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.

First Position – this documentary, that has won a clutch of film festival awards stateside, follows several young ballet dancers as they compete for a handful of scholarships and contracts to elite dance schools in America. The official website has the low-down here; it will be showing at key cities only.

Flying Blind – Helen McCrory is an aerospace engineer who begins an affair with a younger, Muslim man (Najib Oudghiri) who sparks a security scare when their passion for each other is found out. The official site is here, with screening locations here.

The Gatekeepers – in this documentary, six former members of Shin Bet, Israel’s secret service agency, talk about their past actions and decisions during the Six Day War. The official site is here.

Oblivion – epic and exciting looking sci-thriller, as one would expect form a Tom Cruise film. A future earth has been decimated beyond recognition following a conflict with an enemy known as the Scavs. Cruise is one of the few humans stationed on the planet but his life is changed when he rescues a beautiful stranger and the future of mankind is in his hands. Isn’t Cruise bored of saving the planet by now? He needs some new plots. Official website is here; the film will be showing nationwide.

The Place Beyond the Pines – real-life couple Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes star as, respectively, a circus motorbike stunt rider and his lover who has just given birth to his son. Giving up the big tent life, he starts committing a series of robberies. But ambitious cop Bradley Cooper is on his tail. IMDb has the low-down here; the film will be showing at most cinema across the UK.

Scary Movie 5 – really? Number 5? Surprised the series hasn’t run out of steam by now but, with Lindsey Lohan on board this time, perhaps the horror movie parody franchise’s death knell has been rung? Jam packed website but the jokes seem strained and obvious. Showing nationwide.

Simon Killer – Brady Corbet stars as Michael, handsome but with a slightly off-putting air to him who strikes up a relationship with exotic Parisienne prostitute Mati Diop. From the makers of Martha Marcy May Marlene. Official site is here; showing at key cities only.

Theorem – The BFI continue to show a series of films the then hated, now revered, Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini. This titillating sexual morality tale sees Terence Stamp as the handsome drifter who insinuates his way into a middle class house by sleeping with the father, mother (Sylvana Mangano), daughter, son, even the maid (Laura Betti, who won the best actress award at the Venice Film festival). The BFI’s site has more details here, including screenings in London, Scotland and Penzance.

And on Wednesday 17 April…

Olympus Has Fallen – President Aaron Eckhart is captured when terrorists take over the White House. Just happening to be inside is disgraced former Presidential bodyguard Gerard Butler. His insider knowledge is used to save the day. Actioneer showing at most big UK multiplexes, the official website is here.

And on Thursday 18 April…

Evil Dead – remake of Sam Raimi’s fondly remembered cult zombie horror from 1981. Five friends holed up in a remote cabin find a book of the dead and promptly summon the characters up, just to pass the time of day. And they instantly regret it. Showing nationwide; the official website is here.

 

All Things To All Men – no official site, but Facebook has a catchy poster here to draw you in. A thief is caught up in a game of cat and mouse between a cop and a London crime boss. The cast list includes mainstays of British film and theatre Toby Stephens, Rufus Sewell and Gabriel Byrne. MC Harvey is in support! Showing nationwide.

The Expatriate – it’s never a good sign when a film goes through a name change. Usually a sign of poor box office somewhere and a hasty re-marketing plan to hope the sh*t doesn’t stick, but Yahoo! Movies list a few examples here and other explanations. This one, originally called Erased, was retitled due to high piracy rates on initial release. Hmmm, depends on how good it is if you believe that. No official site, but IMDb has the low-down here; Aaron Eckhart is the ex-CIA man who is hunted by his former employers when they suspect he is part of a conspiracy. Showing at key cities only.

A Late Quartet – I love how Fox Film have banned the trailer for this film from their own website for people in the UK on “copyright grounds”; how else will you pull people in to see a film about the in-fighting, egos and health of a string quartet celebrating their 25th anniversary?! Not with this dull and perfunctionary website that’s for sure. The incredible cast includes Christopher Walken, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Catherine Keener so a shame we in the UK can’t see a bit of them at their best. Will be showing at most UK cinemas.

Mahmut & Meryem – Turkish historical romance about a young Sultanate heir who is more in love with the daughter of a monk (!) than following his father’s dreams for him of ruling as a tyrannical Emperor. The official Turkish site for this beautiful looking film is here; English speakers may want to use IMDb. London screenings only.

The Odd Life of Timothy Green – Disney whimsy with Jennifer Garner and Joel Edgerton as suburbanites who dream for a child of their own. Their wishes come true when young CJ Adams turns up on their doorstep one stormy night. Official Disney site is here; will be showing nationwide.

Papadopoulos and Sons – more credit crunch cinema, this one sees a multimillionaire facing rack and ruin when the latest financial crisis takes everything from him. Except the down and out Fish and Chip Shop he co-owns with his estranged brother. The official site is here and contains details of Cineworld screenings here.

Spring Breakers –  Selena Gomez is a party girl who, along with three friends, find themselves busted one night for possessing drugs. Local thug James Franco surprisingly bails them out and takes them on a spring holiday they’ll never forget. Who needs lawyers when you have James Franco with a full wallet?! Official website is here; showing all over.

Thursday Till Sunday – Chilean set drama about innocence and loss, seen through the eye of a 10 year old during a family car trip. Official Day for Night studios site is here with the trailer; showing at key cities only.

Finding Nemo 3D – a box office smash and firm favourite for anyone who loves animated film, this UK-wide re-release has the added benefit of being shown in 3D. Disney’s official UK site has a summary and trailer here.

Good Vibrations – British drama about Terri Hooley, a record store owner who helped develop Belfast’s punk scene. No official site, but there is a Facebook page here. Showing at key cities.

The Host – author Stephanie Meyer’s follow-up to her colossally successful Twilight series of books sees a young girl (Saorise Ronan) risk everything to save the people she loves when an unknown presence takes over humanity, erasing their memories. The cast is full of fitties, but wonder if they will have sex in this series? Controversial! The official website is here; showing nationwide.

In the House – the French Woody Allen (in terms of output and quality if not humour) Francois Ozon directs this thriller in which a young man (Ernst Umhauer) insinuates himself into the house of a classmate, the son of his teacher. He writes about this for the teacher who is amazed at his intelligence, but the boy’s presence unleashes a series of uncontrollable events. Official website here is in French; for those who need some info in English, check out IMDb. Key cities only.

King of the Travellers – Shame this didn’t come out last year, when the TV series My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding was the talk of the tabloid debate circuit and this drama, about a traveller avenging the death of his father, would have had great topicality. Showing at key cities only, the official Facebook page is here.

One Mile Away – Penny Woolcock’s film follows two Birmingham street gangs and their attempts to resolve the post code war between both sides. Official site is here; screening dates and locations are here.

Point Blank – the BFI screen John Boorman’s stylish 1967 crime thriller, with Lee Marvin as a criminal just released from Alcatraz and seeking revenge on those who got him jailed. But can he function in this new world? The BFI has screening locations here.

We Went To War – in 1970, director Michael Grigsby made a documentary about soldiers returning from Vietnam. Here, he returns to the three men he originally followed, updates their stories and finds links with soldiers returning from current conflicts. The official website is here and The Guardian carry an obituary here for the director, who sadly died on 13 March. The film will be on a limited run only.

And on Wednesday 3 April…

Dark Skies – You wait years for a film about unseen forces taking over the bodies of suburbanites and then two come along in the same week. What are the chances?!  This comes from the producers of Paranormal Activity; not an indication of much quality if you ask me, but the official Tumblr site here has some fun stuff in it. Showing nationwide.

 

Compliance – if you like your drama freaky and creepy, then try this on for size. A fast food restaurant manager (Ann Dowd) receives a phone-call, apparently from a policeman, saying one of her employees (Dreama Walker) has stolen money from one of their customers. Taking it upon herself, Dowd starts an investigation herself, following instructions from the policeman, no matter how invasive they become. Based on true events according to the media nonsense. Official Magnolia Pictures site is here; showing at key cities.

The Croods (3D) – animated fun from Disney/DreamWorks about the first modern stone age family who set off an adventure when their cave/home is destroyed. So…The Flintstones in 3D then? Official UK site is here and will be showing all over.

