The Post (2017)
Genre: Drama
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Sarah Paulson, Matthew Ryhs, Bruce Greenwood, Alison Brie
Duration: 116 minutes
Class: 12A
KRS Releasing Ltd
After the children’s film The BFG, director Steven Spielberg returns with a historical political thriller set in the 1970s.
The plot follows Katharine Graham (Meryl Streep), the first female publisher of a major American newspaper, The Washington Post. With help from editor Ben Bradlee (Tom Hanks), Graham races to catch up with The New York Times to publish the Pentagon Papers, classified documents regarding undisclosed information about the involvement of the US government in the Vietnam War. This massive cover-up of government secrets spanned three decades and four US presidents. Together, Bradlee and Graham must overcome their differences as they risk their careers – and freedom – to help bring long-buried truths to light.
The film has been chosen by the National Board of Review as the best film of 2017 and was named one of the top 10 films of the year by Time and the American Film Institute. It was nominated for six Golden Globe awards and yesterday earned an Oscar nomination for best picture. Critics loved it, especially the two main protagonists and actor Bob Odenkirk as Armenian-American journalist Ben Bagdikian, who persuaded the Post to publish parts of the Pentagon Papers despite objections and threats from the Nixon administration. Reviewers also noted how relevant the story is today.
Sandie Angulo Chen of Common Sense Media wrote: “Streep and Hanks shine in Spielberg’s timely defence of the press and its freedom to expose corruption, even when it implicates or embarrasses those in political power.”
Joe Morgenstern of the Wall Street Journal was equally pleased. He said: “It’s a great story told well, for the most part, and exceptionally well through Meryl Streep’s Katharine Graham, the Post’s publisher.”
And the critics’ consensus on Rotten Tomatoes sums it all up: “The Post's period setting belies its bitingly timely themes, brought compellingly to life by director Steven Spielberg and an outstanding ensemble cast.”
The film, which had a production budget of $50 million, has raked in circa $55 million worldwide since its release in the US on December 22.
Ratings
IMDB: 7.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 88%
Empire: 4 stars
Vera Farmiga draws Liam Neeson into a dangerous game in The Commuter.The Commuter (2018)
Genre: Action
Directors: Jaume Collet-Serra
Starring: Liam Neeson, Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Jonathan Banks, Sam Neill,
Elizabeth McGovern
Duration: 105 minutes
Class: 15
KRS Releasing Ltd
Liam Neeson is back with another action film. This time he plays an insurance salesman called Michael who commutes daily to work. After being contacted by a mysterious stranger (Vera Farmiga), Michael is forced to uncover the identity of a hidden passenger on the train before the last stop. As he works against the clock to solve the puzzle, he realises a deadly plan is unfolding and he is unwittingly caught up in a criminal conspiracy that carries life and death stakes for everyone on the train.
The film, by Spanish director Jaume Collet-Serra (The Shallows, Unknown, Run All Night) has been criticised for its lack of a cohesive narrative. Some critics still liked the action but others definitely not.
Rajesh Naidu of The Economic Times called it a “neat family entertainer” and wrote: “The film works because of a solid performance by Neeson and his able supporting cast. The action scenes are choreographed and shot with gripping authenticity that almost pulls the viewer into the film.”
On the other hand, Edward Porter of the Sunday Times (UK), wrote: “Action movies aren’t always meant to be credible, but here the nonsense level is too destabilising.”
David Vilner of the Daily Mail described it as “a crazed modern hybrid of Murder on the Orient Express and Strangers on a Train, with a plot that grows less credible with every forward chug”.
The film has, however, fared fairly well at the box office since its release on January 12, grossing $36 million worldwide.
Ratings
IMDB: 6.5/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 57%
Empire: 3 stars
Matt Damon and Kristen Wiig take a drastic measure to start a new life in Downsizing.Downsizing (2017)
Genre: Comedy
Directors: Alexander Payne
Starring: Matt Damon, Christoph Waltz, Hong Chau, Kristen Wiig
Duration: 135 minutes
Class: 15
KRS Releasing Ltd
Matt Damon takes on a comic role in the latest film by Alexander Payne (Nebraska, The Descendants, Sideways).
When scientists discover how to shrink humans to five inches tall as a solution to overpopulation, Paul (Matt Damon) and his wife Audrey (Kristen Wiig) decide to abandon their stressed lives in order to get small and move to a new downsized community – a choice that triggers life-changing adventures.
The film was not very well received. Chris Agar of Screen Rant wrote: “Downsizing does the bare minimum with its out-of-the-box concept, telling a story that’s dull and uninteresting in execution.”
David Sims of The Atlantic was not happy about Payne’s film and commented about the director: “His typically acid wit and subtle gift for quiet demonstrations of empathy have seemingly been shrunk to microscopic size in this film.”
The critics’ consensus on Rotten Tomatoes was somehow more positive: “Downsizing assembles a talented cast in pursuit of some truly interesting ideas – which may be enough for some audiences to forgive the final product’s frustrating shortcomings.”
The $68 million film has so far grossed $37.3 million worldwide since its release on December 22.
Ratings
IMDB: 5.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 50%
Empire: N/A