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WHAT’S ON
THE BOOK OF ELI
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8 As the international economic downturn rumbles on and natural disasters happen left right and centre, it appears audiences just can’t get enough of postapocalyptic tales. The latest directors to step up to the plate and tackle the end of the world extravaganza are the Hughes brothers, made famous for their 1993 urban drama Menace II Society, as well as 2001’s From Hell. The brothers’ latest outing sees a lone hero, Eli (Washington), fighting his way across America in order to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving humankind. Sword fighting and gunning down anyone who stands in his way, Eli eventually meets his match in Carnegie (Oldman), a dictator of a small, makeshift town who wants to take possession of the book. The two impressive trailers suggest that The Book Of Eli will utilise a Mad Max style storyline, coupled with similar visuals from the impressive Fallout computer games, to create an explosive action adventure that will not only captivate audiences but blow them away. James Wright
15th January
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FILm info
FILm credits
Directors Albert Hughes, Allen Hughes Starring Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Michael Gambon, Mila Kunis cOnTEnT icons
THE ROAD
release date
8th January
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FILm info
10
FILm credits
Director John Hillcoat Starring Viggo Mortensen, Guy Pearce, Robert Duvall, Charlize Theron cOnTEnT icons
8 Known for his dark, gritty and unflinching subject matter, Cormac McCarthy’s work was always going to be high on Hollywood’s list to adapt for the big screen. Following the success of the Coen brothers’ adaptation of No Country For Old Men, McCarthy’s 2006 novel The Road is his latest work to receive the big screen treatment, bringing his harrowing vision of the future to cinemas this January. The Road follows the journey of an unnamed father and son across a post-apocalyptic landscape following an unexplained cataclysmic event. Civilisation has been destroyed, along with almost all life on Earth. As they make their way towards the coast in search of food and shelter, they find themselves in sinister encounters with cannibals and other desperate gangs of survivors. And in a world where it’s every man for himself, it’s kill or be killed. The film is a dark and haunting affair helmed by John Hillcoat, director of The Proposition; with a sterling cast including the likes of Viggo Mortensen, Guy Pearce and Robert Duvall, The Road promises to be a gripping and unforgettable cinematic experience. Paul Weedon
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WHAT’S ON
DECEMBER > JANUARY
release date
22nd January 8 A film likely to offend those with delicate sensibilities, this is the second screenplay from Sexy Beast writers Louis Mellis and David Scinto. An honorary follow up to that 2001 cult hit, 44 Inch Chest welcomes producers Richard Brown and Steve Golin (Babel, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind), further adding to the gritty pedigree. Car salesman Colin Diamond (Winstone) is left devastated when his wife informs him that she is leaving him for another man, a French waiter referred to only as ‘Loverboy’. After beating more information out of her, Colin gathers a group of middle aged and somewhat unhinged friends, and attempts to salvage his self-esteem by kidnapping Loverboy. Although predominantly theatrical in staging, cinematic flair is offered through jumbled chronology and surreal, almost whimsical, flashback sequences. Radiating quiet menace, Beast had its bunny, and Chest has Samson and Delilah. Otherwise, this is a dialogue driven picture, and the ensemble group brazenly chews the scenery with their expletive ridden banter. While much of the running time is spent locked inside the house, the atmosphere grows more claustrophobic as the four letter words are spat with increasingly poetic conviction. Chris Wasey
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44 INCH CHEST
FIlm info
10
FIlm credits
Director Malcom Venville Starring Ray Winstone, Ian McShane, John Hurt, Tom Wilkinson, Stephen Dillane CoNTENT icons
UP IN THE AIR release date
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15th January
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FIlm info 8 Jason Reitman, the director of Thank You For Smoking and cult classic Juno, is at it again with his latest off beat comedy drama, based on the 2001 novel of the same name by Walter Kim. The film stars George Clooney as Ryan Bingham, a corporate downsizing expert who lives out of a suitcase as he travels around America firing people on behalf of corporations - and he is loving every second of it. However, on the cusp of ten million frequent flyer miles, Ryan’s own job comes under threat when his boss hires arrogant young Natalie (Kendrick), who develops a method of video conferencing that will allow companies to fire people without ever having to leave the office. Determined to show Natalie the error of her ways, Ryan takes her on one of his cross-country firing adventures. However, while Natalie starts to realise the disheartening realities of her profession, Ryan begins to see the downfalls of his way of life - just after he’s met Alex (Farmiga) the frequent-traveller woman of his dreams. James Wright
FIlm credits
Director Jason Reitman Starring George Clooney, Anna Kendrick, Vera Farmiga, Jason Bateman CoNTENT icons
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DVD REVIEWS
MR t’s RAtiNG
october > november
DVD reVieWs MooN
AWAYdAYs Release date 28th September Director Pat holden Starring nicky Bell, Stephen graham, liam Boyle the movie adaptation of Kevin sampson’s novel brings the grit of birkenhead to the cinema screen with some style. unlike its forebears, the violence of the period’s football casuals plays second fiddle to something much richer. the pack, a group of likely lads who prowl for battles at the away games of tranmere rovers,
2 Quit your jibber jabber............................................................. 3 i’m teachin’ fools some basic rules........................................ 4 it takes a smart guy to play dumb.......................................... 5 i believe in the golden rule - the man with the gold rules....
