This Week’s Movie Menu (27 May – 2 June 2024)

by | May 27, 2024

There’s a mighty current of new releases that’s about to splash onto your screens, including an inspirational swimming tale, a terrifying creepy-crawly throwback horror, the story of a pioneering puppeteer, and the third (and best?) of a magical film series…

Movie of the Week

 

Young Woman and the Sea (2024, dir. Joachim Rønning)

CAST: Daisy Ridley, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Stephen Graham, Kim Bodnia, Christopher Eccleston, Glenn Fleshler, Jeanette Hain, Sian Clifford

CREW: Joachim Rønning (director), Jeff Nathanson (writer, producer), Jerry Bruckheimer and Chad Oman (producers), Amelia Warner (composer), Oscar Faura (cinematographer), Úna Ní Dhonghaíle (editor)

PLOT: In 1926, American competition swimmer and Olympic champion Gertrude Ederle (Ridley) sets out to become the first woman to swim 21 miles across the English Channel…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • Disney brings the inspiring tale of swimming legend Gertrude Ederle to truly cinematic life
  • Daisy Ridley stars as Ederle, alongside a number of esteemed fellow British actors like Stephen Graham and Christopher Eccleston
  • Director Joachim Rønning, who also directed Maleficent: Mistress of Evil and the upcoming Tron: Ares for the studio, creates a number of enthralling sea-quences (sorry) that emphasise the peril that the swimmer faced during her major feat
  • It was originally intended to debut exclusively on Disney+, but in a win for cinemas it was upgraded to theatrical distribution following positive test screenings
  • The story is as enthralling as it is empowering, and may even give the Nyad naysayers a decent alterative to that derided Oscar contender

Young Woman and the Sea is showing in cinemas from Friday 31 May 2024

What’s Showing in Cinemas This Week?

 

The Beast (2024, dir. Bertrand Bonello)

CAST: Léa Seydoux, George MacKay, Guslagie Malanda, Dasha Nekrasova, Martin Scali, Elina Löwensohn, Marta Hoskins, Julia Faure, Kester Lovelace, Félicien Pinot, Laurent Lacotte, Weronika Szawarska, Jasmine Van Deventer, Xavier Dolan, Bertrand Bonello

CREW: Bertrand Bonello (director, writer, producer, composer), Guillaume Bréaud and Benjamin Charbit (writers), Justin Taurand (producer), Anna Bonello (composer), Josée Deshaies (cinematographer), Anita Roth (editor)

PLOT: In the year 2044, artificial intelligence controls a society wherein humans voluntarily erase their emotions. One such human, Gabrielle (Seydoux), is haunted by memories of her past lives from Belle Époque-era Paris to 21st century Los Angeles, where her previous selves shared romantic connections with people who all happen to be different variations of a man named Louis (MacKay)…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • The latest feature by French filmmaker Bertrand Bonello is an indescribable piece that frequently hops across time and genre to tell a singular romantic tale
  • It is inspired by Henry James’ novella The Beast in the Jungle, though to say that Bonello doesn’t completely stick to the source material would be an understatement
  • Léa Seydoux impresses in three different roles at three separate moments in time, as does George MacKay, who stepped in after original actor Gaspard Ulliel unexpectedly died before production
  • A section taking place in Los Angeles is said to be based loosely on a real-life incident where self-proclaimed incel Elliot Rodger uploaded misogynist rants on YouTube before committing a series of brutal murders
  • With its unconventional plotting and curious execution, it’s bound to divide audiences left and right, though either way it’s an experience you won’t forget any time soon!

The Beast is showing in cinemas from Friday 31 May 2024

 

Sting (2024, dir. Kiah Roache-Turner)

CAST: Alyla Browne, Jermaine Fowler, Ryan Corr, Penelope Mitchell, Silvia Colloca, Noni Hazlehurst, Robyn Nevin, Danny Kim, Alcira Carpio, Tony J. Black, Rowland Holmes

CREW: Kiah Roache-Turner (director, writer, editor), Chris Brown, Jamie Hilton and Michael Pontin (producers), Anna Drubich (composer), Brad Shield (cinematographer), Jeff Cummings and Luke Doolan (editors)

