The Founder

(M) ★★★★Director: John Lee Hancock.Cast: Michael Keaton, Laura Dern, Nick Offerman, John Carroll Lynch, Patrick Wilson, B. J. Novak, Linda Cardellini.Set in a time when going to a McDonald's restaurant was a thing to be celebrated.AFTER the incredible double of Birdman and Spotlight – both of which won the best film Oscar – directors must have been tripping over themselves to cast Michael Keaton.Not only is he potentially a lucky charm for big awards...

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Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them

(M) ★★★Director: David Yates.Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Katherine Waterston, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Colin Farrell, Ezra Miller, Samantha Morton, Carmen Ejogo."Gotta catch 'em all!" said Newt Scamander (probably).THERE must be a saying in Hollywood to the effect of “No franchise is ever finished”.Warner Bros, having made close to $8 billion at the box office from the eight Harry Potter films, had this adage in mind when it came knocking on JK Rowling’s...

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Arrival

(M) 4.5 out of 5Director: Denis Villeneuve.Cast: Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, Forest Whitaker, Michael Stuhlbarg, Tzi Ma.Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner talk to some strange visitors in Arrival.HOW many times has the Earth been visited/invaded by aliens?The answer is “so many we’ve lost count”, and for that reason alone you could be forgiven for switching off at the thought of another cinematic close encounter.But don’t. Because if you do, you’ll miss not...

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The Accountant

(MA15+) ★★Director: Gavin O’Connor.Cast: Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, J. K. Simmons, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Jon Bernthal, Jeffrey Tambor, John Lithgow.DC were already having regrets about their spin-off film Batman Does His Tax.BEN Affleck has been on a roll in recent years.He directed an Oscar-winning film (Argo), worked with auteur directors Terrence Malick and David Fincher, was perfect in Gone Girl, and was a great Batman and the best thing...

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