YOUR GUIDE TO THIS WEEK'S NEW CINEMA RELEASES

There are two new movies opening this week on a similar theme: death, dying and euthanasia. One of them is my top pick to see this week.

TOP PICK TO SEE

LAST CAB TO DARWIN is the story of Rex ... a loner, [who] when he's told he doesn't have long to live, he embarks on an epic drive through the Australian outback from Broken Hill to Darwin to die on his own terms; but his journey reveals to him that before you can end your life, you have to live it, and to live it, you've got to share it. (Reg Cribb and Jeremy Sims) The story is clearly based around the brief time when the Northern Territory in Australia legalised euthanasia under strict conditions. It's a very touching drama shot through with humour that is quintessentially Australian. I will post my review shortly but I'd give it ****1/2. Definitely a must see. Won 2nd prize for the Audience Award at the Sydney Film Festival this year.

OTHERS TO SEE

Another movie opening on similar themes as Last Cab is THE FAREWELL PARTY. In this Hebrew story, residents of a retirement home build a machine for self-euthanasia in order to help their terminally ill friend, though they are faced with a series of dilemmas when rumors of the machine begin to spread. The Dissolve's Andrew Lapin suggests that, The film's deft, improbable balance of tone makes its success feel well-deserved. Not many directors could have pulled off the blend of somber reflection and gallows humor that Tal Granit and Sharon Maymon manage here. Sounds like an interesting movie. This one is in limited release you might need to track it down.

TO AVOID

Finally, one to avoid. It's the reboot of FANTASTIC FOUR in which four young outsiders teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe which alters their physical form in shocking ways. The four must learn to harness their new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy. General audiences and critics are rating this one low. Screen International's Tim Grierson says that, A good cast led by Miles Teller gets swallowed up in a narrative that grows progressively more muddled and tedious. Give it a miss.

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.