Genre: Comedy/Crime
Director: Shane Black
Cast: Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling, Angourie Rice, Matt Bomer, Margaret Qualley, Keith David, Kim Basinger
Runtime: 1 hr 39 mins
Rating: M18 (Sexual Scene and Nudity)
Released By: Golden Village Pictures
Official Website: http://www.theniceguysmovie.com

Opening Day: 19 May 2016

Synopsis: “The Nice Guys” takes place in 1970s Los Angeles, when down-on-his-luck private eye Holland March (Gosling) and hired enforcer Jackson Healy (Crowe) must work together to solve the case of a missing girl and the seemingly unrelated death of a porn star. During their investigation, they uncover a shocking conspiracy that reaches up to the highest circles of power.

Movie Review:

You see, some movies, as recycled as their plots are, are fun to watch. One huge reason is the stars helping the show. Admit it - while we go on and on about how we are critical about a film’s originality, a large part of us is compelled to step into the cinema because of the actors headlining the flick. This reviewer is a big fan of Maggie Gyllenhaal, and he wouldn't hesitate to buy a ticket to see her on screen - even if she only appears for three seconds in a plotless movie. Okay, just saying.

For this movie, it is hard not to fall in love with leading men Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe. Really, you have to watch this serviceable movie to experience how addictive their on screen chemistry is.

The latest work from Shane Black, who made his directorial debut with 2005’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, is treading familiar grounds in his newest work (the 54 year old filmmaker also directed the mega blockbuster Iron Man 3). The Pennsylvania born is responsible for writing Lethal Weapon (1986), The Last Boy Scout (1991), Last Action Hero (1993) and The Long Kiss Goodnight (1994) - you get the idea here.

Co written with Anthony Bagarozzi, this mystery comedy movie centres its story on the death of porn star (you gotta love the name: Misty Mountains), and another missing girl named Amelia. Everyone seems to be looking for them. Enter Holland March (Ryan Gosling) and Jackson Healy (Crowe), who each has his own reasons for taking on the case. In the mix is Amelia’s mother (Kim Basinger), who happens to be the boss at the state’s Department Of Justice (you can already smell something fishy going on here), Holland’s teenage daughter Holly (Angourie Rice), and eye candy in the form of Matt Bomer, who plays, well, we won’t spoil the fun for you.

If you haven't already spotted Black’s trend, we have two likeable screw ups here, who are desperately seeking something in their separate lives, yet connected by a desire to solve the case. Gosling doesn’t play the pretty boy here (for some strange reason, his moustache is a hoot to look at), and Crowe isn’t the macho hero (the New Zealand born star reminds us that a true man is measured by his belly). This is a refreshing pair, and the sharp and occasionally witty dialogue only complements the chemistry between the two men.

The movie also brings out what people love about the 1970s: the music, the loud fashion, the choking cigarette smoke and the so bad it’s good pop culture. There is even an awkward but hilarious scene involving a talking bee that seems psychedelically weird in retrospective.

This movie obviously isn’t high art (it did premiere at the recent Cannes Film Festival though, thanks to the power of marketing), but it is a good natured and fun comedy to watch. Kudos to Gosling and Crowe for coming together (why didn't this happen earlier, you wonder), reminding us that star power remains one of the biggest reason why we go to the movies. 

Movie Rating:

(The comedy doesn't tread new ground, but Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe's on screen chemistry is smashingly bromantic to watch)

Review by John Li

Genre: Romance/Drama
Director: Thea Sharrock
Cast: Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Janet McTeer, Charles Dance, Jenna Coleman, Matthew Lewis, Vanessa Kirby, Stephen Peacocke, Brendan Coyle
Runtime: 1 hr 50 mins
Rating: PG13
Released By: Warner Bros
Official Website: http://mebeforeyoumovie.com

