THIS WEEK’S FILM RELEASES (28TH AUGUST – 3RD SEPTEMBER 2023)

Bad news for kids: the summer’s almost over, and it’s nearly time to head back to school. Good news for parents: the summer’s almost over, and there’s a ton of exciting new movie releases that you can head out to see without worrying about the kids all day! Among the many films on offer in this rather stacked week is the third helping of Denzel Washington exacting vengeance, an anime sports movie triumph, a star-studded Hollywood satire, and the return of a classic Steven Spielberg blockbuster…

Movie of the Week

Cinemas

Streaming/On-Demand

Re-Releases


MOVIE OF THE WEEK

The Equalizer 3 (2023, dir. Antoine Fuqua)

CAST: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, David Denman, Sonia Ben Ammar, Remo Girone, Eugenio Mastrandrea, Andrea Scarduzio, Salvatore Ruocco

CREW: Antoine Fuqua (director, producer), Richard Wenk (writer), Todd Black, Jason Blumenthal, Tony Eldridge, Alex Siskin, Michael Sloan, Steve Tisch, Clayton Townsend and Denzel Washington (producers), Marcelo Zarvos (composer), Robert Richardson (cinematographer), Conrad Buff IV (editor)

PLOT: In a bid to escape his violent past once and for all, retired US Marine Robert McCall (Washington) moves to Southern Italy, where he quickly befriends the locals. However, when he discovers that the Sicilian Mob have a firm grip over the town, Robert unleashes his past self once more to bring justice…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  1. Denzel Washington returns to kick more ass in the third and final entry in his and director Antoine Fuqua’s trilogy
  2. This time, not even the deadly Italian mob is safe from McCall’s violent and torturous methods, which adds a Godfather-esque sensibility to the thrills
  3. The location of Southern Italy offers a beautiful but quietly sinister atmosphere to the action
  4. For Man of Fire fans, there’s also a can’t-miss on-screen reunion between Washington and younger co-star Dakota Fanning
  5. Expect brutal violence and tense showdowns, all with Fuqua’s concentrated style and, of course, Washington’s ever-glowing charisma

The Equalizer 3 is showing in cinemas from Wednesday 30th August 2023


WHAT’S SHOWING IN

CINEMAS THIS WEEK?

Sound of Freedom (2023, dir. Alejandro Monteverde)

CAST: Jim Caviezel, Mira Sorvino, Bill Camp, Eduardo Verástegui, Javier Godino, José Zúñiga, Kurt Fuller, Gary Basaraba, Gerardo Taracena, Scott Haze, Gustavo Sánchez Parra, Yessica Borroto, Kris Avedisian, Cristal Paricio

CREW: Alejandro Monteverde (director, writer), Rod Barr (writer), Lukas Behnken and Eduardo Verástegui  (producers), Javier Navarrete (composer), Gorka Gómez Andreu (cinematographer), Brian Scofield (editor)

PLOT: Federal agent Tim Ballard (Caviezel) goes rogue on a dangerous mission to free hundreds of children from the grasp of sex traffickers…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  1. The incredible true story of activist Tim Ballard is told in a gripping new faith-based thriller
  2. Passion of the Christ star Jim Caviezel plays Ballard in a movie that refuses to shy away from the horrors of human trafficking and, even more horrifyingly, child sex slavery
  3. It has become a surprise box office hit in the US, outgrossing the likes of Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One and Elemental thanks to a pay-it-forward ticketing scheme
  4. The film has also generated a bunch of controversy, particularly with its alleged ties to right-wing conspiracy theories
  5. Audiences will find this a thrilling ride that can be hard to watch at times, but nonetheless remains well-intentioned

Sound of Freedom is showing in cinemas from Thursday 31st August 2023

Cobweb (2023, dir. Samuel Bodin)

CAST: Woody Norman, Lizzy Caplan, Antony Starr, Cleopatra Coleman, Luke Busey, Aleksandra Dragova, Debra Wilson

