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It is too easy to pick apart 'London Has Fallen', with its obvious political agenda, cheesy one-liners and predictable plot but I am going to stop short of saying that the finished product was an all out disaster. Once again it is the Hollywood Producers that should be held accountable for believing that this sequel to 'Olympus Has Fallen' needed to be made in the first place. Could it be that the conglomerate of production companies behind this movie have little regard for the intelligence of the average film punter, that they as the viewer cannot understand the underlying narrative that is being told to them? Or could it be that these 'big boys' just don't care and have a blind faith that there is a successful market still available to them? I really couldn't confidently answer these questions but I do know of one redeeming feature that 'London Has Fallen' does have going for it - it is entirely mind numbing violence where the audience can completely escape and not have to think about a thing. With this in mind, a couple of hours on a rainy afternoon was never going to hurt.

Well known action genre Director, Antoine Fuqua attached himself to the original, 'Olympus Has Fallen' and in his place is the little known Babak Najifi. Fuqua's expertise are sorely missed in this struggling sequel as Najifi tries his best to give the audience an experience that would justify the $60 million price tag that the producers forked out. Unfortunately this hefty budget could have been spent on something else. Babak has failed to connect his film with the viewer and perhaps he felt compelled to make such a production that is beyond the realms of believable (even in today's international climate) and lacks genuine purpose other than to give Gerard Butler something to do. All too rapidly 'London Has Fallen' becomes predictable, following a well travelled road that many action films of the past have followed. It is almost a throw-back to the 1980's when the audiences acceptance was far easier to obtain than it is today. People still enjoy the mindless violence as I do but there has to be substance behind it. The screenplay written by Creighton Rothenberger and Katrin Benedikt is basic. It provides very little challenge for the more accomplished actors attached to the film and at times the script writers seemed to of run out of ideas.

Found footage monster thriller, 'Cloverfield', came out in 2008 to mixed reviews. The shaky, raw camera footage generated a sense of realism that was supposed to create an authentic atmosphere, giving the audience the feeling that they were witnessing an event that actually happened. The whole spectacle worked well but lacked cohesion and purpose that affected the overall impact. I for one was left a little confused about what was happening, possibly mimicking the emotions of the young actors that appeared in the film. '10 Cloverfield Lane' has been promoted as a distant cousin of the Gen Y original piece but what we have here is a return to a more traditional thriller that works its magic very well. '10 Cloverfield Lane' keeps you guessing all the way through the 103 minute running time setting itself in a more personal and private situation that fabricates a considerably greater atmosphere of anxiety than its blood relative.

Young Directorial débutant, Dan Trachtenberg, has been given his shot at impressing the big boys at Paramount Pictures and he hasn't done his reputation any harm. Backed up by Executive Producer, J.J. Abrams Bad Robot Production Company and young Danny is ticking all the right boxes in the presence of some very powerful Hollywood heavyweights. His niche seems to be the suspenseful surroundings of the thriller and with a first time effort such as '10 Cloverfield Lane', Trachtenberg is well on his way to becoming one of the best men behind the camera in this genre. He has made a compact, intimate thriller that oozes an anxious and awkward mood that never lets the audience to comfortably settle into their seats. The viewer is always presented with the question - Is it or isn't it? - when it comes to the context of the story. Originally based on a script that had nothing to do with the "Cloverfield" time-line, the narrative was re-worked by Josh Campbell and Matthew Struecken into a 'Cloverfield' sequel that never becomes too complicated but rather relies on a simple setting that is easy to follow. Like all good thrillers, '10 Cloverfield Lane' simmers away under the surface with the occasional well timed burst of body jolting suspense that inevitably builds up to an interesting climax.

Michelle (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) is a woman that is going through a difficult period in her relationship. Whilst driving alone in her car on a presumably quiet and uneventful night, she is suddenly driven off the road in a high impact collision that was never seen coming. When she wakes, Michelle finds herself in a room on a mattress with her injuries carefully tended to. A strange, off beat man reveals himself to her as Howard (John Goodman) who tells her that she has been saved from a catastrophic disaster that has left the breathable air toxic. Michelle is in a bunker deep underground with no knowledge of what is actually happening in the world above. For her own sanity, the young woman welcomes the discovery of another member of this strange abode, Emmett (John Gallagher Jr.), who is an acquaintance of this mysteriously unhinged Howard. As the film progresses, layers start to form around the narrative that immediately keeps the audience enthralled.

