King of Thieves (15)
Director: James Marsh
★★★★

REVIEWING the crime that inspired this fact-based thriller, Judge Christopher Kinch QC stated: “'The burglary of the Hatton Garden safe deposit vault in April 2015 has been labelled by many as the biggest burglary in English legal history.”

Even so, a previous film, The Hatton Garden Job, passed without much notice but that’s not likely here. Director James Marsh is armed with a large budget and, better still, a great roster of appropriately pension-aged stars as a gang of elderly criminals in robust shape.

They're led by recently widowed crook Brian Reader (Michael Caine) to pull off the once-in-a-lifetime robbery of a Hatton Garden vault.

Near perfect casting gives us Jim Broadbent, Tom Courtenay, Ray Winstone — playing Winstone as usual — Michael Gambon and, sadly, a rather out-of-his-depth Paul Whitehouse. Youth is there in the shape of Charlie Cox, who neutralises the alarm systems.

James Marsh’s brisk direction keeps the narrative going even after the key crime sequence ends, although narrative momentum slows for a while until the climax kicks in.

The result is a surprisingly entertaining crime caper that recalls The Lavender Hill Mob, reworked with violence and a record-breaking barrage of four-letter laden language.

Alan Frank

Crazy Rich Asians (12A)
Directed by Jon M Chu
★★★★

FEATURING the first all-Asian cast in a Hollywood film in 25 years, this delightfully old-fashioned rom com with a modern twist proves that inclusivity makes moral and business sense — it reached number one at the US box office.

Based on Kevin Kwan's best selling novel, it follows Chinese New Yorker economics professor Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) as she accompanies her boyfriend Nick (impressive newcomer Harry Golding) home to Singapore to attend his best friend's wedding.

She soon discovers his family is old money crazy rich and he is like the Prince William of Asia — although he tells her he is much more of a Harry.

She becomes the target of jealous back-stabbing socialites and embarks on a charm offensive to win over Nick's haughty and snobbish mother (a wonderful Michelle Yeoh) who does not deem the very successful Rachel worthy enough for her son, due to his having been raised by a single mother in the US.

Slick, stylish and lavish, this is a rom com which deals with poignant universal themes — a fish out of water, class snobbery and mothers who believe that no woman is good enough for their sons — intelligently and with a great deal of humour. It's underscored by a killer soundtrack of well- known US hits sung in Chinese.

Wu and Golding make an adorable couple you want to root for while Awkwafina, on fine form, provides the light relief as Rachel's madcap friend. He gives Ken Jeong, who plays her nouveau-rich father, a run for his money in the over-the-top crazy department.

Frothy and engagingly funny, this is a hugely entertaining rom com which is difficult not to be won over by.

Maria Duarte

Lucky (15)
Directed by John Carrol Lynch
★★★★★

VETERAN US character actor Harry Dean Stanton made his final bow in this deeply moving story of the last days of 90-year-old atheist Lucky — “There’s a difference between lonely and living alone” — in his off-the-map desert town.

He works out in his underwear, is at ease in the local eatery where he breakfasts and does his daily crossword as well as cheerfully engaging with other drinkers in a bar.

He still smokes at 90 and, having passed out, is happy to hear his doctor tell him: “The older you get, the longer you’re going to live”.

First-time director John Carrol Lynch charts Lucky’s last days with emotional truth, garlanded by Stanton’s riveting performance and spot-on support (director David Lynch is unexpectedly effective) to deliver a unique emotional treat and a wonderful tribute to his star.

AF

The Rider (15)
Directed by Chloe Zhao
★★★★

WITH its stunning, sweeping vistas of the US plains and soulful performances from its ensemble non-professional cast, this hard-hitting drama provides a unique insight into what it means to be a real-life cowboy.

The film centres on the young rising star of the rodeo circuit Brady (Brady Jandreau) who, after suffering a near-fatal head injury, is informed that he can never ride again if he wants to live. He thus embarks on reinventing himself and finding a new identity but the lure of riding and horses is too overpowering.

This gentle and heartbreaking drama, a slow-burner, is based on the life of Lakota cowboy Jandreau and, acting opposite his real-life family and friends, it's driven by his stirring and magnificent portrayal of a fictionalised version of himself.

It's an extraordinary piece of film-making by writer-director Chloe Zhao, who captures a slice of Americana never seen before and obtains remarkable performances from her stupendous yet inexperienced cast.

A film which will stir you to the core.

MD

The Predator (15)
Directed by Shane Black
★★★★

THE ORIGINAL Predator made his film debut 31 years ago. Now the extraterrestrial hunter makes a rousing comeback in this outing, co-written and directed to chill and thrill by Shane Black.

It's a fast-moving, startling shocker that starts with a Star Wars-style space battle that brings the monster to Earth, witnessed by US sniper McKenna (Boyd Holbrook), whose son accidentally triggers the revitalisation of the Predator.

Stronger, smarter and deadlier than before, he leaves McKenna and a bunch of supposed loonies to save mankind.

Which they do in a fast, furious and thoroughly enjoyable mad melange of shocks and suspense.

AF

Down To Earth
Directed by Renata Heinen and Rolf Winters
★★★

THIS film follows the journey of a London family who turned their backs on their conventional life and society to discover a new perspective on the world by becoming at one with nature.

Renata Heinen and Rolf Winters spent five years travelling six continents with their three young children, living with native Americans and other tribal communities across the globe in search of “Earth keepers,” sparked by their encounter with Nowaten, a Potawatomi medicine man who left a deep imprint.

His thoughts and musings are interweaved throughout the film as Heinen and Winters embark on their eye-opening adventure and give their children the education of a lifetime. I couldn't help but wonder, though, what the authorities thought of them pulling their kids out of school for five years, along with how they managed to finance their expedition.

Spiritual and thought-provoking, it's a film which some might find a little hippy-dippy.

But with the world in dangerous turmoil, some might find it very tempting to follow this couple's example, up sticks and disappear into the wilderness.

MD