Top 5 South African Films of 2015
Top 10 Big Screen Romances of 2015
Top 25 Real-Life Stories On The Big Screen Of 2015
Top 15 Craziest Characters On The Big Screen In 2015
The Best of British Theatre Live On The Big Screen in 2015
Films Now showing Latest Film Releases
* From October 9, 2015 (Listed Alphabetically)
The films are now showing at a cinema near you or available on DVD or Blu-Ray
A WALK IN THE WOODS An adventure comedy biopic film directed by Ken Kwapis, based on the 1998 book/memoir of the same name by Bill Bryson. Celebrated travel writer, Bill Bryson (Academy Award winner Robert Redford) challenges himself to hike the Appalachian Trail – 2200 miles of America’s most unspoiled, spectacular and rugged countryside from Georgia to Maine – instead of retiring to enjoy his loving and beautiful wife (Academy Award winner Emma Thompson) and their large and happy family. The peace and tranquillity he hopes to find, though, is anything but, once he agrees to being accompanied by the only person he can find willing to join him on the trek – his long-lost and former friend, Stephen Katz (Academy Award nominee Nick Nolte).
ABRAHAM Undoubtedly one of the best South African films ever made, this Afrikaans masterwork from industry legend, Jans Rautenbach tells the unforgettable tale of Abraham (portrayed by DJ Mouton), an artist and dreamer from Kannaland in the early 1980’s. Abraham, a dedicated husband and father struggles to provide for his young wife Katie (portrayed by Chantell Phillipus) and their four year old daughter. But through his creative determination he finds patronage in Jong Jans (portrayed by Hannes Muller) and his wife, Almeri (portrayed by Franci Swanepoel). Abraham and Katie settle into their new home working for Jong Jans and Almeri however Katie’s battles with mental illness and alcoholism infringe on their happiness. Abraham fiercely supports his wife but his own ambitions as an artist make him restless. Abraham is a dreamer who wishes to rise above his station in life and make his mark on the world. However the realities of his dire circumstances becomes the deterrent to his happiness. An inspiring and tragic tale, filled with the music of Kannaland, Abraham is an intimate and emotional viewing experience, written, directed and narrated by Jans Rautenbach. In Afrikaans with English Subtitles. Read the review
BEFORE WE GO It marks the directorial debut of Chris Evans and follows the journey of two strangers stuck in New York City for the night. Starting as convenient acquaintances, the two soon grow into each other’s most trusted confidants when a night of unexpected adventure forces them to confront their fears and take control of their lives. With Alice Eve.
BIG STONE GAP An American romantic comedy film written and directed by Adriana Trigiani , sased on Trigiani’s 2000 best-selling novel of the same name. Ave Maria Mulligan (Ashley Judd), the town’s self-proclaimed
BLINKY BILL Blinky Bill (voiced by Ryan Kwanten) is a little koala with a big imagination. An adventurer at heart, he dreams of leaving the little town of Green Patch and following in his missing father’s footsteps. When Blinky discovers a mysterious marker that hints at his Dad’s whereabouts, he embarks on a journey that takes him beyond the boundary of Green Patch and into the wild and dangerous Outback. He quickly makes friends with Nutsy, a zoo koala, and Jacko, a nervous frill-necked lizard. Pursued relentlessly by a vengeful Cat who has a personal score to settle with Blinky, the trio must learn to work together if they ever want to survive the rugged Australian landscape and find Blinky’s father!
BLACK MASS A routine gangster drama set in the 1970s South Boston. FBI Agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton) persuades Irish mobster James “Whitey” Bulger (Johnny Depp) to collaborate with the FBI and eliminate a common enemy: the Italian mob. It tells the true story of this unholy alliance, which spiraled out of control, allowing Whitey to evade law enforcement, consolidate power, and become one of the most ruthless and powerful gangsters in Boston history. Directed by Scott Cooper.
