Wednesday, September 26, 2012

In Cinemas: September 27 - October 3

For a full listing of screen times across Auckland, Flicks or the theatre website is probably your best bet. Double-check before attending, as times change, we make mistakes, etc. Please mention anything we've forgotten in the comments, and tell us if you've found any off-the-beaten path must-sees!


CURRENT RELEASES:
Fantastic Fest is winding up in the States, but two of its most beloved features have already arrived. First up, TAI CHI 0 from the guy behind 2005's HOUSE OF FURY. Starring Tony Leung (the one from ELECTION / DUMPLINGS, not the 2046 / INFERNAL AFFAIRS / RED CLIFF one), Shu Qi (Statham's girl in THE TRANSPORTER & literally the Muse in THE STORM RIDERS) and very possibly Peter Stormare?? That's up for debate, as he's listed as "(rumored)" in IMDB and our spy on the ground who's seen the film can't remember ... what we DO know is that part 2 (TAI CHI HERO) is only a few weeks away!

Also, the hugely-anticipated LOOPER arrives! Joseph Gordon-Levitt's hitman goes up against his future self, played by Bruce Willis. Not only was Rian Johnson's first foray into science-fiction a hit at Fantastic Fest, but he tore down the house with his karaoke skills:


Returning from NZFF: WHERE DO WE GO NOW?, which sees women of different religions in a remote Lebanese village join together to invent schemes preventing their men from killing one another. In all honesty, I thought this sounded dopey (in a FULL MONTY kinda way), but our pals over at The Listener informed us not to miss this film!

The Italian Film Festival starts this week. We'll be honest: apart from CINEMA PARADISO, we have no idea what to recommend (this ain't the Australian version, the Lavazza Italian Fest you'll find reviewed over at The Film Emporium). We've consulted several film experts and they've all drawn blanks as well. But undoubtedly there's some treasures in the mix? Conspiracy thriller THE JEWEL features Toni Servillo (of CONSEQUENCES OF LOVE, GOMORRAH, and IL DIVO fame), who's always reliable; other options include a remake of GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER, one of WELCOME TO THE STICKS, an Alzheimer's drama and three films with "Love" in the title. Plus Robert DeNiro is on the Festival poster. Note that all films are being shown at Rialto in the e-cinema format only. 

School holidays are impending, and as if on cue, HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID 3: DOG DAYS, and New Zealand's own KIWI FLYER descend on theatres, as well as a BEN 10 double presented by Cartoon Network. Also opening: the new Bollywood comedy with a great poster, OMG OH MY GOD!

* "Sneak previews" of THE SAPPHIRES, Anna Kendrick & Rebel Wilson in PITCH PERFECT, and something called TINKER BELL AND THE SECRET OF THE WINGS all help crowd this coming weekend.

The Devonport Picture Palace is easing into its return to full-time operation with several films for kids and seniors; they seem to have also locked in a "Doc Spot" on Sunday nights, this week featuring THE LAST OCEAN.



REPERTORY/ONE-OFF SCREENINGS:

This week at Auckland Film Society, it's a second feature by Chinese director Lui Hao, 2004's TWO GREAT SHEEP, being shown digitally. 6:30 PM Monday, Rialto.

* Dave and Dan present THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW as part of their monthly screening series at Britomart Country Club on Sunday

* The Monterey has 2008 Italian meanderer MID-AUGUST LUNCH as their weekly Monterey Abroad screening; Friday 6:30 PMThey also have a second screening of the 1934 Fred & Ginger vehicle SHALL WE DANCE at 2:10 PM Sunday.

This month's free Japanese film is BRAVE STORY, an anime from 2006, screened in tandem with a short documentary about the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 called SETTING SAIL FROM THE RUINS. First film at 6:50PM.

* The Polish Heritage Museum has a 2:00 PM showing of IN DESERT AND WILDERNESS on Sunday, a 2001 film about escaping children, directed by TSOTSI's Gavin Hood.

* Remember Shakespeare? A recording of the recent stage production of ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL has a few screenings around town at the moment (but I can't find it on IMDB, so its importance is...um...). Check Hoyts or Bridgeway for screenings or check the link below to see Rowan Atkinson & Hugh Laurie argue about whether Hamlet is too wordy or not:


PINA is back at the Bridgeway, for 3-D dance action at inconvenient times on Monday

NGATAHI is a six-part rapumentary series, and the 6th part is showing in its Auckland premiere at BizDojo Makerspace on Tuesday, along with SOLIDARITY, a 23 minute documentary about the Upper Hutt Posse's visit to the USA.

But obviously the most exciting news of the week: If you're hoping to get lucky on a date, and that date has low standards, you might want to go to Hoyts this weekend for their RomCom weekend! For $8, you can revisit one of the following 2012 "gems" in the bizarrely-titled Directors Lounge: THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, MY WEEK WITH MARILYN, SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN, THE LUCKY ONE, THE VOW, WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN YOU'RE EXPECTING & THIS MEANS WAR. Good God. There're members screenings of DREDD 3D & THE INTOUCHABLES this week too, it's worth the sign-up to see those instead...

1 comment:

  1. FYI for those wanting to see LOOPER in 35mm from Village Roadshow: "plenty of location options... Queen St (though also has digital, so you might want to clarify when purchasing a ticket), Newmarket, St Lukes, Westcity, Westgate, Pakuranga, Manukau, Sylvia Park, Takapuna, Wairau Park, Albany, Whangaparoa, Matakana. You may be pleased to know that most locations are playing 35mm over digital for this one."

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