SECOND SCREEN
Bre-X, in the mid-Nineties. Based in Nevada, whiskeys willing Wells – a third-generation gold-miner doing an excellent job of drinking the family company into bankruptcy – suddenly has a dream. He will travel to Indonesia, track down a gold-whispering geologist named Acosta (Edgar Ramírez) whom he met a few years back and together they will strike gold. They will find ‘the motherlode’ that he toasts every time he raises a glass.
As I’ve said, there is a big late twist but it comes too late.
If it’s a little more action and a little less acting you’re after then you may be glad to hear the Resident Evil franchise is back in town. After 15 years, six films and more than $1billion taken at the global box office, Resident Evil: The Final Chapter (15) HHH does at least hold out the promise of being the last.
It’s competent, undemanding and very violent stuff as Alicia (Milla Jovovich) once again takes on an army of undead. Die-hard fans will be happy.
Toni Erdmann (15) HHHH, meanwhile, is that rare thing, a German comedy, and was one of the big audience favourites at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. It’s no doubt, though, that its eccentricity, leisurely pace and 2hr 40min running time will limit its impact at the box office.
But it’s impossible not to warm to the story of a practical-joke-loving father (Peter Simonischek) who travels to Bucharest to visit his serious, hard-working managementconsultant daughter (Sandra Huller) and causes total chaos. Matthew Bond