Seventh Son

Awful expository voiceover.  Contrived Romeo & Juliet subplot.  Badly spelled-out plot twists. Semi-plagiarized Howard score. Jon Snow knowing less than nothing. Julianne’s a-moore-al cliché of a villainess.  And Jeff Bridges as Aldo Raine as Gandalf is seventh sign of film’s colossal failure. Brilliant writers expand mediocre book into awful film.

Maps to the Stars

If Robert Altman and David Lynch had an abortion.  Several stars fell to Earth then took tragic wrong turns to end up lost in Losmopolis.  Julianne gives moore than this film deserves while a terrible child actor, tedious cinematography and hilarious fake fire distract from Cronenberg’s poorly plotted cartographic nightmare.

Below

Aronofsky scripted submarine horror feels like Session 9 set on Ghost Ship.  Greenwood’s outperforms the film while Williams pulls an Osment.  None of the twists are particularly alarming as the ship drifts into clichéd waters.  The only true surprise in non-Event sub-Horizon is the prophetic shade of Galifianakis’ comedic future.

The Ghost Writer

Polanski delivers another healthy Baby with this political thriller. McGregor is nuanced and empathetic as he investigates a brilliantly cryptic Brosnan. Supporting cast, though arbitrary, Hutton and Belushi, are excellent, and the entire piece has a ghostly sense of foreboding. Respectfully suspenseful, an altogether excellent ride, with a perfect ending.

An Education

Sarsgaard resumes his frequent creepy guy role, this time enhanced by being convincingly British and in pursuit of impressively talented Carey Mulligan. A peppering of bigger stars in smaller roles support the story excellently, and beautifully written, witty dialogue prevents an otherwise endearing script from becoming too clichéd or preachy.