PLOT: On a cold and stormy night in New York, a mysterious egg falls from the sky and smashes through the window of imaginative but isolated 12-year-old Charlotte (Browne), hatching a strange little spider that she decides to keep as a pet named Sting. Soon, though, Sting grows to monstrous size, and after developing a taste for blood, it soon sets its sights on Charlotte’s neighbours, unless she can stop the creature in its tracks…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • Arachnophobes beware, for this creepy monster horror will pray upon your worst nightmares!
  • A deadly giant spider is the film’s strongest force of nature as it sets its sights on anything unfortunate enough to cross its path
  • Writer-director Kiah Roache-Turner employs an unnerving mix of practical effects and CG trickery to replicate the spider’s gruesome wrath
  • There is some heartfelt human drama spliced in between the shiver-inducing horror, which helps to offset some of the scarier stuff
  • It’s an effective throwback to some classic giant insect movies, though there’s no guarantee that this one will help you conquer your fears of insects in general, especially spiders!

Sting is showing in cinemas from Friday 31 May 2024

 

A House in Jerusalem (2023, dir. Muayad Alayan)

CAST: Johnny Harris, Miley Locke, Sheherazade Makhoul Farrell, Rebecca Calder, Souad Faress, Mouna Hawa, Shaden Kanboura, Makram Khoury, Riyad Sliman, Rebecca Esmeralda Telhami

CREW: Muayad Alayan (director, writer, producer), Rami Musa Alayan (writer, producer), Dorothe Beinemeier, Alastair Clark, Giorgos Karnavas, Hanneke Niens, Rachel Robey and Abeer Salman (producers), Alex Simu (composer), Sebastian Bock (cinematographer), Rachel Erskine (editor)

PLOT: After the death of her mother, Jewish-British girl Rebecca (Locke) and her father Michael (Harris) move from the UK to Jerusalem for a fresh start. However, after settling into a house located in a neighbourhood known as the Valley of the Ghosts, a series of unusual events puts Rebecca in hot water…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • The latest film by Jerusalem-based Palestinian filmmaker Muayad Alayan is a surprisingly tense story about overcoming grief
  • Young actor Miley Locke gives a compelling central performance that plays around with the childhood psychology of losing a loved one
  • There are some supernatural elements to the story which steer things toward an increasingly suspenseful conclusion
  • It touches upon the already hostile relations between Israel and Palestine, long before their current conflict began dominating the news cycle
  • As with the recent Pakistani thriller In Flames, it neatly mixes real-life political commentary with a chilling foray into ghostly territory

A House in Jerusalem is showing in cinemas from Friday 31 May 2024

 

Hard Miles (2024, dir. R.J. Daniel Hanna)

CAST: Matthew Modine, Cynthia Kaye McWilliams, Jahking Guillory, Leslie David Baker, Sean Astin, Jackson Kelly, Damien Diaz, Zach Robbins, Jaxon Goldenberg, Judah Mackey

CREW: R.J. Daniel Hanna (director, writer), Christian Sander (writer, producer), Andrew Brick Johnson (composer), Mack Fisher (cinematographer), Eva Schrodek (editor)

PLOT: At a medium security correctional school in Colorado, cycling coach Greg (Modine) gathers an unlikely band of incarcerated students for a seemingly impossible bike ride from Denver to the Grand Canyon…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • It’s the turn of legendary actor Matthew Modine to take on the inspirational teacher role in this winning sports drama
  • The film, from director and co-writer R.J. Daniel Hanna, takes its cues from a riveting true story of perseverance and rehabilitation
  • Modine isn’t the only Stranger Things alumni to appear in the film, with Sean Astin also making a supporting turn, alongside other character actors like Cynthia Kaye McWilliams and The Office’s Leslie David Baker
  • You’ll be sweating along with the characters as they pedal their way across the vast deserts and mountains toward their ambitious final destination
  • It might not be the most original film in the world, but it never fails to fill the viewer with hope and determination

Hard Miles is showing in cinemas from Friday 31 May 2024

 

Mr. and Mrs. Mahi (2024, dir. Sharan Sharma)

CAST: Rajkummar Rao, Janhvi Kapoor, Kumud Mishra, Abhishek Banerjee, Rajesh Sharma, Arpan Das, Zarina Wahab, Purnendu Bhattacharya, Himanshu Jaykar

