At The Movies This Week, 18th January 2013

At The Movies

Gangster Squad ★★★

Director: Ruben Fleischer

Cast: Josh Brolin, Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, Sean Penn, Robert Patrick, Michael Peña, Giovanni Ribisi, Nick Nolte

Set after the war when L.A was booming, the city’s police department battling to stop the rise of organised crime.

Inspired by true events, Sean Penn plays Mickey Cohen, an L.A gangster from the late 40′s. Due to police corruption, Police Chief Parker (Nick Nolte) authorises a team to take down Cohen and his organisation. John O’Hara (Josh Brolin) and Jerry Wooters (Ryan Gosling) are assigned to take Cohen on with the help of a squad of cops.

What really makes this film is the cast. The cast are completely game and absolutely flawless Josh Brolin does a great job as the lead with his thug-like character and Ryan Gosling is charming and charismatic as usual. Sean Penn gives a strong and powerful performance as Mickey Cohen. Ryan Gosling gets some of the best moments, the romantic subplot between Gosling and Emma Stone however, seem akin to Crazy Stupid Love but the pair’s chemistry is still there.

Stylish, slick, suspenseful and violent, this is a film that should be taken for what it’s meant to be, pure entertainment.

Monsters Inc. 3D ★★★★

Director: Pete Docter

Cast: John Goodman, Billy Crystal, Steve Buscemi, Jennifer Tilly, Bonnie Hunt, Bob Peterson, May Gibbs

In the monster city, Monstropolis, green one-eyed Mike (voiced by Billy Crystal) and furry blue monster Sulley (John Goodman) go to work every day and cross over into the world of humans where they put the scares on little children.

Things go awry when a little girl they name Boo (Mary Gibbs) manages to cross over to their world. And now it’s up to Mike and Sulley to send Boo back through her door before anybody finds out.

With wonderful well -written characters, Mike and Sully are both easy to relate to and Boo is loveable. The relationship that develops between Sully and Boo is nothing short but touching, while Mike and Sully’s relationship is anything but uninteresting to watch. There is enough here for children and adults alike. Full of great dialogue, with a sharp script, top voice talent and some ground-breaking visuals, this is one of the best animated films to come from Disney and Pixar.

About the Author

Jennifer S

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Jennifer is a writer/social media/ice cream enthusiast living in Birmingham. She can be found deep in a sugar-induced coma in front of her television most nights, spooning her laptop. She also enjoys drawing and playing with her gerbils.

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