MONSIEUR CHOCOLAT (Also known as, Chocolat. French with English subtitles)

The rise and fall of the famous clown Chocolat, the first black circus performer who revolutionised the stagnant circus acts and conquered Paris of the Belle Époque with his exuberance and originality.

A fascinating story of which I knew nothing. Well acted, good script, and a tragic story arc. There are moments when we, as an audience, are provoked to think about why we find certain things funny. Omar Sy, does an outstanding portrayal of the main character, Chocolat (his real name was Rafael Padilla). James Thiérrée (Charlie Chaplin’s grandson!) plays the other clown in the duo, George Footit.  It’s a good, solid, satisfying piece of storytelling.

COMING SOON — THE DRESSMAKER

A glamorous woman returns to her small town in rural Australia. With her sewing machine and haute couture style, she transforms the women and exacts sweet revenge on those who did her wrong. —IMDB

In my opinion, the trailers for THE DRESSMAKER somewhat misrepresent the movie. It comes across as a period drama with a touch of humour. However, this movie is black comedy through and through. It was quirky, over-the-top, and funny. The cinematography is great and the acting pretty good with Kate Winslet (Myrtle ‘Tilly’ Dunnage) putting in a good performance. Sarah Snook (Gertrude ‘Trudy’ Pratt) is good as usual and Judy Davis (Molly Dunnage) is hilarious. It’s a good yarn and the reveal of what really happened in Tilly’s childhood is a satisfying surprise. It’s a fun movie but not brilliant — just ok. THE DRESSMAKER opens on October 29.

NEW CINEMA RELEASES

Clearly, cinemas are holding on to their new releases for Boxing Day. There is just one new release and it is ...

ONE TO AVOID

This third movie adaptation of ANNIE is a real bummer according to those who have seen it so far. You probably know the story. A foster kid, who lives with her mean foster mom, sees her life change when business tycoon and New York mayoral candidate Will Stacks makes a thinly-veiled campaign move and takes her in. According to Rotten Tomatoes, the consensus is, The new-look Annie hints at a progressive take on a well-worn story, but smothers its likable cast under clichés, cloying cuteness, and a distasteful materialism. Give it a miss!

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

* Movie synopses are based on/adapted from IMDB. Opinions are mine except where references are provided.

THIS WEEK'S NEW CINEMA RELEASES

Well… hope you enjoyed the movies while I was away. Hope to catch up sometime! Here are the new movies opening this week.

MY TOP PICK TO SEE

Top of the bunch is INTERSTELLAR. Starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway and Jessica Chasten, it tells the story of a group of explorers who make use of a newly discovered wormhole to surpass the limitations on human space travel and conquer the vast distances involved in an interstellar voyage. The general public are loving this one! According to The Hollywood Reporter’s Todd McCarthy, This grandly conceived and executed epic tries to give equal weight to intimate human emotions and speculation about the cosmos, with mixed results, but is never less than engrossing, and sometimes more than that.

OTHERS TO SEE

Looking for some comedy romance? Check out LOVE, ROSIE. Rosie and Alex have been best friends since they were 5, so they couldn't possibly be right for one another...or could they? When it comes to love, life and making the right choices, these two are their own worst enemies.

If you like your romance a bit more serious, maybe MY MISTRESS is for you. What starts as a beautiful and strangely innocent affair between a vulnerable teenage romantic and a French S&M mistress soon becomes more dangerous. Check out the rating before you see this one. And it’s Australian!

Sandra, a young Belgian mother, discovers that her workmates have opted for a significant pay bonus, in exchange for her dismissal, in TWO DAYS, ONE NIGHT (Deux jours, une nuit). She has only one weekend to convince her colleagues to give up their bonuses so that she can keep her job. Getting very high scores from the critics. For The Hollywood Reporter’s David Rooney,
It's enriched by signature qualities - the humanistic, nonjudgmental gaze, the absence of sentimentality, the ultra-naturalistic style - that have always distinguished the Belgian brothers' fine body of work.

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.

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.

THIS WEEK'S NEW CINEMA RELEASES

Ready to head off to the cinema for some new movies this week?

MY TOP PICK TO SEE

Top movie this week (which isn’t saying much!), is A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES starring the dependable Liam Neeson. Private investigator Matthew Scudder is hired by a drug kingpin to find out who kidnapped and murdered his wife. Total Film’s Matt Glasby say it’s Exciting, in places, though a stranger to subtlety, it ticks all the genre boxes, but there's something about its knowing noirisms that feels superficial rather than soaked-in. So it doesn’t look great but will probably be entertaining.

OTHERS TO SEE

The Chinese biography, drama, romance tells the life story of Xiao Hong, one of China's most famous essayists and novelists, who reflected the progressive thinking not frequently seen during the 1930s.