I, Superbiker: Day of Reckoning – Motorcross championship lover? Check this out then. Official site is here and will be showing at these cinemas across the UK.

Identity Thief – Jason Bateman discovers that Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids) is living the life of Reilly on his credit cards in this comedy from the director of Horrible Bosses. Official website is here and will be showing nationwide.

Jack the Giant Slayer (3D) – big-run on 3D movies this week. Nicholas Hoult (Warm Bodies) stars in the title role, a young farmer who reignites a war between men and giants when he accidentally opens up a portal between our two worlds. It’s up to him and Ewan MacGregor et al to save the day. Directed by X-Men’s Bryan Singer. Official Warner’s site is here; will be showing nationwide.

Neighbouring Sounds – Brazilian cinema continues to chuck out some searing drama, in this BFI/Sydney Film Festival nominated drama from director Kleber Mendonca Filho. A security firm is hired to help protect a group of bourgeoise people after a spate of petty thefts, uncovering simmering prejudices and tensions. Official website is here and it will be showing at key cities.

Post Tenebras Lux – this won best director at last year’s Cannes Film Festival. Using a series of unconnected images from past present and possible futures, the film centres around a wealthy industrialist facing a family crisis after he moves with them away from the trappings of modern society. Film screenings are here.

Reality – slightly self-absorbed sounding comedy from director Matteo Garrone with Aniello Areno as a fishmonger who appears on a reality TV show and finds he loses his own sense of reality. It might have worked and been more topical 10 years ago. Official website is here; will be showing at key cities only.

Reincarnated – Speaking of self-absorbed glory trips, this documentary follows US rapper Snoop Dogg as he travels to Jamaica to record an album with Diplo. Unsurprisingly, he thoroughly immerses himself in Rastafarian culture, to the point where he emerges as ‘Snoop Lion’. So, My Year Smoking Dope then. Official site is here and, mercifully, it will be showing at key cities only.

The Servant – From the diabolical to the perfect, a welcome airing for Joseph Losey’s seminal, creepily sexy swinging sixties thriller in which posh James Fox hires obsequious Dirk Bogarde as his manservant when he moves into a plush London townhouse. Bogarde insinuates himself and ‘sister’ Sarah Miles into the fabric of Fox’s life until they slowly start to revert roles, watched by suspicious girlfriend Wendy Craig. A masterpiece in character observation and wicked social irony, it helped turn Bogarde from matinee idol into a serious cinema actor. Showing in London at BFI cinemas only, its restoration kicks off this year’s Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, due to its obvious queer subtext.

Small Apartments – Little Britain’s Matt Lucas stars in this adaptation of Matt Willis’ novel, adapted by Willis himself. Lucas is the hairless eccentric obsessed with Switzerland who lives in an apartment block with other odd-balls, including Johnny Knoxville as a drug-addled rocker. When his brother James Marden dies, he finds that he has been left a key to a safe deposit box in Switzerland…containing a large sum of money. Sounds cute; wikipedia has a few more details and this will be showing at key cities only.

Stolen – Nicholas Cage has been released from prison for a bank robbery he committed years ago, but has to rob again when old partner Josh Lucas returns from the dead to claim the booty he thinks Cage still has. Just to make sure he pays up, Lucas kidnaps Cage’s daughter. Poor, poor box office returns might explain why the film originally called Medallion was hastily re-named. Wikipedia has some details here, but will be showing UK wide.

And on Monday…

12 In a Box – Miranda Hart co-stars in this British comedy about a school reunion dinner with a twist when 12 people are offered the chance to collect a £1m if they can rough it in the country. Official website is here; showing at key cities only.

And on Wednesday…

G.I. Joe: Retaliation – sequel to the 2009 actioneer with Channing Tatum; Tatum returns with Duwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson. The GI’s are  framed as traitors by baddie Arnold Vosloo, so they’re out to save their reputations and get revenge. Official UK website is here; will be showing nationwide.

Trance – Rosario Dawson is the hypnotherapist hired to help art auctioneer James MacAvoy recall where he hid a stolen Goya for criminal Vincent Cassel. But the line between the real and unreal becomes increasingly blurred. Official website is here and the film will be showing all over the UK.