BRIDGE OF SPIES Directed by Steven Spielberg and inspired by true events, it tells the thrilling and extraordinary story of an unlikely hero (Tom Hanks) thrust into the dangerous world of international espionage when he is tasked with pulling off a near-impossible rescue mission at the height of the Cold War. Read the review Special Feature: Writing the screenplay
BROOKLYN John Crowley’s (Intermission, Closed Circuit) love letter to his homeland is a rare and treasured film. Brooklyn feels as timeless as the movies it celebrates, shedding new light on the tumultuous experience of an Irish immigrant in the 1950’s. Somehow, the film is able to simultaneously feel like a sweeping epic and an artsy passion project. Brooklyn follows Ellis Lacey (in a game-changing performance by Saoirse Ronan) as she leaves her family in search of a prosperous life in America. She moves into a boarding house full of other immigrants from the Emerald Isle run by Madge Kehoe (played by a delightfully sassy Julie Walters). It isn’t long before a dashing lad (Emory Cohen) sweeps her off her feet, but can their love withstand the strain of Ellis returning to Ireland?Feature: Bringing Brooklyn to the Big Screen
BURNT Bradley Cooper plays Adam Jones, an up-and-coming chef whose drug use and erratic behaviour lead him to lose his restaurant. He attempts to rebuild his life and his career in London, in the hopes of returning to Paris to open a new restaurant that will gain three Michelin stars. The esteemed French Michelin Guides are a series of annual guide books published by the French company Michelin, the oldest European hotel and restaurant reference guide, which awards Michelin stars for excellence to a select few establishments. The acquisition or loss of a star can have dramatic effects on the success of a restaurant. The film is directed by John Wells and written by Steven Knight. Wells is best known for his role as executive producer and showrunner of the television series ER, Third Watch, The West Wing, and Shameless and recently directed August: Osage County. Special Feature: Making A Film About Food
BUS 567 After stealing money from a gangster’s (Robert De Niro) casino, a desperate thief (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and his partner (Dave Bautista) hijack a city bus to escape from the police and a ruthless thug (Morris Chestnut).
CREED From award-winning filmmaker Ryan Coogler, the film explores a new chapter in the “Rocky” story and stars Academy Award nominee Sylvester Stallone in his iconic role. The film also reunites Coogler with his “Fruitvale Station” star Michael B. Jordan as the son of Apollo Creed. Adonis Johnson (Jordan) never knew his famous father, world heavyweight champion Apollo Creed, who died before he was born. Still, there’s no denying that boxing is in his blood, so Adonis heads to Philadelphia, the site of Apollo Creed’s legendary match with a tough upstart named Rocky Balboa. Feature: Creed explores a new chapter in the Rocky story
CRIMSON PEAK When her heart is stolen by a seductive stranger, a young woman is swept away to a house atop a mountain of blood-red clay: a place filled with secrets that will haunt her forever. Between desire and darkness, between mystery and madness, lies the truth behind Crimson Peak. From the imagination of director Guillermo Del Toro comes a Gothicromance starring Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland, Jane Eyre), two-time Academy Award® nominee Jessica Chastain (Zero Dark Thirty, Mama), Tom Hiddleston (The Avengers, Thor series) and Charlie Hunnam (Pacific Rim, FX’s Sons of Anarchy). In Crimson Peak, they will discover the power that love has to make monsters of us all. As the writer and director of such modern classics as The Devil’s Backbone and Pan’s Labyrinth and the producer of such terrifying thrillers as The Orphanage and Mama, del Toro delivers a unique blend of psychological terror and operatic beauty that has propelled horror into the elevated realm of dark fairytales. Read the review. Features: Writing the Screenplay/ Physical Horror, The Architecture of Fear
THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL A comedy-drama film that deals with a 15-year-old girl who enters a sexual relationship with her mother’s boyfriend. It stars British up-and-comer Bel Powley (Princess Margaret in the recent A Royal Night Out), as the seductress, with sexy Alexander Skarsgård, as a spineless loser and a dashing, Robert Redford-like beau that Minnie at first visualises. Bridesmaids star Kristen Wiig is a revelation in serious mode as Charlotte, prone to yearning for her own bygone wild years. Writer/director Heller received Phoebe Gloeckner’s graphic novel The Diary of a Teenage Girl: An Account in Words as a Christmas gift from her younger sister in around 2007. Before it was a film, Heller adapted it into a play, in which she played the lead role.
