Films opening in South Africa this weekend:

Starter for 10

From the Academy Award-winning duo of actor turned producer Tom Hanks and producer Gary Goetzman (Silence of the Lambs, Charlie Wilson’s War) comes this inspirational, sometimes bittersweet coming-of-age drama that is set against English university life of the 1980’s. In the film, a working-class English boy (James McAvoy) struggles to realize his lifelong dream of becoming champion of the University Challenge TV show, while simultaneously winning the heart of the girl he loves. It may be a late release but it sure beats everything else opening this weekend.

Director: Tom Vaughn
Cast: James McAvoy, Rebecca Hall, Dominic Cooper and James Corden
Age Restriction: 13 L
Running Time: 92 minutes.

I Could Never Be Your Woman

Rosie is a single mother in LA. You Go Girl, the TV show she produces, is in serious trouble; her sexist boss wants to replace is with a reality show, and her assistant is bent on sabotage. Things at home aren’t much better: Her ex-husband is having a baby with a younger woman, and her daughter is hurtling into pubescence and falling for a schoolboy degenerate.

Then Adam, a talented young actor, walks into the casting room and into her heart. This doesn’t work in ‘La-La’ land, where women dating younger men is not the natural order of things. She panics and breaks it off. Adam, however, has other plans…

This went straight to DVD in February in the States, so I say wait for it on DVD as well.

Director: Amy Heckerling
Cast: Michelle Pfeiffer, Paul Rudd, Saoirse Ronan and Tracey Ullman.
Age Restriction: PG L
Running Time: 97 minutes.

Rambo

In Thailand, John Rambo (Stallone) assembles a group of mercenaries and leads them up the Salween River to a Burmese village here a group of Christian aid workers allegedly went missing. I dreaded the day this would open and now it is and I only hope my friends are not stupid enough to see it. See it if you must but tread with caution.

Director: Sylvester Stallone
Cast: Sylvester Stallone, Julie Benz, Josh Brolin
Age Restriction: 16 LV
Running Time: 91 minutes.

Bakgat!

Bakgat! is a film about high school, self discovery and aspirations and is the first Afrikaans high school comedy ever made in South Africa. Written and directed by Henk Pretorius and produced by Danie Bester, the film stars Ivan Botha, Cherie van der Merwe and Altus Theart.

I doubt it is very original, but if you are into the teenage comedy stuff I doubt you could do much better.

Director: Henk Pretorious
Cast: Ivan Botha, Cherie van der Merwe and Altus Theart.
Age Restriction: 13 SL
Running Time: 100 minutes.

Krazzy 4

The angry Raja (Arshad Warsi), schizophrenic Gangadhar (Rajpal Yadav), Dr. Mukherjee (Irrfan Khan) and the cute Dabboo (Suresh Menon) are all unique in their mental imbalance. Dr. Sonali (Juhi Chawla) is treating all four of them. While Raja is diagnosed with intermittent explosive disorder, due to his sudden anger at the slightest provocation, Gangadhar is living in the past where he shares friendship with Jawaharlal Nehru, Mahatma Gandhi, Lokamanya Tilak and Sardar Vallabhai Patel. He seems busy in fighting for the country’s freedom, which was achieved long back. Dr. Mukherjee, who is a perfect doctor and is one keeps himself tidy and prim, is diagnosed with obsessive compulsive personality disorder. Dabboo, who has not spoken for years, appears autistic and is loved by one and all. Did you get any of that? I didn’t get any of that.

The press release said: How this story unfolds forms the climax of the story. LOL. Sound like a load of, um, craziness to me. And that title is the most imaginative thing I have ever read.

Only showing at the Zone in Rosebank and Gateway in Durbs.

U me Aur Hum

A love story, that begins at sea. Ajay is on a cruise with his friends – Nikhil and Reena, unhappily married, and Vicky and Natasha, happily unmarried. Ajay is having a wonderful time dealing with marital strife, lots of bad language and huge hangovers, when he finds Pia, and time stands still. After a disastrous first meeting, Ajay tries everything to woo her. He wants her, by hook, crook or even her little private notebook. She’s not an easy catch at all, but finally, by sheer perseverance, he dances his way into her heart. I’m sorry Bollywood…seen one, seen them all. I have seen none.

Only showing at the Zone in Rosebank and Gateway in Durbs.

To Book:

Nu Metro or Ster Kinekor

I still need to see “God Grew Tired of Us” this weekend and I noticed that my DVD rental store has Grindhouse so I may rent that. It is my last weekend before school starts again, it starts on Monday :(