This week, four films are opening into cinemas across Australia:
The Reader – Post-WWII Germany: Nearly a decade after his affair with an older woman came to a mysterious end, law student Michael Berg re-encounters his former lover as she defends herself in a war-crime trial.
The International – An Interpol agent attempts to expose a high-profile financial institution’s role in an international arms dealing ring.
Zack and Miri Make a Porno – Lifelong platonic friends Zack and Miri look to solve their respective cash-flow problems by making an adult film together.
Passengers – A grief counselor working with a group of plane-crash survivors finds herself at the root of a mystery when her clients begin to disappear.
Frozen River – Ray Eddy is an upstate New York trailer mum who is lured into the world of illegal immigrant smuggling when she meets a Mohawk girl who lives on a reservation that straddles the US-Canadian border.
Interestingly, three of the films (The Reader, Passengers, Frozen River) feature the Academy Award nominees for Best Actresses, despite the fact that Passengers does not feature Hathaway’s nominated performance (which is in last week’s release, Rachel Getting Married).
Continue reading for a complete run-down of these films.
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The Reader
Genre: Drama/Romance
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 124 min
Director: Stephen Daldry
Cast: Kate Winslet, Ralph Fiennes, Alexandra Maria Lara, Bruno Ganz, Linda Bassett,
Official Website: View
Synopsis:
“The Reader” opens in post-WWII Germany when teenager Michael Berg becomes ill and is helped home by Hanna, a stranger twice his age. Michael recovers from scarlet fever and seeks out Hanna to thank her. The two are quickly drawn into a passionate but secretive affair.
Michael discovers that Hanna loves being read to and their physical relationship deepens. Hanna is enthralled as Michael reads to her from “The Odyssey”, “Huck Finn”, and “The Lady with the Little Dog.” Despite their intense bond, Hanna mysteriously disappears one day and Michael is left confused and heartbroken.
Eight years later, while Michael is a law student observing the Nazi war crime trials, he is stunned to find Hanna back in his life – this time as a defendant in the courtroom. As Hanna’s past is revealed, Michael uncovers a deep secret that will impact both of their lives. “The Reader” is a haunting story about truth and reconciliation, about how one generation comes to terms with the crimes of another.
My Opinion: Thomas reviewed The Reader here (2.5/5 stars). Verdict from the review:
“Despite some hard-hitting performances from the three leads (which will probably win Kate Winslet an Oscar) The Reader is probably best read and not watched.”
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The International
Genre: Drama / Thriller
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 118min
Director: Tom Tykwer
Cast: Armin Mueller-Stahl, Clive Owen, Naomi Watts, Ulrich Thomsen,
Official Website: View
Synopsis:
In The International, Interpol Agent Louis Salinger (Clive Owen) and Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Eleanor Whitman (Naomi Watts) are determined to bring to justice one of the world’s most powerful banks. Uncovering myriad and reprehensible illegal activities, Salinger and Whitman follow the money from Berlin to Milan to New York to Istanbul. Finding themselves in a high-stakes chase across the globe, their relentless tenacity puts their own lives at risk as their targets will stop at nothing – even murder – to continue financing terror and war. Directed by Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run) from an original screenplay written by Eric Singer, The International is being shot on location in Germany and throughout Europe.
My Opinion: Looks like one bank heist film, 2006′s Inside Man, wasn’t enough for Clive Owen. This time, Owen finds himself on the right side of the Law, however the ridiculous sounding plot might need more than his typically enjoyable performance to warrant this film a viewing in cinemas.
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Zack and Miri Make a Porno
Genre: Comedy/Romance
Rating: R 18+
Running Time: 97min
Director: Kevin Smith
Cast: Seth Rogen, Elizabeth Banks, Traci Lords, Jason Mewes, Jennifer Schwalbach Smith, Jeff Anderson
Official Website: View
Synopsis:
Lifelong platonic friends Zack (Rogen) and Miri (Banks) look to solve their respective cashflow problems by making an adult film together. As the cameras roll, however, the duo begin to sense that they may have more feelings for each other than they previously thought.
My Opinion:
I reviewed this film here (3/5 stars) and Katina also reviewed this film here (4/5 stars). Verdict from Katina’s review:
“Within the vulgarity, Zack and Miri… is a film that looks at itself and asks ‘what am I doing with my life?!’ A more emotive watch than anticipated, this comedy very strangely gets the mix right.”
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Passengers
Genre: Drama/ Thriller
Rating: M
Running Time: 93 min
Director: Rodrigo Garcia
Cast: Anne Hathaway, Patrick Wilson, Chelah Horsdal, Ryan Robbins, Andrew Wheeler
Official Website: View
Synopsis:
After a plane crash, a young therapist, Claire (Anne Hathaway), is assigned by her mentor (Andre Braugher) to counsel the flight’s five survivors. When they share their recollections of the incident – which some say include an explosion that the airline claims never happened – Claire is intrigued by Eric (Patrick Wilson), the most secretive of the passengers.
Just as Claire’s professional relationship with Eric – despite her better judgment – blossoms into a romance, the survivors begin to disappear mysteriously, one by one. Claire suspects that Eric may hold all the answers and becomes determined to uncover the truth, no matter the consequences.
My Opinion: Hathaway is saturating Australian screens, with this being her third now film showing in cinemas (the others being Rachel Getting Married and Bride Wars). This is obviously due to the press surrounding her oscar nomination, as I doubt this film would have garnered much attention otherwise. Whilst it’s nice to see her in a film that doesn’t revolve around a wedding, this film looks B-grade at best, which mught cast a shadow over her Oscar nomination.
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Frozen River
Genre: Crime/ Drama
Rating: MA15+
Running Time: 97 min
Director: Courtney Hunt
Cast: Melissa leo, Charlie McDermott, Michael O’Keefe, James Rielly
Official Website: View
Synopsis:
Ray Eddy is an upstate New York trailer mum who is lured into the world of illegal immigrant smuggling when she meets a Mohawk girl who lives on a reservation that straddles the US-Canadian border. Broke after her husband takes off, Ray reluctantly teams up with Lila, a smuggler, and the two begin making runs across the frozen St. Lawrence River carrying illegal Chinese and Pakistani immigrants in the trunk of Ray’s Dodge Spirit.
My Opinion: If you’re lucky enough to be near one of the few cinemas showing this film, then I suggest checking it out. Melissa Leo’s performance is said by many to be the best amoungst the other nominees for Best Actress in a leading role.
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