Author: James Partridge

Cinema Release Round-Up: 12 September

Posted by | Sep 12, 2013 |

Four incredibly different films for you this week. A unique twist on Shakespeare, a life dedicated to faith and gardening, divorce seen through the eyes of a young girl, and the return of everyone’s favourite Furyan. . Opening today: . ROMEO AND JULIET: A LOVE SONG……FILM OF THE WEEK New Zealand | 107 minutes | Drama, Musical, Romance Director: Tim van Dammen (debut feature) Cast: Christopher Landon, Derya Parlak, Dan Veint, Todd Emerson, Sarah Houbolt, Anton Tennet, Sarah Valentine, Cameron Rhodes, Dallas Barnett You thought Baz Luhrman had done a revisionist R & J – but here’s Shakespeare’s most famous play as you’ve never seen or heard it before. The tale of two lovers and their feuding families takes place in New Zealand, in summer, at a caravan park. Oh, and it’s a rock-opera! It’s Shakespeare, as a rock-opera, set in a Kiwi caravan park. Need I say more? Distributor: Rialto Distribution . RIDDICK USA | 118 minutes | Action, Sci-Fi Director: David Twohy (The Chronicles of Riddick, Pitch Black) Cast: Vin Diesel, Jordi Mollà, Matt Nable, Katee Sackhoff, Dave Bautista, Bokeem Woodbine, Raoul Trujillo, Conrad Pla, Danny Blanco Hall, Noah Danby, Neil Napier, Nolan Gerard Funk, Karl Urban Vin Diesel’s super badass Furyan returns to the big screen. This time he’s marooned on a planet full of rather unpleasant creatures, and the only way off is to trigger...

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Cinema Release Round-Up: 5 September

Posted by | Sep 5, 2013 |

A fine and eclectic selection of films for you this week, topped by a new Woody Allen masterpiece. But if Woody isn’t your bag, there’s also a French drama, an insightful doco, some espionage, and an all-American shoot ’em up. . Opening today: . BLUE JASMINE USA | 98 minutes | Comedy, Drama Director: Woody Allen (Annie Hall, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Midnight in Paris) Cast: Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Peter Sarsgaard, Alden Ehrenreich, Michael Stuhlbarg, Louis C.K., Sally Hawkins, Andrew Dice Clay, Bobby Cannavale When Jasmine’s multi-millionaire husband is revealed as a crook, she moves back to San Francisco to live with her sister and reconnect with her estranged family. Woody back to his very best? We believe so. Distributor: Rialto Distribution . IN THE HOUSE France | 105 minutes | Drama Director by François Ozon (Potiche, Swimming Pool) Cast: Fabrice Luchini, Ernst Umhauer, Kristin Scott Thomas, Emmanuelle Seigner, Denis Ménochet A reclusive sixteen year-old boy writes about his life through essays. The boy’s talent inspires his teacher – however the bond sets off a series of uncontrollable events. This looks like an intriguing wee drama. http://youtu.be/fzZpfSLASjk Distributor: Rialto Distribution . PARANOIA USA, France | 106 minutes | Drama, Thriller Director: Robert Luketic (The Ugly Truth, Legally Blonde) Cast: Harrison Ford, Liam Hemsworth, Amber Heard, Gary Oldman, Josh Holloway, Richard Dreyfuss, Embeth Davidtz, Lucas Till A newbie employee gets...

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Rave reviews and two shiny new posters for Alfonso Cuaron’s ‘Gravity’

Posted by | Sep 3, 2013 |

Alfonso Cuaron is back with the follow up to his brilliant Children of Men, Gravity, in which an astronaut (Sandra Bullock) is left floating in space after a mission goes horribly wrong. It’s gaining all sorts of hype off the back of screenings at the Venice and Telluride Film Festivals. Firstshowing.net’s Alex Billington gave it a straight 10/10. “It’s a visually groundbreaking, epic cinematic experience unlike any in film history”, he says. “I look forward to experiencing it again many, many times over.” Meanwhile Justin Chang of Variety says “Alfonso Cuaron’s white-knuckle space odyssey restores a sense of wonder, terror and possibility to the big screen that should inspire awe among critics and audiences worldwide.” That’s some praise! Bullock’s performance, as you might expect, is being hailed as one of her finest. George Clooney is also being praised for his turn as the fellow astronaut Bullock communicates with throughout her frightening ordeal. Two shiny new character posters have just been released for the pair and you can check these out below. If this isn’t on your ‘must see list, you should add it immediately – however we urge you not to read the reviews and try to stay as uninformed as possible for an experience like this. Gravity opens in a month’s time – 3 October to be precise (4 October in the US). Mark your calendar now. You excited yet?...

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Arnie tweets pic with Harrison Ford on the set of ‘The Expendables 3’

Posted by | Sep 2, 2013 |

Looks like Arnold Schwarzenegger had a fun first day on the set of The Expendables 3 hanging out with Harrison Ford – the newest, but definitely not youngest, member of the Expendables team. Arnie tweeted a pic of himself, Ford and Aussie director Patrick Hughes (Red Hill) along with the message “It was a fantastic first day of filming on Expendables 3. Great to work with Harrison…”. We’re unsure what role Ford’s character Max Drummer will play but it looks like he’s got piloting skills, if the Airforce uniform is anything to go by. And Arnie shows no signs of longing for best bud Bruce Willis, who departed the film after contract negotiations broke down. In the third installment of the action franchise, the gang take on Expandables co-founder and ruthless arms trader, Conrad Stonebanks (Mel Gibson) – who’s back from apparent death at the hands of his former partner Barney (Sylvester Stallone) to destroy the team and exact revenge. There’s more new blood this time around too, with Kellan Lutz (Twilight), Antonio Banderas (Desperado), Welsey Snipes (Blade) and boxer Victor Ortiz also joining the cast. The Expendables 3 will hit our screens around August 2014. You pumped for another round? . Barney (Stallone), Christmas (Statham) and the rest of the team comes face-to-face with Conrad Stonebanks (Gibson), who years ago co-founded The Expendables with Barney. Stonebanks subsequently became...

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