The Imitation Game (12A)
(Morten Tyldum, 2014, UK) Benedict Cumberbatch, Keira Knightley. 114 mins
Maths genius, war hero, computer pioneer, persecuted homosexual: Alan Turing’s story was never going to be easy to squeeze into the traditional national-heritage movie mould, and there’s a feeling some aspects had to be snipped off to make it fit. This focuses on the thrilling race to crack the Nazis’ Enigma code and end the war, and Cumberbatch is eminently watchable as Turing: an abrasive, beautiful mind bewildered by social conventions.
The Drop (15)
(Michaël R Roskam, 2014, US) Tom Hardy, Noomi Rapace, James Gandolfini. 106 mins
A sombre, satisfying Brooklyn crime thriller – adapted from a Dennis Lehane novel – with Hardy’s lost soul at the centre of a plot that takes in Chechen gangsters, abandoned puppies, pre-gentrification sleaze and a great final performance from James Gandolfini.
Third Person (15)
(Paul Haggis, 2013, UK/US/Ger/Bel) Liam Neeson, Mila Kunis, Adrien Brody. 137 mins
Luxury locations (Paris, Rome, New York), beautiful but flawed people and soapy life/love issues are all churned into what’s supposed to be a multi-faceted emotional symphony, but comes across more as a channel-surf of cheese.
Diplomacy (12A)
(Volker Schlöndorff, 2014, Fra/Ger) Niels Arestrup, André Dussollier, Burghart Klaussner. 82 mins
Over a long night in 1944 Paris, Sweden’s ambassador attempts to dissuade the Nazi governor from destroying the city according to Hitler’s orders. Roughly based on actual events, it’s essentially filmed theatre but of the highest order, thanks to the two fine leads.
Life Itself (15)
(Steve James, 2014, US) 121 mins
The eventful career and poignant last days of the Chicago Sun-Times’ late uber-critic Roger Ebert are detailed in a documentary that’s not afraid to criticise its subject or document his cancer treatment, but, as you’d expect, it is full of respectful tributes, great anecdotes and classic clips.
We Are The Giant (15)
(Greg Barker, 2014, US/UK) 90 mins
Personal stories of non-violent activism in Libya, Syria and Bahrain add up to a rousing, human-scale overview of the Arab Spring, though the incitement to people power is often excessively amped-up.
Nativity 3: Dude, Where’s My Donkey? (U)
(Debbie Isitt, 2014, UK) Martin Clunes, Marc Wootton, Catherine Tate. 110 mins
One more panto-sequel is flogged out of the juvenile yuletide franchise. Brace yourselves for kids doing the funniest things, grown-ups doing really unfunny things, and a story taking in romance, amnesia and flashmobs.
Redirected (18)
(Emilis Velyvis, 2014, UK/Lith) Vinnie Jones, Scot Williams, Gil Darnell. 99 mins
Lock, Stock… goes to Lithuania for this bantery, blokey gangster comedy. It was a big hit in Lithuania, anyway…
Out from Friday
David Bowie Is Filmed tour of the V&A’s Bowie exhibition. Out from Mon
The Vatican Museums 3D See the Sistine Chapel ceiling without having to look up. Out from Tue
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1 Jennifer Lawrence gears up for mutiny. Out from Thu
Get On Up Chadwick Boseman embodies James Brown for a rousing gospel.
The Homesman Hilary Swank and Tommy Lee Jones saddle up for a long-haul Western.
What We Do In The Shadows Jemaine Clement on the challenges of the modern cohabiting vampire.
Winter Sleep Cannes-winning character drama from Nuri Bilge Ceylan.
My Old Lady Kevin Kline and Maggie Smith face off over a Paris apartment.
No Good Deed Idris Elba shows his nasty side in this home-intruder thriller.
Mary Is Happy, Mary Is Happy Playful Thai teen movie fusing social media and the Nouvelle Vague.
Coming soon
In two weeks... The bear gets an upgrade in Paddington… Job issues for Jason Bateman in Horrible Bosses 2…
In three weeks... Bill Murray is the neighbour from hell in St Vincent… Jude Law leads submarine heist thriller Black Sea…
In a month... Prepare for The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies… Agyness Deyn in Brit drama Electricity…
