Director: Lasse Hallstrom
Starring: Robert Redford, Morgan Freeman, Jennifer Lopez, Becca Gardner
WHAT’S IT ABOUT? A story about forgiveness, forgiveness of self and of others. It centers on the intersection of the lives of two sets of people: Einer Gilkyson (Robert Redford) and his hired hand and closest friend, Mitch Bradley (Morgan Freeman), who have lived and worked together for forty years on Einer’s ranch in northwestern Wyoming, and Jean Gilkyson (Jennifer Lopez), Einer’s daughter-in-law, and her eleven-year-old daughter, Griff (Becca Gardner), who are escaping an abusive situation with Jean’s current boyfriend, Gary (Damian Lewis).
Robert Redford stars as Einar Gilkyson, a tough-skinned, retired rancher who is still in shock from his only son’s death a decade ago in An Unfinished Life, the sort of "safe" drama that seems tailor-made for an endless run on the Cinema Nouveau circuit . . .
Review by : James O'Ehley
***
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Director: Sofia Coppola
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Jason Schwartzman, Judy Davis, Rip Torn, Rose Byrne, Asia Argento, Steve Coogan
WHAT’S IT ABOUT? Kirsten Dunst portrays the young Austrian princess, who, as a teenager, becomes Queen of France. Jason Schwartzman portrays her indifferent husband Louis XVI. Other members of the ensemble, portraying various members of the elitist court of Versailles include Rip Torn (in the role of King Louis XV), Judy Davis (as the Comtesse de Noailles), Steve Coogan (as Mercy), Asia Argento (playing the Comtesse du Barry), Marianne Faithful (Maria-Teresa), Aurore Clement (Duchesse de Chartres), Molly Shannon (Aunt Victoire) and Shirley Henderson (Aunt Sophie).
Marie Antoinette – based on you know who's life – has been voted by us here at SA Movie & DVD as the movie most likely to disappoint South African audiences this year . . .
Review by : James O'Ehley
***
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Director: Allen Coulter
Starring: Adrien Brody, Diane Lane , Ben Affleck, Bob Hoskins, Kath lee n Robertson, Steve Adams, Jordan Barker, Donald Burda, Larry Cedar, Brad William Henke, Lois Smith, Joe Spano, Jeff Teravainen, Robin Tunney
WHAT’S IT ABOUT? Inspired by one of Hollywood 's most infamous real-life mysteries, Hollywoodland follows a 1950s
private detective (Adrien Brody) who, investigating the mysterious death of "Superman" star George Reeves (Ben Affleck), uncovers unexpected connections to his own life as the case turns ever more personal. The torrid affair Reeves had with the wife (Diane Lane ) of a studio executive (Bob Hoskins) might hold the key to the truth. Long before Christopher Reeve played Superman, there was George Reeves (no relation) who also played the character in a very popular 1950s TV show. However, when the series ended Reeves found himself unemployed and committed suicide by shooting himself . . .
Review by : James O'Ehley
***
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Director: Laurence Dunmore
Starring: Johnny Depp, Samantha Morton, John Malkovich, Rosamund Pike, Tom Hollander, Johnny Vegas, Kelly Reilly, Jack Davenport, Richard Coyle, Francesca Annis, Claire Higgins
WHAT’S IT ABOUT? Johnny Depp stars as the scandalously decadent John Wilmot, the second Earl of Rochester. The film follows the Earl's adventures in London, from his passionate romance with a young actress, Elizabeth Barry (Samantha Morton), to the writing of a scurrilous play which blisteringly and bawdily lampoons the very monarch who commissioned it, Charles II (John Malkovich), leading to the Earl's banishment and eventual downfall. Historical accuracy is a liability instead of an asset in this painfully exact recreation of 1670s London . . .
Review by : James O'Ehley
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Director: Woody Allen
Starring: Jonathan Rhys-Meyers, Scarlett Johansson, Emily Mortimer, Matthew Goode, Brian Cox, Penelope Wilton
WHAT’S IT ABOUT? Chris Wilton (Jonathan Rhys-Meyers), a young tennis instructor, becomes involved with a wealthy family, one member of which he's teaching tennis. This leads to his rise in the world of upper class people and his subsequent romantic involvement with two women. A clandestine affair follows, leading him into a ever deepening quagmire until the only way out for him is to contemplate doing away with one of the women.
Match Point may be written and directed by Woody Allen, but it doesn't star Woody Allen himself, which may be good news for those filmgoers who detest the comedian's nebbish screen personality.
But come to think of it, Match Point doesn't have a lot of things that one usually expects of a Woody Allen movie . . .
Review by : James O'Ehley
**
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Art Drama
