"Now You See Me," directed by Louis Leterrier

Movie, 2013

Clever and tricksy blockbuster about four magicians - the Four Horsemen - who plot and counter-plot against legal and corporate agencies, keeping one step ahead with some outrageous, elaborate pranks and tricks. A film which puts a little too much emphasis on action and atmosphere, meaning that none of its characters are both lovable or believable. Entertaining yes, although everything's driven home with crashes, bangs, wallops and irritating uses of incidental music. A shame, as there's a suggestion, here and there, that there might be something more interesting going on.

"The Borderlands", directed by Elliot Goldner

Movie, 2013

Blair Witch influenced film about three Vatican-employed paranormal investigators sent to a desolate church and the home of a slightly deranged priest. A slow build-up means we learn a good deal about two of the main protagonists, although the characterisations - particularly Gray - aren't wholly engaging or likable. There are some effective set pieces, with the unseen flashes of activity and sound design particularly good, though the film plods in between, always promising more than it delivers. The found footage isn't as tiresome as it might have been. Not without some strong points, but overall, this isn't an essential film.

"The Shadow of the Crescent Moon", by Fatima Bhutto

Novel, 2013

Riveting story of three brothers in Pakistan and, more strikingly, two of the women in the family. Everyday life is shown, from three different perspectives and responses to a harsh environment. While the bombs and terror give a very visceral backdrop, it's really the domestic strains which give the book its real tension. A really well constructed and well told narrative which skillfully explores characters' past lives in adding weight to the main thrust of the story. As such, this is a refreshing look at beliefs and ideologies and how they work and are mediated through communities trying their best to get along and survive. 

"American Hustle", directed by David O Russell

Movie, 2013

One of those films, of high quality and excellent production values, which looks like a number of other similar films and whose plot is overly fiendish and involved. Let these twists and turns wash over you and it's still  visual treat, with a hard hitting cast and period visuals and soundtrack helping make this film enjoyable. A few curious features, such as the ambitious FBI agent's rapid descent into what looks like a drugs problem, swiftly forgotten from one scene to the next. But, overall, an entertaining film.

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"Identity Thief", directed by Gordon Seth

Movie, 2013

Undemanding road comedy which follows many genre rules, including the happy ending and the goo around family, and yet does so successfully. This is an entertaining, funny film, with well worked set pieces and some interesting characters. The dark elements of the plot are neither shirked or taken with any sense of gravity, so there's a balance of sorts. The ending's never in doubt and film hardly shouts for a sequel or imitators, and yet it's a well-worked piece, played for laughs, with a good measure of slapstick thrown in.

"The Internship", directed by Shawn Levy

Movie, 2013

Enjoyable comedy, which is almost over cloyingly American, but which nonetheless just about gets away with its over-sunny disposition with some near inter generational and cross cultural horseplay. The premise and story are both pretty thin and everything ridiculously predictable, but along the way, there are some funny set pieces and asides, even if a few of the set pieces outstay their welcome. Maybe not the most memorable film, but big and good enough not to have to be particularly bold. 

"The Hired Man," by Aminatta Forna

Novel, 2013

A tale of newcomers and a change in the pace and habits of a Croatian village, which becomes increasingly evident as a scene of recent catastrophe and intense ongoing tension. The mix of domestic woes, individuals adapting to altered situations and the huge, savage history underlying the setting is, in the main, effective, even if the pacing might have tightened up a little at the beginning of the novel. The sense of allegory and incidents foreshadowing and echoing events revealed later in the narrative probably makes this a good book for re-reading.

"Dallas Buyers Club", directed by Jean-Marc Vallée

Movie, 2013

Story of a rodeo star struck down with AIDS in the 1980s and his reactions and responses to the treatment prescribed by the state and the more progressive, less virulent drugs he researches and which actively ease symptoms. As a "warts and all" film, there's a fair amount of physical drama, incomprehensible grunting in dark rooms and falling over, but by and large, this is a well told story, which is sentimental without being cloying. It also asks some poignant questions about early attitudes towards and treatments of AIDS.

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"Saving Mr Banks", directed by John Lee Hancock

Movie, 2013

One of those schmaltzy films about a meeting of strong personalities which treads an historical and so entirely mapped outcome (Mary Poppins was made), but whose story and setting skillfully manipulate some strong emotional feelings and shine a light on alcoholism and its effects on families. A film far harder to like than to dislike; while the audience is played and scenes around the genesis of songs like "A Spoonful of Sugar" may have been and occasionally are a little awkward, the vision is illuminating and quite compelling.

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"I'm So Excited!" directed by Pedro Almodovar

Movie, 2013

Edgy grown-up comedy harking back to the director's earlier works, but lacking the bite and empathy. Much of this stems from wafer-thin characters, whose various and slightly tired sexual and religious mores seem tacked onto canvasses still, nonetheless, feeling empty. While the idea of a circling plane unable to land is a good one and there are some occasional glimmers of hope, overall, this film feels hugely formulaic and almost a self-parody. Not the director's best work by a long way; barely a cut above a Carry-On.

"Locke," directed by Steven Knight

Movie, 2013

A concept film where, really, there's barely any concept and virtually no action, just a man in a car, driving in the night and talking to people, desperately trying to keep his world from unravelling. And that's it. The chances of this being a good film may appear slim, but it really works tremendously well. Inevitable plaudits have to go to an excellent performance by Tom Hardy, although the script and pace are also magnificent. Not a comfortable watch and not for everyone, but this is really compelling stuff.

"Tenth of December", by George Saunders

Short stories, 2013

Short story collection of surprising and stylishly varied content. Some of the pieces are absolutely captivating and hugely thought provoking - others a little less so. Overall, there's a high standard,
with society scrutinised and human frailties writ large. "The Semplica Girls" and "Escape from Spiderland" are particularly effective in showing how much of a veneer human relations can present and how easily they can fall apart and expose societal norms. When this packs a punch, it really packs a punch.

"The Purge", directed James DeMonaco

Movie, 2013
A film with a few good ideas which all look as if they could either be freshly reflected upon, or collapse into a cliche of haunted house cum last man on Earth cum zombie type horror. Sadly, it doesn't take too long before the latter sets in. Granted, there a few effective, tense moments in among those which are less interesting and plot twist which many will have seen coming from a country mile off. By no means terrible, but one which is a rather lame imitation of some much better pictures.

"Star Trek Into Darkness", directed Abrams

Blockbuster, 2013

Effective, entertaining blockbuster, which despite a slightly irritating "go in all guns blazing" opening, settles down but keeps up a cracking pace. There would be plenty to moan about in terms of stereotypes, Spock's rampant human side and some predictably lame comic relief provided by Scottie's pet thingy, but that would be pretty churlish. As popcorn romps go, this is superior stuff - much better than the first Abrams outing.