Emma Thompson
Missing Link
By: Trevor Chartrand Animation studio Laika Entertainment has a reputation for dark and brooding content with releases like Corpse Bride (2005) or Coraline (2009), but this year’s Missing Link breaks their mold as a fun-for-most-ages adventure story.
Beauty and the Beast
Passive-aggressive movie goers could easily lump Disney’s live-action rendition of Beauty and the Beast with the studio’s recent catalogue of modern facelifts (Alice in Wonderland, Maleficent, Cinderella, The Jungle Book). After all, it’s a current trend that’s obviously working for them. According to a recent Collider article, there are 13 remakes/retellings either currently in the shop or enduring early stages of production.
Alone in Berlin
While I’m completely aware that Alone in Berlin is based on a true story, I’m afraid Vincent Perez’s big-screen adaptation is thin and tedious. There’s not enough here for the director/co-writer to flesh out, and likewise for the talented leading cast (Brendan Gleeson, Emma Thompson, Daniel Brühl).
The Legend of Barney Thomson
Robert Carlyle has proven to be an astonishing actor from his memorable work in The Full Monty, Trainspotting, and California Solo. Though The Legend of Barney Thomson allows the actor to return to his Trainspotting-esque wildness, it’s unfortunate that his first attempt at directing a feature film isn’t quite so flawless.