SPLING MOVIES
Recommendations in order of preference...
HELP, THE (10MP, 146 min) - An excellent 8! An engaging civil rights era drama with a solid cast and terrific lead performance. Like: Precious, The Secret Life of Bees
DRIVE (16LNV, 101 min) - An excellent 8! Aggression and romance in this cool, powerful, taut and art house rush. NFSV Like: Black Swan
MONEYBALL (PGL, 131 min) - An excellent 8! A sharp, funny, touching true baseball story with strong direction, a cracking script and first-rate performances. Like: The Social Network
DESCENDANTS, THE - (13L, 115 min) An excellent 8! An authentic, complex, funny, moving and unpredictable portrait of life with a strong lead performance. Like: About Schmidt
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS (PG L, 95 min) - An excellent 8! Woody Allen fans will delight in his latest offbeat comedy, which is entertaining, funny, charming and sentimental with a great turn by Wilson. Like: Whatever Works
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL (13V, 133 min) - An excellent 8! Brad Bird's first live-action movie is pulsating, entertaining and loaded with spectacular action set pieces... the best M:I yet! Like: Mission: Impossible
GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, THE (16NSV, 153 min) - An excellent 8! While difficult-to-watch at times, this remake is visually striking and captivating with solid performances. Like: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)
THE MUPPETS (A, 99 min) - An excellent 8! A smart, witty, heartfelt and inspirational return for Jim Henson's Muppets - fans and newbies will approve. Like: The Muppets Movie
MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE (16LNS, 102 min) - An excellent 8! Olsen's superb star-making lead sets this creative yet disturbing psychological thriller apart. Like: Trust
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN (16LVS, 113 min) - An excellent 8! A chilling, harrowing and heartbreaking blend of horror and drama, shaped by top performances. Like: Beautiful Boy
HUGO (PG, 126 min) - A solid 7! Beautiful, magical visuals via Scorsese backed by a strong ensemble and an intriguing mystery, but lacking in heart Like: Cinema Paradiso
SKIN I LIVE IN, THE (18NSVD, 120 min) - A solid 7! A multi-genre art house body horror thriller, unpredictable and guaranteed to make your skin crawl. Like: Splice
MARGIN CALL (13L, 105 min) - A solid 7! A smart script, tight direction and taut drama driven home by strong performances from a heavyweight ensemble. Like: 12 Angry Men, Inside Job
BEGINNERS (13M, 105 min) - A solid 7! A moving, witty and creative comedy drama with great chemistry and an emotional core beneath the sentimental style. Like: Happy-Go-Lucky
IN A BETTER WORLD (16LV, 114 min) - A solid 7! A thought-provoking and powerful drama with strong performances, although the storytelling is a little contrived and melodramatic at times. Like: Incendies
MY WEEK WITH MARILYN (13ML, 103 min) - A solid 7! Terrific performances from Branagh and Williams raise the tempo in this enticing behind-the-scenes memoir. Like: The Prince and the Showgirl (1957)
MATERIAL (PG, 90 min) - A solid 7! Strong co-lead performances, heartfelt sincerity and plenty of charm in this dramedy overcome late narrative shift. Like: Bend It Like Beckham
CHRONICLE (13LV, 84 min)- A solid 7! A cult gem: smart script, good pacing, sharp performances and innovative rehash on found footage/superhero genres. Like: Cloverfield
IDES OF MARCH, THE (13LS, 100 min) - A solid 7! A first-class ensemble deliver on performance in this intense, thought-provoking U.S. political drama. Like: State of Play
PUSS IN BOOTS [2D/3D] (PG, 90 min) - A solid 7! A lightweight yet highly entertaining Shrek spin-off, bristling with charm, wit and captivating visuals. Like: Shrek 2
SAFE HOUSE (16V, 114 min) - A solid 7! Frenetic pacing, explosive set pieces and a solid cast lead this exhilarating, Bourne style over substance actioner. Like: Green Zone
WE BOUGHT A ZOO (10ML, 121 min) - A solid 7! A sentimental, crowd-pleasing and moving family film anchored by Matt Damon's performance. Like:
