-waiting Britt Robertson; they have lots
of sex, and she worries about him sustaining a serious
head injury from too much bull-riding. When the pair
rescue Alan Alda from a car wreck, Robertson helps him
recover in hospital by reading aloud love letters from his
late wife; suddenly we're back in the past and the film
offers two romantic tales for the price of one, cross-cutting between the
timelines and setting up an unlikely twist ending of M. Night Shyamalan
proportions. Clocking in at over two hours, The Longest Ride delivers on
its title, but it's a ride Sparks devotees will be more than happy to take.
Love letters but no notebook
THE LONGest RIDE
Release Date: 26/08/15 Format:
Sean Penn takes a break from his usual worthy roles to
play a mercenary whose last assassination in the Congo
forces him into leaving not only the country, but also
the woman (Italian star Jasmine Trinca) he loves. Upon
returning years later, it’s soon clear he himself is the new
target. A formulaic 'hunter becomes the hunted' thriller
that fancies itself as a political actioner, The Gunman
certainly boasts a heavy duty cast: as well as Penn in a
constant state of poised concentration, the ensemble
includes Ray Winstone as a crusty confidante and Javier
Bardem as a former brother-in-arms who is now married to Penn's ex.
Much attention is given to methodical approaches to the art of killing, while
director Pierre Morel (Taken, From Paris With Love) is an accomplished
hand at this sort of gritty ‘put-em down fast’ action, a la Bourne.
Penn joins the geri-action brigade
THE GUNMAN
Release Date: 19/08/15 Format:
You’ve heard of the Jocks, the Geeks, and the Musos,
but have you heard of the DUFF? The Designated Ugly
Fat Friend is supposedly in every high school friend
group – chances are, if you don’t know one, then you are
one. Mae Whitman (known mostly for her voice acting as
Katara on Avatar: The Last Airbender) takes on the task of
un-DUFFing herself, with the help of conveniently popular/
good-looking next door neighbour Robbie Amell (Firestorm
in CW’s The Flash). The pair go shopping – seemingly
to buy Mae more clothes than just a flanny – and spend
enough time together to make this teen comedy pretty easy to predict.
Nonetheless, it's a thoroughly enjoyable escapade that leaves you
wondering who your group’s DUFF was. Just maybe don’t watch this one
with your male best friend.
Nope, not about teen pregnancy Life never gets old
The DUFF
Release Date: 12/08/15 Format:
Midlife crisis presents itself to a fortysomething, no kids,
filmmaking couple in New York City. The mood changes
drastically when they befriend two vibrant hipsters (Adam
Driver and Amanda Seyfried), reigniting some much
needed spark – then things get complicated. Writer-director
Noah Baumbach has a knack for presenting middle-aged
fear somewhere between Woody Allen’s relentless self-
deprecation and Wes Anderson’s melancholic charm.
Ben Stiller, perpetually offering his hangdog face to male
stereotypes, anchors this ‘Just who are these hipsters and
why are they enjoying my childhood memories better than me?’ fable on
the changing of the creative guard in middle-class NYC. He’s also the reason
this film will polarise the desired fortysomething audience, but there's still
plenty of wit, largely thanks to Naomi Watts's strong performance.
WHILE WE'RE YOUNG
Release Date: 19/08/15 Format:
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