Sleeper agents and debauched immortals hitting South African cinemas today
Six new films open in South Africa today: three of which I'm keen to see; the other three less so, although that doesn't detract from their viewing worth... particularly if you love family-centric dramas.
Starting with the latter first, if you're in the mood for some topical drama there's character driven, mother-daughter AIDS tale Life, Above All from Cape Town-born director Oliver Schmitz - who also wrote and directed the excellent Mapantsula back in the 80s. This German-South African production screened at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival where it apparently reduced many cynical critics to quivering, tear-stained wrecks. Think of it as this year's Precious.
Following in the footsteps of soap opera Egoli meanwhile is Hopeville, a big screen continuation of the South African television series of the same name. This uplifting drama centres on Amos, a reformed alcoholic, his estranged son, Themba, and the inspiration they bring to the town of Hopeville - which, before Amos's arrival, was mired in apathy, distrust and meanness. Just bear in mind that Hopeville is a collaborative effort involving SABC Education and NGO Heartlines, so don't expect the movie to be subtle in terms of its positive message.
We Are Family is a Bollywood drama based on the Julia Roberts-Susan Sarandon starrer Stepmom. Featuring Kajol, Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Rampal, We Are Family looks at a divorced mother who is forced to forced to share parenting duties with her ex-husband's new girlfriend - a woman whose devotion to her career has left her clueless when it comes to child care.
With those serious, reality-centred movies out the way, here's what fantasy lovers, blockbuster enthusiasts and general geeky types can look forward to this weekend:
Salt: Angelina Jolie is back in "Action Angie" mode for this tale of CIA officer Evelyn Salt, who is accused of being a Russian sleeper agent and promptly goes on the run. Why the hell we should still care about KGB spies now I don't really know, but apparently it makes for an entertaining enough movie.
Salt is 61% Fresh at Rotten Tomatoes, where the film has been called a solid, satisfying thriller packed with ludicrous stunts. Jolie turns in an engaging performance that helps audiences to forget the ridiculous, illogical plot. Salt also stars Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor, and the film is directed by Phillip Noyce, who helmed the two Harrison Ford Jack Ryan movies. Out of interest, Salt was initially intended to be a Tom Cruise vehicle.
Vampires Suck: I blogged about this juvenile parody earlier this week while posting up its highly amusing trailer. I can't in all honesty recommend a film with a Rotten Tomatoes rating of just 6%, but Vampires Suck may be worth checking out if you're a Twihard or Twihater... But only on a budget movie night! Alternatively, you can wait for the DVD release, or eventual TV screening a few years down the line.
From the makers of Date Movie, Epic Movie, Meet the Spartans and Disaster Movie, Vampires Suck spoofs the massively popular Twilight film franchise - more specifically, the first 2 movies, which are, of course, based on Stephenie Meyer's supernatural romance novels. In Vampires Suck, teenager Becca Crane has to choose between vampire Edward Sullen and werewolf Jacob White. Critics have called the film "below bottom-of-the-barrel" at worst and "painfully mediocre" at best. I do have to say, however, that the impersonations of Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and co. look spot-on.
Dorian Gray: If you want to feel a bit more highbrow but still get your gothic horror kicks, there's this British adaptation of Oscar Wilde's only published novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray. Prince Caspian's Ben Barnes stars as the title character, a handsome young man who sells his soul for an eternity of hedonism. However, for every debauched act he commits, a painted portrait of him becomes more hideous - preventing him from ever truly escaping his true inner nature. Colin Firth co-stars.
Dorian Gray is 44% Fresh at Rotten Tomatoes. Admittedly I was hoping for a higher score but apparently the finished film just doesn't quite match up to the potential of adapting such a classic, witty and disturbing novel for the big screen. Showing in limited release at select Ster Kinekor theatres locally, Dorian Gray is a handsome production that is otherwise dull and uninventive. Just like the difference between Dorian and his painting then. Bah!
Starting with the latter first, if you're in the mood for some topical drama there's character driven, mother-daughter AIDS tale Life, Above All from Cape Town-born director Oliver Schmitz - who also wrote and directed the excellent Mapantsula back in the 80s. This German-South African production screened at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival where it apparently reduced many cynical critics to quivering, tear-stained wrecks. Think of it as this year's Precious.
Following in the footsteps of soap opera Egoli meanwhile is Hopeville, a big screen continuation of the South African television series of the same name. This uplifting drama centres on Amos, a reformed alcoholic, his estranged son, Themba, and the inspiration they bring to the town of Hopeville - which, before Amos's arrival, was mired in apathy, distrust and meanness. Just bear in mind that Hopeville is a collaborative effort involving SABC Education and NGO Heartlines, so don't expect the movie to be subtle in terms of its positive message.
We Are Family is a Bollywood drama based on the Julia Roberts-Susan Sarandon starrer Stepmom. Featuring Kajol, Kareena Kapoor and Arjun Rampal, We Are Family looks at a divorced mother who is forced to forced to share parenting duties with her ex-husband's new girlfriend - a woman whose devotion to her career has left her clueless when it comes to child care.
With those serious, reality-centred movies out the way, here's what fantasy lovers, blockbuster enthusiasts and general geeky types can look forward to this weekend:
Salt: Angelina Jolie is back in "Action Angie" mode for this tale of CIA officer Evelyn Salt, who is accused of being a Russian sleeper agent and promptly goes on the run. Why the hell we should still care about KGB spies now I don't really know, but apparently it makes for an entertaining enough movie.
Salt is 61% Fresh at Rotten Tomatoes, where the film has been called a solid, satisfying thriller packed with ludicrous stunts. Jolie turns in an engaging performance that helps audiences to forget the ridiculous, illogical plot. Salt also stars Liev Schreiber and Chiwetel Ejiofor, and the film is directed by Phillip Noyce, who helmed the two Harrison Ford Jack Ryan movies. Out of interest, Salt was initially intended to be a Tom Cruise vehicle.
Vampires Suck: I blogged about this juvenile parody earlier this week while posting up its highly amusing trailer. I can't in all honesty recommend a film with a Rotten Tomatoes rating of just 6%, but Vampires Suck may be worth checking out if you're a Twihard or Twihater... But only on a budget movie night! Alternatively, you can wait for the DVD release, or eventual TV screening a few years down the line.
From the makers of Date Movie, Epic Movie, Meet the Spartans and Disaster Movie, Vampires Suck spoofs the massively popular Twilight film franchise - more specifically, the first 2 movies, which are, of course, based on Stephenie Meyer's supernatural romance novels. In Vampires Suck, teenager Becca Crane has to choose between vampire Edward Sullen and werewolf Jacob White. Critics have called the film "below bottom-of-the-barrel" at worst and "painfully mediocre" at best. I do have to say, however, that the impersonations of Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson and co. look spot-on.
Dorian Gray: If you want to feel a bit more highbrow but still get your gothic horror kicks, there's this British adaptation of Oscar Wilde's only published novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray. Prince Caspian's Ben Barnes stars as the title character, a handsome young man who sells his soul for an eternity of hedonism. However, for every debauched act he commits, a painted portrait of him becomes more hideous - preventing him from ever truly escaping his true inner nature. Colin Firth co-stars.
Dorian Gray is 44% Fresh at Rotten Tomatoes. Admittedly I was hoping for a higher score but apparently the finished film just doesn't quite match up to the potential of adapting such a classic, witty and disturbing novel for the big screen. Showing in limited release at select Ster Kinekor theatres locally, Dorian Gray is a handsome production that is otherwise dull and uninventive. Just like the difference between Dorian and his painting then. Bah!
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