Movie reviews

NIGHT FILM MARATHON - HIGH-OCTANE CINEMA

BRICK MANSIONS

Watchable. "Banlieue 13" ("District 13") it isn't. The tongue-in-cheek money laundering scene, numerous puns and some good action scenes are a plus. Unfortunately the two lead actors and slow English lines pale in comparison to energetic acting and machine gun speed French conversations of the original.

RUSH

Watchable. Casting an Australian actor speaking American English to pretend to be British was a big mistake. Still, it's fun for linguists as, apart from a mixture of English varieties, you get German and Italian. Some scenes are funny, e.g. hitching a ride after a car breakdown. Hans Zimmer's music is marvellous, including the credits score. The psychology of characters and their rivalry appears genuine. Last but not least that's how history of sport is made.

LONE SURVIVOR

Watchable. On the one hand it's yet another war movie and yet another Seals appraisal. On the other a chance to see a real war and real Afghanistan. Demystifies the local population.

JACK STRONG

Recommended. Another linguistic attraction. Plus perfectly drawn characters and the Cold War atmosphere. Excellent suspense. Convincing acting. And the real life mystery of Kuklinski's sons deaths.