In The Cinema This Week 23/9/13

Diana

Sixteen years after her untimely death, Princess Diana finally gets the cinematic treatment. It’s just unfortunate that we’ve been given such a vapid movie that’s as insulting to her legacy as it is to cinema-goers. Peddling the myth that the British royal was a daring and free-spirited friend of the people, when in reality she was little more than a charitable socialite, the film’s mind-numbingly awful dialogue and distinct lack of entertainment makes Diana a chore. That Naomi Watts looks the part (she’s a bit on the short side, though) is about as much as this film has to offer.

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The Call

The Call stars Halle Berry as an experienced and resourceful 911 operator whose day-job turns nasty when she gets a call from a teenage girl (Abigail Breslin) trapped in the boot of a car. This is an extremely suspenseful movie that hardly lets up during its breezy 94-minute duration. Although there’s a noticeable dip in quality and realism towards the end, and some of the dialogue can only accurately be described as moronic, the brilliant performances and endless action combine to make The Call a satisfyingly thrilling film. Ignore the negative hype and check it out!

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R.I.P.D.

Jeff Bridges and Ryan Reynolds are both members of the otherworldly Rest In Peace Department, a ghostly division set up to protect the living from the unruly and increasingly destructive spirits who refuse to go quietly to the other side. A supernatural action comedy adventure… thing, R.I.P.D. is nowhere near as fun or exciting as the premise or cast may suggest. Repetitive, derivative and monumentally dumb, this feels like the absolute worst episode of Supernatural as directed by the guy who held the camera while filming Ghostbusters.

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Don't forget to check out last week's reviews of White House Down, Rush and more.