CREW: Samuel Bodin (director), Chris Thomas Devlin (writer), Andrew Childs, Evan Goldberg, Roy Lee, Seth Rogen and James Weaver (producers), Drum & Lace (composer), Philip Lozano (cinematographer), Kevin Greutert and Richard Riffaud (editors)

PLOT: Peter (Norman), an eight-year-old boy living with his emotionally distant parents (Caplan and Starr), begins hearing disturbing noises from inside the walls at night. The mystery behind the noises cause Peter to discover some terrifying secrets about his family…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  1. You’ll never look at your own parents the same way again after watching this tense and chilling new horror
  2. Lizzy Caplan and The Boys star Antony Starr effectively play a mother and father with more than a few skeletons in their shared closet
  3. Somewhat surprisingly, Seth Rogen is one of the producers on this film (not that he can’t do horror, but it’s just not the kind of film you’d expect to see his name attached to!)
  4. It’s already been compared positively to classic horrors like Wes Craven’s The People Under The Stairs and William Brent Bell’s The Boy
  5. You won’t be ready for some of the surprising twists and turns which make this a real horror treat

Cobweb is showing in cinemas from Friday 1st September 2023

Passages (2023, dir. Ira Sachs)

CAST: Franz Rogowski, Ben Whishaw, Adèle Exarchopoulos, Erwan Kepoa Falé, Olivier Rabourdin, Caroline Chaniolleau

CREW: Ira Sachs (director, writer), Mauricio Zacharias (writer), Saïd Ben Saïd and Michel Merkt (producers), Josée Deshaies (cinematographer), Sophie Reine (editor)

PLOT: Filmmaker Tomas (Rogowski) lives in Paris with his husband Martin (Whishaw), where he hooks up with a young woman named Agathe (Exarchopoulos). He soon grows closer to Agathe, at the cost of his relationship with Martin falling further and further into decay…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  1. Filmmaker Ira Sachs’ latest film is a compelling and complex story of toxic romance from a fresh LGBTQ+ perspective
  2. Franz Rogowski delivers an exceptional central performance as a deeply flawed character who you both love to hate and hate to love
  3. He is firmly supported by two equally powerful turns by Ben Whishaw and Adèle Exarchopoulos, both of whom bear the brunt of Rogowski’s wrath in numerous heart-breaking ways
  4. While it’s received the dreaded NC-17 rating in America – presumably, and disappointingly, for inoffensive scenes of a sexual nature between two consenting men – the story is astoundingly universal
  5. Whomever you love, it’s hard not to be drawn in to the tense relationship drama that this movie offers

Passages is showing in cinemas from Friday 1st September 2023 (and will be streaming exclusively on MUBI at a later date)

Apocalypse Clown (2023, dir. George Kane)

CAST: David Earl, Natalie Palamides, Fionn Foley, Amy De Bhrún, Tadhg Murphy, Ivan Kaye, Tony Cantwell, Tara Flynn, Erin McGathy, Pollyanna McIntosh, Shane O’Brien, Bryan Quinn, James Walmsley, Márcio Wille

CREW: George Kane (director, writer), Demian Fox, Shane O’Brien and James Walmsley (writers), Morgan Bushe and James Dean (producers), Stephen McKeon (composer), David Grennan (cinematographer), Matyas Veress (editor)

PLOT: When a solar flare causes an electrical blackout across Ireland, a troupe of down-on-their-luck clowns – Bobo (Eral), Pepe (Foley) and Funzo (Palamides) – embark on a journey to give their now tech-free audience the laughter they deserve…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  1. Pennywise, Art the Clown and Arthur Fleck have competition as cinema’s most memorable clowns, thanks to this hilarious new Irish comedy
  2. The electricity-free setting opens up a conversation about the ever-evolving nature of entertainment, and how technology has made old methods extinct
  3. David Earl, Natalie Palamides and Fionn Foley form a hilarious and eccentric team as they provide the world with their own brand of humour
  4. When it premiered at the Galway Film Festival, it was fortunate enough to be awarded the top prize of Best Irish Feature
  5. There’s no telling what kind of shenanigans are in store as the world – and indeed our clown heroes – falls on the brink of collapse