Another Australian action, crime, drama hits our screen. SON OF A GUN tells the story of 19 year old JR who is locked up for a minor crime, and quickly learns the harsh realities of prison life. Protection, if you can get it, is paramount. JR soon finds himself under the watchful eye of Australia's most notorious criminal, Brendan Lynch. But protection comes at a price. Lynch and his crew have plans for their young protegee. Upon release, JR must help secure Lynch's freedom, staging a daring prison break. As a reward, he's invited to join the crew as they plan a gold heist that promises to deliver millions. However, as things start to go wrong, a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues. JR finds himself unsure of whom he can trust and on a collision course with his former mentor. Sounds good!

MAYBE/MAYBE NOT

The trailers for BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP looked quite intriguing. A woman wakes up every day, remembering nothing as a result of a traumatic accident in her past. One day, new terrifying truths emerge that force her to question everyone around her. The general public are rating it as average, but the critics are not quite that positive. According to The Guardian’s Henry Barnes, It aims for sexy and/or dangerous, but the tone is dry and the pace lags.

ONE TO AVOID

One definite movie to avoid this week is TAMMY starring Melissa McCarthy and Sarah Sarandon. After losing her job and learning that her husband has been unfaithful, a woman hits the road with her profane, hard-drinking grandmother. General viewers and critics agree on this one - it's not good. USA Today’s Claudia Puig says it all: Where 1991's "Thelma & Louise" was funny and action-filled, Tammy's story is thin, cringe-inducing and, worst of all for a comedy, not funny. Jokes land with a thud and the pacing is leaden.mDon't bother!

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.

 

<< THIS WEEK'S NEW CINEMA RELEASES >>

Just three movies to catch up with this week…

MY TOP PICK TO SEE

Top of the list is BOYHOOD, the life of a young man, Mason, from age 5 to age 18. The movie description doesn’t seem much, but this is a groundbreaking movie using the same actors from the age of six up to 18. Every year, the director filmed the next part of the movie, edited it (without showing the actors), and then filmed the next part the following year. So we see the actual changes in the ages of the actors over the twelve year period. Its meant to be a stunning piece of cinema with general viewers and critics praising it. The Guardian’s Xan Brooks calls it … an astonishing achievement; [and] a beautiful movie. Do not miss this one!

OTHERS TO SEE

For all you vampire lovers, here’s one not to miss! WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS. Follow the lives of Viago (Taika Waititi), Deacon (Jonathan Brugh), and Vladislav (Jemaine Clement) - three flatmates who are just trying to get by and overcome life's obstacles-like being immortal vampires who must feast on human blood. Hundreds of years old, the vampires are finding that beyond sunlight catastrophes, hitting the main artery, and not being able to get a sense of their wardrobe without a reflection-modern society has them struggling with the mundane like paying rent, keeping up with the chore wheel, trying to get into nightclubs, and overcoming flatmate conflicts. It’s a comedy mocumentary - and the trailers look great.

MAYBE/MAYBE NOT

INTO THE STORM is is a disaster movie in which storm trackers, thrill-seekers, and everyday townspeople document an unprecedented onslaught of tornadoes touching down in the town of Silverton. I’ve already posted my review of this movie and give it only **1/2. Check out my review and you can decide for yourself whether you go see it or not. It will depend, I think, on whether you are interested in the special effects and don’t mind the poor quality of the rest. I agree with The Hollywood Reporter’s Stephen Farber who says, The script by John Swetnam is rudimentary, with only the most minimal and pallid stabs at characterization... Nevertheless, once the funnel clouds begin swirling, Quale and his special effects team achieve some remarkably authentic and frightening moments.

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.

<< THIS WEEK'S NEW CINEMA RELEASES >>

I'm on the last few days of my holidays so decided to have a movie marathon day today - and saw four movies, all of which opened today. So watch out for my reviews shortly. In the meantime, here's what has opened in our cinemas today...

MY TOP PICK TO SEE

There's no doubt that the top movie to check out this week is PREDESTINATION about the life of a time-traveling Temporal Agent who, on his final assignment, must pursue the one criminal that has eluded him throughout time. I've seen this one twice now - it's brilliant! I'll post my review shortly but for now, I'll let you know I rate it ****1/2. A great new Australian movie.

OTHERS TO SEE

Another Australian movie is FELONY. Three male detectives become embroiled in a tense struggle after a tragic accident that leaves a child in a coma. One is guilty of a crime, one will try to cover it up, and the other attempts to expose it. How far will these men go to both disguise and unravel the truth? Very interesting story. My review coming soon.

MAYBE/MAYBE NOT

A movie over which the general public and critics disagree. IF I STAY. Life changes in an instant for young Mia Hall after a car accident puts her in a coma. During an out-of-body experience, she must decide whether to wake up and live a life far different than she had imagined. I'm on the side of the general public with this one - my review coming soon. Not for everyone but if you like a tear-jerker aimed at the young adult demographic, this one will be for you.

