YOUR GUIDE TO AUGUST’S HOTTEST RELEASES...Wayward Pines: Season 1, House Of Cards: Season 3, 12 Monkeys: Season 1, The Knick: Season 1 and more. 24 ACTION Fast & Furious 7, The Gunman,

YOUR GUIDE TO AUGUST’S HOTTEST RELEASES

OVER 40 REVIEWS INSIDE INCLUDING: INSURGENT PITCH PERFECT 2 THE LONGEST RIDE UNFINISHED BUSINESS PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2 PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2

VV22_01_FrontCover.indd 1 16/07/2015 11:46 am

© 2015 Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Australia Pty Limited. All Rights Reserved.

AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY™ & DVD 20 AUGUST


Mild violence

© 2015 PRONE GUNMAN AIE – NOSTROMO PICTURES SL – PRONE GUNMAN LIMITED.

AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY™ & DVD 20 AUGUSTStrong violence and coarse language


& DVD 27 AUGUST & DVD 27 AUGUST & DVD 27 AUGUST & DVD 27 AUGUSTAction violence

VERSIONS OF THE FILM+ OVER 100 MINUTES OF EXTRAS!

EXTENDED & ORIGINAL

EXCLUSIVE TO BLU-RAY

“THE BEST FAST & FURIOUS BY FAR!”– Rolling Stone

FAST7_PAUL BLART 2_GUNMAN_AUG_Rental FPA 965176 L2.indd 1 9/07/2015 2:57 pmAD TEMPLATE.indd 8 16/07/2015 10:13 am

WELCOME TO ME

FROM PRODUCERS WILL FERRELL AND ADAM McKAY

K R I S T E N W I I G

ALICE IS GOING TO BE ON T V WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT.

AVAILABLE ON DVD 20 AUGUSTStrong nudity and coarse language

Strong sexual references and coarse language

Mature themes and brief nudity

© 2015 Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Australia Pty Limited. All Rights Reserved.© 2015 Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment Australia Pty Limited. All Rights Reserved.

AVAILABLE ON DVD 20 AUGUST

AVAILABLE ON DVD 6 AUGUSTEMMA

thompsonJULIE

WALTERSDAKOTA

FANNING

EFFIE GRAY-WELCOME TO ME-NO WAY JOSE AUG RENTAL FPA.indd 1 14/07/2015 11:50 amAD TEMPLATE.indd 8 16/07/2015 10:16 am

1 OF 3 ICE WATCHESP L US ME R CH A ND I S E PA CK S !WIN P L US M

TO ENTER: Tell us in 25 words or less, what positive change would you make today to make the world a better place in the future?

Please submit your entry to in store or send to: ‘INSURGENT COMPETITION’ PO BOX 1234 CHATSWOOD NSW 2067

Tell us in 25 words or less, what positive change would you make today to make the world a better place in the future?

*COMPETITION WILL RUN FROM 1ST AUGUST 2015 TO 31ST AUGUST 2015. TERMS & CONDITIONS APPLY.

Full Name: Contact Number:

Store Suburb:Store Name:Post Code:State:

Address: Suburb:

™ & © 2015 SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.™ & © 2015 SUMMIT ENTERTAINMENT, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

AD TEMPLATE.indd 8 16/07/2015 9:30 am

Who would have thought 14 years ago a car fl ick starring the then largely unknown Paul Walker and Vin Diesel would now be up to its seventh chapter? Or that Fast & Furious 7 would be standing at No. 4 in the all-time worldwide box offi ce charts? It’s an amazing success story and another example of how video store customers are often ahead of the game when it comes to picking blockbuster franchises. And Fast & Furious 7 is just one of a number of eagerly anticipated sequels hitting the shelves in August: this month also sees the release of Pitch Perfect 2 and Insurgent, the second installment in The Divergent Series. Other hits to look out for include the romantic blockbuster The Longest Ride, the witty teen comedy The Duff and the submarine thriller Black Sea, while on the TV front, we recommend you check out the creepy Twin Peaks inspired chiller Wayward Pines. Happy viewing...

THE TEAM

A&

6-10 NEWSWhat have the bold and the beautiful of fi lm and TV been up to lately? We check out the latest reports from home and beyond.

28-29 BACK TRACKFive movies you may have missed last month.

30 COMING SOONNew releases to look forward to next month.

12 INSURGENTVeronica Roth, author of the Divergent trilogy, explains how Tris’s world is fl eshed out in chapter 2.

14 PITCH PERFECT 2Rebel Wilson on why she literally jumped at the chance to reprise her role as Fat Amy in the musical smash.

Publisher: Tilo Grieco [email protected], Editor: Kit RazerSub Editor: Chelsea Graham, Contributors: Robert Hislop, Accounts: Tracy Kingman [email protected], Production: Al Netherclift, Design: Rebecca Rowlands, Contributor: Scott Hocking

Address: Scribal Publishing Pty. Ltd., PO Box 2051, Richmond South, VIC 3121

P.14

P.22

P.16

P.24

P.26

AUGUST 2015

16-17 DRAMAThe Longest Ride, X + Y, 50 To 1, Cake, Freedom and more.

18-19 COMEDYPitch Perfect 2, The Duff, While We’re Young, Welcome To Me, Unfi nished Business, Paul Blatt: Mall Cop 2 and more.

20-21 THRILLERThe Divergent Series: Insurgent, Black Sea, The Harvest, Careful What You Wish For, The Lazarus Effect and more.

22-23 TVWayward Pines: Season 1, House Of Cards: Season 3, 12 Monkeys: Season 1, The Knick: Season 1 and more.

24 ACTIONFast & Furious 7, The Gunman, Into The Grizzly Maze, AWOL-72 and more.

26 FAMILYStrange Magic, Boychoirand more.

P.12

TKE22_05_Contents.indd 1 16/07/2015 10:57 am

SHARING SECRETS

NEWSREEL YOUR MONTHLY FIX OFENTERTAINMENT NEWS

PLENTY OF SPARKS CHOICEThe fi rst screen adaptation of a Nicholas Spark bestseller to be produced by his own production company is due to hit cinemas early next year.

The Choice traces the evolution of a love affair that is ultimately tested by life’s most defi ning events. Aussie star Teresa Palmer (Warm Bodies) and Benjamin Walker (Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter) play the couple, while the supporting cast includes

Alexandra Daddario, Maggie Grace and Tom Wilkinson.It will be the 11th screen adaptation of one of his

bestselling weepies, but the fi rst to be co-produced by Nicholas Spark Productions. This year has already seen the release of two other Sparks adaptations: the tearjerker The Best Of Me and the rodeo-set romance The Longest Ride, which arrives on the shelves this month.

SPIES LIKE USAction icon Dwayne Johnson is teaming up with funny man Kevin Hart for a new comedy thriller Central Intelligence.

Due in cinemas next year, Johnson plays a one-time bullied geek turned lethal CIA agent, while Hart is the former big man on campus, now a mild-mannered accountant. After hooking up at their school reunion, Hart is reluctantly dragged into a world of shoot-outs, double-crosses and espionage. Judging by their banter in a splendidly foul-mouthed

video posted last month on The Rock’s Instagram account, it looks as if they will make for a winning double act.

Meanwhile, the hard working wrestling icon will next be seen on DVD and Blu-ray in the action blockbuster Fast and Furious 7, which roars onto the shelves on August 27. And he follows that with the disaster fl ick San Andreas, which was shot mainly in Queensland and is due for home entertainment release at the end of September.

Nicole Kidman and Julia Roberts have teamed together for the fi rst time for a remake of the 2010 Argentinean Oscar winner The Secret In Their Eyes.

Expected in cinemas next year, the new US version sees a tight-knit team of FBI investigators – Ray (Chiwetel Ejiofor) and Jess (Roberts), along with their District Attorney supervisor Claire (Nicole Kidman) – torn apart when Jess’s teenage daughter is brutally murdered.

