Four Mothers ★★★☆☆
Directed by Darren Thornton. Starring James McArdle, Fionnula Flanagan, Dearbhla Molloy, Paddy Glynn, Stella McCusker, Niamh Cusack, Gaetan Garcia, Rory O’Neill. 15A cert, gen release, 89 min
Charming comedy from the director of A Date for Mad Mary concerning a Dublin novelist (McArdle) forced to care for his ageing mother (Flanagan) and those of three gay friends while juggling publicity duties for his new book. Thornton, again sharing screenwriting duties with his brother Colin, delivers a warm film that only a congenital malcontent could dislike. The films doesn’t have the edge of Mad Mary, but shows professionals of several generations to advantage. There are no moral missteps or properly ugly confrontations. That should be enough to be going on with. Full review DC
Mr Burton ★★★★☆
Directed by Marc Evans. Starring Harry Lawtey, Toby Jones, Lesley Manville, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, Aneurin Barnard, Steffan Rhodri. 12A cert, gen release, 125min
“Without Philip Burton, there would never have been a Richard Burton,” Elizabeth Taylor observed. “That great rolling voice that cracked like wild Atlantic waves would never have been heard outside the valley.” The title refers not to Liz’s legendary spouse (born Richard Jenkins) but to Philip Burton (Jones, touching), the teacher who inspired the actor. Lawtey is tremendous as the budding actor in a lovely film that works as an origin story. The glistening score, composed by John Hardy, was recorded by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Manville offers great support as Philip’s landlady. Full review TB
Restless ★★★★☆
Directed by Jed Hart. Starring Lyndsey Marshal, Aston McAuley, Barry Ward, Kate Robbins, Denzel Baidoo, Ciara Ford, Ken Doherty. 15A cert, gen release, 89 min
An empty-nester (Marshal) deals with psychotically noisy neighbours in a cracking British thriller that that exploits its high concept to the point of narrative implosion without quite teetering over that dangerous edge. The build from irritation to fury to desperation progresses at a steady pace. Black Hitchcockian humour is supplemented by Ward’s comic turn as a bumbler who offers his pal charmingly hopeless assistance. As the action progresses, one worries there may be no satisfactory way of ending things, but director Hart manages a closing swerve that satisfies all such concerns. Stressful, but highly recommended. Full review DC
A Minecraft Movie ★★★☆☆
Directed by Jared Hess. Starring Jason Momoa, Jack Black, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers, Sebastian Hansen, Jennifer Coolidge. PG cert, gen release, 101 min
Perfectly decent translation of the world-conquering video game into a family movie. Hess, the originator of Napolean Dynamite, leans into the original aesthetic and freeform action. His proudly silly adventure features a characteristically exuberant Jack Black as Steve, the game’s default player avatar. For reasons that can only be described as a bunch of stuff, he is joined by others on a journey through diverse biomes, a lava-fried chicken shack, and magical portals. Superfans, including the late YouTuber Technoblade, feature in cameos. Daft enough to make the Sonic movies feel like the works of Bergman. Full review TB