MAGIC IN THE MOONLIGHT, Woody Allen's latest cinematic outing that some will enjoy but which critics are not enjoying. It's a romantic comedy about an Englishman brought in to help unmask a possible swindle. Personal and professional complications ensue.  Philadelphia Inquirer's Steven Rea is spot on: For all its visual delights, Magic in the Moonlight, the 44th feature written and directed by the admirably industrious Woody Allen, has to be one of his bigger duds. My review soon.

And, finally, one for the kids ... LEGENDS OF OZ: DOROTHY'S RETURN. Dorothy wakes up in post-tornado Kansas, only to be whisked back to Oz to try to save her old friends the Scarecrow, the Lion, the Tin Man and Glinda from a devious new villain, the Jester. Wiser the owl, Marshal Mallow, China Princess and Tugg the tugboat join Dorothy on her latest magical journey through the colorful landscape of Oz to restore order and happiness to Emerald City. General public are rating it as average while the critics don't like it at all. RogerEbert.com's Susan Wloszczyna warns us that This is one of those movies that parents will have to ask themselves if they love their child enough to sit through it. At least "The Nut Job" is off the hook as the worst indie-made animated feature of the year. You decide!

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.

THIS WEEK'S NEW CINEMA RELEASES

A feast of movies opening this week - but that doesn't mean they are substantial meals, of course! Here they are...

MY TOP PICK TO SEE

I've been waiting to see SNOWPIERCER for a while now - the trailers look great. Well... it's finally here! Set in a future where a failed climate-change experiment kills all life on the planet except for a lucky few who boarded the Snowpiercer, a train that travels around the globe, where a class system emerges. I managed to see it today and it's excellent! I'll review shortly. In the meantime, The Guardian's Andrew Pulver is spot on when he says, The way the allegory works out is not exactly subtle or unexpected, but is strangely moving, despite the gruesomeness that has gone before. All in all, a treat. Watch out for my review soon.

OTHERS TO SEE

THE 100-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO CLIMBED OUT THE WINDOW AND VANISHED looks charming. It's a Swedish adventure comedy about dynamite expert Allan Karlsson's life, and the unlikely events following his escape from the old folk's home on his 100th birthday. The original title of the movie is entertainment in itself: Hundraåringen som klev ut genom fönstret och försvann. I wonder if they'll give us free tickets if we can pronounce it at the door!

Australian writer and musician, Nick Cave, is celebrated in 20,000 DAYS ON EARTH. It's a documentary in which Nick Cave marks his 20,000th day on the planet Earth. I don't know much about Nick Cave and I don't usually head to the cinema of documentaries. But this one might be worth it. According to Variety's Rob Nelson, it's An aptly intense and innovative study of pioneering rock poet Nick Cave, 20,000 Days on Earth playfully disguises itself as fiction while more than fulfilling the requirements of a biographical documentary.

MAYBE/MAYBE NOT

I haven't seen the original The Inbetweeners movie, but THE INBETWEENERS 2 has arrived with the general public rating it around ***1/2 stars. The movie description is rich with detail (not): Jay, Neil, Simon, and Will reunite in Australia for a holiday.

James Cameron, the director of Avatar, has produced a 3D documentary called DEEPSEA CHALLENGE which chronicles the filmmaker James Cameron's diving expeditions in his Deepsea Challenger submersible. The critics aren't overly happy with this one. For example, New York Daily News says that Seeing unexplored parts of our natural world in state-of-the-art 3-D is great. Listening to James Cameron explain how wonderful he is, while we see all that, is not. General public are rating it slightly above average - but not much.

Yet another slave trade movie arrives on our screens. FREEDOM tells the story of two men separated by 100 years who are united in their search for freedom. In 1856 a slave, Samuel Woodward and his family, escape from the Monroe Plantation near Richmond, Virginia. A secret network of ordinary people known as the Underground Railroad guide the family on their journey north to Canada. They are relentlessly pursued by the notorious slave hunter Plimpton. Hunted like a dog and haunted by the unthinkable suffering he and his forbears have endured, Samuel is forced to decide between revenge or freedom. 100 years earlier in 1748, John Newton the Captain of a slave trader sails from Africa with a cargo of slaves, bound for America. On board is Samuel's great grandfather whose survival is tied to the fate of Captain Newton. The voyage changes Newton's life forever and he creates a legacy that will inspire Samuel and the lives of millions for generations to come. Don't have any information about this one yet - will let you know when I have.

ONE TO AVOID

Finally, one to avoid - POSTMAN PAT: THE MOVIE. A veteran postman finds his beliefs challenged after he enters a TV talent show competition. The Hollywood Reporter's, Frank Scheck, reckons this movie ... is a mostly charmless and dark affair. And CineVue,'s Jamie Neish says it ... is a disappointment; a modern-day reinvention of a traditional, much-loved classic that differs so far from its comfort zone that it'll have a difficult time winning audiences, let alone maintaining there attention.

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.

DVD RECOMMENDATION

Looking for a DVD for the weekend? Check out...