HELP, THE (10MP, 146 min) - An excellent 8! An engaging civil rights era drama with a solid cast and terrific lead performance. Like: Precious, The Secret Life of Bees
DRIVE (16LNV, 101 min) - An excellent 8! Aggression and romance in this cool, powerful, taut and art house rush. NFSV Like: Black Swan
MONEYBALL (PGL, 131 min) - An excellent 8! A sharp, funny, touching true baseball story with strong direction, a cracking script and first-rate performances. Like: The Social Network
DESCENDANTS, THE - (13L, 115 min) An excellent 8! An authentic, complex, funny, moving and unpredictable portrait of life with a strong lead performance. Like: About Schmidt
MIDNIGHT IN PARIS (PG L, 95 min) - An excellent 8! Woody Allen fans will delight in his latest offbeat comedy, which is entertaining, funny, charming and sentimental with a great turn by Wilson. Like: Whatever Works
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE - GHOST PROTOCOL (13V, 133 min) - An excellent 8! Brad Bird's first live-action movie is pulsating, entertaining and loaded with spectacular action set pieces... the best M:I yet! Like: Mission: Impossible
GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, THE (16NSV, 153 min) - An excellent 8! While difficult-to-watch at times, this remake is visually striking and captivating with solid performances. Like: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2009)
THE MUPPETS (A, 99 min) - An excellent 8! A smart, witty, heartfelt and inspirational return for Jim Henson's Muppets - fans and newbies will approve. Like: The Muppets Movie
MARTHA MARCY MAY MARLENE (16LNS, 102 min) - An excellent 8! Olsen's superb star-making lead sets this creative yet disturbing psychological thriller apart. Like: Trust
WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN (16LVS, 113 min) - An excellent 8! A chilling, harrowing and heartbreaking blend of horror and drama, shaped by top performances. Like: Beautiful Boy
HUGO (PG, 126 min) - A solid 7! Beautiful, magical visuals via Scorsese backed by a strong ensemble and an intriguing mystery, but lacking in heart Like: Cinema Paradiso
SKIN I LIVE IN, THE (18NSVD, 120 min) - A solid 7! A multi-genre art house body horror thriller, unpredictable and guaranteed to make your skin crawl. Like: Splice
MARGIN CALL (13L, 105 min) - A solid 7! A smart script, tight direction and taut drama driven home by strong performances from a heavyweight ensemble. Like: 12 Angry Men, Inside Job
BEGINNERS (13M, 105 min) - A solid 7! A moving, witty and creative comedy drama with great chemistry and an emotional core beneath the sentimental style. Like: Happy-Go-Lucky
IN A BETTER WORLD (16LV, 114 min) - A solid 7! A thought-provoking and powerful drama with strong performances, although the storytelling is a little contrived and melodramatic at times. Like: Incendies
MY WEEK WITH MARILYN (13ML, 103 min) - A solid 7! Terrific performances from Branagh and Williams raise the tempo in this enticing behind-the-scenes memoir. Like: The Prince and the Showgirl (1957)
MATERIAL (PG, 90 min) - A solid 7! Strong co-lead performances, heartfelt sincerity and plenty of charm in this dramedy overcome late narrative shift. Like: Bend It Like Beckham
CHRONICLE (13LV, 84 min)- A solid 7! A cult gem: smart script, good pacing, sharp performances and innovative rehash on found footage/superhero genres. Like: Cloverfield
IDES OF MARCH, THE (13LS, 100 min) - A solid 7! A first-class ensemble deliver on performance in this intense, thought-provoking U.S. political drama. Like: State of Play
PUSS IN BOOTS [2D/3D] (PG, 90 min) - A solid 7! A lightweight yet highly entertaining Shrek spin-off, bristling with charm, wit and captivating visuals. Like: Shrek 2
SAFE HOUSE (16V, 114 min) - A solid 7! Frenetic pacing, explosive set pieces and a solid cast lead this exhilarating, Bourne style over substance actioner. Like: Green Zone
WE BOUGHT A ZOO (10ML, 121 min) - A solid 7! A sentimental, crowd-pleasing and moving family film anchored by Matt Damon's performance. Like:
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