Tower Block (15)
HHH
Dirs: James Nunn, Ronnie Thompson
With: Jack O'Connell, Sheridan Smith
Runtime: 90 minutes
FOLLOWING on from the surprise hit that was Attack The Block comes another low-budget but highly impressive British urban thriller. Young acting talent Sheridan Smith (Gavin & Stacey), Jack O'Connell (Skins) and Russell Tovey (Being Human) are among the soon-to-be-rehoused residents of a condemned tower block that is being targeted by a well-prepared foe.
With shades of Assault On Precinct 13, directors James Nunn and Ronnie Thompson's picture keeps the action coming at a grand lick. The dialogue creaks, but there is no denying the sheer effort being poured into keeping things interesting.
Savages (15)
HHH
Dir: Oliver Stone
With: Taylor Kitsch, Blake Lively
Runtime: 130mins
WHILE Savages marks a welcome return to the type of territory Oliver Stone previously navigated with Natural Born Killers and U-Turn, it also shows just how much the director has lost his edge. As much a commentary on the war on drugs as it is a pulpy crime thriller based on a best-seller by Don Winslow, the film lacks any real punch despite a heavyweight supporting cast and some wince-inducing violence.
Aaron Johnson and Taylor Kitsch play Californian marijuana dealers who battle a Mexican drug cartel (led by Salma Hayek) when their shared girlfriend (Blake Lively) is kidnapped and held to ransom. But if some of its elements entertain, especially Benicio Del Toro's ruthless enforcer and John Travolta's corrupt cop, pictured, Lively's narrator is bland to the point of irritating. Overall, fails to realise its potential. Reviewed by Rob Carnevale
Hungarian Rhapsody: Queen Live In Budapest '86 (12A)
HHH
Dir: Janos Zsombolyai
Runtime: 115 minutes
CONCERT movies truly are the new rock'n'roll, judging by how many are now being re-released.
Here, the miracle of film brings Freddie the showman back to sing Bohemian Rhapsody, I Want To Break Free, Crazy Little Thing Called Love and several songs that only true fans will recognise. As a bonus, there is a documentary leading on from the band's appearance at Live Aid in 1985. They will rock you.
Tonight, 8pm, Cineworld, Renfrew Street.
Raiders Of The Lost Ark R/I (PG)
HHHHH
Dir: Steven Spielberg
With: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen
Runtime: 115 minutes
SPECIALLY spruced up for a one-week-only release in Imax cinemas, Spielberg's four Oscar-winning actioner roars back into town. Yes, Indy's search for the Ark of the Covenant has had more reruns on the box than a certain goal from 1966, but it should be a sight to see and hear in big-screen, high- intensity Imax. One for all ages.
Odeon, Braehead, and Cineworld, Edinburgh.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article