US Releases

Limitless

Studio – Relativity Media (Previous Film: Battle: Los Angeles)

Director - Neil Burger (Previous Film: The Lucky Ones)

In a nutshell....

Eddie Morra is an unemployed copywriter and his girlfriend, Lindy, has broken up with him. Dejected, Eddie believes he has no future and feels hopeless. Just then a friend introduces him to an experimental drug, NZT. With the use of this drug Eddie becomes highly focused and confident, remembering everything he reads, hears and sees. He uses this ability to become successful in the financial world, and starts working for Karl Van Loon, a business mogul. Eddie's success attracts wrong people who want him dead. As he tries to escape from the clutches of the bad men, he also fights some disorders and irregularities happening from the drug.

I watched the trailer of this film once, twice, thrice and then again. So excited am I to watch this one that I can't wait for Friday to come. The idea of having a drug that could increase the potential of your brain to its maximum, startles me. Several things are possible if the brain works to its 100% capacity, and it seems Limitless explores quite a few of them. So far Neil Burger has written and directed all three of his films prior to this one, which he has only directed. The Illusionist is my favourite of them all, and it was also appreciated by many across the globe. Thus I have high hopes from this one as the director has had a good track record. A lot of women are crazy about Cooper, so are men about Cornish. We all love De Niro. Which means this film will see a huge opening at the box office, also considering that it is having a worldwide release. Limitless has a unique concept and is high on uberness quotient which is why it is my pick of the week. Wish this film provides entertainment limitless!

Runtime - 105 mins

Genre - Thriller

Rated - PG-13

Principal Cast

Robert De Niro – Karl Van Loon (Last seen in: The A Team)

Bradley Cooper - Eddie Morra (Last seen in: Little Fockers)

Abbie Cornish - Lindy (Last seen in: A Good Year)

Principal Crew

Leslie Dixon, Alan Glynn (novel - The Dark Fields) - Writers

Jo Willems - Director of Photography

Tracy Adams, Naomi Geraghty - Editors

Paul Leonard-Morgan, Nico Muhly - Music Directors

Film’s USP

Story

Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOLqNOfzus4&feature=fvst

Anticipation Rating - 4.5/5

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The Lincoln Lawyer

Studio – Lionsgate Films (Previous Film: From Prada To Nada)

Director - Brad Furman (Previous Film: The Take)

In a nutshell....

Mick Haller, a criminal defense lawyer from Los Angeles, operates from the back of his Lincoln car. Having spent most of his career fighting cases for all types of criminals, he gets the case of his career. Louis Roulet, a Beverly Hills playboy and the son of a major businessman, is accused of rape and attempted murder. Mick realises this straight forward case has a lot more than meets the eye.

Based on Michael Connelly's successful novel of the same name, The Lincoln Lawyer seems to have the perfect mix for a serious thriller. The trailer gives all the positive vibes that an engaging thriller should. Besides, the book has its own story of success. Brad Furman's previous and only film, The Take, had nothing exceptional to offer, but that doesn't mean that we can write The Lincoln Lawyer off. It definitely looks much more polished and interesting, and also has a nice cast. I hope this film is just as good as its source of adaptation. On the box office this film will face strong competition from Paul and Limitless, which might hamper its chances of having a good run.

Runtime - 119 mins

Genre - Drama/Thriller

Rated - R

Principal Cast

Matthew McConaughey – Mick Haller (Last seen in: Ghosts Of Girlfriends Past)

Marisa Tomei - Maggie McPherson (Last seen in: The Wrestler)

Ryan Philippe - Louis Roulet (Last seen in: MacGruber)

Josh Lucas - Ted Minton (Last seen in: Life As We Know It)

Principal Crew

John Romano, Michael Connelly (novel) - Writers

Lukas Ettlin - Director of Photography

Jeff McAvoy - Editor

Cliff Martinez - Music Director

Film’s USP

An unconventional lawyer

Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU4ReVEemN0&feature=fvst

Anticipation Rating - 3.5/5

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Paul

Studio – Universal Pictures (Previous Film: The Adjustment Bureau)

Director - Gregg Mottola (Previous Film: Adventureland)

In a nutshell....

