Opening this week in cinemas across Australia:
Valkyrie - A WW2 thriller that sees Tom Cruise attempt to assassinate Nazi German Führer, Adolf Hitler.
Revolutionary Road – Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCarprio battle suburban blues in this drama from acclaimed director Sam Mendes.
Gran Torino – Clint Eastwood directs and stars in a film about Bigoted Korean War Vet who tries to reform his Hmong teenage neighbour.
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans – An origin story centred on the centuries-old feud between the race of aristocratic vampires and their onetime slaves, the Lycans.
Continue reading for a full preview and recommendation for each film!
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Valkyrie (M)
Thriller/Drama
Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Tom Cruise, Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy
Plot: Based on actual events, a plot to assassinate Hitler is unfurled during the height of WWII.
Recommended if you’re looking for a light thrill; nothing too profound.
My opinion: WhilstValkyrie features solid direction and sporadic thrills, it’s ultimately let down by uninspired performances and the pre existing knowldege that the plan obviously fails. Review is on the way.
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Gran Torino (M)
Drama/Thriller
Director: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Clint Eastwood, Christopher Carley
Plot: Disgruntled Korean War vet Walt Kowalski sets out to reform his neighbour, a young Hmong teenager, who tried to steal Kowalski’s prized possession: his 1972 Gran Torino.
Recommended if you’re fond of Eastwood’s previous dramas, or if you too are a disgruntled neighbour.
My opinion: Verdict from my review: 3/5 stars
“Gran Torino ends with an odd ballad performed by Eastwood himself, almost as if it’s his Swan Song for starring in his own films. I can’t help but see this as a good thing, as Eastwood stretched himself too thin here; his strong comic performance is undone by a misguided story and poor casting. It’s enjoyable, yet despite desperately trying, it falls short of being anything more.”
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Revolutionary Road (M)
Drama/Romance
Director: Sam Mendes
Starring: Kate Winslet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kathy Bates
Plot: A young couple living in a Connecticut suburb during the mid-1950s struggle to come to terms with their personal problems while trying to raise their two children. Based on a novel by Richard Yates.
Recommended if… you enjoyed American Beauty, or simply want to see two great actors at the top of their game.
My opinion: verdict from my review: 3.5/5 stars
“Even with the impeccable cast and production, it’s hard to shake the feeling that Revolutionary Road is merely a lesser rehash of Mendes’ more accomplished film American Beauty. By failing to truly distinguish itself from the aforementioned film, direct comparisons are inevitably drawn, and without a story as fresh or dynamic as its characters, Revolutionary Road ultimately comes up short.”
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Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (MA 15+)
Action/Horror
Director: Patrick Tatopoulos
Starring: Michael Sheen, Bill Nighy, Rohna Mitra
Plot: An origins story centred on the centuries-old feud between the race of aristocratic vampires and their one-time slaves, the Lycans.
Recommended if you’re still actually interested by this franchise, or simply want to see Werewolves and Vampires go at it.
My opinion: Without the backing of Kate Beckinsale, this second sequel to the cult hit film might not have the selling power of its predecessors. Yet as long as this film captures the style and excitement of the original, and forget the first sequel ever happened, it might prove to be the first good action and horror film of the year.
Genre Best
Our recommendations for films currently out in cinemas from different genres:
Comedy - Role Models
Drama - Doubt
Romance – Revolutionary Road
Thriller – Valkyrie
Horror – Underworld Rise of the Lycans
Family – Bolt
Follow the author Anders Wotzke on Twitter.