Apocalypse Clown is showing in cinemas from Friday 1st September 2023

The First Slam Dunk (2022, dir. Takehiko Inoue)

CAST (ENGLISH VERSION): Paul Castro Jr., Jonah Scott, Aleks Le, Ben Balmaceda, Aaron Goodson, Abby Espiritu, Zeno Robinson, Yong Yea, Brent Mukai, River Vitae, Kelsey Jaffer, Mike Pollock, Alan Lee

CAST (JAPANESE VERSION): Shugo Nakamura, Jun Kasama, Shin’ichiro Kamio, Subaru Kimura, Kenta Miyake, Maaya Sakamoto, Ryota Iwasaki, Chikahiro Kobayashi, Masafumi Kobatake, Kenichiro Matsuda, Asami Seto, Katsuhisa Hōki, Shunsuke Takeuchi

CREW: Takehiko Inoue (director, writer), Toshiyuki Matsui (producer), Satoshi Takebe (composer), Shunsuke Nakamura (cinematographer), Ryûichi Takita (editor)

PLOT: After losing his beloved older brother, teenager Ryota Miyagi (Castro Jr./Nakamura) joins the Shohoku High School basketball team as a point guard, to keep their shared love for the sport alive. Considered underdogs at the upcoming National High School Tournament, Ryota and his teammates charge through the ranks on their way to victory…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  1. Takehiko Inoue, the creator of the popular manga Slam Dunk, makes his directorial debut with a rousing new anime feature spin-off
  2. Several familiar characters from the original manga and anime TV series pop up in various roles that may or may not differ from how they were originally
  3. For the visuals, Inoue incorporates a unique anime style that blends 3D CGI for the basketball sequences, and regular (but slightly more realistic-looking) hand-drawn animation for quieter scenes
  4. The basketball matches are among some of the most intense and exciting in recent sports movie history
  5. As it was when the original manga came out, it’s bound to increase plenty of interest and enthusiasm for the sport among audience members

The First Slam Dunk is showing in cinemas from Wednesday 30th August 2023

Maigret (2022, dir. Patrice Leconte)

CAST: Gérard Depardieu, Jade Labeste, Mélanie Bernier, Aurore Clément, Clara Antoons, Pierre Moure, Bertrand Poncet, Élizabeth Bourgine, Anne Loiret, Hervé Pierre, André Wilms, Philippe du Janerand, Jean-Paul Comart, Pascal Elso

CREW: Patrice Leconte (director, writer), Jérôme Tonnerre (writer), Jean-Louis Livi (producer), Bruno Coulais (composer), Yves Angelo (cinematographer), Joëlle Hache (editor)

PLOT: In 1950s Paris, world-weary inspector Jules Maigret (Depardieu) investigates the mysterious murder of a beautiful young woman, but as he slowly pieces together her story, a much larger conspiracy begins to unfold…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  1. The world-famous literary character Jules Maigret, created by author Georges Simenon, is given a whole new lease of life in this compelling new crime thriller
  2. Gérard Depardieu portrays the renowned detective, joining the ranks of Richard Harris, Michael Gambon and even Rowan Atkinson who have all played the role previously
  3. This particular film is based on the 1954 novel Maigret and the Dead Girl, which was previously adapted for TV with Jean Richard in the title role
  4. Before Depardieu stepped in, acclaimed French character actor Daniel Auteuil was scheduled to play the world-weary detective
  5. It’s a rousing mystery for anyone familiar with the Maigret stories, or anyone who’s never even heard of them until now

