Urban Cinefile
 The World of Film in Australia - on the Internet Updated Thursday January 26, 2012 - Edition No 777 
A FewBestMen

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OSCAR NOMINATIONS - The Artist and Hugo acclaimed across most categories

Political life imitating movie art

FRONT UP ON YOUTUBE
Andrew L. Urban’s Front Up, the prime time social documentary interview series from the 1990s, is getting a second life on YouTube with a dedicated playlist on the SBS Australia Channel - the first time SBS ever hosted full episodes on YOUTUBE. READ MORE

Movie reviews: A FEW BEST MEN
Movie reviews:
A FEW BEST MEN

(Aust, 2011) Dir: Stephan Elliott. Stars Rebel Wilson, Olivia Newton-John, Xavier Samuel, Tim Draxl, Kris Marshall, Elizabeth Debicki, Kevin Bishop. “ .. cleverly combines its culture clash and buddy themes with a wild tale embracing family secrets, a drug deal gone wrong and a romantic wedding filled with hilarious mishaps,” says Louise. “Olivia Newton John is an absolute hoot as mother in law Barbara in this madcap romantic comedy that brings together English and Australian humour in earthy earnest,” says Andrew. REVIEWS

INTERVIEW:
Steph Elliott reveals his little director’s tricks to get the best (worst) out of Olivia Newton John. STEPH ELLIOTT

COMPETITION:
Win one of 10 double inseason passes to A Few Best Men, starring Xavier Samuel, Kris Marshall, Kevin Bishop and Olivia Newton-John, courtesy Icon. Only at the Movies January 26. WIN TICKETS

Urban Cinefile
NEWS & BOX OFFICE

BOX OFFICE: - Week, Jan 19 - 25: The Descendants, with takings up 1% in its post Golden Globes week, to $3.54 M retains the No 1 spot in the top 20, ahead of Journey 2, which opened with $3.17 M – and on lower averages: $9,055 on 351 v $16,359 on 217. Tinker Tailor made its debut at No 7 (down from 6 at the weekend), with $2 M ($14,331 avg on 144 – second highest for the week). Young Adult, out on just 57 screens, took $364,082, and the top 20 was down 14% to $26.5 M.

NEWS: - Gossip free zone..... Box office slips in 2011 but Dog on top; Any questions for Any Questions…; Festive spirit to help Aust films; Green’s Redd ready;

Featured Preview: A FEW BEST MEN
Featured Preview:
A FEW BEST MEN

When David (Xavier Samuel) travels to Australia to marry the love of his life, his three best men give a whole new meaning to the phrase 'for better or worse'. The chaos-filled wedding is a classic culture clash between his friends and her family … because blood is thicker than water and so are David's mates! FEATURE

Movies Now: SURPRISE PREMIERES - COURSE BEGINS FEB 1
Movies Now:
SURPRISE PREMIERES - COURSE BEGINS FEB 1

A new series of 6 ‘surprise premieres’ begins on February 1 at Dendy Newtown hosted by Andrew L. Urban for Sydney University’s Centre for Continuing Education. This, the 18th course, will include Bruce Beresford as a discussion guest. The course offers unannounced films to screen each Wednesday prior to their commercial release. INFO & BOOKING

Interview: JASON REITMAN – YOUNG ADULT
Interview:
JASON REITMAN – YOUNG ADULT

This movie manipulates the viewer, director Jason Reitman happily tells Andrew L. Urban, and he can’t think of anyone better to play Mavis than Charlize Theron. INTERVIEW

YOUNG ADULT: - "Irresistible entertainment for those who enjoy life at its unfiltered best," says Louise; "Reitman makes an endlessly edgy film in which we are kept slightly off balance - but never fall," says Andrew. REVIEWS

Movie reviews: J. EDGAR
Movie reviews:
J. EDGAR

(US, 2011) Dir: Clint Eastwood. Stars Leonardo DiCaprio, Armie Hammer, Judi Dench, Dermot Mulroney. “DiCaprio’s boyish looks don’t age well, no matter how talented the make up team. For those familiar with Hoover’s appearance, this is accentuated to a serious degree. It shouldn’t matter – and if the storytelling were more robust and powerful, it perhaps wouldn’t,” says Andrew. “ .. an elegant film from a classy filmmaker that will satisfy a discerning, intelligent audience,” says Louise. REVIEWS

