The Cynical Cinephiles

Director: Aaron Sorkin Cast: Jessica Chastain, Idris Elba, Kevin Costner, Michael Cera, Jeremy Strong, Chris O'Dowd, Bill Camp Sorkin's work is renowned for its fast pace and relentless dense dialogue that could almost register as its own language. Consequently, it takes a certain kind of director to keep up with his words that have been so meticulously crafted and for  Molly's Game, Sorkin steps behind the lens and proves that he's the best man for the job. After an injury that dashed her chances of becoming an Olympic skier and deferring her place to study law at Harvard, Molly Bloom (Chastain) ran the world's most exclusive high-stakes poker game. Her players included Hollywood stars, business titans and, unbeknown to her, the Russian mob and she is eventually arrested by the FBI. Molly hires criminal defence lawyer Charlie Jaffey (Elba) and the two must work together to exonerate her and change people's tabloid-influenced perceptions in the process. A

Director : Paul King Cast : Ben Whishaw, Hugh Grant, Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Brendan Gleeson Three years on, and the nation’s favourite Peruvian bear is back with another unequivocally charming adventure on the big screen, featuring more laughter, more familiar British faces, and more of a certain citrus conserve. Since his cinema debut, Paddington Bear (Whishaw) has become a firmly integral part of the Brown family, and clearly befriended, and touched, many of the fellow residents of Windsor Gardens. But when he is wrongly accused of stealing a priceless antique book, he is sent to prison, and it is up to his loved ones to exonerate him.   One of the plentiful endearing qualities about Paddington 2 is the abundance of likeable characters. The furry titular bear himself is an adorable mix of wisdom and naiveté, brandishing morals to enlighten all, yet being childlike in his trust of everyone he meets. The Browns are as loveable as ever, unconditionally supporting

Director: James Franco Cast: James Franco, Dave Franco, Seth Rogen, Alison Brie, Ari Gaynor, Josh Hutcherson, Jacki Weaver In 2003, one of the best-worst movies ever made, The Room , was unleashed into the world. Written, directed, produced by the mysterious and enigmatic Tommy Wiseau (who also stars), the film bombed upon its release but has since become a cult hit and continues to play in cinemas across the globe. Greg Sestero, one of the film's stars, wrote a book entitled 'The Disaster Artist' that entails the uniquely turbulent experience of making the cult classic - and bona fide Hollywood actor James Franco pulls a Wiseau by helming and starring in the adaptation of the real life account. Tommy Wiseau (James Franco) and Greg Sestero (Dave Franco) become firm friends after bonding over their shared dreams of achieving Hollywood stardom. They relocate to Los Angeles but after years of unsuccessful auditions, Tommy produces a self-financed film that he and his best

Director: Taika Waititi Cast: Chris Hemsworth, Tom Hiddleston, Mark Ruffalo, Tessa Thompson, Cate Blanchett, Jeff Goldblum, Idris Elba, Karl Urban It's been two years since we've seen Thor, the God of Thunder, on our screens wielding his mighty Mjiolner in Avengers: Age of Ultron  but now he's back to complete his contractually obliged trilogy. And this time, things are getting whacky. After crash-landing on the planet Sakaar, Thor (Hemsworth) is imprisoned and forced into a gladiatorial contest where he is reunited with his fellow Avenger, Hulk/Bruce Banner (Ruffalo). Intent on returning to Asgard to prevent the all-powerful Hela (Blanchett) from destroying his home planet, Thor assembles a dysfunctional teams and a chaotic adventure ensues. Thor and Thor: The Dark World , the character's two previous stand alone features, have grappled with issues of tone; the former aspired to be a fish-out-of-water story with Shakespearian influence and the latter was a half-

Director: Denis Villeneuve Cast: Ryan Gosling, Harrison Ford, Robin Wright, Jared Leto It's been 35 years since Ridley Scott's Blade Runner.  Upon its release, it underwhelmed at the box office and divided critics but in the three decades that have passed, it has become a staple of the sci-fi genre and heralded as one of the best films of all time. French-Canadian director Denis Villeneuve, responsible for hits such as Sicario  and Arrival , is now at the helm of expanding the fictional universe with  Blade Runner 2049  and has the pressure of delivering not just a piece of entertainment, but a cinematic experience that can match the impact of it predecessor. Replicant Officer KD6 - 3.7 (Ryan Gosling), referred to as K, is a Blade Runner tasked with "retiring: old and discontinued Nexus 8 models. During an assignment, K discovers a buried box containing a secret that could disrupt the world's order as he knows it that sets him off on an entirely different missio