MUPPETS MOST WANTED

While on a grand world tour, The Muppets find themselves wrapped into an European jewel-heist caper headed by a Kermit the Frog look-alike and his dastardly sidekick.

I was really surprised with this movie - a thoroughly enjoyable, celebratory, funny piece of entertainment. Definitely worth your time hiring it for the weekend!

***1/2

<< THIS WEEK'S NEW CINEMA RELEASES >>

Things are very light on this week in relation to new cinema releases. Here goes...

MY TOP PICK TO SEE

PALO ALTO tells the story of shy, sensitive April who is the class virgin, torn between an illicit flirtation with her soccer coach Mr. B and an unrequited crush on sweet stoner Teddy. Emily, meanwhile, offers sexual favors to every boy to cross her path - including both Teddy and his best friend Fred, a live wire without filters or boundaries. As one high school party bleeds into the next - and April and Teddy struggle to admit their mutual affection - Fred's escalating recklessness starts to spiral into chaos. It doesn’t look like an outstanding movie, but according to Variety’s Peter Debruge, While Palo Alto doesn't seem to be saying anything new exactly, it boasts a clear and confident voice of its own, and it will be exciting to see where the young Coppola goes from here.

MAYBE/MAYBE NOT

THE HUNDRED-FOOT JOURNEY has been advertised on our screens for ages! It’s finally here. The Kadam family clashes with Madame Mallory, proprietress of a celebrated French restaurant, after they open their own nearby eatery, until undeniable chemistry causes the Madame to take gifted young chef Hassan under her wing. I’ve been to see it and I agree with the general public that it is an average movie - but enjoyable (my review will arrive soon!). The critics, generally, are not happy with this one. The Wrap’s Alonso Duralde says, It delivers the kind of sentimental sledgehammering I found myself willing to forgive - the presence of Helen Mirren goes a long way in that regard - but once the story goes off on a pointless tangent, the whole soufflé collapses.

Surprisingly, in the Maybe/Maybe Not category is THE EXPENDABLES 3. Barney Sylvester Stallone Stallone) augments his team with new blood for a personal battle: to take down Conrad Stonebanks (Mel Gibson), the Expendables co-founder and notorious arms trader who is hell bent on wiping out Barney and every single one of his associates. I’ve generally enjoyed the stupidity of the previous iterations of this series. So may give it a go despite what Austin Chronicle’s Marjorie Baumgarten’s take on it: What the movie ultimately demonstrates is that the sum total is less than the individual parts when you add together Rocky, the Terminator, Indiana Jones, Mad Max, Blade, Zorro, Hercules, and the Transporter. We’ll see.

ONE TO AVOID

GOD’S NOT DEAD is about college philosophy professor Mr. Radisson's curriculum which is challenged by his new student, Josh, who believes God exists. I will post my review of this one shortly, but The A.V. Club’s Todd VanDerWerff summarises it well: Even by the rather lax standards of the Christian film industry, God's Not Dead is a disaster. Watch out for my more in-depth (but brief!) review!

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.

<< THIS WEEK'S NEW CINEMA RELEASES >>

Just three new release movies opening in cinemas this week...

MY TOP PICK TO SEE

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY is the one to check out this week. Light years from Earth, 26 years after being abducted, Peter Quill finds himself the prime target of a manhunt after discovering an orb wanted by Ronan the Accuser. If you've seen the trailers you'll know this one looks like a rollicking adventure with splashes of humour. Movie Nation's Roger Moore says it's Laugh-out-loud funny and production-designed to death, Guardians of the Galaxy pops off the screen. It's available in 3D.

OTHERS TO SEE

Keira Knightley and Mark Ruffalo team up in the comedy, drama, musical BEGIN AGAIN which tells the story of a chance encounter between a disgraced music-business executive and a young singer-songwriter new to Manhattan which turns into a promising collaboration between the two talents. The director/writer, John Carney, produced a hit with the movie ONCE. It doesn't sound as though this one is quite as good although the general viewer seems to be rating it reasonably high. According to Mick LaSalle, of the San Francisco Chronicle, The music is hit-and-miss, and the movie sinks into as many cliches as it avoids. But the characters are appealing, and the storytelling is just unconventional enough to keep an audience guessing. Might be ok.

ONE TO AVOID

In AND SO IT GOES a self-absorbed realtor enlists the help of his neighbor when he's suddenly left in charge of the granddaughter he never knew existed until his estranged son drops her off at his home. With Michael Douglas and Diane Keaton leading the cast, you'd think we might get a good comedy drama romance. Not so. Ratings are very low indeed. The Chicago Tribune's Michael Phillips warns us that The slapstick is awful; the pathos isn't much better, though it's far more plentiful. Give this one a wide berth.

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.

<< THIS WEEK'S NEW CINEMA RELEASES >>

Ok ... off to the cinema this week? Here's what's new...

