The 50 Word Review

Michael Madsen stars in this average movie about the trials of excesses, and where it leads you. He is a failed financial speculator drawn into a scheme of murder, deceit, and drug-deals. Que event followed by escape to Beijing. Everyone is out to get everyone else,and has their own agenda, leaving only a very unsatisfying ending. Brian Murray

Possibly the worst thing ever to come out of the north of England if you discount Pot Noodle or Jimmy Saville -Dead Man’s Cards is as charmless as a disused coal pit. It’s the story of two sort of morally upstanding door men pitted against delinquent door men. I choose the bubonic plague over re-watching this. JJ

A very dodgy movie where Mormons are kidnapped and tortured by a deranged clown. A couple is looking for a break from the big city life at a cabin for the weekend, when they meet this clown. The female lead is supposed to have had a minor psychotic episode, but looks more like she‘s on the run from her stripping job. Brian Murray

The final instalment of Jason Bourne’s adventures to learn of his forgotten past is intense, yet cool and composed.  By far, the best action-thriller of the decade. I got high on the Waterloo Station sequence. Omid Nikfarjam

A complex and compelling tale of corruption and retribution. Works best in its portrayal of outsiders; George Clooney as a cast-out from the CIA machine, Jeffrey Wright as the black virtuous lawyer, the Saudi reformist Prince and the young Pakistani terrorist,  all connected and complicit in a nefaorius web. One to watch. JJ

Glamorous costumes, great set designs and cinematography, and a fantastic dark atmosphere that’s become Tim Burton’s trademark - unfortunately comes to nothing. I don’t know why the hell he thought this had to be a musical. Omid Nikfarjam  

Upon release from jail Carlito (Al Pacino) is determined to straighten out his life but unwittingly his nefarious past catches up with him through the dealings of his buddy David Kleinfeld (Sean Penn). The film follows his attempts to cut the umbilical chord to his life of crime. Great movie with outstanding performances. Neha Kumar

A great thriller about five gangsters involved in a heist. One of them is a traitor with big plans to pocket all the money and elope with his girlfriend. While the traitor is revealed in the beginning, the twists and turns in the movie keep you engaged until the end. Neha Kumar

Set in Serbia during and after the war. Richard Gere is a love-lost journalist in need of the biggest story of his life; capturing an infamous war criminal modelled on Radovan Karadžić. Gere’s character manages to find him after only two days, which raises the question, why isn’t Richard Gere on the the UN payroll? Brian Murray