Films releasing before and on 12th August, 2011

US Releases

Battle: Los Angeles



StudioColumbia Pictures (Previous Film: Just Go With It)
Director - Jonathan Liebesman (Previous Film: The Killing Room)


In a nutshell....

UFO sightings are nothing new as Argentina, Japan, France, Germany and China have all witnessed them. But now finally the aliens have decided to attack and when America comes under threat, Sergeant Michael Nantz, along with his platoon has to fight them off and save the country, and the city of Los Angeles.

Aliens, aliens, aliens.... they've always been around, if not anywhere else, atleast in Hollywood. We've seen so many films based on the extraterrestrial in the last two decades that one might say the subject is done to death now. Yet we continue to get more and more stories based on the unseen and the unknown because of the very fact that we are yet to encounter aliens. Which is why films will keep happening, we'll keep watching, but only those with imagination and tension will stand out. And, I think Liebesman's take on aliens might fall short on those two counts. But WB thinks otherwise. The studio is impressed with the way the director has handled this film and they've offered him the sequel to Clash of the Titans. The trailer does promise a lot of action and destruction but in terms of story I think it might lack the punch as it is a straight forward alien invasion which we've seen in countless other films. Sure much can't be predicted and said before watching the film in its entirety but for me this one seems more like a money churner, and with a popular cast it'll make things easier. I'm sure it'll top the box office collections at the end of the week but whether it has that real magic of wooing the audiences across the globe remains to be seen, which is why I'm more eager to find out what this new alien film has on offer.


Runtime - 116 mins
Genre - Action/Sci-fi/Thriller
Rated - PG-13

Principal Cast

Aaron Eckhart – Sergeant Michael Nantz
(Last seen in: Rabbit Hole)
Ramon Rodriguez - 2nd Lt. William Martinez (Last seen in: Harlem Hostel)
Michelle Rodriguez - Sergeant Elena Santos (Last seen in: Machete)
Bridget Moynahan - Michele (Last seen in: Ramona and Beezus)

Principal Crew

Christopher Bertolini - Writer

Lukas Ettlin - Director of Photography
Christian Wagner - Editor
Brian Tyler - Music Director


Film’s USP

Alien Invasion

Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAdm9ssE6gk


Anticipation Rating - 3.5/5






Jane Eyre



StudioFocus Features (Previous Film: The Eagle)
Director - Cary Fukunaga (Previous Film: Sin Nombre)


In a nutshell....

Jane Eyre has had a bleak childhood with a lot of trouble. A she grows up she takes up the job of a governess at Thornfield Hall. The master of the house, Mr. Rochester, is a cold, dark and an abrupt man. But Eyre soon falls in love with him and as times look positive for the girl Mr. Rochester's terrible secret might just destroy her new happy world, again.

Based on a very powerful and influential novel of the same name, Jane Eyre is a dark film with the morality of right and wrong at its core. Set in the 19th century, London, England, this film looks high on drama, as it should be, with great art design that recreates the old English mood. Mia Wasikowska is a bright, talented young actress, which makes me feel positive about this film as it rests on responsible shoulders. I think it will do well on the box office considering the starlet's recent success. Besides, the rest of the cast is also apt and liked by many. Most period dramas do turn out to be boring but this one seems engaging enough especially because of its dark and mysterious tones, and the popular story itself.


Runtime - 115 mins
Genre - Drama/Romance
Rated - PG-13

Principal Cast

Mia Wasikowska – Jane Eyre
(Last seen in: The Kids Are Alright)
Michael Fassbender - Rochester (Last seen in: Jonah Hex)
Sally Hawkins - Mrs. Reed (Last seen in: Never Let Me Go)
Jamie Bell - St. John Rivers (Last seen in: The Eagle)
Judi Dench - Mrs. Fairfax (Last seen in: Nine)


Principal Crew

Moira Buffini,
Charlotte Bronte (novel) - Writers
Adriano Goldman - Director of Photography
Melanie Oliver - Editor
Dario Marianelli - Music Director


Film’s USP

Based on Jane Eyre, the novel

Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8J6Cjn06kA


Anticipation Rating - 3.5/5






Red Riding Hood



StudioWarner Bros. Pictures (Previous Film: Yogi Bear)
Director - Catherine Hardwicke (Previous Film: Twilight)


In a nutshell....

