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The Ides of March ***** With sharp, quick-witted dialogue and set against the spectacle of modern world power and politics, The Ides of March is an intense tale of sex, ambition, loyalty, betrayal and revenge. The film follows a young press spokesman (Ryan Gossling) who falls prey to backroom politics, the treacherous manipulations of veteran operatives and seduction by a young intern. In the film, George Clooney plays Governor Morris, a candidate running in the presidential primary race for the Democratic Party ticket. Read more See The Write Stuff
I don't Know How She Does It ** Kate Reddy (Sarah Jessica Parker) finds the new job he's been hoping for. Complicating matters is Kate's charming new business associate Jack Abelhammer (Pierce Brosnan), who begins to prove an unexpected source of temptation. Read more
Incendies ***** A tragic human drama that explores the different faces of love and the endurance of the human spirit. An adaptation of Wajdi Mouawad's hit play, Incendies, is a deeply moving coming-of-age story that brings the horror of war to a starkly personal level, delivering a powerful and poetic testament to the indelible scars of the cycle of violence, and the uncanny power of the will to survive. When notary Lebel (Rémy Girard) sits down with Jeanne and Simon Marwan (Mélissa Désormeaux-Poulin, Maxim Gaudette) to read them their mother's will Nawal (Lubna Azabal), the twins are stunned to receive a pair of envelopes - one for the father they thought was dead and another for a brother they didn't know existed. Read more
Jack and Jill Adam Sandler stars in the title roles of this new comedy from Happy Madison. Jack was living an almost perfect life, with the exception of one, annoying constant - his twin sister Jill. Every year he has to tolerate a Thanksgiving visit from his smothering sister, who doesn't take long to turn his life upside down. As the weekend intrusion starts stretching into a month, the siblings fight, tease, and bicker in the way only twins can. When it becomes clear Jill is never leaving, Jack sets into motion several schemes that he hopes will return Jill to where he loves her most - the other side of the country. Go behind the scenes
J. Edgar ** During his lifetime, J. Edgar Hoover would rise to be the most powerful man in America. As head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation for nearly 50 years, he would stop at nothing to protect his country. Clint Eastwood's film explores the personal and public life and relationships of a man who could distort the truth as easily as he upheld it during a life devoted to his own idea of justice, often swayed by the darker side of power. Read more Read interview with screenwriter Justin Lance Black See The Write Stuff
Machine Gun Preacher ***** The inspirational true story of Sam Childers, a former drug-dealing criminal who undergoes an astonishing transformation and finds his unexpected calling as the saviour of hundreds of kidnapped and orphaned children in war-torn Sudan. Gerard Butler (300) plays the impassioned founder of the Angels of East Africa rescue organization in director Marc Forster'smoving story of violence and redemption. Go behind the scenes Read interview with screenwriter Jason Keller See The Write Stuff
Man on a ledge **** A thrilling and nail biting suspense thriller that is guaranteed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Its cunning plot and intriguing storyline offers plenty twists and turns so be careful to not know too much about what happens as it will definitely spoil the outcome of your viewing pleasure. An ex-cop and no wanted fugitive (Sam Worthington) stands on the ledge of a high-rise building while a hard-living New York Police Department negotiator (Elizabeth Banks) tried to talk him down. The longer they are on the ledge, the more she realizes that he might have an ulterior objective…Read more
Margin Call ***** Set in the high-stakes world of the financial industry, Margin Call is a thriller entangling the key players at an investment firm during one perilous 24-hour period in the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis. When entry-level analyst Peter Sullivan (Zachary Quinto) unlocks information that could prove to be the downfall of the firm, a roller-coaster ride ensues as decisions both financial and moral catapult the lives of all involved to the brink of disaster. This brainy and perceptive human drama plays like a savvy chess game where every move, word and gesture manipulates the action and heightens the suspense and intrigue. Those who are not clued up on the intricacies and politics that govern financial markets will be fascinated by this ingenious journey into a world ruled by numbers, where emotions are cold, calculated and always on the verge of exploding. The tension runs high as the money game challenges human nature and creates a unique battleground where skill rules the war of silence. This is intelligent viewing that showcases first rate performances from the ensemble, particularly Oscar-winners Kevin Spacey and Jeremy Irons, imaginative direction by writer-director JC Chandor, who makes sense of a world few really understand but speaks a language everyone understands. Read more Writer-director J.C. Chandor talks about his 15-Year Journey to make the film
Martha Marcy May Marlene Elizabeth Olsen stars in director Sean Durkin's psychological thriller about a young woman who undergoes an explosive crisis of identity after escaping the confines of a rural cult-like farming community. Trapped by unsettling flashes of memories from the past and visions of a perilous future, she becomes taken over by an unsettling sense of fear, leaving her consumed by paranoia and a mysterious burden of guilt. Read more Interview with writer-director Sean Durkin