ELSA AND FRED The story of two people who, at the end of the road, discover that it’s never too late to love and make dreams come true. Elsa (Shirley Maclaine) has lived for the past 60 years dreaming of a moment that Fellini had already envisaged: the scene in ‘La Dolce Vita’ at the Fontana di Trevi. The same scene without Anita Ekberg in it, but with Elsa instead. Without Marcello Mastroiani but with that love that took so long to arrive. Fred (Christopher Plummer) is a bit younger than Elsa and has always been a good man who did everything he was supposed to do. After losing his wife, he feels disturbed and confused and his daughter decides that it would be best if he moves into a smaller apartment where he ends meeting Elsa.
DIE SNEEUKONINGIN Hans Christian Andersen’s classic fairy tale The Snow Queen is written and directed by Maxim Sveshnikov and has been dubbed into Afrikaans by Rina Nienaber, featuring the voices of Pierre Breytenbach, Antowan Nöthling, Karen Wessels and Heidi Molenze, with the title music track performed by Leah. The story centres on the struggle between good and evil as taken on by a little boy and girl – Gerda and her brother Kai. Wishing to create a new world of eternal winter, where the polar wind cools human souls and the clearness of lines obscures human emotions, the Snow Queen has blanketed the landscape in ice and set out to destroy all art. When Kai is abducted and taken to the Snow Queen’s palace, Gerda embarks on a journey across the icy wonderland, accompanied by her pet ferret Luta and Orm the troll. Facing difficult obstacles and finding new friends on her quest to set Kai free, she has to defeat the Snow Queen and warm the hearts of people everywhere in order to save the world. Beautiful scenery, a classic story and great animation quality from Russian animation company Wizart ensure that this is a classic adventure film which appeals to an international audience. The film is distributed in South Africa by Indigenous Film Distribution. Special Feature: Understanding fairy tales
DIS EK, ANNA This is a powerful and relevant South African film about a woman who is imprisoned by the guilt of falling victim to a sexual predator as a teenage girl, and tormented by the memories of this tragic incident that results in her taking action to revenge the perpetrator. Charlené Brouwer delivers a heart-breaking performance as a woman who confronts the man who destroyed her innocence, with an equally superb performances by Morné Visser as her stepfather who is crucified in his sexual perversion, and Nicola Hanekom as her mother and silent witness to this tragedy. The film based on Anchien Troskie’s best-selling fictionalised autobiographical novels Ek, Anna and Die Staat Teen Anna Bruwer and directed by Sara Blecher. Read the review. Special feature: Bringing Dis ek, Anna to the big screen/ Interview with director Sara Blecher
GOOD KILL goes inside the world of military drones with Ethan Hawke playing Major Thomas Egan, an Air Force pilot stationed at a base outside Las Vegas where he flies drones over Middle Eastern regions, both for surveillance and to take out potential terror threats. It’s a difficult job that starts to affect Egan’s home life with his wife (played by January Jones), especially after his team are assigned to work for the CIA, who are a lot less concerned with the collateral damage of innocent lives in order to take out “enemies.” Read review
GOOSEBUMPS Upset about moving from a big city to a small town, teenager Zach Cooper (Dylan Minnette) finds a silver lining when he meets the beautiful girl, Hannah (Odeya Rush), living right next door. But every silver lining has a cloud, and Zach’s comes when he learns that Hannah has a mysterious dad who is revealed to be R. L. Stine (Jack Black), the author of the bestselling Goosebumps series. It turns out that there is a reason why Stine is so strange… he is a prisoner of his own imagination – the monsters that his books made famous are real, and Stine protects his readers by keeping them locked up in their books. When Zach unintentionally unleashes the monsters from their manuscripts and they begin to terrorize the town, it’s suddenly up to Stine, Zach, and Hannah to get all of them back in the books where they belong. Note: Scholastic has sold over 400 million Goosebumps books worldwide in 32 languages since the series introduction in 1992, earning critical acclaim and dominating global best seller lists. R.L. Stine has been recognized as one of the bestselling children’s authors in history.
