TAKING WOODSTOCK ***** Ang Lee's sumptous exploration of a gay young man's search for meaning  during the pscycadelic flower-power era is mesmerising. Based on the memoirs of Elliot Tiber, Demetri Martin is perfectly cast as Elliot, who inadvertently played a role in making 1969's Woodstock Music and Arts Festival into the famed happening it was. Elliot finds himself swept up in a generation-defining experience that would change his life - and popular culture - forever. The setting of the dumpy Catskills motel called the El Monaco that is being run into the ground by his overbearing parents, (Henry Goodman and Imelda Staunton) offers the perfect haven for hippies who flooded to the festival.  Liev Schreiber is outstanding as the cross-dressing ex-Marine Vilma, with great support from Emile Hirsch as a wacky Vietnam veteran.  Read more
THE MESSENGER **** A potent observation of the effect of war on society, as well as a great romance.  Love and war with a stunning script and first rate performances, particulalry Ben Foster and Samatha Morton as two strangers who meet by accident. In his most powerful performance to date, Ben Foster stars as Will Montgomery, a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant who has just returned home from a tour in Iraq and is assigned to the Army's Casualty Notification service. Partnered with fellow officer Tony Stone (Woody Harrelson) to bear the bad news to the loved ones of fallen soldiers, Will faces the challenge of completing his mission while seeking to find comfort and healing back on the home front. When he finds himself drawn to Olivia (Samantha Morton), to whom he has just delivered the news of her husband's death, Will's emotional detachment begins to dissolve and the film reveals itself as a surprising, humorous, moving and very human portrait of grief, friendship and survival. Read an interview with director Oren Moverman
HACHIKO: A DOG'S STORY  ***** A film for the whole family. This heartwarming film is an American adaptation of a famous Japanese tale about a loyal Akita dog named Hachiko. This special dog, nicknamed "Hachi," accompanies his master Parker (Richard Gere), a university professor, to the train station every morning to see him off and then returns to the station each afternoon to greet him at the end of his day. The emotionally complex nature of what unfolds when their uncomplicated routine becomes interrupted is what makes Hachi's story a tale for the ages; a dog's faithful devotion to his master exposes the great power of love and how this simplest of acts can become the grandest gesture of all.  Read more
AWAY WE GO  **** Away We Go marks the first movie that director Sam Mendes has helmed from an original screenplay since the Academy Award-winning American Beauty. He remarks, "I was feeling the need to do something writer-led. Dave Eggers & Vendela Vida's script was delightful, and had a lightness of spirit even when dealing with serious issues. Most of all it made me laugh." It follows the journey of an expectant couple (John Krasinski (The Office) and Maya Rudolph (Saturday Night Live), as they travel the U.S. in search of the perfect place to put down roots and raise their family. Along the way, they have misadventures and find fresh connections with an assortment of relatives and old friends who just might help them discover "home" on their own terms for the first time. Read more
A PROPHET ***** Condemned to six years in prison, Malik El Djebena, part Arab, part Corsican, cannot read or write. Arriving at the jail entirely alone, he appears younger and more fragile than the other convicts. He is 19 years old. Cornered by the leader of the Corsican gang currently ruling the prison, he is given a number of "missions" to carry out, toughening him up and gaining the gang leader's confidence in the process. Malik is a fast learner and rises up the prison ranks, all the while secretly devising his own plans…Read more

Also Released
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THE ACCIDENTAL HUSBAND *** Full of plenty of passion and lots of sparks, The Accidental Husband proves that a wild fiery love will snuff out a dull steady flame in a New York minute. Radio sensation Dr. Emma Lloyd (Uma Thurman) 'The Love Doctor', and her publisher/fiancé Michael (Colin Firth) thought getting a license to wed in New York would be easier than getting a driver's license. But when Emma carelessly dispenses some of her "chicken soup for the heart" over the Big Apple's airwaves, and a faithful listener takes her advice, Fireman Patrick Sullivan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) suddenly has his love life extinguished. Now Patrick wants to get even, and after reading about the good doctor's impending nuptials in the newspaper, he puts together the perfect recipe for sweet revenge:  Just take one know-it-all talk show host, one angry New York City fireman, one computer whiz who can hack into city hall, and presto! Emma can't get married because she already is . . . to Patrick! Read more
