Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/785757
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 12 FEBRUARY 2017 38 This Week THE now globally-available streaming service Netflix has cer- tainly learned to ride the wave of popular storytelling, making use of its budget-friendly platform to promote both risqué projects like the Idris Elba-starring African warlord drama Beasts of No Na- tion, as well as providing a regular intake of more populist entertain- ment through its partnership with Marvel Studios, enabling the likes of Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage and the upcoming Iron Fist to become viral sensations. With iBoy, an Adam Randall- directed adaptation of the Young Adult novel of the same name by Kevin Brooks, Netflix once again exhibits an ability to facilitate no- frills storytelling in a way that feels both disposable and undeniably fun. Tom (Bill Milner) is just an av- erage teenager shuffling through school and keeping his head down while living with his Nan (Miranda Richardson) in an economically challenged London housing estate. He also nourishes something of a crush on his classmate Lucy (Game of Thrones' Maise Williams) and is chuffed to bits when she invites him over to help her study. But the planned meeting is in- terrupted by the appearance of masked thugs who, after having attacked and raped Lucy before Tom shows up, give chase to Tom himself – who ends up shot in the melee. Tom, however, not only survives the attack but ends up with something of a superpower on his hands – or more accurately, in his head – after he discovers that his new phone – a 'second hand' purchase facilitated by his criminally-dabbling friend Danny (Jordan Bolger) – is now lodged in his brain. While his doctor reas- sures him that the phone is not a cause for concern, Tom discovers that he now has the ability to spy on the mobile network of the en- tire city. And not just that – he can also hack into any digital database and manipulate it accordingly. Initially thrilling to the idea of being able to use his newfound 'powers' to play pranks on Lucy's assailants, his game soon takes a serious turn after he uncovers the criminal underbelly that belies the thugs' actions. iBoy is yet another example of British cinema being able to strip down genre stories to their es- sentials and deliver up a product that, while hardly brimming with originality, still manages to cre- ate a satisfying piece of escapist entertainment. From Get Carter (1971) down to Kingsman (2014), the Brits sometimes manage to upend their Stateside counter- parts by just cutting to the chase of what works without the need to inflate their budgets with un- necessary star power and special effects, while also toning down on any sentimentality and drama at script stage. This restraint works wonders on iBoy, which also has the added ap- peal of appearing on the 'stripped down' Netflix platform. Made to measure for a late-teenage audi- ence in mind and taking full ad- vantage of the gritty urban realism of its setting – another staple of UK cinema – iBoy is predictable but satisfying, letting us enjoy the petty comeuppance Tom gets to play on his bullying classmates at first while making us tense up as the danger escalates the deeper he goes into the criminal rabbit hole. Cleverly tapping into current technological zeitgeist with a tight script that eschews originality to deliver up all the right dramatic beats, iBoy makes for an unde- manding, though undeniably fun, evening of home entertainment. iBoy is currently streaming in Netflix IN CINEMAS TODAY Embassy Cinemas Valletta Tel. 21 227436, 21 245818 Fifty Shades Darker (TBA) 10:30, 13:30, 16:00, 18:30, 21:00 La La Land (12A) 10:00, 13:00, 15:45, 18:25, 21:10 T2 Trainspotting (18) 16:00, 18:30, 21:00 Sing (U) 10:35, 13:40, 16:00, 18:20 xXx: The Return of Xander (12A) 20:45 Gold (15) 10:15, 13:20, 15:55, 18:30, 21:05 Lion (PG) 10:15, 13:45, 16:15, 18:45, 21:15 Eden Cinemas St Julian's Tel. 23 710400 Fifty Shades Darker (18) 13:00, 14:00, 15:45, 17:00, 18:20, 20:00, 21:15, 23:00 T2 Trainspotting (18) 13:30, 16:00, 18:30, 21:00, 23:30 xXx: Return of Xander Cage (12A) 13:30, 16:00, 18:30, 21:05 Gold (15) 13:30, 16:00, 18:30, 21:00 La La Land (12A) 13:30, 16:05, 18:40, 21:15, 23:20 The Space Between Us (PG) 13:40, 16:10, 18:40, 21:10, 23:40 Sing (U) 14:00, 16:25, 21:00 Why Him? (15) 14:00, 16:20, 18:40, 21:00 Black Mud (15) 14:00, 18:35 Split (15) 14:00, 16:25, 18:50, 21:15, 23:40 Lion (PG) 14:00, 16:25, 18:50, 21:15, 23:40 Hacksaw Ridge (15) 14:30, 17:30, 20:20 The Unknown Girl (15) 16:10, 20:45 Empire Cinemas Bugibba Tel. 21 581787, 21 581909 Hacksaw Ridge (15) 10:45, 14:00, 18:00, 20:55 Fifty Shades Darker (18) 11:00, 13:30, 16:05, 18:35 xXx: Return of Xander Cage (12A) 10:50, 13:35, 16:10, 18:30, 21:00 Sing (U) 10:30, 13:35, 16:15, 18:35 La La Land (12A) 21:00 T2 Trainspotting (18) 11:00, 13:35, 16:05, 18:35, 21:05 Split (15) 11:00, 13:35, 16:05, 18:35, 21:05 Jackie (12) 11:15, 14:00, 16:15, 18:30, 20:45 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ IBOY ★ ★ ★ ★ ITOY ★ ★ ★ IBAN ★ ★ IRATE ★ I RAN FILM By Teodor Reljic IBOY (16+) ★ ★ ★ Screams of the city: Tom (Bill Milner) finds himself plugged into London's mobile network after being attacked by thugs in this formulaic but serviceable offering from Netflix When the info wars hit the streets Love interest: Maisie Williams