Valerie is a beautiful young woman who is in love with a brooding young lad, Peter. But, Valerie's parents want her to marry the wealthy Irons. Valerie and Peter plan to run away but they learn that Valerie's older sister is killed by the werewolf that prowls the surrounding dark forest. The villagers had, for years, maintained a truce with the wolf offering it a monthly animal sacrifice. But the wolf has grown wilder and taken to hunting down humans. Angered by this, the villagers seek the help of a famed werewolf hunter, Father Solomon, to take revenge on the beast. Solomon's arrival brings unintended consequences, and he warns the villagers that the beast who takes human form in the day could be anyone of them. Will they find out who the werewolf is?

Based on one of the most famous fairy tales of all time, Red Riding Hood reminds me of my childhood. Not because it was as dark as this film is, or I'd known a werewolf, but because of the way my mother used to recite the whole story of the Little Red Cap and the Big Bad Wolf. That is why the director, Catherine Hardwicke has a huge challenge at hand as she needs to portray and tell the story of the Red Riding Hood with equal effect, just like mothers recite stories to their children. I know this isn't a film targeted for kids but the storytelling will need to be very engaging, especially because we all are well familiar with the story. The fact that this film's directed by a woman might help. Besides, she's also got the experience of doing a werewolf film, Twilight. Thus I believe this film will be successful with a decent run at the box office.


Runtime - Unknown
Genre - Fantasy/Horror/Mystery
Rated - PG-13

Principal Cast

Amanda Seyfried – Valerie
(Last seen in: Letters To Juliet)
Gary Oldman - Solomon (Last seen in: The Book Of Eli)
Lukas Haas - Father Auguste (Last seen in: Inception)
Julie Christie - Grandmother (Last seen in: New York, I love You)


Principal Crew

David Johnson - Writer
Mandy Walker - Director of Photography
Nancy Richardson, Julia Wong - Editors
Brian Reitzell - Music Director


Film’s USP

Based on the famous fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood

Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PM8V3cHdSC4


Anticipation Rating - 3/5






Mars Needs Moms



StudioWalt Disney Pictures (Previous Film: Indiana Jones And The Temple Of The Forbidden Eye)
Director - Simon Wells (Previous Film: The Time Machine)


In a nutshell....

Martians want to take away Milo's mother as they want to take away her mom-ness for their own young. After she is taken away, Milo realises the importance of his mother in his life and plans to rescue her from Mars. With the help of a tech-savvy underground earthman, Gribble, his bionic pet named Two-Cat, and a rebellious martian girl Ki, Milo sets out on a mission to defeat the alien nation leader, Supervisor, and get his mother back.

The 2nd alien film to release this week, Mars Needs Moms is a completely different take on aliens as compared to Battle: Los Angeles. This film, no doubt promises to be better of the two, for reasons more than one. First, it's got a very unique story which focuses on the love for mothers. Second, it's live action animation in digital 3D. And Third, it's a comedy. In short it promises to be a blockbuster. I know it is imprudent to compare two films with such stark differences but then how'd you decide which one to catch first. Mars Needs Moms will pull the crowds to the theatres because of it's unique storyline, which I keep stressing, is the most essential quality that a film should try to have, and then it's a family film with a deeper meaning, which also means better collections at the box office. Besides it comes from Simon Wells who's been great at animation. Definitely, my pick of the week.


