Film review: X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST, from Built For Speed

The film adaptations of Marvel’s X-Men Comics, which feature super-powered mutants or X-Men led by Professor Xavier (Patrick Stewart) battling super-villain Magneto (Ian McKellan) and fearful, prejudiced “normal” humans, began in startling fashion in 2000.  With 2006’s disappointing X-Men: The Last Stand and 2009’s clunky spin-off X-Men Origins: Wolverine, though, the franchise seemed to be in very poor shape, at

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Film review: AMERICAN HUSTLE, from Built For Speed

American Hustle is an intoxicating mix of 1970’s nostalgia, slow-burn crime drama and comedy that probes themes of deception and identity and constantly asks the question “who’s playing who?”  American Hustle is, along with Silver Linings Playbook director David O. Russell’s second film of 2013 and together they reassert him as one of American cinema’s most important contemporary auteurs. Set

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Film review: THE HUNGER GAMES: CATCHING FIRE, from Built For Speed

With the excellent Harry Potter film adaptations and the not so excellent Twilight films now done and dusted, the quest for the teen movie dollar falls to The Hunger Games series.  The first instalment, simply titled The Hunger Games, was moderately inventive, occasionally exciting and at times attractively shot but was let down by maddening use of wobble cam during

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Film review: SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK from Built For Speed

David O. Russell’s latest film Silver Linings Playbook, has been lauded by a number of critics but the praise seems excessive given the way the film lurches awkwardly between gritty indie movie and formula rom com. Much like As Good As It Gets, this film mixes themes of mental illness and redemption with romantic comedy.  Unfortunately, it lacks the assurance,

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