If you're heading to the cinema this weekend, make sure you check out our movie round-up of the latest releases before you part with your popcorn money.
The Magnificent Seven
Director: Antoine Fuqua
Starring: Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, Ethan Hawke, Vincent D'Onofrio, Byung-hun Lee, Manuel Garcia-Rulfo, Martin Sensmeier, Haley Bennett, Peter Sarsgaard, Luke Grimes
Remake fatigue becomes more powerful by the month and cynics would say that the number of people who are counting down the days until this shoot-em-up rides into town is six. Eight at a push.
Well, turns out that the reunion of Denzel Washington and Ethan Hawke with their Training Day/Brooklyn's Finest/The Equalizer director Antoine Fuqua is far better than most of the hyped-to-the-hilt team-ups of recent months - front and centre Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, X-Men: Apocalypse, Ghostbusters and Suicide Squad - and manages to cram some grit into the 12A cert.
The storyline relocates the action of the iconic 1960 Western from Mexico to post-Civil War Louisiana where robber baron Bogue (Peter Sarsgaard) gives the townspeople of Rose Creek a choice: a knockdown price for their land, or a free coffin. With her husband among the victims, Emma Cullen (Haley Bennett) takes a stand. Read Harry Guerin's full review here.
The Siege of Jadotville
Director: Richie Smyth
Starring: Jamie Dornan, Mark Strong, Jason O'Mara, Michael McElhatton, Amy Louise Wilson
The Siege of Jadotville is a superbly crafted true story about incredible feats of bravery when faced with the unimaginable.
Richie Smyth's eye-opening debut feature thrillingly depicts the remarkable story of 150 inexperienced Irish peacekeeping troops, who were posted to the Republic of the Congo in 1961.
With both sides of the Cold War vying for control of the mineral-rich area (minerals in the area included uranium used by the Americans in the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings), the Irish contingent proudly donned their blue hats to protect Belgian colonists and locals from Katangan forces. Read Laura Delaney's full review here.
The Girl With All the Gifts
Director: Colm McCarthy
Starring: Gemma Arterton, Sennia Nanua, Glenn Close, Paddy Considine, Dominique Tipper, Anamaria Marinca, Anthony Welsh , Lobna Futers
As a variation on hackneyed zombie fare, this vision of a dystopian near future starts out as a gripping horror thriller but somehow throws it all away in a silly third act.
With the same sense of dread as Alfonso Cuarón's adaptation of The Children of Men and mid-eighties BBC nuclear war doco-drama Threads, this adaptation of M.R. Carey’s book certainly chills and ratchets up the tension.
The first forty minutes are utterly riveting. Without any sense of exposition or explanation, we find ourselves in an army base in southern England where gifted children are held prisoner, trussed-up and restrained like seemingly benign Midwich Cuckoos. Sharpest and smartest among them is Melanie (impressive newcomer Sennia Nanua), a 10-year-old with a genius IQ who is the favourite of conflicted behavioural psychologist and base teacher, Miss Justineau (Arterton). Read Alan Corr's full interview here.
Dare To Be Wild
Director: Vivienne De Courcy
Starring: Emma Greenwell, Tom Hughes, Alex Macqueen, Janie Dee, Christine Marzano
Gosh! This is pretty. First-time director Vivienne De Courcy tells the true story of maverick Wexford garden designer Mary Reynolds, who, at the age of 27, became the youngest ever winner of a gold medal at the Chelsea Garden Show in 2002 with her Celtic sanctuary and back to nature design.
Dare to Be Wild cross-pollinates meditations on Gaia theory, Celtic Zen, and a kooky romance to fashion a likeable but clichéd film overdosing on saturated colours, clunky dialogue and characters who’ve strolled into view from central casting. No matter, just sit back and let those gorgeous views of Ireland and further afield wash over you. Read Alan Corr's full interview here.