Runtime - 88 mins
Genre - Animation/Adventure/Comdey
Rated - PG

Principal Cast

Seth Green – Milo
(Last seen in: Old Dogs)
Dan Fogler - Gribble (Last seen in: Take Me Home Tonight)
Joan Cusack - Mom (Last seen in: My Sister's Keeper)
Mindy Sterling - The Supervisor (Last seen in: Extreme Movie)


Principal Crew

Simon Wells, Wendy Wells, Berkeley Breathed (book) - Writers
Robert Presley - Director of Photography
Wayne Wahrman - Editor
John Powell - Music Director


Film’s USP

Unique Story

Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_aS5W___Ezk


Anticipation Rating - 4.5/5






Certified Copy (Copie Conforme)




StudioIFC Films (Previous Film: Antichrist)
Director - Abbas Kiarostami (US Theatrical Debut)


In a nutshell....

James Miller, a middle aged English writer goes to Tuscany, Italy to promote his latest book on the values of copies in art. There he meets a French antiques dealer, Elle, who shows him the town and leads him to the village of Lucigagno. Through their journey the learn about each other.

I consider myself lucky of having the privilege to watch this film in the Mumbai International Film Festival (MAMI) and therefore this'd be more like a review than a preview. Abbas Kiarostami is a name grand enough to pull audiences to the theatre. I sat in this huge 1,000 seater cinema hall and it was almost full but no one made a sound until the credits rolled, and when they did we all rose from our seats and in awe of what we saw clapped our hands. Certainly, this film deserves a standing ovation for the following reasons.
1. Juliette Binoche's top notch performance that also got her the best actress award at Cannes, 2010.
2. It's tough to believe that this is William Shimmel's first appearance on screen, he was a complete natural.
3. Despite it being a drama, having only two primary characters, this film never seems to go off track, infact it hooks you, keeps you all interested.
4. Kiarostami's writing and direction. It may not be his best work but it definitely is a treat to watch.
5. The climax.
Certified Copy is not just for the connoisseurs of cinema, it is for you me and everyone to cherish and enjoy. I think due to its limited release not many people would watch this film as it also has this tag of the festival type of cinema. Although, word of mouth publicity will make sure it gets what it deserves.


Runtime - 106 mins
Genre - Drama
Rated - Unknown

Principal Cast

Juliette Binoche – Elle
(Last seen in: Summer Hours)
William Shimmel - James Miller (Debut)


Principal Crew

Abbas Kiarostami - Writer
Luca Bigazzi - Director of Photography
Bahman Kiarostami - Editor

Film’s USP

Abbas Kiarostami + Juliette Binoche

Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_z18UR838X8


Anticipation Rating - 4/5






Kill The Irishman



StudioDundee Entertainment (Previous Film: Screwball: The Ted Whitfield Story)
Director - Jonathan Hensleigh (Previous Film: The Punisher)


In a nutshell....

Kill The Irishman is a biopic on the Irish-American mob boss and FBI informant, Danny Greene. It is about his attempt to shoot his way to the top of Cleveland's criminal underworld during the late 1970s.

I did not know anything about Danny Greene until I read about this film, and I realised what I really would've missed out on. Based on the flamboyant, eccentric life of this man, Kill The Irishman seems to be a very good take on the underworld scenario of those days. Although set in the 1970s this film looks very stylish and is shot in the contemporary ways. It's got a well known cast and I hope more from this film because it's directed by a very nice writer whose vision has been top notch. I think due to its limited release it wouldn't have a great run on the box office but will be liked by the gangsta lovers.


Runtime - Unknown
Genre - Action/Crime
Rated - R

Principal Cast

Ray Stevenson – Danny Greene
(Last seen in: The Other Guys)
Vincent D'Onofrio - John Nardi (Last seen in: Little New York)
Val Kilmer - Joe Manditski (Last seen in: The Traveller)
Christopher Walken - Shondor Birns (Last seen in: Life's A Beach)


Principal Crew

Jonathan Hensleigh, Jeremy Walters, Rick Porrello (book - To Kill The Irishman) - Writers
Carl Walter Lindenlaub - Director of Photography
Douglas Crise - Editor
Patrick Cassidy - Music Director

Film’s USP

Based on the life of Danny Greene

Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2zN53Vwnz0


Anticipation Rating - 3.5/5

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