Opening Day: 2 June 2016

Synopsis: Sometimes love takes you where you never expected to go… Louisa “Lou” Clark (Emilia Clarke) lives in the English countryside. With no clear direction in her life, the quirky and creative 26-year-old goes from one job to the next in order to help her tight-knit family make ends meet. Her normally cheery outlook is put to the test, however, when she faces her newest career challenge: a job as caregiver and companion to Will Traynor (Sam Claflin), a wealthy young banker who became wheelchair-bound in an accident and whose whole world changed dramatically in the blink of an eye. No longer an adventurous soul, the now cynical Will has all but given up. That is until Lou determines to show him life is worth living. Embarking on a series of adventures, both Lou and Will get more than they bargained for, and find their lives—and hearts—changing in ways neither one could have imagined

Movie Review:

Privileged family background and upbringing, gorgeous girlfriend, career high flyer and an apartment that would probably be tagged as #housegoals on social media – Will Traynor led a pretty much perfect life. That all changed after an accident, rendering Will a shut in, cynical quadriplegic. In comes Louisa “Lou” Clark – the village girl-next-door to Will’s tortured shut-in prince of the castle. Predictably, they fall in love to give Will his Reason For Living.

In all honesty, Me Before You, adapted from the bestselling Jojo Moyes book of the same name, should be so enjoyable and oddly carthartic. The storyline does not surprise – boy meets girl, boy and girl spend time together, they fall in love and then… something... Having ridiculously good looking people fall in love on screen was probably the best part… or actually the entire movie, probably helped.

The good looking people – first we have Sam Claflin who stars as Will Traynor. In a way, the role was a welcome change for Claflin, whose previous memorable parts as Finnick Odair from the Hunger Games trilogy and Alex from Love, Rosie typecasted him as the charming, devoted but unlucky victor/ childhood friend. While Will Turner was arguably charming, devoted and unlucky too, the quadriplegic role challenged Claflin to emote only with his facial expressions. To surprising results, as Claflin’s expressions were well done without being excessive, though limited.

Just his luck then, that Claflin was acting alongside with Emilia Clarke, whose eyebrows seemed to have a life of their own. While not showing much emotion as the mother of dragons in popular HBO fantasy drama Game of Thrones, Clarke’s emotions ran wild in this movie as the expressive and easy-going Louisa “Lou” Clark. Lou brought colour into Will’s world – literally, with her outlandish shoes and outfits contrasting sharply with Will’s muted, dark and simple designer threads, emphasising their difference in background – and encourages the man to leave his self-imposed prison to start living again. Clark fit the high energy role like a glove, playing Lou as exuberant and enthusiastic, yet still awkward and genuine. The chemistry made even the awkward flirting scenes between Will and Lou largely enjoyable to watch, as they spar with words and push each other to break boundaries.

Other than the people, the shots of the English countryside was also breath-taking. Will was first shown to be surrounded by white, black and grey marble, steel and concrete in London, pre-accident. This was rapidly changed to, and contrasted with, the idyllic, pastel countryside, which was for a moment was reminiscent of Wes Anderson, though not as consistent. The long shots of the surroundings also provided a good visual break when the topic gets too heavy, which was much appreciated.

Fans of the book might also realise that there were several tweaks made during the transition from page to screen. Purists might protest, and yes, there were some scenes where the non-book readers might scratch their heads over, but the removal of some roles and sub-plots might actually improve the flow of the movie, and allow the audience to pay more attention to the relationships between the characters remaining. Am example would be that between Will and his mother, where one tries to put him or herself in the mother’s shoes, where Camilia Traynor (Janet McTeer) probably milked the most tears from the audience.

Anyone who watched the trailer would probably expect the movie to be a cryfest – and it did not disappoint in that aspect. That said, the movie does have its comedic moments (mostly by Lou) and in all, is surprisingly enjoyable. Another much appreciated point was that the movie tried to avoid glamourising the disabled, as well as to force fit miracles for a happily ever after. That might disappoint some, but the book was a bestseller for a reason, so why fix what was not broken?

