THIS WEEK'S NEW CINEMA RELEASES

Ready for some new movies to check out?

TOP PICK TO SEE

Top pick to see this week is A MOST VIOLENT YEAR. In New York City 1981, an ambitious immigrant fights to protect his business and family during the most dangerous year in the city's history. Stars Oscar Isaac (Drive) and Jessica Chasten (Zero Dark Thirty). The Guardian's Xan Brooks  describes JC Chandor's period crime drama [as] rigorous, resourceful and as smart as a whip...But its canny tactical struggle remains a joy to behold. I'm looking forward to seeing this one!

OTHERS TO SEE

EASTERN BOYS looks intriguing and demanding. They come from all over Eastern Europe: Russia, Romania, Ukraine. They are Eastern boys. The oldest appear no more than 25; as for the youngest, there is no way of telling their age. They hang around the Gare du Nord train station in Paris. They might be prostitutes, but there is no way of knowing for certain. Muller, a discreet man in his late fifties has his eye on one of them - Marek. One afternoon, Muller gathers his courage and speaks to him. The young man agrees to come visit Muller the following day, at his place. However the next day, when the doorbell rings, Muller doesn't have the faintest idea that he has fallen into a trap. - Written by anonymous on IMDB. For Variety's Guy Lodge, Campillo's original screenplay demands any number of trusting leaps from its audience and characters alike, yet maintains credibility thanks to the studied assurance of its most elaborate setpieces, and the wealth of socioeconomic detail in its portrayal of both Daniel's aging-yuppie lifestyle and the nervous group dynamic of the immigrants.

MAYBE/MAYBE NOT

THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, the sequel to the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel has arrived and because the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel has only a single remaining vacancy - posing a rooming predicament for two fresh arrivals - Sonny pursues his expansionist dream of opening a second hotel. The Hollywood Reporter's Leslie Felperin is close to the mark describing it as a sluggish also-ran compared to its predecessor. I'll post my review soon but I'd give it **1/2. Wait for the DVD.

PROJECT ALMANAC is a sci-fi thriller in which a group of teens discover secret plans of a time machine, and construct one. However, things start to get out of control. The San Francisco Chronicle says it is High on fun but low on depth[.] Project Almanac is told entirely from the perspective of a video camera, which instantly made me regret that I had eaten dinner before the screening. So be warned - if you suffer from motion sickness you might want to give it a miss. The general viewer is rating it as average.

MOVIE TO AVOID

Finally, the Chinese fantasy, SNOW GIRL AND THE DARK CRYSTAL tells the story of legendary Chinese anti-hero Zhong Kui, a young man endowed with mysterious powers who is forced into a battle among the realms of Heaven, Earth and Hell in the course of his attempt to save his countrymen and the woman he loves. The general public are scoring this one low so don't bother.

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

*NOTE* Movie summaries are adaptations of movie summary on IMDB. Opinions are mine unless credited.