Midnight in Paris ***** Imaginative and bold, Woody Allen's fertile imagination gallops at full trot in this amusing and charming romance. Obsession and passion unite gloriously, turning the mundane existence of a troubled novelist upside down and inside out when he finds himself trapped between two worlds: the reality of his trip to contemporary Paris with his fiancée and the fantasy of Paris in the 20s, populated with renowned writers, artists and celebrities. Allen masterfully balances fantasy and reality with Owen Wilson delivering a heartfelt performance as a writer who yearns to live his writing and experience the mindscape of his vivid imagination. Midnight in Paris is vintage Allen. It offers perfect escapism and first rate entertainment for anyone looking to share some quality viewing with loved ones and friends. Whenever the clock strikes twelve, you will remember this remarkable film. Read more Interview with Woody Allen See The Write Stuff
Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol ***** Ratatouille director Brad Bird shifts into top gear from mice to men with the breathtaking and well crafted Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol. Undoubtedly one of the best action films in years, it is guaranteed to have you on the edge of your seat with its impossible and unbelievable action sequences. If you love spy thrillers, this is first rate entertainment and ultimate escapism. Read more See The Write Stuff Win a fun Ghost Protocol puzzle and Mission Impossible III DVD
Moneyball ***** A captivating and compelling journey into a world ruled by money, where people becomes pawns trapped in a war zone that is a sport field and its warriors the sportsmen, managers and corporate giants caught in endless bidding wars. Based on the true story of Billy Beane (Brad Pitt), a once a would-be baseball superstar who, stung by the failure to live up to expectations on the field, takes on the system by challenging the fundamental tenants of the game and hires Peter Brand (Jonah Hill), a brainy, number-crunching, Yale-educated economist. Go behind the scenes. See The Write Stuff
The Muppet Movie (3D) Walter, the world's biggest Muppet fan, and his friends stage The Greatest Muppet Telethon Ever and raise the $10 million needed to save the theater. Read more
The Music Never Stopped ***** An overly critical father gets a unique opportunity to reconnect with his estranged son, if he can only embrace the music that once divided them in this uplifting family drama inspired by Dr. Oliver Sacks' case study "The Last Hippie." Forbidden by his conservative engineer father, Henry (J.K. Simmons), from attending a Grateful Dead concert back in 1967, Gabriel Sawyer (Lou Taylor Pucci) packs his bags and runs away from home. Twenty years later, Henry and his wife, receive word that Gabriel has been diagnosed with a benign brain tumor that requires delicate surgery to remove. Read more
New Year's Eve Celebrating love, hope, forgiveness, second chances and fresh starts, it follows the intertwining stories of couples and singles, told amidst the pulse and promise of New York City on the most dazzling night of the year. Read more
Platteland **** Pure nostalgia for lovers of Afrikaans music and boere kultuur. Platteland strikes the perfect balance between a story well told, colourful characters brought to life by a great cast, and a memorable music score and hit songs. Read more
Puss in Boots Long before he even met Shrek, the notorious fighter, lover and outlaw Puss in Boots becomes a hero when he sets off on an adventure with the tough and street smart Kitty Softpaws and the mastermind Humpty Dumpty to save his town. Read more
Real Steel ***** Truly unbelievable! This sensational story of Adam, an underdog boxing robot, and Max, a hot-headed rebellious teenager, is one you will always remember. This heartwarming and emotional father-and-son story reconnecting despite the odds is one you will never forget. Hugh Jackman scores top points as a loser father and cocky washed-up boxer who regains his confidence through Adam, and discovers himself through the courage of his son, with Dakota Goyo delivering a fantastic performance as a boy who refuses to stop dreaming. If you are looking for first rate entertainment that's got heart and offers soulful escapism, this is your kind of film. It is not a sports film about boxing robots, but follows in the tradition of The Champ and Rocky, offering a meaningful and rewarding experience. Read more See The Write Stuff Review
Seeking Justice Nicolas Cage stars as a high school teacher who bands with a group of vigilantes in order to avenge a violent crime against his wife in this thriller from director Roger Donaldson. Read more
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows **** Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as the world's most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, and Jude Law returns as his formidable colleague, Dr. Watson. There is a new criminal mastermind at large--Professor Moriarty (Jared Harris). Moriarty is always one step ahead as he spins a web of death and destruction--all part of a greater plan that, if he succeeds, will change the course of history. Read more Interview with screenwriters Kieran and Michele Mulroney
The Skin I Live In ***** Obsession can indisputably annihilate the soul. Retribution can cultivate an unfathomable evil malevolence. In Pedro Almodovar's masterful suspense thriller, the fusion of these malignant emotions is deadly. Be warned to not know anything about this film before watching it. The ingenious and mind-bending story, propelled by an intricate line of dramatic action, is filled with shrewd twists and deceitful secrets that culminate in a tour de force unlike anything you have ever seen before. It's a captivating cinematic experience you will never forget. Almodovar wickedly seduces the senses and stimulates the intellect with a perceptive and abominable exploration of sexuality and the quest for autonomy. To be ultimately released from tragic and life altering traumas and accept the fragile and flawed imperfections of human nature is the ultimate reward in the exceptional work of art. Almodovar spins his magic genius effortlessly and like the world greatest illusionist; this exceptional visionary manages to pull off the ultimate story. To enslave the human soul is a subject rarely explored in cinema and is also found most recently in Sean Durkin's Martha Marcy May Marlene. Almodovar's twisted tale, the complexity of the issues it raises, and compassion of its actions are fully explored. It's a classic tale of the hunted becoming the hunter and where wounds never really heal, no matter how superior or strong the fiber of being human is. Read more
