GOD’S POCKET ***
THE EXPENDABLES 3 ***
Dir: John Slattery (15, 90 mins)
The late Philip Seymour Hoffman shines as ever in this dark comedy from Mad
Men star John Slattery. Based on Pete Dexter’s novel, set in a tight knit community
in 1970s Philadelphia, Hoffman plays the stepdad of construction worker nutcase
Caleb Landry Jones. When Jones meets with a nasty accident it sets in motion
a murderous chain of events. Hoffman is scared of telling his wife Christina
Hendricks about what really happened to her son, as he tries to move his dead
body around town and his gambling debts increase.
Also peopling the heavyweight cast are Richard Jenkins as a washed-up journalist
who patronisingly romanticises his run-down beat, Eddie Marsan as an angry
funeral home director and John Turturro as a smalltime thief. Director Slattery
creates a scuzzy milieu for all of these characters but, despite some powerhouse
acting, the film never fully engages. All the characters are down at heel and stuck
and it is hard to find someone to root for amidst a colourful but underwhelming
rogue’s gallery. Opens Aug 8
Dir: Patrick Hughes (12A, 100 mins)
A supposed final fling for the geriatric action heroes, this round of Expendables
is certainly pushing up the star wattage and cutting down on the nastier violence.
Alongside Sly, Arnie and the Stath are Harrison Ford, Antonio Banderas, MMA
fighters Ronda Rousey, Wesley fresh-out-of-jail Snipes,