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September 2010 UK cinema film release schedule...

"The Avengers" hit Comic-Con...

Cinema release review - "Inception"...

Cinema release review - "Heartbreaker"

July 2010 UK cinema film release schedule...

The First Avenger: Captain America - Costume pictures!

Cinema release review - "She's Out Of My League"

P.s. "Comic Hollywood"...

"Comic Hollywood" - Part Two.

"Comic Hollywood" - Part One.

Something has got me excited -

Cinema release review -

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Cinema Nut - by Lyzsi Sinclair

September 2010 UK cinema film release schedule...

A couple of days late, but just in time for a big opening Friday - I bring you the full list of all the film releases heading your way in UK cinemas this september...

WEDNESDAY 1st SEPTEMBER 2010.

The Switch – 12A
Light romantic comedy based on the short story “Baster”, starring Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Patrick Wilson, Juliette Lewis, and Thomas Robinson. A woman decides to get pregnant on her own terms when her inner body clock goes off, but has an unexpected surprise when she finds out the sperm donor is her best friend.

FRIDAY 3rd SEPTEMBER 2010.

22 Bullets – 18
French crime thriller directed by Richard Berry, and starring Jean Reno. After being left for dead with 22 bullets in his body, an ex-mobster goes on a murderous revenge spree.

Dinner For Schmucks – 12A
Comedy from “Austin Powers” director Jay Roach, with a cast including Paul Rudd, Steve Carrell, and Zach Galifianakis.

The Last Exorcism – 15
Horror thriller presented in ‘found footage’ style, directed by Daniel Stamm, and produced by Eli Roth. A Christian preacher allows a camera crew to film the last exorcism he’ll ever perform. A full review can be found Here.

Why Did I Get Married Too? – 12A
Comedy written, directed by, and starring Tyler Perry. Also starring Janet Jackson, Jill Scott, and Sharon Leal; four couples head off on their annual vacation to analyse their marriages.

FRIDAY 10th SEPTEMBER 2010.

Cyrus – 15
Romantic comedy starring John C. Reilly about a man who meets his perfect woman - but then meets her son. Also with Jonah Hex, Marisa Tomei, and Catherine Keener.

Going The Distance – 15
This romantic comedy starring Drew Barrymore, Christina Applegate, and Justin Long; looks at a couple’s trials and tribulations in maintaining a long-distance relationship. Pushed back from a 27th August UK release date.

Resident Evil: Afterlife (3D) – 15
The fourth instalment – and start of a brand new trilogy of films – based on the popular video-game series. Brought to life by director Paul W. S. Anderson; Milla Jovovich reprises her role as Alice, alongside actors Ali Larter and Wentworth Miller.

The Runaways – 15
Music biography set in 1975 about infamous rock-and-roll band Joan Jett and The Blackhearts. Directed by Floria Sigismondi; Kristen Stewart takes on the role of Joan Jett, with Dakota Fanning as Cherie Currie. Only showing in Key Cities.

Tamara Drewe – 15
Based n a comic strip; a young English newspaper writer returns to her countryside hometown, where her childhood home is being sold. Directed by Stephen Frears; and starring Gemma Arterton, Dominic Cooper, and Tamsin Greig.

FRIDAY 17th SEPTEMBER 2010.

Devil – 15
The second film of the year from director M. Night Shyamalan, and this time it’s a mystery thriller. Starring Chris Messina; a group of people trapped in a lift start to believe that the devil himself is amongst them.

The Horde – 18
French horror thriller about the battle between gangsters, cops, and zombies. With a predominantly French cast – this film is co-directed by Yannick Dahan and Benjamin Rocher.

Just Wright – PG
Rom-com with Queen Latifah and Common. A physiotherapist finds herself falling for the basketball player she is trying to help recover from and injury that could threaten his career.

The Other Guys – 12A
Action comedy from director Adam McKay. Two mismatched police officers try to become just like the city’s top cops, whom they idolize – but with hilariously disastrous results. With Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, and Samuel L. Jackson.

WEDNESDAY 22nd SEPTEMBER 2010.

The Hole (3D) – 12A
3D horror thriller from director Joe Dante. Two brothers discover a mysterious hole in their basement that leads to a corridor filled with their fears and nightmares. Starring Teri Polo.

FRIDAY 24th SEPTEMBER 2010.

Eat, Pray, Love – PG
“Glee” creator Ryan Murphy helms this drama romance; about a woman who after her divorce, goes out on a round-the-world journey to find herself. Based on Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir; and starring Julia Roberts and Javier Bardem.

