It’s the Kristin Scott Thomas Show this week; but it’s her collaboration with Nicolas Winding Refn and Ryan Gosling, in Only God Forgives, we’re most interested in.
Also providing us with some cinematic magic is a star-studded Hollywood blockbuster, a Number 8 wire Kiwi doco, and Bruce Springsteen documentary – by the fans…for the fans.
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Opening today:
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ONLY GOD FORGIVES……FILM OF THE WEEK
France, Thailand, USA, Sweden | 89 minutes | Crime, Drama, Thriller
Director: Nicolas Winding Refn (Drive, Pusher)
Cast: Ryan Gosling, Kristin Scott Thomas, Vithaya Pansringarm, Tom Burke, Yayaying, Byron Gibson, Joe Cummings
Revenge is a dish best served in Thailand, when an exiled boxing gym owner is tasked by his crime boss mother to avenge his brother’s murder at the hands of an ex-cop – appropriately named ‘The Angel of Death’.
Give me Refn and Gosling any day of the week. The fact that this film has divided audiences and critics makes it even more of a ‘must see’.
Distributor: StudioCanal, Icon
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LOOKING FOR HORTENSE
France | 100 minutes | Comedy, Drama
Director: Pascal Bonitzer (Va savoir, La belle noiseuse)
Cast: Jean-Pierre Bacri, Kristin Scott Thomas, Isabelle Carré, Claude Rich, Marin Orcand Tourrès
A specialist in Chinese civilisation must, at the request of his wife, ask his powerful father to intervene in the case of a young immigrant.
A great cast and an interesting premise for a comedy.
Distributor: Rialto
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NOW YOU SEE ME
USA | 115 minutes | Thriller
Director: Louis Leterrier (The Incredible Hulk, The Transporter)
Cast: Jesse Eisenberg, Michael Caine, Mark Ruffalo, Morgan Freeman, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Mélanie Laurent, Common, Dave Franco
A team of the world’s greatest illusionists pulls off heists during their performances and provide the bounty to provide their audiences. But how long can their daring sleight of hand last?
Hopefully this will bring the house down and not be another Hollywood parlour trick.
Distributor: Rialto
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WILL IT FLY?
New Zealand | 119 minutes | Documentary (Limited Release)
Director: Wayne Johnson (debut feature)
Featuring: Ivan Mudrovchich
Retired engineer Ivan Mudrovchich attempts to rebuild an aircraft that reclusive Kiwi farmer Richard Pearse built some 109 years earlier – one that is believed by some to have flown before the Wright Brothers’ famous flight. But can it actually fly?
A fascinating sounding doco that will no doubt leave us hanging ’til the very last scene.
Distributor: unknown
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Opening Sunday:
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SPRINGTEEN & I
USA | 124 minutes | Documentary, Music
Director: Baillie Walsh (Flashbacks of a Fool)
Cast: Bruce Springsteen
Constructed from submitted video, photos and previously unseen concert footage, this is a tribute to the storied career of “The Boss”.
Fans will love this. And probably everyone else too.
Distributor: unknown
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What will you be sneaking out of the NZ film festival to see?
