Film News South Africa

#OnTheBigScreen: Blade Runner, My Little Pony and Inconvenient Truth

This week, a new blade runner unearths a long-buried secret in the neo-noir science fiction thriller Blade Runner 2049, a man descends into violence and mayhem as he races against the clock to save his brother and himself in the crime-drama Good Time, the Mane 6 go on a journey to save their home in the animated adventure My Little Pony: The Movie, a couple deal with their cultural differences as their relationship grows in the romantic comedy The Big Sick, every wish a girl makes causes the people who are closest to her to die in violent and elaborate ways in the supernatural horror Wish Upon, the documentary An Inconvenient Truth Sequel: Truth To Power shows just how close we are to a real energy revolution, and art lovers can explore Venice through the eyes of its most famous artist in Canaletto & the Art of Venice.

Blade Runner 2049

In the neo-noir science fiction film Blade Runner 2049, Ryan Gosling plays officer K, a new blade runner for the Los Angeles police department, who unearths a long-buried secret that has the potential to plunge what’s left of society into chaos. His discovery leads him on a quest to find Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford), a former blade runner, who’s been missing for 30 years.

It is directed by Denis Villeneuve (Arrival) and written by Hampton Fancher and Michael Green.

Good Time

In the crime-drama Good Time, Constantine Nikas (Robert Pattinson) embarks on a twisted odyssey through New York City’s underworld in an increasingly desperate and dangerous attempt to get his brother out of jail. Constantine finds himself on a mad descend into violence and mayhem as he races against the clock to save his brother and himself; knowing their lives hang in the balance.

This crime-drama is directed by Ben and Josh Safdie and written by Josh and Ronald Bronstein.

My Little Pony: The Movie

This animated musical fantasy adventure is based on the television series My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. In order to stop a threat to the town of Ponyville, the ‘Mane 6’ - Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity - embark on a journey beyond their home kingdom of Equestria, meeting new friends, and overcoming challenges in the process.

The film is directed and written by Friendship Is Magic veterans Jayson Thiessen and Meghan McCarthy respectively.

An Inconvenient Truth Sequel: Truth To Power

A decade after An Inconvenient Truth brought the climate crisis into the heart of popular culture, comes the riveting and rousing follow-up that shows just how close we are to a real energy revolution.

Former US Vice President Al Gore continues his tireless fight, travelling around the world training an army of climate champions, and influencing international climate policy.

The Big Sick

A couple deal with their cultural differences as their relationship grows in this romantic comedy. Kumail is a Pakistani comic who meets an American graduate student named Emily at one of his stand-up shows. As their relationship blossoms, he soon becomes worried about what his traditional Muslim parents will think of her.

When Emily suddenly comes down with an illness that leaves her in a coma, Kumail finds himself developing a bond with her deeply concerned mother and father. Directed by Michael Showalter, from a screenplay by Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon.

Wish Upon

In this silly supernatural-horror Jonathan Shannon (Ryan Phillippe) gives his 17-year-old daughter Clare (Joey King) an old music box that promises to grant its owner seven wishes.

Skeptical at first, Clare becomes seduced by its dark powers when her life starts to radically improve with each wish. Everything seems perfect until she realises that every wish she makes causes the people who are closest to her to die in violent and elaborate ways.

It is directed by John R. Leonetti, from a screenplay by Barbara Marshall.

Exhibition On Screen: Canaletto & The Art Of Venice

The documentary features a remarkable group of over 200 paintings, drawings, and prints on display that offer an unparalleled insight into the artistry of Canaletto and his contemporaries, as well as the city he became a master at capturing.

The film also offers the chance to step inside two official royal residences – Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle – to learn more about the artist, and Joseph Smith; the man who introduced Canaletto to Britain.

Directed by David Bickerstaff and co-written by David Bickerstaff and Phil Grabsky, this film was shot in Ultra HD 4k and is based on the much-anticipated exhibition at The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace.

In cinemas for limited screenings from 7 October 2017.

Read more about the latest film releases at www.writingstudio.co.za

 

About Daniel Dercksen

Daniel Dercksen has been a contributor for Lifestyle since 2012. As the driving force behind the successful independent training initiative The Writing Studio and a published film and theatre journalist of 40 years, teaching workshops in creative writing, playwriting and screenwriting throughout South Africa and internationally the past 22 years. Visit www.writingstudio.co.za
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