Jonah Hex – 15
Big-budget comic book adaptation with John Malkovich, Megan Fox, and Josh Brolin. Directed by Jimmy Haywood – it has been pushed back from a September 3rd UK release.

The Town – 15
Directed, written by and starring Ben Affleck – the film follows a long-time thief trying to decide on his feelings for a bank manager from an earlier heist, and the FBI agent trying to track him down. This crime thriller also stars Blake Lively and Jeremy Renner.

World’s Greatest Dad – 15
Comedy starring Robin Williams as a man trying to find out the difference between being lonely and being alone; whilst also trying to work out if the things that he wants, will be the things that make him happy.

WEDNESDAY 29th SEPTEMBER 2010.

Buried – 15
Claustrophobic thriller with Ryan Reynolds, about a man who wakes up to find himself buried alive six feet under. With only a lighter and a dying mobile phone, he has just six hours to find a way out, and try to remember what happened to him.

And the rest…

01.09.10 ~ Perestroika (TBC)

03.09.10 ~ Bonded By Blood (18); Certified Copy (12A); Cherry Tree Lane (18); No Impact Man (15); Soulboy (18); Splintered(18)

10.09.10 ~ Alamar (U); Dabangg (TBC); Metropolis (PG); My Son, My Son, What Have You Done (TBC)

17.09.10 ~ F (18); Grease Sing-A-Long (PG); Ik Kudi Panjab Di (TBC); I’m Still Here (TBC); The Kid (15); Night Of The Demons (TBC); Release (TBC); Winter’s Bone (15)

24.09.10 ~ Anjaana Anjaani (TBC); Budrus (TBC); Confucius (TBC); Enter The Void (18); From Here To Eternity (PG); Frozen (15); Peepli Live (15); True Legend (TBC); The Wildest Dream (PG)

So that’s everything. As you can see there’s quite a lot there – and more so the heavier kind of films. Next month there are quite a few big films out, with several animations, 3D titles - and of course, horrors released in time for Halloween. Make sure to keep it here at cinemanut for lots more reviews, news and articles heading your way for the month of September. Flix Out.

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September 3rd 2010 @ 05:20

Posted By: Lyzsi Sinclair - Category: No Category

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Cinema release review - "The Last Exorcism"...

Well, what a disappointed fool I feel. For regular readers on cinemanut you might remember a certain post a few months back of the poster for the soon-to-be-released “The Last Exorcism”. Directed by Daniel Stamm and produced by Eli Roth, the poster left me drooling for more, and really looking forward to being scared out of my wits with some decent horror. Unfortunately, the great poster and viral campaign were the best parts of a film that just excessively falls short…

Starring Patrick Fabian ("Veronica Mars", "Joan of Arcadia"), the film follows his character Reverend Cotton Marcus, who is asked to perform what he thinks is a "normal" exorcism on a disturbed young girl. Taught by his father to be an effective and successful preacher at a young age, Cotton feels that entertainment is the best way to get his message through, and bores of doing exorcisms for demons he feels do not exist. Questioning his belief, he takes on one final case and invites a documentary crew along to record what he aims to make his last "exorcism". Turning up at Louis Sweetzer’s (Louis Herthum – “Murder She Wrote”) already blood-soaked rural Louisiana farm, nothing on Earth could prepare him for the evil that's about to take place - or the hard to-the-core shaking his beliefs are about to come under. Putting on a performance he feels worked to cure the family’s psychological demons; he takes his money and heads off home. However, events take an unexpected turn when the young girl in question turns up at his motel and weird things start happening. Taking the camera crew back and waiving his usual fee, he prepares to take on an exorcism for real. Does he have the time and strength to save the girl Nell (Ashley Bell – “United States of Tara”) - and everyone else - before it's too late...?

Can Nell's soul be saved, before everyone around her pay the price...?

Aside from taking a break, the majority of my month has been spent living with the horror genre. Film4 over here in the UK, take this time of year to have their “Frightfest” screening festival - and accompanying television month - of some of the great horror films out there. Between that, and catching up on films I should have seen long ago; it’s been a pretty amazing month which I hoped would be rounded off with nice modern horror “The Last Exorcism”.

I really wish I could think of an intellectual word to explain just exactly what this film is like - however, the only word that springs to mind is 'lame'. As I’ve mentioned in posts before, exorcism films are the weakest for me in terms of scare, or entertainment value. This film has actually made me want to watch the other films I’ve hated before again and re-evaluate their worth. Presented as a ‘found footage’ film like “The Blair Witch Project”, the filmmakers took the unusual step of adding a subtle score to events – so subtle in fact, that I didn’t even completely notice it’s presence until I read about it (although, I did spot bits of music here and there). I do feel though that the fact there was a score, contributed to the array of issues I had with this film.