exists in stark contrast to the grey streets of 1970s’ britain. though the subplot of emergent sexuality is overstated, both this and the ritualised aggression of the matches is arguably much less important than the sense of belonging provided by the group - fashion offering a much-needed counter to the day to day drudgery of their work and locale. comparisons have been made to sean meadows’ paean to punk this is england, but holden’s film operates more in the spirit of anton corbijn’s control where this generation, far from the metropolitan boltholes of punk, have found their own means of expression amongst the bleakness of the period. these themes are reflected in a superb soundtrack, populated by the bleak electronica of cabaret voltaire, uitravox and the ubiquitous Joy division. Kingsley marshall
RUssell BRANd: scANdAloUs Release date 9th november Starring Russell Brand brand’s stand up comedy has long revolved around the forensic analysis of his many misadventures, with 2008 having provided ample material for this latest tour, which was filmed at the 02 arena in the spring. the presenter’s dalliance into the minefield of presidential politics caused controversy at mtv’s annual video music awards, causing him to flee the us with the intention of lying low. this soon backfired when a misjudged song and dance with Jonathan ross inadvertently ignited the bbc’s biggest controversy since the death of david Kelly. a whooping crowd lap up brand’s post mortem of both these events, embellished with a slew of stories mined from the minutiae of a wide-eyed (and often crotch led) engagement with
celebrity culture. the laughs come both in his mannerisms - an english gent exasperated at the rest of the world - and his honesty, where a detailed account of an unfortunate encounter with acting royalty helen mirren typically tumbles into a whirlpool of misfortune. Kingsley marshall
iP MAN Release date 26th October Director Wilson Yip Starring Donnie Yen, Simon Yam, Siu-Wong fan, Ka tung lam bruce lee is one of the most important men in martial arts cinema - ask anyone with even a passing interest. without the tutelage of master ip, however, lee’s brand of martial arts cinema would never have been seen. this biopic isn’t as violent as the kungfu flicks that he inspired; instead it successfully manages to draw focus on the emotional strain the chinese citizens suffered under Japanese internment during the sinoJapanese war. but when there is fighting, the choreography - which won awards at the hong Kong film awards - is sensational and creates breathtaking bone breaking to rival a tony Jaa film. it is by no means perfect, but for fans who want to gain an insight into martial arts history, it’s essential. Chris Upton
looKiNG FoR eRic Release date 12th October Director Ken loach Starring Steve evets, eric Cantona, Stephanie Bishop, gerard Kearns football fanatic postman steve evet is at the brink of insanity, his life slowly descending into chaos. his first wife, who he walked out on many years ago, still haunts him; his
second wife has walked out, leaving behind two stepsons who are out of control, and, for no good reason, there’s a cement mixer in his front garden. despite the support of his friends, evet continues to sink into depression and, at his weakest moment, he considers committing suicide. however, before the deed is done, evet starts to hallucinate and before his very eyes appears his hero: the suave, philosophical and footballing genius that is eric cantona. with the help of cantona, evet grows in confidence and begins to conquer his problems through inspirational advice such as “he who is afraid to throw the dice, will never throw a six.” priceless. James Wright
DVD releases october aNd NoveMber 09
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Release date 16th november Director Duncan Jones Starring Sam Rockwell, Kevin Spacey, Dominique mcelligott although James cameron’s avatar may well serve to buck the trend on its release, much of recent science fiction movie making has seen computer-generated imagery taking precedence over storytelling. thankfully, first time director duncan Jones is driven here by the limitations of a low budget rather than the studio pressures of the blockbuster, and resorts to ingenuity over pixel power. model makers take the place of number crunchers in this production, a decision which lends solidity to the effects shots and draws an aesthetic parallel with such giants of the genre as 2001: a space odyssey, star wars and bladerunner. this retrofitted innovation also extends to the narrative, which is informed by classical themes of identity and loss rather than guns and gadgets. sam rockwell carries the film through a stand out performance, while Jones successfully avoids the pastiche which sank boyle’s sunshine, keeping his many references less overt and placing the story front and centre. Kingsley marshall
1 i ain’t gettin’ on no plane fool!................................................
