THIS WEEK'S NEW CINEMA RELEASES

At last! Some good movies to see this week...

TOP PICK TO SEE

At the top of the list is LEVIATHAN. It's set in a Russian coastal town in which Kolya is forced to fight the corrupt mayor when he is told that his house will be demolished. He recruits a lawyer friend to help, but the man's arrival brings further misfortune for Kolya and his family. The Hollywood Reporter's Leslie Felperin describes it as 'Simultaneously a modern essay on suffering, an open-ended thriller, and a black social comedy, it is most importantly of all a thinly-veiled political parable drenched in bitter irony that takes aim against the corrupt, corrosive regime of Vladimir Putin.' Looks excellent!

OTHERS TO SEE

Disney is back with a new CINDERELLA. You know the story. When her father unexpectedly passes away, young Ella finds herself at the mercy of her cruel stepmother and her daughters. Never one to give up hope, Ella's fortunes begin to change after meeting a dashing stranger. Variety's Peter Debruge says that, 'Though this Cinderella could never replace Disney's animated classic, it's no ugly stepsister either, but a deserving companion.'

I've been hanging out to see SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE ever since I saw the cute trailer. When Shaun decides to take the day off and have some fun, he gets a little more action than he bargained for. A mix up with the Farmer, a caravan and a very steep hill lead them all to the Big City and it's up to Shaun and the flock to return everyone safely to the green grass of home. It's getting good scores from audience and critics alike. The Guardian's Andrew Pulver likes it: 'The Aardman vision of contemporary England is generous, inclusive and - if a fast-moving film about a smart-alec sheep can allow itself such grandiose ambitions - genuinely inspiring.'

Mark Ruffalo is popping up in lots of movies lately. His latest is INFINITELY POLAR BEAR in which he plays A manic-depressive mess of a father who tries to win back his wife by attempting to take full responsibility of their two young, spirited daughters, who don't make the overwhelming task any easier. It's a comedy drama which, according to The Hollywood Reporter's John DeFore is 'A feel-good picture that is a little less affecting than it might have been, but is entertaining enough.'

For those of you into fashion, you might enjoy DIOR AND I. It's a documentary '[that] brings the viewer inside the storied world of the Christian Dior fashion house with a privileged, behind-the-scenes look at the creation of Raf Simons' first haute couture collection as its new artistic director-a true labor of love created by a dedicated group of collaborators. Melding the everyday, pressure-filled components of fashion with mysterious echoes from the iconic brand's past, the film is also a colorful homage to the seamstresses who serve Simons' vision. - Written by The Orchard'.

MAYBE/MAYBE NOT

A LITTLE CHAOS is the story of a female landscape-gardener who is awarded the esteemed assignment to construct the grand gardens at Versailles, a gilt-edged position which thrusts her to the very centre of the court of King Louis XIV. It was disappointingly average. I'll post my review shortly. ***

Finally, there's the comedy GET HARD. When millionaire James King is nailed for fraud and bound for San Quentin, he turns to Darnell Lewis to prep him to go behind bars. Written by Etan Cohen and starring Will Ferrell and Kevin Hart. I don't hold much hope for this one. HitFix's Drew McWeeny says it's 'Competently made but morally repellent, [and] may be my least favorite Will Ferrell feature film.'

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.