UK Releases

Drive Angry 3D

(Advanced screenings in select cinemas from 24th Feb, 2011)

Studios – Millennium Films, Nu Image Films, Saturn Films

(Previous Film: The Mechanic, The Expendables, The Sorcerer's Apprentice)

Director - Patrick Lussier (Previous Film: My Bloody Valentine)

In a nutshell....

Milton is a vengeful father who has broken out of hell, to hunt down the men who killed his daughter and kidnapped his grand daughter. The Accountant, a supernatural operative of Satan, has been sent to bring Milton back to hell. Whether Milton succeeds or gets chased down by the Accountant forms the crux of the film.

Nicolas Cage has been doing a lot of fantasy stuff in recent times and most of them have been average but entertaining. Drive Angry also seems to belong to those pool of films he's done. It's fully loaded with action and car chase sequences, and a bit of humour here and there. The trailer's impressive, and with a worldwide release, the film will see a great opening especially because it is shot in 3D, which the trailer and poster boast about. A 3D treat awaits for all Cage fans.

Runtime - 104 mins

Genre - Action/Fantasy/Comedy

Rated - 18

Principal Cast

Nicolas Cage – Milton (Last seen in: Season Of The Witch)

Amber Heard - Piper (Last seen in: The Ward)

William Fichtner. - Ronald Wilkes (Last seen in: Date Night)

Principal Crew

Todd Farmer, Patrick Lussier - Writers

Brian Pearson - Directors of Photography

Devin Lussier, Patrick Lussier - Editors
Michael Wandmacher - Music Director

Film’s USP

Shot in 3D

Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2-hiHUh4UQ

Anticipation Rating - 3.5/5

---

Unknown

Studios – Studio Canal (Previous Film: The Tourist) + Many Others

Director - Jaume Collet-Serra (Previous Film: Orphan)

In a nutshell....

Dr. Martin Harris, or as he calls himself, wakes up from coma after 4 days, in Berlin, where he's on a vacation. An accident is the last thing he remembers but doesn't know the whereabouts of his beloved wife. Slowly he discovers that somebody has taken his identity and nobody, including his wife, seems to believe him. His existence is itself in question. Gina, the driver of the taxi which met the accident, is the only one who seems to believe him and can help him find the truth.

Although there have been a few films based on lost identity, Unknown has an amazing storyline and seems to be very interesting. It's got all the ingredients of a fantastic thriller and two powerful actors in Liam Neeson and Diane Kruger, no wonder she's the German taxi driver. This film's doing very well in the US, infact topped the box office in the first weekend collections. Go Neeson!

Runtime - 113 mins

Genre - Drama/Thriller/Mystery

Rated - Unknwon

Principal Cast

Liam Neeson – Dr. Martin Harris (Last seen in: The A-Team)

Diane Kruger - Gina (Last seen in: Inglourious Basterds)

January Jones - Elizabeth Harris (Indian Theatrical Debut)

Principal Crew

Oliver Butcher, Stephen Cornwell, Didier Van Couwelaert (Novel: Out Of My Head) - Writers

Flavio Martinez Labiano - Directors of Photography

Timothy Alverson - Editor
John Ottman, Alexander Rudd - Music Directors

Film’s USP

Liam Neeson + Story

Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-lDfKb2SBA

Anticipation Rating - 4/5

---

West Is West

Studios – Assassin Films, BBC Films

(Previous Film: Mrs. Ratcliffe's Revolution, Brighton Rock)

Director - Andy DeEmmony (Theatrical Debut)

In a nutshell....

The dysfunctional Khan family continues to struggle for survival in Manchester, England. Sajid Khan, the youngest kid, the runt of the litter, is facing a teenage crisis under both, his father's insistence on Pakistani traditions and some bullies from the school. So, to sort him out, Mr. Khan takes his youngest son to his 1st wife Basheera, and daughters, a family which he abandoned 35 years back, in Pakistan. As Sajid is just learning about the Pakistani tradition, Mrs. Ella Khan, Mr. Khan's 2nd wife, follows them to Pakistan with a small entourage from Salford, to sort out the mess of the past and present.

