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Cinema

UK Cinema Releases: Friday 9th January 2009

UK Cinema Releases 09-01-09

NATIONAL RELEASES

Bride Wars (Fox): A high profile chick flick that Fox are releasing here on the same weekend that it opens in the US. As you might have guessed from the poster and trailer, it involves two friends (Anne Hathaway and Kate Hudson) whose start feuding when their wedding dates clash and neither is willing to back down. Aimed ruthlessly at audiences vulnerable to a combination of weddings and sassy ‘you-go-girl’ nonsense it looks likely to do well but faces competition from a variety of other releases hitting cinemas this week. Weak reviews may harm its long term prospects but it is likely to do solid business this weekend. [Cert PG / Vue West End & Nationwide]

Defiance (Momentum): Set in the eastern regions of occupied Poland during World War II this is an adaptation of Nechama Tec’s book ‘Defiance: The Bielski Partisans‘, which was based on the true story of the Bielski partisans. Directed by Ed Zwick, it stars Daniel CraigLiev SchreiberJamie Belland George MacKay as four brothers from Poland who escape from the Nazis and fight back to rescue fellow Jews. Although the expected Oscar buzz for this film failed to materialize, it is a well made and admirable piece of work. Commercial prospects will be helped by a marketing campaign that has emphasised Daniel Craig (aka James Bond) and the action aspects of the film. It faces stiff competition in a busy week at the UK box office but a high profile premiere and marketing campaign may see it crack the top 3. [Cert 15 / Odeons Swiss Cottage, West End, Whiteleys, Vue Islington & Nationwide]

* Listen to out interview with Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber and Ed Zwick on Defiance

Role Models (Universal): If Bride Wars is aimed at younger females then this is the male equivalent, a comedy squarely targeted at the younger male demographic. It stars Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott as two guys working for an energy drink company who are forced to do community service for a charity after bereaking the law. Called ‘Sturdy Wings’ it is a place where they have to mentor two very different teenagers: a foulmouthed youngster obsessed with breasts (Bobb’e J. Thompson) and a nerd (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) obsessed with live action role-playing games. Although it is very much in the style of the Judd Apatow produced comedies like The 40 Year Old Virgin and Knocked Up, there are some good laughs to be had, especially Ken Jeong in a highly amusing supporting role. Likely to do well, but the real commercial action for this is probably going to be on DVD. [Cert 15 / Vue West End & Nationwide]

Sex Drive (E1 Films): A classic case of a ‘where did this come from?’ film that suddenly appears with little or no buzz. The plot summary on the IMDb says: ‘A high school senior drives cross-country with his best friends to hook up with a babe he met online’. Given the lack of stars (James Marsden is the only real name here), the mixed reviews in the US and the presence of a rival male-orientated comedy, this might struggle in a packed week for releases. [Cert 15 / Vue West End & Nationwide] 

Slumdog Millionaire (Pathe): A thrilling and uplifting drama about a young street kid (Dev Patel) who ends up on the Hindi version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire finally gets a UK release. Directed by Danny Boyle, it was adapted by Simon Beaufoy from the novel Q and A by Vikas Swarup. It has received a lot of buzz and acclaim at the Telluride and Toronto film festivals and is widely considered a front-runner for BAFTA and Oscar consideration. The film deserves no less as it is one of the best films of the year, managing to weave a charming fable around the chaos, joy and poverty of Mumbai. A remarkable film that has already generated great word of mouth and done impressive platform business in the US. Expect it to crash the top two and maybe even claim the top spot. [Cert 15 / Vue West End & Nationwide]

* Listen to out interview with Danny Boyle about Slumdog Millionaire *

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IN SELECTED RELEASE

Hannah Takes The Stairs (ICA Films): A short run at the ICA in London for this 2007 mumblecore indie film by Joe Swanberg. It is the story of Hannah, a recent college graduate living in Chicago who coasts from relationship to relationship, trying to find a direction in her life. [Cert TBC / ICA Cinema & Key Cities]

Stuck (High Fliers Films): A thriller directed by Stuart Gordon about a woman (Mena Suvari) who accidentally hits a pedestrian with her car (Stephen Rea) and drives him home with the promise that she will get the man help. [Cert 15 / Apollo Cinema Piccadilly Circus, Showcase Bristol & Showcase Manchester]

UK Cinema Releases for January 2009
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Categories
Cinema

UK Cinema Releases: Friday 14th November 2008

NATIONAL RELEASES

Max Payne (Fox): This adaptation of the hit computer game is about a DEA agent (Mark Wahlberg) whose family was killed as part of a conspiracy and an assassin (Kunis) out to avenge her sister’s death. Directed by John Moore it is a lifeless affair which again demonstrates the troubled history of games to the big screen. It didn’t do particularly well in the US and the poor reviews were largely justified. Given how good he can be in films like Boogie Nights and The Departed it is also a criminal waste of Wahlberg. It could probably open to moderate numbers here in the UK, but the bad word-of-mouth will hamper its long term prospects. [Cert 15]

Zack and Miri Make A Porno (Entertainment): Kevin Smith’s latest comedy reaches the UK and is the first not to be set or shot in New Jersey. The plot involves two Pennsylvania roommates, Zack (Seth Rogen) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks), who decide to make a porno after falling on hard times. It got mixed reviews in the US and mostly negative ones over here despite two rising stars in the lead roles. However, it could appeal to a younger audience outside of Smith’s usual fan base. That said it looks like DVD and ancillaries will be where most of the profit lies. [Cert 18]

The Baader-Meinhof Complex (Momentum): This German drama about the 1970s German terrorist group was written and produced by Bernd Eichinger, directed by Uli Edel and stars Moritz BleibtreuMartina Gedeck and Johanna Wokalek. Although not in the same class as more recent films like Downfall and The Lives of Others it remains an interesting film. Not only does it explore issues that still resonate today (terror and the role of the state) but it also provides an interesting snapshot into how post-war Germany struggled to deal with the painful legacy of Hitler and the Nazis. With a running time of two and a half hours it drags in places but provides a comprehensive look at the period of the group. [Cert 15]

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IN SELECTED RELEASE

I.O.U.S.A. (Mercury Media Picturehouses): A timely documentary exploring the national debt of the United States. It features Robert Bixby (director of the Concord Coalition) and David Walker (the former U.S. Comptroller-General) as they tour the country talking to communities about the dangers of the national debt (known as the “Fiscal Wake-Up Tour”). Given the forthcoming financial crisis that has engulfed the globe, this might do better than expected in limited release. [Showing at Clapham & Greenwich, Ritzy & selected cinemas nationwide

Choking Man (Soda Pictures): A run in London for this US indie film, written and directed by Steve Barron, about a shy Ecuadorian dishwasher working in a Queens diner. [BFI Southbank]

Fine, Totally Fine (Third Window Films): A comedy from Japan, written and directed by Yosuke Fujita about two brothers about to turn 30 who fall in love with the same girl. [ICA Cinema]

A Street Car Named Desire (bfi Distribution): A re-release for this 1951 adaptation of the play by Tennessee Williams. Directed by Elia Kazan, it stars Marlon BrandoVivien LeighKim Hunter and Karl Malden. [BFI Southbank]

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The rest of the UK cinema releases for November 2008
Check out our latest DVD picks for this week (From Monday 10th November 2008)