Putting the events of ‘found footage’ to a score seems to be a bit like placing the cues for people to be scared. It often acts as a safety blanket for the audience, letting them know when they should be scared, sad, happy, etc. I think with a film like this, if there had been no music the whole feel of it would have changed, becoming more claustrophobic and disturbing for the viewer. If a film such as “[Rec]” had been put to music, I doubt the feeling of sheer closing-in terror would have been as prevalent, no matter how beautiful said score might have been. I guess it could be seen as a brave move for this film, but I can’t help to feel intrigued as to what the feel would have been without it.

Nell and Louis Sweetzer, and Cotton Marcus prepare for the exorcism...

Don’t get me wrong, the performances seemed believable, and I’d actually go as far as to say that the majority of the film was reasonably well presented and paced. The young girl Nell is introduced much-like Regan in “The Exorcist” as a happy child who loves to draw, and is polite and friendly to everyone she meets; and Reverend Marcus is shown as a family-man with a fair sense of humour, and a willingness to frankly admit his doubts in his own religion. I think the main strength of this film is the character of Cotton Marcus. Along the course of the film – as well as having his doubts – he generally comes across as a genuine person, who cares for people even in extreme situations. His change in his doubts about his religion near the climax, prove to be believable and interesting – but not forced upon him. It is a genuinely interesting character development, but unfortunately this film cannot and does not hang on this one character’s story.

Then there is the story itself to contend with. The film begins with the setting up of main characters, lacing their introductions with light humour as to convince the audience of how genuine and ‘everyday’ they all are. Even at the farm, things are kept light and tongue-in-cheek as Cotton shows the documentary crew some of his ‘tricks’ to produce the best exorcism performance. Over halfway through, and just as things start to turn mysterious and odd, the film begins to slow down, leading events to take a downward turn into confusion; ridiculously feeble attempts to scare; and an unparalleled loss of explanation. For a film that chose to add a score to ‘found footage’, you would think that they would perhaps tidy up the camera-work, and put in some actual big thrills. I can’t deny the film was gripping and I couldn’t stop watching it, but my reward appeared to be an ending that seemed like it was mocking me for my attention.

Reverend Marcus pulls out his best exorcism performance...

The end of the film (I’m going to try not to spoil) feels predictable – and weirdly surreal. Things happen that you would never see coming, yet the events that follow have already been laid out beforehand, and therefore seem like a lazy way to end the film. It is an abrupt ending that left many in the screening I attended scratching their heads in doubt, wondering if we had all missed something gigantic - and incredibly important - along the way. Again it is a brave move to end in the way it did, particularly in regards to the footage you see – but it just feels like a cop-out. Perhaps if the craziness hadn’t began unravelling until 5 minutes before the credits, then it might have felt like a more terrifying ending. Also, for a film that is supposedly a 'wet yourself' horror – nothing stood out, made me jump repeatedly or gave me nightmares. That to me is the sign of a horror film failing to hit the mark it sets itself.

So overall, the performances were well acted, and the screen kept your attention – but a ridiculous ending means this is a film you’ll end up wanting your money back from. I say save money and wait to rent it on DVD or watch on the television; “The Last Exorcism” receives a rather poor score of 4/10. Flix Out.

*** "The Last Exorcism" comes out in cinemas in the UK nationwide on Friday September 3rd. ***

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September 1st 2010 @ 18:20

Posted By: Lyzsi Sinclair - Category: No Category

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Cinema release review - "The A-Team"...

Well over a decade in the making, July sees the release of the film adaptation of the 1983 television series “The A-Team”. Distributed by 20th Century Fox, the film was written by Brian Bloom (who also stars in it), Skip Woods and Joe Carnahan (the man also taking the directors helm); and was produced by Stephen J. Cannell – half of the team of two who created the original television series.

Colonel John ‘Hannibel’ Smith (Liam Neeson – “Love Actually”), Templeton ‘Face’ Peck (Bradley Cooper – “The Hangover”), Bosco ‘B.A.’ Baracas (Quinton ‘Rampage’ Jackson – “Hell’s Chains”), and H.M ‘Howling Mad’ Murdock (Sharlto Copley – “District 9”), are an elite military Alpha Unit – or ‘A-Team’ – of former Rangers who met eight years previous in Mexico, and have been unstoppable ever since. Eight years on, and they continue to succeed in every mission they take on; but with the US troops now withdrawing from Iraq, they have one last important mission before they can leave. Informed by CIA agent Lynch (Patrick Wilson – “Hard Candy”) that Saddam Hussain’s remaining loyalists are in possession of United States mint printing plates, and also a billion dollars in self-printed cash; Hannibel heads to base head General Morrison (Gerald McRaney) to plead for his team to take on the mission. However, when a successful A-Team return with both the plates and the money, General Morrison is killed, the evidence is destroyed, the plates are stolen – and Face’s former flame Captain Charisa Sosa (Jessica Biel) is on site to arrest them all on the spot. Accused of a crime they didn’t commit, the team each escape their separate maximum security prisons, and re-band in an effort to clear their names and find the stolen plates. With CIA agent Lynch aiming to help them – is he what he appears to be, or are the team in far more trouble and danger than they had banked on…?