Beyond the Hills – Romanian drama about the close friendship between two nuns. A film festival fave, the lead actresses shared the best actress award at Cannes and writer/director Cristian Mungiu received a gong for best screenplay. The IFC Entertainment site has a few more details here; the film will be showing at key cities.

Maniac – in this remake of the 1980 slasher movie of the same name, Elijah Wood is the disturbed young man who develops an unhealthy obsession with artist Nora Arnezeder. IMDb has a few further details here (and not too many happy views from fans of the first film, but with a title like this, surely no one was expecting Citizen Kane?), it will be showing at key cities only.

The Paperboy – interesting trailer, amazing performance from Nicole Kidman who dumbs down and trashes herself up as a peroxide tramp out to get husband John Cusack out of jail – by hook or by crook. Zac Efron comforts her as only he seems to be able to in films that also feature attractive film film stars of a certain age. The official site is here and it will be showing at key cities only.

Red Dawn – 80’s remakes continue, this time Chris Hemsworth and Josh Hutcherson are the kids who try to save their town from an invasion of North Korean soldiers. Will be showing nationwide; the official site is here.

Shell – Scottish drama from writer/director Scott Graham about a young woman (Chloe Pirrie) who works in an isolated petrol station and her difficult relationship with her father (Joseph Mawle) who is still distraught after his wife left him many years before. The official website, with screening details, is here.

The Spirit of ’45 – a new Ken Loach film always grabs some attention on the film circuit. Here, the old goat of socialist cinema looks at how a sense of unity spread amongst the British following the end of the second world war, how long it lasted and how a sense of community could be rediscovered today. Interesting website here lets you enter some details about yourself and get a result for ‘Your ’45’, a run down of how your life would have panned out had you been born in 1945. With this in mind, my name is Barrie and I have 35 years left to live. Great, just enough time to learn how to play the bagpipes. Website also contains screening locations and dates here.

The Incredible Burt Wonderstone – clearly basing the lead character on Siegfried and Roy, this comedy stars Steves Carel and Buscemi as wizards of the Las Vegas strip but facing competition from street magician Jim Carrey. Olivia Wilde co-stars. The official  site is here and it will be showing nationwide.

Vinyl – Phil Daniels stars in this dramatisation of a music hoax when a group of washed up rockers pass a young band of pretenders off as the performers of a new punk single. Didn’t Milli Vanilli get their Grammy’s taken off them for this? Official site is here, cinema screenings here.

Welcome to the Punch – stylish looking London-set crime thriller with James MacAvoy as a detective who gets a second chance to nab master criminal Mark Strong when Strong’s son is injured during his own heist. Official IFC Entertainment site is here, the film will be showing nationwide.

Babledom – the city is growing ever larger and threatens to overwhelm the citizens that live in it, in director Paul Bush’s collection of images and music in this elegy to modern life. The official website is here and it will be showing at key cities only.

Broken – Cillian Murphy and Tim Roth star in this British drama about a young girl in North London whose life changes after she witnesses a violent attack. Will be showing at key cities only and the IMDb page is here.

Fire With Fire – Josh Duhamel and Bruce Willis have both been busy of late so it’s surprising to see them starring together in which Duhamel is a firefighter who has to contend with the white supremacist (Willis) he is testifying against. So, Backdraft meets Mississippi Burning. Facebook page is here but, rather oddly, will be on a limited run only.

Gelmeyen Bahar – Turkish drama about a beautiful young girl who falls in love…after she has settled into an arranged marriage. On a limited run in London only, the official site for those of you au fait with Turkish is here; IMDb has some information here.

The Guilt Trip – Billed as the first (and possibly the last) mother-son road movie, this comedy stars Seth Brogan who pops into see Mom Barbra Streisand whilst embarking on the road trip of a lifetime…and she joins him. The fun for most audience members will be to try and avoid singing the ‘Barbra Streisand’ lyrics from Duck Soup’s recent song. Showing nationwide and the UK website is here.

