PARALLEL MOTHERS ☆ ☆
Directed by: Pedro Almodóvar. Starring Penélope Cruz, Rossy de Palma, Julieta Serrano, Milena Smit, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Israel Elejalde. Certificate 15A, limited edition, 122 minutes
There is a certain category of reversing, revealing and plot devices that can only work successfully on a telenovela or Pedro Almodóvar movies. Parallel Mothers, in which two women (Cruz and Amit) meet in a maternity hospital and give birth at the same time, uses its soap to embrace the tragedy of the Spanish Civil War, the joys of female friendship and the complexity of motherhood. He wears his heart on his beautifully designed sleeve. Even the dark excavation in the heart of the business is delivered with warmth, cleverness and striking colors. Full review ΤΒ
AMULET ☆ ☆
Directed by: Romola Garai. Starring Carla Juri, Imelda Staunton, Alec Secareanu, Angeliki Papoulia. Certificate 15A, limited edition, 99 minutes
Imelda Staunton at the Amulet
Impressive horror follows a troubled ex-soldier (Secareanu) as he moves into a mysterious house with a young woman and her weak mother. In her feature-length debut as a writer-director, actress Garai has fun with creepy practical effects and disturbing details. A pagan image discovered in the forest foretells the awful boards to come. Excerpts from old newspapers, icky decor and body explosions add to the wild mythology. The Amulet has been described as a feminist vengeance horror. It’s wild on it, powered by the same carrying weight that the Babadook made such a sensation. Full review ΤΒ
HORSE ☆☆ ☆☆
Directed by: Damian McCann. Starring Peter Coonan, Bríd Brennan, Clare Monnelly, Sean T O’Meallaigh. Certificate 15A, limited edition, 94 minutes
Bríd Brennan in Doineann
A man (Coonan) is looking for his wife and baby who went missing on a remote island in Ireland. Continuing in Scandi style, this mystery in the Irish language turns into something like a pilot for a TV show that you would not watch. Or would you do it? Brennan is great as a bronze retiree taking on the case. Like many of the best detectives in the world, he has a threatening, effortless way of making the culprits disappoint their guards. Unfortunately, Brennan does not have the plot she deserves. Too much of the film is occupied with people talking to each other in two uninspired shots. Full review DC
SONGS 2 ☆☆☆ ☆☆☆
Directed by Garth Jennings. Voices of Matthew McConaughey, Bono, Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson, Taron Egerton, Bobby Cannavale, Tori Kelly, Nick Kroll. G cert, Gen release, 110 min
Sing 2
For no good reason, the team from the first animated smash moves to a Las Vegas version and launches a seemingly horrific science fiction musical. Before the premiere they have to spot a retired rock lion with the voice of a Bono Vox. The protagonists are quite easy on the eye, but too many of the supporting players look like human beings with animal heads coarsely chopped on inhospitable shoulders. There are several inspirational things about self-confidence and the power of positive thinking. The unbridled stream of perfectly arranged successes from all eras is strange. Full review DC