GRANDMA The new independent film Grandma tells a rare story: a lesbian of advanced years (Lily Tomlin), in mourning for her soul mate and on skittish footing with the much younger woman she’s been seeing (Judy Greer), is suddenly thrust into an adventure involving her teenage granddaughter (Julia Garner) and an unwanted pregnancy. The female-centric subject and cast are courtesy of writer-director Paul Weitz, the man who got his big break writing the film Antz, and gave us About a Boy, In Good Company, American Dreamz, and Admission. Interview: Writer-director Paul Weitz talks about Grandma
HE NAMED ME MALALA An intimate portrait of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai, who was targeted by the Taliban and severely wounded by a gunshot when returning home on her school bus in Pakistan’s Swat Valley. The then 15-year-old (she turns 18 this July) was singled out, along with her father, for advocating for girls’ education, and the attack on her sparked an outcry from supporters around the world. She miraculously survived and is now a leading campaigner for girls’ education globally as co-founder of the Malala Fund. Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Davis Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth, Waiting for Superman) shows us how Malala, her father Zia and her family are committed to fighting for education for all girls worldwide. The film gives us an inside glimpse into this extraordinary young girl’s life – from her close relationship with her father who inspired her love for education, to her impassioned speeches at the UN, to her everyday life with her parents and brothers. “One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world.” – Malala. Special Feature: Bringing He Named Me Malala to the Big Screen
HOW TO MAKE LOVE LIKE AN ENGLISHMAN Richard (Pierce Brosnan) is a successful college professor who gives up a steady stream of one-night stands and beautiful undergrads for fatherhood with much younger Kate (Jessica Alba). Three years later when Kate falls in love with someone else and moves out, she sends her sister, Olivia (Salma Hayek), to make sure Richard is properly caring for their son. Assuming Richard is back to his irresponsible playboy lifestyle, Olivia is shocked when she starts to fall in love with him herself. Directed by Tom Vaughan, with Salma Hayek, Pierce Brosnan, Jessica Alba, Malcolm McDowell, Lindsey Sporrer
THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKING JAY – Part 2 Realizing the stakes are no longer just for survival, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) teams up with her closest friends, including Peeta (Josh Hutcherson), Gale (Liam Hemsworth) and Finnick for the ultimate mission. Together, they leave District 13 to liberate the citizens of war-torn Panem and assassinate President Snow, who’s obsessed with destroying Katniss. What lies ahead are mortal traps, dangerous enemies and moral choices that will ultimately determine the future of millions. : Directed by Francis Lawrence. Feature: The ABC of The Hunger Games
THE JAKES ARE MISSING Written and produced by the talented and well-known Bianca Isaac and directed by Neal Sundstrom and Denny Miller, this film promises to entertain viewers, young and old, with its universal storyline and theme, filled with comedy, drama, intrigue and romance. “This film is a global story that appeals to all South African audiences, as well as audiences outside the country. It deals with love – falling out of love, falling in love, finding new love, the old love that never dies and infatuation that always lurks around. The Jakes Are Missing is a fun light film for all – you will laugh, cry and fall in love all over again”, says Isaac. The Jakes have fallen out of love and into Police Protection…..Being at the wrong place at the wrong time sends a teenage boy, Simon (Mpho Sebeng) and his parents to a journey where they will rediscover what it means to love each other, again. Janice (Mampho Brescia) and Donald Jakes(Pope Jerrod) are at a crossroad, Janice wants to leave this relationship and Donald has been so busy at work he hasn’t noticed his wife hates him and wants to leave. One night, while supposedly being grounded, Simon sneaks out to a music event that could possible change his career forever. However it changes his life forever as he becomes the witness to a murder and escapes the crime scene with the one thing the criminals are willing to kill for…The Jakes are Missing features a star-studded cast with household names such as Mampho Brescia, Pope Jerrod, Mpho Sebeng, Nomzamo Mbatho, Darlington Michaels, Abigail Khubeka, Nicole Bailey, Heidie Mollentze, Celeste Ntuli, Dirk Stoltz, Zakeeya Patel and Jody Abrahams to name a few. Read our exclusive interview with Producer-writer Bianca Isaac
