The Mountain between US (2017)
Genre: Drama
Director: Hany Abu-Assad
Starring: Idris Elba, Kate Winslet, Beau Bridges, Dermot Mulroney, Vincent Gale
Duration: 103 minutes
Class: 12A
KRS Releasing Ltd

The 2017 romance survival film is based on the novel of the same name by Charles Martin.

Stranded on a mountain after a plane crash, two strangers must work together to endure the extreme elements of the snow-covered terrain. They decide to embark on a dangerous journey across hundreds of kilometres of wildnerness, pushing each other to survive and discovering their inner strength.

The film, by Israeli director Hany Abu-Assad,  received mixed reviews, with critics praising the main protagonists but not the plot.  Jonathan Pile of Empire magazine was quite pleased with it. He wrote: “Two compelling leads and a mix of adventure and romance. It’s a pleasant experience, if not one that will linger long in the memory.”

However, Peter Debruge of Variety said: “A perfect title for a movie in which neither the subzero temperature nor the romantic heat penetrates more than skin-deep.”

Chris Agar of Screen Rant was of the same opinion: “Winslet and Elba give it their all, but The Mountain Between Us is an absurd and forgettable affair that leaves little impact with viewers.”

The $35 million budget film has so far grossed $14 million worldwide on its opening weekend.

Ratings
IMDB: 6.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 44%
Empire: 3 stars

The Snowman (2017)
Genre: Crime thriller
Director: Thomas Alfredson
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Rebecca Ferguson, Chloë Sevigny, Val Kilmer, J.K. Simmons, Charlotte Gainsbourg
Duration: 119 minutes
Class: N/A
KRS Releasing Ltd

Michael Fassbender plays a detective from a Norwegian bestselling novel in The Snowman.

Based on the novel of the same name by Norwegian crime author Jo Nesbø, the film revolves around detective Harry Hole (Michael Fassbender) who investigates the death of a young woman during the first snowfall of winter. His investigation leads him to ‘The Snowman Killer’, an elusive sociopath who continuously taunts Hole with cat-and-mouse games.

The film, shot entirely on location in Norway, has premiered in Oslo yesterday to poor reviews, with critics saying that it lacks  the page-turning characteristics ofthe bestselling book and contains many dramatic changes in the plot.

The film opens internationally and in Malta on Friday.

Ratings
IMDB: 7.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes: N/A
Empire: N/A