THIS WEEK'S NEW CINEMA RELEASES

The painful thing about the new movies this week is that I'm in Indonesia until next Tuesday and won't be able to see any of these until then! But here they are anyway ;-)

MY TOP PICK TO SEE

Top pick to see this week is most definitely the comedy drama - based on a true story - PRIDE. If you've seen the trailers you'll be anxious to see what looks to be an excellent movie. In this story, U.K. gay activists work to help miners during their lengthy strike of the National Union of Mineworkers in the summer of 1984. Stars a host of well known British actors, including Bill Nighy, Imelda Staunton, and Dominic West. According to Total Film’s Neil Smith, it’s A feel-good charmer with an important message[.] Pride will have you clutching your sides, wiping your eyes and punching the air in triumph.

OTHERS TO SEE

JOHN WICK looks interesting - despite the rather lacklustre title. Keanu Reeves plays an ex-hitman who comes out of retirement to track down the gangsters that took everything from him. Sounds cliched? Variety’s Peter Debruge says, If you can stomach the setup, then the rest is pure revenge-movie gold, as Reeves reminds what a compelling action star he can be, while the guy who served as his stunt double in “The Matrix” makes a remarkably satisfying directorial debut, delivering a clean, efficient and incredibly assured thriller. Maybe worth a look.

MAYBE/MAYBE NOT

KILL THE MESSENGER is a biography crime drama about a reporter who becomes the target of a vicious smear campaign that drives him to the point of suicide after he exposes the CIA's role in arming Contra rebels in Nicaragua and importing cocaine into California. Based on the true story of journalist Gary Webb. Mixed reviews on this one with the general viewer rating slightly higher than the critics. According to The Guardian’s Jordan Hoffman, It's a great story that lends itself to some striking scenes. Yet the film in total - if I may paraphrase Webb's critics - has a number of holes. It’s a shame because the story seems pretty interesting.

A French action adventure drama, the French name of which I won’t attempt to write, but which in English is THE YOUNG AND PRODIGIOUS T S SPIVET is all about a ten-year-old cartographer who secretly leaves his family's ranch in Montana where he lives with his cowboy father and scientist mother and travels across the country aboard a freight train to receive an award at the Smithsonian Institute. Sounds different. Critics are not happy overall, one of whom says it’s Like one of its animated 3D asides, the film jumps out at you, twiddles around and then folds itself away into nowhere. It's all pop-up, no book. (The Telegraph: Robbie Collin)

Finally, a drama romance - THE BEST OF ME. A pair of former high school sweethearts reunite after many years when they return to visit their small hometown. Hmm… sounds riveting (not)! TheWrap’s James Rocchi is scathing: The bad news is that no matter how charming or fizzy the chemistry between the actors might be, they're still trapped in the dead, fake melodrama and brainless coincidences of a Nicholas Sparks story. General public like it a bit better - but not by much.

That's it for this week. See you at the movies!

NB: synopses of movies are adapted from IMDB. Opinions are mine unless quoted from cited sources.