MY TOP PICK TO SEE

I've been waiting to see my top pick this week - the last movie that Philip Seymour Hoffman acted in before his untimely death. It's A MOST WANTED MAN. A Chechen Muslim illegally immigrates to Hamburg, where he gets caught in the international war on terror. Based on a John Le Carré novel, it should be good. Entertainment Weekly's reviewer says it ’Crackles with a jigsaw-puzzle intelligence and features a superbly subtle lead performance from the late Philip Seymour Hoffman, who single-handedly gooses the post-9/11 procedural through some of its slower patches.’ Can't wait!

OTHERS TO SEE

THE SELFISH GIANT is a contemporary fable about two scrappy 13-year-old working-class friends in the UK who seek fortune by getting involved with a local scrap dealer and criminal, leading to tragic consequences. According to The Playlist’s Jessica Kiang, ’The Selfish Giant preaches compassion by showing us in its very closing moments, the fathomless goodness that can lie beneath even the spittingest, snarlingest exterior.’

If you're into Scandinavian crime (and who isn't!), you must check out THE KEEPER OF LOST CAUSES about police inspector Carl Mørck who is put in charge of a department of cold cases, joined only by his assistant, Assad. They dig into a case about a disappeared woman. I saw this recently at the Scandinavian film festival here in Adelaide and will provide my review shortly. I really enjoyed it.

Back to Australia - and THESE FINAL HOURS arrives in general release. A self-obsessed young man makes his way to the party-to-end-all-parties on the last day on Earth, but ends up saving the life of a little girl searching for her father. Their relationship ultimately leads him on the path to redemption. Another one I have seen - at the Adelaide Film Festival back a while. It's a 5-star movie for me and I'll repost my review soon.

I'm a big fan of Scarlett Johansson and she returns to our screens this week as LUCY. Lucy is a woman, accidentally caught in a dark deal, who turns the tables on her captors and transforms into a merciless warrior evolved beyond human logic. I'm catching this on Sunday morning so will let you know more about it then. The Guardian reckons ’The end of the movie goes completely off the rails, but in a way that is charming in its stupidity.’ We'll see!

MAYBE/MAYBE NOT

Stanley Tucci stars as a man who surprises his former mistress (Alice Eve), claiming to have left his wife in SOME VELVET MORNING. Before too long, a dark history between the two has come into focus. For NPR’s Ella Taylor, ’Like most of LaBute's work, Some Velvet Morning ends as it begins, more clever than wise.’

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.

<< THIS WEEK'S NEW CINEMA RELEASES >>

Ready for the new cinema release run-down this week? You'll be disappointed because there is more to avoid than worth seeing!

MY TOP PICK TO SEE

Top pick to see this week is STILL LIFE, a comedy in which a council case worker looks for the relatives of those found dead and alone. General public seems to be enjoying this.

MAYBE/MAYBE NOT

DELIVER US FROM EVIL, starring Eric Bana, who plays a NY police officer, Ralph Sarchie, who investigates a series of crimes. He joins forces with an unconventional priest, schooled in the rituals of exorcism, to combat the possessions that are terrorizing their city. General public are rating it as average but critics, generally, are not so happy with this one. USA Today's Scott Bowles rather amusingly suggests that 'Even horror neophytes won't be spooked by a film that looks as if it were shot with a smartphone and an Itty Bitty Booklight.' I'll be giving this one a miss.

ONES TO AVOID

We start off the list of movies to avoid this week with DEVIL'S KNOT. Colin Firth and Reese Witherspoon star in this tale of the savage murders of three young children which sparks a controversial trial of three teenagers accused of killing the kids as part of a satanic ritual. Good actors but ... here's what New York Daily News's Elizabeth Weitzman says: 'This stilted crime drama from Atom Egoyan feels misguided from the start. He's attempting to fictionalize a true story that has already been told better, several times over.'

I've already reviewed HERCULES (see my previous post) and is also worth avoiding. Having endured his legendary twelve labors, Hercules, the Greek demigod, has his life as a sword-for-hire tested when the King of Thrace and his daughter seek his aid in defeating a tyrannical warlord. Time Out London's Tom Huddleston says it well: 'Strap on your swordbelt, buckle your sandals and oil up your rippling six-pack, because here comes yet another interminable, CGI-drenched mythic mish-mash with far more money than brain cells.' Check out my review too!

Finally, and disappointingly, MRS BROWN'S BOYS D'MOVIE is not being received well at all. Averaging * to ** stars from the general public, it doesn't sound like it's worth the money. If any of you are brave enough to check it out, let us know what you think.

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.

<< THIS WEEK'S NEW CINEMA RELEASES >>

Always good when new movie release day comes around - let's check out what is one this week.