KAHLIL GIBRAN’S THE PROPHET Inspired by the beloved classic, Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet is a richly-animated tale of an unlikely friendship between a young, mischievous girl and an imprisoned poet. On the fictional island of Orphalese, a mischievous, eight-year-old girl, Almitra, meets Mustafa, a political prisoner under house arrest. From this chance encounter, an unlikely friendship is born. Interwoven with Gibran’s lyrical and inspiring words on the true nature of love, work, freedom and marriage, the film is written and directed by Roger Allers with stunning “chapters” from a host of award-winning and renowned international artists and musicians including Tomm Moore, Michal Socha, Joan Gratz, Nina Paley, Joann Sfar, Bill Plympton, Mohammed Saeed Harib and Paul and Gaeton Brizzi. Special Feature: Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet’s journey to the big screen
KNOCK KNOCK When a devoted husband and father (Keanu Reeves) is left home alone for the weekend, two stranded young women unexpectedly knock on his door for help. What starts out as a kind gesture results in a dangerous seduction and a deadly game of cat and mouse.. This American erotic horror thriller is directed by Eli Roth, who also co-wrote the script with Guillermo Amoedo and Nicolás López. The film stars Keanu Reeves, Lorenza Izzo, and Ana de Armas and is a remake of Peter Traynor’s 1977 film Death Game.
LEGEND From Academy Award winner Brian Helgeland (L.A. Confidential,Mystic River) and Working Title (The Theory of Everything) comes the true story of the rise and fall of London’s most notorious gangsters, Reggie and Ronnie Kray, both portrayed by Tom Hardy in a powerhouse double performance. Together, the Kray Twins take over the city. But as their reign expands, power-struggles, fierce madness, and a woman diminishes their bond; the weak link that could cause their empire to collapse. Legend is a classic crime thriller taking us into the secret history of the 1960s and the extraordinary events that secured the infamy of the Kray twins. Read the review. Behind the scenes feature: Writing The Screenplay
LIFE This moving film was inspired by the true story of a friendship that developed between Magnum photographer Dennis Stock (Robert Pattinson) and actor James Dean (Dane DeHaan) when Stock was commissioned to photograph the actor for LIFE magazine in 1955. Stock was 26 and old before his time when into his buttoned-down world came fledgling star James Dean, a free spirit who would change popular culture from suits to jeans and from matinee idols to teenage heartthrobs. The assignment for LIFE magazine, which took the pair on a photographic journey across the US, from LA to New York and on to Indiana, would change Stock’s life and produce some of the most iconic images of the age. It is directed by Anton Corbijn (A Most Wanted Man, The American, Control) from a script by Australian screenwriter and novelist Luke Davies (Candy). Read the review Special Feature: From Real life to Reel Life/ Meet the cast of Life/ Creating the World of 1955 in Life
THE LOFT Five married men share the only keys to a sleek penthouse apartment they use for secret rendezvous with lovers and one-night stands. When Vincent (Karl Urban) unlocks the door one morning to discover a beautiful blonde, naked and dead in the bed, he calls his best friends Chris (James Marsden), Marty (Eric Stonestreet), Luke (Wentworth Miller) and Filip (Matthias Shoenhaerts) to piece together what happened and get their stories straight. But as police close in on their prime suspect, friendships and marriages unravel in a vortex of betrayal, jealousy and violence, revealing dark secrets and bringing the characters’ true natures to the fore. Feature: Erik Van Looy updates his own Belgian thriller The Loft
