Swan Omniplex Dublin

• 2019
• US
• 2h 2min
• 12A

• Directed by: Robert Rodriguez
• Cast: Rosa Salazar, Christoph Waltz, Jennifer Connelly, Mahershala Ali, Ed Skrein, Jackie Earle Haley, Keean Johnson

Three years after a savage war, Dr Dyson Ido (Waltz) finds a cyborg head on a scrapheap, which he gives to a body and names Alita. The story is a bit of a grab-bag of ideas, but Salazar shines via motion capture as a truly splendid teen action heroine.

• 76%
• 54%

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• 2018
• UK/USA
• 1h 31min
• 12A

• Directed by: Bryan Singer
• Cast: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee, Ben Hardy, Joseph Mazzello, Aidan Gillen, Tom Hollander, Allen Leech, Mike Myers

The Freddie Mercury story. Malek as Mercury does a great job, with a passionate and impressive performance, but despite the recreation of momentous performances it’s a disappointingly tame affair, with a by-the-numbers screenplay and a bland lack of insight into Mercury’s heritage or sexuality.

• 81%
• 49%

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• 2018
• US
• 1h 46min
• 15

• Directed by: Marielle Heller
• Cast: Melissa McCarthy, Richard E. Grant, Dolly Wells

Lee Israel (McCarthy) is a writer facing financial difficulties who starts forging letters from famous writers as a way to earn money. McCarthy gives one of her best performances as the stubborn Lee, and Grant is excellent as her buddy Jack. Deviously funny and deeply moving.

• 72%
• 87%

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• 2019
• UK/Norway/US/Canada
• 1h 58min

• Directed by: Hans Petter Moland
• Cast: Emmy Rossum, Liam Neeson, Laura Dern

Nels (Neeson) is a snowplough driver who keeps his small fictional Colorado town moving, but when his teenage son (Richardson) turns up dead, he goes out for revenge. Two hours of Neeson beating, strangling and shooting people, with double handfuls of racism and sexism, make for an aimless, bigoted, dumb waste of time.

• 67%
• 59%

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• 2019
• US
• 1h 36min
• PG

• Directed by: Charles Martin Smith
• Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard (voice), Jonah Hauer-King, Ashley Judd, Edward James Olmos

Bella (voiced by Howard) a pit bull mix, has plenty of adventures on her journey from New Mexico back to her own owner in Colorado. Simple, shamelessly manipulative fare for children of all ages, with a sunny disposition that reflects the heroine’s own genial outlook.

• 65%
• 50%

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• 2018
• Ireland / UK / US
• 15

• Directed by: Yorgos Lanthimos
• Cast: Olivia Colman, Rachel Weisz, Emma Stone, Nicholas Hoult

In the court of Queen Anne (Colman), power is wielded by Lady Sarah Marlborough (Weisz), but then Sarah’s young cousin Abigail (Stone) arrives. Brash, bawdy and beguiling, and a deceptively acute commentary on the nature of power, with career-best work from Weisz and Stone and a commanding performance from Colman as the ailing Queen.

• 78%
• 90%

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• 2019
• UK/US
• 1h 48min
• 12A

• Directed by: Stephen Merchant
• Cast: Florence Pugh, Lena Headey, Nick Frost, Jack Lowden, Vince Vaughn, Dwayne Johnson

Based on the true story of WWE champion Saraya-Jade Bevis, aka Paige (Pugh), following her journey from dismal Norwich via Florida boot camp to the stadium. Pugh and Lowden as her brother are good, but the innuendo is crude, the characterisation shallow and the attempt to depict Saraya’s rise as some kind of feminist revolution is unconvincing.

• 78%
• 71%

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• 2018
• US
• 2h 10min

• Directed by: Peter Farrelly
• Cast: Viggo Mortensen, Mahershala Ali, Linda Cardellini

Don Shirley (Ali), virtuoso pianist, is chauffeured around the American South in 1962 by his Italian-American driver Tony (Mortensen), and much learning ensues. It’s beautifully made and very worthy, but far too gentle and broad to be effective; Tony, rather than Don, is the heart of the story and it lacks bite.

• 83%
• 69%

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• 2019
• US
• 1h 40min
• 15

• Directed by: Christopher Landon
• Cast: Jessica Rothe, Ruby Modine, Israel Broussard

Tree (Rothe) finds herself trapped in a time loop again, after her boyfriend’s roommate’s science project goes haywire. Slightly more grown-up than the 2017 original, this has some genuinely moving moments and it’s a lot of fun, and the few wobbles in tone and consistency don’t detract from an entertaining sequel.

