Tuesday 18 September 2012

Anna Karenina


Tonight I have been to see Anna Kerenina.

Keira Knightley and Jude Law star in a spectacular new adaptation of Tolstoy's epic love story.

Trapped in a loveless marriage to Alexei (Jude Law), aristocrat and socialite Anna Karenina (Keira Knightley) falls for the dashing Count Vronsky (Aaron Johnson). But this is late 19th century Russian high society, where such scandalous affairs rarely go unpunished. The price of her passion proves very high indeed as she is shunned by her peers and even threatened with separation from her son. Frequently described as the greatest novel of all time, Leo Tolstoy's romantic tragedy centres on one of literature's great heroines. This sumptuously staged new screen version is scripted by Tom Stoppard, who won an Oscar for 'Shakespeare in Love'. It also reunites Keira Knightley with director Joe Wright after their acclaimed collaborations 'Pride & Prejudice' and 'Atonement'. The outstanding supporting cast includes Kelly Macdonald, Matthew Macfadyen, Emily Watson and Olivia Williams.

Sunday 16 September 2012

The Sweeney


This afternoon I have been to see The Sweeney.

Ray Winstone and Ben Drew explode onto the screen as the legendary London crime fighters!

Nailing villains is all that matters to Flying Squad officers Jack Regan (Ray Winstone) and his loyal partner George Carter (Ben Drew). They get results by ignoring the rulebook, much to the exasperation of the Guv (Damian Lewis). But when a bank heist takes place, they suspect an old adversary has returned. As the stakes are raised, hard-as-nails Regan will stop at nothing in pursuit of the wrong 'un. From Nick Love, director of 'The Firm', this is an exhilarating, eagerly anticipated update of the great '70s TV series. It tears up the capital's streets, slamming our favourite old school coppers brutally into the modern age. Ray Winstone is perfectly cast as uncompromising Regan. Rising star Ben Drew - aka rapper Plan B - makes a terrific sidekick. The thrilling script is co-written by John Hodge, of 'Trainspotting' fame.

Friday 14 September 2012

The Possession


Last night I went to see The Possession.

A horrifying tale of a family menaced by a box containing an evil spirit.

When a husband (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and wife (Kyra Sedgwick) buy an antique box at a yard sale, they little realise that they're making the biggest mistake of their lives. Bringing it home, they become plagued by mysterious and terrifying events. But even more disturbing is their youngest daughter's growing obsession with the peculiar object. After some investigation, they uncover its secret. The box was originally made to house a 'dibbuk' - a malevolent spirit that takes over and eventually consumes its human host. Now the couple are in a frightening race against time to save their family. From 'Evil Dead' and 'Drag Me to Hell' director Sam Raimi's Ghost House Pictures, this is a spine-tingling supernatural story. Chillingly, it was inspired by a 2004 'LA Times' article reporting a 'Dibbuk Box' that was offered for sale on eBay.

Tuesday 11 September 2012

Lawless


Tonight I have been to see Lawless.

A bootlegging clan take on a corrupt lawman in this stylish true-life gangster epic set in Prohibition-era America.

In defiance of Prohibition, Franklin County, Virginia, has acquired a reputation as "the wettest county in the world". That's thanks largely to the tough, seemingly invincible Bondurant brothers: Jack (Shia LaBeouf), Forrest (Tom Hardy) and Howard (Jason Clarke). Their powerful and popular brand of moonshine has made them local legends. But everything changes in 1931 with the arrival of Special Deputy Charlie Rakes (Guy Pearce). He's something of a psychopath, whose mission is to crack down on bootlegging. But the siblings aren't about to give up their empire without a bloody and brutal fight. Mia Wasikowska and Jessica Chastain have key love interest roles in this visceral gangster thriller, adapted by Nick Cave from Matt Bondurant's fact-based novel about his relatives. It's the third superb collaboration between Cave and 'The Proposition' director John Hillcoat.

Thursday 6 September 2012

The Possession


Tonight I have been to see The Possession.

A horrifying tale of a family menaced by a box containing an evil spirit.

When a husband (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and wife (Kyra Sedgwick) buy an antique box at a yard sale, they little realise that they're making the biggest mistake of their lives. Bringing it home, they become plagued by mysterious and terrifying events. But even more disturbing is their youngest daughter's growing obsession with the peculiar object. After some investigation, they uncover its secret. The box was originally made to house a 'dibbuk' - a malevolent spirit that takes over and eventually consumes its human host. Now the couple are in a frightening race against time to save their family. From 'Evil Dead' and 'Drag Me to Hell' director Sam Raimi's Ghost House Pictures, this is a spine-tingling supernatural story. Chillingly, it was inspired by a 2004 'LA Times' article reporting a 'Dibbuk Box' that was offered for sale on eBay.

Tuesday 4 September 2012

Total Recall


Tonight I have been to see Total Recall.

In 2084, a factory worker discovers that he might be a spy for one of the world's big nation states and has to learn the truth before it gets him killed.

After being devastated by war, the planet is divided into two superpowers locked in a battle for supremacy - Euromerica and New Shanghai. In this world lives Douglas Quaid (Colin Farrell), a factory worker frustrated with his life. Despite being married to the beautiful Lori (Kate Beckinsale), he feels that something is missing. In order to take a break from his mundane schedule, Quaid visits ReKall, a company that can turn your wildest dreams into real memories - for a price. Choosing to experience what it is like to be a super-spy, Quaid agrees to a mind-trip - but the procedure goes horribly wrong. Suddenly Quaid is a wanted man and finds himself hunted by the police and Chancellor Cohaagen (Bryan Cranston), the President of Euromerica.

As war threatens to engulf the planet, Quaid teams up with a rebel fighter (Jessica Biel) to find the head of the underground resistance (Bill Nighy). But which side is Quaid really on?