In the cinema: The Best Of Me
Hollywood is in the business of offering audiences something with proven appeal, but with fresh elements: this is the kind of thing you like, so here it is again, but a bit different. When it comes to movies adapted from Nicholas Sparks books, the emphasis is more on familiarity than novelty, especially in the case of his latest effort, The Best Of Me. It’s got love across the class divide, as teen mechanic Dawson (Aussie hunk Luke Bracey) falls for businessman’s daughter Amanda (Liana Liberato). It has stunning lakeside settings, shirtless men doing manly physical activity, and major plot developments that imperil the central romance. The different twist comes in the form of splitting the action between 21 years ago and the present, in which the older versions of Dawson (James Marsden) and Amanda (Michelle Monaghan) meet again at a friend’s funeral. It won’t convert anyone to Sparks movies, and he’s probably never going to top The Notebook, but the adage proves true: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
On DVD: Edge Of Tomorrow
It came out at cinemas back in April, and ended up grossing a rather disappointing £8m in UK cinemas, but Edge Of Tomorrow really is one of the most entertaining popcorn flicks of the year, and a whole lot more fun than a lot of the big summer blockbusters, eg Godzilla and Transformers. Maybe audiences are just over Tom Cruise, which is a shame, as he’s perfect here as the cowardly military spin doctor who is appalled to discover he must actually go to war. Against deadly aliens. For complicated reasons (don’t ask), his day reboots every time he gets killed, which in this movie is a lot of times. By remembering what he learned the day before, can he deliver a decisive blow against the alien foe? He’s aided in this regard by Emily Blunt as a kickass soldier who teaches him to fight. The film was made with the title All You Need Is Kill, which is much better than the bland, forgettable Edge Of Tomorrow. Give the film a go. We think you will be pleasantly surprised.
On TV: The Bourne Supremacy (ITV2, Friday, 9pm)
Which is your favourite Bourne movie? Although Ultimatum – the last of the three films to feature Matt Damon – perfected the technique of telling story through action (which is incredibly difficult to do, but thrillingly engaging to watch), Supremacy remains our favourite overall. It’s the second one, from 2004, and Jason Bourne goes on the run when he’s framed for the murder of two CIA operatives. It’s directed by Paul Greengrass, who really knows how to make action films intelligently and stylishly. After a franchise detour with the Bourne-less The Bourne Legacy, starring Jeremy Runner, Greengrass and Damon are coming back for a fourth Bourne film proper. Bring it on!