Movie Rating:

(Deeply emotional and touching, ignore the chick lit clichés and focus on the bonds between the characters to best enjoy this movie)

Review by Goh Yan Hui

Singapore star Rebecca Lim joining faith-based sports drama, 100 YARDS Posted on 10 May 2016 Singapore-based film financing outfits Silver Media Group and Aurora Media Holdings have attached Mediacorp artiste Rebecca Lim, one of Singapore’s most popular actresses to its upcoming feature film, 100 YARDS. A co-production between the Singapore, US, and the Philippines, 100 YARDS is the first Asian and Western collaboration that aims to tap on a burgeoning market for faith-based film ... more

Genre: Sci-Fi/Romance
Director: Drake Doremus
Cast: Kristen Stewart, Nicholas Hoult, Guy Pearce, Bel Powley, Claudia Kim, Kate Lyn Sheil, Jacki Weaver
Runtime: 1 hr 42 mins
Rating: NC-16 (Scene of Intimacy)
Released By: Shaw
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 19 May 2016

Synopsis: Partially filmed in Singapore, EQUALS tells the story of SILAS (Hoult) who lives in a future society called The Collective. The inhabitants of this modern world are a new breed of humans called Equals. Equals are peaceful, calm, fair, and polite and life in The Collective is perfect; there is no greed, no poverty, no violence, and no emotion. But a new disease is threatening everyone: SOS, or Switched-On-Syndrome, is activating in its victims everything they thought they’d escaped: depression, sensitivity, fear, love but once a person is overtaken with SOS, they are sent away to The Den, and never seen again. When Silas is infected, he becomes an outcast, but he notices one person who seems to understand what he’s going through. NIA(Stewart) has feelings, but she seems to be able to hide them. When he confronts her, they discover a connection that quickly takes over everything. They feel love and intimacy for the first time in their lives but the only way for them to insure their survival is to escape.

Movie Review:

We are going to be upfront and point our fingers at Kristen Stewart - this reviewer isn’t the biggest fan of The Twilight Saga film series (2008-2012) where the 26 year old actress played the lovelorn Bella Swan. Blame it on the genre of this love story between a vampire and a human, but this writer can’t think of any reason why anyone would be enthralled watching Stewart and a very pale Robert Pattinson staring into each other’s eyes to portray is supposed to be interpreted as romance. 

For the record, this columnist fell asleep watching in the franchise’s second instalment The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009), and whether he caught any of the three movies that follow remains a blur. Watching Stewart in this Drake Doremus directed film set in a futuristic dystopian society just brings back all the dreary memories of the rising star’s sluggish portrayal of Bella Swan.

Human emotions are non existent in this society, and everyone lives in peace. A new disease that infects people with the ability of compassion and love starts to spread, and things change for the film’s protagonists Silas and Nia. He becomes an outcast, and she tries to hide her condition. The two fall in love (but of course) and she becomes pregnant (oh, the drama!). They realise that in order to survive, they have to escape from the sanitised world they have been living in.

Nicholas Hoult takes a break from putting on blue fur (he’s better known commercially as Beast in the X Men movies) to be involved in this independent production. The 26 year old English actor does fine as Silas, a good looking young man who is still single only because of the weird society he lives in. Stewart, on the other hand, has it easy by emoting the less than likeable vibes (viewers will realise she is merely playing Bella Swan dressed in boring white outfits). 

The two are joined by capable supporting actors Guy Pearce (Prometheus, Iron Man 3) and Jacki Weaver (Silver Lining Playbook, Magic in the Moonlight) who take on roles of older, wiser (but of course) inhabitants of the dystopian society. 

The man behind the film’s screenplay is Nathan Parker, who gave us the very brilliant Moon (2009) starring only Sam Rockwell and Kevin Spacey’s voice. The concept here works well on paper, but there is really nothing much else to enjoy and reflect. True, the scenes are all very well shot, with its hypnotic neon filters and intimate close up shots of the stars - but it fails to engage. By the time you realise this 101 minute movie is somewhat of a Romeo & Juliet kind of tale, there isn’t much you are looking forward to in terms of story development.

If you aren't already aware, the film features many Singaporean landmarks. You get to see familiar spots like Henderson Waves, Marina Barrage, one north MRT station and Reflections at Keppel Bay condominium. Is this a reference to how clinical the Lion City can get? That seems to be a more interesting topic for discussion, definitely more so than Stewart’s soulless performance.

