Now in cinemas across Australia:
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Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (PG)
Security guard Larry Daley infiltrates the Smithsonian Institute in order to rescue Jedediah and Octavius, who have been shipped to the museum by mistake.
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Angels and Demons (M)
★★½
Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon works to solve a murder and prevent a terrorist act against the Vatican.
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Observe and Report (MA 15+)
★
Bi-polar mall security guard Ronnie Barnhardt is called into action to stop a flasher from turning shopper’s paradise into his personal peep show.
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What Just Happened (M)
★★★
Two weeks in the life of a fading Hollywood producer who’s having a rough time trying to get his new picture made.
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Quiet Chaos (MA15+)
★★★★
A look at the strange bereavement behavior of an Italian executive. Based on a novel by Sandro Veronesi.
For session times in your area, click here.
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Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
Genre: Action/Comedy
Rating: PG
Running Time: 105min
Director: Shawn Levy
Cast: Ben Stiller, Amy Adams, Hank Azaria, Robin Williams, Ricky Gervais, Owen Wilson, Ed Helms
Official Website: View
For session times in your area, click here.
Synopsis:
Sequel to the box office hit will bring the dead presidents and extinct animals of the “Museum at the Museum” back to life.
Original film featured single father Larry Daley (Ben Stiller), as he grudgingly accepts the supposedly menial graveyard shift as a security guard at the Natural History Museum. To his utter astonishment and disbelief, Larry watches in shock and awe as, one by one, the primeval beasts and storied icons that surround him stir magically to life – and total havoc ensues.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQyrz5V7Vuw
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Genre: Crime/Drama/Thriller
Rating: M
Running Time: 138min
Director: Ron Howard
Cast: Tom Hanks, Ayelet Zurer, Ewan McGregor, Pierfrancesco Favino
Official Website: View
For session times in your area, click here.
Synopsis:
The team behind the global phenomenon “The Da Vinci Code” returns for the highly anticipated “Angels & Demons,” based upon the bestselling novel by Dan Brown. Tom Hanks reprises his role as Harvard religious expert Robert Langdon, who once again finds that forces with ancient roots are willing to stop at nothing, even murder, to advance their goals. Ron Howard again directs the film, which is produced by Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, and John Calley. The screenplay is by David Koepp and Akiva Goldsman.
When Langdon discovers evidence of the resurgence of an ancient secret brotherhood known as the Illuminati – the most powerful underground organization in history – he also faces a deadly threat to the existence of the secret organization’s most despised enemy: the Catholic Church. When Langdon learns that the clock is ticking on an unstoppable Illuminati time bomb, he jets to Rome, where he joins forces with Vittoria Vetra, a beautiful and enigmatic Italian scientist. Embarking on a nonstop, action-packed hunt through sealed crypts, dangerous catacombs, deserted cathedrals, and even to the heart of the most secretive vault on earth, Langdon and Vetra will follow a 400-year-old trail of ancient symbols that mark the Vatican’s only hope for survival.
Worth seeing?
Review: ★ ★½
My Verdict:
“As its title suggests, Angels and Demons is mix of the good and the bad. Whilst Ron Howard has made a more stylish and structured film than The Da Vinci Code, he still hasn’t quite figured out how to make exciting or engaging. “
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KybMg1LaRPQ
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Genre: Comedy
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 86min
Director: Jody Hill
Cast: Seth Rogen, Anna Faris, Michael Pena, Ray Liotta, Jesse Plemons
Official Website: View
For session times in your area, click here.
Synopsis:
At the Forest Ridge Mall, head of security Ronnie Barnhardt patrols his jurisdiction with an iron fist, combating skateboarders, shoplifters and the occasional unruly customer while dreaming of the day when he can swap his flashlight for a badge and a gun. His delusions of grandeur are put to the test when the mall is struck by a flasher. Driven to protect and serve the mall and its patrons, Ronnie seizes the opportunity to showcase his underappreciated law enforcement talents on a grand scale, hoping his solution of this crime will earn a coveted spot at the police academy and the heart of his elusive dream girl Brandi, the hot make-up counter clerk who won’t give him the time of day. But his single-minded pursuit of glory launches a turf war with the equally competitive Detective Harrison of the Conway Police, and Ronnie is confronted with the challenge of not only catching the flasher, but getting him before the real cops do.
Worth seeing?
Katina’s verdict:
“Shame on you Seth Rogen, this is an absolute cop-out (pun intended).The report finds that this can not be called a comedy because it’s not funny. Avoid.”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNPSxqbPLPQ
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Genre: Comedy | Drama
Rating: M
Running Time: 104 minutes
Director: Barry Levinson
Cast: Robert De Niro, Sean Penn, Bruce Willis, Catherine Keener.
For session times in your area, click here.
Synopsis:
Directed by Academy Award® winning director Barry Levinson, WHAT JUST HAPPENED is a winningly sharp comedy about two nail-biting, back-stabbing, roller-coaster weeks in the world of a middle-aged Hollywood producer (Robert De Niro) as he tries to juggle an actual life with an outrageous series of crises in his day job. Based on Hollywood producer Art Linson’s bestselling memoirs (What Just Happened: Bitter Hollywood Tales from the Front Line). The all star cast includes Sean Penn, Catherine Keener, Robyn Wright Penn, John Turturro.
Worth seeing?
My verdict:
“What Just Happened is likely to be enjoyed by those familiar with the inner workings of Hollywood, but the mostly gutless array of industry jokes struggles to hit the funny bone like it should.”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c3tsnfmWrYc
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Genre: Drama | Romance
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 107 minutes
Director: Antonio Luigi Grimaldi
Cast: Nanni Moretti, Valeria Golino, Isabella Ferrari, Alessandro Gassman.
For session times in your area, click here.
Synopsis:
Nanni Moretti stars in and co-wrote this moving Italian drama about grief. Pietro (Moretti) has just lost his wife, and he is left alone with their young daughter (Blu Yoshimi). He promises the girl that he will wait for her in the car when she returns to school for the first time, but then his temporary offer turns into habit. Now, Pietro spends his days in his car, watching the world around him and grieving in his own way.
Worth seeing?
Katina’s verdict:
“Quiet Chaos can be likened to a flower, slowly developing until reaching full bloom. It is confronting in parts, but that’s overtaken by the reward of such an understanding of Pietro and his suppressed emotional journey.”
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdmWj3FQkXo
Follow the author Anders Wotzke on Twitter.
