This week, three films are opening across Australia in wide release:
Changeling – A mother’s prayer for her kidnapped son to return home is answered, though it doesn’t take long for her to suspect the boy who comes back is not hers.
Pride and Glory – A saga centred on a multi-generational family of New York City Police officers. The family’s moral codes are tested when Ray Tierney, investigates a case that reveals an incendiary police corruption scandal involving his own brother-in-law.
Transporter 3 – Frank Martin puts the driving gloves on to deliver Valentina, the kidnapped daughter of a Ukranian government official, from Marseilles to Odessa on the Black Sea.
Continue reading for a complete run-down of these films!
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Changeling
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 141 min
Director: Clint Eastwood
Cast: Angelina Jolie, Jeffrey Donovan, Colm Feore, John Malkovich, Amy Ryan,
Official Website: View
Synopsis:
Clint Eastwood directs Angelina Jolie and John Malkovich in a provocative thriller based on actual events: Changeling. In the film, Christine Collins’ (Jolie) prayers are met when her kidnapped son is returned. But amidst the frenzy of the photo-op reunion, she realizes this child is not hers. Facing corrupt police and a skeptical public, she desperately hunts for answers, only to be confronted by a truth that will change her forever.
Los Angeles, 1928: On a Saturday morning in a working-class suburb, Christine said goodbye to her son, Walter, and left for work. When she came home, she discovered he had vanished. A fruitless search ensues, and months later, a boy claiming to be the nine-year-old is returned. Dazed by the swirl of cops, reporters and her conflicted emotions, Christine allows him to stay overnight. But in her heart, she knows he is not Walter.
As she pushes authorities to keep looking, she learns that in Prohibition-era L.A., women don’t challenge the system and live to tell their story. Slandered as delusional and unfit, Christine finds an ally in activist Reverend Briegleb (Malkovich), who helps her fight the city to look for her missing boy. Based on the actual incident that rocked California’s legal system, “Changeling” tells the shocking tale of a mother’s quest to find her son, and those who won’t stop until they silence her.
My Opinion: Whilst Angelina Jolie’s performance is good, her Oscar nomination is somewhat surprising. That being said, the fascinating true story and fantastic art direction makes Changeling a thoroughly enjoyable ride. Full review coming soon.
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Pride and Glory
Genre: Crime | Drama
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 130 min
Director: Gavin O’Connor
Cast: Edward Norton, Colin Farrell, Noah Emmerich, Samantha Morton, Lake Bell
Official Website: View
Synopsis:
Edward Norton and Colin Farrell star in “Pride and Glory,” an authentic, gritty and emotional portrait of the New York City Police Department. The film follows a multi-generational police family whose moral code is tested when one of two sons on the force investigates an incendiary case involving his older brother and brother-in-law. The case forces the family to choose between their loyalties to one another and their loyalties to the department.
My Opinion:
After Colin Farrell’s career defining performance in In Bruges, I’m willing to give him a fair go in anything. Edward Norton is ever reliable, so hopefully Pride and Glory has more to offer than it’s generic title and plot.
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Transporter 3
Genre: Action
Rating: M
Running Time: 100 min
Director: Olivier Megaton
Cast: Jason Statham, Robert Knepper, Francois Berleand
Official Website: View
Synopsis:
Frank Martin has been pressured into transporting Valentina, the kidnapped daughter of Leonid Vasilev, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency for the Ukraine, from Marseilles through Stuttgart and Budapest until he ends up in Odessa on the Black Sea. Along the way, with the help of Inspector Tarconi, Frank has to contend with the people who strong armed him to take the job, agents sent by Vasilev to intercept him, and the general non-cooperation of his passenger. Despite Valentina’s cynical disposition and his resistance to get involved, Frank and Valentina fall for each other, while escaping from one life-threatening situation after another.
My Opinion:
If you’re as surprised as me too see this franchise reach three-quel statues, let alone have a sequel, then you’re probably not expecting much. That being said, Jason Statham had a solid year in 2008 (The Bank Job, Death Race), so hopefully he can bring something fresh to the table.
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