ANNETTE ★★★★★
Directed by Leos Carax. Starring Adam Driver, Marion Cotillard, Simon Helberg. 18 cert, gen release, 140 min
A confrontational comedian (Driver, electric) and an opera singer (Cotillard) raise a puppet child with an uncanny voice. Working from a libretto by cult band Sparks, cult director Carax's English-language debut won't please mayonnaise mainstream tastes. But for those seeking surprises, spectacle and shadows, it's a marvel like no other. The series of big, ravishing tableaux by cinematographer Caroline Champetier can feel like being trapped in the best '80s pop video this side of Propaganda's Duel. It's a welcome sensation. The story, too, in keeping with the arch lyricism of Ron Mael, is admirably ambitious. Full review TB
WILDFIRE ★★★★☆
Directed by Cathy Brady. Starring Nika McGuigan, Nora-Jane Noone, Kate Dickie, Martin McCann, David Pearse. 15A cert, gen release, 84 min
Searing drama concerning the volatile relationship between sisters (McGuigan and Noone) coping indifferently with the mysterious death of their mother in a Border town. Director Brady established her reputation with a series of brilliant shorts at the beginning of the past decade and her talent for electrifying vignettes remains undiminished. McGuigan, who sadly died after filming, is unforgettable as the more energised sister. Noone is more focused. Wildfire does, perhaps, lack a bit of narrative organisation, but it succeeds on passion and visual panache. And it makes the best cinematic use of Them's Gloria ever. Full review DC
SHANG-CHI AND THE LEGEND OF THE TEN RINGS ★★★☆☆
Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton. Starring Simu Liu, Awkwafina, Meng'er Zhang, Fala Chen, Florian Munteanu, Benedict Wong. 12A, gen release, 133 min
Young Shang-Chi (Liu), educated as a kung fu master, returns to his roots in the latest entry to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings works hard at showing respect to its Asian characters and settings. Borrowing moves from Jackie Chan and the "wire fu" school of martial arts movie, the picture rattles along with an unpretentious vigour too rare in the Marvelverse. Director Cretton continues Marvel's reasonably successful practices of unlikely hires from the indie sector. The dialogue is snappy. The action has real kinetic clatter. Full review DC
HERE TODAY ★★★☆☆
Directed by Billy Crystal. Starring Billy Crystal, Tiffany Haddish, Penn Badgley, Laura Benanti, Louisa Krause. 12A cert, gen release, 117 min
Here Today, starring Crystal a television comedy warhorse and Haddish as quip-making busker who becomes his unlikely chum, feels like the third top-grossing comedy of 1991, a modest hit released snugly between Crystal's turn in When Harry Met Sally and his directorial debut, Mr Saturday Night. There are mawkish moments, phoney sentiments and unlikely circumstances. The unromantic rom-com structure is more interesting on paper than in practice. This is a film with a big heart and more zingers than actual laughs. Full review TB