Movie reviews: WEEKEND
Movie reviews:
WEEKEND

(UK, 2011) Dir: Andrew Haigh. Stars Tom Cullen, Chris New. “In an intimate exploration of its central relationship, this boy meets boy story addresses all the issues of being gay and meets them head on,” says Louise. “Made with all the technical disadvantages of a home movie – dirty and confusing sound recording, sloppy camerawork (but here it’s intentional, meant to look arty),” says Andrew. REVIEWS

Movie review: UNDERWORLD: AWAKENING
Movie review:
UNDERWORLD: AWAKENING

(US, 2012) Stars Kate Beckinsale, Michael Ealy, India Eisley. “More creature feature than vampire movie, this fourth edition of Underworld tries to emulate the stylistics of Len Wiseman’s 2004 original, with Wiseman leading the writing team. Kate Beckinsale as Selene is as likeable now as she was then, but there is a jarring jumble sale approach to the film, with too many derivatives,” says Andrew. REVIEW

Coming Soon! UPCOMING FILMS
Coming Soon!
UPCOMING FILMS

[Coming soon, They Grey, starring Liam Neeson. “Neeson is magnificent, leading a small but excellent cast in what is a haunting and chilling experience,” says Louise.]RELEASE SCHEDULE


This Must Be The Place, Buck, Carnage

NEW TRAILERS:
NEW TRAILERS:

Preview trailers of many films on your own screen.
Carnage, stars Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz;
The Vow, stars Rachel McAdams, Channing Tatum;
The Amazing Spiderman, stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone;
Thirst, stars Victoria Haralabidou, Myles Pollard;
Shame, stars Michael Fassbender
A Few Best Men, stars Rebel Wilson, Xavier Samuel, Olivia Newton-John;
TRAILERS

At a glance: TOP 20
At a glance:
TOP 20

Short and sweet (or not) opinions on the most popular current releases. An easy reference for choosing which movie to see tonight … or tomorrow ... or right now! (Occasionally we also slip in a few of the editors’ favourites if they don’t make the top 20...) TOP 20

DVD REVIEWS
DVD REVIEWS

SUBMARINE - Craig Roberts, Yasmin Paige, Noah Taylor, Paddy Consadine, Sally Hawkins. “Richard Ayoade's debut feature about the inner turmoil of an adolescent brings a fresh, appealing voice to a subject that's as old as time... The humour ripples along subtly, like an ambling brook rather than a gushing river: the smiles are inward,” says Louise.

FRIGHT NIGHT – Colin Farrell, Anton Yelchin. “Fright Night has all the elements you’d expect from a teenage vampire movie in 2011 – and that’s one of its problems: predictability. But it is also its strength, in that it sticks to the comic horror genre template,” says Andrew.

Competition Winners:
Competition Winners:
YOUNG ADULT - To win one of 10 double inseason passes to Young Adult, starring Charlize Theron, courtesy Paramount, we asked: Which old flame would you like to have a date with and why?

ROUNDERS & CASINO
ROUNDERS
Rounders is arguably the most popular poker movie made so far. An excellent performance by Matt Damon and a clear focus on the game of Texas Holdem led to a rise in Poker sites' popularity. Since then, online poker seems to have exploded into a game played by millions worldwide.

CASINO
Starring Robert de Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci and James Woods, Casino is available on DVD, Itunes and Video. A lengthy movie with a star studded cast and engaging plot about the running of a Casino by a group linked to the Mob. It's often cited as one of the all-time best movies, up there with The Godfather and Goodfellas.

AUSTRALIAN FILMS
AUSTRALIAN FILMS

Every Australian film we have ever reviewed (film / video release), or have reported from the set, or featured in any way, is listed here, going back to films made even before the launch of Urban Cinefile, such as The Piano, Romper Stomper, Muriel’s Wedding, The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert and dozens more. Approximately 500 films AUSTRALIAN FILMS

HOW (& WHY) TO ADVERTISE ON URBAN CINEFILE
HOW (& WHY) TO ADVERTISE ON URBAN CINEFILE
Reach over 90,000 dedicated movie & DVD consumers every month in the most targeted online environment -where the movie goers are. ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES, contact Andrew L. Urban or call: 02 9949 6700




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