US Releases

The Way Back

Studios – Imagenation Abu Dhabi FZ, National Geographic Films (Previous Releases: Fair Game, Arctic Tale)
Director - Peter Weir (Previous Work: Master And Commander: The Far Side Of The World)

In a nutshell....

Inspired from a real life story, The Way Back is the tale of a small group of prisoners who escaped a Siberian gulag during World War II, and walked all the way to India. Facing certain death, Janusz and Valka along with Mr. Smith trek and walk for months, battling hunger and thirst, through deserts, mountains and forests.

Six times Academy Award Nominee Peter Weir has this time got together a strong cast to depict the real life events of escape from Siberia. The film seems engaging as we are taken along on the journey against all odds. I've never read or seen anything about this escape and thus this film shall be a fresh experience. Besides, it's made on a huge scale like all Weir films. Therefore, I think it is most likely that this film might be another Oscar contender.

Runtime - 133 mins

Genre - Drama

Rated - PG-13

Principal Cast

Colin Farrell – Valka (Last seen in: Ondine)

Jim Sturgess – Janusz (Last seen in: Heartless)
Ed Harris – Mr. Smith (Last seen in: What's Wrong With Virginia)
Saoirse Ronan - Irena (Last seen in: The Lovely Bones)

Principal Crew

Keith R. Clarke, Peter Weir, Slavomir Rawicz (novel - The Long Walk: The True Story Of A Trek To Freedom) - Writers

Russell Boyd - Director of Photography
Lee Smith – Editor
Bukhard Dallwitz - Music Director

Film’s USP

Peter Weir back after 7 years.

Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87kezJTpyMI

Anticipation Rating - 4/5

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Company Men

Studios – Odyssey Entertainment, Pathe, Company Men Productions (Previous Releases: Easy Virtue, Debut, Debut)
Director - John Wells (Debut)

In a nutshell....

Bobby Walker is an arrogant employee of GTX, a manufacturing company in Boston, which provides him super salaries and privileges. The company decides to down size and thus gives Bobby a pink slip because of which he has to beg to his wife's brother, Jack, to find him a job. Similarly, Gene and Phil are also shown the door by the same company, both in a pre-retirement limbo. What follows next is how the lives of these three men affected in terms of family, lifestyle and reputation.

I could not catch this one in the Mumbai Film Festival and regretted later when most of the cinema goers were talking about how decent it was. It might be John Wells' debut film but he seems to have done it in the most effective way as it is a sensible take on the economic crisis of the US and not a satirical one. I've also heard a lot about the performances, especially that of Ben Affleck's. So I think it's worth a watch.

Runtime - 109 mins

Genre - Drama

Rated - R

Principal Cast

Ben Affleck – Bobby Walker (Last seen in: The Town)

Tommy Lee Jones – Gene McClary (Last seen in: In The Valley Of Elah)
Chris Cooper – Phil Woodward (Last seen in: The Tempest)
Kevin Costner - Jack Dolan (Last seen in: The New Daughter)

Principal Crew

John Wells - Writer

Roger Deakin - Director of Photography
Robert Frazen – Editor

Film’s USP

The star cast

Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8XgnQTInoQ

Anticipation Rating - 3.5/5

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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 - R

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

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Dhobi Ghat

Studios – Aamir Khan Productions, Cinema 73 (Previous Releases: Peepli Live, Debut)
Director - Kiran Rao (Debut)

In a nutshell....

Dhobi Ghat is the story of 4 very different people whose lives intersect and leave them altered forever. It is about love and friendship brewing in the vibrant city of Mumbai.

Aamir Khan Productions has a past full of successes and recognitions of cinema that might not be off beat but atleast different than most other contemporary films. And with Dhobi Ghat comes the most off beat film from all its ventures in the past. Kiran Rao and the leading women in this film all make a debut with a film which might not be seen by the masses at all. However, Dhobi Ghat seems to be a pure and real take in the most cinematic way involving the blending relationships with colours and art. This definitely isn't your usual entertainer but will hopefully win the hearts of the classes and the intellectuals. Seems it won't enjoy a success on the box office but then again who cares if this brings a 1 % change to the way Indian cinema is perceived today.

Runtime - 95 mins

Genre - Drama

Rated - PG-13

Principal Cast

Aamir Khan – Arun (Last seen in: 3 Idiots)

Prateik Babbar – Munna (Last seen in: Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na)
Monica Dogra – Shai (Debut)
Kriti Malhotra - Yasmin (Debut)

Principal Crew

Kiran Rao - Writer

Tushar Kanti Ray - Director of Photography
Nishant Radhakrishnan – Editor
Gustavo Santaolalla - Music Director

Film’s USP

Aamir Khan directed by his wife, Kiran.

Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rfuzya3L0Y

Anticipation Rating - 3.5/5