The cast for The Secret In Their Eyes also includes familiar TV faces Dean Norris (Breaking Bad, Under The Dome) and Michael Kelly (House Of Cards), while the director is Billy Ray, best known for the spy thriller Breach and his scripts for fi lms such as Captain Phillips and Flightplan.

Meanwhile, Kidman – whose latest fi lm Strangerland has just been released on DVD – has a number of new biopics in the pipeline. Queen Of The Desert sees her teaming up with James Franco and Robert Pattinson for the true story of Middle East adventurer and explorer Gertrude Bell, while Genius reunites her with Colin Firth in a fi lm based on the life of Max Perkins, the celebrated book editor editor of literary greats F Scott Fitzgerald (to be played by fellow Aussie Guy Pearce), Thomas Wolfe (Jude Law) and Ernest Hemingway (Dominic West).

banter in a splendidly foul-mouthed

NEW

SREE

L

6

TKE22_06-10_NewsReel.indd 6 15/07/2015 4:17 pm

EVERY DUFF HAS THEIR DAYON BLU-RAY & DVD AUGUST 12

ON BLU-RAY & DVD AUGUST 19

M Mature Audiences

M Mature Audiences

© 2015 CBS Films Inc. All rights reserved.

© 2014 InterActiveCorp Films, LLC. All Rights Reserved.


SLAVES OF NEW YORK

TAKE YOUR DAUGHTERS TO WORK DAYWith a new Jay and Silent Bob animated fl ick due on DVD this month, we thought it’s time for another update on the wacky world of Kevin Smith.

The cult icon has just wrapped his follow-up to his crazy horror comedy Tusk, the equally deranged-sounding Yoga Hosers, which stars his and Johnny Depp’s teenage daughters. Harley Quinn Smith and Lily-Rose Depp play yoga-loving convenience store workers, who battle an ancient evil that threatens their big invitation to a Grade 12 party. Depp Sr is also on board as a legendary Montreal man-hunter who comes to their aid.

Yoga Hosers is the second in what Smith is describing as his ‘True North

Trilogy’ and he is already at work in the fi nal installment, a creature feature called Moose Jaws. In a mischievous social media post last month, he even fl oated the idea of writing Jay and Silent Bob into the horror comedy; stay tuned for updates.

In the meantime, with the Mallrats sequel – to be called Mallbrats – still a little way off, fans should check out Jay & Silent Bob’s Supergroovy Cartoon Movie, in which the Doobage Duo win a pile of cash from a scratch card and use their winnings to transform themselves into superheroes. As well as Smith and long-time partner Jason Mewes, the fi lm features the voice talents of Jon Lovitz and Eliza Dushku, plus comic book icons Stan Lee and Neil Gaiman.

Indie icons, director Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig, have reunited for another quirky look at life in the Big Apple.

As with their last collaboration Frances Ha, Gerwig co-wrote and stars in Mistress America, playing another adventurous gal about town who takes a lonely college freshman and soon-to-be step sister Lola Kirke (Gone Girl) under her wing. The fi lm premiered at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year but an Australian release date is still to be confi rmed.

Meawhile, Baumbach’s latest DVD release While We’re Young reunites him with Ben Stiller, who starred alongside Gerwig in her fi rst big break, the 2010 comedy drama Greenberg. For more on While We’re Young, see the review on page 19.

LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!facebook.com/LEVideoOffi cial

CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE!leadingedgevideo.com.au

NEW

SREE

L

8

VV22_08_NewsReel.indd 8 16/07/2015 11:48 am

TAKE A MOVIE STAR HOME TONIGHT

hotnewreleases

12th AUG 20th AUG19th AUG12th AUG



Artwork not final and subject to change.

Artwork not final and subject to change.


Ciantic et volore et al od upla

decorpilium chen sengly doobem

COMIC-CON CRAZY

When it comes to sci-fi and fantasy fi lm news, Comic-Con is the place to be and this year’s San Diego event didn’t disappoint, even though the mighty Marvel were a no-show.

DC Comics and its studio parent Warner Bros took full advantage of the absence of their comic book rival by the trailing a dazzling array of upcoming blockbusters. As well as Zack Snyder’s Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, the Suicide Squad were out in force, with Aussie stars Margot Robbie (Harley Quinn) and Jai Courtney (Captain Boomerang) joining the likes of Will Smith (Deadshot), Joel Kinnaman (Rick Flagg) and Cara Delavingne (Enchantress) for a Q&A.

The TV sensation Empire will make its DVD debut next month, to coincide with the start of the second season Stateside.

Set within a world of music, glamour and power, the racy hip hop saga tells the story of music mogul Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard), who must choose which of his three sons will succeed him as head of Empire Entertainment. However, the game changes when his ex-wife Cookie (Taraji P. Henson) is released from prison and

demands her share of an empire she helped build.

Devised by Lee Daniels (The Butler), there was no word at presstime on when season 2 will air here, but it is due to premiere in the US on September 23 and will feature guest appearances from the likes of Chris Rock and R&B superstar Alicia Keys.

In the meantime, Howard can been seen on DVD this month in a very different role in the chilling M. Night Shyamalan’s TV series Wayward Pines.

GANGSTA PARADISE

The Star Wars crew were also out in force and the latest behind the scenes footage from the movie reaffi rms that the rebooted saga will be one of the biggest releases of all time. Other highlights of this year’s Comic-Con included what is likely to be a fi nal panel appearance for the Hunger Games gang, an entertaining look at Quentin Tarantino’s new western The Hateful Eight, a rapturously received fi rst look at the X-Men spin-off Deadpool and updates on TV shows as diverse as Game Of Thrones, Doctor Who, Ash vs. Evil Dead, Sherlock and Hannibal.

NEW

SREE

L

10

TKE22_06-10_NewsReel.indd 10 16/07/2015 11:42 am

HAVE A PITCHIN’ GOOD TIME ON BLU-RAY™ & DVD AUGUST 6!

“ACA-AWESOME”– FILMINK

Sexual references


PITCH PERFECT 2 AUG RENTAL FPA 964478.indd 1 14/07/2015 12:11 pmAD TEMPLATE.indd 8 16/07/2015 9:33 am

A lthough Veronica Roth’s debut novel Divergent attracted plenty of plaudits, it was with the release

of the follow-up Insurgent that the series truly took off. The trilogy became a young adult publishing phenomenon, going on to rack up more than 30 million sales around the world and with the huge box offi ce success of The Hunger Games, it wasn’t long before Hollywood came calling.

While she has not been directly involved in the screenplays for Divergent and Insurgent, Roth has been a valuable sounding board and resource for the producers. And for her part, she appreciates the care the producers put into adapting her work – even if, inevitably, she knew that there would need to be some

succeeded in preventing the evil Jeanine (Kate Winslet) using mind-controlled Dauntless troops to exterminate the population of Abnegation. However, the stakes are raised dramatically as Tris and her fellow Divergents are hunted throughout the city by Jeanine’s brutal militias as she seeks to unlock the secrets of a fi ve-sided locked box found at the home of Tris’s late mother.

For Roth, writing Insurgent allowed her to fl esh out Tris’ world in a way she wasn’t able to do in Divergent, partially because the fi rst book was written in the fi rst person. “It’s a little bit like growing up,” the author says. “When you’re a child, the world is very small, and when we get older, we realise how large the world really is.

divergence from her written word when bringing the 500 page plus Insurgent to the big screen.

“In the book, there’s more freedom to do a weird structure and explain things slowly,” she explains. “But on screen, it has to be fast and concise and clear. I’m always really open-minded to change as long as it creates a better and stronger story. One thing that was very important to me was to ensure that the dynamic between Tris and Four remained the same, and that she is still the primary mover of the plot. And in Insurgent, it is still Tris’ story.”

