Parkland (12A) ***
The Stars: Zac Efron, Paul Giamatti, Billy Bob Thornton
The Story: Drama about the chaotic events in Dallas immediately following the assassination of John F Kennedy.
PARKLAND OFFERS an interesting new perspective on the story we think we all know - that of the assassination of President Kennedy in Dallas.
Set around the events immediately following the shooting, the movie follows the actions of several protagonists as chaos, grief and panic sweep across the city.
It brings us into the centre of the action as we see the young medical staff at Parkland Hospital (lead by Efron) fight to save his life.
We also see the realisation of an amateur cameraman Abraham Zapruder (Giamatti) that he has captured one of the most shocking moments in US history on video.
Billy Bob Thornton leads the secret service as they attempt to quell public panic and find out who was behind the assassination.
And there’s an interesting perspective as we meet the brother of shooter Lee Harvey Oswald (James Badge Dale) who’s horrified at his family’s new place in history.
It’s highly charged, emotional stuff, but in attempting to draw in several characters, the story lacks focus and doesn’t always gel.
Still, some very strong individual stories threads carry the film - in particular, Giamatti’s anguish as he figures out what to do with his film, and realises the impact it will have on history.
Billy Bob Thornton, too, oozes screen presence as Dallas secret service agent Forrest Sorrels, who uncovers some dark truths about the investigation.
The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (12A) ****
Based on the second of the smash hit series of books by Suzanne Collins, Catching Fire sees Peta and Katniss back in the cruel dystopian environment where young people are pitted against each other in a fight to the death.
Fans of the novel will be thrilled at seeing this world brought to the big screen for the second time, but there’s plenty to draw in the casual filmgoer too.
That’s thanks to a strong cast - led by the excellent Jennifer Lawrence - who make you invest in the fate of their characters and the regimen of the world in which they live, even though the film would have benefited from being chopped by 20 minutes.
Katniss has returned home to the 12th district, beloved by the public but traumatised by her role in the Games.
She and Peeta must now go on a victory tour where they continue to sell the lie that they’re a couple in love, much to the chagrin of President Snow (Donald Sutherland) who is furious at her betrayal and her growing popularity.
So much so, that he forces a change in the rules, which sees former winners once again forming a pool for the 75th Games. Will Katniss be able to survive again, and will there be blood on her hands if she does?
Lawrence is beguiling in the lead role and this is as good, if not better, than its predecessor.
The Summit (12A) ****
One of the darkest ever days in mountaineering is brought powerfully to life in Nick Ryan’s award-winning documentary.
The Irish filmmaker blends reconstructions, archive footage and interviews with survivors in piecing together the tragic story of how 11 mountain climbers perished while descending K2 in 2008.
Only days earlier, they had been celebrating a huge personal achievement, after reaching the summit of the second-highest mountain after Everest, and widely regarded as the most brutal.
One of those climbers was Limerick man Ger McDonnell, who died just days after becoming the first-ever Irishman to summit the mountain.
Ryan makes strong use of archive footage and heart wrenching interviews with survivors and family members.
But his great achievement is piecing together events by shooting dramatic reconstructions, using actors, filmed on mount Eiger in Switzerland.
The film also sets out to debunk many myths about the climbers and their actions leading up to the disaster. For anyone who is passionate about extreme sports, this is a must-see.
