FILM: Forsaken
CAST: Kiefer Sutherland, Donald Sutherland, Demi Moore
DIRECTION: Jon Cassar

The handsomely made Forsaken is a conventional, predictable Western that could have just as easily been made in 1956 as 2016. But what saves it from being an extraneous exercise in genre worship are the persuasive performances, especially Kiefer Sutherland as a gunslinger who swears off his guns but is forced to strap them on again.
Sutherland is John Henry Clayton, a man who went off to fight in the Civil War and returns home a decade later a changed man. In the interim, he had earned the fearsome reputation as someone who was no stranger to violence on and off the battlefield, much to the shame of his peaceable preacher father, Reverend Clayton (Donald Sutherland).
John Henry now says he’s had enough; he has put down his weapons for good. Yet his hometown is not the place it once was. His old flame, Mary-Alice (Demi Moore), is married and a mother. Meanwhile, all the good folk are being chased out by the greedy businessman James McCurdy (the always reliable Brian Cox), his Southern gentleman henchman (a charming Michael Wincott) and their posse of rabble who are forcing people off their farms at gunpoint. You don’t need a weatherman, or to have ever even seen a Western, to know which way this wind is blowing.
Kiefer Sutherland brings a convincing depth and vulnerability to John Henry that may surprise those who only know him from 24. And seeing him reunited with his dad on screen lends an added emotional dimension to their reconciling father-son characters.
Written by Brad Mirman and beautifully shot in the Alberta wilderness by Jon Cassar (a mostly TV director who has worked with Kiefer before on 24) with cinematographer Rene Ohashi, Forsaken doesn’t colour outside the lines. But it’s still a well-drawn character portrait of a man whose past is destined to be his future. Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS

An enchanting version of a familiar story
By Rick Bentley

FILM: Cinderella
CAST: Lily James, Cate Blanchett, Richard Madden, Helena Bonham Carter.
DIRECTION: Kenneth Branagh

When the Sleeping Beauty story was reworked into the movie Maleficent last year, the fairytale was changed to give a juicier role to Angelina Jolie. The move made the story muddled and unfamiliar.
The new version of Cinderella makes no such mistake. It is an enchanting version of the familiar story of a young beauty, friendly mice and a slightly wacky Fairy Godmother. Staying loyal to the 1950 Disney animated production makes this new version bibbidi-bobbidi-beautiful.
Because the audience knows everything that’s going to happen in this story, the film can’t bank on surprise and intrigue to hold the attention of the audience.
Under the guidance of director Kenneth Branagh — who understands being loyal to a familiar text with his work on Thor — Cinderella banks on a fairytale setting, stunning costumes, perfect casting and a gorgeous soundtrack by Patrick Doyle. Even when the story is familiar, these elements are so spellbinding that the film feels fresh.
The magic starts with Lily James, the actress best known for playing Lady Rose on Downton Abbey. She brings the perfect blend of beauty, charm and innocence to breathe life into Cinderella. She’s able to make her performance feel real, whether she’s talking to mice or spinning through a ballroom with her Prince (Richard Madden).
Without her, the movie wouldn’t have been able to survive — even with the help of a Fairy Godmother. James plays the character with such strength that even when she becomes the brunt of her stepmother’s wrath, she never feels like a victim. The courage and kindness she brings to the role shines through.
Her transformation into ball guest is completed by the dazzling blue gown created by Academy Award winner Sandy Powell. That dress is matched by Cinderella’s wedding gown, which is sure to become a popular choice by future brides.
Equally important is the casting of the evil stepmother, played with just the right amount of wickedness by Cate Blanchett. She dishes out her mean-spirited ways with the perfect note of venom.
Helena Bonham Carter finds the perfect amount of zaniness in playing the Fairy Godmother. She’s equal parts competence and befuddlement, giving the character some wonderful comic relief. She fits wonderfully with Branagh’s staging of the pumpkin-to-carriage transformation (and back again) that gives the film a big special effects moment.
But, most of all, this film finds its strength in its tales of love. There is no doubt that when Cinderella and the Prince look into each other’s eyes, there are no other people in the world for them. The story also finds strong elements of love between parents and their children.
Tackling the fairytale in such a direct manner could have been Branagh’s undoing. Instead, he presents the tale with such joy and passion that it becomes a nostalgic journey to a time of childhood dreams. It’s an escape to a place where magic can happen, both because of a Fairy Godmother’s wand and the power of the human heart. — The Fresno Bee/TNS

A light-hearted comedy
FILM: Dad’s Army
CAST:  Bill Nighy, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Toby Jones, Tom Courtenay, Blake Harrison
DIRECTION: Oliver Parker

Dad’s Army is a light-hearted comedy based on the sitcom of the same name from the 60s and 70s, and features an all-star cast, including Catherine Zeta-Jones, Bill Nighy, Toby Jones, Michael Gambon, and Blake Harrison.
It is 1944 and World War II is reaching its climax. The Allies are poised to invade France and finally defeat the German army. But in Walmington-on-Sea morale amongst the Home Guard is low. Their new mission then — to patrol the Dover army base — is a great chance to revive spirits and reputation, that is until glamorous journalist Rose Winters arrives to write about their exploits, setting the pulses racing and putting the local women on red alert. MI5 then discover a radio signal sent direct to Berlin from Walmington-on-Sea. There’s a spy on the loose! The outcome of the war is suddenly at stake, and it falls to our unlikely heroes to stand up and be counted.
 But the film, overall fails to sustain the viewers’ interest because of the weak script. The wit of the original show is lacking in the remake. — SN

DVDs courtesy: Saqr Entertainment Stores, Doha