Film

The Old Man and the Gun

Dir: David Lowery

Robert Redford takes on the role of real life American career criminal Forrest Tucker

AT BEST: “It would require a true curmudgeon to not derive pleasure from Redford’s twinkling performance, radiating smoothness, wisdom and charm.” The Guardian

AT WORST: “If Redford really is done, this is a perfect way for him to say goodbye.” ScreenCrush

Suspiria

Dir: Luca Guadagnino

Life at a happy dance company takes a turn for the worse, when horror consumes the artistic director and an ambitious young dancer

AT BEST: “A film of rare and unfettered madness... leaves behind a scalding message that’s written in pain and blood.” indieWire

AT WORST: “A breathtaking achievement in hollow, know-somethingish sensationalism that fully deserves to be called ‘pretentious’.” RogerEbert.com

The Hate U Give

Dir: George Tillman Jr.

A drama centred on Starr Carter, who switches between two worlds: the poor, mostly black neighbourhood where she lives and the rich, mostly white, prep school she attends

AT BEST: “Entertaining, enraging, and ultimately deeply moving, it is poised to be a hit, and deserves to be.” Variety

AT WORST: “Is wholesome and heartbreaking. It’s visceral and at the same time makes so much sense.” Black Girl Nerds

Free Solo

Dirs: Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chinz

An unflinching portrait of free soloist climber Alex Honnold, as he climbs the 3,000ft El Capitan (without a rope)

AT BEST: “Is so absorbing because it strives for even a tenuous grip on the balance between love and need.” indieWire

AT WORST: “[It] brings up some knotty questions. Is Honnold an unfeeling monster for doing this to the ones he loves? Is all this death-defying in some ways an act of cruelty?” Vanity Fair