Game Night (2018)
Genre: Black comedy
Director: John Francis Daley, Jonathan Goldstein
Starring: Jason Bateman, Rachel McAdams, Kyle Chandler, Sharon Horgan, Billy Magnussen
Duration: 100 minutes
Class: 15
KRS Releasing Ltd

Film-making duo John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein – Horrible Bosses 1, 2, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone, Spider-Man: Homecoming (co-writers) – this time direct a black comedy.

The plot revolves around Max (Jason Bateman) and Annie (Rachel McAdams) whose weekly game night gets kicked up a notch when Max’s brother Brooks (Kyle Chandler) arranges a murder mystery party – complete with fake thugs and federal agents.

So when Brooks gets kidnapped, it is all supposed to be part of the game. As the competitors set out to solve the case, they start to learn that neither the game nor Brooks are what they seem to be. The friends soon find themselves over their heads as each twist leads to another unexpected turn over the course of one chaotic night.

The film has received very good reviews, with critics praising the dark humour and the cast.

Amy West of Empire magazine wrote: “With its clever, whip-smart script and enthusiastic ensemble cast firing on all cylinders, crime comedy film-makers John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein score big with Game Night.”

Michael Ordona of Common Sense Media fully agreed. He commented: “This hilarious gonzo comedy has a sharp script, clever direction and an excellent cast.”

And the critics’ consensus on Rotten Tomatoes sums it all up:  “With a talented cast turned loose on a loaded premise – and a sharp script loaded with dark comedy and unexpected twists – Game Night might be more fun than the real thing.”

However, beware: “This is an action-comedy hybrid with violence and gore that will no doubt make squeamish viewers wince,” said Stephanie Merry of the Washington Post.

Made on a production budget of $37 million, the film has so far grossed $49.5 million since its release over the weekend.

Ratings
IMDB: 7.5
Rotten Tomatoes: 81%
Empire: 4 stars

Jennifer Lawrence turns into a dangerous secret agent in Red Sparrow.Jennifer Lawrence turns into a dangerous secret agent in Red Sparrow.

Red Sparrow (2018)
Genre: Thriller
Director: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton, Matthias Schoenaerts, Charlotte Rampling, Mary-Louise Parker, Ciaran Hinds, Jeremy Irons, Joely Richardson
Duration: 139 minutes
Class: 15
KRS Releasing Ltd

The spy thriller film, based on the novel of the same name by Jason Matthews, revolves around Dominika Egorova (Jennifer Lawrence), a prima ballerina who faces a bleak and uncertain future after she suffers an injury that ends her career.

She soon turns to Sparrow School, a secret intelligence service that trains exceptional young people to use their minds and bodies as weapons.

After becoming the most dangerous Sparrow, she comes across a CIA agent who tries to convince her that he is the only person she can trust.

The film, featuring an all-star ensemble cast and directed by Francis Lawrence (who was behind three of the four Hunger Games), received average reviews.

Ben Travis of Empire wrote: “With an uncompromising attitude to complex plotting and graphic content, Red Sparrow is a promising beginning to a potential new spy franchise. Just be aware of its unexpectedly barbed edges.”

But  Jeffrey M. Anderson of Common Sense Media was much less impressed, describing the film  as an attempt at “a complex, sexy thriller, but the result is airless, mopey and dull”.

The $69 million production has made $46 million since its release last week.

Ratings
IMDB: 6.7/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 50%
Empire: 3 stars

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