Official Competition (15)
Directed by Mariano Cohn and Gaston Duprat
★★★★

ARGENTINE duo Mariano Cohn and Gaston Duprat team up again, this time to take aim at the pretentious world of cinema and art in this surreal, biting satire about a millionaire who hires a renowned eccentric filmmaker to make the greatest film ever as his legacy.

Penelope Cruz portrays the exacting director Lola Cuevas, who considers herself an artist, who deliberately casts famous film star Felix Rivero (Antonio Banderas) and intellectual Thespian Ivan Torres (Oscar Martinez) as brothers in this film within a film to see sparks fly.

Rivero, who loves the trappings of fame, is arrogant and feels turning up on set is enough as his charisma and talent will do the trick, while Torres believes in hard work, preparation, a fair wage and travels in economy.

Meanwhile Cuevas delights in torturing her actors, pushing them out of their comfort zones and pitting them against each other during the rehearsal period.

In one bonkers scene, she ties them up together in cling-film and makes them watch her destroy their most coveted awards/statuettes in a grinding machine on stage.

Set in a stark, icy and sterile minimalist setting, the growing rivalry and passionate clash of these three egomaniacs is a wonder to behold. Cruz, Banderas and Martinez are a class act delivering powerhouse performances — in particular Cruz, who plays against type.

It is a hilarious yet striking examination of the filmmaking and acting process, as well as the entitlement of the rich and famous, leading to a shocking third act which is hard to foresee.

MD

In cinemas and on Curzon Home Cinema

Black Mail (15)
Directed by Obi Emelonye
★★★

IN A world where we are addicted to our online tech and social media, how far would you go to keep your private life private?
That is the question at the heart of writer, director and producer Obi Emelonye’s new thriller, which explores the effects of cyber crime and its multiple victims.

The film, set in modern day London, follows up-and-coming actor and family man Ray Chinda (OC Ukeje) who falls victim to a group of seemingly faceless internet criminals extorting money from him in exchange for private files of him pleasuring himself.

Fearing that his career and marriage would be over if they were released online, he gives into their demands. Then, with the help of his manager (Alessandro Babalola), he embarks on a race against time to find his blackmailers and stop them. It is a fascinating and tense cyber cat-and-mouse thriller, sadly undermined by some wooden performances, particularly from some of the extras. Plus, there is very little on-screen chemistry between Ukeje and Julia Holden, who plays his wife.

However, it is a film which shows potential and may give you food for thought.

MD
In cinemas

Mr Malcolm’s List (PG)
Directed by Emma Holly Jones
★★★

IF YOU are in need of a Bridgerton fix, then this engaging regency romantic comedy drama may fill the void nicely.

Based on Suzanne Allain’s novel, which she has adapted for the big screen, it follows Julia Thistlewaite (Zawe Ashton) who, having been jilted by London's most eligible wealthy bachelor Mr Malcolm (Sope Dirisu) — no woman apparently being able to meet all 10 of his requirements for a wife, as per his infamous list — convinces her good friend Selina Dalton (Freida Pinto) to play the role of his ideal match in a bid for revenge.

A cross between Jane Austen and Bridgerton — certainly in terms of the cast’s inclusivity — this is a joyous and entertaining romp with stunning vistas, which again examines women’s financial disadvantage and their dependence on marrying well at that time.

Being snubbed by Mr Malcolm meant an end to all Julia’s marriage prospects. Pinto gives a sublime performance as the conflicted Selina, and Ashton is wonderfully cunning and manipulative as Julia.

While Dirisu’s Mr Malcolm is arrogant, prejudiced and rude, with no redeeming qualities even until the very end. It is hard to discern what Selina saw in him.

On the plus side, the film has a more fitting romantic ending than the book.

MD

In cinemas

Beast (15)
Directed by Baltasar Kormakur
★★★

IDRIS ELBA roars into action showing off his extensive acting chops in this crazy survival B-movie in which he spends 60 minutes facing off with a rogue killer lion in a man versus beast scenario.

Fear not: no felines were injured in this thriller shot in South Africa as they are all CGI, proving what a quality actor Elba is, bringing his A-game as widower Dr Nate Samuels, alongside the impressive Iyana Halley and Leah Jeffries as his estranged teenage daughters.

Samuels is attempting to reconnect with them following the death of the girls’ mother as they return to her native home and stay with friend Martin Battles (Sharlto Copley, District 9).

“It’s the law of the jungle, it’s the only law that matters,” Copley says with a straight face as the four are relentlessly hunted by the incredibly realistic-looking lion, whose pride was slaughtered by poachers and is hell-bent on killing every human in revenge — who can blame him?

It is ridiculous yet a surprisingly nail-biting ride under Baltasar Kormakur’s steady direction, emboldened by the stunning wilds of the South African savannah.

It is sheer escapism which really needs to be experienced on the big screen.

MD

In cinemas