'71 (2014)

A British soldier gets left behind enemy lines in Belfast, Ireland, and ends up running from the IRA. Jack O'Connell follows up a grand performance in "Unbroken" with a captivating portrayal of a young man on the run for his life. Director Yann Demange, on his first feature film, manages to build proper tension in multiple chase scene, and isn't shy about showing the brutal impact of senseless violence. The script, by Gregory Burke (also his first feature), is sparse and visceral; leaving dialogue to a minimum to focus on a cerebral chase through the streets of Ireland. This is not a film to miss.

Grade: A
3D: N/A
Easter Egg: No

Starring: Jack O'Connell, Sam Reid, Sean Harris
Director: Yann Demange
Writer(s): Gregory Burke
RT: 99 min
Rating: R for strong violence, disturbing images, and language throughout

Two Sentences:

Against the Sun (2015): A Navy pilot, his bombardier, and his radioman get lost in the Pacific, and end up battling the elements in order to survive. The three men (Garret Dillahunt, Tom Felton, and Jake Abel) play their parts especially well, and despite a horrendous score (at one point sharks appear and some riff on the Jaws theme plays), this is a beautiful, uplifting film that tugs at the heart strings in certain scenes.

Grade: B