Directed by Laurie Collyer | Written by Laurie Collyer | Starring Maggie Gyllenhaal, Giancarlo Esposito, Danny Trejo, Brian William Henke
Distributed by IFC Films | Running Time: 96 minutes

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Film Review by Daphne Laura
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This film explores the journey of one woman to find her place in this world amidst several difficult but very realistic challenges. Sherry Swanson is a single mother recently released after 3 years in prison for drug-related offenses. Her ultimate concern is to reconnect with her young daughter, Alexis. The child, who lives with Sherry's brother Bobby and his wife Lynnette, is too young to remember her and is often manipulated to call her Sherry instead of "Mommy".

A film set in very basic surroundings with minimal effects, its simplistic approach belies the heavy human drama it aims to expose. We witness the various emotional upheavals that Sherry struggles to overcome. We cheer her on as she connects with her daughter. We cringe at the way that she handles her job interviews. We are repulsed by the manner in which Sherry's father treats her. We pity her when she unravels after she discovers certain disturbing facts. Yet amidst such dramatic moments, we don't judge her for her shortcomings and her failures in life.

Directed by Tom Tykwer | Starring Ben Whishaw, Dustin Hoffman, Alan Rickman, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Jessica Schwarz, Karoline Herfurth
Distributed by DreamWorks Pictures (USA), Constantin Film (Germany), Pathé (UK) | Running time 147 min.


Review by Jed Medina and Kathleen Sydenham

"For the first time in his life, he realized that he had no scent!" exclaims the narrator.

It is a shocking revelation for Jean-Baptiste Grenouille (Ben Whishaw). Reluctantly, he has come to the conclusion that he is probably the most isolated man in the world, and that one day he will die and leave no trace of his existence. In this state of mind, he promises himself that he will not die unnoticed, that he will be remembered, that he will be a 'somebody'.

Directed by Neil Burger | Written by Steven Millhauser (Short story) Neil Burger (Screenplay) | Starring Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel, Rufus Sewell, Eddie Marsan

Distributed by Yari Film Group Releasing | Running time 110 min

Review by Jed Medina

"It's all an illusion!" exclaims Crown Prince Leopold (Rufus Sewell). He is trying desperately to convince Chief Inspector Uhl (Paul Giamatti) that the illusionist Eisenheim (Edward Norton) has created an elaborate plot to discredit him and bring down the royal house of Vienna.

Based loosely on the Steven Millhauser's story "Eisenheim the Illusionist", this film tells the story of Eisenheim, a magician in Vienna during the 19th century. Interweaving the past and the present through the use of flashbacks, the film is a visual feast as it explores the themes of love, magic, betrayal and intrigue.

Nicholas Hytner – Director | Alan Bennett - Writer (Screenplay) | Alan Bennett - Writer (Play) | Pádraig Cusack – Producer | Cast include Samuel Anderson, James Corden, Stephen Campbell Moore, Richard Griffiths, Frances de la Tour, Andrew Knott, Russell Tovey, Jamie Parker, Dominic Cooper, Sacha Dhawan, Samuel Barnett


Film review by Jamie Garwood

The screen adaptation of Alan Bennett’s award-winning play re-unites the director and the original twelve leads from the London cast. This could have caused problems but because of the dynamic chemistry already existing between the cast members, the proof is definitely in the performances. The film is a perfect vehicle for Richard Griffiths, allowing a great theatrical performance to be seen in mainstream cinema, and his Hector is certainly deserving of accolades. It is a pity that Irwin (Stephen Campbell Moore), the new teacher who works in a different way to Hector, gets somewhat lost in the shuffle.

Directed by Dennis Gansel | written by Dennis Gansel, Maggie Peren | starring Max Riemelt, Tom Schilling, Justus von Dohnányi, Devid Striesow, Michael Schenk

Review by Rina H.

"Men make history, but we make the men..."

Germany 1942: Heinrich Vogler discovers that young amateur boxer Friedrich Weimer (Max Riemelt) has a great talent and invites him to become a student of a Napola, a national-political reform school. Despite the objections of his anti-facist father, Friedrich secretly leaves his home one night and starts at the Napola Allenstein.

There he is confronted with strictness and discipline, but also finds unexpected comradeship. He quickly becomes friends with the literately talented Albrecht (Tom Schilling), the son of Gau leader Heinrich Stein.

Directed by Ryan Fleck | Produced by Anna Boden, Lynette Howell, Rosanne Korenberg, Alex Orlovsky, Jamie Patricof | Written by Anna Boden, Ryan Fleck | Starring Ryan Gosling, Shareeka Epps, Anthony Mackie | Music by Broken Social Scene | Distributed by ThinkFilm | Running time 106 min.

Review by Jed Medina

After getting impressed with Ryan Gosling in Stay, reputed to be one of his less acclaimed films, I discovered that much has been said about the acting potential of this young actor. With a number of critically acclaimed films like The Believer and The Slaughter Rule, the accolades and adulation bestowed on Gosling continues, but many still await the role that would define his career as an actor.

In this Ryan Fleck-Anna Boden flick, Gosling finally realized his potential and can rightfully claim his place as one of the most important young actors today.

Blood Diamond is the compelling story of Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio), an ex-Mercenary and Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou), a Mende fisherman. While both men are African, they have little in common. Archer is ruthless and cunning, Vandy is kind and hopeful. For Archer it's all about getting the most out of the current situation- guns or diamond smuggling, it doesn't matter. Having lost his parents at a young age, he views the world with a certain cynicism. For Vandy, it's about supporting his family with the little resources he had. He looks up to his son with pride, dreaming one day that he will become a doctor and save them from their misery.

Morocco: Two impressionable young boys who live the most simple of lives become the target of a manhunt for something they quite innocently did. After their father gives them a recently purchased gun, Yussef and Ahmed begin practice shooting. 'Kill these jackals or they'll get the goats!' their father said. While they are shooting, a tourist bus approaches and after a few missed shots, one of the passengers, Susan (Cate Blanchett) who is traveling with her husband Richard (Brad Pitt), is injured. The couple are themselves in the middle of an emotional crisis, trying to rescue a crumbling marriage. As chaos ensues inside the bus, Richard's panic grows as he watches Susan screaming in pain.