10 Cloverfield Lane (12A) (Dan Trachtenberg, 2016, US)
Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman, John Gallagher Jr. 103 mins
A fun little genre flick that doesn’t try to do too much, but does more than you might have expected. Underground in location but entirely mainstream in sensibility, it’s a clever, claustrophobic chamber piece. Winstead finds herself a nuclear bunker-guest of Goodman’s avuncular weirdo, who’s well-prepared for the alien apocalypse he assures her is going on upstairs. But is it? How to tell? It would be a crime to reveal more, but as the title, and the fact it was produced by JJ Abrams, suggest, there certainly is.
High-Rise (15) (Ben Wheatley, 2015, UK)
Tom Hiddleston, Sienna Miller, Luke Evans. 119 mins
JG Ballard’s totemic tower-block tale finally makes it off the drawing board, with 1970s features and politics preserved. The mass psychosis, societal breakdown and middle-class warfare is conducted with sardonic glee, even if the story descends (or rather, ascends) into chaos before it’s established much order.
The Pearl Button (12A) (Patricio Guzmán, 2015, Fra/Spa/Chi/Swi)
82 mins
After the brilliant Nostalgia For The Light, another distinctive essay from Guzmán, roaming freely across Chile’s history and geography. With arresting imagery, warm humanity and a wealth of insight, it’s an enriching experience.
The Boy (15) (William Brent Bell, 2016, US/Chi/Can)
Lauren Cohan, Rupert Evans, James Russell. 97 mins
This supernatural horror has its work cut out by its ludicrous premise: a nanny is charged with minding a life-sized doll, which inevitably has Chucky-like malevolent tendencies.
Risen (12A) (Kevin Reynolds, 2016, US)
Joseph Fiennes, Tom Felton, Peter Firth. 107 mins
How to retell the best-known story in Christendom? By framing the Resurrection as a Roman mystery thriller, which Fiennes’ tribune must get to the bottom of. It’s Passion Of The Christ meets CSI.
Rock The Kasbah (15) (Barry Levinson, 2015, US)
Bill Murray, Kate Hudson, Leem Lubany. 106 mins
Cross-cultural encounters of the worst kind occur when Murray’s jaded LA music manager travels to wartorn Afghanistan and discovers a Pashtun singing talent. The laughs stay at home.
Norm Of The North (U) (Trevor Wall, 2016, Ind/US)
Rob Schneider, Heather Graham, Ken Jeong. 90 mins
A polar bear comes to New York for third-tier animation and toilet humour when his Arctic habitat is threatened by gentrification.
Marguerite (15) (Xavier Giannoli, 2015, Fra/Cze/Bel)
Catherine Frot, André Marcon, Michel Fau. 129 mins
Frot shines and squawks as a wealthy 1920s Paris chanteuse who’s apparently oblivious to her lack of talent – though others ironically celebrate it. More than a straight farce, the story has already inspired a Meryl Streep-led version.
Kapoor And Sons (12A) (Shakun Batra, 2016, Ind)
Alia Bhatt, Fawad Khan, Sidharth Malhotra. 132 mins
Genial Bollywood romcom about a dysfunctional family and two lovelorn brothers.
Out from Friday
Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice DC comics pools its resources for an all-out superhero epic.
Court Indian society goes on trial in a courtroom drama that has won awards and admirers around the globe.
Zootropolis Disney’s animal-populated animation smash, set in a distinctly urban jungle.
The Club Chilean drama set in a retreat for disgraced Catholic clergy.
Disorder Matthias Schoenaerts plays paranoid bodyguard to Diane Kruger.
Iona The titular remote Scottish isle hosts a tense family fallout.
Mojave Oscar Isaac and Garrett Hedlund lock horns in an existential thriller.
Welcome To Me Kristen Wiig plays a fragile woman who wins the lottery.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 A new generation of broad, ethnic comedy.
Speed Sisters Doc about an all-woman Palestinian car-racing team.
Coming soon
In two weeks...
One-take German thriller Victoria… A sporting hero (almost) flies again in Eddie The Eagle…
In three weeks...
Adam Driver stars in sci-fi indie Midnight Special… Jacques “A Prophet” Audiard’s 2015 Cannes-winner Dheepan…
In a month...
Disney’s live-action retelling of The Jungle Book… Helen Mirren stars in drone thriller Eye In The Sky…