Insurgent picks up three days after the end of Divergent, when Tris (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James)

12

TESTING TRISTESTING TRISTESTING TRISTESTING TRISTESTING TRISTESTING TRISIN THE SECOND INSTALLMENT OF THE DIVERGENT SERIES, YOUNG HEROINE

TRIS (SHAILENE WOODLEY) FACES FRIGHTENING NEW CHALLENGES AND RESPONSIBILITIES AS THE WORLD OF FACTIONS BEGINS TO SPLINTER. VERONICA

ROTH, THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE DIVERGENT TRILOGY OF BOOKS, EXPLAINS HOW TRIS’S WORLD IS FLESHED OUT IN INSURGENT.

RATED: M

AVAILABLE:August 12

STARS: Shailene Woodley, Kate Winslet, Jai Courtney, Naomi Watts

DIRECTOR: Robert Schwentke

DURATION: 119 mins

FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

TKE22_12-13_Insurgent_Feature.indd 12 15/07/2015 4:30 pm

SCREEN SIMS

TOP

TOTAL RECALL (1990)Arguably the granddaddy of all simulated reality movies, Paul Verhoven’s turbo-charged sci-fi thriller has Arnold Schwartzenegger reawakening some disturbing and long-buried memories when he goes on virtual vacation to Mars. The 2012 sequel is OK but this is still the real deal.

STRANGE DAYS (1995)This much under-rated VR chiller from Kathryn Bigelow (from a story by James Cameron) is well worth revisiting, even if its ‘futuristic’ 1999 setting seems rather quaint these days. Ralph Fiennes is great as a sleazy dealer in digital clips of real life memories, who stumbles across a sinister conspiracy when he downloads a real killing to his memory banks.

THE MATRIX (1999)The Washowskis took virtual reality to a whole new dimension with the still thrilling fi rst installment in their blockbuster trilogy. As well as learning to fi ght like a ninja through some cool SIMs, Keanu Reeves also manages to pull off some rather nifty time-distorting moves when back on virtual Earth.

INCEPTION (2010)A dream, within a dream, within a dream… Even on a second viewing, it’s not always easy to distinguish what is real and what is not in Christopher Nolan’s masterful sci-fi epic. But the mighty mind tricks and magnifi cent visual imagery still cast a captivating spell.

I knew she would do an excellent job,” comments Roth. “And then to top it off, I saw how incredibly nice she is! During fi lming, she sat at lunch in the big trailer with everybody. She was so down to earth and so funny.”

As is the norm these days, her fi nal novel in the series Allegiant is being split into two fi lms, but Roth is already looking forward to seeing her

concluding installment on the big screen.

“In Insurgent, we’re starting to see the incredible upheaval of the faction system,

while Jeanine is trying to keep everything under

control,” says the writer. “By the end, everything’s completely a mess and it’s really unclear what is going to happen from here. But I will say the big exciting thing about what happens next is that we get to see what’s outside the fence. In Allegiant, we get to follow Tris and Four into a place unlike anything they’ve ever known and unlike anything that we’ve seen.”

13

on the big screen.

to keep everything under

For Roth, writing Insurgent allowed her to fl esh out Tris’ world in a way she wasn’t

able to do in Divergent

For Roth, writing For Roth, writing allowed her to fl esh out Tris’ allowed her to fl esh out Tris’ world in a way she wasn’t world in a way she wasn’t

able to do in able to do in

Insurgent is the world getting a little bit bigger and Tris is experiencing that in a very literal way. First it’s one faction, then it’s two factions, then it’s the entire city of Chicago.”

Roth says each title in the series was intended to describe a different aspect of Tris. “One of the defi nitions of the word ‘insurgent’ is someone who rises up in peaceful opposition to an established authority. That is exactly what Tris does in Insurgent. She’s traumatized from what happened at the end of the fi rst installment, but she has to fi gure out a different way of fi ghting the system than with a gun alone.”

Insurgent sees the introduction of a number of new characters, including one of Roth’s favourites from her book Johanna, played here by Octavia Spenser. The latter is also a published author and they had met previously at a book expo. “It was really fortuitous that Octavia would want to work on this movie because she’s an extremely talented actress and

TKE22_12-13_Insurgent_Feature.indd 13 15/07/2015 4:31 pm

… THEY CRIED MORE, MORE, MORE! YES, ACAPELLA SENSATIONS THE BARDEN BELLAS ARE BACK IN PITCH PERFECT 2, WITH AUSSIE COMIC

REBEL WILSON ONCE AGAIN HITTING ALL THE RIGHT NOTES.

RATED: M

AVAILABLE: August 6

STARS: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld, Brittany Snow

DIRECTOR: Elizabeth Banks

DURATION: 115 mins


14

You don’t even have to pay me then. I’ll just do this

movie for free

REBEL YELL...REBEL YELL...� th a

IIt didn’t take much to persuade Rebel Wilson to reprise her role of Fat Amy in the sequel

to the surprise music comedy hit Pitch Perfect.

“When I heard about it, I was like, ‘do I get to have a solo in this one?’ And then I found out I did, so I was totally in,” she jokes. “Then I asked, ‘do I get to have a naked shower scene in this one?’ When they said, ‘Yes,’ I told them, ‘You don’t even have to pay me then. I’ll just do this movie for free’.’”

Actually, as it turns out, a different sort of nudity plays a key part in Pitch Perfect 2, which this time is

directed by Elizabeth Banks (who also reprises her role of commentator Gail Abernathy-McKadden-Feinberger). When the fi lm opens, the Barden Bellas are basking in the success of being America’s top acapella group and are about to entertain

the President Barack Obama at the Kennedy Center.

However, Fat Amy’s embarrassing wardrobe malfunction – soon dubbed ‘Muffgate’ by the media – leads to them being banned from all acapella competitions. Their only way back is to win the world championships, an event dominated by the dauntingly slick German supergroup Das Sound Machine.

For Wilson, the hardest thing about the Muffgate scenes was that it involved aerial work – and she is actually scared of heights.

“Before we started fi lming, I got a call from Elizabeth asking me if I would be willing to attempt aerial stunts,” Wilson recalls. “So they sent me the fi rst eight pages of the script with this scene, and I thought it was funny and a great ‘fl ashy’ opening.

“This might come as a surprise to you, but I’m actually not a stunt

lady with natural acrobatic talent. Before we did the boot camp in

Baton Rouge, I trained with my coach, Aloysia [Gavre], who’s

been in a number of Cirque du Soleil shows and is very

skilled in aerial stunts. I went to the Cirque school, and we trained three times a week for fi ve weeks. My favorite

TKE22_14-15_PitchPerfect2_Feature.indd 14 15/07/2015 4:34 pm

SCREEN TALENT SHOW CONTESTANTS

TOP

SALLY KENDOOAMERICAN DREAMZ (2006)Mandy Moore deliciously sent up her cutie pie popstar image as a ruthlessly ambitious contestant on the thinly disguised American Idol show of the title. She may sing country heartbreakers and look like the girl-next-door, but off camera she will do anything to win. “I would rather jab my eyeballs out with toothpicks and eat them than lose this thing,” she informs a sleazy agent.

FATHER TED AND FATHER DOUGALFATHER TED (1996)In one of the best episodes of the cult Irish sitcom, Father Ted (Dermot Morgan) and Dougal (Ardal O’Hanlon) decide to enter the Eurvision-ish ‘Song For Europe’. To everyone’s astonishment, their horrendous romantic ditty My Lovely Horse (“I want to shower you with sugar lumps / and ride you over fences / Polish your hooves every single day / and bring you to the horse dentist”) is chosen to become Ireland’s entry in the contest.