MY TOP PICK TO SEE

Top of the list to head to the cinema for this week is VENUS IN FUR (La Vénus à la fourrure). It's a new movie from Roman Polanski (The Pianist) in which an actress attempts to convince a director how she's perfect for a role in his upcoming production. Doesn't sound much. But Variety's Scott Foundas sees it as A delightfully intricate battle of wits and wills in which the question of who's directing/seducing/torturing whom remains constantly shifting open to interpretation.

OTHERS TO SEE

From the Australian director, Rolf De Heer (Ten Canoes), comes CHARLIE'S COUNTRY. 'Blackfella Charlie is out of sorts. The intervention is making life more difficult on his remote community, what with the proper policing of whitefella laws now. So Charlie takes off, to live the old way, but in so doing sets off a chain of events in his life that has him return to his community chastened, and somewhat the wiser.' - written by Cannes Film Festival

THE FRENCH MINISTER (Quai d'Orsay) is all about Alexandre Taillard de Vorms [who] is tall and impressive, a man with style, attractive to women. He also happens to be the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the land of enlightenment: France. With his silver mane and tanned, athletic body, he stalks the world stage, from the floor of the United Nations in New York to the powder keg of Oubanga. There, he calls on the powerful and invokes the mighty to bring peace, to calm the trigger-happy, and to cement his aura of Nobel Peace Prize winner-in-waiting. Alexandre Taillard de Vorms is a force to be reckoned with, waging his own war backed up by the holy trinity of diplomatic concepts: legitimacy, lucidity and efficacy. He takes on American neo-cons, corrupt Russians and money-grabbing Chinese. Perhaps the world doesn't deserve France's magnanimousness, but his art would be wasted if just restricted to home turf. Enter the young Arthur Vlaminck, graduate of the elite National School of Administration, who is hired as head of "language" at the foreign ministry. In other words, he is to write the minister's speeches. But he also has to learn to deal with the sensibilities of the boss and his entourage, and find his way between the private secretary and the special advisers who stalk the corridors of the Quai d'Orsay - the ministry's home - where stress, ambition and dirty dealing are the daily currency. But just as he thinks he can influence the fate of the world, everything seems threatened by the inertia of the technocrats.
- Written by Sundance Selects

MAYBE/MAYBE NOT

Looking for some drama and romance? REACHING FOR THE MOON might fit the bill. A chronicle of the tragic love affair between American poet Elizabeth Bishop and Brazilian architect Lota de Macedo Soares. Critics are, on the average, less enthusiastic about this than the general public. For example, this is what Los Angeles Times's Robert Abele thinks: Everything ultimately gives way to the stately, simplistic, inevitable pace of by-the-numbers biopics, from some woefully tinny, hit-and-run screenwriting to the usual difficulties surrounding the dramatization of an author's craft.

WORDS AND PICTURES brings two interesting actors together - Clive Owen and Juliette Binoche - but has a strange premise for a plot. An art instructor and an English teacher form a rivalry that ends up with a competition at their school in which students decide whether words or pictures are more important. Not sure about this one. Movie Nation'a Roger Moore suggests that Words and Pictures is the cloying title of a cloying little comedy made by talented people who, not that long ago, deserved better than this, and knew it. General public are averaging just above 3 stars so who knows?!

ONE TO AVOID

And, finally, one to avoid - SEX TAPE with Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel. A married couple wake up to discover that the sex tape they made the evening before has gone missing, leading to a frantic search for its whereabouts. According to the trailers, it ends up on the internet. A very contemporary premise, I suppose. Hard to tell at the moment but average critic score is *1/2 stars! Give it a miss!

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.

THIS WEEK'S NEW CINEMA RELEASES

One brilliant movie to see amongst the very few cinema releases this week! Read on to find out which one it is ...

MY TOP PICK TO SEE

If you've read my review earlier this week about DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, you won't be surprised that I've chosen it as my top pick to see this week. A growing nation of genetically evolved apes led by Caesar is threatened by a band of human survivors of the devastating virus unleashed a decade earlier. They reach a fragile peace, but it proves short-lived, as both sides are brought to the brink of a war that will determine who will emerge as Earth's dominant species. HitFix's Drew McWeeny says that '"Dawn" is not just a good genre movie or a good summer movie. It's a great science-fiction film, full-stop, and one of the year's very best movies so far.' I totally agree. Check out my review in an earlier post.

OTHERS TO SEE

From India comes THE LUNCHBOX. In this drama romance, a mistaken delivery in Mumbai's famously efficient lunchbox delivery system connects a young housewife to an older man in the dusk of his life as they build a fantasy world together through notes in the lunchbox. According to The Playlist's Kevin Jagernauth,
'Batra's film is ultimately less about love than about the vulnerability relationships place us in emotionally, and courage required to move past pain, and experience life again after we've been hurt.' It's on my list to see.

Finally, a documentary on how water shapes humanity, WATERMARK. On average, critics are rating this about average with general viewers pretty much agreeing. The Dissolve's Mike D'Angelo suggests 'There's a difference between an exhibition of one photographer's work and a speedy tour of a museum's entire photography wing, and Watermark feels more like the latter, despite Burtynsky's involvement.' Might wait for this one to come out on DVD.