THE BOUNTY HUNTER ** Milo Boyd (Gerard Butler), a down-on-his-luck bounty hunter, gets his dream job when he is assigned to track down his bail-jumping ex-wife, reporter Nicole Hurley (Jennifer Aniston).  He thinks all that's ahead is an easy payday, but when Nicole gives him the slip so she can chase a lead on a murder cover-up, Milo realizes that nothing ever goes simply with him and Nicole.  The exes continually one-up each other - until they find themselves on the run for their lives.  They thought their promise to love, honour and obey was tough - staying alive is going to be a whole lot tougher.  Andy Tennant (Hitch, Sweet Home Alabama) directs.  Read more   Read an interview ith Gerard Butler
CLASH OF THE TITANS (2D) **** Entertaining escapism with spectacular visual design. In "Clash of the Titans," the ultimate struggle for power pits men against kings and kings against gods. But the war between the gods themselves could destroy the world. Born of a god but raised as a man, Perseus (Sam Worthington) is helpless to save his family from Hades (Ralph Fiennes), vengeful god of the underworld. With larger-than-life mythical beasts, breathtaking vistas spanning the depths of hell to the heights of Mt. Olympus, and battles to-the-death between man and the gods, "Clash of the Titans" is a mammoth spectacle that will grab audiences from the first scene and take them on a wild, 3D ride through an ancient Greece only imaginable in the 21st century.  Read more
THE COVE **** A  provocative mix of  investigative  journalism, eco-adventure and  arresting imagery that adds up to an urgent plea for hope.  THE COVE begins in Taiji, Japan,  where former dolphin trainer Ric O'Barry has come to set  things right  after a long search for redemption. In the 1960s, it  was O'Barry who captured and trained  the  5  dolphins  who played  the  title  character  in  the  international  television  sensation "Flipper."   But his  close  relationship with  those  dolphins  -  the  very  dolphins  who  sparked  a global fascination with trained sea mammals that  continues to this day -- led O'Barry to a radical change of heart.  One fateful day, a heartbroken Barry came to realize that  these deeply sensitive, highly intelligent and  self-aware creatures  so beautifully adapted  to life  in the open ocean must never be subjected to human captivity again.  Read more
THE DESCENT PART 2 The chilling sequel to the critically acclaimed and globally successful horror hit The Descent. Dazed, bloodied and speechless with trauma, Sarah Carter (Shauma MacDonald) emerges alone from the Appalachian cave system where the events of The Descent took place. Local Sheriff Redmond Vaines forces her back underground to help the rescue team which is desperately searching for her five missing girlfriends. As the team move deeper into the caves, Sarah's flashes of fractured memory intensify and she begins to realise the full horror of the would-be rescue mission. Only Sarah knows the terror which lurks in the shadows of the caves. But they are about to encounter a new tribe of Crawlers, inbred, deformed and even more viciously feral than those Sarah faced before. Read more
EXTRAORDINARY MEASURES ** Brendan Fraser plays John Crowley, a biotechnology executive, whose two youngest children were afflicted with Pompe disease. Along with his wife Aileen (Keri Russell), he raises money for research scientist Robert Stonehill (Harrison Ford) - most likely representing Dr William Canfield, forming a company to develop a drug to save his children's lives. Read more
FOOD INC. Documentary filmmaker Robert Kenner uses reports by Fast Food Nation author Eric Schlosser and The Omnivore's Dilemma author Michael Pollan as a springboard to exploring where the food we purchase at the grocery store really comes from, and what it means for the health of future generations. By exposing the comfortable relationships between business and government, Kenner gradually shines light on the dark underbelly of the American food industry.  Read more
