Top Five, Girlhood, The Age of Adaline: this week’s new films

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/may/09/this-weeks-new-films

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Top Five (15) (Chris Rock, 2014, US) Chris Rock, Rosario Dawson, Gabrielle Union. 102 mins

Rock plays a former stand-up who wants to be taken seriously – you could say he’s well-qualified for the role. Struggling to recover from dodgy action roles, alcoholism and a cumbersome level of celebrity, his character takes the Woody Allen route of self-satire and romantic Manhattan pavement-pounding with Dawson’s spirited reporter. Hardly deep, but there’s at least some substance beneath the gross-out set-pieces and star cameos.

Girlhood (15) (Céline Sciamma, 2014, Fra) Karidja Touré, Assa Sylla, Lindsay Karamoh. 113 mins

Sciamma observes the changing dynamics, allegiances and hairstyles of a gang of black Parisian girls, mixing sociological rigour, character drama and gorgeous flourishes.

The Age Of Adaline (12A) (Lee Toland Krieger, 2015, US) Blake Lively, Michiel Huisman, Harrison Ford. 113 mins

Benjamin Button-like predicaments arise when Lively’s character curiously stops aging, which means a lot of costume changes and some very long-term romantic melodrama.

Phoenix (12A) (Christian Petzold, 2014, Ger/Pol) Nina Hoss, Ronald Zehrfeld. 98 mins

Vertigo in 1940s Berlin, as Hoss’s disfigured club singer returns from the war, unrecognised by the husband who may have betrayed her.

Rosewater (15) (Jon Stewart, 2014, US) Gael García Bernal, Kim Bodnia, Dimitri Leonidas. 103 mins

The Daily Show host makes a credible debut, honouring the true tale of a Newsweek reporter’s defiance of his Iranian captors.

Stray Dogs (PG) (Tsai Ming-liang, 2013, Tai/Fra) Lee Kang-sheng, Yang Kuei-mei. 184 mins

Taiwanese auteur Tsai’s immersive study of a homeless father is told through vivid imagery and carefully composed extended takes.

Big Game (12A) (Jalmari Helander, 2014, Fin/UK/Ger) Samuel L Jackson, Onni Tommila, Ray Stevenson. 90 mins

The least likely buddy duo in movie history is forged when the US president crash lands in the Arctic and is rescued by a Finnish lad.

Spooks: The Greater Good (15) (Bharat Nalluri, 2015, UK) Kit Harrington, Peter Firth. 104 mins

A belated big-screen transition for the hit MI5 series, with escaped terrorists, internal intrigues and action thrills.

Still (15) (Simon Blake, 2014, UK) Aidan Gillen, Jonathan Slinger. 99 mins

London drama centred on Gillen’s grieving photographer, whose targeting by a local teen gang tests his liberal values.

The Canal (15) (Ivan Kavanagh, 2014, Ire) Rupert Evans, Antonia Campbell-Hughes, Hannah Hoekstra. 93 mins

A haunted-house nerve-jangler and whodunnit, as Evans wonders who killed his wife – possibly himself.

A Funny Kind Of Love (18) (Josh Lawson, 2014, Aus) Bojana Novakovic, Damon Herriman, Kate Box. 96 mins

Sydney couples and their sexual quirks in a comedy more ribald than risque.

Wyrmwood: Road Of The Dead (18) (Kiah Roache-Turner, 2014, Aus) Jay Gallagher, Bianca Bradey. 94 mins

A reckless collision of zombie gore and Mad Max apocalyptic DIY makes for a lively Aussie comedy.

Futuro Beach (15) (Karim Aïnouz, 2014, Bra/Ger) Wagner Moura, Clemens Schick. 107 mins

A drowning triggers a sensual, stylish gay romance that travels from Brazil to Germany, often on fast motorbikes.

Out from Friday

The Beat Beneath My Feet A rock star teaches a London teen some mean licks. Out from Tue

Clouds Of Sils Maria Juliette Binoche and Kristen Stewart on acting and age.

Mad Max: Fury Road Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron lead the reboot.

Pitch Perfect 2 Another vocal challenge for Anna Kendrick and co.

A Royal Night Out The young Queen Elizabeth samples the real world.

The Tribe Teen drama conducted in sign language.

Bombay Velvet Anurag Kashyap fashions a 1960s Mumbai crime story.

Aerosmith Rocks Donington Self-explanatory concert film.

Lambert And Stamp The story of the Who and their accidental managers.

The Man Who Saved The World Doc on the Soviet officer who averted war.

A Fuller Life Sam Fuller’s memoirs, told by his famous friends and colleagues.

Only Angels Have Wings The 1939 Cary Grant adventure newly restored.

Coming soon

In two weeks… George Clooney takes you to Tomorrowland… Sam Rockwell leads an update of Poltergeist…

In three weeks… Dwayne Johnson to the rescue in San Andreas… Al Pacino has a rockstar crisis as Danny Collins…

In a month… Melissa McCarthy stars in Spy…