Benjamin Britten – Peace and Conflict – director Tony Britten’s drama documentary about the early years of celebrated British composer Benjamin Britten (no relation) and the pacifism that affected his life and work. The official website is here and it contains details of screening locations here.

Grave of the Fireflies/My Neighbour Totoro – two classic manga animations now a quarter of a century old are given a dusting off at key cities only this comic drama follows a boy and his little sister as they struggle  to survive in WWII Japan. The StudioCanal website has a link at the bottom page to cinemas that are showing the film.

The King of Marvin Gardens  – Jack Nicholson proved his mettle in the 1970’s with a number of mature, male-led dramas, including this one with director Bob Rafelson. The drama concerns two brothers who team up for a number of get rich quick schemes in the developing Atlantic City. Showing at BFI Southbank and key cities around the UK only, the official site is here.

The Moth Diaries – American Psycho director Mary Harron has made only one feature length film in the 13 years that have elapsed (The Notorious Bettie Page). This production has had a troubled gestation and creation and is a horror drama about a new girl to an exclusive girls’ school (Lily Cole) pushing Sarah Bolger’s best friend away from her. Bolger suspects Cole is a vampire. The official site is here; the film will be showing at key cities only.

Something in the Air – French drama that follows a number of young people after the heady weeks of 1968 who decide the counter-revolution will continue and what they do next. The official IFC Entertainment site is here; the film will be showing at key cities only.

And on Wednesday 29 May…

The Big Wedding – long-divorced couple Robert De Niro and Diane Keaton have to pretend to be married again when one of their children gets married. Silly sounding comedy, a remake of a 2006 French film, that is the staple of De Niro’s 21st Century career. The official Lionsgate site is here; it will be showing nationwide.

 

Beware of Mr Baker – do we really need another documentary about a musical legend, his ex-wives, self-destruction and world travels to find inspiration? Apparently so; here we chronicle former Cream drummer ‘Ginger’ Baker. The official site is here; the film will show at key UK cities only.

Fast and the Furious 6 – and apparently we need another high octane, car chase thriller, following on the heels of last week’s Vehicle 19. That film’s Paul Walker makes an appearance here, with Vin Diesel and ‘The Rock’. The plot? Does it matter? Official Universal website is here; the film will play at most multiplexes nationwide; use this link to find out where.

The Liability – Tim Roth and Jack O’Connell star in this intriguing comedy as, respectively, a hit man who wants to retire and a young man who dreams of having that ‘career’. Official Facebook page is here; the film will show at key cities only.

The Stoker – Russian drama about a former soldier fallen on hard times who now works as a stoker, even living in his incinerator room. He writes a novel in his spare time, turning a blind eye to a former comrade turned hit man who disposes of dead bodies in the incinerator. But even this compliant man has his limits. Distributed by the Edinburgh Filmhouse, there are details about the film maker here it will, of course, be showing at key cities only.

And on Wednesday 22 May…

Epic 3D – animated fantasy from Fox, featuring the vocal talents of Beyonce and Colin Farrell, in what appears to be a simple morality tale about the fight between the forces of good and evil for control of the world. The official website is here; the film will show all over the UK.

And on Thursday 23 May…

The Hangover Part III – for a film whose title kinda gives the plot away, by the third instalment there is little need to waste too much precious finger energy on typing the plot out. Suffice to say the trio of lads on a perpetual bender are back in Las Vegas where their fun all began. The official website is here; the film will show pretty much everywhere.

 

Deadfall – Eric Bana was talking to the Metro today about the release of his new film, a taut looking thriller in which he and Olivia Wilde are siblings fleeing a casino heist. All goes well until they hit a State Trooper in bad weather. She holes up with nice guy Charlie Hunnam and his folks Sissy Spacek and Kris Kristofferson, meaning trouble for the nice family. The official site is here.

Go Goa Gone – Bollywood gets in on the ZomRomCom movie with this mixture of all genres starring Saif Ali Khan. The official website is here; it will be showing at key cities.

A Hijacking – topical film from Thomas Lindholm about a cargo ship that is boarded by pirates and the drama that ensues as negotiators try to set them free. The official website is here; it will be showing at key cities only.

Journey to Italy – director Roberto Rossellini teamed with his film star wife Ingrid Bergman for a number of films in the 1940’s and 1950’s. Here, she plays Katherine, bored wife to buisnessman George Sanders in a drama that looks at the deeper emotional and psychological truths in relationships. The official BFI website is here and contains details of screenings in key cities around the UK.