THE FULL MONTEVERDI ***** John La Bouchardi's critically acclaimed film featuring leading vocal ensemble I Fagiolini, brings to life one of the most moving collections of Renaissance vocal music as a contemporary drama specifically for the screen. Claudio Monteverdi's Fourth book of Madrigals (1603) explores differing emotional states of abandoned lovers through the most dramatic and amazingly modern music for vocal ensemble. The Full Monteverdi follows the simultaneous break-up of six couples, from shocking revelation, vengeful anger and erotic longing for reconciliation, as an ensemble film. Vulnerable and disarming, it draws viewers into its emotional journey and intensely moving portrait of contemporary love. The film is sung throughout.  Read more
IRON MAN 2 **** Spectacular escapism filled with sensational action sequences, awesome visual effects and a crackling script.  Now that the world knows that billionaire industrialist Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) is Iron Man, Tony seeks to underscore the benefits of the Iron Man suit by re-launching his late father's extravagant Stark Expo, a showcase for the humanitarian innovations inspired by its technology.  As the U.S. government insists that Tony turn the revolutionary weapon over to the military, Ivan Vanko (Mickey Rourke), a mysterious figure from the Stark family's past, sets out to destroy Tony by revealing his own devastating weapon based on Stark's technology.  Overwhelmed on all fronts, while also facing his own personal demons, Tony must finally call on his allies - old and new - to help him confront the gathering forces that threaten to destroy him and all of mankind. Read more 
JAKHALSDANS The latest Afrikaans film written by Deon Meyer and directed By Darrell Roodt. A female teacher, Mara Malan (Elizma Theron), has spent her last savings on a house in Loxton in the Northern Karoo, so that she can raise her 5 year old daughter, Mia (Janke Bruwer) , in a safe and friendly country environment. But the primary school in Loxton is going to close down, unless Mara can raise five hundred thousand rand within three weeks. Read more
KICK-ASS *** The story of average teenager Dave Lizewski (Aaron Johnson), a comic-book fan boy who decides to take his obsession as inspiration to become a real-life superhero. As any good superhero would, he chooses a new name -- Kick-Ass -- assembles a suit and mask to wear, and gets to work fighting crime. There's only one problem standing in his way: Kick-Ass has absolutely no superpowers. His life is forever changed as he inspires a subculture of copy cats, is hunted by assorted violent and unpleasant characters, and meets up with a pair of crazed vigilantes, including an 11-year-old sword-wielding dynamo, Hit Girl (Chloe Moretz) and her father, Big Daddy (Nicholas Cage). KICK-ASS is based on the groundbreaking, best-selling comic by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr. Read more
LEAP YEAR Irish legend tells that, since the fifth century, women who find themselves in the land of luck can propose to their suitors who have yet to pop the question.  The catch for these women longing to become legitimate fiancées?  They only have 24 hours--once every four years--to utter those four little words to boyfriends who've been dragging their feet.  And that day is February 29th.  For any lady without that special ring on her finger, hopeful that love will prevail and ready to take fate into her own hands…she only has to wait for Leap Year. Amy Adams (Enchanted, Doubt, Julie & Julia) and British actor Matthew Goode (A Single Man, Watchmen, Match Point) headline an on-the-road romance that follows one woman's determined quest to get married to the perfect guy…despite what fate has in store for her--Leap Year.  Read more
LOVE HAPPENS *** When a self-help author arrives in Seattle to teach a sold-out seminar, he unexpectedly meets the one person who might finally be able to help him help himself. Dr. Burke Ryan (Aaron Eckhart) is on the precipice of a major multimedia deal, but the therapist who asks his patients to openly confront their pain is secretly unable to take his own advice. Eloise Chandler (Jennifer Aniston) has sworn off men and decided to focus on her floral business. However, when she meets Burke at the hotel where he's speaking, there is an instant attraction. But will two people who have met the right person at exactly the wrong time be able to give love another chance? As each struggles with the hurt of love and loss, they realize that in order to move forward, they need to let go of the past. And if they can, they'll find that, sometimes, love happens when you least expect it. Read more
