Soaring

Riggan (Michael Keaton) aka Birdman - a stereoytped actor from yesteryears, is attempting to resurrect his career in the face of a hostile and unrelenting media reception, estranged daughter Sam (Emma Stone), demanding method actor Mike (Edward Norton) whom he cannot do without - but most of all the ghosts of Birdman lurking in his mind, that are telling him to let go of Broadway ambitions, and pander to the kitschy tastes of his loyal audience. Brilliantly executed, somewhat predictable, full of allegory. Well-packaged Academy Awards candidate

15/20

Oblivious Workers

Jack (Tom Cruise) and Julia (Andrea Riseborough) work out of an earth-based station to protect installations that mine sea water for energy production. It is a ravaged earth, with a few survivors (scavs, short for scavengers) kept in their place by droids. Jack’s undying curiosity, leads him to rescue Julia (Olga Kurylenko), who he finds to be his wife. Things are not quite what they seem, and an ostensibly hostile encounter with the scavs including their lader Beech (Morgan Freeman) leads him to discover the reality behind his existence, and the role played by Sally, the intelligence that has assigned Jack and Julia (s?) their roles. Oblivion is entertaining, but has borrowed liberally from Moon (clone-based mining) and Independence Day (destroy an intelligence hovering over earth bent on annihilating mankind). Notwithstanding the obvious sources of inspiration, a good if not quite edge-of-the-seat entertainer

13.5/20