Million Dollar Baby
Saturday 2 January, 8:30pm
M
USA, 2004
Director: Clint Eastwood
Starring: Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman
What's it about?
Clint Eastwood's powerful movie won no less than four Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor and Best Director. Scrap (Clint Eastwood), a hardened boxing trainer, is taken by surprise when incredibly determined wannabe boxer, Maggie (Hilary Swank, in an incredible performance), asks him to train her. Won over by her sheer determination, he begrudgingly takes her on. Little by little, with Scrap’s help and her own dogged perseverance, Maggie begins to improve, and the two form a friendship.
American Beauty
Saturday 9 January, 8:30pm
MA15+
USA, 1999
Director: Sam Mendes
Starring: Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Mena Suvari
What's it about?
Kevin Spacey who won the Oscar for Best Actor for his depiction of a man experiencing a full-blown mid-life crisis. Magazine writer Lester Burnham and his real estate agent wife Carolyn (Annette Bening) lead a materially comfortable but emotionally barren life in the suburbs, with their disillusioned teenage daughter, Jane. The appearance of Jane's school friend Angela (Mena Suvari) sends Lester into paroxysms of lust and inspires him to quit his job and lead a carefree life. Intelligent, witty, acidic drama from Sam Mendes.
Watch original Movie Show 4.5-star review
Watch interview with Sam Mendes and Kevin Spacey
Misery
Saturday 16 January, 8:30pm
MA15+
USA, 1990
Director: Rob Reiner
Starring: James Caan, Kathy Bates, Richard Farnsworth
What's it about?
From the mind of Mr Horror, Stephen King, comes the story of author and car accident victim, Paul Sheldon (James Caan). His 'saviour' is former nurse, Annie Wilkes, brings him to her remote house in the mountains to care for him. What a coincidence: Annie also happens to be his biggest fan, and she has some committed views about her preferred fate for the heroine of his latest novel. Kathy Bates won the 1990 Academy Award for Best Actress for her chilling portrayal of Annie Wilkes.
Watch the original Movie Show review
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Saturday 23 January, 8:30pm
M
Spain, 2008
Director: Woody Allen
Starring: Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johansson, Penélope Cruz, Javier Bardem
What's it about?
Beautiful stars in a beautiful location make for a irresistible combination in Woody Allen's sexy romantic comedy. Two New York girlfriends, Vicky (Rebecca Hall) and Cristina (Scarlett Johansson), take a summer holiday in Barcelona on the eve of Vicky's wedding to a businessman. At a bistro one night, a flamboyant local artist, Juan Antonio (Javier Bardem) invites them to a hedonistic weekend. Cristina soon starts an affair with him, but things change with the return of Juan Antonio's ex-wife (Penelope Cruz, who won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress), with whom he has a tempestuous relationship.
Blog: It’s three the easy way in Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Crash
Saturday 30 January, 8:30pm
MA15+
USA, 2004
Director: Paul Haggis
Starring: Matt Dillon, Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle
What's it about?
This 2004 drama won three awards, including Best Picture, for its stories of conflict and racial tension in contemporary America. Thee seemingly unrelated stories converge when a pair of detectives is called to investigate a shooting crime.
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