31 Million Reasons *** 31 million Rand has been stolen in the middle of the night from a cash holding facility in Durban. Corrupt Durban cop Rennie from Chatsworth has illusions of being above the criminal class, and desperately wants to clean up his act. He's given the opportunity to go legit by a cash-in-transit guard... but only by orchestrating the biggest cash heist in South African history. Read more
Tower Heist ** Ben Stiller and Eddie Murphy lead an all-star cast in this comedy caper about working stiffs who seek revenge on the Wall Street swindler who stiffed them. Read more
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn (Part 1) ** Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson), plus those they love, must deal with the chain of consequences brought on by their ornate nuptials, a romantic honeymoon, and the tumultuous birth of their child…which brings an unforeseen and shocking development for Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner). Read more
The Thing **** Antarctica: an extraordinary continent of awesome beauty. It is also home to an isolated outpost known as Thule Station. There, a crew of international scientists has unearthed a remarkable discovery. But elation quickly turns to terrifying paranoia as the group of researchers encounters something inhuman that has the ability to turn itself into an exact replica of any living being. It is prelude to John Carpenter's classic 1982 film of the same name, and based on the classic story of terror "Who Goes There?" by John W. Campbell Jr. Read more
Tree of Life ***** An unforgettable cinematic masterpiece from Terence Malick that is bound to change the way you see film and observe life. We trace the evolution of an eleven-year-old boy in the Midwest, JACK, one of three brothers. At first all seems marvellous to the child. He sees as his mother does, with the eyes of his soul. She represents the way of love and mercy, where the father tries to teach his son the world's way of putting oneself first. Each parent contends for his allegiance, and Jack must reconcile their claims. The picture darkens as he has his first glimpses of sickness, suffering and death. The world, once a thing of glory, becomes a labyrinth. Read more
Trespass A wealthy family fight back against a gang of ruthless criminals during a violent home invasion in this relentless nail-biter from director Joel Schumacher (8MM, Phone Booth). Powerful businessman Kyle (Nicolas Cage) lives in a private community with his gorgeous wife Sarah (Nicole Kidman) and their rebellious teenage daughter Avery (Liana Liberato). Though security is tight in their affluent neighborhood, cunning thief Elias (Ben Mendelsohn) has spent months planning the perfect robbery, and his crew have the skills needed to pull it off. Go behind the scenes
We Bought a Zoo ***** A highly entertaining, heart-warming adventure and family event, inspired by the amazing true story about a recently single dad (Matt Damon) who dreams up the coolest, most unusual gift a parent could ever give his family: a zoo. Together with his kids, he travels from the city to their new home in the wilds of upstate New York where -- through the restoration of their ramshackle zoo -- the family reconnects and gets a fresh start Go behind the scenes .Read an interview with director and co-writer Cameron Crowe
Underworld Awakening brings a stunning new dimension to the epic battle between Vampires and Lycans, as the first film in the franchise to shoot in 3D. Kate Beckinsale, star of the first two films, returns in her lead role as the vampire warrioress Selene, who escapes imprisonment to find herself in a world where humans have discovered the existence of both Vampire and Lycan clans, and are conducting an all-out war to eradicate both immortal species. Read more about a new vision of Underworld See The Write Stuff
We Need To Talk About Kevin ***** A dark and brooding odyssey into anguish that is manifested in the malicious psyche of a teenager who shatters the idyllic world that imprisons him. Contextually sound with powerhouse performances by Tilda Swinton and Ezra Miller as mother and son, director and co-writer Lynne Ramsay's distinguished visual sensibility delivers a gritty and experimental style to her portrait of psychotic neurosis and mental torment. Stark transitional values masterfully blend sound and image, amplified by contrasting visual dynamics; vivid colours and textures dominate the landscape of the story and accentuate the mindscape of the characters. We Need To Talk About Kevin dares to push the boundaries of art and turns an ordinary cinematic experience into a bizarre realm that is exceptional despite its disturbing and shocking content. Ramsay uses symbolism strongly throughout the film to diffuse the horror that reshapes the lives of its characters. It's a serious film that deals head-on with serious issues, probing the depth of its malicious nature and taking a hard look at a mother who loses control and whose existence spirals into oblivion. An interesting aspect of this exemplary showcase of British filmmaking at its finest is that there is very little 'talk'. Instead, an abstract expressionism probes the memories, images and nightmares that explode into a majestic symphony of sound and image. Read more Interview with screenwriter-director Lynne Ramsay See The Write Stuff
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