CREW: Sharan Sharma (director, writer), Nikhil Mehrotra (writer), Hiroo Johar, Karan Johar and Apoorva Mehta (producers), Manan Bhardwaj and Amit Trivedi (composers), Anay Goswami, Yash Khanna and Manush Nandan (cinematographers), Nitin Baid (editor)

PLOT: After their union following an arranged marriage, Mahendra (Rao) and Mahima (Kapoor) discover a shared passion for cricket, with him being a failed local talent. When he discovers that Mahima is a natural at the sport, Mahendra becomes his wife’s coach as she prepares to become a professional cricketer…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • This inspiring and charming Indian sports movie has something for just about everyone
  • Bollywood stars Rajkummar Rao and Janhvi Kapoor share dazzling chemistry as the husband-and-wife cricketing team at the centre of the story
  • It is loosely inspired by the real-life story of former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni
  • Fans of the international sport will find themselves cheering at all the right moments thanks to palatable direction by Sharan Sharma
  • With admirable charisma and plenty of sporting action, it should be a true crowd-pleaser for audiences everywhere

Mr. and Mrs. Mahi is showing in cinemas from Friday 31 May 2024

What’s Showing At Home This Week?

 

Jim Henson: Idea Man (2024, dir. Ron Howard)

CAST: Jim Henson, Jane Henson, Frank Oz

CREW: Ron Howard (director, producer), Mark Monroe (writer, producer), Sara Bernstein, Margaret Bodde, Brian Grazer, Christopher St. John and Justin Wilkes (producers), David Fleming (composer), Vanja Cernjul, John Chater, Igor Martinovic and Jenni Morello (cinematographers), Paul Crowder and Sierra Neal (editors)

PLOT: The life of Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets and a pioneer of puppet-led entertainment…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • It’s time to light the lights for a truly special documentary that dives into the extraordinary life and career of the world-renowned Jim Henson
  • Oscar-winning filmmaker Ron Howard directs this all-encompassing look at the Muppets creator, with the full blessing of Henson’s family
  • Henson’s contributions to shows and films like Sesame Street, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth are equally celebrated and analysed via various famous fans and collaborators
  • His relationship with fellow puppeteer and later wife Jane Henson is a major focus of the film, which provides an emotional side to an already endearing exploration
  • You might just shed a few tears as Henson’s warm-hearted beliefs and values, which he poured into so many timeless characters and creations, is paid glorious tribute to

Jim Henson: Idea Man is streaming exclusively on Disney+ from Friday 31 May 2024

 

Bonus Track (2024, dir. Julia Jackman)

CAST: Joe Anders, Samuel Small, Jack Davenport, Alison Sudol, Susan Wokoma, Ray Panthaki, Josh O’Connor, Nina Wadia, Ellie Kendrick, Josh Cowdery

CREW: Julia Jackman (director), Mike Gilbert (writer), Stephanie Aspin, Campbell Beaton and Helen Simmons (producers), Chris Hyson (composer), Jonas Mortensen (cinematographer), Jason Rayton (editor)

PLOT: In 2006, George (Anders) is a 16-year-old teenager who’s obsessed with music, and hopes to write a winning song for his school’s talent show. When he befriends charismatic new student Max (Small), the son of a famous pop duo, they collaborate to create the song, growing much closer in the process…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • This sweet-natured teen romance has a delightfully musical spring in its step
  • It is based on an original story by Challengers star Josh O’Connor, who also has a small role in the film
  • Debut director Julia Jackman emphasises the growing passion between its two young leads, as charmingly played by Joe Anders ad Samuel Small
  • The soundtrack is laden with pop hits of the 2000s, matching the time period in which it is set
  • It’s a winning and uplifting LGBTQ+ romance to kick off this year’s Pride Month

Bonus Track is streaming exclusively on Sky Cinema from Saturday 1 June 2024

 

Gasoline Rainbow (2024, dirs. Bill Ross and Turner Ross)

CAST: Tony Abuerto, Micah Bunch, Nichole Dukes, Nathaly Garcia, Makai Garza

CREW: Bill Ross and Turner Ross (directors, writers, producers, cinematographers, editors), Michael Gottwald and Carlos Zozaya (producers), Casey Wayne McAllister (composer)

