5 new movie reviews in brief: Truth, Suffragette, Our Brand is Crisis and more

Truth

Thoughreporters bemoan the state of journalism today,in the movies,it's the golden age again as films like Spotlight and Truthrevisit the theme ofhard-charging reporters fighting the good fight. However,Truth is a story about what happens when those reporters stumble.

From the screenwriter of Zodiac (and The Amazing Spider-Man) comes a dramatization of theMemogatecontroversy overa 60 Minutes report concerning documents critical offormer U.S. presidentGeorge W. Bush'sNational Guard service. Questions of authenticity swirlingaround photocopied letters eventually took down news producer Mary Mapes and helped end Dan Rather's career at CBS.

Backed by an orchestra swelling with moral rectitude, Truth is so convinced of its righteousness that it turnsa fascinating issue into a story about martyrdom.In his directorial debut, James Vanderbilt is so busy painting Mapes as the victim, he rarely stops to question hercertainty or how facts become irrelevant in the 24-hour tweeting andblogging world we live in.

Cate Blanchett channels a little of her earlier BlueJasmine role as Mapes,while Robert Redford's iconic status leads to awooden portrayal of Rather. Journalism fans mightenjoy the glimpseof how the sausage is made, but will have trouble enduring Truth'ssecond half.

2.5 out of 5 stars

Suffragette

On thesurface, Suffragette appears to be a film about feminism,but it's also about the slippery slope betweenagitator andwhat some would label terrorism.Set in Britain in 1912, years before women won the right to vote, the film revolves around two figures on either side of the battle.

Carey Mulligan is Maud Watts, a woman who has been working in a laundry since the age of seven andgoes from reluctant supporter to frontline soldier as her personal situation worsens.On the other side is Brendan Gleeson, as the inspector charged with stopping thisinsurrection.

DirectorSarah Gavron shows the dingy,disheartening anddeplorable conditions that pushedwomen likeWatts.Though it's nice to see Helena Bonham Carter underplay a role for once, the addition of Meryl Streep is basically glorified stunt casting. If Suffragette suffers,it's from the predictable path the story takes. Still, thecombination of Gavron's urgent, hand-held shooting style and Mulligan's facea mixture of pain and determinationcreate a stirring experience.

3.5out of 5 stars

Burnt gets 3.5 out of 5 stars

9 years ago

Duration 2:37

A gourmet version of a familiar Hollywood recipe, Burnt is cinematic comfort food, says CBC's Eli Glasner

Burnt

A gourmet version of a familiar Hollywood recipe, Burnt finds Bradley Cooper and his immaculately groomed chin stubble cast as Adam, a broken but genius chef in Londonsearchingfor redemption as well ashis third Michelin star.

The cinematography transforms the slabs of beef and onion sprouts of his upscale menuinto modern art installations worthy ofa museum.Directed by August: Osage County's John Wells, Burnt transports us into the kitchen of thehigh-end restaurant where Adam bullies and berates his staff into aquivering crew churning outperfection.

Leather jacket-cladCooper tooling like a Top Gun stand-in can be hard to swallow, but Burnt'sexcellent supporting cast, including Sienna Miller and Daniel Bruhl, elevate the film to cinematic comfort food of the highest order.

3.5out of 5 stars

Our Brand is Crisis gets 3 out of 5 stars

9 years ago

Duration 2:51

This is the solid kind of film Hollywood doesn't make any more: smart, with stars, and intended for adults, says CBC's Eli Glasner.

Our Brand is Crisis

Our Brand is Crisis seesSandra Bullock staras Calamity Jane, a political strategist parachuted into Bolivia to help agroup of American consultants win an election.Inspired by the documentary of the same name, the filmmixes sometimes-bitingsatire withsomewhat-bubbling farce where llamas are used as punch lines.

Though the tone doesn't gel, it's a good vehicle for Bullock, who employssharp timing as aharried, chip-munching political guru.Herpart was originally intended for George Clooney,but in Bullock's hands,histypical bluster is balanced with some welcome vulnerability.Our Brand is Crisisdoesn't quite earn the conscience it develops at the end, but in many ways it's thesolid kind of film Hollywood doesn't make any more:smart, with stars, and intended for adults. Now,will someone give the great Anthony Mackie a role he can sink his teeth into?

3out of 5 stars

Victoria gets 4.5 out of 5 stars

9 years ago

Duration 4:12

In this tale about a late-night adventure that takes an ominous turn, the unbroken cinematography keeps the tension high, CBC's says Eli Glasner.

Victoria

Filmed in a single continuous shot, the German film Victoria comes across as a mix of Birdman, Bonnie and Clyde and Before Sunrise. Party girl Victoria leaves a club and is adopted by a group of "real Berliners" petty criminals who are charming,in a scruffy sort of way. As their late-night walking tour takes an ominous turn, the unbroken cinematography keeps the tension high, while the largely improvised script leaves room for expressive moments. StarLaia Costais remarkable.

4.5 out of 5 stars