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.

THIS WEEK'S NEW CINEMA RELEASES

Slim pickings this week for new release movies... but one of them is definitely worth seeing!

MY TOP PICK TO SEE

Top of my list (even more so now I have seen it!) is CALVARY. After he is threatened during a confession, a good-natured priest must battle the dark forces closing in around him. indieWIRE says that Even as it delivers an emotional wallop, not every moment of "Calvary" goes down smoothly, as comedic scenes transition somewhat abruptly to tragic moments and the final reveal never reaches the heights of its Hitchockian inspirations. True, but check out my review coming shortly.

OTHERS TO SEE

The French movie BELLE and SEBASTION looks like an adventure story for the whole family. A six-year-old boy and his dog look to foil a Nazi effort to capture French Resistance fighters.

MAYBE/MAYBE NOT

The sequel to Rio, the animated adventure comedy RIO 2, has arrived. It's a jungle out there for Blu, Jewel and their three kids after they're hurtled from Rio de Janeiro to the wilds of the Amazon. As Blu tries to fit in, he goes beak-to-beak with the vengeful Nigel, and meets his father-in-law. General public are rating as average but, overall, critics don't like it. Film.com describes it as A strange combination of mental exhaustion and boredom. You'll have to decide if you risk it!

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

NB: synopses of movies are adapted from IMDB.

THIS WEEK'S NEW CINEMA RELEASES

You'd think that TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION would be at the top of my to-see list this week - but it's not. You'll know why if you've read my review in a previous post ...

MY TOP PICK TO SEE

Instead, top of my list to see is the Afrikaan romantic comedy, PAD NA JOU HART. I wish I could tell you what that means but I can't. It's an adventure romance in which 'Basson has five days to make it to his father's funeral in Cape Town, but needs to complete certain tasks on this trip before he can call the family company his own. On the road he meets free-spirited bohemian girl, Amory. As they journey across the breathtaking landscape of South Africa, they meet wonderful characters that allow for hilarious moments and life-changing experiences. Their trip takes a sudden turn for the worst when a villainous figure makes an appearance. Basson and Amory are faced with disappointment and heartache. On the road called life, it is inevitable that you will take some wrong turns. But no matter how hard the road might be, on route to true love is where you will find your true north.' (Anonymous) It's getting lots of high ratings so should be a good movie!

OTHERS TO SEE

THE LAST IMPRESARIO is about 'the most famous person you have never heard of'. Well... that's helpful, isn't it! People are enjoying this documentary biography.

MAYBE/MAYBE NOT

JERSEY BOYS is the story of four young men from the wrong side of the tracks in New Jersey who came together to form the iconic 1960s rock group The Four Seasons. It's a biographical, drama, musical based, I believe, on a stage play. Critics don't particularly like it. The Wrap's Alonso Duralde says It works in the hits, and it casts singers who make those hits sound virtually identical to the original versions. What the movie doesn't do is answer the question, “Why did I just spend 134 minutes watching the Frankie Valli episode of 'Behind the Music'?” General public audiences, though, are giving it an average of ***1/2 stars. You'll need to make your own mind up about this one!

Well... you probably all know about Transformers. TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION has come to town. It tells the "story" of an automobile mechanic (Mark Wahlberg) and his daughter (Nicola Peltz) who make a discovery that brings down the Autobots - and a paranoid government official - on them. If you only want to go and see this movie for the 3D special effects and action, go for it. And if you are going to see it at all, make sure you go see it in a cinema in 3D. And whatever you do, read my review in a previous post first!

If you are into fashion you might want to see YVES SAINT LAURENT, a look at the life of French designer Yves Saint Laurent from the beginning of his career in 1958 when he met his lover and business partner, Pierre Berge. The Playlist's Jessica Kiang describes it this way: Over the twenty-odd years the film covers, Saint Laurent is scene-by-scene depicted as a genius, a manic-depressive, a polyamorist, a drug taker, a mercurial friend, a partier and a terribly, terribly sensitive soul. He undoubtedly was all of these things and more, it's just a pity he doesn't also come across as a person. A pity.

ONE TO AVOID

The French/Belgium comedy, THE VOLCANO (with a title impossible for me to pronounce - Eyjafjallajökull - go on, give it a go!) is summarised by Jiilo_Kim on IMDB: For travelers around the world, the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull is a downer. For Alain and Valerie, it's a catastrophe. For if they are to make it in time to the tiny Greek village where their daughter's wedding is taking place, the two divorcees have to swallow their pathological hatred for each other and hit the road together. I've already seen this and will review shortly, but just know that the general public are rating it an average of **1/2 stars.

That's it for this week. See you at the movies! And watch out for my reviews as I see them!

NB: synopses of movies are adapted from IMDB.