Maigret is showing in cinemas from Friday 1st September 2023

Anchorage (2023, dir. Scott Monahan)

CAST: Scott Monahan, Dakota Loesch, Christopher Corey Smith

CREW: Scott Monahan (director, producer), Dakota Loesch (writer, producer), Taylor Harrington, Gia Rigoli and Ethan Seneker (producers), Savannah Wheeler (composer), Erin Naifeh (cinematographer), Spencer Showalter (editor)

PLOT: Jacob (Monahan) and John (Loesch) are brothers who are tasked with driving a car full of opioids from Florida to Alaska, in the hopes of earning big money. However, a split-second moment of violence in the California desert puts the two of them on a dark route towards tragedy…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  1. Get ready for a pretty intense road trip where everything could go wrong at any moment
  2. Respective director and writer Scott Monahan and Dakota Loesch star as brothers with very different views of the world
  3. The film is largely a two-hander between the actors/filmmakers, which has already drawn comparisons to the classic play Waiting for Godot
  4. The harsh and unforgiving environment we mostly travel though perfectly reflects the grimy and unpleasant tone of the script and direction
  5. With its lax attitude toward opioids, expect some sobering commentary on the profitability towards the addictive medication

Anchorage is showing in cinemas from Friday 1st September 2023 (and will be available to rent/buy exclusively on Curzon Home Cinema)

Klokkenluider (2023, dir. Neil Maskell)

CAST: Amit Shah, Sura Dohnke, Tom Burke, Roger Evans, Jenna Coleman, Gracy Goldman, Sven De Ridder

CREW: Neil Maskell (director, writer), Stephanie Aspin and Helen Simmons (producers), Nick Gillespie (cinematographer), Jason Rayton (editor)

PLOT: Ewan (Shah) is a British government whistleblower who has fled to a remote house in Belgium with his wife Silke (Dohnke) for their own safety. There, they await the arrival of journalist Flo (Coleman) whilst under the protection of officers Ewan (Burke) and Glynn (Evans), but soon the suspicions and paranoia between them all start to boil over…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  1. Actor Neil Maskell makes his filmmaking debut with this darkly hilarious comedy-thriller, and he’s also got his Kill List director Ben Wheatley to help out as an executive producer
  2. Maskell has assembled a strong mini-ensemble of capable actors, from Tom Burke to former Doctor Who companion Jenna Coleman, to fill some complex roles
  3. It plays on the human emotions of fear and retribution, as well as the current vindictive state of UK politics
  4. There appears to be a mild influence of the legendary playwright Harold Pinter with how it builds and builds upon suspense through dialogue and action
  5. As well as working as a laugh-hard comedy, it has plenty of genuinely intense moments that will have you intrigued until the shocking conclusion

Klokkenluider is showing in cinemas from Friday 1st September 2023

And Then Come The Nightjars (2023, dir. Paul Robinson)

CAST: Nigel Hastings, David Fielder

CREW: Paul Robinson (director), Bea Roberts (writer), Amy Gardner and Nigel Hastings (producers), Simon Slater (composer), John Craine (cinematographer), Claire Pringle (editor)

PLOT: In 2001, as the foot-and-mouth outbreak begins to spread, Micheal (Fielder) is a Devon farmer who finds himself at odds with Jeff (Hastings), a vet who has been assigned to cull Micheal’s precious herd, but soon an unlikely friendship begins to form between the two of them…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  1. The award-winning play by Bea Roberts is adapted for the screen as a heartwarming and emotional story of friendship
  2. Nigel Hastings (also a producer on the film) and screen veteran David Fielder make for an unlikely on-screen pair
  3. It explores the early days of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, which caused havoc across the UK agricultural industry in 2001
  4. Free from most of its stage restrictions, the film can explore more of the Devon environment, as well as tragic aspects of the main characters’ personal lives
  5. It’s a moving tale that reminds us to be good towards others, because they’re almost never as bad as they might at first seem to be