Movie Rating:

(If it is the intention of the filmmakers to strip viewers of emotions while watching this prettily shot movie set in the futuristic dystopian society, then yay - their objectives are met)

Review by John Li

Genre: Fantasy/Adventure
Director: Justin Kurzel
Cast: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons, Brendan Gleeson, Khalid Abdalla, Michael K. Williams
Runtime: 1 hr 56 mins
Rating: PG13 (Violence and Brief Coarse Language)
Released By: 20th Century Fox 
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 22 December 2016

Synopsis: Through a revolutionary technology that unlocks his genetic memories, Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender) experiences the adventures of his ancestor, Aguilar, in 15th Century Spain. Callum discovers he is descended from a mysterious secret society, the Assassins, and amasses incredible knowledge and skills to take on the oppressive and powerful Templar organization in the present day.

Movie Review:

Fans of the popular Ubisoft game would need no introduction to the premise of Assassin's Creed, but here's one anyway: the player fights on the side of the Assassins, a brotherhood dedicated to preventing the Apple of Eden from falling into the hands of the Templars, their opponent that aims to achieve world peace through controlling the minds of the masses. An original story set in this universe, the Assassin's Creed movie adds in modern day sci-fi elements to the on-going dispute.

Facing his impending execution, death row criminal Callum Lynch (Michael Fassbender) gets a second chance and a new life - in more than one way - when the Abstergo Industries 'saves' him at death's door. Forced into the centuries-old conflict between the Assassins and Templars, Lynch relives the life of his ancestor, Aguilar de Nerha, an Assassin during the Spanish Inquisition, through the Animus Project. As Lynch spends more time in the shoes of his ancestor, he inevitably leads Abstergo, a front for the modern-day Templars, nearer to the Apple of Eden, while battling his own demons.

It is no secret that the movie aims to appeal to fans of the games, especially with the repeated emphasis on game elements and motifs such as the soaring eagle and Leap of Faith. With that covered, the challenge is then to be to make money from the non-fans as well, probably through dumping (more) money on the CGI and sets, as well as the casting of A-listers like Fassbender and Marion Cotillard, who plays the Animus Project's lead scientist, Dr Sophia Rikkin.

Kudos to the studio - both methods kinda worked. There is no doubt that the world-building of 15th century Spain, and coincidentally, the backdrop for most of the fight scenes, were impressive. The viewer is transported into the heady and dusty streets of Spain, where de Nerha and his nameless 15^th century co-worker and sort-of lover foiled the Templars' plans repeatedly. Call us picky, but to be honest, the repeated use of the soaring eagle going on the same flight route with different backgrounds is just lazy – if you are going to spend that much money, just re-animate the darn eagle.

As the protagonist, Fassbender was convincing as Lynch and de Nerha – two very different yet similar characters. While Lynch is anti-establishment and channels his violence into mindless and criminal pursuits, de Nerha is somewhat too rooted into the brotherhood, choosing to fight for the Assassins despite his own doubts. As the movie progresses, Lynch and de Nerha bleed into each other - although viewers might need to wait for a sequel to see more of that. Cotillard is less impressive but still good as Rikkin - someone caught between her family, the Templars' cause and science. With the arguably limited way her character contributes to the plot in this movie, a selling point for the sequel would be how her character grows into her role.

Despite the two leading characters' strengths, their chemistry is, however, rather dismal. The movie would arguably work better without the romance between Lynch and Rikkin, especially when all it consisted of was awkward, too-long gazes into each others' eyes, one-sided conversations and general distrust. Besides, a romance between a scientist and her lab rat is way too overused.

Which brings us to the script - arguably the biggest failing of the movie. If we had to pinpoint why, it was probably trying too hard to be witty and to build conflict in different parts of the movie. However, it never fully achieves either goal, and falls oddly and unsatisfactorily in the middle. Thank goodness for the cast, who did their best to work the weak script and not let the movie spiral into a joke. In our opinion, just reduce the dialogue and let the fight scenes speak for themselves - after all, aren't those what most of the viewers are watching the movie for?

