Wild Tales (15)
(Damián Szifrón, 2014, Arg/Spa) Ricardo Darín, Erica Rivas, Leonardo Sbaraglia, Julieta Zylberberg. 122 mins
Compilation movies tend to be hit-and-miss affairs, but this one’s all hit: six delectably spiky parables of people on the brink – and savage instincts getting the better of them. It could almost be a grim sketch show or a live-action cartoon at times, but it’s underpinned by a palpable anger against injustice, and the construction is so skilful that you’re never far from the next outlandish twist.
Cinderella (U)
(Kenneth Branagh, 2014, US) Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden. 113 mins
After so many fairytale reinventions it’s disappointing how little this Disney update does with the story, beyond dress it up. James’s meek, materialistic doormat is hardly much of a modern role model; Blanchett’s stepmother is far more watchable.
The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out Of Water (U)
(Paul Tibbit, 2015, US) Tom Kenny, Antonio Banderas, Bill Fagerbakke. 93 mins
Relentless irreverence, surreal slapstick and sugar-fuelled hysteria are all in place as the undersea characters wade into the human world (with new 3D bodies). It feels like sitting through a whole Saturday morning of kids’ TV.
The Face Of An Angel (15)
(Michael Winterbottom, 2014, UK) Daniel Brühl, Kate Beckinsale. 101 mins
Morose meta media mulling as Winterbottom grapples with the issues of the Meredith Kercher case via a film about a film-maker grappling with the issues of a fictionalised Meredith Kercher case.
Blind (15)
(Eskil Vogt, 2014, Nor) Ellen Dorrit Petersen. 91 mins
The confinement, paranoia and overactive imagination of a blinded Oslo woman take you down a postmodern wormhole in this cool, clever (perhaps overly so) drama.
The Signal (15)
(William Eubank, 2014, US) Brenton Thwaites, 97 mins
Teens follow the trail of a mysterious hacker into brain-melt territory in a stylish sci-fi that’s at its most intriguing before it’s played all its cards.
Get Hard (15)
(Etan Cohen, 2015, US) Will Ferrell, Kevin Hart. 100 mins
As racist and homophobic premises go, Ferrell learning to be “black” so he doesn’t get raped in prison sounds pretty hard to beat. It’s a little more nuanced than that, but the real crime is that it’s not even that funny.
Seventh Son (12A)
(Sergei Bodrov, 2014, US/UK/Can/Chi) Ben Barnes, Jeff Bridges, Julianne Moore. 102 mins
Witches, warriors, dragons and Chosen Ones are all washed down with an excess of special effects in this YA franchise wannabe, but very little sticks – apart from the joy of watching A-list stars slumming it.
Robot Overlords (12A)
(Jon Wright, 2014, UK) Gillian Anderson, Ben Kingsley. 90 mins
Fresh performances compensate for cheap effects in this fun homegrown sci-fi, in which teens attempt to foil the robocalypse.
Dior And I (12A)
(Frédéric Tcheng, 2014, Fra) 90 mins
Sleek fashion doc on the hard work rather than the hot air of the fashion biz, as Raf Simons produces his first couture collection for Dior.
Out from Friday
Fast & Furious 7 One more round of auto-testosterone with Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson and the late Paul Walker.
While We’re Young Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts deny their age in Noah Baumbach’s generational comedy.
The Water Diviner Russell Crowe digs into the past in his self-directed drama.
Altman Documentary celebration of the great American film-maker.
Blade Runner: The Final Cut One more edit for Ridley Scott’s towering sci-fi.
The Dark Horse Cliff Curtis plays a unlikely chess mentor to troubled Maori youths.
Kidnapping Freddy Heineken Dramatisation of a real Dutch kidnapping, starring Anthony Hopkins.
I Used To Live Here Irish drama on a teenage girl contemplating suicide.
Something Must Break Up-to-the-minute study of a Swedish relationship.
The Decent One Documentary shedding new light on Heinrich Himmler.
Hackney’s Finest Business as usual in the East End.
Coming soon
In two weeks... Keanu Reeves goes for the kill as John Wick… Definitive Kurt doc Cobain: Montage Of Heck…
In three weeks... Kate Winslet leads Alan Rickman’s A Little Chaos… Tom Hardy in Soviet murder thriller Child 44…
In a month... Superheroes reassemble for Avengers: Age Of Ultron… Carol Morley’s girls’ school drama The Falling…
