Opening in cinemas across Australia this week we have Life As We Know It, the latest vehicle for reigning rom-com queen Katherine Heigl as well as the sequel to last year’s surprise horror smash Paranormal Activity. In limited release is local indie horror Road Train, picturesque Aussie drama Summer Coda, Korean thriller The Housemaid and French ballet doco La Danse.
Continue reading for film details, trailers and recommendations!
LIFE AS WE KNOW IT
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Rating: M
Running Time: 115 min
Director: Greg Berlanti
Cast: Katherine Heigl, Josh Duhamel, Christina Hendricks
Official Website: Link
For session times in your area, click here.
Studio’s Synopsis:
After a disastrous first date, Holly and Eric realise the only thing they have in common is their dislike for each other and their love for their goddaughter, Sophie. But when they suddenly become all Sophie has in the world, Holly and Messer are forced to put their differences aside. Juggling career ambitions and competing social calendars, they’ll have to find some common ground while living under one roof.
Worth seeing?
If you have seen the nauseating trailer then you should know exactly what your getting with this pic. Reviews are expectantly bad but then again this genre never really gets any love from critics. Audiences looking for the comfort food equivalent of predictable cinema should enjoy. (Rotten Tomatoes Rating)
Box Office Predictions:
Not a break out hit Stateside like some of Heigl’s previous efforts, never the less it is still performing stronger than her action-comedy misfire Killers from earlier this year. U.S. box office should see it have legs to reach the 50 million club. Locally the film should cross 10 million with little effort.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqzjDrrZIdE
Genre: Horror / Thriller
Rating: M
Running Time: 90 min
Director: Tod Williams
Cast: Katie Featherston
For session times in your area, click here.
Studio’s Synopsis:
A sequel to the surprise hit film that took Halloween by storm in 2009. There is little information about the film, except that original director Oren Peli is expected to produce.
Worth seeing?
The film hasn’t been screened for critics which is usually the case with horror films as they rarely do well in the reviews department. Looks like more of the same which is probably want fans are hoping for. Due to a week of relatively slim pickings this may be the best bet for a Friday night out at the cinema.
Box Office Predictions:
The first film made nearly 200 million worldwide off a $15,000 budget, beating the similarly low-fi Blair Witch Project in the budget to profit ratio stakes. The trailer indicates that the film is more of the same, but horror sequels generally tend to under-perform (which is even the case with the last Saw movie). While it will probably struggle to do the business of the original film in the U.S. the international gross will most likely make up for it.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07XbSk7Rjt4
Genre: Horror / Thriller
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 90 min
Director: Dean Francis
Cast: Xavier Samuel, Bob Morley , Georgina Haig, Sophie Lowe
Official Website: Link.
Road Train is in limited release, for session times in your area, click here.
Studio’s Synopsis:
Four young friends on a camping adventure in outback Australia are run off the road by a mystery road train- a massive three-trailer truck. With their own 4×4 wrecked and the road train stopped, they commandeer the road train. The next town is only three hours away, but will they ever reach it? What they discover inside the vehicle’s trailers proves more terrifying than anything out there on that lonely road.
Worth seeing?
Aussie horror flick Road Train made its premiere at the Dungog Film Festival and also managed to get screened in the U.S. as part of the Fangoria Fright Fest. While there aren’t too many reviews around the reaction from viewers on IMDB has been anything but positive. Perhaps only for hard core horror buffs and supporters of local cinema.
Box Office Predictions:
Road Train won’t last long in cinemas, so the box office will be negligible.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQxXnHdk84g&p=4E29255CBCE40148&playnext=1&index=5
SUMMER CODA
Genre: Drama
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 90 min
Director: Richard Gray
Cast: Rachael Taylor, Alex Dimitriades, Nathan Phillips, Susie Porter
Official Website: Link
Summer Coda is in limited release, for session times in your area, click here.
Studio’s Synopsis:
Hitchhiking home to a family she’s never known, Heidi meets Michael. In the stunning orange groves of country Australia, they embark on an adventure, discovering their secrets and lives may be better shared.
Worth seeing?
A handful of reviews, mainly positive suggest this could be another dreamy little Aussie drama that coasts by on its laid back charm. (Rotten Tomatoes Rating)
Box Office Predictions:
Like Road Train, Summer Coda also won’t last long in cinemas, so the box office will also be negligible.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQxXnHdk84g&p=4E29255CBCE40148&playnext=1&index=5
Genre: Thriller/Korean
Rating: MA 15+
Running Time: 106 min
Director: Im Sang-soo, Lee Jung-jae
Cast: Jeon Do-yeon
Official Website: Link.
The Housemaid is in limited release, for session times in your area, click here.
Studio’s Synopsis:
Euny becomes involved in a destructive love triangle while working as a housemaid for an upper-class family.
Worth seeing?
The Housemaid is a remake of the 1960 thriller of the same name. The original is considered one of the finest films to come out of Korea and even if the new version does not receive the same acclaim, a few early reviews suggest it might be an enjoyable if flawed erotic thriller.
Box Office Predictions:
Due to a limited release the film won’t have much of a chance but due to the solid reputation of the original film it may be discovered down the line on DVD.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw4-QDg8f6s
LA DANSE
Genre: Documentary/French
Rating: M
Running Time: 152 min
Director: Frederick Wiseman
Official Website: Link:
La Danse is in limited release, for session times in your area, click here.
Studio’s Synopsis:
The film follows the production of seven ballets by the Paris Opera Ballet.
Worth seeing?
Positive notices from critics but most likely only for Ballet buffs. (Rotten Tomatoes Rating)
Box Office Predictions:
Yet another film in this week’s list that won’t trouble the box office.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOzkWakRLmE
