Out on Friday 29 May
The Rock (and his eyebrow) versus an earthquake. Lake Bell risks a blind date with Simon Pegg. Cobie Smulders jogs towards a love triangle. Yes, heres this weeks new releases. Click on for our reviews of San Andreas, Man Up, Results, Danny Collins, Search Party, Sword Of Vengeance, The Goob, The Dead Lands, The Connection and Timbuktu. For the best movie reviews, subscribe to Total Film.
SAN ANDREAS
After Roland Emmerich totalled everything in 2012, is escalation still a viable option for disaster-blasters? If not, director Brad Peyton (Journey 2: The Mysterious Island) missed the memo. While The Impossible (2012) proved that an up-close spin on the genre can flay the emotions, Peytons dutiful carnival of pixel-packing destruction is so dutiful that even a cruise-liner dive-bombing San Francisco draws little but been-there/done-the-trailer yawns. And for all his likeable-lug appeal, Dwayne Johnson isnt exactly the John Cusack-ish grounding influence required. The Rock is chiselled from old action stone as Ray, a rescue chopper pilot with emo-scars that old faithful, a lost child. And just to twist the knife, his estranged wife Emma (Carla Gugino), with daughter Blake (Alexandra Daddario), is shacking up with a man whos barely a man: Ioan Gruffudds Daniel doesnt have kids or muscles like mutant melons, so hes doomed long before the shit hits the San Andreas Fault. Which isnt that long: blink and youll miss Kylie Minogues cameo. The fan/poop interface arrives fast, Peyton and writer Carlton Cuse dodging the ensemble work of classic disaster movies in favour of sonic-boom action a canyon rescue, Hoover Dam horrors and a 2012-ish fractured-family focus. After the first quake slams LA, a reunited-in-crisis Ray and Emmas choppy quest to find Blake cues some cheerfully ludicrous set-pieces, from a rooftop rescue to a copter crash designed for rollercoaster 3D thrills (we saw in 2D). But the quest leans heavily on signposted ironies, rushed pacing and cheap get-outs: as Ray finds yet another conveniently placed vehicle to commandeer, itll be your groans making the earth move. Like his chopper in one rescue scene, Johnsons career is stuck in HOV(er) mode here, though he gets sturdy back-up from Daddario as his agreeably capable daughter and Australias Hugo Johnstone-Burt as her buddy-in-crisis, a comedy Englishman speaking authentic Hugh Grant-lish. But that cheesy script, disaster-movie standard or not, does them few favours. No matter how hard the CGI huffs for a bigger second quake, its hard to get pulled in when, facing a 50ft tsunami, Johnson has to sell lines like, I see it! Despite being sidelined in the wise scientist role, it falls to the over-qualified Paul Giamatti to speak the only salient words. People need to know that we can predict these things now, he says of quake threats. Lack of miraculous dog rescue aside, San Andreas holds no surprises. THE VERDICT: Less a Rock-buster than a quakenbake reheat of post-Emmerich basics. The casts likeable work falls right through the script holes. Director: Brad Peyton Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Carla Gugino, Alexandra Daddario, Paul Giamatti, Hugo Johnstone-Burt Theatrical release: 29 May 2015 Kevin Harley
MAN UP
Four Weddings And A Funeral, Bridget Joness Diary, er For whatever reason, Brits dont do romantic comedies too often or too well, especially if you remove Richard Curtis and Hugh Grant from the equation. Which makes Man Up all the more welcome. With heart, laughs and honesty in abundance, its writer, Tess Morris, clearly knows and loves the genre. This last is important: highlighting the rules and clichs of your tale is one thing; its quite another to do so without disappearing up your own smart arse. The set-up is pure romcom: fortysomething Jack (Simon Pegg) goes on a blind date with thirtysomething Nancy (Lake Bell), only he doesnt know that shes Nancy, or in her 30s, because he thinks that shes Jessica (Ophelia Lovibond), in her 20s, who Nancys just met on the train before impulsively stealing her date. The mismatched duo hits the town to have a ball that gets screwier as the night goes on Directed with unostentatious pep by Ben Palmer (The Inbetweeners Movie), much of Man Up is a guy and a gal, walking and talking or, in the case of a stand-out scene set in a Mexican cantina, screaming, dancing and damn near wrecking the joint. Their chemistry fizzes, with Pegg looser than weve previously seen him and Bell nailing a lovable goof with deeper dimensions than many of the kooks written by men. What good are repartee, farce and pratfalls without pain, vulnerability and strength to ground them? With Morris freely confessing that Man Up is comprised of her own dating experiences married to her unashamed love of a good romcom to snuggle up to, the keyword here is commitment. If you like it, put a ring of truth on it. THE VERDICT: Not up there with key US influences Annie Hall, When Harry Met Sally and Jerry Maguire, but a romcom Brits can be proud of. Make a date of it. Director: Ben Palmer Starring: Simon Pegg, Lake Bell, Olivia Williams, Rory Kinnear, Ken Stott Theatrical release: 29 May 2015 Jamie Graham