Clive and Graeme, two British geeks, set out on a trip across America. Paul, an alien, who has been living at a military base for the past 60 years, decides to escape the place by hopping onto the first vehicle he sees. Fortunately, or otherwise, it's Clive and Graeme's car he hops onto. Amongst the chaos of the federal agents chasing them, and the father of a young woman whom they accidentally kidnapped, wanting to kill them, the two geeks help Paul find his mothership.

Paul has an unlikely combination of aliens and comedy with the superb duo of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost who both rocked in Hot Fuzz and Shaun Of The Dead. Besides, Gregg Mottola has a great record of making funny films which have geeks playing lead characters. Plus, Seth Rogen's voice for Paul makes it even more exciting. Paul's done superbly at the UK box office and has a nice star cast which should help it get a great opening at the US box office, too. And, with so much to offer, Paul will certainly do wonders on planet earth.

Runtime - 104 mins

Genre - Comedy/Sci-fi

Rated - 15

Principal Cast

Seth Rogen (voice) – Paul (Last heard in: Monsters vs. Aliens)

Simon Pegg – Graeme Willy (Last seen in: Burke and Hare)
Nick Frost – Clive Gollings (Last seen in: Wall Street: The Boat That Rocked)

Sigourney Weaver (voice) - (Last heard in: The Tale Of Desperaux)

Jason Bateman - Special Agent Lorenzo Zoil (Last seen in: The Switch)

Kristen Wigg - Ruth Buggs (Last seen in: MacGruber)

Principal Crew

Nick Frost, Simon Pegg - Writers

Lawrence Sher - Directors of Photography
Chris Dickens - Editor
David Arnold - Music Director

Film’s USP

Alien + Comedy + Simon Pegg & Nick Frost + Seth Rogen as Paul

Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4opLEikXT5M

Anticipation Rating - 4/5

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Win Win

Studio – Fox Searchlight Pictures (Previous Film: Never Let Me Go)

Director - Thomas McCarthy (Previous Film: The Visitor)

In a nutshell....

Mike Flaherty is a disheartened attorney who also works as a high school wrestling coach to make ends meet. He becomes the guardian of an incapacitated old man, Leo, for which he would get paid thereby earning some extra cash for his family of four. Kyle, a young lad and grandson of Leo, shows up and creates a problem for Mike as now he has to really take care of the old man. Turns out, the lanky Kyle is a great wrestler which again solves Mike's pathetic wrestling team's problems. Just as everything seems to be on track Kyle's mother, Cindy, shows up from rehab and makes life difficult for Flaherty as now she wants to be Leo's guardian. Will Mike's extra sources of income remain or will they be taken away from him forever?

Official selection at the Sundance Film Festival, Win Win seems to be a feel good film with a lot of humour and fun. The audience at the festival loved Giamatti's performance and also appreciated this film for it being different yet simple. Both of Tom McCarthy's previous films were very wonderful, and he also won a BAFTA for his The Station Agent screenplay. The wondrous performances by the cast and some efficient filmmaking are the prime reasons why this film should do good. But the only negative about Win Win is that it is going to have a limited release which means fewer audiences will have a chance to watch it.

Runtime - 106 mins

Genre - Comedy

Rated - Unknown

Principal Cast

Paul Giamatti – Mike Flaherty (Last seen in: Barney's Version)

Amy Ryan - Jackie Flaherty (Last seen in: Green Zone)

Alex Shaffer - Kyle (Debut)

Burt Young - Leo Poplar (Last seen in: New York, I Love You)

Melanie Lynsky - Cindy (Last seen in: Up In The Air)

Jeffrey Tambor - Stephen Vigman (Last seen in: The Invention Of Lying)

Principal Crew

Tom McCarthy, Joe Tiboni - Writers

Oliver Bokelberg - Director of Photography

Tom McArdle - Editor

Lyle Workman - Music Director

Film’s USP

Performances + Tom McCarthy

Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbe33D59euY

Anticipation Rating - 4/5