STACK #147 Jan 2017

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CINEMA REVIEWS

LA LA LAND

ALSO SCREENING IN JANUARY

RELEASED: Now Showing DIRECTOR: Damien Chazelle CAST: Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone RATING: M

Prepare to be dazzled.

Along with westerns, musicals are arguably Hollywood's greatest invention. But whereas the oater has continued to evolve and still occasionally throws up a classic, fans of musicals have largely subsisted on a diet of jukebox crowd-pleasers and proven Broadway hits. La La Land changes all that. As an homage to the golden age of Hollywood musicals, Damien Chazelle’s stunning third feature more than holds its own against the classics from masters such as Vincente Minnelli and Stanley Donen. But it also offers a witty deconstruction of the form

during an air raid. But marriages made in the field seldom work, according to Max's superior (Jared Harris), and he quickly discovers this to be the truth when leaked intelligence suggests that his wife might be a German spy. Max's subsequent attempts to deal with this crushing revelation and uncover her true identity sets up an intriguing central mystery, and for much of its running time Allied generates some serious suspense, although Marianne strangely vanishes for much of the film thereafter, despite being crucial to the intrigue. Things quickly fall apart in the third act, however, which resembles Spielberg at his worst – or best, if sentiment is your thing. Robert Zemeckis directs on autopilot here – you could easily mistake this for the work of Edward Zwick. The period recreation is impressive, especially the early scenes set in Casablanca (which intentionally evoke the classic film of the same name), with Pitt and Cotillard adequate stand-ins for Bogart and Bergman. But for a big, star-powered romantic spy thriller from a dependable filmmaker, Allied is surprisingly mediocre. There are moments you'll wish you were watching Pitt in Inglourious Basterds instead. Scott Hocking itself and a bittersweet meditation on how the real world will inevitably intrude on the magic of romantic and artistic dreams. There are echoes of both A Star Is Born and Martin Scorsese’s New York, New York in the storyline. Emma Stone is a struggling actress working as a barista, Gosling a frustrated jazz pianist who is determined not to sell out; in true Hollywood fashion they take an instant dislike to each other, but eventually fall in love and encourage each other to pursue their respective artistic visions. However, things begin to sour when Gosling is reluctantly recruited into an appalling jazz-funk outfit led by John Legend, while Stone struggles to realise an ambitious one-woman theatre show. However, don’t fret too much about the familiar storyline; instead marvel at the vibrant primary colours of cinematographer Linus Sandgren, the beautifully choreographed musical set-pieces and the gorgeous production design. As singers, Gosling and Stone probably wouldn’t get far on The Voice but they don’t put a foot wrong in the dance sequences – the scenes in which they waltz together in the Hollywood hills or literally take flight at a planetarium will melt the heart of most show-tune cynics. John Ferguson

It's been 14 years since we last saw Vin Diesel as extreme sports junkie turned secret agent, Xander Cage. Now he's back alongside handler Samuel L. Jackson and our own Ruby Rose and Toni Collette. 2017 gets off to a Diesel- powered start on Jan 19 . xXx: RETURN OF XANDER CAGE

ALLIED

Chris Pratt and Jennifer Lawrence stuck on an interstellar voyage together – what could possibly go wrong? The imminent collapse of their ship for a start, which interrupts their burgeoning romance. Awakening on Jan 1 . PASSENGERS

RELEASED: Now Showing DIRECTOR: Robert Zemeckis CAST: Brad Pitt, Marion Cotillard, Jared Harris RATING: M

In love and war, who can you trust?

It's 1942 and Wing Commander Max Vatan (Brad Pitt) has arrived in French Morocco to meet Marianne Beausejour (Marion Cotillard), a high ranking member of the French Resistance who will impersonate his wife and assist in the assassination of the German ambassador. This sham marriage quickly becomes the real deal following a steamy romp in a car during a desert sandstorm (during which the camera endlessly circles them like a voyeuristic vulture). Then it's back to London to set up house and welcome the birth of their daughter, who arrives dramatically

Taking its title quite literally, this action-comedy from Ice Age director Chris Wedge features a squid-like creature with a need for speed and big tyres. Hitting the road on Jan 12. MONSTER TRUCKS

Will this really be Alice's last stand against the hordes of the undead and the evil Umbrella Corporation? Box office will ultimately decide her fate. Evil is back in residence on Jan 26 . RESIDENT EVIL: THE FINAL CHAPTER

JANUARY 2017

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