‘N MAN SOOS MY PA Juan (37) returns to his parental home from London for the first time since he left twenty years earlier, unable to handle his father Attie’s drinking. His mother, Nakkie, is dying and Attie made contact with Juan to let him know it is time for him, his wife Ellie, and their son Matthew to come home to say their goodbyes. Nakkie is terminally ill and she is desperate for father and son to make a real effort to understand their respective behaviour and positions. It is her dying wish for them to be reconciled, to have the relationship she always wanted them to have. She constructs a plan to use the restoration of a vintage Volvo to achieve this goal – “I’m not asking you to become best friends, I’m only asking that you finish what you started…”. Directed by Sean Else with Deon Lotz, Sandra Prinsloo, Greg Kriek, Neels van Jaarsveld, Vilje Maritz, Albert Maritz, Elma Postma. Read review Features: Interview with writer-director Sean Else
ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL A very quirky and unusual story that looks at how cancer affects a young teenager. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival, this uniquely funny and moving story tells of Greg, a high school senior who avoids deep human relationships as a way to safely navigate the social mine field that is teenage life. In fact he describes his best friend Earl, with whom he makes short-film parodies of classic movies, as being ‘more like a co-worker’. But when Greg’s mom insists he spends time with Rachel – a girl in his class who has just been diagnosed with cancer- Greg discovers just how powerful and important true friendship can be. Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, starring Connie Britton, Nick Offerman, Jon Bernthal. Special Feature: Writer Jesse Andrews has had one of the rarer Hollywood trajectories. A first-time novelist, he was invited not only to adapt the book himself, but to do it under the guiding hand of producer Dan Fogelman, a seasoned screenwriter himself (Cars, Tangled, Crazy, Stupid, Love and Danny Collins).
MISSISSIPPI GRIND Gerry is a talented, but struggling poker player about to be swallowed up by his unshakable gambling habit. But his luck begins to change after he meets the young, charismatic Curtis. Gerry convinces his new lucky charm to hit the road with him, towards a legendary high stakes poker game in New Orleans. The highs and lows unveil the duo’s true characters and motivations, and an undeniable bond forms between them. With Ben Mendelsohn, Ryan Reynolds, Yvonne Landry
MOLLY MOON AND THE INCREDIBLE BOOK OF HYPNOTISM It tells the story of a young orphan girl, Molly Moon, who comes across a book ‘Hypnotism, An Ancient Art’. Learning its lessons, she hypnotizes her way to stardom in London and becomes rich and famous. But little does she know that an unscrupulous man wants her book. He tracks her to London, kidnaps her dog, Petula and blackmails Molly. In order to get her dog back, she must rob Shorings Bank of all its jewels! And then she must find the friends she has lost from her hypnotic journey. It is writer-director Christopher N. Rowley’s cinematic adaptation of the first book in Georgia Byng’s popular Molly Moon series It stars Raffey Cassidy, who was seen Disney’s recent Tomorrowland, as a young orphan living in the Dickensian Hardwick House Orphanage run by the tyrannical Edna (Celia Imrie)
NO ESCAPE American businessman Jack Dwyer (Owen Wilson), wife Annie and their two young daughters arrive in Southeast Asia to begin a new life. As his company plans to improve the region’s water quality, the family quickly learns that they’re right in the middle of a political uprising. Armed rebels attack the hotel where they’re staying, ordered to kill any foreigners that they encounter. Amid utter chaos, Jack must find a way to save himself and his loved ones from the violence erupting all around
