BURN AFTER READING ****
Comedy/Romance starring George Clooney, John Malkovich, Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt.
Cert 15A

THE PLOT: While not classic Coen brothers material, Brad Pitt keeps us smirking as the dim-witted gym employee who, with co-worker Frances McDormand, tries to blackmail a former CIA agent (John Malkovich) to fund her plastic surgery needs.

THE VERDICT: After the agonising tension and brutality of their Oscarwinning opus No Country For Old Men, writer-directors Joel en Ethan Coen return to comedic territory with this pithy tale of espionage and infidelity.

EAGLE EYE ***
Action/Thriller starring Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan.
Cert 12A

THE PLOT: Shia LaBeouf stars in director DJ Caruso’s ludicrously-overblown romp about two strangers drawn into a web of murder and deceit by an unseen puppet master who ultimately wants them to commit mass murder.

THE VERDICT: The would-be assassins find themselves on the run from the cops and FBI as Eagle Eye barely pauses for breath between each slam-bang action sequence.

THE ROCKER ***
Comedy/Romance starring Rainn Wilson, Josh Gad, Emma Stone.
Cert 12A

THE PLOT: Failed drummer Robert ‘Fish’ Fishman is given a second chance at fame when he hears that his nephew’s high school rock band ADD is looking for a new drummer.

THE VERDICT: Strumming to the same beat as ‘School Of Rock’ – although for a younger target audience – the new film from director Peter Cattaneo hits some of the right notes, but there’s nothing we haven’t seen or heard before.

MUTANT CHRONICLES *
Action/Thriller starring Thomas Jane, Ron Perlman, Anna Walton.
Cert 16

THE PLOT: Twenty-third century soldier Major Mitch Hunter leads a fight against an army of underworld NecroMutants in a futuristic action-adventure that locks and loads, but only shoots blanks.

THE VERDICT: The film mimics the look and relentless gore of a noisy arcade-machine game, and labours under the illusion that a few snazzy visual effects will satisfy thrill-seeking audiences for the best part of two hours.

CITY OF EMBER ***
Family/Drama starring Saoirse Ronan, Bill Murray, Tim Robbins.
Cert PG

THE PLOT: ‘Monster House’ director Gil Kenan brings Jeanne DuPrau’s vision of a subterranean refuge to life – imagining a world cocooned against the threat of nuclear war as food stores are dwindling and machinery failing.

THE VERDICT: A group of feisty students plan to find a solution to the growing nightmare, but the film feels a tad sluggish even at 94 minutes. Bill Murray does a lifeless turn as a corrupt official.

HOW TO LOSE FRIENDS AND ALIENATE PEOPLE **
Comedy/Romance starring Simon Pegg.
Cert 15A

THE PLOT: Based on Toby Young’s memoir, director Robert B Weide’s film outlines the misadventures of an unfortunate British writer who unexpectedly finds himself at the centre of New York’s social whirl.

THE VERDICT: All of the barbs in Young’s confessional are filed down to make a romantic comedy, replete with outlandish set-pieces. Simon Pegg is a dislikable anti-hero – he grates from the first smug grin.

FLY ME TO THE MOON **
Family/Comedy featuring the voice of Trevor Gagnon.
Cert PG

THE PLOT: ‘Fly Me To The Moon’ reimagines one of the proudest moments in modern American history – the Apollo 11 space flight – through the eyes of three young houseflies with a proboscis for trouble.

THE VERDICT: Director Ben Stassen employs 3D technology to jawdropping effect, but the film has no comedy or drama to engage younger viewers or their parents. The impressive visuals cannot sustain our interest.

Analyse Vmbo GT Engels