STEVEN CLARKGOD BLESS AMERICA (2011)He was only a minor character in Bobcat Goldthwait’s splendidly acidic comedy but a memorable one, summing up everything which likeable serial killers Joel Murray and Tara Lynne Barr hated about modern US society. After being humiliated by the judges of the talent contest for his truly awful version of Do You Know Where You Are Going To, Clark (Aris Alvarado) tries unsuccessfully to kill himself, thus earning himself a second shot on the show.

POSTMAN PATPOSTMAN PAT MOVIE (2014)In order to raise money for a much needed holiday for his wife and family, everyone’s favourite postman decides to enter the TV talent show You’re The One and quickly becomes a national superstar. That’s mainly because Ronan Keating took over from Stephen Mangan for the singing parts.

15

such a mixed bag all thrown into the one position of being in the Bellas. There is just something for everyone to relate to in our group. In this sequel there’s also a heap of new characters from other countries joining in the fun. The new German rivals are great new additions to the cast.”

As for her own character, Wilson appreciates that her character has a love story in this chapter of Pitch Perfect, with Fat Amy doggedly pursued by Bumper (Devine). Devine and Wilson had previously collaborated on the fi rst season of his hit TV show Workaholics and the pair appreciated the fact that Banks gave them room to improvise some their scenes.

“She let us do whatever,” Wilson recalls. “Some of our takes went on for 20 to 30 minutes. We were both crying at one point. Only a small percentage went into the fi lm – I hope on the DVD you’ll get to see more of our improvising.”

move as part of the 40-second stunt routine was one I liked to call ‘the Death Drop Spread Eagle.’ I am afraid of heights in real life, but Fat Amy is not, so I just had to be in my character and crush it.”

As well as Wilson, all the other original stars– Anna Kendrick, Brittany Snow, Anna Camp, Skylar Astin, Adam Devine, John Michael Higgins – are all back for the second fi lm, but there are also plenty of new faces, including two new Bellas, Hailee Steinfeld (True Grit) and Chrissie Fit (Teen Beach Movie). Other new additions to the cast include Katey Sagal (Sons Of Anarchy) as Steinfeld’s mum and a former Bella herself, Birgitte Hjort Sorensen (Borgen) as the co-leader of Das Sound Machine, and Keegan-Michael Key (Let’s Be Cops) as the recording studio boss Kendrick is interning for.

Wilson says of the newcomers: “Our two new Bellas are really endearing and funny. Together, we are

TKE22_14-15_PitchPerfect2_Feature.indd 15 15/07/2015 4:35 pm

There are no doubt blokes out there who think watching a Nicholas Sparks weepie should be restricted only to Valentine’s Day as a special treat for the woman in their lives. But if you’re under pressure to bring home something romantic for your partner, then the latest Sparks adaptation is probably your best bet. That’s because The Longest Ride boasts a fair bit of macho action as the leading man Scott Eastwood – yep, he’s Clint’s boy – is a pro rodeo rider, intent on taming a ferocious bull who has already caused him a few life-threatening injuries. Sure, the main thrust of the story involves his unlikely romance with city girl art student Britt Robertson, but even that is less teary than some previous Sparks’ adaptations. The two leads make for a likeable couple, as do Jack Huston and Oona Chaplin, whose parallel love story from the 1940s is related to Robertson by Alan Alda, who she and Eastwood save from a car accident. At the end of the day, The Longest Ride is still one for the ladies but, chaps, just think of the brownie points you will earn…

THE LONGEST RIDE

RATED: M

AVAILABLE: August 26

STARS: Scott Eastwood, Britt Robertson, Alan Alda

DIRECTOR: George Tillman Jr.

DURATION: 139 mins


IF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU’LL LIKE...

The Notebook The Best Of Me Dear John

FREEDOM 50 TO 1RATED: M AVAIL: Aug 5STARS: Cuba Gooding Jr., William Sadler, Sharon Leal, David Rasche DIRECTOR: Peter Cousens DURATION: 98 mins FORMATS: DVD

Powered by a rousing gospel soundtrack, this respectful period drama is essentially a tribute to the work of the Underground Railroad, tracking the perilous bid for freedom by a family of slaves led by the rightly bitter Cuba Gooding Jr. However, there is also a parallel fl ashback story involving John Newton (Bernhard Forcher), a slave trader whose experiences inspired him to write the standard Amazing Grace.

RATED: M AVAIL: Aug 6 STARS: Skeet Ulrich, Christian Kane, William Devane, Madelyn Deutch DIRECTOR: Jim Wilson DURATION: 110 mins FORMATS: DVD

Jim Wilson, best known as Kevin Costner’s regular producing partner, steps out on his own for this feel-good sporting drama about a group of misfi t New Mexico cowboys who take a punt on a crooked-footed racehorse called Mine That Bird and end up taking it to the legendary Kentucky Derby. Skeet Ulrich excels as the horse’s laconic trainer and the fi lm’s classic underdog theme will strike a chord with fans of fi lms like SeaBiscuit.

CAKE SKATING TO NEW YORKRATED: MA15+ AVAIL: Aug 12

STARS: Jennifer Aniston, Adriana Barraza, Anna Kendrick, Sam Worthington DIRECTOR: Daniel Barnz DURATION: 102 mins FORMATS: DVD

Jennifer Aniston gives a career best performance in this moving, gently quirky drama playing a misanthropic woman suffering from punishing back pain who is forced to re-evaluate her life following the suicide of a young woman (Anna Kendrick), who was in a support group she attends. Sam Worthington also gets to show his more sensitive side as Kendrick’s grieving partner. Classy stuff.

RATED: CTC AVAIL: Aug 19 STARS: Connor Jessup, Wesley Morgan, Gage Munroe, Matthew Knight DIRECTOR: Charles Minsky DURATION: 93 mins FORMATS: DVD

In this modest but involving teen drama, a group of Canadian teens decide to make use of colder-than-usual temperatures to skate from their hometown on the shores of the deeply frozen Lake Ontario to the Big Apple. The fi lm marks the directorial debut of cinematographer Charles Minsky and he ensures the stunning locations are beautifully rendered.

16

DR

AMA

TKE22_16-17_Drama.indd 16 15/07/2015 4:36 pm

Xxxxx

X

RATED: X

AVAILABLE: X

STARS: X

DIRECTOR: X

DURATION: X

FORMATS: XIF YOU LIKE THIS, YOU’LL LIKE...

X X X

NEW MOVIES INSTORE AUGUST 26 TH

www.watchandwin.net.au

JUSTICE IS A

LOADED GUN

LITTLE FRIENDS,

BIG MISCHIEF

FRIENDS,

MISCHIEF

FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN1 OF 5 COPIES OF

POUND OF FLESH OR ALFIE ATKINSVISIT

August 2015.indd 1 24/06/2015 2:37 pm

MCFARLAND USARATED: PG AVAIL: Aug 12STARS: Kevin Costner, Maria Bello, Carlos Pratts DIRECTOR: Niki Caro DURATION: 129 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

As with 50 to 1, this is one of those classic underdog sporting fl icks so beloved by Hollywood. Based on a true story, Kevin Costner is certainly in his element as a teacher who takes up a new position at a mainly Hispanic school and decides to form a cross country team. The accomplished direction of Niki Caro (Whale Rider) helps overcome the familiarity of the material.

If you loved the recent Oscar winner The Theory Of Everything, then this heartwarming British drama will be right up your street. Inspired by director Morgan Matthews’ own BBC documentary Beautiful Young Minds, Asa Butterfi eld plays brilliant teenage mathematician Nathan, who suffers from autism but manages to land a place in the UK squad for International Mathematical Olympiad. However, as well as having to come to terms with the fact he is no longer the smartest guy in the room, he also has to grapple with unfamiliar feelings for a young Chinese student (Jo Yang) who he befriends at the training camp. Butterfi eld is excellent as the confused adolescent, while Sally Hawkins is her usual terrifi c self as his mother, who will do anything for her boy, even though his autism means she gets nothing back in return.