PAN “I’m going to tell you a story about a boy who would never grow up. But this isn’t the story you’ve heard before… Sometimes, to truly understand how things end, we must first know how they begin.’’ All of this and much more can be found in director Joe Wright’s epic, fun-filled family adventure Pan, a live-action feature presenting a wholly original adventure about the beginnings of the beloved characters created by J.M. Barrie. It stars newcomer Levi Miller as Peter, with Hugh Jackman (Les Misérables) as Blackbeard; Garrett Hedlund as James Hook; and Rooney Mara (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) as Tiger Lily. Wright directed Pan from an original screenplay written by Jason Fuchs. Pan landed in second spot at the South African Box Office after its opening weekend. Special Feature: Writing the Screenplay for Pan/ Taking Pan From Page to Screen
PARANORMAL: THE GHOST DIMENSION (3D) In this sixth and final instalment in the Paranormal Activity series, Ryan Fleege (Chris J. Murray), a video game designer, has recently moved to a new house, bringing along his brother, Mike (Dan Gill), wife, Emily (Brit Shaw), and daughter, Leila (Ivy George). The family find a set of video tapes featuring young Kristi (Jessica Tyler Brown) and her sister, Katie (Chloe Csengery) being inducted to the demonic coven of their grandmother (Hallie Foote). Following in the tradition of the found footage style, this supernatural horror film is directed by Gregory Plotkin in his directorial debut, and written by Jason Pagan, Andrew Stark, Adam Robitel, and Gavin Heffernan. Plotkin served as the editor for the past four Paranormal Activity films.
THE PEANUTS MOVIE It follows Snoopy, the world’s most beloved beagle and WWI Flying Ace, as he takes to the sky in pursuit of his arch-nemesis – The Legendary Red Baron – in his most epic adventure ever. Meanwhile, the world’s most lovable underdog, Charlie Brown, must face his fears to win the heart of The Little Red-Haired Girl. Feature: Bringing Charlie Brown to the Big Screen
RECONNECT In this local film two friends discover artificial intelligence on an old mainframe in an abandoned warehouse and complications arise when they try to lend a hand. Eric Scott and his friend, Jason White are working on a new game they are designing in their private time that will be launched soon. They both work for a large intelligence corporation called “Sky Corp”. After exploring an abandoned warehouse as a possible location for their game launch party, ERIC meets a mysterious artificial intelligent being on an old mainframe that remained there. The system is in a vulnerable shape and threatens the continued existence of “XJ-1” as Eric now calls him. In a courageous attempt, Eric finds a way to transfer him to one of Sky Corp’s extended storage systems and Jason unknowingly helps him. Not long after, XJ-1’s personality begins to change and starts to take over portions of Sky Corp’s mainframe. It is like a virus spreading uncontrollably and no one succeeds to get control back over the situation. Now knowing that it is entirely their fault, Eric and Jason heroically continue to try and find a way to save Sky Corp. In their search, they start to uncover a top secret project and find documents to support their theories. As the truth unfolds, relationships are put to the ultimate test and Eric has to deal with his past in order to reconnect with his destiny
RETURN TO SENDER Miranda (Rosamund Pike) is a dedicated nurse, an exquisite cake maker and an impeccable friend. But when she agrees to a blind date and the wrong man comes to her door…her perfect world is shattered by a brutal assault. Even after her attacker, William, is convicted and locked away for the crime, Miranda can’t overcome the fear and trauma enough to put her orderly life back together. Desperate for closure, she reaches out to William – first through letters, then prison visits – and slowly builds a relationship with him. But when William is paroled and comes looking for her, Miranda seizes the opportunity to exact revenge. Directed by Fouad Mikati, with Rosamund Pike, Shiloh Fernandez, Nick Nolte
ROCK THE KASBAH A washed-up music producer finds one last shot at redemption with a golden-voiced young girl in Afghanistan. However, when jealousy gets the better of a disgruntled ex-boyfriend, he decides to oppose the young star with talent of his own. Directed by Barry Levinson with Zooey Deschanel, Bruce Willis, Kate Hudson, Bill Murray. Feature: Writing a screenplay for Bill Murray