NANNY MCPHEE AND THE BIG BANG *** In "Nanny McPhee and the Big Bang," Oscar-winning actress and screenwriter Emma Thompson returns to the role of the magical nanny who appears when she's needed the most and wanted the least in the next chapter of the hilarious and heartwarming fable that has enchanted children around the world. In the latest installment, Nanny McPhee appears at the door of a harried young mother, Mrs. Isabel Green (Maggie Gyllenhaal), who is trying to run the family farm while her husband is away at war. But once she's arrived, Nanny McPhee discovers that Mrs. Green's children are fighting a war of their own against two spoiled city cousins who have just moved in and refuse to leave. Read more
NOT THE MESSIAH (HE'S A VERY NAUGHTY BOY) ***** This comedic oratorio was written by Eric Idle and John Du Prez (long-term Python associates and co-creators of the multi-award winning musical, "Spamalot"), and inspired by Monty Python's Life of Brian. Starring Eric Idle (baritonish), it is a humorous take on Handel's oratorio, "Messiah", featuring guest appearances from fellow Pythons: Michael Palin, Terry Jones, Terry Gilliam, Carol Cleveland and Neil Innes. Joining Eric Idle are renowned soloists William Ferguson (Brian), Shannon Mercer (Judith), Rosalind Plowright (Mandy) and Christopher Purves (Reg) performing with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by John Du Prez... and three sheep. Eric Idle explains: "It is rare you get to be silly on a mass scale. Not The Messiah tells the tragic tale of Mandy, impregnated by a Roman soldier, giving birth to Brian, a reluctant revolutionary who falls in love with Judith, gets mistaken for a Messiah and is condemned to death. It ranges in reference from Handel, through a naughty Mozart duet, to the Festival of Nine Carols, Bob Dylan, and the classic finale 'Always Look on the Bright Side of Life'." Go to www.notthemessiah.co.uk for more info.
OUTRAGEOUS **** You don't have to be a fan of stand-up comedy to appreciate the genius of local comedians in the film Outrageous.Even if you don't have a sharp sense of humour, Outrageous is guaranteed to have you rolling in the aisles and laughing out loud with strangers in the cinema. The art of persuasion through comic infliction is infectious. Fans of stand-up comedy will be treated to a rare comedy experience when Barry Hilton, Mark Banks, Loyiso Gola, Joey Rasdien, Riaad Moosa and Krijay Govender join forces with John Vlismas to present one of the heaviest comedy line-ups ever in Outrageous the stand up movie of the year, which is set to deliver more laughs per minute than an election campaign.  Vlismas and his friends unite in a comedy stand up film where no punches are pulled as they shower blows on sacred cows from every angle. Read more  Read the review
QUICK GUN MURUGUN You can find a wacky explosion of genres and eye-popping colors in India's Quick Gun Murugan about a vegetarian cowboy who goes up against a carnivorous gang of bad guys. This Indian Comedy-Drama is directed by Shashanka Ghosh and written by Rajesh Devraj. It is a western spoof with attitude, featuring outlandish songs, outrageous melodrama and crazy action sequences including a duel in a traffic jam. Quick Gun Murugun is an Unlikely Superhero (played by Telugu star Rajendra Prasad) a South Indian Tamil cowboy whose duty is to protect the world against arch villain restaurant owner, Rice Plate Reddy, who wants to create the ultimate non-vegetarian dosa!
THE RACE-IST * The story is about a young South African who desires to be the South African quarter-mile champion. The movie opens with a young boy and his mother walking down Brakpan Main Road. It's set in the 1980's and two pimped cars - a Ford escort and Ford Cortina come screaming past them. Lucas asks his mothers, who are those guys… she replies "Ag man, they a bunch of racists," Lucas enthusiastically responds, "wow, one day I want to be a Race-Ist" … From there we go on a journey of how Lucas goes from a waiter to a Quartermile king! Read more
WHEN IN ROME *** An ambitious young New Yorker (Kristen Bell) , disillusioned with romance, takes a whirlwind trip to Rome where she defiantly plucks magic coins from a fountain of love, inexplicably igniting the passion of those who threw them in: a sausage magnate (Danny Devito), a street magician (Jon Heder), an adoring painter (Will Arnett) and a self-admiring model (Dax Shepard). But when a charming reporter (Josh Duhamel) pursues her with equal zest, how will she know if his love is the real thing? For director Mark Steven Johnson, who is best known for comic book adaptations like "Daredevil" and "Ghost Rider," a comedy like "WHEN IN ROME" is a bit of a departure. In this movie, jokes the director, "no one's head explodes," but the film is a return to Johnson's roots. "Comedy is where I started--writing 'Grumpy Old Men'--and I really wanted to get back to it."  Read more


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