Up in the Air

Ryan Bingham flies around the country and fires people for a living. He’s constantly, er, up in the air, which is convenient for him as it means he doesn’t have to sustain any real relationships. His home is the airplane seat he finds himself on, and his family are the strangers he meets. So what happens when his company decides that they can fire people more efficiently via the internet? Well, his life loses its meaning and he’s forced to evaluate.

Up in the Air is actually better than it sounds. Much better, and in no small part because of George Clooney, who just keeps getting better with age – in both the talent and aesthetics department. The flick is also written and directed by the same guy who brought us Juno, so you know it’s going to be winner. Look out for this one at the Oscars.

Rating: 5 outta 5.

An Education

This unassuming and quiet little film is a rare gem in a pile of ash. Not your usual coming-of-age flick, this one revolves around a sharp-as-a-razor 16-year-old girl who willingly falls in love with a sassy charmer twice her age.

Schooled in everything but the ways of the wicked world, Jenny is keen to be educated by experienced wanderer David. But, like most of us eventually, she’s rudely awakened by the transitory nature of lust and sees David for what he is – a player.

Luckily the film retains its uniqueness by not falling into the cliché trap. It’s real, and kind of charming in its brashness. The performances are brilliant and the setting – 1960s London – is electric. Full marks!

Rating: 5 outta 5.

The Princess and the Frog

Maybe it’s just me. Maybe I’m just a sucker for Disney movies, but my favourite animated features are still Aladin, Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. As much as I admire the massive leaps we’ve made in animation, I still love the lack of hyper-realism in a Disney classic.

This is another one that will make my fave list. It ticks all the boxes: memorable characters (complete with New Orleans’ accent), fabulous music and a quirky story about a kiss gone wrong. Kids will love it, and adults will enjoy it even more thanks to a witty script that will have you forgetting about the real world for just long enough.

Rating: 4 outta 5.

All About Steve

You know when a girl pursues a guy that just doesn’t like her? You know how painfully embarrassing it is to watch? Yeah, well imagine sitting through a whole movie like that and you’ve got an idea of what it is to endure this so-called comedy.

Sandra Bullock plays a silly, gawky girl who makes a complete ass of herself when she follows Steve (Bradley Cooper), a journalist guy she’s just met, all over the country as he chases stories. But of course her quirkiness eventually wins him and his crew over and everyone falls in love with the weird chick. Uh… in what universe would that ever happen?

Unrealistic ridiculousness like this should never make it to the big screen.

Rating: 2 outa 5.

Ninja Assassin

Movies about vengeful ninjas running around slashing people with swords are not for everyone and, yes, I fall into the “not for everyone” category. I do appreciate, however, that there is a market for these films (that probably includes those people who buy daggers and ninja stars from the flea market) and so I will keep my judgements to myself and say only this… Watching two hours of people being shot, stabbed and burnt in the name of revenge is seriously detrimental to your mental health. Go get a hobby! Rating: 1 outta 5.

Veer

Words and phrases like “epic love story”, “sworn enemy”, vengeance and “high stakes” are thrown around by the dozen in the official website description of Veer.

And indeed, it is epic, with battles to rival Gladiator, and scenery that screensavers are made of. Oh, and did I mention a shirtless, six-pack bearing Salman Khan, who plays Veer? In battle? Mhh-hmm. For the guys, the debut of the gorgeous Zarine Khan as the princess who Veer falls ridiculously in love with should suffice.

Besides the love story, the script also offers up a dash of vengeance against the British Empire, led by Veer, the strongest of the Pindaris. A solid Bollywood offering that should blow the competition out of the water – at least for a while.

Rating: 4 outta 5.

Skin

Sandra Laing was an anomaly that made apartheid South Africa very uncomfortable in the late 60s. Why? Well, she looked coloured, yet her parents were both white.

There was no funny fiddling going on either. They were proven to be her biological creators. Sandra’s father even made his way to the Supreme Court to have his daughter classified white, but this didn’t make her feel any less of a freak, as one can only imagine. In response she acted out, fell in love with a black man and had to face the consequences of being disowned by her father.

Sophie Okonedo portrays Sandra’s painful identity crisis poignantly, and Sam Neill impresses as her father. Well worth watching.

Rating: 4 outta 5.

Amelia

The thing about Amelia Earhart is that she lived a pretty interesting life before she disappeared into the Pacific Ocean, never to be seen again. She was, after all, the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic. She was also married to a famous New York publisher, but found herself drawn to another fine male specimen with whom she crossed paths.

Surely that’s enough to make a worthwhile biopic? Seems not. Dull is the word that comes to mind. Sure it’s authentic and factually sound, but those do not a gripping film make. Hilary Swank gives it her all in a sterling performance but it’s not enough to stop one from drifting off and wondering what’s for dinner… Chicken or beef?

Rating: 3 outta 5

Did you hear about the Morgans?

Let me just say that I love Sarah Jessica Parker and adore Hugh Grant. In fact, I was trying to remember a movie of his that I didn’t like and came up empty-handed.

Thing is, when a script is weak, not even the best of actors can save the movie and it falls flat. Just like this one. We all wanted this movie to work, but I fear most of you will be sorely disappointed when you discover that the trailer included almost all the funny bits and the rest in between is just not that entertaining. Even with Hugh trying to fit into small-town USA in his usually endearing awkward way. Pity.