Can the A-Team come up with a plan good enough to save the day...?

So hot on the heels of the latest Hollywood trend of remakes we have this, and while it differs from the television series, it is not wholly a bad film at all. The basic premise is the same (with the Vietnam war being changed to the present Iraq conflict), and the cast of Hollywood A-listers (there should be a pun there I feel) perform well together. Liam Neeson is the epitome of strength and coolness as Hannibel Smith, and although I was perhaps a bit sceptical of his casting (never really been a fan), he suited the role quite well. Sharlto Copley portrayed the madmen well without being too over-the-top, and with the majority of his screen-time resulting in lots of solid comedy moments. Quinton Jackson is a different type of B.A. Baracas from the one that has become iconic with Mr T, but he still fairs well in this remake. He delivers lots of laughs, more depth, and a slightly more compassionate character – but is still the hard-hitting rock that we all know from the series. Bradley Cooper fits into the role of Face well, relying on his looks and taking full advantage of being the woman-charming handsome man of the bunch. The overall cast with the four main actors stands well, although don’t expect too much interaction and speech screen-time – it is an action film after all.

Bradley Cooper uses his Hollywood good looks to full effect...

The pace of the film is pretty much ‘hurry along as fast as you can’, which means that any scene that slightly slows it down at all feels stuttered and long. Like the television series there is a lot of action, chases and explosions – but nowhere near enough to compete with the amount you’d get in a single episode of the show. Also, although mentioned in the trailer that they are on the run, but also helping others who need it whilst trying to clear their names; the film only revolves around the main plot and the team trying to prove their innocence. In the show you’d also have the team building things or coming up with plans using things you’d never dream of – but that isn’t really focused on. It’s almost thrown in here-and-there to kind of reminisce about the show, but not keep the attention on for too long.

This film is full of, what I would call, ‘Manly Goodness’. Explosions? Check. Guns and Awesome locations? Check. Hot female support? Check. Jessica Biel plays the former flame of Bradley Cooper’s character, and although she doesn’t appear for a lot of time, she exudes a sultry demeanour. As I mentioned with the stuttering of slower scenes, the majority of those scenes include her and it does seem a bit like she is just there for the male vote. I don’t have a problem with that however as this film isn’t promising to be what it’s not, and a female character breaking up the mass-action is perhaps needed at times. Patrick Wilson plays the sly and deceitful agent Lynch well, in a role that seems to play to his strengths as an actor. Brian Bloom (one of the writers), who plays the character Pike comes across as more of a villain of the piece than anyone else. With the pace being so rushed, there really isn’t time to breathe and take in who is who, but Pike definitely strikes out as the stronger bad guy.

Jessica Biel plays Captain Charisa Sosa...

My main issue with this film is the predictability. Any and nearly all (aside from perhaps a couple) of the twists were ones you could see coming. No real red-herrings were thrown around to confuse the audience and lead them off-track, so when plotlines were unveiled, there was a sense of anti-climax. I find this more with American television shows and films, but I am glad that a two of the surprises weren’t so predictable (I won’t tell you what they are, so that I spoil them). There was a lot of humour throughout which made up for that, with the first half of the film providing a lot of laughs. It’s always the case when television shows transfer to the big screen that the screenwriters are possibly scared of including too many witty moments, something that perhaps a show was best known for. This remake isn’t scared of that, and delivers them in steady streams, that keep the film light-hearted, and help newcomers to these characters feel more welcome. The effects are brilliant, the explosions big, and there are plenty of “whoa, how awesome is that!” moments to keep the audience occupied. Fans of the original show will be more adverse to this remake, but it is an entertaining action film, that is worth a watch on the big screen this summer.

Lots of explosions, guns and 'Manly goodness'...

So, overall a fair remake of the show that manages to keep the camaraderie of the four main characters, but somehow fails to capture the action and ingenuity of the original series. This film does succeed in bringing some new life into the franchise, and will perhaps direct some people back to the television show. Entertaining, but a little predictable at times, “The A-Team” gets a 7/10. Flix Out.