<< THIS WEEK'S NEW CINEMA RELEASES >>

How to Train Your Dragon 2

Ok... some goodies in the cinema release box this week...

MY TOP PICK TO SEE

Head of my list is HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2. When Hiccup and Toothless discover an ice cave that is home to hundreds of new wild dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider, the two friends find themselves at the center of a battle to protect the peace. If you saw the first How to Train Your Dragon you'll just have to go and see this one! The Austin Chronicle's Kimberley Jones
says 'I laughed, I cried, I longed for a pet dragon to call my own.' Really looking forward to seeing this one!'

OTHERS TO SEE

Lots of people are enjoying 22 JUMP STREET in officers Schmidt and Jenkowhich, after making their way through high school (twice), find thatbig changes are in store for them when they go deep undercover at a local college. Wall Street Journal's Joe Morgenstern thinks that 'The repetitions are meant as a sort of metajoke, and it works well enough, more often than not, though heightened levels of raunch and chaos seem not so much meta as frantic.' I agree. You can read my brief review in the previous post.

The story of an unlikely friendship between a bear, Ernest, and a young mouse named Celestine in ERNEST & CELESTINE looks cute. Looks like it will worth checking out. RogerEbert.com describes 'Ernest and Celestine [as] the coziest movie you'll likely see all year. Every frame is suffused with a fireplace kind of warmth that, for me at least, cast an immediate spell that didn't let up.' Looks like it might be good for a family outing.

In GALORE, it's a sweltering summer before the final year of school and Billie and Laura share every secret except for Billie's biggest secret - she's crazy in love with Laura's boyfriend, Danny. When Billie's social worker mum takes in Isaac, a troubled teenager looking to get his life straight, the delicate balance of the three friends' lives is disrupted. As bushfires threaten the edge of their suburbs and they immerse themselves in the swirl of parties, possible love and the intensity of sex and desire, the world of the four teenagers is changed forever as their secrets are revealed and their lives, friendships and loves are thrown into chaos. Looks interesting...

For lovers of drama, music and romance (and who doesn't!), the French movie GABRIELLE looks like it will be ok to see. 'Gabrielle is a young woman with Williams syndrome who has a contagious joie de vivre and an exceptional musical gift. Since she met her boyfriend Martin, at the recreation centre where they are choir members, they have been inseparable. However, because they are "different," their loved ones are fearful of their relationship. As the choir prepares for an important music festival, Gabrielle does everything she can to gain her independence. As determined as she is, Gabrielle must still confront other people's prejudices as well as her own limitations in the hope of experiencing a love far from the "ordinary".' - Written by micro_scope

And, finally, THE TWO FACES OF JANUARY is a thriller centered on a con artist, his wife, and a stranger who flee Athens after one of them is caught up in the death of a private detective. Sounds intriguing and definitely is on my list to see. According to The Hollywood Reporter's Deborah Young 'On his first trip behind the camera, the British-Iranian Amini shows his skill at working with actors and sensing the way they can fill out literary characters. His screenplay generally feels more naturalistic than Highsmith, the dialogue less spare.'

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

NB: synopses of movies are adapted from IMDB.

THIS WEEK'S NEW CINEMA RELEASES

Ready to head to the cinema to catch one of the new movies opening this week? Not a great line up but a couple will be worth seeing.

MY TOP PICK TO SEE

My top pick this week is the new Australian movie THE ROVER. 10 years after a global economic collapse, a hardened, ruthless ex-soldier tracks down the men who stole his only possession. As he travels through the lawless Australian outback, he takes a damaged young man as his unwitting accomplice. It stars Guy Pearce (Memento) and Robert Pattinson (Twilight). According to The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw, Michôd creates a good deal of ambient menace in The Rover; Pearce has a simmering presence. But I felt there was a bit of muddle, and the clean lines of conflict and tension had been blurred: the dystopian future setting doesn't add much and hasn't been very rigorously imagined.

OTHERS TO SEE

GOOD VIBRATIONS is a biographical drama that chronicles Terri Hooley's life, a record-store owner instrumental in developing Belfast's punk-rock scene.

MAYBE/MAYBE NOT

For those of you who like some drama and romance, you may wish to check out THE FACE OF LOVE. A widow falls for a guy who bears a striking resemblance to her late husband. But there's a decision to make according to The Dissolve’s Mike D'Angelo: Whether it's worth seeing a film solely for one amazing performance is a personal judgment call; for those who take that particular leap once in a while, though, here's a worthy candidate.

Finally, the comedy BLENDED, Adam Sandler's latest. After a bad blind date, a man and woman find themselves stuck together at a resort for families, where their attraction grows as their respective kids benefit from the burgeoning relationship. Critics don't like it much. For example, Austin Chronicle’s Marjorie Baumgarten finds that The laziness is what irks me most about Blended. Everything from the re-teaming of the two stars and their "Wedding Singer" director, Frank Coraci, reeks of moviemaking by checklist.

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