film by Keiron Self
THE HANGOVER PART III ***
Dir : Todd Phillips ( 15 , 128 mins ) The Wolfpack return in this possible flogging-a-dead-horse sequel . After the massive disappointment that was the Hangover II , our motley crew return to Vegas because that ’ s where they were all funnier in the first film . Bradley Cooper , Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis all return as the trio , with other friend Justin Bartha still on the sidelines . There ’ s the welcome return of Heather Graham as the initial object of Ed Helms ’ affections , Ken Jeong as a parachuting Mr Chow and John Goodman on tough baddie duties . There ’ s also a giraffe . Let ’ s hope that now all three main players are stars of considerable clout , especially Cooper , more attention will be paid to the script and this won ’ t be a simple lazy rehash of schtick like part II was . The signs are good , as apparently the template has been changed by director / writers Todd Phillips and Craig Mazin and there ’ s an emphasis on this being the final milking of a surprise cash cow for all involved . The Vegas setting , Galifianakis on surreal form , Bridesmaids ’ Melissa McCarthy cameoing : this hopefully will be an entertaining send off for the Wolfpack and not an exercise in greed . Opens May 24
THE GREAT GATSBY ****
Dir : Baz Luhrmann ( 12A , 128 mins )
Director Baz Luhrmann turns his subtle ( not camp at all ) eye to one of the great books of 20th century literature , F . Scott Fitzgerald ’ s The Great Gatsby . It ’ s 1922 , Tobey Maguire plays Nick Carraway , a man drawn into the sphere of Long Island socialite and enigma Jay Gatsby , Leonardo Di Caprio . Initially smitten with this lavish world , Carraway soon sees that all that glitters is not gold and Gatsby ’ s riches cannot bring him everything he desires . Carey Mulligan plays Daisy , Gatsby ’ s cousin and the object of his affection , who is unfortunately married to abusive husband Tom Buchanan – played by Joel Edgerton . Their tragic love story unfolds in front of Carraway with devastating results . As this is a Baz Luhrmann film , expect some anachronistic pop music , too . Visually splendid , as you ’ d expect from the Australian director , this Gatsby is eye-poppingly beautiful and luckily it has some strong actors anchoring the visual excesses with DiCaprio , Maguire and Edgerton . Mulligan also has the acting chops to pull off her troubled heroine , amidst the hyper-stylised sunsets and fireworks . Like most Luhrmann films this is bound to polarise , but he is a director of undoubted visual daring , hopefully , unlike the longwinded Australia , this will chime with the subject matter and not be too distracting . Opens May 10
BYZANTIUM ***
Dir : Neil Jordan ( 15 , 118 mins ) An atmospheric , if not entirely enthralling vampire thriller , from Neil Jordan who previously helmed Interview With A Vampire which has great performances from mother and daughter bloodsuckers Gemma Arterton and Saoirse Ronan . Fleeing from the city to a run-down coastal town after being chased by a mysterious man , Arterton and Ronan try to fit into their new locale . Arterton sets herself up as a brothel madam in the hotel Byzantium , whilst Ronan enrols in a writing class and falls for Caleb Landry Jones ’ teenage leukaemia sufferer . It turns out that this is the town where they were both turned into vampires , although they are fangless and can walk about in daylight in this incarnation ; they just have sharp retractable fingernails for vein gouging . A classy , haunting tale with some startling imagery , Byzantium never quite catches fire but is still a welcome alternative to the anaemic Twilight saga . Opens May 31
EPIC ***
Dir : Chris Wedge ( PG , 90 mins ) The team behind the Ice Age films return with another CGI blend of action , humour and star-wattage . Pity the story isn ’ t that engaging . Teenage girl Mary Katherine ( voiced by Amanda Seyfreid ) finds herself shrunk down to fairy size in the forest near her father ’ s house . She then becomes embroiled in a battle between good and evil over the protection of the natural world between heroes like Colin Farrell ’ s elvish Ronin , Josh Hutcherson ’ s Nod , and Christoph Waltz ’ s dastardly Mandrake . Naturally there are also comedy slugs , bird chases , Beyonce and gloriously rendered backdrops . Visually fantastic , the story is unfortunately a little bland , surrendering to well-worn teen character arcs and plotting amidst the splendour . It has little of the edge and charm of the first Ice Age , and although it may raise the odd chuckle , this Epic doesn ’ t satisfy . Opens May 22
I ’ M SO EXCITED ***
Dir : Pedro Almodovar ( 15 , 90 mins ) Spanish auteur film-maker Almodovar goes back to wacky comedy in this thin , wildly over the top but enjoyable souffle that has a political message within its campery . A flight experiences technical difficulties on its way to Mexico leading its neurotic band of passengers into idiosyncratic self-examination and an exploration of their sexuality . Amongst them are a hitman , a dominatrix , a death-obsessed psychic , a soap star and a corrupt businessman . Three flight attendants attempt to keep everyone ’ s spirits up with quickfire dialogue , doses of mescaline and a performance of the Pointer Sisters ’ I ’ m So Excited . With sly digs at the state of Spain ’ s finances , all those in economy class are asleep , Almodovar peppers his flamboyant film with actors from all parts of his cinematic career – even Antonio Banderas and Penelope Cruz cameo . Not to everyone ’ s taste and certainly not a patch on Volver or The Skin I Live In . Opens Apr 5
ALSO RELEASED : CHIMPANZEE ( U ) Chimpy documentary . Quite nice . THE EYE OF THE STORM ( 15 ) Charlotte Rampling stars in this family drama as a wealthy matriarch confronts her own mortality . Geoffrey Rush also stars . DEADFALL ( 15 ) Botched heist thriller starring Eric Bana , Olivia Wilde and Charlie Hunnam . Solid stuff . VEHICLE 19 ( 12A ) Paul Walker does more wooden acting with cars as he becomes embroiled in corrupt police activity in South Africa . There may be stunts , on a lower budget than Fast And Furious ... but stunts . HUMMINGBIRD ( 15 ) Jason Statham movie of the month is yet another avenging angel scenario