PLOT: After graduating high school, five teenagers (Abuerto, Bunch, Dukes, Garcia and Garza) embark on one last trip together toward the Pacific Coast, five hundred miles from their home in inland Oregon…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • Sibling filmmakers Bill and Turner Ross present a euphoric rendition of the classic road trip movie
  • It is the Ross brothers’ first foray into fictional storytelling, having previously made documentaries such as Bloody Nose, Empty Pockets
  • The filmmakers still apply their naturalistic guerilla stylings to the loose and free-wheeling narrative, led by five grounded performances from the young cast
  • We, along with the teens, drift from one place to another with nothing but pure admiration and joy for every single person and environment they come across
  • It is a touching and unique coming-of-age movie that will have you pining for your teen years once more

Gasoline Rainbow is streaming exclusively on MUBI from Friday 31 May 2024

 

You Can’t Run Forever (2024, dir. Michelle Schumacher)

CAST: J.K. Simmons, Isabelle Anaya, Fernanda Urrejola, Allen Leech, Nathan Vincenti, Graham Patrick Martin, Andres Velez, Kevin Quinn, Olivia Simmons

CREW: Michelle Schumacher (director, writer), Carolyn Carpenter (writer), Randle Schumacher (producer), Joe Simmons (composer), Pete Villani (cinematographer), Evan Ahlgren (editor)

PLOT: Miranda (Anaya), a teenager suffering from anxiety due to a past incident, finds herself suddenly hunted in the woods by Wade (Simmons), a sociopathic killer who is in the midst of an unhinged murdering spree…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • Oscar-winning character actor J.K. Simmons plays one of his deadliest roles yet in this chilling survival thriller
  • Michelle Schumacher directs her husband Simmons from a script she co-wrote with debut screenwriter Carolyn Carpenter
  • It really is a family affair for the Simmons clan, for their daughter Olivia has a role in the film, their son Joe composes the musical score, and Michelle’s brother Randle also produces
  • The wide-spanning woodland area where most of the action takes place allows for some creepy and unbelievably tense imagery to help tell the bleak story
  • You’ll be hooked on this nastily violent cat-and-mouse chase until it reaches a devastating conclusion

You Can’t Run Forever is available to rent/buy on digital platforms from Monday 27 May 2024

 

Bad Hombres (2024, dir. John Stalberg Jr.)

CAST: Diego Tinoco, Hemky Madera, Thomas Jane, Luke Hemsworth, Tyrese Gibson, Xzavier Estrada, Nick Cassavetes, Julia Hartman, Paul Johansson, Ashley Olds

CREW: John Stalberg Jr. (director, producer), Rex New and Nick Turner (writers), David Frigerio and Roy Scott McFarland (producers), Nima Fakhrara (composer), Pieter Vermeer (cinematographer), Bella Erikson (editor)

PLOT: Felix (Tinoco), an undocumented Ecuadorian immigrant who is in desperate need to provide for his family, takes a job with fellow day-labourer Alfonso (Madera) for a seemingly simple construction job in the middle of the desert. However, when they become targeted after a botched drug deal involving their psychopathic employers, Alfonso relies on his own criminal skills to help Felix and himself escape with their lives…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • This suspenseful crime thriller reveals how dangerous and deadly the migrant experience can be
  • John Stalberg Jr., who recently directed the Aaron Eckhart cop thriller Muzzle, delivers a brutish set of action set-pieces where few are guaranteed to make it out alive
  • Memorable supporting turns from character actors like Thomas Jane, Tyrese Gibson and Luke Hemsworth compliment the engrossing central performances of Diego Tinoco and Hemky Madera, as the unfortunate migrant workers at the heart of the situation
  • Oozing with gnarly and sadistic violence, it may not be for the faint of heart but it sure is respectable in its ferocity
  • It has echoes of Sicario and No Country For Old Men, and as long as it plays its card right, it could well be in the same league as those modern classics!

Bad Hombres is available to rent/buy on digital platforms from Monday 27 May 2024

What’s Returning to Cinemas This Week?

