NATIONAL RELEASES
I Love You Man (Paramount): Comedy about a newly engaged man (Paul Rudd) who realises he has no male friends and sets out to find a best man for his wedding. Although he didn’t work on it, this bears all the hallmarks of a Judd Apatow comedy as it stars two of his regular actors (Rudd and Jason Segel) and is directed by John Hamburg who worked on Undeclared. Some of it is a little predictable (e.g. pop culture references, geeky men getting in touch with their emotions) but the chemistry from the two leads works nicely and the laughs are fairly consistent throughout. [London & Nationwide / Cert 15]
Crank: High Voltage (Lionsgate): The sequel to the 2006 action film Crank sees Jason Statham reprise his role as Chev Chelios, a British hitman in LA who is forced to keep his adrenaline going after being poisoned. This one picks up straight after and Chelios has his heart stolen (!) by a gang of rougue Chinese medics and must keep shocking himself with regular jolts of electricity to keep himself alive. Written and directed by Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor, it is as mindlessly enjoyable as the first one and a cut above the Transporter films. [Nationwide / Cert 15]
In The Loop (Optimum Releasing): A spin off from the BBC TV series The Thick of It, this political satire sees the US president and Prime Minister want to declare another war and follows the people behind the scenes who have to spin the message to the public. It stars Tom Hollander, James Gandolfini, Chris Addison, Peter Capaldi, Gina McKee, Steve Coogan and was written and directed by Armando Iannucci. [Odeons Camden & Kensington, Vue Shepherds Bush & Nationwide / Cert 15]
Not Easily Broken (Sony Pictures): The story of couple (Morris Chestnut and Taraji P. Henson) whose marriage is tested after one of them is hurt in a car crash. Directed by Bill Duke from T.D. Jakes‘s novel Not Easily Broken. [London & Nationwide / Cert PG]
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IN SELECTED RELEASE
Good (Lionsgate): A film adaptation of the play by C. P. Taylor, which is the story of John Halder (Viggo Mortensen), a German literature professor in the 1930s, who slowly accepts the ideas of the Nazi Party. It co-stars Jason Isaacs and Jodie Whittaker and was directed by Vicente Amorim. [Curzon Mayfair & Key Cities / Cert 15]
In Search Of Beethoven (Seventh Art Productions): The first truly comprehensive feature length cinema documentary ever made about Beethoven, with over 60 live performances. Directed by Phil Grabsky. [All Saints Arts Ctre, Barbican, Phoenix & Key Cities / Cert U]
Before I Forget (Peccadillo Pictures): A 2007 French film directed by Jacques Nolot about a 58-year-old man battling his inner demons on the search for self-discovery. [ICA Cinema & Key Cities]
> Check out the UK cinema releases for April 2009
> Our latest DVD picks (W/C Monday 13th April)