Tuesday 17 May 2011 | 11
Film
Coming soon to cinemas The Whistleblower
Source Code
Marianne Qollaku
Based on the true story of a sextrafficking scandal which took place in war-torn Bosnia in the mid-nineties, 'The Whistleblower' by first-time director Larysa Kondracki is everything but light entertainment. The cast includes academy award winner Rachel Weisz, Vanessa Redgrave, Monica Bellucci, David Strathairn, and Danish talent Nikolaj Lie Kaas. Once again, Weisz shines in the role of a strong-minded woman, Nebraska police officer Kathryn Bolkovac, who travels to Bosnia to work as United Nations officer, and takes it upon herself
to investigate the part played by local and international law enforcement organisations in a sex-trafficking ring she discovers. The actress collaborated with the real Bolkovac to prepare for the role. Kondracki does not compromise on intensity in the dramatisation of these true, disturbing and repellent events. She is undeniably successful in sending a strong message about human trafficking to the audience. As directorial debuts go this is particularly bold.
Tree of Life
to embody Jack, a lost soul brought up in the 1950s who has witnessed the loss of innocence. His parents, Mr and Mrs O’Brien, (played by Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain) represent two different ways through life, triggering adult Jack’s existential crisis. The director’s unwavering attention to detail has resulted in striking elemental imagery developed in collaboration with NASA. This only adds to the air of mystery surrounding the release of 'The Tree of Life', making this transcendental cinematic poem a must-see this month.
Marianne Qollaku
The acclaimed director of classics such as 'Days of Heaven' and 'The Thin Red Line' Terrence Malick has finally decided to grace the big screen with another piece of stunning cinematography. Out in cinemas this month, The Tree of Life is one of the most anticipated films of the year, and quite rightly so. As well as being Malick’s first film since Pocahontas epic The New World in 2005, the trailers for this impressionistic drama clearly establish that it is nothing short of a masterpiece. Sean Penn reunites with the unconventional director
Priest (3D) Sam Nicholson
Paul Bettany and Scott Charles Stewart (Legion) team up once again for another action thriller with a fantasy twist. Adapted from South Korean artist Min-Woo Hyung's graphic novel series, Priest is set in a world where humans and vampires have been at war for generations. Following the last great Vampire War, Bettany's outcast character lives a quiet life inside one of the last walled cities, owned by a church. He is forced to take action when his niece is kidnapped by vampires. Teaming up with her wasteland sherrif boyfriend Black Hat (Cam Gigandet) and a former priestess (Maggie Q), he breaks his
vows in order to retrieve her. This is a homage to the classic John Ford westerns, and uses amazing CGI technology to create several varieties of distinctive digital vampires. Armed with these digital beasts, and some fantastic co-stars in Lily Collins and Christopher Plummer, Priest is a new take on an old legend. This time the vampires are mean (think 30 Days of Night but digital and intelligant) , combined with the post apocolyptic styles of 28 Days Later, and with a little bit of Blade and Van Helsing thrown in there. It's an excellent mix which could have gone so wrong, but sounds like it is just right.
Out Now at Cinemas
Thor 3D/2D (12A)
Starring: Chris Hemsworth, Idris Elba and Natalie Portman
Water for Elephants (12A)
Starring: Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson and Hal Holbrook
Something Borrowed (12A)
To top it off, it's 3D! Could this film get any better?
This is a classic Disney tale taken and put on it's head. Beastly is a modern take on 'Beauty and The Beast', with a New York teenager turned into a hideous monster in order so that he can find true love. Kyle Kingston (Alex Pettyfer) is just like the original prince: he is arrogant, vain and the son of a wealthy and equally arrogant new anchor Rob Kingston. (Peter Krause). When Kyle wins student body President, he takes it out on the eccentric girl Kendra for being ugly and strange. At the after party, Kendra decides to get her revenge by turning Kyle into a bald, scarred shell of his former shelf. He is told he has until next spring to find love and turn himself back. His father takes him away to a private condo, promising to support him, however he gradually withdraws, unable to look at him. Kyle finds himself infatuated with Lindy (Vanessa Hudgens), a girl from his former school. He forces her to move in with him for her own safety, as he saves her from being mugged in the street. Furious at being forced to hide, she takes her anger out him, saying he is a self wallowing idiot, that he is not the ugliest thing she has seen. Now calling himself Hunter, the two warm to each other. Is it just another classic fairy tale? It sounds like it. Could it be better than it sounds? With the new sexy look of Disney tween Vanessa Hudgens: YES!
Message from the Editor: I would just like to thank everyone for all their help this year, with The Demon Film Section, please keep contributing next year! Thanks - Current Film editor Sam Nicholson.
Starring: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jate Hudson and Colin Egglesfield
Hanna (12A)
Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana, and Cate Blanchett
13 Assassins (15)
Starring: Koji akusho, Takayuki Yamada and Goro Inagaki
Everywhere and Nowhere (15)
Starring: James Floyd, Alyy Khan, Adam Deacon and Simon Webbe
Attack The Block (15)
Starring: Nick Frost, Jodie Wittaker and Luke Treadaway
Fast & Furious 5
Starring: Paul Walker, Vin Diesal, and Dwayne Johnson
Arthur (12A)
Starring: Russell Brand, Greta Gerwig and Helen Mirren
Beastly (12A)
Starring: Vanessa Hudgens, Alex Pettyfer and Mary Kate Olsen
Scream 4 (15) Starring: Neve Campbell, David Arquette and Courteney Cox
Your Highness (15)
Starring: Danny McBride, James Franco and Zooey Deschanel
Hop (U)
Starring: James Marsden, Russell Brand, Hugh Laurie and Gary Cole
Insidious (15)
Starring: Patrick Wilson