Not had a lot of time to do my reviews recently, so here's four for the price of one (spoiler alert, they're all good).
Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them:
After the disaster that was The Cursed Child (don't argue with me on this, it was shit) I was very sceptical about returning to the Harry Potter universe with this film documenting the adventures of Newt Scamander, writer of the titular textbook. However, this film exceeded expectations from beginning to end. Lighter in tone than the latter Potter films, Fantastic Beast's brings the sense of optimistic wonder that was present in Columbus' early franchise efforts, while also fusing in some pretty sophisticated analysis of minority experience within society (particularly in the cases of sexuality and race). David Yates once again proves that he is the only director that should be allowed anywhere near this series, while JK Rowling's one of a kind imagination builds on the mythos of this world that we have come to love. Some dodgy dialogue and pacing issues aside, this is a really fun film that the whole family would enjoy. Potter fans, you're in for a treat.
Score: 8.6/10
Nocturnal Animals:
With Nocturnal Animals, Tom Ford gives us a stylised thriller that will have the audience guessing from start to finish. The best thing about this film by far is the strength of its writing. Juggling past, present, fiction and reality, the non-linear structure never once confuses or muddles the film, and the complex plot flows like an unobstructed springtime stream. The cinematography is stunning, and the way Ford uses colour in this film is an achievement in itself. Amy Adams and Jake Gillenhall both shine, but it is the supporting players who steal the show here, with Michael Shannon and Aaron Taylor Johnston both delivering heavyweight performances. A strong contender for a screenwriting nomination at this year's Oscars, expect this effort to be talked about a lot heading into awards season.
Score: 8.8/10
Arrival:
Wow.
That was the first word out of my mouth after I seen Arrival, which might be the best film I've seen so far this year. Every individual element of this film comes together so well, from its use of sound and its impressive visual effects, to its pitch perfect pacing and incredibly clever story. Amy Adams is great again, with her roles in both this and the aforementioned Nocturnal Animals cementing her status as one of Hollywood's best leading ladies. I won't say much else because it's best you go into this movie knowing as little as possible, but what you should know is that it is director Denis Villeneuve's best film to date, which is impressive considering his previous filmography includes Prisoners and Sicario. A sure fire contender for Best Picture, this is the best sci-fi film of the decade by a considerable distance.
Score: 9.3/10
Doctor Strange:
Doctor Strange is a typical superhero origin story. It follows the "Marvel formula" to a tee and is very heavy in exposition in terms of introducing the audience to both the character and this magical realm of the MCU. The acting is decent, Benedict Cumberbatch has a good presence as Doctor Strange, and Tilda Swinton actually brings some unexpected pathos to her role as "The Ancient One". The plot does have a refreshing resolution that distinguishes it from other superhero efforts, but in saying this it is more of the less the "abra-kadabra" version of Iron Man. What makes Doctor Strange worth seeing is its exceptional special effects work, quite possibly the best I've seen since Inception. The way the filmmakers play with the dimensions of space is extraordinary, and it helps to elevate an average film into a good one.
Score: 7.9/10