• 67%
• 56%

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• 2019
• US
• 1h 44min
• PG

• Directed by: Dean DeBlois
• Cast: Jay Baruchel, America Ferrera, Cate Blanchett, Craig Ferguson, Jonah Hill, Kit Harington, Justin Rupple, Kristen Wiig, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, F. Murray Abraham, Gerard Butler

Hiccup (voiced by Baruchel) is now a chief with growing responsibilities, while Toothless the dragon is in love; but then dragon hunter Grimmel (Abraham) is determined to spoil people’s fun. The franchise is running out of steam; there’s too much going on and the central bond is obscured.

• 79%
• 72%

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• 2018
• US
• 1h 57min

• Directed by: Barry Jenkins
• Cast: KiKi Layne, Stephan James, Regina King

Tish (Layne) and Fonny (James) are friends since childhood who grow up to realise that they’re soulmates, but then Fonny gets arrested and charged with rape. Jenkins’s follow-up to Moonlight is an enchanting, heartbreaking love story, adapted from James Baldwin’s novel. A great film with anger in its tender heart.

• 75%
• 87%

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• 2019
• US
• 1h 58min
• 12A

• Directed by: Sean Anders
• Cast: Mark Wahlberg, Rose Byrne, Isabela Moner

Pete (Wahlberg) and Elie (Byrne) are a couple who decide to try fostering children, and they take in teenage Lizzy (Moner) and her siblings. A good vehicle for Wahlberg’s blue-collar charm, with humour that feels earned and details that have the smack of real experience. Manipulative but likable.

• 75%
• 57%

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• 2019
• Poland

• Directed by: Patryk Vega
• Cast: Angie Cepeda, Olga Boladz, Aleksandra Poplawska

Polish crime drama.

• 36%

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• 2019
• US / Australia / Denmark
• 1h 46min
• U

• Directed by: Rob Schrab
• Cast: Chris Pratt, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Tiffany Haddish, Nick Offerman, Alison Brie, Stephanie Beatriz

Despite living in the Mad Max-style nightmare of Apocalypseburg, Emmet (Pratt) is still his cheery self—until his friends are kidnapped by the alien queen (Haddish). There are lots of good jokes and plenty of fun, but it’s not quite up to the magical original.

• 71%
• 65%

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• 2018
• US
• 2h 10min
• PG

• Directed by: Rob Marshall
• Cast: Emily Blunt, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ben Whishaw, Emily Mortimer, Julie Walters, Dick Van Dyke, Angela Lansbury, Colin Firth, Meryl Streep

Michael Banks (Whishaw) is facing ruin after the death of his wife, and his sister Jane (Mortimer) can’t help—but then Mary Poppins (Blunt) sails down from the sky. Blunt is suitably brusque and radiant and a fine songstress, and while it’s a sliver of a story it’s impressively imaginative and unashamedly, triumphantly nostalgic.

• 72%
• 66%

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• 2018
• US
• 2h
• 12A

• Directed by: Mimi Leder
• Cast: Felicity Jones, Armie Hammer, Justin Theroux

Biopic of US Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Jones), focusing on her journey from law student in the 50s to crusading lawyer in the 70s. Jones brings emotional conviction and power to the role, and her chemistry with Hammer as her lawyer husband Marty is sweet. Inspirational stuff.

• 66%
• 60%

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• 2018
• UK / US
• 1h 50min

• Directed by: Matthew Heineman
• Cast: Rosamund Pike, Jamie Dornan, Tom Hollander, Stanley Tucci

The story of the last years of Marie Colvin (Pike), celebrated war correspondent. Pike’s intrinsic frostiness is perfect for Colvin’s determination, resourcefulness and arrogance, and while Dornan, Hollander and Tucci are all good as (respectively) photographer, editor and lover, it’s Pike’s show, and a mesmerising, discomforting and inspiring one.

• 67%
• 75%

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• 2018
• UK / Canada / US

• Directed by: Jon S. Baird
• Cast: Steve Coogan, John C. Reilly, Shirley Henderson, Danny Huston, Nina Arianda, Rufus Jones, Susy Kane

Stan Laurel (Coogan) and Oliver Hardy (Reilly) are touring postwar Britain in the hope of bankrolling their next picture, but their time seems to be passing. A classy, ambitious look at the gruelling nature of showbiz, weaving Laurel & Hardy’s routines into the fabric of the story; Coogan is particularly good and it’s a loving nod to two of cinema’s greats.

• 76%
• 75%

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• 2018
• US
• 15

• Directed by: Adam McKay
• Cast: Christian Bale, Amy Adams, Jesse Plemons, Sam Rockwell

The rise of Dick Cheney (Bale), from electrical worker in Wisconsin to US vice-president, presented as cheeky, dark, inventive comedy. Bale gives a compelling, shape-shifting performance and Adams as his ambitious wife Lynne is scintillating, as are Carell and Rockwell. A super-smart and disconcerting history lesson.

• 72%
• 61%

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