Zootropolis:
What's it about?
The animal kingdom has evolved beyond its base instincts and created a world where predator and prey of all sizes can live side-by-side. However, when fourteen mammals go missing under suspicious circumstances, it's up to the first rabbit in the Zootropolis Police Department and a sly fox to figure out what's going on.
Who would I recognise in it?
Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Jenny Slate, Idris Elba, Nate Torrence, Tommy Chong, J.K. Simmons, Octavia Spencer, Shakira, and others (voices).
Great/Good/Alright/Shite?
With a strong and clear message at its heart, Zootropolis (otherwise known as Zootopia) still manages to avoid coming off as preachy, because the message is intrinsically lodged into the well-constructed story...
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Indeed, with the world of politics dropping the sensible centre ground in favour of the lie-filled and outright asinine extremes of either side of the political spectrum, Zootopolis has something to say that is (sadly) still very important to impress upon society as a whole. We all make mistakes, we're all capable of prejudice (even those who boast about just how insufferably right-on they are), but cool heads and judging others by their actions (not their 'categories') is what should prevail.
While the above comments have brought the message of the film to the fore, the movie itself weaves it through the plot without forgetting to be genuinely funny (the visit to the 'Department of Mammal Vehicles' is a highlight), kind-hearted, and capable of entertaining the adults as much as the kids (references to The Godfather and Breaking Bad, ahoy). A smart central conceit combined with a good story told well, makes Zootropolis well worth seeing. Great.
10 Cloverfield Lane:
What's it about?
A young woman is involved in a car crash and wakes to find herself trapped in a doomsday prepper's underground bunker, but is he really as sinister as he initially seems? Is what he says about the 'invasion' happening above ground actually true?
Who would I recognise in it?
Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman, John Gallagher Jr.
Great/Good/Alright/Shite?
Considering the film marries an existing franchise (Cloverfield) with what started out as a standalone script entirely disconnected from said franchise, it comes as quite a surprise at how well things turned out. The claustrophobic character stuff is what really steals the show, with the script managing to skew the audience's opinion of John Goodman's doomsday prepper several times. Indeed, the confines of a small setting in which three characters wrestle with knowing how far to trust each other proves captivating, so much so that the third act switch-up almost feels like it wasn't even necessary - and yet, stitching two different ideas together still works surprisingly well based on the strength of the bunker-bound character study. This is a sequel that sprang out of nowhere, subverts expectations, and stands strong on its own two feet. Great.
100 Bloody Acres:
What's it about?
An Australian horror comedy in which a trio of hitch-hiking festival-goers get caught up in the devious business dealings of two bumbling fertiliser makers.
Who would I recognise in it?
Damon Herriman, Angus Sampson, John Jarrat.
Great/Good/Alright/Shite?
More chucklesome than laugh-out-loud, and never too grotesque, 100 Bloody Acres' successes and failures are intrinsic to the 'horror comedy' sub-genre's awkward tonal mix. That said, the characterisation of the two antagonists works a treat as they wrestle with the moral compromises of using human bodies to make their top grade fertiliser. With a few choice set pieces, and that affable Aussie sense of humour running throughout, this is a quirky little flick that might have passed you by. If you get a chance to check it out, it's certainly worth a watch. Good.
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