And Then Come The Nightjars is showing in cinemas from Friday 1st September 2023

Mercy Falls (2023, dir. Ryan Hendrick)

CAST: Lauren Lyle, Nicolette McKeown, James Watterson, Layla Kirk, Joe Rising, Eoin Sweeney, Gilly Gilchrist

CREW: Ryan Hendrick (director, writer, editor), Meliá Grasska (writer), David Newman (producer), Stephen Wright (composer), John Rhodes (cinematographer)

PLOT: A group of friends set off on a hiking trip across the Scottish Highlands, but once they are far away from civilisation, an unexpected tragedy paves the way for suspicion, betrayal, and ultimately murder among them…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  1. The stakes are high in this chilling new horror set almost entirely in the Scottish Highlands
  2. A small ensemble, including Outlander’s Lauren Lyle, constantly holds your attention
  3. Some gory kills and shocking reveals are also reason enough to stick it through to the end
  4. It’s getting an exclusive theatrical run in the UK, with it going exclusively to streaming elsewhere in the world
  5. There are some nail-biting levels of suspense that can’t be ignored!

Mercy Falls is showing in cinemas from Friday 1st September 2023

Bobi Wine: The People’s President (2023, dirs. Moses Bwayo and Christopher Sharp)

CAST: Bobi Wine, Barbie Kyagulanyi, Yoweri Museveni

CREW: Moses Bwayo and Christopher Sharp (directors), John Battsek (producer), Dan Jones (composer), Sam Benstead, Moses Bwayo and Michele Sibiloni (cinematographers), Paul Carlin (editor)

PLOT: Bobi Wine, the Ugandan musician, activist, and political opposition leader, puts the lives of himself and his family, including his wife Barbie Kyagulanyi, at risk when he takes on the fierce regime of Yoweri Museveni, who’s been in power since 1986…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  1. This powerful political documentary charts the rise of an unlikely political candidate in the 2021 Ugandan presidential elections
  2. In addition to covering his political ambitions, the film also explores Bobi Wine’s contribution to music as well as his activism against the dictatorial regime of Yoweri Museveni
  3. The brutal tactics of Museveni’s thuggish army are shown in full view as Wine is persecuted and tortured for speaking his truths
  4. It bears concerning parallels to the harsh treatment of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who himself was recently the subject of an Oscar-winning documentary
  5. For anyone championing free and fair democracies around the world, this is a vital slice of footage to check out

Bobi Wine: The People’s President is showing in cinemas from Friday 1st September 2023

Otto Baxter: Not A F**king Horror Story (2023, dirs. Peter Beard and Bruce Fletcher)

CAST: Otto Baxter, Paul Kaye, Rebecca Callard, Myanna Buring, Ruben Reuter, Dexter Fletcher, Adeel Akhtar

CREW: Peter Beard and Bruce Fletcher (directors, cinematographers), Daisy Allsop (producer), Lorenzo Levrini (cinematographer), Rupert Houseman and Richard Ketteridge (editors)

PLOT: Otto Baxter, a 35-year-old man with Down Syndrome, sets out to make his first short film titled The Puppet Asylum, which he uses to help express his emotions and confront some traumatic events in real-life…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  1. Otto Baxter, the subject of this heartfelt new documentary, is a figure you’ll be fascinated to learn about
  2. Born with Down Syndrome, he’s a filmmaker who uses the power of cinema to express himself in ways he might not be able to in the real world
  3. Along with directors Peter Beard and Bruce Fletcher, he accomplishes his vision while also lending a unique perspective to personal trauma and grief
  4. Be on the lookout for special screenings that also come with a showing of Otto’s resulting short film, The Puppet Asylum
  5. It’s an inspiring and ultimately uplifting tale for anyone who feels their neurological condition may be holding them back from entering the filmmaking business

Otto Baxter: Not A F**king Horror Story is showing in cinemas from Friday 1st September 2023


WHAT’S SHOWING AT

HOME THIS WEEK?