Rating: 3 outta 5.

Brothers

Already featured in this year’s Golden Globes, Brothers is bound to produce some Oscar nominations too. This is thanks to a gripping script that puts us in the middle of a love triangle brought about by war.

When Tobey Maguire’s character is presumed dead, his grieving widow (Natalie Portman) finds herself accepting comfort from her brother-in-law (Jake Gyllenhaal). Things become pretty peachy between the two of them, and then her dead husband turns up alive. Hmm. Awkward. To add insult to injury, returning husband is not exactly the same person he was. In fact, he’s cracking up, which makes a happy reunion all the more difficult.

The performances are outstanding, and you’ll be completely drawn into the intricacies of the relationships from the word go. That’s great cinema.

Rating: 5 outta 5

The Private Lives of Pippa Lee

Pippa (Robin Wright Penn) used to have a life – one in which she was flirty, footloose and fancy-free. Now her much older husband is moving to a retirement village and she’s having a “quiet” breakdown.

She reflects on her youth and, through a series of flashbacks we get a sense of her past. But will her reflection help her reconcile her rather sad present with her fabulous past? You’re not exactly dying to find out, are you?

Look, it’s not that bad, it’s just not wildly original or exciting. Sadly, some great acting from Wright-Penn and Alan Arkin, who plays her hubby, is squandered on an average script. Perhaps best left for DVD.

Rating: 3 outta 5

For Better For Worse

A Bollywood movie set in Durban? It’s about time! Written by Raeesa Mohamed, who also plays the main role of Anisa, and shot in 25 locations over 18 days, this is yet another local production to be proud of.

Anisa is a 30-year-old Indian woman in a typical Indian family, which means one thing – she’s under constant pressure to get married. There’s just one problem: Anisa’s been burnt by lousy men, so is not exactly keen to jump into anything, let alone a king-sized marital bed. But that’s just one thread. There’s also a dead body in the boot of a car, Kogie Naidoo as Anisa’s hilarious friend and, of course, a big, colourful dance sequence. It’s well worth going to see all the familiar faces and support our local industry!

Rating: 3 outta 5.

Post-Grad

I don’t like this film for one reason: it’s indulgent, and here’s why… The story revolves around Ryden, a recent graduate who struggles to find a job and come to terms with her feelings for her best friend Adam. Shame. How terribly awful to be privileged, educated and in love. Add to this insipidity a perfect if somewhat quirky family and you’ve got the makings of a waste of time. Even the family’s off-beat shenanigans aren’t enough to pique an interest.

Seriously, why anyone would make such a contrived and unrealistic film is beyond me. Look around - the story sure isn’t original.

Toy Story in 3D

That’s right! The original Toy Story of Woody and Buzz Lightyear, first released in 1995 is back, this time in 3D format. I’m not quite sure it’s worth paying the price of a 3D ticket to see again simply for a few special effects, but hey, maybe you’re feeling nostalgic. Either way, I fear this is the beginning of a worrying trend of rereleasing movies to eek even more money out of the gullible public.

Where the Wild Things Are

Out of the beautifully illustrated children’s book of just nine sentences comes a full-length feature film to rival some of Hollywood’s best productions. We become part of a tumultuous fantasy world created by 10-year-old Max, who uses the escape as a way to cope with his changing home life.

This is not kiddie fodder, but rather a triumph in imagination creation. The characters are not cuddly but brash, and the landscape not green and lush but stark and challenging. It’s gritty stuff and so real that you can almost feel the wind whipping through your hair as you brave the angry sea. Worth watching on the big screen.

Rating: 4 outta 5.

The September Issue

Remember Meryl Streep’s character in “The Devil Wears Prada”? The one said to be based on Anna Wintour, editor of Vogue and arguably the most influential person in fashion? Well, finally we get to see the real Anna Wintour in action as she sweats blood for the 2007 September issue of Vogue, which, by the way, was a hulking piece of magazine history of over 800 pages!

Seems she’s not quite as bitchy as Meryl’s character, but pretty scary nevertheless, especially because she never smiles. It’s fascinating to be allowed behind the scenes of one of the most powerful publications on earth. It'll get fashionistas world wide drooling over their fong-kong Louis Vuittons.

Rating: 4 outta 5.

Planet 51

Is it just me, or does it seem weird that this kiddie-oriented animation is set in the 1950s? I guess they figure that because it’s also based in outer space that the kids won’t notice. But then again won’t they wonder who the hell Elvis is?

Anyway, humans land on a planet they think is uninhabited, only to find that a population of peaceful green creatures is living there. And yes, they all look like mini-Shreks because it’s written by Joe Stillman who created the big Scottish monster. Like all invasions, it turns hostile, but all is resolved thanks to a good dose of common sense and humour. Yup, that’s about all there is to it.

Rating: 3 outta 5.

Perfect Getaway

Wouldn’t you be totally peeved if your romantic Hawaiian holiday was ruined by murderous psychos? Duh! Yet for some reason filmmakers still believe that watching a movie about that exact same scenario is fun. Not.

Okay, so it’s not that bad, but it’s just not terribly good either. The suspense level peaks at about a 6, and there are a few creepy moments, along with a conclusion that actually does hold water, but it just didn’t blow me away. I did appreciate the sprinklings of dark humour, however, and the gorgeous Hawaiian coastline, but then I could have Googled that.

Rating: 2.5 outta 5.