FRIDAY 9 AUGUST
Pawn Sacrifice 7:30PM
M
USA, 2015
Genre: Drama
Language: English
Director: Edward Zwick
Starring: Tobey Maguire, Lily Rabe, Peter Sarsgaard, Liev Schreiber, Michael Stuhlbarg
What's it about?
During the Cold War chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer (Maguire) takes on Boris Spassky (Schreiber), the Soviet world champion. Though Fischer wants a normal match against his rival, the United States wants it to be seen as the Cold War played out on the chess board. All of this isn't helping the fact that Fischer is constantly dealing with paranoia. This is the world of chess like you've never seen it before.
The Words 9:45PM
M
USA, 2012
Genre: Drama, Romance
Language: English
Director: Brian Klugman, Lee Sternthal
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Irons, Dennis Quaid, Michael McKean, Zoe Saldana, Olivia Wilde
What's it about?
Young writer Rory Jansen (Cooper) has finally achieved long sought after literary success after publishing the next great American novel. There's only one catch: he didn't write it. As the past comes back to haunt him and his literary star continues to rise, Jansen is forced to confront the steep price that must be paid for stealing another man's work, and for placing ambition and success above life's most fundamental three words.
The Words: interview with Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Irons and more
SATURDAY 10 AUGUST
Nightcrawler 7:30PM
MA15+
USA, 2014
Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
Language: English
Director: Dan Gilroy
Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rene Russo, Bill Paxton, Riz Ahmed
What's it about?
Lou Bloom (Gyllenhaal) is an ambitious young man desperate to forge himself a career in L.A. crime journalism. He soon immerses himself in the nocturnal underbelly of Los Angeles and joins a group of freelance camera crews who are always on the lookout for crashes, fires and murders to film. Aided by Nina (Russo), a veteran of local TV news, Lou blurs the line between observer and participant to become the star of his own story. Nominated for a 2015 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.
Jake Gyllenhaal Wrecked Himself for Nightcrawler, and Here’s Why
Nightcrawler Review: Journalism as bloodsport
La Femme Nikita 9:40PM
MA15+
France, 1990
Genre: Thriller, Action
Language: French
Director: Luc Besson
Starring: Anne Parillaud, Jeanne Moreau, Jean-Hugues Anglade, Jean Reno
What's it about?
Nikita's (Parillaud) killer instincts as a ruthless street junkie make her the perfect assassin. Recruited against her will by a secret government organisation, she's transformed into a sexy lethal weapon. From director Luc Besson (The Fifth Element, Leon: The Professional).
La Femme Nikita Review: A real heart grabber
SUNDAY 11 AUGUST
Howl's Moving Castle 7:30PM
PG
Japan, 2004
Genre: Fantasy, Animation
Language: Japanese
Director: Hayao Miyazaki
Starring (voice cast): Emily Mortimer, Jena Malone, Lauren Bacall, Christian Bale, Billy Crystal
What's it about?
Sophie, a teenage girl working in her family's hat shop, finds her life thrown into turmoil when a handsome-but-mysterious wizard named Howl sweeps her off her feet. This innocent encounter enrages the vain and conniving Witch of the Waste, who transforms Sophie into a 90-year-old woman. Sophie's efforts to break the curse bring her to Howl's magical moving castle, where she befriends Markl, Howl's apprentice, and the hot-headed fire demon Calcifer.
Life of Crime 9:45PM
M
USA, 2013
Genre: Comedy, Crime
Language: English
Director: Daniel Schechter
Starring: Tim Robbins, Mos Def, Isla Fisher, Jennifer Aniston, Kevin Cannon
What's it about?
Margaret 'Mickey' Dawson (Aniston), a loving, slightly naive housewife whose husband, Frank (Robbins), has been embezzling millions for years and keeping the cash in off-shore accounts without her knowledge. Two career criminals, Louis (Hawkes) and Ordell (Yasiin Bey aka Mos Def), catch wind of his scam and figure if they hold Mickey for ransom, Frank would have no choice but to pay up big. Based on a novel by famed crime author Elmore Leonard.