A sequel to the hit East Is East, after almost 12 years, West Is West comes back with more promise and fun as things in the Khan kin worsen. The combination of Asians in England isn't new but the way writer Ayub Khan-Din has penned the story of these characters is something very relevant and funny. This film is bound to do well just like its predecessor, in terms of both, the entertainment and collections at the box office. The involvement of Indian actors in the Pakistani mould is exciting and it would be fun to watch Om Puri as Mr. Khan. Wish it had a simultaneous release in India!

Runtime - 103 mins

Genre - Drama/Comedy

Rated - 15

Principal Cast

Om Puri – George Khan (Last seen in: Life Goes On)

Aqib Khan - Sajid Khan (Debut)

Linda Bassett - Ella Khan (Last seen in: The Reader)

Jimi Mistry - Tariq Khan (Last seen in: It's A Wonderful Afterlife)

Ila Arun - Basheera Khan (Last seen in: Jodhaa Akbar)

Principal Crew

Ayub Khan-Din - Writer

Peter Robertson - Directors of Photography

John Gregory, Stephen O'Donnell - Editors
Robert Lane - Music Director

Film’s USP

Sequel to East Is East

Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UePZga3wAzE

Anticipation Rating - 3.5/5

---

Howl

Studios – Wirk Werc Productions (Previous Film: Mrs. Ratcliffe's Revolution, Brighton Rock),

RabbitBandini Productions (Debut), Telling Pictures (Debut), Radiant Cool (Debut)

Director - Rob Epstein (UK Theatrical Debut), Jeffrey Friedman (UK Theatrical Debut)

In a nutshell....

Howl is a film about an American masterpiece, a poem 'Howl' that was put on trial in San Francisco, 1957. It recounts the tumultuous life events of the young Allen Ginsberg, who found his true voice as an artist, the obscenity trial by the court, and by the way of animation shows the poem's surreality which all later give rise to a counterculture, The San Francisco Renaissance.

Howl sure is an interesting film as it gives us a chance to look at one of the most controversial works of art, by Allen Ginsberg, which faced a lot of opposition, for his poem by the same name. This film was screened at the Opening Night of Sundance Film Festival, 2010, and was officially selected at the Berlinale in the same year. Thus one cannot doubt the goodness of this film. It's a different subject handled in a different manner, like the use of animation, and going black and white, which also improves the telling. Plus, those who were awed by James Franco's act in 127 Hours can take the opportunity to watch this film and assess whether he's done well as young Ginsberg. Not sure if it'll have a good run at the box office but it will definitely entertain you in a different way.

Runtime - 84 mins

Genre - Drama

Rated - 15

Principal Cast

James Franco – Allen Ginsberg (Last seen in: 127 Hours)

Mary Louise-Parker - Gail Potter (Last seen in: Red)

John Hamm - Jake Ehrlich (Last seen in: The Town)

Principal Crew

Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman - Writers

Edward Lachman - Directors of Photography

Jake Pushinsky - Editor
Carter Burwell - Music Director

Film’s USP

Based on Allen Ginsberg's life and Howl

Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ba9yazkl0UE

Anticipation Rating - 4/5

---

I Am Number Four

(Advanced screenings in select cinemas from 23rd Feb, 2011)

Studios – Bay Films (Debut), Road Rebel (Previous Film: How Do You Know)

Director - D.J. Caruso (Previous Film: Eagle Eye)

In a nutshell....

John Smith, a teenage alien in human appearance from planet Lorien, possesses extraordinary powers and abilities. There are 8 such other individuals who escaped together from Lorien to avoid attacks from Megadorians, an evil race which wants to finish the Loriens. The 9 Loriens reside on planet Earth, concealing their true identities. They have to be killed in a set order and 3 have already been killed. John is Number Four.