There is not much to the cast as it revolves around three characters but each are absolutely necessary to create the desired affect. Relative unknowns, Winstead and Gallagher Jr. put in some very engaging performances as the two young occupants (or are they victims?). Both look comfortable in their roles that will no doubt catch the attention of future employers. Michelle and Emmett are two characters that provide plenty of exposure for the young actors as they look to step up the ladder in terms of their careers. The real "meat in the sandwich" is John Goodman as the uneasy sociopath, Howard. The man is a volcano waiting to erupt with a mood that ultimately encompasses the whole production. I love Goodman and this is without doubt his most accomplished role since his star turn in the Coen Brothers, 'The Big Lebowski'.

'10 Cloverfield Lane' is a good strong thriller. Watching John Goodman work his way through his very disturbed character is worth the price of admission alone. The film has a simple layout that builds into an engrossingly layered story. If there is to be a small complaint to Dan Trachtenberg's debut feature it would have to be the climax but then again it is a relation to 'Cloverfield'.

What immediately comes to mind after watching 'Triple 9' is the Michael Mann epic crime drama, 'Heat'. Mann's criminal masterpiece has long been considered the benchmark of such films in this genre and Hillcoat's attempt to bring a similar experience to the screen can be seen as a reflection of this mans ambitious talents. It is a travesty that productions like these are made all too infrequently. They instantly capture the imagination of the audience and open up so many brilliant narratives and plot lines. So much can be created with the characters and how they integrate with each other. 'Triple 9' is not up to the same level as 'Heat' in terms of its overall impact but it is still able to deliver a powerful punch for those viewers that enjoy being fully immersed in the world of 'cops and robbers'. Even with a poor marketing campaign, 'Triple 9' is a tantalising film to engage.

John Hillcoat (The Proposition, Lawless) is a very popular Director and one that can be easily identified by the art that he creates. Always exploring the relationships of his characters in male dominated turbulent settings, he accompanies his direction with gritty painful scripts and brooding sombre scores that echo through a narrative that consumes the audience. Hillcoat has played around with the time-lines of his stories, placing them in the near future (The Road) and the recent past (Lawless). It was only going to be a matter of time before he was going to place one of his films squarely in the present. Employing his tried and tested techniques from past productions, Hillcoat churns out another enthralling and addictive drama. Matt cook is credited with writing this crime tale. Cook's story is set to a formula that has been explored before but it still works, building up to an unexpected climax that will keep the audience interested. A question can be asked about the absence of Australian musician and writer, Nick Cave. Has his non involvement affected the quality of the narrative? Cave has been the scripted inspiration behind Hillcoat's last two productions, with both having that real dark, raw edge but Cook has been able to compensate nicely. 'Triple 9' still has an eerie atmosphere boiling away underneath the surface.

John Hillcoat has put together a stellar cast to drive his film and it begins with a bang as we are all thrust straight into the middle of a bank robbery in the city of Atlanta. After a greedy mistake is made by one of the bandits, the true identity of these criminals is revealed that sets the tone for the entire movie. Chiwetel Ejiofor plays Michael Atwood, an ex military veteran that is up to his eyeballs in criminal activity. His crew, which includes Anthony Mackie as Marcus Belmont is made up of Atlanta's finest from the police department and like Atwood himself, army veterans. 'Triple 9' refers to the police code for 'officer down' and it is this exact incident that these bandits are relying on to do one last job for the dangerous Russian mob that is run by Irina Vlaslov (Kate Winslet). On the other side of the fence are two tough cops. One is a hard nosed, unconventional leading detective, Jeffrey Allen (Woody Harrelson) and the other is his nephew, Chris Allen (Casey Affleck), who is more of your idealistic, 'wants to make a difference' lawman. Chris rubs a few of his colleagues up the wrong way by asserting his authority on the rough streets of Atlanta and it soon becomes apparent that he is the one that is the target of this lawless crew.

With so many great actors, we could have seen a jostling for top billing but each plays their roles professionally. Woody Harrelson stands out as the experienced commanding detective that has perhaps spent too long fighting the scum on the mean streets. His tactics are borderline criminal but he is a realist and tough, knowing exactly how his world works. Casey Affleck is solid in his performance as is Ejiofor but it is again the extraordinary talent of Kate Winslet that shines through, adding another element to a male dominated story. This modern day great can do about anything and playing a Russian mob boss is just a feather in her cap. Throw in Gal Gadot as Winslet's sister and Teresa Palmer as Affleck's wife and the magnitude of the cast becomes obvious.

'Triple 9' won't be for everyone but it will excite the loyal audience. It paints a gruesome picture of life on some very mean and real streets in Georgia. Hillcoat's film burns away at a steady pace, dishing out enough drama and confronting violence for the viewer that has patiently waited for a strong crime show.