New releases
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol is full of spirit
Ghost Protocol is a ridiculous piece of confection, but it is also one of the most vigorously enjoyable films to have been released in a long time. It’s not going to change your life, but it might just put a big, fat, shit-eating grin on your face.
By Dublo, published on 27 January 2012
Slaying the dragon: The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is everything you could hope for in an adaptation of the novel. Those that feared an American remake would be an abuse of the novels and the films should have expected more from Salander – she wouldn’t let them get away with that now, would she?
By Dublo, published on 10 January 2012
Hugo let down by Sacha Baron Cohen
The good stuff is so good that one hesitates to describe this as a misstep, writes Alex Larman, but Sacha Baron Cohen’s performance is certainly not part of the “good stuff”.
By Alex Larman, published on 7 December 2011
Jane Eyre has panache
Cary Fukunaga’s new adaptation of Jane Eyre gets a difficult and often inconsistent book about right, and does so with cinematic panache and the welcome feeling that something entirely new has been brought to bear on it.
By Alex Larman, published on 2 November 2011
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy leaves us Smiley
The premiere of Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy this week in London was notable for two reason: firstly, it resulted in a rare public appearance by John le Carré. Secondly, and even rarer, it saw one of The Guide’s contributors stay sober enough, long enough to actually return from an event with some recollection of what they’d experienced. Thus, Alex Larman is able to deliver his verdict. Can Oldman out-Smiley Guinness?
By Alex Larman, published on 15 September 2011
One Day is a smart, literate romantic drama
The film of One Day proves to be a smart, literate romantic drama that’s true to both the spirit and, when necessary, the letter of the book. This is high-quality entertainment, superbly well-written and well-judged, and thankfully it does the book justice.
By Alex Larman, published on 23 August 2011
Bridesmaids take too long to climax
This week, we’ve sent the only man willing to entertain the thought of it to see a chick-flick. Alex Larman has spent a couple of hours with Kristen Wiig’s Bridesmaids. He returns entertained – but wishing the whole experience had come to a swifter conclusion. We should have warned him: with bridesmaids, it was ever thus.
By Alex Larman, published on 22 June 2011
Matthew Vaughan delivers his First Class
After a so-so opening to the blockbuster season in 2011, it’s a pleasant relief to report that Matthew Vaughn’s X-Men: First Class lives up to the hype. It’s not just a good superhero film or summer film, it’s a good piece of cinema, full stop says Alex Larman.
By Alex Larman, published on 26 May 2011
Hannah and Joe get spanked
Alex Larman reckons that Joe Wright’s Hannah suffers from a fatal sensation of déjà vu and ultimately it gets its ass kicked by an 11 year old girl. Ouch. That’s gotta hurt.
By Alex Larman, published on 20 May 2011
Kenneth Branagh didn’t screw up Thor
Alex Larman has been to see Thor for us. And the highest praise he can give the new blockbuster is that, paradoxically, it doesn’t feel like a Kenneth Branagh film.
By Alex Larman, published on 16 May 2011