RESULTS
One of the better things to come out of mumblecore the noughties wave of lo-fi indie films where hip, white 20-somethings mostly struggled with the angst of being hip, white twentysomethings was the eccentric talent of writer/director Andrew Bujalski, best known for 2002 breakout Funny Ha Ha and 2013s quasi-mockumentary Computer Chess. His latest marks a well-deserved commercial leap: a relationship comedy-drama that sees Bujalski at his most refined, with a sleeker look, a more adult script and actual professional actors. Kevin Corrigan stars as the recently divorced and newly rich Danny, a beer-bellied stoner whose sudden motivation to get into shape sees him falling for his acerbic trainer, Kat (Cobie Smulders), which doesnt go down too well with her gym-owner boss and ex Trevor (Guy Pearce), a beefcake who believes in exercise as a force for emotional change as well as physical. So far, you may think, so romcom, but Results is unmistakably a Bujalski film, proving neither sentimental enough for the rom, and only played for the wryest of com (Danny paying a random guy $200 to turn his TV on). Instead, the trios lives are entwined in a naturalistic style that flows unconventionally; meandering but not draggy. The believably flawed, endearingly erratic characters ricochet off one another, forming an unlikely friendship (especially Danny and Trevor) that is more about learning to love themselves than anyone else. Though the wrap-up is the stuff of traditional romcoms, Results hews close to the qualities subversion of genre, focus on character that first defined mumblecore. Its just that here, much like in fellow alumni Joe Swanbergs terrific Drinking Buddies, its finally given the budget to speak up a bit. THE VERDICT: Both body and soul get a workout in a relationship comedy that sees indie talent Bujalski enter a new weight class. Director: Andrew Bujalski Starring: Guy Pearce, Cobie Smulders, Kevin Corrigan, Giovanni Ribisi, Brooklyn Decker Theatrical release: 29 May 2015 Stephen Kelly
DANNY COLLINS
Al Pacino brings all of his post-Scent Of A Woman baggage to the role of Danny Collins, a washed-up rocker whos become a parody of his former self. And while seeing the little big man shimmy-shake on stage and croak behind a grand piano is frankly disturbing, there can be no doubt that Pacino understands what it is to feel debilitated as an artist; that he chooses to share those feelings is both courageous and, it seems, reinvigorating, for this is his best performance for longer than anyone would care to remember. With a third volume of his greatest hits newly released and a cash-in tour underway, Danny is gifted a belated wakeup call in the form of a letter from John Lennon. Written more than 40 years ago, when Collins was a Dylan-esque singer-songwriter on the cusp of stardom, it warns of the pitfalls of fame. (This really did happen to English folk singer Steve Tilston; a caption at the start of the movie tells us its Kind of based on a true story a little bit.) Just like that, Danny ditches the tour, the drugs and the age-inappropriate relationship, instead checking in to the New Jersey Hilton to write new material and visit the estranged son (Bobby Cannavale, revelatory) he had with a groupie. The directing debut of screenwriter Dan Fogelman (Last Vegas, (Crazy, Stupid, Love,), Danny Collins is a familiar redemption drama built upon a bassline of clichs but played with enough dexterity to cheer crowds. Its hardly an interior turn from Pacino, who turns up the charisma for often comic effect, but theres enough introspective quietude to render a larger-than-life star (be it Collins or Pacino) human, and theres much to be said for bouncing off a terrific support cast that includes Jennifer Garner, Annette Bening and Christopher Plummer. Be warned, though: Dannys signature anthem Hey, Baby Doll is an unshakeable earworm. Bring earplugs for the gig scenes. THE VERDICT: Hits all the routine beats but is plenty entertaining, with Pacino rediscovering his enviable pizazz to headline a quality ensemble. Director: Dan Fogelman Starring: Al Pacino, Bobby Cannavale, Annette Bening, Christopher Plummer, Jennifer Garner Theatrical release: 29 May 2015 Jamie Graham
