Weekend films: Moonrise Kingdom; 7 Days in Havana; Film Review: Shadow Dancer

Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of a pair of young, star-crossed lovers who decide to run away together after meeting in the New England town of New Penzance. The story is not Romeo and Juliet; in fact, it has far more in common with Peter Pan and in many ways also resembles director, Wes Anderson's previous offering, Fantastic Mr Fox. Its quirkiness and its ability to capture the imagination give us the space to think like children again. Read John-Paul Morrison's review on Thinking Faith here: www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/FILM_20120706_3.htm

As a collection of short films about Cuba's capital, 7 Days in Havana is both disappointingly trivial and maddeningly incoherent. For a project that appears to chase after the soul of Havana, this portmanteau film lacks depth and passion, and seems content to repeat clichés of heat, sensuality, cool music and exotic religion. Read Gareth Vile's review on Thinking Faith here: www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/FILM_20120706_1.htm

Shadow Dancer is unsurprisingly grim, set in Belfast in the tense months leading up to the peace process and delving into both paramilitary killings and MI5's counter-intelligence. The power of the film comes not so much from its bleak atmosphere, the fine ensemble performances, or even Clive Owen's wonderfully nuanced turn, but from the pessimistic representation of the impact of war on even the best intentioned. Read Gareth Vile's review on Thinking Faith here: www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/FILM_20120706_2.htm