PLANNING ON HEADING out to the cinema this weekend?

There are a few movies out this week, but which is a must-watch, and are there any you should avoid?

We take a look.

La La Land

What we know

Critics love this film about two wannabe Hollywood stars – played by Emma Stone and Ryan Gosling – who meet, fall in love, and sing their hearts out. There are some tears, too, for balance. Directed by Whiplash’s Damien Chazelle.

What the critics say

• “By folding the French director into the kind of backlot spectacle he was already riffing on, Chazelle builds homage on top of homage. But his pastiche is far from impersonal; it references with soul and purpose.” – The AV Club
  
• “The real tension in “La La Land” is between ambition and love, and perhaps the most up-to-date thing about it is the way it explores that ancient conflict. A cynical but not inaccurate way to put this would be to describe it as a careerist movie about careerism.” – New York Times

What’s it rated?

• RottenTomatoes: 8.7/10
• IMDB: 8.8/10

Manchester By The Sea

What we know

Casey Affleck’s lauded film about a guy who has to return – reluctantly – to his hometown after his brother’s tragic death in order to look after his nephew. More crying.

What the critics say

• “When the awards come around next Sunday – and next year – this is an obvious contender. Still: hard work for all involved.” – The Guardian
• “Manchester by the Sea goes on to be a fantastic meditation on the long tail of trauma, but one that doesn’t wallow needlessly: There’s such humor and humanity at work that the film manages to be cathartic.” – The Atlantic

What’s it rated?

• RottenTomatoes: 8.9/10
• IMDB: 8.5/10

Live By Night

What we know

The other Affleck brother, Ben, stars as a fedora-wearing gangster named Joe Coughlin. Based on Denis Lehane’s book. Very little to no crying.

What the critics say

• “For all its sporadic philosophizing and belated stabs at romance, “Live by Night” is cold and inert at its core. That’s really the long and short of it.” – Wall Street Journal
• At the same time, there’s something appealing in how Mr. Affleck comes at the gangster genre and how this story departs from the tribal affiliations of films like “The Departed” toward a more pluralistic vision in tune with both today’s and yesterday’s United States” – New York Times

What’s it rated?

• RottenTomatoes: 5.5/10
• IMDB: 7.3/10

Which one would you go see first?