With Easter upon us and the weather looking changeable at best, wet at worst, what better way to entertain yourselves than heading off to the cinema to take in a fabulous film, we picking out some superb screenplays well worth a watch this weekend & beyond as well as a couple of maybe’s worth considering
While we always aim to push a motion picture pick every week in our regular newsletter, given it is Easter and, surprise surprise, the weather is looking a little iffy, the television terrible unless you’re into animated movies and all things religion, you could do far worse than heading for the silver screen, the cinema circuit serving up some superb screenplays this weekend, some which are into their second week showing, while others get their headline release in two day’s time (25th March). And with cinema doors very much open on Good Friday and right through the Easter weekend, four whole days in which to marvel in movie must see’s and maybe’s, we select four definite’s & two possible’s worthy of more than just a glance this weekend and beyond.
First up is “High Rise”, the big screen version of J G Ballard’s classic 1970’s cult novel, the film adeptly directed by Ben Wheatley and starring lead actor Tom Hiddleston along with Sienna Miller, Luke Evans, Elizabeth Moss & Jeremy Irons, in this scintillating satire about life in a residential high rise building, the higher up in the block you are, the more opulent & outrageous the living, Keeping close to the off the wall & overt nature of the novel, “High Rise” drills down on social climbing & animalistic desires, playing out the increasing tension between the various floors in this plush London block, as the tension between the inhabitants break out into bloodshed and chaos. Mixed reviews possibly make this movie a maybe but we rank it as a must, if only to ogle over the drop dead gorgeous Hiddleston who, in one scene, strips down to the altogether while Jeremy Irons returns a prolific performance as architect Anthony Royale who occupies the penthouse suite, detail on cinema showings up at http://www1.cineworld.co.uk/films/high-rise/ and http://www.odeon.co.uk/films/high_rise/16589/
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKPghZ5cc_E[/youtube]
To a second screenplay that got its release last weekend so should be a good bet this if, like us, you don’t do crowded out cinema’s, “10 Cloverfield Lane” is brought to you by the famed director of the “Star Wars – The Force Awakens” blockbuster, JJ Abrams, who sticks to his sci-fi credentials although enters the realms of thriller genre with his producer hat on, he describing “10 Cloverleaf Lane” as a blood relative of the 2008 hit film “Cloverfield”, but has spilled nothing much more save for a scant storyline of a woman waking in a well stocked basement bunker in the care of a supposed survivalist of a nuclear catastrophe who warns that the world outside is an unsafe place, but is he telling her the truth or is something far more sinister going on? Starring just Mary Elizabeth Winstead, John Goodman & John Gallagher Jnr, it has smacks of “Room” about it but looks ten times better and with Abrams’ involvement has to be a must see, detail on screenings out at http://www1.cineworld.co.uk/films/10-cloverfield-lane/ and http://www.odeon.co.uk/films/10_cloverfield_lane/16530/
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQy-ANhnUpE[/youtube]
Onwards and to a film that is very much in the blockbuster bracket although given just how many times these superhero type screenings occur these days, we are not sure quite how good “Batman V Superman – Dawn Of Justice” will prove, although given its Easter weekend release, is likely to draw in packed audiences right across the whole cinema circuit, this most anticipated screenplay of the spring starring Ben Affleck as Batman, Henry Cavil as Superman & Jesse Eisenberg as Lex Luther in a possibly predictable portrayal of these two comic hero’s going head to head in among the devastated city of Metropolis, the fact that Batman is played by Affleck & his loyal butler Alfred by Jeremey Irons are perhaps the only two reasons why we may be tempted into watching this film, although if comic epics are your bag then this is very much for you, screenings information available at http://www1.cineworld.co.uk/films/batman-v-superman-dawn-of-justice/
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eX_iASz1Si8[/youtube]
Now a mention for Cineworld, the cinema conglomerate that also encompasses Picturehouse screen’s within its group and has become a major rival for the longstanding Odean organisation, their network extending to 90 cinema’s right across the country from as far south as Weymouth & as far north as Dundee and pretty much every major town & city in between. With London sporting 14 venues and, we reckon, 50 plus screens, there cinematographic coverage pretty much unrivalled as they land all the major releases, but more importantly, offer THE best membership around. their “Unlimited” card costing just £16.90 per month and by its very implication allows you free entry to as many films as you can see, while discounted £5 entry into Picturehouse Central, one of the most modern & plush around is well worth the extra charge, more detail on this Cineworld membership available at http://www1.cineworld.co.uk/unlimited/
Now back to films and one that has been trailing for well over a month but finally gets its release this weekend, “Disorder” starring Matthias Schoenaerts of both “A Bigger Splash” & “The Danish Girl” fame, playing an ex special services solider Vincent who is suffering from post-combative stress disorder in this latest tense, disturbing & paranoid thriller. Taking a job as a security guard at a wealthy businessman’s luxury villa in the south of France, he is employed to take care for wife Jessie (portrayed by Diane Kruger), a series of events seeing Vincent overact to potential threats to their safety, stopping at pretty much nothing to ensure they stay out of harm. While the trailer looks tempting and Schoenaerts is smoulderingly sexy in this suspense filled screenplay, there is something telling us that it is no match for his previous two motion picture appearances but may be up your street, more detail on showings up at http://www1.cineworld.co.uk/films/disorder/
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk4yT8QNvm0[/youtube]
To a film that gets its release on 8th April, “Eye In The Sky” very much of the time & the way or the world as it surrounds terrorist group Al-Shabab and the moralities & complications of modern warfare, drone strikes, covert operations and the like all wrapped up in this gripping suspense thriller starring Helen Mirren and the late great Alan Rickman in his last film role. With the plot encapsulating that capture of a British woman who has joined this Somali terrorist cell in Kenya, the mission to grab her soon switches into a “kill” one, Mirren’s performance as commanding officer Colonel Katherine Powell, utterly mesmerising, while the ever cool nature of Rickman befits his role in this masterful movie perfectly and, if like us, you were massive fans of his, seeing him on screen some two or so months after his death, will tug the emotional heartstrings. With mixed reviews although 96% awarded to it by Rotten Tomatoes outfit, we reckon this is a must see and so well worth putting in your diary, more detail on the movie and its release out at http://www1.cineworld.co.uk/films/eye-in-the-sky/
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b9gu5OZBS8[/youtube]
Right, with our sights firmly into the future, we select our sixth & final screenplay for this newsletter and one we cannot wait to see as the “Now You See Me” original is one of the cleverest and entertaining films we have seen for years, it taking a good three or four watches to totally get the plot, Mark Ruffalo absolutely amazing in it, while with a star cast that also included Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Jesse Eisenberg & Woody Harleson, there was no shortage of accomplished acting, while having seen it countless times on DVD, we never get bored of it, so are hugely looking forward to the sequel, one that looks like confounding the notion (or at least giving it a run for its money) that originals are best, Daniel Radcliffe joining the returning cast for “Now You See Me 2” which hits the cinema circuit on 10th June, one that is already in our diaries and should be going into yours, the big question being, will Morgan Freeman’s character get his revenge on Ruffalo’s, we can’t wait to see!!
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4I8rVcSQbic[/youtube]
Right that’s it for this special newsletter and with the exception of Friday, the weather forecast is favouring films, so a sample for you to go see & savour, we definitely off to see “High Rise” & hopefully “10 Cloverfield Lane” too, so watch this space for our reviews to come. (DISCO MATT)