Would Get Out have turned out to be the Oscar-winning, pop culture sensation it was in 2017 had it not come as a surprise? It’s an intriguing question. Jordan Peele’s sophomore film, Us, hadn’t the luxury of relative anonymity. Whilst it will be remembered well, Get Out levels of success are unlikely. Critically speaking, Us is a solid early entry in Peele’s promising career, boasting stellar visuals and a tremendous leading turn by Lupita Nyong’o. If the film doesn’t quite crawl under the skin, it certainly screams out for admiration.
From the producers of Finding Your Feet, Fisherman’s Friends tells the quirky true life story of a group of Cornish trawlers who found their voices. It’s also the tale of a slick city executive – the sort in need of a strong word and redemptive arc – and of how small town singers became a viral smash. You know the type of film this is. Throw in a handful of well-liked Brit flick stars for bait and it’s a case of hook, line and feel good sinker.
Perhaps the most surprising critical hit of the past decade, The Lego Movie did the impossible in 2014 by disproving the cynical rule that commercial product movies have to be soulless. Sugary to the extreme, the film launched a yellow brick franchise that in just five years transgressed from novel to tired. To this end, Mike Mitchell’s follow up to the original – The Second Part – has some major ground to regain for the sake of the franchise’s ongoing longevity. Oddly – for what is essentially a rehash – he’s managed a very genuine success.
The Film Blog 