Hidden Figures (2016)
Genre: Drama
Certification: PG
Duration: 127 minutes
Directed by: Theodore Melfi
Starring: Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, Janelle Monáe, Kevin Costner, Kirsten Dunst, Jim Parsons
KRS Releasing Ltd

Based on the non-fiction book of the same name by Margot Lee Shetterly, Hidden Figures tells the story of African-American female mathematicians working at Nasa in the early 1960s.

At the centre of the plot are Katherine G. Johnson (Taraji P. Henson), Dorothy Vaughan (Octavia Spencer) and Mary Jackson (Janelle Monáe), brilliant women working at Nasa, who served as the brains behind one of the greatest operations in history: the launch of astronaut John Glenn into orbit, an achievement that restored the nation's confidence and turned around the Space Race – the 20th-century competition between the Cold Warrivals, the Soviet Union (USSR) and the US – for supremacy in spaceflight capability. The visionary trio crossed all  gender and race lines to inspire generations to dream big.

Also starring in the film are Kevin Costner as Al Harrison, director of the Space Task Group (STG) and Jim Parsons as Paul Stafford, head engineer at STG. Kirsten Dunst plays the role of a supervisor.

The film received very positive reviews and high ratings.

The critics’ consensus on Rotten Tomatoes reads: “In heartwarming, crowd-pleasing fashion, Hidden Figures celebrates overlooked – and crucial – contributions from a pivotal moment in American history.”

Catherine Shoard of The Guardian commented: “This biopic of the scientists behind John Glenn’s space flight is irresistibly uplifting.”

While Peter Debruge of Variety gave more in-depth insight: “Hidden Figures is empowerment cinema at its most populist and one only wishes that the film had existed at the time it depicts.”

Made on a $25 million budget, Hidden Figures has so far grossed $152.8 million in the US and Canada and $30 million in other territories for a worldwide gross of $182.8 million.

Ratings
IMDB: 7.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 92%
Empire: 4 stars

Hugh Jackman has lost strength but not his will for justice in Logan.

Logan (2017)
Genre: Action
Certification: 15
Duration: 137 minutes
Directed by: James Mangold
Starring: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Dafne Keen, Boyd Holbrook, Richard E. Grant
KRS Releasing Ltd

The 10th instalment in the X-Men film series follows a past-his-prime Logan, aka The Wolverine, as he undertakes a final adventure in the post-apocalyptic future.

In 1929, Logan (Hugh Jackman) is caring for an ailing Professor X in a hideout on the Mexican border. He does not have the same strength or abilities any longer. He works as a chauffeur, drinks to ease the pain and keeps a low profile.

But his attempts to hide from the world and his legacy are up-ended when a young mutant (Dafne Keen) arrives, being pursued by dark forces.

The film has been described as “sombre” and “elegiac”. It does not have as much CGI effects as previous X-Men movies, but gives more depth to its protagonist.

Director James Mangold spoke about his influences, including “visual reference points” of cinema: Shane (1953), The Cowboys (1972), Paper Moon (1973), The Gauntlet (1977), Little Miss Sunshine (2006) and The Wrestler (2008).

The film, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival in February, is opening in the US on Friday. But early reviews show promise.

“For the first time, the tension between Logan’s animalistic killer instinct and his struggle to just be a good, decent human being is explored in depth and at length,” wrote Dan Jolin of Empire.

Owen Gleiberman of Variety described it as “a scruffy dystopian road Western that takes its time in a way that most slam-bang superhero movies don’t”.

Sandy Schaefer of Screen Rant praised the film, saying: “X-Men movie franchise connections aside, Logan is a grisly and somber character drama that sends off Hugh Jackman’s Wolverine on a high note.”

Ratings
IMDB: 9.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 95%
Empire: 4 stars

Keanu Reeves returns as John Wick in John Wick: Chapter 2

John Wick: Chapter 2 (2016)
Genre: Crime
Certification: 15
Duration: 122 minutes
Directed by: Chad Stahelski
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Riccardo Scamarcio, Ian McShane, Ruby Rose, Common, Claudia Gerini, Laurence Fishburne, John Leguizamo, Bridget Moynahan
KRS Releasing Ltd

Keanu Reeves resumes his role as the legendary hitman John Wick, who is now forced back out of retirement by a former associate plotting to seize control of an international assassins’ guild.

Bound by a blood oath to help him, Wick must travel to Rome where he must face some of the world’s deadliest killers.

The film is on the verge of doubling the $43 million the first John Wick grossed in North America in 2014.  It has earned $51.1 million  in other territories, already above the $45.7 million foreign total of the original film.

The success is reflected in the film’s rave reviews.

Jeannette Catsoulis from The New York Times praises the film as “an altogether more solemn affair weighed down by the philosophy that more is always more”.

The Atlantic’s David Sims takes it a step further: “Chapter 2 justifies the existence of more Wick . It’s a lesson most Hollywood sequels could stand to learn.”

Chris Agar of Screen Rant agrees: “John Wick: Chapter 2 delivers plenty more of what fans want, while fleshing out the property's mythology and lore in fascinating ways.”

Ratings
IMDB: 8.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 90%
Empire: 4 stars