she thinks she's in barbados but outside it's minus three

Review: Week ending 7 April 2013

This week: Trance, more 1927, The Croods and the return of Doctor Who

At the moofies

Danny Boyle can do no wrong. With his career already on an upward trajectory after the Oscar success of Slumdog Millionaire, the country's newest national treasure cemented his place in history forever with his brilliant Olympic opening ceremony. Now, Boyle is back in his day job with his latest film, Trance.

Here, James McAvoy knows the whereabouts of a stolen painting - or does he? Baddie Vincent Cassel believes he does and hires psychologist Rosario Dawson to unlock the secret of the missing Goya.

Now, everyone loves Danny Boyle. So, I will whisper it very quietly: Trance is a bit of a shambles. At times it seems that the director is adding twists and turns with the sole purpose of trying to mess with his audience's head and not because they are actually adding anything to the drama or the narrative of the story. This makes an already complicated film even harder to understand and also has the undesired effect of leaving you ambivalent towards the eventual resolution.

The film also eschews answering some interesting questions about big name art theft and gallery security (questions it raises itself early on) in favour of weird discussions about, er, intimate waxing and the power of suggestion. Saying all that, Trance's final reveal is actually really satisfying and the first 15 minutes or so chug along breezily, much like an episode of the BBC's brilliant Hustle. In between, though, Trance is a mess. It's an enjoyable enough mess (and Mrs P liked it much more than I did) but not Boyle's best work. We can forgive him, though - right? 7/10

I approached The Croods with immense caution. A new kids animation is always cause for a cinema trip in our household but the trailer left me absolutely cold. How delightful, then, to discover that The Croods is actually a charming, entertaining and funny film with plenty for both adults and kids. And, it's proof that Pixar don't have a monopoly on making a fun and worthwhile family movie.

I laughed out loud more than once, the characters are wonderfully rounded and there are plenty of brilliant prehistoric animal and bird creations to enjoy. It perhaps had one final act too many but I was completely taken aback by how much I enjoyed this film. Despite some pretty scathing reviews, the two adults and one child with me also had a great time, and so The Croods must be doing something right. 8/10

In the House is an intriguing and stylish French film from director Francois Ozon. Here, a shy 16 year old boy shows an aptitude for creative writing and is encouraged by his bored teacher. However, as the subject of the boy's writing - the family life of a classmate - starts to cause trouble and the distinction between fact and fiction becomes ever more blurred, everyone's life begins to unravel.

In the House is a clever, engrossing and intelligent drama about teenage obsession and the power of fiction. As the film develops it becomes increasingly unclear what is truth and what the boy has created. And, interestingly, its not just the teacher and his wife (played brilliantly by Kristin Scott-Thomas) but also us, the audience, who become ever increasingly voyeuristic as we demand to see the next installment of the drama.

I am glad this film got a broad cinema release as it deserves to be seen by a wide audience. I really enjoyed what it had to say and the series of pitch-perfect performances from its leads. Highly recommended. 8.5/10

Identity Thief is a tiresome, daft comedy that (as with many comedies) ends up being less than the sum of its constituent parts. In theory, combining Jason Bateman and Melissa McCarthy should work a treat, but a ridiculous story and, as ever, too few laughs mean that this is a silly and dull affair.

It mines every comedy seam it can (not in a good way) particularly once the odd couple hit the road where it exploits every last road movie cliche that there is. Oddly, Identity Thief is at it best when it is tackling some of the broader and more serious questions about the nature of identity. An interesting and quite moving debate about how our lives are affected by who we are and where we come from is the highlight of the film and, actually, rescued it from being a complete disaster. 3/10

Music to work by

I am struggling to find any half decent new music to keep me entertained at the moment. I like the Kodaline single, Nina Nesbitt's new single, 1975's Chocolate and the brilliant Bastille record but no album that jumps out at me. Recommendations welcome!

After mentioning 1927 last week I listened to their debut album ...ish this week. It reeks of the late 1980s but I really enjoyed it, in an anthemic, nostalgic power ballad kind of a way.

Bedtime reading

Talking of the power of thought and suggestion, I have embarked on Daniel Kahneman's Thinking, Fast and Slow. It's quite an academic book and not a rip-roaring page turner and so far it hasn't really gripped me. I will plough on, though...

The gogglebox

I finally got around to watching some of the new season of Glee this weekend and I am delighted to report that it is as funny, endearing and moving as ever. The final episode we watched (ep 3 or 4 of the new season) was particularly gripping, with much of what we've come to love over three and a bit seasons crashing around our ears. I'm thrilled that the quality of Glee hasn't dropped off, and long may it continue.

The Doctor also returned last week in a modern day drama about the evil of wi-fi. I am gradually growing into Matt Smith's doctor, and the early signs of his relationship with feisty Clara are promising. It wasn't the greatest episode ever - despite the wonderful Celia Imrie - but it remains TV's best and most entertaining drama by some distance.

Next week: Papadopoulous & Sons, The Odd Life of Timothy Green and All Things to All Men