YOUR GUIDE TO THIS WEEK'S NEW CINEMA RELEASES

Just one movie you won’t want to miss this week…

TOP PICK

You’ve seen the trailers many times… and now it is here! THE LADY IN THE VAN, starring Maggie Smith, a man forms an unexpected bond with a transient woman living in her van that's parked in his driveway. It looks like this one is going to be reasonably entertaining and Maggie Smith is always good value. For The Hollywood Reporter’s Frank Scheck, ‘It's Smith's eccentric oldster who is the film's driving force, and the 80-year-old actress doesn't disappoint.’

OTHERS TO SEE

For the anime lovers amongst us, there is THE BOY AND THE BEAST.  It’s the latest feature film from award-winning Japanese director Mamoru Hosoda (Summer Wars, Wolf Children): When Kyuta, a young orphan living on the streets of Shibuya, stumbles into a fantastic world of beasts, he's taken in by Kumatetsu, a gruff, rough-around-the-edges warrior beast who's been searching for the perfect apprentice. Despite their constant bickering, Kyuta and Kumatetsu begin training together and slowly form a bond as surrogate father and son. But when a deep darkness threatens to throw the human and beast worlds into chaos, the strong bond between this unlikely family will be put to ultimate test-a final showdown that will only be won if the two can finally work together using all of their combined strength and courage. The Playlist’s Oliver Lyttelton says, ‘There are elements of The Boy And The Beast that undoubtedly reinforce the promise that Hosoda holds: it's a treat to look at, is inventive in spots, and will probably be eaten up by younger viewers. But it ultimately proves both narratively unsatisfying and emotionally lacking.’ So one for the younger viewer.

MAYBE/MAYBE NOT

THE FINEST HOURS tells the story of the Coast Guard that makes a daring rescue attempt off the coast of Cape Cod after a pair of oil tankers are destroyed during a blizzard in 1952. It’s showing in 2D and 3D. While the general public is rating it slightly above average, the critics are not so happy. Entertainment Weekly’s Chris Nashawaty describes this one as ‘An intermittently affecting, sanded-edge adventure that feels as if it trundled off the studio production line back when Eisenhower was in office.’ Will you go with the general public or the critics? Let us know what it’s like if you see it.

Finally, in TRIPLE 9, a gang of criminals and corrupt cops plan the murder of a police officer in order to pull off their biggest heist yet across town. This is another one which had a spectacular trailer. But critics are disagreeing with the general public again. The Playlist’s Oliver Lyttelton comments, ‘As well-handled as the set pieces are, the connective tissue doesn't pull you along, and then collapses completely in a messy, unsatisfying final act.’

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. These updates are written from an Australian perspective so openings of the movies in cinemas may vary in other parts of the world.