Mud – star Reese Witherspoon’s recent arrest for drink driving gave this a helpful little pre-launch publicity. She is Matthew McConaughey’s girlfriend and he is hiding out from bounty hunters after he killed a man in Texas. That is, until he is discovered by two boys. The official website is here; the film will be showing at key cities only.

Our Children – Belgian drama about a young wife trying her best to please her difficult father in law. It won Emilie Dequenne the Best Actress award at Cannes as the wife in question. Official Peccadilo Film website is here; it will be showing at key cities only.

The Reluctant Fundamentalist – Mira Nair’s (Vanity Fair) adaptation of Moshin Hamid’s bestseller about a young muslim stockbroker who becomes disenchanted with the West as his treatment in America subtley changes in the aftermath of 9/11. The official Mara Pictures profile is here, including screening locations.

Vehicle 19 – Fast & The Furious star Paul Walker really loves his car films. In this thriller he plays someone who picks the wrong rental vehicle, one that ties him to a web of corrupt police officers. Facebook page is here; this will be showing at the Empire Leicester Square only.

Village at the End of the World – director Sarah Gavron’s documentary looks at a traditional, dwindling community in remote Greenland and the pressures impacting on it and its inhabitants. The official website is here; it will be showing at these key cities.

And on Thursday 16 May…

The Great Gatsby – Baz Luhrmann’s long anticipated adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic critique of America during the roaring twenties, has a dream cast with Leonardo DiCaprio as Gatsby, Carey Mulligan as Daisy and Tobey Maguire as Nick. The official UK site is here; the film will be showing all over the UK.

21 and Over – From the writers of The Hangover, so it follows that drinking excessively is integral to the plot. Is cinema staggering toward a new genre, ‘The Pissup’? Two college guys who are already 21 take their medical student friend out to celebrate his 21st, even though he has an important interview the very next day. The official Tumblr site, while fun, aggravatingly doesn’t tell you any details about the movie, so go to Wikipedia here. Showing nationwide.

All Stars (3D) –  kiddytastic dance movie, part Glee, part Grange Hill, in which a group of kids put on a show to help save their local youth centre. Featuring Girls Aloud’s Kimberly Walsh. Showing nationwide; the official Vertigo Films website is here.

Cimpanzee – I highlighted an interesting Guardian article about film’s such as this last week. Directed by the BBC’s former Natural History Unit maestro’s Alastair Fothergill and Mark Linfield, this docudrama follows a young chimp who is left alone after a confrontation with a rival chimpanzee gang. Disney’s official site is here; the film will be showing all over the UK.

Come Out and Play – Mexican horror, a little like Village of the Damned, in which two soon-to-be parents take a holiday to an island where there are only children. Obviously, there’s something not quite right about them. The Facebook page is here, but it will only be showing on a limited run.

Dead Man Down – Colin Farrell and Noomi Rapace star in this thriller as two people drawn together by their desire for revenge. Terrence Howard and Dominic Cooper round off the star cast in this American debut for Niels Arden Oplev, the director of the original Girl With a Dragon Tattoo. This will be showing nationwide and the official website is here.

Dragon – Donnie Yen stars in this martial arts thriller about a reformed gang lord on the run and the detective who will stop at nothing to bring him down. Facebook page is here; the film will be shown on a limited run only.

Eye of the Storm – another article I picked up recently was an interview, again in The Guardian, with iconic Australian actress Judy Davis. She spoke about her role in this as Charlotte Rampling’s strange daughter who teams up with brother Geoffrey Rush to get their hands on their vast inheritance. If anything, it shows that these actors are continuing to make interesting cinematic choices. The official site is here; details of UK screenings are here.

Gimme the Loot – Bronx set drama in which two Graffiti artists embark on a journey to raise the funds to spray a New York landmark. The official site is here; the film will be showing at key cities only.

It’s Such a Beautiful Day – Don Hertzfeldt has been one of the world’s most inventive animator’s, making beguiling and sardonic line-drawing animations for nearly 20 years. This is his feature length debut. Showing at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in London only; screening dates and times are here.

I’m So Excited – Pedro Almodovar is in danger of becoming the Spanish Woody Allen; all that early fame and talent fading into nothing more than light, fluffy efforts as he enters his twilight years. This effort, described by himself as a light, very light comedy, is set on a plane and features cameos from Penelope Cruz and Antonio Banderas. Official Facebook page is here; the film will be showing at key cities only.

Robosapien – no, not a futuristic horror, but even more horrific, if merchandising cash-ins get your gooseflesh going. This is a live-action/animated film based on the titular toy. Robbie Coleman and Penelope Ann Miller star. The official Facebook page is here and it will, mercifully, be showing at key cities only.