SEARCH PARTY
Nardo (Thomas Middleditch) is a jumpy guy whose wedding to Tracy (Shannon Woodward) is sabotaged by his idiot friends (T.J. Miller, Adam Pally). To win her back, Nardo travels to Mexico, where he is naturally shanghaied by a drug cartel led by a cotton-ball-bearded kingpin (J.B. Smoove). His pals rush to his rescue; goofy pitfalls ensue. This train-wreck of a comedy torpedoes a stellar cast of bright young comic actors (including Alison Brie and Krysten Ritter) with leaden dialogue and a plot that desperately wants to remind you of The Hangover. Youll definitely want to watch The Hangover instead. Director: Scot Armstrong Starring: Thomas Middleditch, T.J. Miller, Adam Pally, Alison Brie Theatrical release: 29 May 2015 Ken McIntyre
SWORD OF VENGEANCE
Revenge is a dish served tepid in Jim Weedons action flick, which re-imagines the Norman conquest of England in the style of a low-budget samurai epic. Set in the 11th century, it follows the violent efforts of mysterious stranger Shadow Walker (Stanley Weber), who wants to exact vengeance on ruthless ruler of the north Earl Durant (Karel Roden). Bringing the mindless but forgetting the fun, its a simple story terribly told. Hammy lines like Vengeance is my only belief prove passable in the genre framework, but some stylish action scenes are let down by a brutal lack of pace. Director: Jim Weedon Starring: Stanley Weber, Annabelle Wallis, Ed Skrien, David Legeno, Karel Roden, Edward Akrout, Gianna Giardinelli Theatrical release: 29 May 2015 Stephen Kelly
THE GOOB
Like its teen hero, Guy Myhills earthy coming-of-ager suffers from uncertain direction but brims with life and vigour. All free-range limbs and pent-up energies, Liam Walpole is great as Goob, a school-leaver chafing with mums (Sienna Guillory) loverman (Sean Harris, oozing menace) in Norfolks dead-end fens, land of caffs and stock-car racing. The flatlands loom like an open prison; dance scenes provide brief cathartic release. If the episodic plot never finds its groove, Myhills evocations of place, people and mood offer rugged compensations Director: Guy Myhill Starring: Liam Walpole, Sean Harris, Sienna Guillory Theatrical release: 29 May 2015 Kevin Harley
THE DEAD LANDS
Pre-colonisation Maori culture gets its own Apocalypto in this fun revenge flick and if it cant match up to Mad Mels super-slaughter, theres still plenty to recommend. The central thrust a boy seeking justice after his tribe is destroyed sounds boilerplate and is, until the boy teams up with a warrior whose tribe has also been lost, under darker circumstances. Forays into mysticism dent the credibility, and a midpoint hangout with a female warrior stops things dead, but the authentic Maori martial arts are a sight to behold and the haka will never not be cool. Director: Toa Fraser Starring: James Rolleston, Lawrence Makoare, Te Kohe Tuhaka Theatrical release: 29 May 2015 Andrew Lowry
THE CONNECTION
The original title, La French, reveals the subject of Cdric Jiminezs crime thriller: the lesser-known Marseilles end of the 70s heroin trade that made Popeye Doyle and William Friedkin famous. Jean Dujardin plays the real-life magistrate obsessed with bringing down Gilles Lellouches Mob kingpin, allowing Jiminez to combine cat-and-mouse procedural, cross-cut slayings and Serpico-style character study. In truth, theres nothing here that wasnt done better at the time but the film brings enough energy and period ambience to maintain interest in its fascinating, complex story. Director: Cedric Jimenez Starring: Jean Dujardin, Giles Lellouche Theatrical release: 29 May 2015 Simon Kinnear
TIMBUKTU
Set during the Jihadist takeover of northern Mali in 2012, Timbuktu sees the fragile peace of the titular city fall apart when a shepherds cow becomes entangled in a fishermans net. From such a small beginning ripples a wave of violence as Islamic zealots tighten their stranglehold via guns and a hard-to-watch stoning. Refusing to demonise, sanitise or trade in platitudes, writer-director Abderrahmane Sissako swerves gratuitous bloodshed yet offers head-on impact, while theres a beauty and frequent poetry that cannot distract from the cruelty and desperation. Worth every grimace. Director: Abderrahmane Sissako Starring: Ibrahim Ahmed, Abel Jafri, Toulou Kiki Theatrical release: 29 May 2015 Jamie Graham