 

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004, dir. Alfonso Cuarón)

CAST: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrane, Michael Gambon, Richard Griffiths, Gary Oldman, Alan Rickman, Fiona Shaw, Maggie Smith, Timothy Spall, David Thewlis, Emma Thompson, Julie Walters, Harry Melling, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Chris Rankin, Bonnie Wright, Mark Williams, Tom Felton, Jamie Waylett, Josh Herdman, Matthew Lewis, Devon Murray, David Bradley, Robert Hardy, Pam Ferris, Lee Ingleby, Jim Tavaré, Dawn French, Julie Christie, Warwick Davis

CREW: Alfonso Cuarón (director), Steve Kloves (writer), Chris Columbus, David Heyman and Mark Radcliffe (producers), John Williams (composer), Michael Seresin (cinematographer), Steven Weisberg (editor)

PLOT: As Harry Potter (Radcliffe) and his friends Ron Weasley (Grint) and Hermione Granger (Watson) prepare to enter their third year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, they receive news that convicted criminal Sirius Black (Oldman), who previously betrayed Harry’s parents to the evil Lord Voldemort, has escaped from Azkaban Prison. However, as Harry, Ron and Hermione investigate the circumstances surrounding Black’s apparent betrayal, they discover something much more surprising…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • For its 20th anniversary, the third film in the ever-popular Harry Potter film series makes its magical return to cinemas
  • Alfonso Cuarón took over from director Chris Columbus for this film, and the auteur employs many of his signature filmmaking techniques to create a unique style that inspired the overall look in the remaining films
  • The majority of the cast from the first two films reprised their roles here, while numerous fan-favourite characters make their debut here, including Gary Oldman’s Sirius Black, David Thewlis’ mysterious new teacher Remus Lupin, and Michael Gambon’s bellowing portrayal of Professor Dumbledore (taking over from original actor Richard Harris after his death)
  • Despite making slightly less money than the other Harry Potter films (not including the Fantastic Beasts spin-offs), it has since been regarded as the very best in the overall franchise, with a near-perfect balance of humour, darkness, adventure and drama
  • For audiences then and now, it’s a true big-screen treat filled with dazzling effects, heart-racing sequences, and some of the most poignant moments in the cinematic journey of The Boy Who Lived

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is showing in cinemas from Friday 31 May 2024

 

The Crow (1994, dir. Alex Proyas)

CAST: Brandon Lee, Rochelle Davis, Ernie Hudson, Michael Wincott, Bai Ling, Sofia Shinas, Anna Levine, David Patrick Kelly, Angel David, Laurence Mason, Michael Massee, Tony Todd, Jon Polito, Bill Raymond, Marco Rodríguez

CREW: Alex Proyas (director), David J. Schow and John Shirley (writers), Jeff Most and Edward R. Pressman (producers), Graeme Revell (composer), Dariusz Wolski (cinematographer), Dov Hoenig and Scott Smith (editors)

PLOT: One year after being brutally murdered by thugs, musician Eric Draven (Lee) suddenly comes back to life with regenerative powers, which he uses to avenge his slain girlfriend Shelly (Shinas)…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  • The revered cult classic is back in cinemas to mark its 30th anniversary, as well as draw up excitement for the upcoming remake (out in August)
  • Based on the comic book series of the same name, it launched the career of director Alex Proyas, who later found further success with films like Dark City and I, Robot
  • Sadly, the film is best remembered for an on-set accident that killed lead actor Brandon Lee, with stunt double Chad Stahelski (future director of John Wick) standing in for the remainder of the shoot and Lee’s face digitally added onto his body
  • Despite initial controversy surrounding its graphic violence, the film became a major critical and financial hit, spawning several sequels and the long-in-development remake
  • It’s a raw and intense revenge thriller with plenty of supernatural gore that will satisfy audiences with the stomach for it!

The Crow is showing cinemas from Friday 31 May 2024

That’s about it for this week – be sure to come back next week for a whole new set of movies to work up an appetite for!

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A real-estate agent is forced to return to his violent past life…

Dog Man (dir. Peter Hastings)

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September 5 (dir. Tim Fehlbaum)

During the 1972 Munich Olympics, an American broadcasting team covers a devastating event…

Kinda Pregnant (dir. Tyler Spindel)

A woman pretends to be pregnant for attention…

The Fire Inside (dir. Rachel Morrison)

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Hard Truths (dir. Mike Leigh)

Two sisters have two very different reactions to grief…

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