Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/670480
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 24 APRIL 2016 38 This Week IN CINEMAS TODAY Embassy Cinemas Valletta Tel. 21 227436, 21 245818 The Jungle Book (3D) (PG) 10:35(2D), 13:45, 16:10, 18:30, 20:50 The Choice (12) 13:30, 16:00, 18:30, 21:05 London Has Fallen (15) 16:30, 18:45, 21:00 Batman v Superman – Dawn Of Justice (12) 14:15, 17:45, 20:50 My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (PG) 14:30, 16:45, 19:00, 21:15 The Huntsman Winter's War (3D) (12) 13:30, 16:00, 18:30, 21:00 Valletta Living History (U) 13:00, 13:45, 14:30, 15:15 Eden Cinemas St Julian's Tel. 23 710400 Paper Souls (U) 14:00, 18:30 Zootropolis (U) 14:00, 16:20, 18:35, 20:55 The Jungle Book (3D) (PG) 14:00, 16:25, 18:45, 21:10 Eddie the Eagle (PG) 14:00, 16:15, 18:35, 20:55, 23:10 10 Cloverfield Lane (12) 14:05, 16:15, 18:35, 20:50 How to Be Single (15) 14:05, 16:25, 18:45, 21:05, 23:30 London Has Fallen (15) 14:10, 16:20, 18:35, 20:45 The Choice (12A) 14:10, 16:30, 18:50, 21:15 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (12A) 14:10, 17:30, 21:00, 23:10 Hardcore Henry (18) 14:15, 16:25, 18:35, 20:50, 23:05 My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (PG) 14:15, 16:30, 18:45, 21:05 The Divergent Series: Allegiant (12A) 14:15, 18:15, 21:00 The Huntsman: Winter's War (12A) 14:30, 21:00 Desert Dancer (TBA) 16:10, 21:00 The Huntsman: Winter's War (12A) 18:00, 23:35 The Jungle Book (PG) 23:10 Empire Cinemas Bugibba Tel. 21 581787, 21 581909 The Huntsman: Winter's War (3D) (12A) 11:00, 13:30, 16:00, 18:30, 21:00 The Jungle Book (3D) (PG) 11:10, 13:45, 16:00, 18:30, 20:50 Zootropolis (U) 11:05, 13:40, 15:55, 18:20 10 Cloverfield Lane (12) 21:05 Eddie the Eagle (PG) 10:45, 13:35, 16:05, 18:25, 20:50 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (12A) 10:55, 14:00, 17:55, 21:00 My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (PG) 11:00, 13:40, 16:05, 18:10, 20:50 London Has Fallen (15) 10:50, 13:30, 16:00, 18:15, 20:55 PRODUCER J.J. Abrams has proven himself to be something of a franchise-builder extraordi- naire. Ever since he mid-wifed the hit series Lost into existence, down to his most recent han- dling of the Star Wars franchise (he directed The Force Awak- ens himself), Abrams has shown that he's got his finger on the pop-culture pulse, with enough nostalgic chops to appeal to the hearts and minds of fanboys (see his E.T./Close Encounters of the Third Kind tribute, Super 8) and an efficient way with storytelling. Though he doesn't always hit the jackpot – his Star Trek re- boot series is patchy at best – he sure knows how to cleave close to the entertainment sweet spot in a way that still elicits surprise and sometimes, even awe. One of his better projects as producer was Cloverfield (2008), directed by Matt Reeves – a sort of Godzilla-via-Blair Witch Pro- ject in which a group of hapless youths run for their lives while an alien creature devastates their city, with one of their number recording the experience for shaky-cam posterity. Starting off as an entirely unre- lated spec script, The Cellar, 10 Cloverfield Lane gradually grew into an oblique sequel to the original referenced in its title. A feature film debut for direc- tor Dan Trachtenberg, the way it twists our expectations around – and the necessary secrecy it was shrouded in before release – is pure Abrams. But it's also a film that allows itself to be enjoyed on its own merits. A refreshing proposition in age of endless, tightly interconnected sequels and 'shared universes'. A young woman, Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) wakes up after a car accident to find that she's locked in a cellar with Howard (John Goodman), a doomsday conspiracy theorist who has built a vacuum-sealed bunker to protect himself and those he's rescued – like the young man Emmett (John Gal- lagher Jr) – from some kind of apocalyptic fallout that has apparently made the 'surface' world unsafe to wander. Instant- ly skeptical of Howard's claims, Michelle tries to convince the credulous Emmett to bust out of the underground enclosure, but the truth may in fact be more disturbing than she imagines. 10 Cloverfield Lane is a diffi- cult film to review, because any revelation of or discussion about its plot details threatens to spoil this inspired and suspenseful – but necessarily fragile – con- struction. But the fact that I care enough not to spoil it for you should speak volumes. After all, if a jaded reviewer has enjoyed a film so much that he wishes oth- ers have a similarly rewarding experience, that should count for something, right? We can however speak about just how effective Trachten- berg's film is in building up its atmosphere of dread and dis- comfort. Because beyond the machinations of the plot, the minimalistic set-up requires both the director and actors to be at the top of their game and squeeze the most of the claustro- phobic arrangement. Cinema- tographer Jeff Cutter certainly creates the right tone and light balance to evoke claustrophobia, but Howard's bunker is also nec- essarily cozy. Which of course only makes the proceedings all the more uneasy, but also allows some humour to seep in. The fact that Michelle and Emmett can snigger at Howard's fanci- ful conspiracy theories one mo- ment, and cower in fear of him another, is a strong enough con- ceit to justify the film's running time. But it's John Goodman's mas- terful performance that pushes the proceedings from good to great. We could probably peg this to Abrams's influential reach in Hollywood, but it would really be difficult to imagine any other actor occupying the same role: Goodman possesses the unique ability to be both loveable and menacing at the same time, and he works in perfect tandem with Trachtenberg's vision to deliver a small chiller that packs big am- bition. By Teodor Reljic Three's a crowd ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ HOBBIT HOLE ★ ★ ★ ★ POOL HOUSE ★ ★ ★ BUNKER ★ ★ BASEMENT ★ DUNGEON FILM Don't anger the bear: John Gallagher Jr, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and John Goodman are at the top of their game in this twisty, claustrophobic genre-bender 10 CLOVERFIELD LANE (12A) ★ ★ ★ ★