Fool’s Paradise (2023, dir. Charlie Day)

CAST: Charlie Day, Ken Jeong, Kate Beckinsale, Adrien Brody, Jason Sudeikis, Edie Falco, Jason Bateman, Common, Ray Liotta, John Malkovich, Jimmi Simpson, Dean Norris, Jillian Bell

CREW: Charlie Day (director, writer), Chris Lemole, John Rickard, Alex Saks and Tim Zajaros (producers), Jon Brion (composer), Nico Aguilar (cinematographer), Leslie Jones, Tim Roche

PLOT: After being released from a mental hospital, an unnamed patient (Day) is spotted by a film producer (Liotta) who brings him onto a movie set to stand in for an alcoholic method actor (also Day). Soon, the man – newly christened “Latte Pronto” – experiences the highs and lows of movie stardom, with the help of down-on-his-luck publicist Lenny (Jeong)…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  1. Charlie Day makes his directorial debut with an outrageous new comedy that sends up the crazy world of showbiz
  2. Day also leads a cast that includes big names like Kate Beckinsale, Adrien Brody, the late Ray Liotta, and his former Horrible Bosses co-stars Jason Bateman and Jason Sudeikis in small but memorable roles
  3. The film’s wild sense of humour calls back to the wacky hijinks of legendary comedy director Blake Edwards
  4. Originally shot in 2018, the film underwent reshoots three years later after Day wrote 27 pages of additional material (on the advice of none other than Guillermo del Toro, who directed Day in Pacific Rim)
  5. You’ll have just as much of a blast as Day clearly has whilst acting and directing this hilarious satire

Fool’s Paradise is available to rent/buy on digital platforms from Monday 28th August 2023

Alone At Night (2023, dir. Jimmy Giannopoulos)

CAST: Ashley Benson, Jon Foster, Sky Ferreira, Jake Weary, Duke Nicholson, John Robinson, Winnie Harlow, G-Eazy, A$AP Nast, Paris Hilton, Pamela Anderson, Luis Guzmán, Lindsey Pelas, Tyler Dean Flores, Clara McGregor, Twan Kuyper, Chy Fontenette, Shannon Hamilton, Cassius Corrigan, Steven Spence

CREW: Jimmy Giannopoulos (director, writer), Diomedes Raul Bermudez (writer, producer), Ashley Benson, Cassius Corrigan and Siena Oberman (producers), G-Eazy and Goody Grace (composers), Peter Buntaine (cinematographer), Fernanda Cardoso and Leo Scott (editors)

PLOT: After going through a rough break-up, Vicky (Benson) retreats to a friend’s remote woodland cabin, where she intends to relax and do some live webcam shows on an adult site. However, when the power suddenly goes out, she soon finds herself being hunted by a masked killer who has more than desire on their mind…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  1. The classic “cabin-in-the-woods” template is put to effective use in this psychological slasher
  2. Pretty Little Liars star Ashley Benson (who also produces) gives a scared-as-hell lead performance
  3. Some of the big names in the supporting cast include rapper A$AP Nast, Baywatch legend Pamela Anderson, and even Paris Hilton as – what else? – a reality show host
  4. It touches upon the liberating but occasionally draining world of adult webcamming, and how models use their platform wisely to project themselves onto curious viewers
  5. You never know what, or whom, might be lurking around the dark corner, which only adds to the unpredictability

Alone at Night is available to rent/buy on digital platforms from Monday 28th August 2023


WHAT’S RETURNING TO

CINEMAS THIS WEEK?

