The Divergent Series: Allegiant (2016)
Genre: Sci-fi
Certification: 12A
Duration: 120 minutes
Directed by: Robert Schwentke
Starring: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Jeff Daniels, Octavia Spencer, Miles Teller, Naomi Watts
KRS Releasing Ltd
The first of a two-part finale to the Divergent franchise, based on the novels by US author Veronica Roth, has not earned very good reviews and made a dismal debut at the US box office.
The film is set in a post-apocalyptic Chicago where society is divided into five factions based on people’s personalities; wisdom, honesty, selflessness, kindness and bravery.
The events of Divergent and Insurgent have led to civil war, with two female leaders battling to govern the city.
Tris (Shailene Woodley) and a small group of friends break out of the compound of Chicago where they have lived all their lives and cross over the wall so she can save her brother Caleb from the death penalty. They learn shocking new truths that render old discoveries meaningless.
Amid destroyed lands, they discover an organisation with a chilling agenda, that established Chicago as an experiment to find someone who is “pure”, with attributes of all five factions.
As the ruthless battle threatens humanity, Tris and Four (Theo James) quickly decide who to trust to survive. Tris must ultimately make difficult choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice and love.
Directed by Robert Schwentke, who was behind the previous instalment, the film has earned $46.6 milllion, which according to Reuters, is a disappointing result that puts the studio in an uncomfortable position given that another sequel, Ascendant, is currently scheduled to debut in June 2017 when two other blockbusters are set to hit the big screen – World War Z 2 and a reboot of The Mummy.
Perhaps cinemagoers had read the critics’ reviews, which lambasted the film. Henry Barnes of The Guardian wrote: “The penultimate part of the Divergent franchise combines a weak plot with dull action and unappealing leads.”
Jesse Hassenger from A.V. Club said: “For an ongoing series about breaking free from categorisation, these movies really enjoy denying their characters forward momentum.”
And the critics consensus on Rotten Tomatoes says: “Allegiant improves on previous entries in the Divergent series on a few superficial levels but they aren’t enough to counteract a sense of growing boredom with a franchise that’s gone on too long.”
Ratings
IMDB: 6.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 11%
Empire Magazine: 2 stars
Julianne Moore (left) and Ellen Page are partners in Freeheld.Freeheld (2015)
Genre: Drama
Certification: 12A
Duration: 103 minutes
Directed by: Peter Sollett
Starring: Julianne Moore, Ellen Page, Steve Carrell, Michael Shannon, Josh Charles, Luke Grimes
KRS Releasing Ltd
Based on Cynthia Wade’s 2007 Oscar-winning short film of the same name, Freeheld tells the true story of a police officer, Laurel Hester, who battles to obtain justice.
Following her diagnosis with terminal lung cancer in 2005, Hester, played by Julianne Moore in this latest release, repeatedly appeals to the county’s board of chosen freeholders (officials) in an attempt to ensure her pension benefits can be passed on to her domestic partner, Stacie Andree (Ellen Page). However, these freeholders conspire to prevent Hester from doing this.
Detective Dane Wells (Michael Shannon), and activist Steven Goldstein (Steve Carrell), unite in Laurel and Stacie’s defence, rallying police officers and ordinary citizens to support their struggle for equality.
Despite the movie’s portrayal of what could be considered a highly significant battle, Freeheld received mixed reviews from critics.
In general, they commented that the film does not do justice to the real story and to the star cast.
Peter Travers from the Rolling Stone, in fact, commended the actors while simultaneously undercutting the movie overall: “If Freeheld cuts corners to get its point across, Moore and Page never do.”
On the other hand, Ann Hornaday stated in the Washington Post, that “Freeheld unsuccessfully strives but ultimately can’t compete with the far more compelling facts that inspired it”.
Although the film is set in New Jersey, it was filmed in New York due to its more generous tax incentives for film-makers. Filming began in October 2014 in Queens.
The score is by Hans Zimmer and Johnny Mar and includes a song by Miley Cyrus, titled Hands of Love.
Ratings
IMDB: 6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 47%
Empire Magazine: 3 stars
Chiwetel Ejiofor and Julia Roberts work hand in hand in Secret in their Eyes.Secret In Their Eyes (2015)
Genre: Thriller
Certification: 15
Duration: 111 minutes
Directed by: Billy Ray
Starring: Chiwetel Ejiofor , Julia Roberts, Nicole Kidman, Alfred Molina, Michael Kelly, Dean Norris
KRS Releasing Ltd
A tight-knit team of rising investigators – Ray (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Jess (Julia Roberts), along with their supervisor Claire (Nicole Kidman) – is suddenly torn apart when they discover that Jess's teenage daughter has been brutally and inexplicably murdered.
Now, 13 years later, after obsessively searching every day for the elusive killer, Ray finally uncovers a new lead that he's certain can permanently resolve the case and bring long-desired closure to his team.
No one is prepared, however, for the shocking, unspeakable secret that will reveal the enduring, destructive effects of personal vengeance on the human soul.
The film is based on an Argentine movie originally titled El secreto de sus Ojos by director Juan José Campanella, which was in turn based on a novel by Eduardo Sacheri. It won the best foreign language film at the Academy Awards in 2010.
However, writer-turned-director Billy Ray does not manage to replicate the original’s success.
Among others, critic Mark Kermode of The Guardian, wrote: “Chiwetel Ejiofor and Julia Roberts struggle to ignite this American remake of the Oscar-winning Argentinian crime thriller.”
The film has indeed fared poorly at the US box office with $20 million takings since its release in mid-January.
Ratings
IMDB: 6.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 39%
Empire Magazine: 2 stars