Movie reviews of Eric Hillis

It's never dull, and how many recent big budget Hollywood movies can you say that about? Review

Brosnan and Thompson turned out quality work last year in Love is All You Need and Saving Mr Banks respectively, which makes it all the more irritating that they should settle for utter tosh like this. Review

Starting off as a sort of sub Woody Allen comedy of self-deprecation, Ayoade's film is quite humorous, even if the gags aren't particularly fresh, but when things take a darker turn in the movie's second half, Ayoade seems less comfortable with the material, allowing the story to ultimately fade away like a reflection in the mirror of a steamed up bathroom. Review

The Raid 2 is a technical marvel and certainly intense, but intensity without humor leads to drabness; just ask Hitchcock the value of tension-relieving comedy, or Spielberg, whose outwardly morose Schindler's List contains some downright hilarious moments of black comedy. Review

It's the script that ultimately renders Divergent a disaster, written as it is like the first three episodes of a sci-fi TV show (and a Canadian sci-fi TV show at that) rather than a standalone movie. Review

For all its technical virtuosity, particularly in the sound design department, it's the film's two leads that leave the greatest impression. Review

It's bad enough that we don't give two hoots about the characters involved but the set-pieces are as bland as they come. The Russo brothers are completely out of their depth working on this scale, having previously directed a variety of sitcoms and the 2006 comedy You, Me & Dupree. Review

Labor Day is a serious mis-step and the result is one of the most unintentionally hilarious films a major director has given us in quite some time. Review

The film's approach is reductive in a manner that will alienate music fans who know the reality behind these stories. Review

Whenever Ealy and Bryant are onscreen, the movie is a success, an insightful look at the struggles of maintaining a relationship, but when Hart and Hall appear we're back in Stepin Fetchit territory, derailing the entire movie in the process. Review

If you're a cynic, or a film snob, Muppets Most Wanted may not be what you want, but if you try it sometime, you just might find, it's exactly what you need. Review

Unless you have a vested interest in the world of high fashion, Yves Saint Laurent is a dull, by the numbers biopic that fails to convince us of its subject's worth. Review

The problem is Gilliam neglects to wrap his theme in anything resembling entertainment. Review

The movie got progressively worse and sank me into the sort of deep funk that Michael Haneke can only dream of inflicting on his audience. Review

It's a film with a lot of charm, set against one of the planet's most visually splendid backdrops. Review

All that said, the film is never dull and the rapid pacing paints over the plot's damp patches enough to get you through its running time. Review

I'm not saying a buddy cop movie has to rely on foul language and hard hitting violence. With a great script and top notch performances, this template can survive in the PG-13 world. Ride Along, however, has neither of these required elements and badly needs an extra bit of edginess to paper over its cracks. Review

Imagine a hybrid of Species and Starman directed by Tarkovsky and you'll have some idea what to expect, though the film will certainly surprise. Review

Attempting to get to grips with the film's narrative is likely to leave you with a prolonged migraine and you’ll find yourself asking a lot of questions of the film. Review

The downside of Sen's film is its over reliance on dialogue to propel the investigation, as is often the case with the detective genre, and the movie begins to sag somewhat in the final act, once the novelty of its outback setting begins to wear thin. Review

The idea that vampires would be the most cultured people alive, thanks to having so much time on their hands, is an interesting concept that's briefly touched upon here but Only Lovers Left Alive is one for Jarmusch completists and teenage Goths only. Review

Volume Two is a grim look at the effects on an animal denied its carnal rights. Review

Volume One is the most exhilarating two hours of cinema I’ve seen in some time, an assault on the senses that moves at a blistering pace. Review

If you wish to hear Moriarty singing the Irish folk song, On Raglan Road, you'll be satisfied. If it's a laugh fest you're after, The Stag fails to deliver. Review