X + Y

RATED: M


STARS: Asa Butterfi eld, Rafe Spall, Sally Hawkins, Eddie Marsan, Jo Yang

DIRECTOR: Morgan Matthews

DURATION: 111 mins


POSTHUMOUSRATED: M AVAIL: Aug 5 STARS: Jack Huston, Brit Marling, Tom Schilling, Lambert Wilson DIRECTOR: Lulu Wang DURATION: 90 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

A frothy comedy/drama, which also takes a few gentle potshots at the superfi ciality of the art world. Jack Huston plays the struggling artist who becomes famous when he is mistakenly believed to have committed suicide and decides to continue the charade by posing as his brother. However, things get complicated when he falls for journalist Brit Marling.

DR

AMA

TKE22_16-17_Drama.indd 17 16/07/2015 11:49 am

The Bellas are back! And once again the mix of classy karaoke and klutzy comedy makes for a winning combination. This time around, the champion acapella group is brought crashing down to earth when they are banned from all competition after a rather embarrassing wardrobe mishap involving Fat Amy (Rebel Wilson) at a live concert for President Barack Obama. The only way they can salvage their reputation is by winning the world championships, but with leader Anna Kendrick sidetracked by her internship at a recording studio, the Bellas struggle to recapture their old singing magic. As well as Kendrick and Wilson, most of the rest of the cast are back from the fi rst movie, while newer faces include Hailee Steinfeld (Ender’s Game), and Danish star Birgitte Hjort Sorensen. Elizabeth Banks adeptly takes over the directorial reins, as well reprising her role as competition commentator – and as with the fi rst movie, she and her politically incorrect co-host John Michael Higgins end up stealing the show.

PITCH PERFECT 2

RATED: M

AVAILABLE: August 6

STARS: Anna Kendrick, Rebel Wilson, Hailee Steinfeld, Brittany Snow

DIRECTOR: Elizabeth Banks

DURATION: 115 mins



Glee Bring It On School Of Rock

The best teen movies set about subverting the usual clichés of high school life and like hits such as Mean Girls and Easy A, the debut feature from Ari Sandel provides a refreshing spin on adolescent angst and romance. Much of that is down to a terrifi c turn from Mae Whitman (TV’s Parenthood), a geeky teen, who is lucky enough to be best pals with two of the school’s hottest babes. However, her fortunes take a turn for the worse when her hunky neighbour, school stud Robbie Amell, tells her she is actually a DUFF – the Designated Ugly Fat Friend, whose main role is to be a go-between for her cooler pals. Aside from the obligatory queen bitch (Bella Thorne), most of the teen characters are nicely observed and there is also able support from Allison Janney as Whitman’s self-help guru mum and Ken Jeong as a teacher.

THE DUFF

RATED: M


STARS: Mae Whitman, Robbie Amell, Bella Thorne, Bianca A. Santos

DIRECTOR: Ari Sandel

DURATION: 101 mins


MATCH UNFINISHED BUSINESS

RATED: M AVAIL: Aug 26STARS: Patrick Stewart, Carla Gugino, Matthew Lillard DIRECTOR: Stephen Belber DURATION: 89 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

Based on his play of the same name by Stephen Belber, Match is a melancholic but witty three-hander about a former ballet dancer (Patrick Stewart) who agrees to be interviewed by Carla Cugino and her husband Matthew Lillard for a university paper she is working on. However, it soon becomes clear that Lillard in particular has a secret reason for meeting him.

RATED: MA15+ AVAIL: Aug 12STARS: Vince Vaughn, Tom Wilkinson, Dave Franco, Sienna Miller DIRECTOR: Ken Scott DURATION: 91 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

A sort of business trip version of National Lampoon’s Vacation, with Vince Vaughn and his two employees, grumpy veteran Tom Wilkinson and the dim-witted Dave Franco, driven to increasingly desperate measures to close a deal to save the company. Rude and lewd, it’s also sure to raise a smile from anyone who has been abroad on business.

Unfi nished BusinessMatchWhile We’re YoungPaul Blart Mall Cop 2Welcome To Me

18

COM

EDY

TKE22_18-19_Comedy.indd 18 15/07/2015 4:38 pm

Xxxxx

XXX

RATED: X

AVAILABLE: X

STARS: X

DIRECTOR: X

DURATION: X


X X X

FROM THE DIRECTOR OF

SAW V

ON BLU-RAY & DVD AUGUST 5

“...a guilty pleasure movie” Upcominghorrormovies.com

THOMASJANE

JAMESMARSDEN

PIPERPERABO

AND BILLY BOBTHORNTON

PAUL BLART: MALL COP 2

WELCOME TO ME

RATED: PG AVAIL: Aug 20 STARS: Kevin James, Raini Rodriguez, Eduardo Verastegui, Daniella Alonso DIRECTOR: Andy Fickman DURATION: 94 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

Kevin James’ belated follow-up to his 2009 hit about the adventures of a shopping centre security man sees the action switch to Las Vegas and an industry convention.However, it’s not long before our hero stumbles across Neal McDonaugh and his gang of casino thieves. Fans of the original will feel right at home with the the slapstick and low-brow hijinks.

RATED: MA15+ AVAIL: Aug 20STARS: Kristen Wiig, Wes Bentley, Linda Cardellini, Joan Cusack DIRECTOR: Shira Piven DURATION: 105 mins FORMATS: DVD

Despite the success of Bridesmaids, Kirsten Wiig has not been afraid to explore more experimental fare, but this might be her weirdest outing yet. She plays a bipolar woman who wins the lottery and uses the money to launch her own Oprah Winfrey-like cable show. It’s utterly bonkers but Wiig is terrifi c as usual and the starry cast also includes the likes of James Marsden and Tim Robbins. Worth a punt.

One of the best scenes in Noah Baumbach’s acidic comedy/drama Greenberg had Ben Stiller railing against the millennial generation to some bemused teenagers. And it’s that generational confl ict that is at the heart of their latest collaboration, the wonderfully wry While We’re Young. Stiller plays a documentary fi lmmaker who is fl attered when he is befriended by young hipster movie director Adam Driver. The pair, together with their wives Naomi Watts and Amanda Seyfried, become inseparable, until Stiller begins to suspect that his new pal – who has just begun work on a documentary – might have an ulterior motive in becoming his best bud. As in Greenberg, Stiller is excellent in a largely unsympathetic role and the other leads are equally as good. Look out, too, for a welcome return to the screen for Charles Grodin (Midnight Run) as Stiller’s father-in-law.

WHILE WE’RE YOUNG

RATED: CTC


STARS: Ben Stiller, Naomi Watts, Adam Driver

DIRECTOR: Noah Baumbach

DURATION: 97 mins


COMEDY

TKE22_18-19_Comedy.indd 19 16/07/2015 11:17 am

THE HARVEST THE LAZARUS EFFECT

Free from the necessary but time-consuming scene-setting of the fi rst fl ick, the second chapter in the Divergent saga shifts up a gear with the emphasis here fi rmly on action. Tris (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James) barely have time to draw breath before they are once again on the run from the Erudite faction, led by the ruthless Jeanine (Kate Winslet). She is convinced that only a Divergent has the ability to unlock a mysterious box that might hold the key to the world’s future, so she starts hunting them down and subjecting them to a harrowing SIM testing process to fi nd the right candidate. Winslet enjoys more screen-time this time around and looks to be having a ball as the villain, while of the newcomers, Naomi Watts makes an immediate impact as the leader of the Factionless. Armed with a bigger budget, director Robert Schwentke stages some impressive set-pieces and sustains a relentless pace throughout, ensuring that Insurgent largely sidesteps the middle story blues that affl ict some series.

