US Releases

The Mechanic

Studios – Millennium films, Nu image Entertainment (Previous Releases: Double Identity, Day Of The Dead)

Director - Simon West (Previous Work: When A Stranger Calls)

In a nutshell....

Arthur Bishop is an elite assassin whose talent lies in cleanly eliminating targets by detaching himself from the victim. But when his mentor and friend, Harry, is killed, Bishop takes it as a personal loss and begins working on vengeance. Harry's son, Steve, also seeks vengeance, and an alliance with Arthur, who would also teach him his trade. Arthur cannot say 'no' to Harry's son and thus takes Steve under his wing. Together they form a deadly partnership but they face deceptions on their way to vengeance.

Jason Statham is almost the new name for action. The lean, mean Brit is getting better with all his action films and sure looks deadlier in this one. The storyline isn't unique but is interesting, and the action sequences do seem to take your breath away. Besides, the film is opening in the US and UK which means this film's going to see a great opening. I think The Mechanic is bound to be a hit.

Runtime - 92 mins

Genre - Action/Drama/Thriller

Rated - R

Principal Cast

Jason Statham – Arthur Bishop (Last seen in: The Expendables)

Ben Foster – Steve McKenna (Last seen in: Pandorum)
Donald Sutherland – Harry McKenna (Last seen in: Fool's Gold)

Tony Goldwyn - Dean (Last seen in: The Last House On The Left)

Principal Crew

Richard Wenk, Lewis John Carlino - Writers

Eric Schmidt - Director of Photography
T.G. Herrington, Todd E. Miller – Editors
Mark Isham - Music Director

Film’s USP

Action with Jason Statham

Trailer

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

Anticipation Rating - 3.5/5

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From Prada To Nada

Studios – Gilbert Films, Lionsgate, Odd Lot Entertainment (Previous Releases: The Kids Are Alright, The Next Three Days, Rabbit Hole)

Director - Angel Gracia (Debut)

In a nutshell....

From Prada To Nada is a Latina spin on Jane Austen's famous novel Sense and Sensibility. Two spoilt rich sisters are left penniless after their father's sudden death. They move to East Los Angeles to live with their estranged aunt and during their survival there, they realise the good and small things about life.

This film has a funny title but I have doubts about it because it's the director's debut film and the cast isn't too strong. But having said that, the trailer has a few funny moments which I hope make the film worth watching and also there seems to be a right mix of characters to make you laugh. Wouldn't be my first choice of the week and not even the last.

Runtime - 107 mins

Genre - Comedy/Romance/Drama

Rated - PG13

Principal Cast

Camilla Belle – Nora Dominguez (Last seen in: Push)

Alexa Vega – Mary Dominguez (Last seen in: Mother's Day)
Kuno Becker – Rodrigo Fuentes (Last seen in: From Mexico With Love)

Principal Crew

Fina Torres, Luis Alfaro, Craig Fernandez, Jane Austen (Novel - Sense And Sensibility) - Writers

Hector Ortega - Director of Photography
Brad McLaughlin - Editor
Heitor Pereira - Music Director

Film’s USP

Latin take on Sense and Sensibility

Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvY6WPO5DMc&feature=fvst

Anticipation Rating - 3/5

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Biutiful

Studios – Menageatorz, Mod Producciones, Ikiru Films (Previous Releases: Debut, Agora, Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer)

Director - Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu (Previous Work: Babel)

In a nutshell....

Uxbal is a tragic hero and a father of two, who is connected to the afterlife on the road to redemption. He struggles with a tainted reality and a fate that works against him in order to forgive, for love, and forever.

I've already watched this 'biutiful' film at the Mumbai Film Festival and therefore it'd be more like a review if I go on to write about it. So I guess I'd just say that this film is more for the festival audiences who relish the cinematic visions of serious filmmakers, and isn't at all entertaining; but then again what can you expect from the master, Inarritu, whose film people watched sitting in the aisle after waiting for an hour in the queue outside the cinema hall at the Mumbai Film Festival. Bardem's won the Best Actor award at Cannes for this one which isn't a surprise at all.

Runtime - 147 mins

Genre - Drama

Rated - R

Principal Cast

Javier Bardem – Uxbal (Last seen in: Eat Pray Love)

Marciel Alvarez – Marambra (Debut)
Hanaa Bouchaib – Ana (Debut)

Principal Crew

Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, Armando Bo, Nicolas Giacobone - Writers

Rodrigo Prieto - Director of Photography
Stephen Mirrione - Editor
Gustavo Santaolalla - Music Director

Film’s USP

Inarritu + Bardem

Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUuoYhgaQG4

Anticipation Rating - 4/5

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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 scary many. I think it will do well and will fetch decent reviews.

Runtime - 127 mins

Genre - Drama/Horror/Thriller

Rated - PG13

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