FILM REVIEWS: IP MAN 3/THE REVENANT/ROOM

Ip Man 3

The third instalment in a series focusing on Chinese Wing Chung grandmaster Ip Man (probably best known in the west for being mentor to Bruce Lee). As with the previous films, Ip Man is played by living Hong Kong legend Donnie Yen who is tasked with protecting the local community from a gang of martial arts practicing thugs whilst also facing a new hungry rival. The film is much in the spirit of the preceding two Ip Man films with Yen. Martial arts sequences are unsurprisingly regular and impressive whilst the performances are extremely broad, especially with boxing icon Mike Tyson playing the leader of the thugs. The film was packaged with 3D, but for no real justification, especially as it only becomes noticeable towards the film’s end. Fans of the previous Ip Man films will probably be satisfied as this is really more of the same. For newcomers, expect something entertaining but not a guaranteed winner. ***

The Revenant

Perennial Oscar nominee Leonardo DiCaprio has come to the awards a few times now being heavily favoured and coming up short of the Best Actor Oscar. Could this finally be Leo’s year? Well, it’s certainly the case that other competitors for the prize are definitely going to have to work hard to deservedly surpass him. One man’s tale through the American wilderness, Revenant follows fur trapper Hugh Glass (DiCaprio) as he is left for dead along the trail, on his trek back to civilisation. Director Alejandro Gonzales Iñárritu brings with him the same panoramic tracking shots that served him so well in Birdman (2014) that help give the film tremendous atmosphere, with the rugged landscape of America’s frozen north equally showing the rugged visage of the usually-famously-babyfaced DiCaprio. In addition, there are memorable supporting roles, particularly Tom Hardy as the film’s racist redneck antagonist and Domnhall Gleeson as the young but principled leader of the trapping expedition as well as a stunning score by soundtrack veteran and Japanese music icon Ryuichi Sakamoto. It is a truly rare thing to spot an instant classic; those things usually require the posterity of history. However, in the case of Revenant, I truly think we have one of the best films of the twenty-first century. ***** (pick of the week)

Room

 Another one of the films featured heavily in the Oscars this year, Room is an adaptation of the Lisa Donoghue novel about a woman (Brie Larson) and her son (Jacob Tremblay) adjusting to the world after years (in the son’s case, an entire life) confined as prisoners in a small shed known as “Room”. Donoghue also adapted the screenplay herself and the film wisely chooses to focus on the psychological and emotional aspects of imprisonment after release, giving an original but rich twist on such a tale. Even more so, the film wonderfully showcases some great performances from across the cast. Special mention should go to Larson and especially to young Jacob Tremblay, truly an actor to watch for in the future; an emotionally-charged but very rewarding watch. ****