There seems to be the expectation that game-based movies just suck money from fans, who would not really care about how good the plot, characters and script were. Perhaps this is true to some extent, but it would help if movie studios go beyond these minimal standards. In this case, good job Ubisoft, 20th Century Fox and the other movie makers involved, for the effort put into production and promotion. That said, we do not foresee this movie attracting much attention from non-Assassin's Creed game fans, who gave a smattering of slightly awkward applause at the end of the movie screening and reflected how we felt about the movie in general: A for effort.

Movie Rating:

(Not bad per se, just probably niche and unlikely to impress viewers who had no prior knowledge or interest in the Assassin's Creed)

Review by Goh Yan Hui

Unless you belonged to the baby boomer generation, I bet you won’t be too familiar with the track list.

Iron Man 3 helmer Shane Black’s latest directing gig, The Nice Guys is an action comedy set against the gritty backdrop of 1977, Los Angeles so it’s not a surprise the soundtrack consists of 15 cool, funky songs from that era. 

According to Black’s liner notes, it’s producer Joel Silver who awakened his interest in 70s music and most importantly, Earth, Wind & Fire which explains why the legendary African-American band has two grooving hit songs September and Boogie Wonderland on the album. The rhythmic soul song, Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone by The Temptations starts the ball rolling followed by the international hit, Get Down On It by Kool & The Gang.

The Reverend Al Green contributed Love And Happiness and Rupert Holmes’ Escape (The pina colada song) is always welcome. English pop group Bee Gees should be the most recognizable name on the CD and their 1975 hit, Jive Talkin’ is on track 9. The only rock and roll track goes to the blood-spitting American rock hard band KISS with their Rock and Roll All Nite.

Perhaps The Nice Guys soundtrack works better in the context of the movie or after you have watched Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe worked their magic onscreen. This way, you find yourself more at ease swinging to the groovy 70’s in the comfort of your home. Nostalgic isn’t it?

For vinyl collectors, there’s a collector edition which features pinup posters, 3D centerfold and other cool collectibles. You can check out the sweet deal here. 

ALBUM RATING:

Recommended Track: (9) Jive Talkin'

Review by Linus Tee

MM2 & CLOVER FILMS ACQUIRE DISTRIBUTION RIGHTS FOR 19 MOVIES IN SINGAPORE Posted on 17 May 2016 mm2 Asia Ltd. today announced that, together with Clover Films Pte. Ltd., the Group has acquired shared distribution rights for 19 movies in Singapore and Malaysia. Including Finding Mr Right 2: The Book of Love, currently showing in cinemas, the total number of distribution titles by the Group in FY2017 to date will add up to 19. This represents a 111% year-on-year increase from the 9 dist ... more

Genre: Action/Adventure
Director: Jon M. Chu
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Mark Ruffalo, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Daniel Radcliffe, Lizzy Caplan, Jay Chou, Sanaa Lathan, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman
Runtime: 2 hrs 10 mins
Rating: PG (Some Violence)
Released By: Shaw
Official Website: http://www.nowyouseeme.movie

Opening Day: 16 June 2016

Synopsis: The Four Horsemen (Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, Lizzy Caplan) return for a second mind-bending adventure, elevating the limits of stage illusion to new heights and taking them around the globe. One year after outwitting the FBI and winning the public’s adulation with their Robin Hood-style magic spectacles, the illusionists resurface for a comeback performance in hopes of exposing the unethical practices of a tech magnate. The man behind their vanishing act is none other than Walter Mabry (Daniel Radcliffe), a tech prodigy who threatens the Horsemen into pulling off their most impossible heist yet. Their only hope is to perform one last unprecedented stunt to clear their names and reveal the mastermind behind it all.

Movie Review:

It is never easy coming off a successful prequel - just ask any one of this season's blockbuster sequels. The audience expects all of the previous awesome, but with a stronger cast, more impressive sequences and exotic locales. These expectations are probably compounded when the movie is about magic – it cannot even be a generic superhero movie. Unfortunately, Now You See Me (“NYSM”) 2 is a movie about magic. Following the impressive NYSM in 2013, the tricks can only be bigger, better and bolder to blow the audience’s minds. Or that was what the studio thought, probably.