Director: Destin Daniel Cretton Cast: Brie Larson, Woody Harrelson, Naomi Watts In 2013, Short Term 12 , a drama centring around Grace (Brie Larson), a supervisor of a group home for troubled teenagers, was a huge critical success. Particular praise was awarded to Larson's captivating performance and Destin Daniel Cretton's direction. Four years later and Larson and Cretton have reunited on  The Glass Castle , and with an Oscar win under the former's belt, they hope to duplicate the same winning formula of their first collaboration. Jeanette Walls (Brie Larson) is a successful journalist living in New York with her handsome and wealthy finance in a lavish apartment. However, a chance encounter forces her to confront her unconventional and nomadic 70s childhood, dictated by her alcoholic father, Rex (Woody Harrelson). Based on the best-selling memoir of the same name by Jeanette Walls, The Glass Castle  presented many opportunities for an incredible narrative to be we

Director: Simon Curtis Cast: Domhnall Gleeson, Margot Robbie, Kelly Macdonald Winnie-the-Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore and co are emblematic figures in countless childhoods across the globe. The iconography of these characters is undeniable but their origin story is significantly lesser known - enter Goodbye Christopher Robin . Recovering from his war experiences and dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder, writer A. A. Milne (Domhnall Gleeson) leaves London for the English countryside and begins to create stories about his young son's growing collection of stuffed animals. The books, including Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner, became instant successes, catapulting Milne and his family, particularly his son Christopher Robin (Will Tilston), to intense fame. Domhnall Gleeson as A. A. Milne and Margot Robbie as his wife Daphne portray the archetypal, repressed British characters to perfection with strong accents and buttoned-up demeanours. They're int

Director: Matthew Vaughn Cast: Colin Firth, Julianne Moore, Taron Egerton, Mark Strong, Channing Tatum, Halle Berry, Pedro Pascal, Jeff Bridges In 2014, Matthew Vaughn delivered Kingsman: The Secret Service, favouring to bring this largely unknown comic entity to the big screen over returning to the X-Men franchise to helm  Days of Future Past . The gamble paid off and the action/spy/comedy hybrid grossed over $400 millions worldwide and received high praise from critics. Three years on and imbued with success, the Kingsman have returned and this time, they're going transatlantic. After the Kingsman's headquarters are destroyed and the world held to ransom by Poppy Adams (Julianne Moore), the head of the world largest drug cartel, Eggsy (Taron Egerton) and Merlin (Mark Strong) connect with their kindred spy organisation in the United States known as the Statesman, Together, they attempt to foil Poppy's plans in a globe-trotting mission that tests their strengths and w

Director: Darren Aronofsky Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Javier Bardem, Ed Harris, Michelle Pfeiffer The marketing campaign for auteur Darren Aronofsky's latest film mother! has positioned the piece as a full-throttle feverish horror depicting a flagrant escalation of a home invasion - but this surface appearance offers only a fraction of the true anarchy that is weaved into the fabric of the film, resulting in one of the most textured, divisive and insane cinematic experiences you'll likely ever encounter. A poet (Javier Bardem) and his wife (Jennifer Lawrence) live in a blissfully isolated house, both of them spending their days trying to further their individual projects. Their tranquil existence is disrupted by the arrival of uninvited guests at their home and their relationship is tested to extremities. Lawrence's nameless character (referred to as 'mother' in the film's credits) is a young homemaker and wife to Javier Bardem's character (tellingly re

Director: Andy Muschietti Cast: Bill Skarsgard, Jaeden Lieberher Based on Stephen King's horror-struck novel of the same name, It is one of 2017's most anticipate features; the trailer broke the record for the most views online within 24 hours, certifying that Pennywise the Dancing Clown (and unnerving clowns in general) and his bloodthirsty appeal are too enticing for audiences to resist. Every 27 years, and ancient shape-shifting manifestation of evil emerges from the sewers in Derry, Maine and preys upon the town's children. Spurred by the disappearance of young Georgie, seven pre-adolescent outcasts (giving themselves the name "The Losers Club") join forces to overthrow the murderous clown known as Pennywise over the course of one petrifying summer. It boasts a stellar ensemble cast, primarily consisting of young actors barely in their teens, and director Andy Muschietti helps to produce fantastic performances from each and every one of them. The dynami

