Author: James Partridge

Cinema Release Round-Up: 1 August

Posted by | Aug 1, 2013 |

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. . Opening today: . 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 . 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...

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Cinema Release Round-Up: 24 July

Posted by | Jul 24, 2013 |

It’s a right royal affair this week. Aside from a certain baby boy grabbing all the headlines, we have comic book royalty gracing our screens and Marie Antoinette waving the flag for France. . Opening today: . THE WOLVERINE……FILM OF THE WEEK USA | 126 minutes | Action Director: James Mangold (3:10 to Yuma, Walk the Line, Cop Land) Cast: Hugh Jackman, Rila Fukushima, Svetlana Khodchenkova, Will Yun Lee, Famke Janssen, James Fraser After being summoned to Japan by a man he once saved, Wolverine has a bad case of girl trouble when he comes face-to-face with a new nemesis – leaving him vulnerable for first time. The more I see, the more I like. Let’s hope this solo outing doesn’t disappoint like the first. Distributor: 20th Century Fox . Opening tomorrow: . FAREWELL, MY QUEEN France, Spain | 100 minutes | Drama Director: Benoît Jacquot (Villa Amalia, A Single Girl, Right Now) Cast: Diane Kruger, Léa Seydoux, Virginie Ledoyen, Xavier Beauvois, Noémie Lvovsky, Michel Robin, Julie-Marie Parmentier Based on the Chantal Thomas novel, this period drama promises the passions, debauchery, nobility and chaos that engulfed the court of Marie Antoinette in the final days before the French Revolution. It looks sumptuous and it has great leads in Kruger and Seydoux. Here’s hoping it can deliver on that promise. Distributor: Madman/Transmission . What say you…queen or...

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Cinema Release Round-Up: 18 July

Posted by | Jul 18, 2013 |

It might be the end of the world, but the party’s just begun. We have some thoroughly entertaining fare for you this week. . Films opening today: . THE WORLD’S END……FILM OF THE WEEK UK | 108 minutes | Comedy Director: Edgar Wright (Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World) Cast: Simon Pegg, Nick Frost, Rosamund Pike, Martin Freeman, Eddie Marsan, Paddy Considine, David Bradley 20 years after attempting an epic pub crawl, five childhood friends reunite when one becomes hell bent on trying the drinking marathon again. But the town they grew up in is not quite as they remember and the lads become mankind’s last hope. The Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy comes to an end with a bang. We were fortunate enough to gain entry to the NZ/International Premiere. Trust us… go see it! Distributor: Paramount Pictures / Universal . PING PONG UK | 76 minutes | Documentary Director: Hugh Hartford (debut feature) Featuring: Les D’Arcy, Rune Forsberg, Sun Lao, Terry Donlon, Dorothy DeLow, Lisa Modlich, Ursula Bihl, Inge Hermann Follow eight pensioners as they compete in the World Over 80s Table Tennis World Championships – held in Inner Mongolia of all places. Australian legend Dorothy deLow is 100! – you’re never too old for gold. Ping Pong has never looked more entertaining. Another ‘must see’ this week. http://youtu.be/8Qru5cnfxE0 Distributor: Vendetta . PRIVATE...

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