THE DIVERGENT SERIES - INSURGENT

RATED: M


STARS: Shailene Woodley, Kate Winslet, Jai Courtney, Mekhi Phifer

DIRECTOR: Robert Schwentke

DURATION: 119 mins



RATED: MA15+ AVAIL: Aug 19STARS: Samantha Morton, Michael Shannon, Peter Fonda, Charlie Tahan DIRECTOR: John McNaughton DURATION: 104 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

In this unnerving chiller, Samantha Morton is a creepy control freak who doesn’t approve of the friendship that develops between her sick young son (Charlie Tahan) and a new neighbour (Natasha Calis). Add in Michael Shannon as her husband (even he’s scared of Morton!) and Peter Fonda, and you have a cult fave just waiting to be discovered.

RATED: M AVAIL: Aug 5STARS: Mark Duplass, Olivia Wilde, Sarah Bolger, Evan Peters DIRECTOR: David Gelb DURATION: 80 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

These boffi ns never learn do they? In this modern spin on Frankenstein, a team of researchers led by Mark Duplass and Olivia Wilde are close to developing a serum that potentially could bring the dead back to life. But when their program is shut down and Wilde dies in a lab accident, Duplass decides to test out the drug on her, with disastrous consequences.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire The Maze Runner Ender’s Game

This suitably sweaty crime caper marks the welcome return of the submarine movie, a genre which has been out of fashion since its ‘90s heyday of fi lms such as Hunt For Red October and Crimson Tide. Jude Law plays an embittered former submarine commander who, after being made redundant, embarks on an audacious mission to recover a hoard of Nazi gold in the Black Sea. However, it doesn’t take long for tensions to fl are among his multinational crew and an already perilous salvage operation soon turns into a desperate battle of survival. A buffed-up Law is impressive as the increasingly obsessive captain and there is great support from scene-stealers like Ben Mendelsohn, Michael Smiley and Scott McNairy. Some of the plotting beggars belief, but director Kevin Macdonald expertly captures the clammy terror of being on board a sub.

BLACK SEA

RATED: M


STARS: Jude Law, Karl Davies, Llewella Gideon, Jodie Whittaker

DIRECTOR: Kevin MacDonald

DURATION: 114 mins


20

TH

RIL

LER

TKE22_20-21_Thriller.indd 20 15/07/2015 4:39 pm

Xxxxx

XXX

RATED: X

AVAILABLE: X

STARS: X

DIRECTOR: X

DURATION: X


X X X

Disney Channel favourite Nick Jonas makes a brave effort to ditch his tween idol image in this steamy thriller that takes its cues from modern noir hits like Body Heat and Bound. A somewhat shy student holidaying with his parents at their lakeside retreat, Jonas falls under the spell of his new neighbour (Australian star Isabel Lucas), the gorgeous young trophy wife of brutish millionaire Dermot Mulroney. The pair begin a secret affair, but when she confi des in Jonas that her husband beats her, you just know that it’s not going to end well for the lust-struck teen. Jonas and Lucas make for attractive young leads, while veterans Mulroney and Paul Sorvino as the wily local sheriff bring some much needed gravitas to the table. Long-time genre fans won’t have much diffi culty in spotting the twists in the tale, but it’s an enjoyable ride all the same.

CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR

RATED: M

AVAILABLE: August 5

STARS: Isabel Lucas, Dermot Mulroney, Nick Jonas, Kandyse McClure

DIRECTOR: Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum

DURATION: 86 mins


© 2014 PINNACLE FILMS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

It’s a busy old DVD month for Britt Robertson, the young star of Tomorrowland. As well as taking the lead role in the latest Nicholas Sparks tearjerker The Longest Ride she also pops up in a brace of indie fl icks in August: Cake (reviewed on page 16) and this intense teen drama. The lead role goes to Nick Krause (Boyhood), a troubled adolescent who looks poised to embark on a high school massacre. In fl ashback, we learn what has brought him to this point: bullied by both his redneck father (True Blood’s Sam Trammell) and his fellow students, his only friends are the geeky Ryan Lee (This Is 40) and a new bad girl in town (Robertson), both of whom have mental issues of their own. It’s a testament to director Tim McGann’s skill that you are kept guessing right to the end whether Krause will go through with his bloody mission.

WHITE RABBIT

RATED: MA15+

AVAILABLE: August 5

STARS: Nick Krause, Britt Robertson, Sam Trammell, Ryan Lee

DIRECTOR: Tim McCann

DURATION: 86 mins

FORMATS: DVD

TH

RILLER

TKE22_20-21_Thriller.indd 21 15/07/2015 4:40 pm



Sexual references

PITCH PERFECT 2 RENTAL HPH AD 965177.indd 1 8/07/2015 2:54 pm

12 MONKEYS S1 THE FOLLOWING S2

In the fi rst book of his Wayward Pines trilogy, author Blake Crouch freely admits that it was inspired by the David Lynch classic Twin Peaks. That infl uence can certainly be seen in this superb TV adaptation from M Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense), but both the book and show boast a devastating twist that ensures that this is no pale imitation. The story centres on the seemingly picture postcard perfect small town of the title, in which Secret Service agent Ethan Burke (Matt Dillon) wakes up in after a bad car smash. He was sent to Wayward Pines to fi nd two missing agents, but soon realizes he has stumbled into a much sinister conspiracy. As well as being unable to leave (or even contact the outside world), one of his missing colleagues – and former lover – Kate (Carla Cugino) is now married and claims to have been living there for years! At this stage, it’s not known whether the show will be back for a second series, but it looks as if it has deviated enough from the books to make that an option. Let’s hope they take it up.

WAYWARD PINES SEASON 1

RATED: MA15+


STARS: Matt Dillon, Carla Gugino, Toby Jones, Shannyn Sossamon

WRITER: Chad Hodge

DURATION: 600 mins

FORMATS: DVD


RATED: MA15+ AVAIL: Aug 6STARS: Aaron Stanford, Amanda Schull, Barbara Sukowa, Kirk Acevedo DIRECTOR: Jeffrey Reiner DURATION: 589 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

With a second season in the works, there are clearly plenty more bewildering time-twists in store for this reboot of Terry Gillam’s 1995 sci-fi classic. The TV version sticks to the same basic premise – a man (Aaron Stanford) is sent back from the future to prevent a catastrophic plague – but adds intriguing new layers of conspiracy into the mix. A must for sci-fi buffs.

RATED: MA15+ AVAIL: Aug 5STARS: Kevin Bacon, Shawn Ashmore, James Purefoy, Valorie Curry DIRECTOR: Marcos Siega DURATION: 738 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

It’s not always clear who exactly is following who in the second season of this serial killer thriller, but it remains as devilishly entertaining as ever. Here, Ryan Hardy (Kevin Bacon) reluctantly returns to the FBI when an attack on passengers on a subway train suggests that cult leader Joe Carroll (James Purefoy) may not have died after all. And to make matters worse, it seems a new clan of killers are eager to work with him.

Twin Peaks Persons Unknown The Prisoner

SUITS S4 STRIKE BACK S3

RATED: M AVAIL: Aug 6STARS: Gabriel Macht, Patrick J. Adams, Rick Hoffman, Meghan Markle DIRECTOR: Anton Cropper DURATION: 701 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

The latest season of this witty legal drama fi nds Mike (Patrick J Adams) – now working at an investment bank – and mentor Harvey (Gabriel Macht) on opposing sides in a takeover battle. However, that’s just one of several story arcs that play out in series 4, which also features a new partner (DB Woodside) and a new nemesis in crooked billionaire Eric Roberts.