And on Thursday 9 May…

Star Trek: Into Darkness – director J.J. Abrahms’ follow-up to his reinvigorating take on the old Trekkie format sees the crew of the Enterprise returning to Earth only to find that someone has decimated their fleet and left the world in crisis. It’s up to them to hunt down the man responsible. The official UK site is here; it will, of course, be showing at every cinema up and down the country.

The ABCs of Death – 26 directors tell 26 different stories about ways to die in this disjointed and distinctly odd looking horror/drama. The official site is here; there are details of what cinemas are showing it here.

Bernie – comedy starring Jack Black as the nicest man in town who meets  Shirley MacLaine, the meanest woman who ever lived and sets about trying to make her happy. But when she is found dead, could the eternally optimistic Bernie have done the deed the whole town wanted to commit? Matthew McConaughey co-stars for director Richard Linklater. The official website is here; it will be showing at key cities only.

In the Fog – interesting, if intense sounding, Russian drama about an innocent who is caught up in events during WWII and is forced to become a hero as events and history escalate around him. The official site is here; it will be showing at key cities only.

The Look of Love – lots of publicity around this biopic of Paul Raymond, the owner of the SoHo Review Bar, the first venue to show full frontal nudity in the UK, but who would probably choke on his Martini if he saw what you could download on your lap-top these days. Steve Coogan plays Raymond, Anna Friel is his wife and Michael Winterbottom, who also directed Coogan in 24 Hour Party People, handles the megaphone chores. Official Facebook page is here; the film should be playing in most places across the UK.

Lords of Salem – speaking of odd films, here is another, from director Rob Zombie. A radio station DJ (Sheri Moon Zombie, the director’s wife) is given a box containing a record from the ‘Lords of Salem’. After playing it, she starts going mad…but is it the Lords returning for revenge on her modern day town of Salem? Co-starring Bruce Davison and Judy Geeson, the official site is here and, perhaps unsurprisingly, it will only be showing on a limited run.

Scarecrow – Jerry Schatzberg’s 70’s classic sees Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman as a couple of losers and the oddball characters they meet as they realise Hackman’s dream of setting up his own car wash. The official Park Circus website is here and the film will be showing at key cities only.

White Elephant – inspired by the true story of Argentinian Priest Father Mugica, this film follows his fight, along with a fellow priest and a social worker, to help the residents of a Favela. The official Axiom Films site is here; the film will be showing at key cities only.

 

Bait – This 2012 Australian Deep Blue sees a group of people trapped in a supermarket after a Tsunami wave hits. Also trapped are two huge Great White Sharks. Showing at the Empire Leicester Square only, which says much in itself. Wikipedia has the rundown and the stats here (check out the box office returns).

F*ck for Forest – Polish/German film about a German Non Government Organisation’s idea that sex can save the world. By selling porn, they give the proceeds to a fund to plant more trees around the globe. The official Dogwoof studios is here, with screening details found here.

Love Is All You Need – Pierce Brosnan finds himself again meeting up with a woman he may have fathered a child with many years ago. Mama Mia!  This time around, it’s Trine Dyrholm who is the mama. Showing at key cities only; the official website is here.

Me And You – Bernardo Bertolucci’s first film in nine years as a director sees him shun the lavish scale of his most famous films and concentrate on the very private and intimate. A disturbed young man finds himself stuck in a basement flat with an older woman. No official site, but The Guardian has a review here.

Promised Land – Gus van Sant directs Matt Damon in a topical story about two corporate sales people trying to buy drilling rights from local people. Despite a wide release in America, this politically slanted drama didn’t do well in the states. Wikipedia has a little more details here; it will be shown over most of the UK.

Rebellion – Matthieu Kassovitz, the director behind the incendiary French drama La Haine (1995) directs and takes the lead role in this action thriller about a group of dissidents in an French colony attacking a police station and taking hostages. IMDb has the rundown here but will only be showing at limited locations (check your local cinema websites).

The Words – Writer Bradley Cooper is on the cusp of success after he authors the next, great American novel. Trouble is, he didn’t write it and discovers the price for stealing another man’s work. Sounds suspiciously like Josh Brolin’s conundrum in Woody Allen’s You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger. The official website is here.

And on Thursday 25 April…

Iron Man 3D – Well, there has to be a third movie squeezed out of any good film nowadays, rounding off a good franchise total the franchise and cashing in on a 3D format to help it along in multiplexes. Robert Downey Jr squares up to baddie Ben Kingsley as only the Iron Man knows how. Showing all over, the official Marvel site is here.