★★
Remember when Disney spawned a film out of their Haunted Mansion theme park ride? Well, now there’s a version for grownups. We know it’s for grownups because this one’s a 15 and inspired ‘eerily’ by ‘actual events’, namely the real Winchester Mystery House in San Jose. Being no better, a barbershop quartet of busts might actually have improved this one.
★★★
What an odd film this is, wholly befitting of its quirky central character. A backroom lawyer, Roman J. Israel, Esq. is an empathetic super-computer, exceedingly well versed in law and awkwardly inept in society. In the hands of Denzel Washington, here is a commanding and thoroughly engaging performance. Unfortunately, the film itself lies in the less sure hands of writer-director Dan Gilroy and is a much more unwieldy construct.
★★★★
Stone Age history comes with a pinch of salt and a whole lot of plasticine in the new film from Bristol-based animation wizards Aardman. Early Man doesn’t reach the heights of the studio’s previous offerings but boasts an abundance of warmth, humour and extraordinary design.
The Film Blog 