RATED: R18+ AVAIL: Aug 5STARS: Philip Winchester, Sullivan Stapleton, Michelle Lukes, Rhashan Stone DIRECTOR: Michael J. Bassett DURATION: 470 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

Now as well-drilled as the show’s lethal heroes, Strike Back remains a guilty pleasure. Unlike the last series which was set mainly in Africa, season 3 sees Section 20 pursuing a deadly terrorist network and its drugs cartel backers across a number of continents. Sadly no Charles Dance this time, but newcomers include familiar Brit faces like Dougray Scott and Robson Green.

22

TV

TKE22_22-23_TV.indd 22 16/07/2015 11:01 am



Sexual references


PITCH PERFECT 2 RENTAL HPH AD 965177.indd 1 8/07/2015 2:54 pm

Having successfully outfoxed his rivals to take over the US presidency, Francis Underwood (Kevin Spacey) is determined to stick around for more than just half a term. He also wants to leave a lasting legacy. However, others in his party – including some old allies - are already looking elsewhere for the next campaign, while he fi nds an even more ruthless foe on the international stage in the shape of the Russian president (Lars Mikkelsen). With strains also emerging in his relationships with loyal aide Stamper (Michael Kelly) and wife Claire (Robin Wright) – who is now a UN ambassador – Underwood certainly has his work cut out in the third season. Despite a few unlikely plot twists, House Of Cards remains essential viewing, with Spacey’s charismatic leader of the Free World one of television’s most memorable villains.

HOUSE OF CARDS S3

RATED: M

AVAILABLE: August 6

STARS: Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Kristen Connolly, Nathan Darrow

DIRECTOR: Jon David Coles

DURATION: 725 mins


NCIS S12 THE KNICK S1

RATED: MA15+ AVAIL: Aug 26STARS: Mark Harmon, Michael Weatherly, Cote De Pablo, Pauley Perrette, Sean Murray DIRECTOR: Tony Wharmby DURATION: 1224 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

Who would have thought that this spin-off from JAG would go on to last 12 seasons, let alone spawn two spin-offs of its own? Still, it must be doing something right because Season 13 has already got the greenlight. The latest series doesn’t deviate too far from its winning formula, although be warned: it ends with a shocking cliffhanger.

RATED: R18+ AVAIL: Aug 19STARS: Grainger Hines, Katrina E. Perkins, Clive Owen, Andre Holland, Jeremy Bobb DIRECTOR: Steven Soderbergh DURATION: 682 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

Unlike some fi lmmakers who are content to take a backseat role in their television projects, Steven Soderbergh not only executive produces this stylish period medical drama but directed every episode. That means The Knick is a class above most mainstream hospital series, although the relatively primitive medical practices of the early 1900s means it is a show not for the squeamish.

TV

TKE22_22-23_TV.indd 23 16/07/2015 11:04 am

AWOL-72 INTO THE GRIZZLY MAZE

RATED: MA15+ AVAIL: Aug 26STARS: Luke Goss, RZA, Bokeem Woodbine, Heather Roop DIRECTOR: Christian Sesma DURATION: 82 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

Reliable rental action man Luke Goss teams up with rapper RZA for this overly convoluted but fast-paced espionage yarn. He’s an AWOL marine in possession of some secret stuff, while hip hop star is the LAPD cop charged with tracking him down However, the latter is the least of Goss’s problems with some Russian special ops agents and a lethal assassin (Bokem Woodbine) also on his trail.

RATED: MA15+ AVAIL: Aug 5STARS: James Marsden, Piper Perabo, Billy Bob Thornton, Scott Glenn DIRECTOR: David Hackl DURATION: 90 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

An impressive A-list cast has been assembled for this killer creature feature, which fi nds a grizzly going on the rampage after poachers disturb his natural habitat. James Marsden and Thomas Jane are the estranged brothers trying to escape the beast, while Billy Bob Thornton channels Jaws’ Captain Quint as the bear-hating hunter determined to take it down.

With a box offi ce take almost double that of the previous installment, this franchise amazingly has never been more popular. That’s probably because Fast & Furious 7 is the biggest, baddest F&F adventure yet and a fi tting swansong for series star, the late Paul Walker. The latest chapter begins pretty much where the last ended, with Jason Statham joining the franchise as the vengeful brother of Fast & Furious 6’s main baddie Luke Evans. After he kills Han (Sung Kang) and hospitalises Hobbs (Dwayne Johnson), Toretto (Vin Diesel) and the rest of the crew reluctantly team up with a shadowy government agent (Kurt Russell) to track down the lethal Brit. The other major new addition to the cast is Game Of Thrones hottie Nathalie Emmanuel as a hacker, while a cameo from Lucas Black, the almost forgotten star of the third F&F fi lm Tokyo Drift, is a nice touch. Loaded with explosive action and an array of cars that seem to spend as much time in the air as they do on the ground, this will delight long-time fans and create a host of new ones.

FAST & FURIOUS 7

RATED: M


STARS: Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Jason Statham, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster

DIRECTOR: James Wan

DURATION: 137 mins



Fast & Furious 6 Gone In Sixty Seconds The Transporter

THE VIRGINIAN THE GUNMANRATED: M AVAIL: Aug 26STARS: Trace Adkins, Ron Perlman, Victoria Pratt DIRECTOR: Thomas Makowski DURATION: 96 mins FORMATS: DVD

Based on the 1904 novel widely regarded as the fi rst true western, the latest screen adaptation fi nds country star Trace Adkins taking on the role of the honourable Wyoming ranch enforcer. It’s a somewhat revisionist take on the story, with our eponymous hero beginning to question the autocratic practices of his cattle baron boss (Ron Perlman). However, fans of classic oaters will fi nd much to like here.

RATED: MA15+ AVAIL: Aug 20STARS: Sean Penn, Jasmine Trinca, Javier Bardem, Ray Winstone DIRECTOR: Pierre Morel DURATION: 115 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

Taking a leaf out of Liam Neeson’s geri-action handbook, Sean Penn is the former mercenary turned African relief worker who is reluctantly drawn back into a world of violence when an old assassination assignment comes back to haunt him. Penn enjoys himself as the lethal action man, while Javier Bardem, Ray Winstone, Idris Elba and Mark Rylance provide suitably heavyweight support.

AWOL-72VirginianGunmanFast & Furious 7Into The Grizzly Maze

24

ACT

ION

TKE22_24_Action.indd 24 16/07/2015 11:05 am


© 2015 PRONE GUNMAN AIE – NOSTROMO PICTURES SL – PRONE GUNMAN LIMITED.


AVAILABLE ON BLU-RAY™ & DVD 20 AUGUSTMild violence

Strong violence and coarse language

PAUL BLART 2_GUNMAN AUG RENTAL FPA 964477.indd 1 15/07/2015 2:55 pmAD TEMPLATE.indd 8 16/07/2015 9:46 am

Based on a story by George Lucas, Strange Magic is essentially an animated jukebox musical with a host of classic pop tunes designed to keep grown-ups distracted while kids concentrate on the fairytale shenanigans. The breathless plot revolves around two magical worlds, The Fairy Kingdom and the Dark Forest, whose border is marked by rows of primrose fl owers, the key ingredient in love potions. Alan Cumming voices the Bog King, who has no time for love, while Evan Rachel Wood is the young fairy princess Marianne who becomes disillusioned with romance when she discovers that her betrothed is cheating on her. However, don’t worry too much about the plotting, instead soak up an eclectic retro soundtrack, which includes remakes of classics from the likes of Elvis Presley,Heart, The Troggs and the Four Tops.

