NATIONAL RELEASES
Year One (Sony Pictures): The latest comedy from the Judd Apatow stable is set in pre-historic times and sees Jack Black and Michael Cera play two lazy hunter-gatherers who set off on an epic journey through the ancient world. Directed by Harold Ramis, it has so far attracted awful reviews in the US and is likely to disappear soon after bad buzz sets in and people go to see The Hangover instead. [Nationwide / Cert 12A]
Sunshine Cleaning (Delanic/Anchor Bay): A US indie that has been sitting on the shelf for a while after premiering at Sundance back in 2008, it pairs Amy Adams and Emily Blunt as sisters who start their own crime scene clean-up service. Despite containing many superficial similarities to Little Miss Sunshine (the setting of Albuquerque, Alan Arkin in a supporting role, producer Marc Turtletaub and a quirky sensibility), director Christine Jeffs deserves credit for crafting an engaging tale, which has a more mainstream appeal than audiences might think. [C’World Haymarket, Curzon Soho, Odeon Cov Gdn, Vue West End & N’wide / Cert 15]
My Sister’s Keeper (Entertainment): Based on the 2004 novel by Jodi Picoult, Cameron Diaz plays a former attorney who returns to the courtroom after a young teen (Abigail Breslin) learns the truth behind her conception, and seeks to be emancipated from her parents. Directed by Nick Cassavetes, it could very well appeal to female audiences and those wanting to avoid Transformers and Year One, despite having one of the worst posters in recent memory. [Odeon West End & Nationwide / Cert 12A]
Blood: The Last Vampire (Warner Bros/Pathe): A live action adaptation of the 2000 anime about a vampire named Saya, who is part of covert government agency that hunts and destroys demons in a post-WWII Japan. Directed by Chris Nahon, it stars Gianna Jun, Masiela Lusha, Allison Miller and Liam Cunningham. [Nationwide / Cert 18]
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IN LIMITED RELEASE
Rudo & Cursi (Optimum Releasing): Gael García Bernal and Diego Luna play two brothers in Mexico who end up fueding as they try to carve out a career in professional football. Directed by Carlos Cuaron (who co-wrote 2001’s Y Tu Mama Tambien, which was directed by his brother Alfonso) it was produced by Cha Cha Cha Producciones, the company created by Alfonso Cuarón, Guillermo del Toro and Alejandro González Iñárritu). [C’Words Fulham & Haymarket, Curzon Soho & Nationwide / Cert 15]
Shirin (bfi Distribution): An experimental film in which Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami films the faces of 114 Iranian women in a cinema audience as they watch an unseen adaptation of a Persian folk tale. [Barbican, BFI Southbank & Key Cities / Cert PG]
Tenderness (Lionsgate UK): A thriller in which a policeman (Russell Crowe) works to figure out whether a violent teen (Jon Foster) murdered his family. Directed by by John Polson, it co-stars Michael Ahl, Vincent Bagnall and Tayna Clarke. Despite the presence of a major star, it will get a limited release by Lionsgate. [Apollo Piccadilly Circus / Cert 15]
Lake Tahoe (Yume Pictures): A Mexican film directed by Fernando Eimbcke about a teenager and the strange events that take place in his small town. [Renoir]
The Blue Tower (ICA Cinema): A micro-budget contemporary B-movie about an illicit romance which leads to betrayal and crime. Directed by Smita Bhide, it stars Paul Chowdhry and Sonnell Dadral. [ICA Cinema]
The Last Thakur (Artificial Eye): Sadik Ahmed directs this intense contemporary Western, which takes place in a remote town in the marshlands of Bangladesh. [Cine Lumiere, Genesis Mile End & Key Cities / Cert 15]
Dummy (Shoreline Entertainment): A coming-of-age drama about an 18-year-old and his younger brother who are given permission to look after themselves by their social worker after their mother’s sudden death. Directed by Matthew Thompson, it stars Emma Catherwood, Thomas Grant and Aaron Johnson. [ICA Cinema]
> UK cinema releases for June 2009
> DVD Picks for this week including Vicky Cristina Barcelona, Hardware and Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist (W/C Monday 22nd June)