Director: Kathryn Bigelow Cast: John Bodega, Will Poulter, Algee Smith, Jason Mitchell, John Krasinski, Anthony Mackie, Kaitlyn Dever 1967 is considered to be the Summer of Love but in the same year, the city of Detroit in the US state Michigan experienced nothing but intolerance, violence and severe persecution as racial tensions were at an all-time high. Centuries of white oppression acted as the catalyst for the uprising in the African-American community and frequent collaborators Kathryn Bigelow and scribe Mark Boal partner once again to bring this moment in history back into mainstream consciousness. Summer, 1967. Rioting and civil unrest is tearing Detroit apart. A report of gunshots leads the Detroit Police Department to the Algiers Motel where several police officers show complete disregard for procedure and violently interrogate guests to get a confession. Once the night is over, three unarmed men are shot and killed and others are savagely beaten. The shattering riots

As much as one may vehemently deny it, summer is drawing to a close. We must say a farewell to flip flops, pip pip to popsicles and a bittersweet so long to leg shaving, until the next sunny season rolls around. However us film buffs know that we can use a little artistic license to sustain the sunshine all we want with a little help from the movies. The following is a list of the top five Cynical Cinephile approved flicks guaranteed to extend summer until you’re ready to finally submit to the winter blues. Roman Holiday Let’s kick things off with a classic, chock full of all that one can desire from summer; a European getaway, sightseeing, comedy, and most importantly romance. Audrey Hepburn radiates charisma as the Princess who grows weary of her ‘yes, thank you’, ‘no, thank you’ monotonous life at home, in an unstipulated country. Masquerading as a commoner, her peculiar manner amuses reporter Gregory Peck, and a love-story blossoms. Jaws Arguably, Jaws does n

Director: Taylor Sheridan Cast: Jeremy Renner, Elizabeth Olsen Scribe of the immensely successful Sicario and Hell or High Water, Taylor Sheridan finally steps behind the camera with Wind River. A cold (literally) mystery starring two Avengers MVPs, Sheridan's directorial debut has its finger on the pulse of American social issues whilst simultaneously engaging the audience with its thrilling and emotional core. On the Wind River Indian Reservation in Wyoming, US Fish and Wildlife Service agent Cory Lambert (Jeremy Renner) discovers the body of 18-year old Natalie Hanson (Kelsey Chow), a resident of the reservation. FBI special agent Jane Banner (Elizabeth Olsen) arrives and enlists the help of Cory to investigate what happened to Natalie. Wind River is certainly a mystery and a whodunnit but the narrative itself does not contain a lot of twists and turns designed to keep audiences continually guessing or throw them off the scent, so to speak. The opening prologue shows us N

Director: Aisling Walsh Cast: Sally Hawkins, Ethan Hawke Based on the true story of Maude Lewis' life as a painter in Nova Scotia in the 1930s, Maudie  is a sweet tale of the pursuit of love and one's passion no matter what the circumstances may be. Wanting to gain a sense of independence from her carless brother and overbearing aunt, Maude (Sally Hawkins) answers and advertisement posted by loner fisherman Everett Lewis (Ethan Hawke) and goes to work for him as his cleaning lady. Their relationship is initially fraught but this odd couple blossom against expectations and Maude develops a burgeoning career as an artist. A remarkably heartwarming dramatisation of one woman's life , Maudie  encapsulates many prevalent themes that are sure to resonate. In her most depressive of states, Maude turns to art, painting bold and colourful murals on the walls of the small shack that she shares with Everett. Although not well-endowed with art supplies, she does not allow this m

Director: David Leitch Cast: Charlize Theron, James McAvoy, Sofia Boutella Wonder Woman and Atomic Blonde may both be female-led action films of 2017 but their cinematic styles could not differ more. The former is a CGI spectacle with a relentlessly optimistic protagonist and the latter a flick inclined more toward practical effects with a hardened and experienced spy front and centre. But both have proven to be excellent examples of action films done right. Lorraine Broughton (Charlize Theron) is an elite MI6 spy working for the British government and is sent to Berlin nearing the end of the Cold War on a mission to retrieve a priceless dossier. However, her assignment proves to be more dangerous and complicated than imagined as she must take down an espionage ring and contend with dubious agents. With co-director of the first John Wick entry, David Leith, at the helm of Atomic Blonde , the expectations for the action sequences were sky high. Thankfully, they exceed every conce

Director: Matt Reeves Cast: Andy Serkis, Woody Harrelson, Steve Zahn The almighty showdown between apes and humans has long been brewing - the Simian virus has all but decimated the human race and has advanced the apes capabilities to staggering degrees. And now the culmination of their harrowing and legendary saga has arrived with War for the Planet of the Apes, a film less concerned about the physical act of war as it explores the internal subtleties and effects of uprising than the title may suggest. After the events of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes , war has truly been declared on the apes, led by Caesar (Andy Serkis), by the terrified humans. The apes suffer heavy losses and fuelled by a deep grief and revenge, Caesar sets out on a mythic quest to avenge his own kind. As the journey brings him face to face with the ruthless Colonel (Woody Harrelson), the two engage in a battle of leadership that will determine the fate of both human and ape kind. Technology and the things