STRANGE MAGIC

RATED: PG


STARS: Alan Cumming, Evan Rachel Wood,Elijah Kelley, Meredith Anne Bull

DIRECTOR: Gary Rydstrom

DURATION: 95 mins

FORMATS: DVD

THE KINGS OF SUMMERRATED: M AVAIL: Aug 19STARS: Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso, Moises Arias, Nick Offerman DIRECTOR: Jordan Vogt-Roberts DURATION: 95 mins FORMATS: DVD

Recalling the golden hues of Stand By Me, this affecting coming-of-age tale fi nds three teens running away from home to live in a nearby forest. Nick Robinson (Jurassic World) is great as the young ringleader, although Parks and Recreation’s Nick Offerman gets the best lines as his sarcastic widower father.

BOYCHOIR

RATED: PG AVAIL: Aug 26STARS: Dustin Hoffman, Kevin McHale, Josh Lucas, Debra Winger DIRECTOR: Francois Girard DURATION: 103 mins FORMATS: DVD/Blu-ray

This triumph-over-adversity musical drama stars newcomer Garrett Wareing as a talented but untested singer who gets the chance to join the National Boychoir Academy. Dustin Hoffman is the jaded choirmaster who gradually warms to his raw new recruit, while the likes of Kathy Bates, Eddie Izzard and Debra Winger add an extra layer of class to the proceedings.

UMBRELLA_AD_HALF_PAGE.indd 1 9/07/2015 4:10 pm

FAM

ILY

TKE22_26_Family.indd 26 15/07/2015 4:48 pm

ON BLU-RAY & DVD AUGUST 12ON BLU-RAY & DVD AUGUST 12

LeadingEdge_Fullpg_DUFF_v2.indd 8 16/07/2015 4:50 pm

RUN ALL NIGHT

BACKTRACKWe don’t want you to miss any of the hot titles which, since we reviewed them last month, have been particularly rapid in hooning off the stores’ shelves! Here’s a look at fi ve you might have bypassed – so go on, snatch ‘em up.

Although still stacked with plenty of crowd-pleasing action, Liam Neeson’s latest fi nds him taking on a more nuanced role in this pleasingly gritty crime thriller. A story about the inescapable bonds of family, Neeson plays Jimmy Conlon, a former mob enforcer who is estranged from his boxer son Mike (Joel Kinnaman) and regarded as a joke by most of the members of the Irish gang run by his best friend Shawn Maguire (Ed Harris). However, when Mike inadvertently witnesses Shawn’s son Danny (Boyd Holbrook) killing some rival gangsters, Jimmy’s determination to protect his kin puts him on a collision course with his boss. Reunited with director Juame Collet-Serra (Taken, Non-Stop), Run All Night is closer in spirit to the hard-edged crime thrillers of the 70s than their usual high concept fare and is all the better for it.

28

TKE22_28-29_BACKTRACK.indd 28 15/07/2015 4:50 pm

KINGSMAN: THE SECRET SERVICE

PROJECT ALMANACOne of the most appealing things about this nifty time travelling yarn is what its teenage protagonists end up using their new found powers for. Instead of setting out to change history dramatically, science wiz David (Jonny Weston) and his pals have believably modest ambitions for the time machine they build from his late father’s blueprint. Aside from settling a few problems they are having at school, their biggest time travel trip sees them getting backstage at the Lollapalooza Music Festival; even an attempt to win millions on the lottery ends up backfiring on them. Of course, being a time travel movie, they eventually learn that messing with a history even in a seemingly minor way will have consequences, and events take a darker turn at the end. But for the most part Project Almanac makes for a most excellent adventure.

James Bond now has some serious competition in the spy game. Based on the comic book series from Kick-Ass creator Mark Millar and artist Dave Gibbons’, Kingsman: The Secret Service affectionately tips its hat to the espionage capers of the swinging Sixties, but director Matthew Vaughn spices things up with lashings of Tarantino-esque ultraviolence and knowing humour. Colin Firth is at his urbane best as the suave gentleman spy who takes council estate yob Taron Eggerton under his wing and grooms him for a career in the ultra-secretive (and very dapper) spy organisation. Samuel L Jackson hams it up for all it’s worth as lisping mega-villain, while the casting of Michael Caine as the chief Kingsman is a nice touch – Firth takes his sartorial cues from another iconic 60s spy, Caine’s Harry Palmer. Marvellous stuff.

MAGGIESince returning to Hollywood after his stint in politics, Arnold Schwarzenegger has shown a willingness to explore more adventurous roles and this heartbreaking zombie drama sees him a long way from his comfort zone. Set against the backdrop of a zombie apocalypse, Arnie plays an ordinary farmer whose only daughter (Abigail Breslin) has been infected with the disease of the undead. Unwilling to see her spend her final days in a quarantine zone, he brings her home, even though he knows that it is only a matter of time before she turns into a zombie. The big man gives his finest ever screen performance as the father who has to face to up to the fact that he will probably have to put his little girl out of her misery and he is more than matched by the terrific Breslin as the doomed teen.

TOP FIVELike the recent Birdman, Chris Rock’s witty comedy is about a Hollywood star famous for dressing up like an animal but who now wants to be taken seriously. However, unlike Michael Keaton’s washed up character, Rock’s stand-up comic Andre Allen is a huge Hollywood star, but is at a career crossroads. He knows he no longer wants to play a bear cop, but is also worried how his first major dramatic role will go down with fans and critics. His insecurities are played out over the course of a day he reluctantly spends with journalist Rosario Dawson, who works for a newspaper that is his harshest critic. Boasting winning supporting turns from the likes of Cedric The Entertainer and Tracy Morgan – plus cameos from Jerry Seinfeld, Whoopi Goldberg and Adam Sandler – Top Five is a warm and sharply-observed take on the fame machine.

29

TKE22_28-29_BACKTRACK.indd 29 15/07/2015 4:50 pm

Rebooting a classic franchise is often asking for trouble. Fans of the original are often angry their favourite fi lms have been tampered with, while newbies with no emotional connection to the series

can be equally unimpressed. A Mad Max fi lm without Mel Gibson would have seemed unthinkable a few years back, but director George Miller has triumphantly proved the sceptics wrong. With Tom Hardy now in the

driving seat, the rebooted Mad Max: Fury Road stays true to maverick spirit of the originals but is also one of the most exhilarating action fl icks of recent years. Available from September 2.

MAD MAX: FURY ROAD

British funnyman Simon Pegg heads the cast of this Aussie black comedy, playing a hitman caught up in three tales of murder and revenge. Due out on September 9.

Marvel’s mightiest superheroes reassemble to take on their most dangerous foe yet: a robot hell bent on human extinction. Available from September 16.

More hilarious Hollywood escapades from Vincent Chase and his posse, as the easy-going fi lm star sets his sights on directing. Check it out from September 16.

When the ever-curious Shaun decides to take the day off and do some exploring, he gets a little more action than he bargained for. Due out on September 24.

Queensland doubles for California in this big budget disaster fl ick starring action icon Dwayne Johnson. Available in-store from September 30.

Xxxxx

A SELECTION OF TITLES THE DVD STORK WILL BE DELIVERING NEXT MONTH

KILL ME THREE TIMES

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON

ENTOURAGE SAN ANDREAS SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE

EXT

RAS

30

TKE22_30_ComingSoon.indd 30 15/07/2015 4:51 pm

© 2

014

Focu

s Fe

atur

es L

LC. A

ll Ri

ghts

Res

erve

d.

AD TEMPLATE.indd 8 16/07/2015 12:06 pm

ON 3D, BLU-RAY & DVD 12 AUGUST™

™ &

© 2

015

SUM

MIT

ENT

ERTA

INM

ENT,

LLC.

ALL

RIG

HTS

RESE

RVED

.

[NYSE: LGF]

AD TEMPLATE.indd 8 16/07/2015 12:07 pm

Documents

YOUR GUIDE TO AUGUST’S HOTTEST RELEASES...Wayward Pines: Season 1, House Of Cards: Season 3, 12 Monkeys: Season 1, The Knick: Season 1 and more. 24 ACTION Fast & Furious 7, The Gunman,