Cinema new releases for Friday 24th November including Battle of the Sexes

(Image credit: Photo credit Melinda Sue Gordon)

Cinema new releases for Friday 24th November - our film expert Jason Best reviews the best movies coming out including Battle of the Sexes...

Battle of the Sexes

Back in 1973, the world’s top women’s tennis playere Billie Jean King took on the much older former men’s champion and self-proclaimed male chauvinist pig Bobby Riggs in a grudge match watched by millions around the world. Emma Stone and Steve Carrell cross rackets as the rival contestants, both of whom has off-court issues to grapple with as the big game approaches in this witty, charming, terrifically entertaining movie. ****

Suburbicon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYga2m0V2O0

Wearing his director’s hat for a change, George Clooney takes a pop at 1950s American suburbia with this darkly comic satire-cum-murder-mystery based on a Coen Brothers script. A racism subplot involving the first black family to move into the neighbourhood proves an awkward fit, but Matt Damon and Julianne Moore have dopey fun in the leading roles. ***

Daddy’s Home 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huaGQdrkrK0

Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg are back as chalk-and-cheese paternal rivals in this decidedly hit-and-miss sequel to the 2015 slapstick comedy. But having got the hang of the co-dad business, Ferrell’s mild-mannered Brad and Wahlberg’s swaggering Brad now find they have to contend with their intrusive fathers, played with gusto – and similarly clashing personalities - by Mel Gibson and John Lithgow. **

Main pic credit: Melinda Sue Gordon

A film critic for over 25 years, Jason admits the job can occasionally be glamorous – sitting on a film festival jury in Portugal; hanging out with Baz Luhrmann at the Chateau Marmont; chatting with Sigourney Weaver about The Archers – but he mostly spends his time in darkened rooms watching films. He’s also written theatre and opera reviews, two guide books on Rome, and competed in a race for Yachting World, whose great wheeze it was to send a seasick film critic to write about his time on the ocean waves. But Jason is happiest on dry land with a classic screwball comedy or Hitchcock thriller.