Director: Christopher Nolan Cast: Finn Whitehead, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jack Lowden, Harry Styles, Barry Kroghan, Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy Christopher Nolan has joined a small league of directors such as Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg whose names alone attract people to flock to the cinema in their thousands. Their attachment and involvement with any project generates immense excitement and the guarantee of an audience. With this notoriety as one of the most exciting directors of our time, Nolan continues to surprise with his recent picture - a war film concerning the true story of the Dunkirk evacuation. In May 1940, the British army have been forced to retreat to the French coast, Dunkirk, as Nazis continue to overpower mainland Europe. Over 400,000 men are stranded and, with their short route home obstructed, their chances of survival are diminishing as time passes. The British writer-director primarily operates within the

Director: Sofia Coppola Cast: Colin Farrell, Nicole Kidman, Kirsten Dunst, Elle Fanning Writer-director Sofia Coppola recently made history by becoming the second female director in the Cannes Film Festival's 70+ years to win the coveted Best Director gong. It's a disheartening, although not shocking, statistic but suggests that The Beguiled (an adaptation of the Thomas P. Culling novel A Painted Devil, not  a remake of Don Siegel and Clint Eastwood's 1971 film) is one of the auteur's finest pieces of work to date. After venturing beyond her advised boundaries, the young Miss Amy (Oona Laurence) stumbles across an injured Union soldier, Corporal John McBurney (Colin Farrell), who deserted his duties during the Civil War. Amy takes him back to her all-female Southern boarding school where Miss Martha (Nicole Kidman) allows him to take refuge. McBurney's presence causes titillation and excitement as the girls and women compete for his affections but sexual tensio

Director: Jon Watts Cast: Tom Holland, Michael Keaton, Zendaya, Laura Harrier, Marisa Tomei, Jon Favreau, Robert Downey. Jr Within the relatively short period of seventeen years, audiences have been given three different iterations of the web-slinging Spider-Man. Raimi's early 2000s trilogy revolutionised the superhero genre. Marc Webb's efforts perhaps set the cause back a few steps. Jon Watts, director of  Cop Car (2015) and now Spider-Man: Homecoming  hopes to strike the former achievement. With the long-awaited collaboration between Disney Marvel and Sony finally upon us and age-appropriate casting of the titular character, the revival of the Spidey franchise has been imbued with a sensibility that's entirely unique and refreshing. After his thrilling experience with the Avengers, the teenage Peter Parker (Tom Holland) continues to live his quiet life but begins to embrace his identity as Spider-Man under the watchful eye of Tony Stark (Robert Downey. Jr). Determin

Director: Edgar Wright Cast: Ansel Elgort, Kevin Spacey, Lily James, Jon Hamm, Jon Bernthal, Eiza Gonzalez, Jamie Foxx The inception of Edgar Wright's Baby Driver  began with a single song - Bellbottoms by The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. Fast forward a couple of decades since that lighting bolt idea and that song now features within the first few minutes of Wright's first solo effort as a writer/director and the result is a sheer, exhilarating delight. Vulnerable and talented getaway driver Baby (Ansel Elgort) serves as just that for Atlanta criminal boss Doc (Kevin Spacey). But the life of crime is not for him, and despite his adeptness behind the wheel, Baby cannot complete any job without listening to his favourite tunes to muffle his tinnitus (the consequence of a childhood accident). When he meets waitress Debora (Lily James), Baby finally envisions a life free of committing felonies, but Doc won't let him drive off into the sunset as easily as he hopes. Edgar

Director: Bong Joon-Ho Cast: Tilda Swinton, Ahn Seo-hyun, Paul Dano, Steven Neun, Lily Collins, Jake Gyllenhaal A competitor at Cannes, Bong Joon-Ho'd Okja  caused quite the controversy due to its Netflix distribution. Film purists abhorred the method of distribution an booed the online streaming service's logo upon its premiere screening, but critics were soon swallowing their jeers and turning them into vocals of assent in support of the picture. However, the reality that has been shrouded by the fierce debate is simple;  Okja  is a great film. In South Korea, a bold young girl named Mija (Ahn Seo-hyun) enjoys a peaceful and idyllic existences with her genetically modified 'superpig' Okja, her loyal companion. When the mastermind behind Okja, Miranda Corporation CEO Lucy Mirando (Tilda Swinton) demands the creature's return to America for a PR stunt, Mija and a group of animal activists fight for her freedom. Director and co-writer Bong Joon-Ho captures a v