This week's belated cinema preview

This preview is for films which opened last Friday, 9th May.

Manufactured Landscapes
Documentary in which photographer Edward Burtynsky travels the world looking at how industry has altered the physical landscape. I've always had an interest in this kind of photography, so this could be pretty interesting and it's got good reviews.
IMDb rating: 7.1, my predicted rating: 4/5
http://tinyurl.com/2xcgh7

XXY
This story of a 15-year old Argentinian hermaphrodite comes heavily laden with lots of international film awards and nominations. Not the sort of film I would make a point of seeing, but it's hard to ignore that much silverware!
IMDb rating: 7.4, my predicted rating: 4/5
http://www.peccadillopictures.com/View/id,68

Doomsday
Scotland is quarantined due to a lethal virus which, I think, turns people into zombie-like creatures, a la 28 Days Later. A team is sent in to retrieve a cure. Doesn't sound terribly original (the Resident Evil films spring to mind), but if it provides mindless entertainment, who cares? Directed by Neil Marshall, who explored this kind territory before in Dog Soldiers and most recently directed the phenomenal The Descent. Cast headed by the hotter-than-hot Rhona Mitra. Bob Hoskins and Malcolm MacDowell appear too.
IMDb rating: 6.5, my predicted rating: 3/5
http://www.doomsdayiscoming.com

Vexille
Japanese animation in which a femal agent is sent to Japan to investigate reports they have secretly been developing robot technology against a UN ban. Could be crap, but I love the idea.
IMDb rating: 7.1, my predicted rating: 3/5
http://www.funimation.com/vexille

Cashback
Expanded from an Oscar-nominated short film, this stars Sean Biggerstaff who develops insomina after a break-up and starts working nights in a supermarket and imagines that he can stop time. Quite arty, apparently and it co-stars Emilia Fox and Michelle Ryan, so there's all kinds of eye candy to be had. Not to keen on the time-freezing concept though. Sounds a bit tedious.
IMDb ratng: 7.5, my predicted rating: 3/5
http://www.cashbackthemovie.com

I Served The King Of England
Following 40 or so years in the history of a Prague hotel. Stars Julia Jentsch, who seems to be building up quite a filmography what with The Edukators, Downfall and Sophie Scholl under her belt. Good critical reception for this film.
IMDb rating: 7.5, my predicted rating: 3/5
http://www.anglickykral.cz

Mouth To Mouth
A seemingly average drama about a girl who gets involved with a cult that was made three years ago gets a UK release. Looks like an attempt to cash in on the popularity of Ellen Page following on from Juno and it looks like her performance might be the stand-out thing about the film.
IMDb rating: 6.3, my predicted rating: 3/5
http://www.mouthtomouthmovie.com

Speed Racer
The Wachowski brothers return to directing for the first time since they completed their Matrix trilogy. This is a CGI and green screen movie adaptation of the 'classic' Speed Racer cartoon. The plot doesn't really matter. It's cliched stuff about racing, family, rivarly and yadda yadda. if you've seen the trailer then you'll know that it's something of a visual assault and at 135 minutes in length I can imagine coming out of it with a killer headache, though I have read a review that said your eyes do get used to the unique style, so maybe not. Interesting cast including Christina Ricci looking her usual other-worldly self, John Goodman and Susan Sarandon. It's certainly no Matrix, that's for sure, but I am curious.
IMDb rating: 6.1, my predicted rating 3/5
http://speedracerthemovie.warnerbros.com

Honeydripper
A debt-ridden club owner in fifties Alabama attempts to pass-off a homeless guy as a famous guitar player and boost his takings. Danny Glover leads a cast that also includes Stacy Keach and Mary Steenburgen. Notable in that's it directed by John Sayles, but of no interest to me.
IMDb rating: 7.4, my predicted rating: 2/5
http://honeydripper-movie.com

A Secret
French drama about a 15-year old boy who discovers a family secret. Nominated for all manner of Cesars, but the IMDb rating is a little low at the moment, though that may be due to the way their algorithm distorts averages when a relatively small number of people have voted. However, Peter Bradshaw hated it in the Guardian, describing it as a "pretentious washout".
IMDb rating: 6.6, my predicted rating: 2/5
http://www.unsecret-lefilm.com

Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden?
Morgan Spurlock follows-up Super Size Me with a trip to the middle east to explore the war on terror. Yawn. I remember that a while back there were rumours circulating that Spurlock might actually have found and interviewed Bin Laden. Of course, it later transpired that that was just crap and Spurlock looked a bit of a cock as a result, but what annoyed me about the episode was that Spurlock did nothing to dispel the rumours when he could have done so. I guess that's what happens when you get into bed with Harvey Weinstein.
IMDb rating: 6.1: my predicted rating: 2/5
http://www.whereisobl.com

What Happens In Vegas
I haven't heard anything positive about this Ashton Kutcher and Cameron Diaz romantic comedy about two people who discover they've gotten married after a drunken night in las Vegas. If there's any positive to be drawn from it then it must be that it also stars the lovely Lake Bell, but I doubt even she can save this.
IMDb rating: 3.6, my predicted rating: 2/5
http://www.whathappensinvegasmovie.com

Bhoothnath
Bollywood movie starring the ubiquitous Amitabh Bachchan. No interest to me.
IMDb rating: 7.9, my predicted rating: 2/5
http://www.bhoothnaththefilm.com