Jurassic Park (1993, dir. Steven Spielberg)

CAST: Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Bob Peck, Martin Ferrero, B.D. Wong, Joseph Mazzello, Ariana Richards, Samuel L. Jackson, Wayne Knight, Jerry Molen, Miguel Sandoval, Cameron Thor, Whit Hertford, Greg Burson, Richard Kiley

CREW: Steven Spielberg (director), Michael Crichton and David Koepp (writers), Kathleen Kennedy and Gerald R. Molen (producers), John Williams (composer), Dean Cundey (cinematographer), Michael Kahn (editor)

PLOT: After eccentric billionaire John Hammond (Attenborough) creates a theme park with genetically cloned dinosaurs as its main attraction, he invites palaeontologists Dr. Alan Grant (Neill) and Dr. Ellie Sattler (Dern), along with chaotician Dr. Ian Malcolm (Goldblum), to a special preview before it opens to the public. However, when the park’s power is sabotaged, the dinosaurs run loose, forcing the visitors to try and survive…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  1. Steven Spielberg’s prehistoric blockbuster adaptation of Michael Crichton’s novel is back in cinemas for its 30th anniversary
  2. Upon its release, it became a massive box office hit (and was, before James Cameron’s Titanic, the highest-grossing film of all time), made stars out of leads Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum, and spawned numerous sequels (but let’s not talk about those…)
  3. The visual effects, which combined animatronics and early CGI, not only still hold up thirty years later, but look far more impressive than some of today’s much more advanced effects
  4. Some sequences, specifically the introduction of the deadly T-Rex, are among some of the most intense and brilliantly executed in modern-day blockbuster cinema
  5. If you’ve never had a chance to experience the chaos for yourself on the big screen, then now’s your golden opportunity!

Jurassic Park is showing in cinemas from Friday 1st September 2023

Tokyo Story (1953, dir. Yasujirō Ozu)

CAST: Chishū Ryū, Chieko Higashiyama, Setsuko Hara, Haruko Sugimura, So Yamamura, Kuniko Miyake, Kyōko Kagawa, Eijirō Tōno, Nobuo Nakamura, Shirō Ōsaka, Hisao Toake, Teruko Nagaoka

CREW: Yasujirô Ozu (director, writer), Kôgo Noda (writer), Takeshi Yamamoto (producer), Takanobu Saitô (composer), Yûharu Atsuta (cinematographer), Yoshiyasu Hamamura (editor)

PLOT: Elderly couple Shūkichi (Ryū) and Tomi (Higashiyama) travel to Tokyo to visit their adult children, including son Kōichi (Yamamura), daughter Shige (Sugimura), and widowed daughter-in-law Noriko (Hara). However, the trip does not go according to plan when their children, except for Noriko, routinely neglect their elderly parents in favour of their own lives and careers, leading to a family-wide reflection of their attitudes toward each other…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  1. Japanese filmmaker Yasujirō Ozu’s timeless masterpiece returns in celebration of its 70th anniversary
  2. It is a tender and emotional story of family and generational divide that remains universal to this day
  3. The film is often regarded as one of the greatest ever made, and is a favourite among modern filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese and Jane Campion
  4. Last year, it came fourth on Sight and Sound Magazine’s Greatest Films of All Time list, a truly high accolade to receive
  5. You’ll be moved to tears by its beautiful story and effortless filmmaking, which ranks among some of the finest ever put to celluloid

Tokyo Story is showing in cinemas from Friday 1st September 2023

Peter Pan (1953, dirs. Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson and Hamilton Luske)

CAST: Bobby Driscoll, Kathryn Beaumont, Hans Conreid, Bill Thompson, Heather Angel, Paul Collins, Tommy Luske, Candy Candido, Stuffy Singer, Johnny McGovern, Robert Ellis, Jeffrey Silver, June Foray, Connie Hilton, Karen Kester, Margaret Kerry, Tom Conway

CREW: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson and Hamilton Luske (directors), Bill Cottrell (writer), Walt Disney (producer), Oliver Wallace (composer), Donald Halliday (editor)

