What’s it about?
Billy Hope (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a pro boxer with a dodgy defence technique but a string of wins under his light heavyweight champion belts. When tragedy strikes his wife (Rachel McAdams) and daughter (Oona Laurence) and custody of his child is taken away, he has to fight to get his life – and career – back on track, with the help of a new, old school trainer (Forest Whitaker).

What did we think?
Angela says: Even though this film has a stellar cast who produce some stonking performances (special nods to Whitaker, McAdams and Laurence). Even though the fight scenes are horrendously, gruesomely well done (as one of those who finds boxing to be the epitome of human savagery, I had my face turned away for a third of the film). Even though I had a tear in my eye on more than one occasion. And even though it’s not actually the same storyline. This still feels like Rocky-lite. Sorry, but it does. It’s a good film but it won’t have Sly’ staying power.

What’s it about?

When Simon (Jason Bateman) and Robyn (Rebecca Hall) move from Chicago to Los Angeles to start a new life they encounter an old friend of Simon’s who takes a keen interest in their lives.

What did we think?

Nick says with strong, confident stylistic choices from director Joel Edgerton and great performances from all involved, especially Rebecca Hall, The Gift offers a well paced narrative and rising tension that starts from the minute one right up until the curtain closes.

WHAT’S IT ABOUT?

Rusty Griswold (Ed Helms) drives his wife (Christina Applegate) and children across the country to Wally World in an effort to bring them closer together.

WHAT DID WE THINK?

Dominic says yet another in the recent glut of rush-job studio comedies, although this one improves noticeably as it goes. It’s at its best when trying new ideas (e.g. a running joke with Seal’s “Kiss From a Rose”, copious cameos from modern comics) and not making obvious reference to the previous Vacation movies. Fun performances from Helms, Applegate and Chris Hemsworth as a randy Texan rancher can’t quite redeem the tired gags and flip-flopping tone.

What’s it about?

There’s this smart guy who’s rich and he figures out how to shrink to the size of an ant and then communicate with them, but he thinks it’s too powerful for the authorities until one day when he’s old he finds out someone else has figured it out so he ropes in a criminal to become … I’ve said too much.

What we thought

Stephen Scott says: In the grand tradition of Iron Man, Marvel have created a fantastic lol-filled adventure that exceeds your expectations. Fun and funny.

Hey, does Marvel have its own Genre category yet?

WHAT’S IT ABOUT?

A high school senior (Nat Wolff) finds secret messages left for him by his recently disappeared crush (Cara Delevingne), and takes his friends on a road trip to track her down.

WHAT DID WE THINK?

The term “teen movie” basically exists to say “teenagers don’t know any better”, and Paper Towns is a movie that doesn’t help that. It’s got wonderful performances all around, especially from Cara Delevingne, and there’s a soundtrack filled with trendy music from the likes of Haim and The War on Drugs. Sadly, the smart-alecky and pretentious script imparts the tired message that “nerdy” guys, no matter how gross, are just sweet schlubs that deserve whatever female attention they can get.

What’s it about?

An ageing billionaire is given the chance to cheat death by having his mind transferred into a younger body. When his curiosity threatens the secrecy of the project he must cheat death again… and again… and again.

What we thought

Dan says: It’s like the creators of this film were experimenting with teleportation. Their clever ‘brain-swap’ sci-fi script climbed into the machine but they didn’t notice a gross little nineties action film buzz in at the last moment.

When the smoke clears you’ve got a vaguely interesting tale (brightened up by some artsy editing) that starts to digest itself with dull car chases and lots of uninspired gun fights. I never looked at my watch but I did forget I’d seen it the following day.

What’s it about?
Amy Winehouse created one of the greatest albums of our time, thrusting herself into the spotlight of public judgement: exactly the life she wanted to avoid.

What we thought
Stephen Scott says: There are train wrecks and there is Amy Winehouse. The opening of this documentary introduces us to a stella talent, a cheeky young lass with an old soul and the voice of a blues legend. Then the train wreck begins and doesn’t stop. Amy fell in love with a gold-digging drug addict and surrounded herself with “yes” men (including her father). It’s sad, it’s depressing, but how else could she have written such amazing music?

Is there any way I can use weeping emoticons instead of stars?

😢😭😰

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