Film Review: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Written and directed by Martin McDonagh, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri follows grieving mother Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) who, seven months after her daughter is raped and murder and still no culprit has been found, paints three billboard signs directed at the town’s revered chief of police, William Willoughby (Woody Harrelson), outside of her hometown of Ebbing, Missouri. But the law – and Willoughby’s second-in-command, Officer Dixon (Sam Rockwell), an immature mother’s boy with a penchant for violence – don’t take kindly to the provocation. And the townsfolk are on their side. But Mildred doesn’t care about getting making a bit of trouble. In fact, she’s more than up for causing a scene or two.

Film Review: The Way, Way Back

Rating:

Written and directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, The Way, Way Back tells the coming-of-age story of 14-year-old Duncan’s (Liam James) summer vacation with his mother, Pam (Toni Collette), her overbearing boyfriend, Trent (Steve Carell), and his daughter, Steph (Zoe Levin). Having a rough time fitting in, the introverted Duncan finds an unexpected friend in Owen (Sam Rockwell), the manager of the Water Wizz water park.

Film Review: The Sitter

(Published on Lost In The Multiplex and in Issue 6 of In Retrospect)

Rating:

Directed by David Gordon Green, The Sitter follows college student Noah (Jonah Hill) who is coaxed into babysitting three, very different, children – closet homosexual Slater (Max Records), celebrity wannabe Blithe (Landry Bender) and pyromaniac Rodrigo (Kevin Hernandez). When Noah’s girlfriend Marissa (Ari Graynor), or in reality the girl who likes to take advantage of his very giving nature, promises Noah a night a fun if he can get away from babysitting for a few hours, Noah and the children end up on a wild chase around town as they get on the wrong side of drug dealer Karl (Sam Rockwell).

Film Review: Iron Man 2

Rating:

Directed by Jon Favreau, Iron Man 2 follows on from its predecessor as billionaire Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) announces his dual life as the armoured superhero, Iron Man, to the rest of the world. As news bulletins repeat in the background of family homes, the setting focuses in on the dull streets of Russia as a powerful enemy, Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), watches with an evil glare, adding the final touches to his own weaponed suit. Meanwhile, Tony Stark is facing pressure from the government to share his technology with the military. Lt. Col. James Rhodes (Don Cheadle) and assistant Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) are growing tired of Tony’s unwillingness to cooperate, leaving Tony isolated with his own problems.