PLOT: Wendy Darling (Beaumont) and her younger brothers John (Collins) and Michael (Luske) are whisked away to the world of Neverland by the eternally young adventurer Peter Pan (Driscoll) and his fairy companion Tinker Bell. There, they encounter mermaids, the Lost Boys, a Native tribe, and the sinister pirate Captain Hook (Conreid) who seeks revenge on Peter Pan…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  1. Disney continues to celebrate its 100th anniversary with the release of their original animated take on the classic J.M. Barrie story
  2. For most children, this was their introduction to the timeless characters of Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Captain Hook etc, to where the film has become synonymous with the original tale
  3. The film was first planned by Walt Disney as early as 1935 (two years before the release of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), but was shelved for over a decade after the Second World War broke out
  4. It wasn’t without its share of retrospective criticism, especially for its offensive portrayal of Native Americans (something that was thankfully fixed for the live-action version earlier this year) which, needless to say, has definitely not aged well
  5. For a whole new generation hoping to experience the wonders of Neverland for the first time, this is by far the best possible introduction (aside from, again, that whole Native stuff)

Peter Pan is showing in cinemas from Friday 1st September 2023

Melancholia (2011, dir. Lars von Trier)

CAST: Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Alexander Skarsgård, Kiefer Sutherland, Cameron Spurr, Charlotte Rampling, John Hurt, Jesper Christensen, Stellan Skarsgård, Brady Corbet, Udo Kier

CREW: Lars von Trier (director, writer), Meta Louise Foldager and Louise Vesth (producers), Manuel Alberto Claro (cinematographer), Molly M. Stensgaard (editor)

PLOT: At an extravagant wedding reception, bride Justine (Dunst) falls into depression that threatens her future with new husband Michael (A. Skarsgård). Meanwhile, a distant planet known as Melancholia is scheduled to fly past Earth, but Justine’s sister Claire (Gainsbourg) begins to fear that there may be more destructive consequences…

FIVE REASONS TO BE EXCITED:

  1. Curzon’s retrospective season celebrating the work of Danish auteur Lars von Trier continues with the re-release of one of the filmmaker’s most famous films
  2. It is the second entry in Lars von Trier’s so-called “Depression Trilogy”, which also includes surreal horror Antichrist and the two-part erotic drama Nymphomaniac
  3. Kirsten Dunst won the Best Actress award at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival, where von Trier famously became “persona non grata” after a controversial press conference where he joked about sympathising with Hitler
  4. The cinematography and filmmaking techniques deployed by von Trier are some of the most eye-grabbing of his career
  5. Its memorably apocalyptic ending is a sobering end to an extremely unconventional movie-going experience

Melancholia is showing in cinemas from Friday 1st September 2023


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

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Search from over ten years of movies here:

Other recent reviews:

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A Hollywood stuntman winds up on an epic misadventure during his latest gig…

Tarot (2024, dirs. Spenser Cohen and Anna Halberg)

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The Idea of You (2024, dir. Michael Showalter)

A 40-year-old single mother begins a relationship with a much younger pop star…

Love Lies Bleeding (2024, dir. Rose Glass)

A gym manager falls in love with an ambitious bodybuilder…

Jericho Ridge (2023, dir. Will Gilbey)

A group of murderous criminals target a remote Sherriff’s Office…

I.S.S. (2024, dir. Gabriela Cowperthwaite)

A group of American and Russian astronauts find themselves up against one another…

In the Land of Saints and Sinners (2023, dir. Robert Lorenz)

In 70s Ireland, a contract killer goes up against a group of IRA terrorists…

There’s Still Tomorrow (2024, dir. Paola Cortellesi)

In post-war Rome, an abused housewife seeks personal liberation…

The American Society of Magical Negroes (2024, dir. Kobi Libii)

A young Black man is recruited into a secretive organisation that betters the lives of White people…

Boy Kills World (2024, dir. Moritz Mohr)

A young deaf-mute man takes revenge against the regime that killed his family…