Urban Cinefile
 The World of Film in Australia - on the Internet Updated Thursday July 29, 2010 - Edition No 699 

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Welcome to our 699th weekly edition

Movie reviews: ME AND ORSON WELLES
Movie reviews:
ME AND ORSON WELLES

(US, 2009) Stars Claire Danes, Christian McKay, Zac Efron, Ben Chaplin, Zoe Kazan, Eddie Marsan. “Welles, wonderfully characterised by Christian McKay, is the centre of his universe, and he has no doubts about his genius . . . What the film does well is the effortless creative talent that drove Welles, the negative aspects of it, and the positive things that the young Richard learns (not without pain),” says Andrew. “A wonderful coming of age story, intricately set in the world of theatre, Me and Orson Welles is a seductive film about dreams and betrayal. There is much more than a career on stage at risk,” says Louise. REVIEWS

Second Hand Wedding
NEWS & BOX OFFICE

BOX OFFICE: - Week, July 22 - 28 : Inception ended its debut week at No 1 with $10.32 M, an average of $10,005 on 413 screens, representing over 50% of the top 20, down 9% to $19.86 M. Only the top 4 films grossed over the $1 M mark. But Animal Kingdom, after 8 weeks, is still in the top 10, on the eve of its US release. Also opened: Leaving (MA, Rialto) $54,990 on 13.

NEWS: - Russell Crowe to narrate Ben Hur at ANZ Stadium; Errol, Fidel and the Cuban Rebel Girls – Aussie author channels Errol Flynn; Confluence of dreams as Bibliothčque Pascal screens at the Melbourne International Film Festival; Dungog AGOG with foreign films;

Movie reviews: SECOND HAND WEDDING
Movie reviews:
SECOND HAND WEDDING

(NZ, 2009) Stars Holly Shanahan, Ryan O’Kane, Geraldine Brophy. “Uplifting and enjoyable enough for the undemanding, Second Hand Wedding takes its unique premise and allows it to take flight – especially in its final scenes,” says Louise. “ .. a telemovie sized film that holds up on the big screen thanks largely to the two standout performances of Geraldine Brophy as Jill and Holly Shanahan as her daughter Cheryl,” says Andrew. REVIEWS

INTERVIEW - it’s about the sort of epic themes that make up everyday lives, about family engagements and conflicts, its star Geraldine Brophy tells Andrew L. Urban.

Movie reviews: KILLERS
Movie reviews:
KILLERS

(US, 2010) Stars Ashton Kutcher, Katherine Heigl, Tom Selleck, Catherine O’Hara. “The storyline and script lack credibility, but more than that, Robert Luketic’s direction misses the light, crisp fun the situations require, leaving us saddled with a questionable tone in Nowhereland,” says Louise. “ .. a concept masquerading as a full blown movie, in which the story is undercooked but the delivery is overdone,” says Andrew. REVIEWS

Movie reviews: SOUTH SOLITARY
Movie reviews:
SOUTH SOLITARY

(Aust, 2010) Stars Miranda Otto, Barry Otto, Marton Csokas. “ .. the storyline does not seem to have enough ballast to hook us emotionally . . . The offbeat humour hits its mark although it often feels forced,” says Louise. “While the film is subtle, nuanced and playfully charming at times, it lacks the scale and the dynamics to engage on the big screen for two hours,” says Andrew. REVIEWS

INSIDER BRIEFING - Homing pigeons that wouldn’t home, ships wrecked on the rocks, wild weather and soul-draining isolation are some of the elements that prompted Shirley Barrett to make the film. FEATURE

Movie review: THE CENTURION
Movie review:
THE CENTURION

(UK, 2010) Stars Michael Fassbender, Dominic West, Olga Kurylenko, Thomas Ulrich. “ .. a period action drama where blood and guts are freely and frequently spilled … nasty scenes are set off by some breathtakingly beautiful scenes in the wintry Scottish mountains, and a few tender moments . . . very few,” says Andrew. REVIEW

COMPETITIONS
COMPETITIONS

SECOND HAND WEDDING
- Win one of 5 double inseason passes to Second Hand Wedding, directed by Paul Murphy and starring Geraldine Brophy, Holly Shanahan, Ryan O’Kane, courtesy Potential Films. In selected cinemas from July 29.

News: MOVIES NOW - SEASON 14 BACK AT CHAUVEL
News:
MOVIES NOW - SEASON 14 BACK AT CHAUVEL

Andrew L. Urban’s popular movie course, Movies Now, screening a selection of six movies before their commercial release returns to the Chauvel on Wednesdays, Sept 29 – Nov 3, 6.30pm. Info & Bookings ; NEWS

Coming Soon! UPCOMING FILMS
Coming Soon!
UPCOMING FILMS

[Coming in August, The Nothing Men, starring Colin Friels, David Field, Martin Dingle-Wall. "An incisive and intriguing screenplay sucks us in from the start," says Andrew. "A powerful film with strong performances and plenty of merit," says Louise.]

Click through for full schedule of films releasing in the next few months.RELEASE SCHEDULE

NEW TRAILERS:
NEW TRAILERS:

Preview trailers of many films on your own screen.
The Nothing Men, stars David Field, Colin Friels, Martin Dingle Wall;
Faster, (pic) stars Dwayne Johnson, Billy Bob Thornton;
Boy, stars James Rolleston, Taika Waititi;
The Social Network, stars Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Timberlake;
The Horseman, stars Peter Marshall;
Eat, Pray, Love, stars Julia Roberts;
Cairo Time, stars Patricia Clarkson;
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

DVDS
DVDS

FEVER PITCH - Colin Firth, Ruth Gemmell, Neil Pearson. “Fever Pitch exudes a certain joie de vivre that will put a skip in your walk,” says Louise.

SEPARATION CITY - Joel Edgerton, Rhona Mitra, Danielle Cormack. “ .. the film’s shifting, unsettled tone makes it less than satisfying, even while admiring some its strengths. Sex is ever present, and not always to the film’s advantage,” says Andrew.

THE BOUNTY HUNTER - Jennifer Aniston, Gerard Butler, Christine Baranski. “ .. it reeks of being manufactured and lacks wit, subtlety or imagination,” says Louise.

Poker Movies
Poker Movies

Poker as a sport has grown considerably over the last couple of years. Following this rise in popularity classic us poker movies like The Cincinnati Kid have gained popularity – also among younger audiences. A remake of The Cincinnati Kid is planned but the starting date is not yet set. Stay tuned for more info.

Competition Winners:
Competition Winners:
SOUTH SOLITARY - To win one of 25 double inseason passes to South Solitary, directed by Shirley Barratt and starring Miranda Otto, Barry Otto and Marton Csokas, courtesy Icon, we asked: What rugged & remote place would you send your least favourite relation or friend and why? Lucas Kussowski (Vic): The Dead Zone in Iceland. Nothing electrical works at all. I would send my arch nemesis there to suffer in technological silence.

GREEN ZONE DVD - To win one of 15 copies of Green Zone, starring Matt Damon, Greg Kinnear, Jason Isaacs, Brendan Gleeson, Amy Ryan, Khalid Abdulla, courtesy Universal, we asked ‘Who has sent you or someone you know on a wild goose chase and how did it end? Andy Bovan (WA): My mother in law insists on still hiding Easter eggs - even though I’m 38 and stubborn. Last years hunt ended with a frustrated matriarch; an unhappy son in law and a melted chocolate lump.

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. Over 420 films AUSTRALIAN FILMS

Online Casino
Online casino guide

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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