THE BIG SICK ★★★★
Directed by Michael Showalter. Starring Kumail Nanjiani, Zoe Kazan, Holly Hunter, Ray Romano, Anupam Kher, Zenobia Shroff, Adeel Akhtar, Bo Burnham, Aidy Bryant. 15A cert, general release, 120 min
Lively, funny, romantic comedy that follows the classic template while finding fresh innovations. Nankiani plays a comic who falls for Kazan's bright spark. He decides not to tell his Pakistani parents. Then Zoe's character falls seriously ill. Nanjiani draws on the story of his romance with cowriter Emily V Gordon to construct a twisty, unusual entertainment. The female lead is missing for a good third of the picture, but she feels present throughout. The romcom is back. – DC Review/Trailer
THE FARTHEST ★★★★
Directed by Emer Reynolds. PG cert, limited release, 120 min
Superb Irish documentary on the Voyager space programme. Lighter touches blend with denser science to create a substantial, but easily digestible, stew. The film is meticulous, epic and – Kate McCullough's characteristically fine cinematography justifies theatrical distribution – beautiful throughout. What most surprises, however, is how moving The Farthest turns out to be. Our world is so fragile. We are so insignificant. But we can do hugely ambitious and generous things. – DC Review/Trailer
DUNKIRK ★★★★★
Directed by Christopher Nolan. Starring: Fionn Whitehead, Tom Glynn-Carney, Jack Lowden, Harry Styles, Aneurin Barnard, James D'Arcy, Barry Keoghan, Kenneth Branagh, Cillian Murphy, Mark Rylance, Tom Hardy. 12A cert, general release, 107 mins
The second World War film is hardly voguish and this particular war film doesn't play by the rules. There are no Americans nor, indeed, Nazis, to be found. There is hardly any blood, and nothing like guts. There's little flashy CGI – instead we get real planes, boats and scenes shot on the actual French beaches where the infamous evacuation took place. Taking cues from such tactile Soviet war films as Come and See, Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk is entirely experiential, yet entirely without gore. There is no chatter about sweethearts back home; there is only the impulse to escape and survive. Hans Zimmer's pounding score – a symphony that draws loudly from incoming fire, heartbeat, and finally, Nimrod – amplifies the rising panic. Hoyte van Hoytema's camera buzzes through the skies and across sea and sand.The crunching realism, as captured on large format film stock, is unmistakable, and puts every other rival summer spectacle to shame. If you didn't believe in the Miracle of Dunkirk before, you will now. – TB Review/Trailer
47 METRES DOWN ★★★
Directed by Johannes Roberts. Starring Claire Holt, Mandy Moore, Chris J Johnson, Yani Gellman, Santiago A Segura, Matthew Modine. 15A cert, general release, 85 mins
The shark movie, like its piscine equivalent, never sleeps: it swims on, no matter how big the boat is. 47 Metres Down is a sleeper summer hit in the US, an impressive feat considering the carefully controlled contemporary release schedule, not to mention heavyweight competition. The dialogue and the set-up – often one and the same thing – is rather rudimentary. There are many ironic reassurances that all will be well – but that was never going to happen. While this solid actioner might have featured more sharks, a pleasing – if somewhat pilfered denouement – rounds off a perfectly good yarn. – TB Review/Trailer
CARDBOARD GANGSTERS ★★★★
Directed by Mark O'Connor. Starring John Connors, Fionn Walton, Jimmy Smallhorne, Kierston Wareing. 18 cert, general release, 92 min
O'Connor, a young Dubliner of some invention, delivers his most complete film yet with this story of a small-time hoodlum (Connors) seeking to take a few steps up the ladder. Set in Darndale, Cardboard Gangsters has admirable kinetic sweep and a keen sense for the absurdities of city life. The picture does lack story and structure. But it is so enjoyable on a scene-by-scene basis that it proves hard to care. – DC Review/Trailer
DESPICABLE ME 3 ★★★★
Directed by Pierre Coffin and Kyle Balda. Voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Trey Parker, Pierre Coffin, Steve Coogan, Julie Andrews, Miranda Cosgrove G cert, general release, 90 min
Delightful third episode in the massively successful animated series. Having acquired three daughters in the first instalment, a wife in the second film, and now a twin brother, Gru, the lovable villain turned Anti Villain League operative, could be weighted down. Despicable Me 3, however, is such a cleverly calibrated construction that we never notice the extra passengers. Think of it, in terms of quality, as The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of the Despicable Me films. G cert, gen release, 90 min TB Review/Trailer
