The Cynical Cinephiles

Bombshell Director: Jay Roach Cast: Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie, John Lithgow, Alison Janney Synopsis: Based on the true story, a group of women working at Fox News take on the company's CEO, Roger Ailes, in an effort to overthrow the toxic atmosphere and culture of sexual harassment.    Bombshell boasts stellar performances from its star-studded trio. Theron completely disappears into the role of Megyn Kelly, her voice and appearance completely unrecognisable with the help of expert prosthetics. To its credit, the film doesn't completely shy away from the less appealing aspects of Kelly's character (namely her severely questionable racial views) but neither does it dig deep enough into what makes her a figure of controversy in order to ensure that we sympathise with her and the right-wing employees at Fox. Robbie's fictional composite character, Kayla Pospisil, represents all of young, ambitious women working at the network who fall prey to Ail...

The Gentlemen Director: Guy Ritchie Cast: Matthew McConaughey, Charlie Hunnam, Hugh Grant, Michelle Dockery, Colin Farrell Synopsis: American kingpin Mickey Pearson (McConaughey) is looking to sell his lucrative marijuana business. The sale draws the attention of many eager buyers who all seek to undermine Pearson, setting off a chain of blackmail and scheming.  After forays into the blockbuster realm with the critically divisive  King Arthur and Aladdin , Guy Ritchie returns to his roots with The Gentlemen , a romp of a film with strong echoes of Snatch . However, Ritchie's attempt to emulate the success of the aforementioned fails to take into account the changing times where casual racism is significantly less accepted and tolerated. The slurs and stereotypes thrown at characters such as Henry Golding's Chinese mobster "Dry Eye" and the overview of which drug lords are given the moral high-ground seems firmly cemented in their race, making the whole film app...

Honey Boy Director: Alma Ha'rel Cast: Noah Jupe, Shia LaBeouf, Lucas Hedges Synopsis: Troubled actor Otis is sent to rehab after drunk and violent behaviour where he is forced to confront his turbulent childhood and the rocky relationship that he shared with his father.  Written by LaBeouf and inspired by the star's own experiences as a child actor, Honey Boy is an incredibly personal and intimate portrayal of a complicated father-son relationship. The film begins with 22 year-old Otis (Hedges), LaBeouf's fictional representative, crashing his car and assaulting a police officer after a night of heavy drinking. He is ordered to a rehab facility and his exposure therapy sessions encourage reflection on his past to seek the root cause of his alcohol addiction and destructive behaviour. These sessions prompt flashbacks to a decade earlier where Otis relives his youth as a 12 year-old child star. He lives in a motel complex with his emotionally turbulent and alcoholic fath...