Boxing Day brings us a cinematic feast to complete with yesterday’s gastronomic delight.
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Opening today:
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THE WOLF OF WALL STREET……FILM OF THE WEEK
USA | 179 minutes | Drama
Director: Martin Scorsese (Hugo, Goodfellas, Taxi Driver)
Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Matthew McConaughey, Kyle Chandler, Jon Bernthal, Jon Favreau, Shea Whigham, Jean Dujardin
Scorsese and DiCaprio take on the true life tale of an unscrupulous stockbroker who took 80’s Wall Street by storm…and enjoyed all the hedonistic pleasures that went along with it. But all good things must come to an end.
Saw this tonight…and it’s brilliant.
Distributor: Roadshow
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FROZEN
USA | 95 minutes | Animation, Comedy, Family
Directors: Chris Buck (Tarzan, Surf’s Up) & Jennifer Lee (debut feature)
Cast: Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Tom Kane, Santino Fontana
Based on the Hans Christian Anderson fairytale The Snow Queen, Disney brings us the story of the fearless Princess Anna who sets off to find her sister, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter.
It looks like Disney have another hit on their hands, following on from the superb Wreck-It Ralph.
Distributor: Disney
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GLORIA
Chile | 110 minutes | Drama, Romance
Director: Sebastián Lelio (El año del tigre, La sagrada familia)
Starring: Paulina García, Sergio Hernández, Diego Fontecilla, Fabiola Zamora, Coca Guazzini, Hugo Moraga, Alejandro Goic
A 58-year-old Chilean divorcee is more than a little determined to defy old age and loneliness. However, her hedonistic adventures lead to disappointment…until she meets an ex-naval officer seven years her senior.
Gloria has been praised by critics and cinema-goers alike. Now we get find out if they’re right.
Distributor: Rialto
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PHILOMENA
UK | 94 minutes | Drama
Director: Stephen Frears (Tamara Drewe, The Queen, Dirty Pretty Things)
Cast: Judi Dench, Steve Coogan, Neve Gachev, Charlie Murphy, Simone Lahbib, Sophie Kennedy Clark, Charles Edwards, Xavier Atkins
Philomena has spent 50 years searching in vain for her son…until she meets a world-weary journalist who helps her track down the boy who was taken from her after she fell pregnant as a teenager.
It was between this and The Wolf of Wall Street for FOTW. Tough call.
Distributor: Hopscotch eOne / Rialto
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THE GILDED CAGE
Portugal, France | 90 minutes | Comedy
Director: Ruben Alves (Secrets of State)
Cast: Rita Blanco, Joaquim De Almeida, Roland Giraud, Chantal Lauby, Barbara Cabrita, Lannick Gautry
A Portuguese couple inherit a property, providing them a chance to return home. But they are so well loved by their Parisian community, everyone tries to outdo each other in order to prevent the couple from leaving.
A fan favourite from NZIFF gets a deserved cinematic release.
Distributor: Palace / Madman
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THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER MITTY
USA | 114 minutes | Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Director: Ben Stiller (Tropic Thunder, Zoolander)
Starring: Ben Stiller, Sean Penn, Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott, Patton Oswalt, Shirley MacLaine
Walter’s quiet, fantasy-driven world gets turned upside down when he must retrieve a missing negative for his employer, LIFE magazine, which leads him on a journey of self-discovery.
Looks pretty good. Sure to be a holiday favourite.
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
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THE SPIRIT OF ’45
UK | 98 minutes | Documentary
Director: Ken Loach (‘The Wind That Shakes the Barley’, ‘Sweet Sixteen’, ‘My Name Is Joe’)
Featuring: Winston Churchill, Ton Benn, Clement Attlee
Ken Loach brings us a documentary about the UK’s post-World War II Labour government and its programme of nationalisation, showing the background to – and construction of – the country’s welfare state that ended up being dismantled during the Thatcher era.
History and politics buffs should love this.
Distributor: Rialto
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What’s your tough call this week?
