You South Africa – 22 August 2019

COMPILED BY SANDRA VISSER

A VIGILANTE

Crime thriller. If you could get your

hands on the men who assault the

women who love them, what would

you do?

This is the fantasy that Sadie

(Tron: Legacy’s Olivia Wilde) gets to

enact in this movie that’s shot like a

documentary.

Her husband (Morgan Spector

from Homeland) has prepared her

with his anger and fists. Women fear-

ing for their lives contact her for help;

all she asks is a few bucks to contin-

ue her crusade. And the men she tar-

gets will never lift another hand to a

woman.

Ever since John Wick (2014),

revenge thrillers have been increas-

ingly washing over the big screen in

bloody waves. It’s usually men taking

revenge for the deaths of their wives,

children and dogs.

This one is more in touch with

reality and is especially relevant in a

country such as South Africa.

• PIETER VAN ZYL

2018. 87 MIN. 16LV.
      ALSO AVAILABLE ON DVD.

DStvBoxOffice

RED DEAD

REDEMPTIONII

Platforms:PlaySta-
tion 4, Xbox One
The sprawling world of
this game has no equal
in terms of immersion
and is a joy to traverse,
with something new to
discover around every
corner.
It’s a prequel to the
previous game and fol-
lows Arthur Morgan,
a member of the infa-
mous gang led by Dutch
van der Linde, the first
game’s antagonist.
The story, sadly, is
the one area where it
doesn’t quite reach the
heights set by other as-
pects. There are stand-
out moments but it’s a
mostly linear affair.
Gameplay is slower
than you might expect
but this suits the game,
as it’s about a cowboy
on horseback moseying
across a plain, not a
race, and it’s all the bet-
SONY ter for it.^ – GARETH SEILER

PICTURES

CLASSICS,

FOCUS

FEATURES,

SABAN

FILMS

This poignant, finely crafted film is centred on

legendary comedy duo Stan Laurel (Coogan) and

Oliver Hardy (Golden Globe nominee Reilly). It

opens in 1937 with an impressive tracking shot that

follows the pair walking through a film studio. Stan

tries to convince Ollie to end their exploitative con-

tracts with producer Hal Roach (Danny Huston),

who owns all their movies, and strike out on their

own, but Ollie doesn’t want to rock the boat.

The film then skips to 1953 when we see the re-

percussions of these decisions. Past their prime

and in dire financial straits, the pair embark on a

gruelling tour of the British Isles. Though they

continue to make magic on stage in front of

half-empty theatres, behind the scenes they’re es-

Biopic.WithSteveCoogan,JohnC ReillyandNinaArianda.

Director:JonS Baird.7-9PGD.

CHILLOUT|WHATTOWATCH

tranged and the pace begins to take its toll on the

obese Ollie’s health.

There’s not much physical resemblance between

the stars and the real Laurel and Hardy, but it’s to

Coogan and Reilly’s credit that the moment they

appear on screen you’re convinced they’re the real

deal. They nail Laurel and Hardy’s comedy rou-

tines, but care is also taken to show the complex

human beings behind the icons. The film kicks

into high gear when the comedians are joined in

London by their wives, Ida Laurel (Arianda) and

Lucille Hardy (Shirley Henderson), with the ac-

tresses forming a second entertaining comedy pair.

There’s drama and conflict, but in keeping with

Laurel and Hardy’s gentle brand of comedy, it’s

polite and restrained. While it’s admirable that

director Baird stays true to his subject, the lack of

intensity makes the film feel lightweight and

bland. You’ll be left with affection for the pair and

appreciation for the set and costume design but

not any strong feelings or lasting impressions.

Steve Coogan (left) and

John C Reilly play comedy

legends Laurel and Hardy

in the biopic Stan & Ollie.

GAME

AT THE

CINEMA

Stan & Ollie

BOYERASED

Biopic. After he’s outed by a fellow

student, Jared Eamons (Golden Globe

nominee Lucas Hedges) checks into

Love in Action – a religious conver-

sion programme. This he does at the

insistence of his domineering father,

Marshall (Russell Crowe), and door-

mat mother, Nancy (Nicole Kidman).

While grappling with his sexual iden-

tity and his upbringing as the son of

a small-town Baptist minister, Jared

finally finds his voice.

This film is based on Garrard Con-

ley’s autobiography and lets you in on

the harrowing practice of gay conver-

sion therapy. Directed by Joel Edger-

ton – who also stars as a “therapist”

• this powerful drama is made even
  moresobytheknowledgethatthis
  terriblesystemcontinuestoday.

The actors are excellent and the

nuanced script gives you insight into

and empathy for each person’s mind-

set. No one in this awful situation is

evil, just misguided. A thoroughly

recommended watch. – LYNN ELY

2018. 115 MIN. 16LPSV SV.
      ALSO AVAILABLE ON DVD.

60 | 22 AUGUST 2019 you.co.za

A All ages

D

Drugs

H

Horror

L

Language

N

Nudity

P

Prejudice

PG

Parental guidance

S

Sex

V

Violence