october 12th coraline 19th x-men origins: wolverine last house on the left the age of stupid the uninvited blood: the last vampire 26th monsters vs aliens drag me to hell obsessed November 2nd public enemies last chance harvey 9th brüno night at the museum: battle of the smithsonian 16th star trek xi 23rd terminator: salvation ice age 3: dawn of the dinosaurs coco before chanel my sister’s Keeper 30th transformers: revenge of the fallen the proposal
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FIlM SHORTS
october > november
FilM sHoRts a round up of the movies due to hit the biG screen
tRiangle
deAd MAN RUNNiNG
glORiOUS 39
GloRioUs 39
NAtiVitY
PlANet 51
Release date 20th november Director Stephen Poliakoff Starring Romola garai, Bill nighy, Julie Christie, David tennant, Christopher lee having made his name helming big budget television dramas, stephen poliakoff’s big screen return brings with it a plethora of thespian talent. hopping back and forth between present day london and an idyllic countryside setting in 1939, the story sees high society girl, anne, discover mysterious recordings pertaining to britain’s relationship with nazi Germany. betrayed and pursued, her secret could change the course of world history. meanwhile, our country stands on the brink of war as hitler’s march continues. with an awe-inspiring cast, a veteran director and glossy production, this unsettling dissection of pre-war society represents uK cinema at its best. Chris Wasey
Release date 4th December Director Debbie isitt Starring ashley Jensen, martin freeman, marc Wootton, alan Carr underachieving primary school teacher paul maddens has been charged with the biggest challenge of his life: overseeing the school nativity play. competing against local private school rivals in a bid to be named the best production in town, the stakes are raised when maddens idly boasts to his archrival that his ex-girlfriend Jennifer, a hollywood producer, is coming to see his show with a view to turning it into a film. what he omits to mention is that he has not spoken to her in years and, with his eccentric assistant fuelling his white lie, maddens finds himself amidst a whirlwind of quarreling parents and over-excited children hungry for fame. James Wright
Release date: 4th December Director Jorge Blanco Starring Dwayne Johnson, Jessica Biel, Justin long, gary Oldman, John Cleese take a dash of american suburban innocence, a sprinkle of 1950s paranoia, and another solar system as a setting - and there you have the concept behind planet 51. captain charles ‘chuck’ baker is the astronaut who lands on planet 51 and claims it in the name of earth, only to be met with an already civilised world not entirely dissimilar to our own. chuck must navigate his way through the strange landscape to escape capture by the anti-alien army and find his way back home. boasting an all-star voice cast, expect lots of pop-culture references in the name of comedy. gavin embley
Release date 30th October Director alex De Rakoff Starring monet mazur, 50 Cent, Danny Dyer, Brenda Blethyn when the recession starts hitting the criminal underworld, new York gangster and loan shark mr. thigo decides to make an example out of ex-con nick Kane by giving him 24 hours to raise the £100,000 he owes or become a dead man running. in order to raise the money, Kane embroils best friend bing and girlfriend frankie in his mission, which takes them from the dog tracks of east london to the underground drug scene of rural manchester. with his wheelchair-bound mother being held at gunpoint by thigo, Kane tries every scam in the book to save their skin. edge of the seat stuff. James Wright
tRiANGle Release date 16th October Director Christopher Smith Starring melissa george, holly marie Combs, Rachael Carpani, emma lung ok, so triangle isn’t the catchiest title ever. but with christopher smith - who directed creep (2004) and severance (2006) - taking the writing and directing credits and ex-home and away star melissa George in the lead role, this creepy thriller has potential written all over it. when Jess and a group of friends set off on a yachting trip, a freak storm leaves them stranded out at sea - that is, until a mysterious ship appears out of nowhere. with no sign of life on board and an uncanny feeling that she has been on the ship before, Jess soon comes face to face with the ship’s sole occupant. Justin Vingoe