Reviewed by GREG KING Director: Brad Peyton Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Naomie Harris, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Malin Ackerman, Jake Lacy, Joe Manganiello, Marley Shelton, Demetrius Grosse, Jack Quaid, P J Byrne, Will Yun Lee. Energyne is a scientific research company that is conducting a rogue experiment into genetic editing, a program known as CRISPR. Genetic editing basically means that the scientists take DNA from one animal and inject into another, enhancing its natural capabilities. But in 2016 US intelligence declared the …
MOONLIGHT
Reviewed by GREG KING Director: Barry Jenkins Stars: Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Alex Hibbert, Ashton Sanders, Trevante Rhodes, Janelle Monae, Jharrel Jerome, Andre Holland. This moving coming of age story is a powerful portrait of a poor gay African American boy growing up in on the mean streets of a crime ridden neighbourhood of Miami and grappling with his sexuality. The film is set to rewrite some records in Hollywood. In particular, it breaks away from the usual stereotypical portraits and depiction of the experiences of black youth in contemporary America. …
COLLATERAL BEAUTY
Reviewed by GREG KING Director: David Frankel Stars: Will Smith, Edward Norton, Kate Winslet, Michael Pena, Helen Mirren, Kiera Knightley, Jacob Lattimore, Naomie Harris, Ann Dowd, Kylie Rogers. "There is collateral beauty in everything." Ironically though there is little beauty to be found in this maudlin and flawed drama about grief and a man damaged by his sense of loss. There have been a lot of films dealing with death and the grieving process that explore how different people respond to loss. Despite a stellar cast of A-listers and the pedigree of director …
OUR KIND OF TRAITOR
Reviewed by GREG KING Director: Susanna White Stars: Ewan McGregor, Stellan Skarsgard, Damian Lewis, Naomie Harris, Grigoriy Dobrygin, Jeremy Northam, Matt Gattis, Khalid Abdalla, Alicia Von Rittberg, Saskia Reeves, Alec Utgoff, Dolya Gavanski, Pawel Szajda, Velibor Topic, Marek Oravec. John Le Carre is the modern master of spy thrillers. A former intelligence agent himself, he knows the territory and his novels are infused with authenticity and detail about spy craft, the morally ambiguous and murky world of international intrigue where nothing is ever black or …
OUR KIND OF TRAITOR – interview with director Susanna White
by GREG KING Our Kind Of Traitor is the latest John Le Carre spy thriller to hit the screen and as usual it is a more downbeat, moody and cynical take on the business of espionage and international intrigue. It stars Ewan McGregor, Naomie Harris, Damian Lewis and Stellan Skarsgard. The director is Susanna White, and Greg spoke to her to find out more about adapting the novel to the screen. "So few women direct thrillers, I think about 3% of thrillers are directed by women, so it's wonderful that two of us do it in a year," remarks British filmmaker Susanna …
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SPECTRE
Reviewed by GREG KING Director: Sam Mendes Stars: Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux, Ralph Fiennes, Naomie Harris, Ben Whishaw, Dave Bautista, Andrew Scott, Rory Kinnear, Monica Belluci, Jesper Christensen. I thought that Skyfall was one of the best Bond movies of the past fifty years, so I was eagerly looking forward to the latest instalment in this long running franchise. After all, Skyfall director Sam Mendes was back at the helm. But Spectre was a little disappointing by comparison. At 148 minutes, it is over long and there are a few spots where the pace …
MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM
Reviewed by GREG KING Director: Justin Chadwick Stars: Idris Elba, Naomie Harris, Deon Lotz. The recent death of Nelson Mandela lends an extra significance and poignant quality to this earnest but fairly conventional biopic. Mandela was of course the inspirational anti-apartheid activist, the political prisoner turned politician, and Nobel-prize winning elderly statesman who led South Africa through its turbulent transition from racist state to a period of equality and black rule. And Clint Eastwood's Invictus showed how the wily politician used the Rugby World Cup to …
THE FIRST GRADER
Reviewed by GREG KING Director: Justin Chadwick Stars: Oliver Litondo, Naomie Harris, Alfred Munyua. Based on the true story of Kimani N’gan’ga Maruge, The First Grader tells the moving story of an 84 year-old Kenyan farmer and ex-Mau Mau freedom fighter who fights for his right to go to school. In 2003, the Kenyan government announced a policy of free education for everyone. Illiterate 84-year old Maruge (Oliver Litondo) turns up at the local primary school demanding his right to be taught how to read and write. He has received a letter from the President, …