Real life, romance, tragedy, crime, and comedy… it’s all here! Which makes picking a FOTW tough, especially as so many of these look so good. But it’s hard to go past the movie that wowed audiences (and us!) at last year’s New Zealand International Film Fest – and picked up the granddaddy of film awards, the Palme d’Or. Oh, and picked up an Oscar along the way too.
Here’s the films opening today:
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AMOUR……FILM OF THE WEEK
France, Germany, Austria | 125 minutes | Drama
Director: Michael Haneke (The White Ribbon)
Cast: Jean-Louis Trintignant, Emmanuelle Riva, Isabelle Huppert, Alexandre Tharaud, William Shimell
Prepare yourself for an incredibly powerful and moving drama about an elderly couple whose love is tested when one partner suffers a stroke. Masterfully written, directed and acted, the film took home the Palme d’Or at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. Check out our 2012 NZIFF review here.
Distributor: Transmission Films
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SAMSARA
USA | 102 minutes | Documentary
Director: Ron Fricke (Baraka)
Remember Baraka? This promises to be equally awe-inspiring. Shot on 70mm, with footage taken in 25 countries on five continents over five years, this stunning film transports us to “the varied worlds of sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial complexes, and natural wonders”.
Distributor: Hopscotch
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THE SWEENEY
UK | 111 minutes | Crime, Action, Drama
Director: Nick Love (Outlaw, The Football Factory)
Cast: Ray Winstone, Damian Lewis, Hayley Atwell, Allen Leech, Ben Drew, Alan Ford
Forget that this is a remake of the 70’s TV show. All you need to know is that Ray Winstone is playing a bad ass, hard-nosed police detective. What more could you want!?! Case closed, my son.
Distributor: Hoyts Distribution
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I GIVE IT A YEAR
UK | 97 minutes | Comedy, Romance
Director: Dan Mazer (debut feature)
Cast: Rose Byrne, Jason Flemyng, Anna Faris, Simon Baker, Minnie Driver, Stephen Merchant, Olivia Colman, Rafe Spall
A UK rom-com (typically better then their Stateside equivalents) about a young couple who impulsively gets hitched and is now having to face up to the realities of married life. With the writer of Borat and Bruno at the helm, this should be a cut above your average relationship yarn.
Distributor: Rialto Distribution
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THE GUILT TRIP
USA | 96 minutes | Comedy
Director: Anne Fletcher (The Proposal, 27 Dresses)
Cast: Seth Rogen, Barbra Streisand, Adam Scott, Yvonne Strahovski, Colin Hanks, Danny Pudi
A son tricks his mum (or should that be ‘mom’) into taking a cross-country road trip to find her a new man. Rogan and Streisand certainly look the part but, unfortunately, this looks very hit and miss. We covered this film in a previous round-up but it looks like it sneakily shifted dates on us. Naughty film.
Distributor: Paramount Pictures
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So… real life, romance, tragedy, crime, or comedy?