SCOUTS vs ZOMBIES Three scouts and lifelong friends join forces with one badass cocktail waitress to become the world’s most unlikely team of heroes. When their peaceful town is ravaged by a zombie invasion, they’ll fight for the badge of a lifetime and put their scouting skills to the test to save mankind from the undead. Directed by Christopher Landon with Cloris Leachman, David Koechner, Tye Sheridan, Logan Miller, Joey Morgan, Sarah Dumont, Halston Sage, Patrick Schwarzenegger. Special Feature: Writing and directing a Zombie comedy
SPECTRE A cryptic message from the past sends James Bond (Daniel Craig) on a rogue mission to Mexico City and eventually Rome, where he meets Lucia Sciarra (Monica Bellucci), the beautiful and forbidden widow of an infamous criminal. Bond infiltrates a secret meeting and uncovers the existence of the sinister organisation known as SPECTRE. Feature: Spectre, the 24th James Bond Film/ Review
TESTAMENT OF YOUTH In 1914, Vera Brittain overcomes the restraints on women of the time to become a student at Somerville College, Oxford. When World War I breaks out, her brother Edward, her fiancé Roland Leighton, and their friends Victor and Geoffrey, are sent to serve at the front lines. Brittain follows their sacrifice, leaving college to join the Voluntary Aid Detachment as a nurse tending the wounded and dying (both British and German) in London, Malta and France. A British woman recalls coming of age during World War I – a story of young love, the futility of war, and how to make sense of the darkest times. Directed by James Kent with Kit Harington, Alicia Vikander, Taron Egerton, Colin Morgan. Feature: Adapting the book into a screenplay / Interview with screenwriter Juliette Towhidi
THE WALK Twelve people have walked on the moon. Only one has ever, or will ever, walk in the immense void between the World Trade Center towers. In The Walk, Philippe Petit (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), guided by his real-life mentor, Papa Rudy (Ben Kingsley), is aided by an unlikely band of international recruits, who overcome long odds, betrayals, dissension and countless close calls to conceive and execute their mad plan. Robert Zemeckis, the master director of such marvels as Forrest Gump, Cast Away, Back to the Future, Polar Express and Flight, again uses cutting edge technology in the service of an emotional, character-driven story. With innovative photorealistic techniques and IMAX® 3D wizardry, The Walk is genuine big-screen cinema, a chance for moviegoers to viscerally experience the feeling of reaching the clouds. Read the review Special Features: Joseph Gordon-Levitt learns to Walk The Wire/ Recreating The World Trade Center and creating Visual FX for The Walk/ Philippe Petit, The Twin Towers, and Dreams
WAR ROOM Filled with heart, humour, and wit, it follows Tony and Elizabeth Jordan, a couple who seemingly have it all-great jobs, a beautiful daughter, their dream home. But appearances can be deceiving. In reality, their marriage has become a war zone and their daughter is collateral damage. With guidance from Miss Clara, an older, wiser woman, Elizabeth discovers she can start fighting for her family instead of against them. As the power of prayer and Elizabeth’s newly energized faith transform her life, will Tony join the fight and become the man he knows he needs to be? Together, their real enemy doesn’t have a prayer. With Ben Davies, Meg Crosbie, T.C. Stallings
WOLF TOTEM In acclaimed director Jean-Jacques Annaud’s film adaptation of Jiang Rong’s best-selling novel, a young Beijing student is sent to live among the nomadic herdsmen of Inner Mongolia. Caught between the advance of civilization from the south and the nomads’ traditional enemies – the marauding wolves – to the north; humans and animals, residents and invaders alike, struggle to find their true place in the world. With Shaofeng Feng, Shawn Dou, Basenzhabu, Ankhinyam Ragchaa, Yin Zhusheng, Baoyingexige, Tumenbayar, Xilindule, Bao Hailong, Ba Duo, Danba & Qinaritu. The film releases in 2D and 3D nationwide on November 20. Feature: Bringing Wolf Totem to the Big Screen