The Last Dance (12A)
Directed by Anselm Chan Mou Yin 
★★★★

 
SEEN through the lens of Hong Kong’s unique funeral industry this funny yet terribly moving family drama pits modernism against the old traditional ways, and sister against brother. 
 
Written and directed by Anselm Chan Mou Yin, it follows a debt-ridden wedding planner Dominic (Dayo Wong) who becomes a funeral planner. However, his biggest hurdle is winning the approval of the co-owner and staunchly traditional Taoist priest Master Man (Michael Hui) who doesn’t approve of Dominic’s modern ideas for the business. 
 
Master Man also has a prickly relationship with his daughter (Michelle Wai) who is a paramedic but desperate to follow in the family business. Unfortunately it is only passed on through the male line as women are deemed to be filthy and unclean, and hence inappropriate people to deal with the ancestors, as her father keeps telling her. It is because we menstruate! 
 
So the film examines inequality and sexism in a patriarchal society. In addition, and unsurprisingly, Master Man has issues expressing his love for his daughter and vice versa. When she is forced to be his carer following a heart attack it proves a very difficult and violent situation. 
 
Witty and whip-smart, and with standout performances from its delightful cast, it packs an extraordinary emotional punch in the third act. For those looking after an elderly parent it will hit home hard. 
 
It is a must-see film — just ensure you have tissues to hand. 

In cinemas November 15

Silent Men (12A)
Directed by Duncan Cowles
★★★

 
DUNCAN COWLES embarks on a fact-finding mission to discover how men deal with expressing emotion as he attempts to work through his own issues in this impressive and candid documentary debut feature. 
 
He started in 2017 when he was 26 years old and still living with his parents, and the aim was to become more open with his girlfriend. And also with his mother and father, but telling them both he loves them proves more difficult than he thought. 
 
He interviews a whole range of men, both friends and strangers, who speak frankly about their feelings, their mental health issues and their miscommunication with loved ones. John from Newcastle reveals how his marriage broke down because he didn’t tell his wife he had a tumour, and she found out accidentally. 
 
It is a fascinating exploration of masculinity and upbringing, where boys are taught to be strong, and not to cry or show emotion. 
 
Out on international men’s day (who knew) this will hopefully prove a springboard for a wider debate as the issues are universal. 

In cinemas November 19

Gladiator II (15)
Directed by Ridley Scott
★★★
 

IT has taken Ridley Scott 24 years to deliver a sequel to his five-time Oscar winning Gladiator and this one is epic in size and a visual extravaganza. 
 
But while it looks spectacular it is a little thin on the plot and echoes the original. 
 
It follows Paul Mescal as Maximus’s (Russell Crowe) son Lucius, all grown up and who, after his home is conquered by the tyrannical and narcissistic emperors (Joseph Quinn and Fred Hechinger) who now rule Rome, is captured and forced to enter the Colosseum and fight as a gladiator. 
 
He is hell-bent on killing  Marcus Acacius (Pedro Pascal on great form) who ruined his life but who is married to his mother (played again by Connie Nielsen) whom he doesn’t recognise, which seems odd. He also fails to kill the twin rulers when he has the chance. 
 
Mescal does a sterling job fighting large monkeys and sharks although he does not have the gravitas of Crowe. It is Denzel Washington as Lucius’s owner Macrinus who steals the film. And flashbacks of Crowe that make you yearn for the original film. 
 
That said, this is bloody, violent and stupidly fun. It needs to be seen on the largest IMAX screen. 

In cinemas November 15

Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point (12A) 
Directed by Tyler Taormina
★★

ON Christmas Eve four generations of the Balsano family gather for what could be their last festive gathering in the family home in small-town Long Island, in what could prove to be the longest night of your life with these odd people. 
 
Co-written and directed by Tyler Taormina and produced by Michael Cera (who also stars in it) I just didn’t find any of these characters engaging. A couple of the teenage kids run off during the evening and have their own adventures which aren’t that interesting. Sadly they return. 
 
The ensemble cast also includes Francesca Scorsese and Sawyer Spielberg, the offspring of Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg. If you blink you will miss them. 
 
Best to give this one a miss, or wait for it to come to a streaming service.  

In cinemas November 15