STACK NZ Aug #65

REVIEWS

DVD & BD

Love letters but no notebook THE LONGest RIDE

Penn joins the geri-action brigade THE GUNMAN

DOWNLOAD THE FREE STACK APP FOR EXTRA CONTENT

stack.net.nz/stack-app

Release Date: 26/08/15

Format:

Release Date: 19/08/15

Format:

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

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

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.

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.

The DUFF

WHILE WE'RE YOUNG

Nope, not about teen pregnancy

Life never gets old

Release Date: 12/08/15

Format:

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

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

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.

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.

39