Weekend cinema preview

The Children
Starring: Eva Birthistle, Jeremy Sheffield, Hannah Tointon
Director: Tom Shankland
A family's christmas getaway turns into a nightmare when their children turn into homicidal maniacs. British horror that, to my surprise, looks quite good. Think Child's Play with real children, rather than a doll. Seems such an obvious idea that I wonder why it hasn't been done already. Or maybe it as. I don't know everything, dammit!
IMDb rating: n/a
My prediction: 4/5



The Lost City
Starring: Andy Garcia, Ines Sastre, Dustin Hoffman, Bill Murray, Steven Bauer
Director: Andy Garcia
A wealthy Havana nightclub owner is caught up in the Cuban revolution. Interesting-looking drama, apparently a labour of love for it's actor-director star. Intriguing cast. Much delayed (and limited) UK release for a film which first appeared in a cinema over three years ago.
IMDb rating: 6.7
My prediction: 3/5



Transporter 3
Starring: Jason Statham, Natalya Rudakova, Robert Knepper, Jeroen Krabbe
Director: Olivier Megaton
Does the plot even matter, really? If you liked the first two Transporter films the odds are you'll probably like this one too. If you didn't like them, you without doubt won't like this either. I expect it to be ridiculous, yet mindlessly entertaining. What's with the director's dumbass surname? Mr Megaton, both you and your mother know your real surname is Fontana.
IMdb rating: 6.8
My prediction: 3/5



Trouble The Water
Directors: Carl Deal, Tia Lessin
A New Orleans couple chart on video camera their experiences living through and in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Looks good.
IMDb rating: 7.2
My prediction: 3/5



Julia
Starring: Tilda Swinton, Saul Rubinek, Kate del Castillo, Aidan Gould, Jude Ciccolella
Director: Erick Zonca
An alcoholic woman kidnaps a young boy to try and extort a ransom. Thriller no doubt enhanced by the presence of Tilda Swinton in the lead role, but looks like a slog at 144 minutes Can be seen on Sky Box Office as well as in cinemas.
IMDb rating: 7.0
My prediction: 3/5



Rivals
Starring: Francois Cluzet, Guillaume Canet, Mari Denarnaud
Director: Jacque Maillot
French crime drama centered on two brothers, one a criminal, one a cop. The trailer looks good, nice and gritty, but that IMDb rating is a concern.
IMDb rating: 6.3
My prediction: 3/5



The Girl In The Park
Starring: Sigourney Weaver, Kate Bosworth, Alessandro Nivola, Keri Russell, Elias Koteas
Director: David Auburn
16 years after the disapperance of her 3-year old daughter, her long-traumatized mother encounters a troubled young woman and begins to persuade herself she is her daughter. Weaver is always woth a look and Bosworth looks gorgeous, but it's not one to make an effort to see at the cinema.
IMDB rating: 6.5
My prediction: 3/5



Lakeview Terrace
Starring: Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Wilson, Kerry Washington
Director: Neil LaBute
An LAPD officer terrorizes his neighbours to try and force them out of their new home. Brings to mind films like Pacific Heights, without necessarily offering anything new. Another strange choice for its director, who previously did the ill advised Wicker Man remake whereas ten years ago he was bringing us the likes of In The Company Of Men and Your Friends & Neighbours. Here's hoping the paychecks take him back to that kind of work. Still, Samuel L. Jackson is always watchable.
IMDb rating: 6.4
My prediction: 3/5



Summer
Starring: Robert Carlyle, Rachael Blake, Steve Evets
Faced with the imminent death of his best friend, a self-destructive man reflects on the childhood summer that ultimately led to his current situation. Second release of teh week for Vertigo Films (the other being The Children). Looks like a fairly interesting drama and Carlyle picked up a Best Actor award for it at the Edinburgh Film Festival.
IMDb rating: 7.8 (based on a very small sample)
My prediction: 3/5



Patti Smith: Dream Of Life
Starring: Patti Smith
Director: Steven Sebring
Documentary portrait of the singer. On the face of it, not someone who interest me at all, but I often find that good documentaries can make people more interesting that you expect.
IMDb rating: 7.0
My prediction: 3/5



Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa
Voiced by: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith, Sacha Baron Cohen, Cedric The Entertainer, Andy Richter, Bernie Mac, Alec Baldwin, Stacy Ferguson
Directors: Eric Darnell, Tim McGrath
Madagascar sequel. The animals attempt to leave the island, only to crash land in the African wilderness. Not really my thing, but then it's not supposed to be. That said, there's something about animated penguins that always makes me laugh.
IMDb rating: 7.3
My prediction: 3/5



The Express
Starring: Rob brown, Dennis Quaid, Charles S. Dutton, Saul Rubinek
Director: Gary Fleder
Biopic of American footballer Ernie Davis, the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy, whatever that is. Film holds no interest for me whatsoever, seeing as a I have no interest in American football and there's nothing overly compelling in the trailer.
IMDb rating: 6.5
My prediction: 2/5



The Secret Life Of Bees
Starring: Dakota Fanning, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Sophie Okonedo, Paul Bettany
Director: Gina Prince-Bythewood
A young girl hanuted by the memory of her late mother and her carer run away to a South Carolina town where they are taken in by two sisters and she finds solace in beekeeping. Sounds utterly godawful, but the trailer isn't too bad, largely due to what looks like a great performance from Dakota Fanning.
IMDb rating: 6.7
My prediction: 2/5