P.S. Stay for the credits to see a post-credits cameo scene from original actors Dirk Benedict (Face) and Dwight Schultz (Murdock).

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July 30th 2010 @ 20:18

Posted By: Lyzsi Sinclair - Category: No Category

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August 2010 UK cinema film release schedule...

Getting straight to the point, here is your entire Cinema release schedule for the UK in August...

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July 30th 2010 @ 01:14

Posted By: Lyzsi Sinclair - Category: No Category

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"The Avengers" hit Comic-Con...

By now, everything I'm about to say will have been reported a million times over all around the world. I could care less, because I am infinity excited about everything coming our way from Marvel in the cinema - more specifically, "The Avengers" film. With Joss Whedon (of "Buffy"/"Angel"/"Firefly"/"Serenity"/"Dollhouse" fame) taking the directors role; this film is going to bring together all of the Marvel superheroes in one beautifully glorious action epic...

At the Marvel panel in Hall H of the San Diego Comic-Con, things started off with talk of the up-coming "The First Avenger: Captain America" film. The first trailer for it was shown with lots of WWII footage, punctuated with brief shots of Chris Evans in full Captain America attire, throwing his shield. I am dying to see this - even if it's only brief shots of Chris Evans - so hopefully this will make the virals soon enough. Hugo Weaving was also on stage talking about how he's basing his Red Skull voice on Werner Herzog and Klaus Maria Brandauer (interesting to say the least); and the film's director Joe Johnston says that much of the inspiration for the movie will come from him being a fan of the Ed Brubaker-written Captain

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July 25th 2010 @ 16:02

Posted By: Lyzsi Sinclair - Category: No Category

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Cinema release review - "Inception"...

“Inception” is one of the big summer blockbuster releases for summer 2010, and it comes from director of “The Dark Knight” – Christopher Nolan. With a star-studded cast and enormous budget behind it, this mind-bending sci-fi action thriller, stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Ellen Page and Marion Cotillard (“Nine”).

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July 25th 2010 @ 01:58

Posted By: Lyzsi Sinclair - Category: No Category

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Cinema release review - "Shrek Forever After"...

Family-friendly film franchise “Shrek” is one that has been brought to our screens both big and small, for 9 years now by Dreamworks. After a less successful third instalment, “Shrek Forever After” promises to be the last in the series, and so bringing us to the end of our adventures with the loveable green ogre. Original cast members Mike Myers (“Austin Powers”), Cameron Diaz (“There’s Something About Mary”) and Eddie Murphy (“Doctor Dolittle”) all return, and is it brought to us in glorious 3D, (although a 2D version is available for a much cheaper ticket price if you prefer).

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July 9th 2010 @ 03:02

Posted By: Lyzsi Sinclair - Category: No Category

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Movie Review - "[Rec]"...

“[Rec]” is a 2007 Spanish horror film, co-written and directed by Jaume Balagueró and Paco Plaza (also co-written by Luis A. Berdejo). It’s presented as footage filmed over the course of one night from a handheld video camera (a style copied by "Cloverfield"), and stars Manuela Velasco, Pablo Rosso (the cinematographer for the film) and Ferrán Terraza.

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July 6th 2010 @ 13:08

Posted By: Lyzsi Sinclair - Category: No Category

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Cinema release review - "Prince Of Persia: The Sands Of Time"...

Next I’m reviewing a film that is one I was interested in, but not necessarily desperate to see during its cinematic release. “Prince of Persia: The Sands Of Time” is a live-action adaptation of the popular 2003 Ubisoft videogame. Directed by Mike Newell, produced by Jerry Bruckheimer (“Coyote Ugly”, “Pirates Of The Caribbean”) and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures; this adaptation stars Jake Gyllenhaal (“Donnie Darko”), Gemma Arterton (“St. Trinian’s”), Ben Kingsley (“Gandhi”) and Richard Coyle (“Coupling”).

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June 26th 2010 @ 19:21

Posted By: Lyzsi Sinclair - Category: No Category

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Cinema release review - "Heartbreaker"

Time now for what should hopefully be my last romantic comedy review for a little while, and it comes in the form of French film “Heartbreaker”, which hits cinemas nationwide in the UK on Friday July 2nd. Starring a mainly French cast including Romain Duris (“The Spanish Apartment”), Vanessa Paradis (“Élisa”), Julie Ferrier (“Mr Bean’s Holiday”), François Damiens (“Incognito”); and with English actor Andrew Lincoln (“Teachers”, “Love Actually”) – this subtitled film is directed by Pascal Chaumeil.