The Cynical Cinephiles

Director: Bradley Cooper Cast: Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Sam Elliot, Andrew Dice Clay, Dave Chappelle Having turned in many acclaimed performances with roles in films such as Silver Linings Playbook (2012) and American Sniper (2014), Bradley Cooper makes his directorial debut with A Star is Born  and enlists the support of pop sensation Lady Gaga who stars as Bradley's paramour in her feature film debut. It's an experience of firsts for Cooper and Gaga, but the story of  A Star is Born is one that is in its fourth retelling. Jackson Maine (Cooper), a veteran country/rock star who has become disenchanted with his career, discovers and falls in love with Ally (Gaga), a talented singer and musician working as a waitress with a set at a drag bar who has given up on any hope of stardom. Jackson takes her on tour with him and coaxes Ally into the spotlight but as Ally's star rises, Jackson's begins to plummet and his and Ally's relationship is tested by his own pers...

Director: Paul Feig Cast: Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Henry Golding Percolating a number of genres within the same film often signals a recipe for disaster. However, in the experiences hands of director Paul Feig, A Simple Favour manages to avoid all of the potential stumbling blocks in this devilishly delicious mystery-thriller-comedy. Despite their abundant differences, sunshine-and-rainbows Stephanie (Kendrick) befriends the elusive and glamorous Emily (Lively) after their young sons become pals. When Emily mysteriously disappears from their small town, Stephanie turns sleuth and proves that she will stop at nothing to uncover the truth behind her best friend's sudden vanishing. Director Paul Feig has made a name and reputation for himself in the world of comedy and has helmed some of the most hilarious female-driven comedies including Bridesmaids (2011) and Spy (2015). Although A Simple Favour is wry and darkly comic, it is also an extremely effective thriller/mystery t...