The story picks up where NYSM ended – the Four Horsemen, now down to three, in hiding, Dylan Rhodes (Mark Ruffalo) continuing his day job at the FBI, and Thaddeus Bradley (Morgan Freeman) living the high life in jail. After the rather cryptic flashback to give the audience a better understanding of how Rhodes’ father died, we come to know of Daniel Atlas’ (Jesse Eisenberg) mounting frustration at the Horsemen’s inactivity and desire to take control from Rhodes.

For starters, the way the flashback was repeated throughout the movie gave a hint of what was to be resolved, as well as Bradley’s guilt and Rhodes’ inability to let go of his father’s death. After the rather rushed resolution of the death at the end of NYSM, one would expect that the event would be better fleshed out in NYSM 2. However, the whole recollection seemed more like just a tool to bring Morgan Freeman back and to inject some awkward sentimentality into the movie, arguably not contributing much to moving the storyline.

This was the same as Atlas’ leadership plans, which was way too easily resolved. Especially when there was so much more potential for it to develop into a classic good vs evil, loyalty vs self-interest struggle – or was that too superhero. Perhaps it was a conscious decision not to meddle with the established characters from NYSM, but that also made the characters uninteresting and predictable.

Thankfully then, was the replacement of ex-Horseman Henley Reeves (played by Isla Fisher during the first movie), by “pulled a hat out of a rabbit” Lula May (Lizzy Caplan). May’s  introduction brings to mind unanswered questions – why did May break into Atlas’ place and who introduced her to Rhodes – but back to this later. Right from the start, Atlas belittles May based on her past and his blatant distrust of her skills, making it all the more satisfying when she reveals herself to be smarter and more capable than she looks. In any case, May’s character tries to be the voice of independence and feminisim, while also calling out the sexism existing in the magic circles, and to some extent, Hollywood. Key word here being try, as Caplan’s role as comic relief sadly does not lend much power to her words, making her, in her own words, merely “the girl Horseman”.

In addition to Lizzy Caplan, new characters in the movie included Daniel Radcliffe, playing the villianous Walter Mabry and Mandopop superstar Jay Chou as Li. Coincidentally, perhaps, both of them had been linked to magic – Radcliffe was, well, Harry Potter and Chou is a self-professed magic fan. In a twist of fate, they play two characters who did not participate much in the movie’s magic, nor do anything much, really, merely existing to nudge along the series of magic tricks. Also, on an unrelated side note – one can’t help but wonder how much of China’s growing power in Hollywood led to parts of the movie being based in Macau, and the inclusion of Chou and his extremely ill-timed, awkward music.

Back to the topic of unanswered questions – throughout the movie, it seemed that the logic behind the plot and characterisation was being sacrificed in order to fill the time with as many magic tricks as possible. Hence leaving more mysteries than what was solved – who was the one who called the octa operation, how does Rhodes communicate with the Eye, what is behind the curtain? Mysteries are supposed to be great – it is a movie about magic after all – but also frustrating. Part of the fun of a magic movie is the reveal and explanation behind the tricks, (unless, of course, it is Harry Potter). In comparison to the original, NYSM 2’s final revelation felt simplistic and less convincing, which was a disappointment.

In all: stronger cast – checked; impressive sequences – kinda checked; exotic locales – checked. However, while NYSM led to the audience’s suspension of disbelief to be awed at the tricks, NYSM 2 relied too much on a deus ex machina to resolve its issues and ultimately lacked the appeal of its prequel.

(Watch the movie for the tricks and don't think so hard)

Review by Goh Yan Hui

Genre: Action/Thriller
Director: James DeMonaco
Cast: Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell, Edwin Hodge, Betty Gabriel, JJ Soria, Mykelti Williamson
Runtime: 1 hr 49 mins
Rating: NC16 (Violence and Coarse Language)
Released By: UIP 
Official Website: http://www.thepurgeelectionyear.com

Opening Day: 14 July 2016

Synopsis: It’s been two years since Leo Barnes (Frank Grillo) stopped himself from a regrettable act of revenge on Purge Night. Now serving as head of security for Senator Charlie Roan (Elizabeth Mitchell), his mission is to protect her in a run for president and survive the annual ritual that targets the poor and innocent. But when a betrayal forces them onto the streets of D.C. on the one night when no help is available, they must stay alive until dawn…or both be sacrificed for their sins against the state.