Based on the successful novel of the same name, I Am Number Four has a completely unique storyline with a lot of promise in terms of entertainment and thrills. But there isn't a great star cast which might hamper this film's possible success. However, it's being promoted a lot, there has been a lot of buzz around it and I think it being different will work in its favour. A sequel, The Power Of Six, in which the focus will be on Number Seven, is already being shot and a special sneak peek will be shown at the end of I Am Number Four. Thus the makers are already sure that their film's going to do wonders especially because it is backed by good distribution and the novel's success. It's already doing well the US and India.

Runtime - 110 mins

Genre - Action/Sci-fi/Thriller

Rated - 12A

Principal Cast

Alex Pettyfer – John Smith (Last seen in: Stormbreaker)

Timothy Olyphant – Henri (Last seen in: The Crazies)
Dianna Agron – Sarah Hart (Last seen in: Burlesque)

Principal Crew

Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Marti Noxon, Pittacus Lore (novel) - Writers

Guillermo Navarro - Directors of Photography
Jim Page, Vince Filippone- Editors
Trevor Ranbin - Music Director

Film’s USP

Unique story

Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5djHG3hPu0

Anticipation Rating - 3.5/5

---

The Rite

Studios – Contrafilm, Fletcher & Company (Previous Releases: Choke, Debut)

Director - Michael Hafstrom (Previous Work: Shanghai)

In a nutshell....

The Rite is about a disillusioned young American priest who travels to The Vatican to study how to carry out exorcisms. He finds his faith renewed as he fights the demonic forces.

This film has an interesting tale which is based on a true story. Hafstrom has this liking for dark thrillers and we can expect more of that in The Rite. How Anthony Hopkins acts in this one is what I'd love to find out. Since this is going to be the first release for the film, it'd be exciting to see how people react to it. There's enough spark in the trailer which suggests it will scare many. I think it will do well and will fetch decent reviews.

Runtime - 127 mins

Genre - Drama/Horror/Thriller

Rated - 15

Principal Cast

Anthony Hopkins – Father Lucas Trevant (Last seen in: You Will Meet A Tall Dark Stranger)

Colin O'Donoghue – Michael Kovak (Debut)
Ciaran Hinds – Father Xavier (Last seen in: The Debt)

Alice Braga - Angeline (Last seen in: Predators)

Toby Jones - Father Matthew (Last seen in: What's Wrong With Virginia)

Principal Crew

Michael Petroni, Matt Baglio (Book) - Writers

Ben Davis - Director of Photography
David Rosenbloom, Peter Boyle - Editors
Alex Heffes - Music Director

Film’s USP

Anthony Hopkins + Horror

Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVLqOus2_4E

Anticipation Rating - 3.5/5

---

No Strings Attached

Studios – Cold Spring Pictures, Katalyst Films (Previous Releases: Up In The Air, Killers)
Director - Ivan Reitman (Previous Work: My Super Ex - Girlfriend)

In a nutshell....

Emma and Adam are very good friends and but have nothing enough to get into a relationship. However they cannot resist each other and start a sexual relationship, with strictly No Strings Attached as Emma wants to stay away from any sort of commitment. The entire film is about whether two people can remain involved in a sexual relationship without love getting in their way.

The trailer says it all. This film has 'sex' written all over it. Whether it is done cheaply or sensually remains to be seen but we've already seen many such films in the past. There's a lot of comedy which might just help this film do wonders only if it isn't crude. On the whole I don't think this one shows great promise but there's sure a lot of eye candy for both the sexes.

Runtime - 108 mins

Genre - Comedy/Romance

Rated - 15

Principal Cast

Natalie Portman – Emma (Last seen in: Black Swan)

Ashton Kutcher – Adam (Last seen in: Killers)
Kevin Kline – Alvin (Last seen in: The Extra Man)
Ludacris - Wallace (Last seen in: Gamer)

Principal Crew

Elizabeth Meriwether - Writer

Rogier Stoffers - Director of Photography
Dana E. Glauberman – Editor
John Debney - Music Director

Film’s USP

Beautiful cast + the concept of friends having sex without love

Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ubfcfs98MBw

Anticipation Rating - 3/5