Shutter Island
This psychological thriller follows US Marshal Teddy (Leonardo DiCaprio ) and his investigation into the inexplicable disappearance of a patient from an island mental institution for the criminally insane. But all is not what it seems, demons from Teddy’s past begin to re-emerge...
Scorsese’s brilliant film draws heavily on Hitchcockian classics, boasting a fantastic performance by DiCaprio and a twisty story to sink your teeth into.
Alice in Wonderland
After chasing an unusual rabbit down a hole, the day-dreaming Alice (Mia Wasikowska ) finds herself fallen into a world of unhinged characters and imagination let loose. It isn’t long before she’s drafted into an on-going battle between two queens.
An adaptation that stays true to the spirit of the Lewis Carroll’s classics Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. Given Tim Burton’s previous kooky outings, it seems only natural that he would make this weird-yet-delightful film.
Kick Ass
When average kid Dave (Aaron Johnson ) decides to emulate his comic book heroes and fight street-crime in costume, he quickly becomes a YouTube sensation. But the heroic antics of more seasoned masked avengers gets Dave more attention than he bargained for.
An original take on the superhero genre - part homage, part parody - Kick Ass is pure entertainment with a big heart. Brilliant soundtrack too.
Hot Tub Time Machine
A group of middle-aged friends reunite for a ski resort trip that promises to be a weekend of fun and nostalgia, but problems arise when the guys find themselves transported back to the 80s via their Jacuzzi!
Exactly what it says on the tin and more, this ‘bromance’ offers lots of absurd laughs. Riffing on 80s classics, like Back to the Future and The Breakfast Club, Hot Tub Time Machine will be a favourite for those who fondly remember the decade of bad hair-styles.
Inception
Set in a world where our ideas can be stolen through our dreams, the master-extractor Dom Cobb (Leonardo Dicaprio ) is constantly on the run and only longs for home and his beloved. But one last seemingly impossible job might just give him what he wants...
Director Christopher Nolan is back on mind-bending duties with this dense, complex, twisty, visually stunning and really fun film. Just excellent, but you have to pay attention!
Toy Story 3
As Andy sets off to college, his old toys are to be packed up and sent to Sunnyside Daycare. At first it seems like toy heaven, but soon it becomes clear that the daycare centre is not as sunny as it appears to be...
After two amazing Toy Story outings, audiences have long been crying out for the final chapter. Even funnier and emotional then the previous films, fans have to see this. The ending promises to be a real tear-jerker. Adults pay attention, you’ll enjoy this as much as the kids will!
Scott Pilgrim Vs The World
Edgar Wright’s first Hollywood outing is a real geek treat. Scott (Michael Cera ) wanders aimlessly through life playing bass in an unknown band and with a girlfriend he isn’t too concerned about. Everything changes when he meets the enigmatic Ramona (Mary Elizabeth Winstead ). Unfortunately Ramona has a lot of baggage, seven evil exes bent on beating the crap out of Scott.
Scott Pilgrim is a guy-friendly romantic comedy, full of OTT fighting scenes inspired by arcade game fighting games like Street Fight. Don’t let this put you off, the action adds to the humour and is visually tantalising . And once again, Edgar Wright’s soundtrack is impeccable.
The Social Network
If someone told me a year ago that a film about the origins of Facebook would be dramatic and downright entertaining, I probably wouldn’t have believed it. Yet in The Social Network we see the story of Mark Zuckerberg, co-founder of Facebook, who betrayed his best friend in order to create the world’s biggest social networking website. The irony is delicious.
From the director of Fight Club, The Social Network is an enthralling story of ambition and betrayal. And never fear, there is no incomprehensible computer speak here.
The Town
In a Boston neighbourhood where crime is rampant, a gang of thieves has just pulled off a daring bank robbery where a clerk must be kidnapped. As the FBI closes in, matters are complicated when the brains of the gang (Ben Affleck ) falls for the beautiful and traumatised bank clerk (Rebecca Hall ).
A refreshingly old-fashioned and thoroughly enjoyable thriller, full of dark humour and great dialogue.
Due Date
Kicked off a plane right before the birth of his child, architect Peter (Robert Downey Jr ) is forced to go on an road trip across America with dimwit actor Ethan (Zach Galifianakis ) in order to get home on time. Hilarity ensues!
With a fantastic chemistry between the film’s two stars and a non-stop barrage of gut-punch laughs, Due Date is a worthy edition to the list of this year’s cinematic highlights.