Movie Review:

‘The Purge’ could have been sharp social commentary on America’s gun culture that turned out anything but, seeing as how it stayed content to be no more than a B-grade home invasion thriller. Its sequel ‘The Purge: Anarchy’ realized some of its predecessor’s untapped ambition by turning the focus of its allegory on the largely non-white, working-class citizens who were the real victims of the Purge’s cleansing campaign, proving to be more viscerally thrilling by moving the action out into the streets of Los Angeles. It also introduced a sympathetic anti-hero in Frank Grillo’s bereaved father Sergeant Leo Barnes, whose quest for revenge for his dead son became an unexpected journey of coming to terms with his grief. Grillo is also the only actor to reprise his role in this third instalment, set against the backdrop of (surprise, surprise) an upcoming Presidential election where no less than the continuity of the annual Purge is at stake.

Is it coincidence that the United States itself is gearing up for one of its most divisive elections in recent memory at the end of the year, with a string of race- and law-enforcement directed incidents sure to bring the issue of gun control to the forefront of campaigning? Probably not, and neither is the fact that the two candidates running neck-to-neck with each other here are a man and a woman – the former one Minister Edwidge Owens (a freaky Kyle Secor) backed by the New Founding Fathers of America (NFFA), which had established the annual Purge to cut the nation’s crime rate by devoting one night a year to rampant, unpunishable murder; and the latter one Senator Charlie Roan (Elizabeth Mitchell), scarred by the loss of her family 18 years ago during Purge night and therefore determined to abolish the ritual once and for all. Oh, by the way, the NFFA’s campaign slogan happens to be ‘Make America great!’

Within the first few opening minutes, this third ‘Purge’ film already grips your attention by being so politically prescient. The good news is that unlike the first movie, writer-director James DeMonarco (who has written and directed every one of the films in the franchise) sustains the dark political satire in subtle and yet ingenious ways while ensuring that his franchise fans thirsty for the gore and violence promised by the first two instalments are not left disappointed. Keeping the pace fast and urgent, DeMonarco moves quickly to situate us in this latest Purge night, which Senator Roan intends to get through by holing up in her supposedly highly-secured townhouse in Washington D.C. Yet betrayal within her security ranks soon forces her and Leo out on the streets, which combines the mean-streets affair of the previous movie with the tightly confined sensibilities of the very first one.

Thankfully, they receive help from an African-American convenience store owner Joe Dixon (Mykelti Williamson) and his loyal Mexican immigrant employee Marcos (Joseph Julian Soria), neither their race nor nationality attributes which should escape unnoticed. Joe and Marcos are guarding the store from a couple of marauding teenage crazies, who subsequently call on reformed gang member Laney (Betty Gabriel) when the latter eventually descend on the store with chainsaws and knives. On the run from a couple of professional militants out to kidnap Senator Roan for the annual Purge mass organized by the NFFA, the quintet seek shelter in a triage centre run by anti-Purge leader Dante Bishop (Edwin Hodge), whom they find is hatching his own insurrectionist plot against the NFFA. That sets the stage for some moral hand-wringing, which is yet another way in which DeMonarco manages to upstage his last two efforts.

Yet as much as it is timely critique on our existing political climate, there is no shaking off the suspicion that it does exploit the same baser sensibilities for gore and violence to deliver its payload. In other words, this latest chapter isn’t any less bloody or violent than the ones before it, and that is likely a deliberate move in order not to alienate its core audience. As before too, the cast is key, providing emotional heft to characters which are better than stock but still not quite as fleshed out to go beyond their stereotypes. Grillo is reliable as always as the gritty leading man, while Williamson and Gabriel bring conviction to their respective roles. Mitchell though seems miscast, too slight to be convincing as an earnest yet resolute Presidential candidate serious about reform.

But frankly, these imperfections do not diminish the fact that ‘Election Year’ is the best ‘Purge’ yet so far and by far, the one entry to most concretely realizing the potential of its social and political allegory while maintaining its B-grade exploitative thrills for better or for worse. Its greatest ingenuity may indeed be how it indicts false religiosity in a late sequence depicting the NFFA’s annual ‘Purge’ mass, not only with weapons blessed by holy water but priests who extol how the very heinous night of murder was in fact a God-given right. The fact that it doesn’t come across as so absurd is telling of the crazy times in which we already live in, and the insanity in the intertwining of politics and religion that we so desperately need to purge. 

Movie Rating:

(By far the most viscerally provoking ‘Purge’ yet, ‘Election Year’ astutely mines the current social and political climate for ripe and smart allegory)

Review by Gabriel Chong

Genre: Horror/Thriller
Director: James Wan
Cast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson, Frances O'Connor, Madison Wolfe, Lauren Esposito, Patrick McAuley, Benjamin Haigh, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Simon Delaney, Franka Potente, Simon McBurney
Runtime: 2 hrs 14 mins
Rating: NC-16 (Horror)
Released By: Warner Bros
Official Website: http://www.warnerbros.com/conjuring

Opening Day: 9 June 2016

Synopsis: Reprising their roles, Oscar nominee Vera Farmiga (“Up In the Air,” TV’s “Bates Motel”) and Patrick Wilson (the “Insidious” films), star as Lorraine and Ed Warren, who, in one of their most terrifying paranormal investigations, travel to north London to help a single mother raising four children alone in a house plagued by malicious spirits.

Movie Review:

This writer would like to confess: he doesn’t remember much about what happened in James Wan’s The Conjuring, a horror movie that took the world by storm three years ago. Blame it on his bad memory, or the speed of new things happening if you will, but all he recalls about the movie was that it was a critical and box office hit.

What he remembers though, is the famous “Hide and Clap” scene (go search for it online to find out why it will be remembered as one of the most effective horror scenes in movie history). Hence, the question is, does this sequel live up to its predecessor’s standards? What new scares are in store for viewers who have a strange desire for paying to scare themselves silly in the dark and cold theatre? How tightly will you be grabbing on to your movie partner’s hand when a mysterious black figure whooshes past in the background?

Based on actual reported events from 1977 till 1979 in England, this movie’s plot focuses on the Enfield Poltergeist Haunting, which is one of the most documented supernatural cases in history. Ed and Lorraine Warren (Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga reprising their roles in excellent form) have spent their lives investigating paranormal events, but how ready are they for this one, especially with fatigue and cynicism setting in?

In England, Peggy Hodgson (Frances O’Connor, who has aged quite a bit, probably thanks to good makeup), a single mother, reports suspicious activities in her home. Peggy’s daughter, Janet (Madison Wolfe), has been suffering from nightly terrors, which witnessed by her terrified siblings. There seems to be a malicious supernatural presence communicating through the young girl. Ed and Lorrainearrive and work to free the young girl – but is there a twist to all these?

Running at 133 minutes, this writer’s first thoughts were: must this horror movie really need to be this long, stretching past two hours? Well, let’s just be assured that Wan, a Malaysian born filmmaker still has what it takes to scare you. Having helmed Saw (2004), Insidious (2011) and its 2013 sequel, the 39 year old director still manages to deliver. You will love his signature old school method of creeping you out. Driven by a foreboding sense of atmospheric gloom, Wan uses basic elements like lighting, sounds and limited special effects (the use of CGI to create a “Crooked Man” is strangely out of place in this sequel though), and the horror is effectively delivered on a multitude of levels.

Above all these, the film’s heart remains the relationship between the two protagonists. The two love and care for each other, and regardless of whether viewers believe in their powers, you can are truly moved by Ed’s concern for his wife, so Lorraine’s worry when she says her premonitions are warning her away from this case. This is similar to any couple’s dynamics in this day and age.

Another important question that will probably come to your mind: is there going to be third sequel? Without giving away too much of the plot, let’s just say that if it has to happen, we hope that Wan will take on directing role, and not let it to be another unfortunate project like 2014’s Annabelle.  

Movie Rating:

(Horror fans will be pleased)

Review by John Li