Oz The Great and the Powerful (3D) – In this prequel to The Wizard of Oz, James Franco stars as the man who will one day be that wizard. He meets three warring witches (Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz and Mila Kunis) and sets about helping the people of this strange land. The official Disney UK site here is impressively designed and the film will be showing nationwide.

Parker – Jason Statham’s cinematic ‘efforts’ have perhaps lacked something in the past. Like most things that make good movies good. Having Jennifer Lopez as his leading lady is a step in the right direction, but judging by the trailer on the official site here, this looks like a rehash of what he’s done before. Showing nationwide.

Robot & Frank –  Frank Langella is the elderly jewel thief in this comedy whose son (James Marsden) gives him a robot to help his physical and mental health, rather than placing him in a nursing home. The official site is here and it will be showing at key cities only.

Side Effects – Steven Soderbergh has announced his retirement from movie-making before (as Vanity Fair reminds us in this piece from January) so forgive me for not quite believing that this pharma-thriller is his swan song. Jude Law is the doctor prescribing a new anti-anxiety pill that has ramifications for couple Channing Tatum and Rooney Mara. The official site is here and the film will be showing all over the UK.

 

Acoustic Routes – Billy Connolly narrates this documentary about the guitarist Bert Jansch. No official site (though Glasgow Film has the trailer here), but the film will be showing at key cities (screening details here).

Arbitrage – one of the morstcomplicated to pronounce films of the new year, Richard Gere stars in another economy/credit crunch-slanted thriller, as a hedge fund magnate trying to sell of his empire before the banks discover the massive fraud he’s been indulging in. Co-starring Susan Sarandon and Tim Roth. Official website is here, showing in most places.

The Attacks of 26/11 – Hindi drama that tells of the Mumbai terror attacks in 2011. The official Facebook page is here and the film will be showing at key cities.

The Bay – it’s been a few years since Barry Levinson’s last stint in the director’s chair (2008’s What Just Happened). He returns with this Blair Witch style ‘mockumentary’ about an ecological disaster that occurs off the coast of a quaint Maryland town. The official site is here and the film will be showing at key cities.

Broken City – ex-cop Mark Wahlberg goes on the vengeance trail after being double-crossed…by mayor Russell Crowe. Catherine Zeta-Jones stars in this thriller from director Allen Hughes (one of the Hughes brothers behind From Hell).  Official site is here.

Caesar Must Die – winner of the Golden Bear at the 2012 Berlin Film Festival, this Italian drama follows the preparations behind the annual play staged by inmates at the high security Rebbibia prison. Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar is the choice this time around. Official New Wave Films site is here, but this will only be on a limited run.

Gangs of Wasseypur Part 2  – second installment in this sprawling Indian crime drama filmed, like all good sequels, back-to-back. The story of vengeance in the first film has now consumed the entire town of Wasseypur. Wikipedia has the full low-down of the film here, but the Mara Pictures’ home page has the screening locations here.

The Gospel According to Matthew – Pier Paolo Passolini’s religious drama from 1964 was controversial in that for a film-maker who courted controversy throughout his career, it was the Catholic Church who loved this literal filming of the gospel and his leftist colleagues who thought he had sold out. BFI’s website has the screening locations here.

Hi-So – bittersweet romance set in Thailand, post-Boxing Day Tsunami with Thai star Ananda Everingham. Official day-for-night pictures site is here, detailing the handful of cinemas so far screening the film in London.

Michael H. Profession: Director – director Michael Haneke hit Oscar big-time this year, winning the award for best foreign film for Amour and seeing his 84 year old star Emmanuelle Riva nominated for best actress. This documentary from Yves Montmayeur follows his career, using Amour as the central film to explore his work.  Official website is here, showing at key cities only.

Safe Haven – another Nicholas Sparks (The Notebook) book-film adaptation, this stars Josh Duhamel and Julianne Hough in a slushy, soft-focus romance about a young woman’s struggle to love again. Official Facebook page is here and, appropriately for such a soggy movie, the country will be ‘saturated’ with screenings.

Sleep Tight – Rotten Tomatoes has given this Spanish horror a freshness rating of 91%. Interesting sounding plot, in which a creepy concierge, convinced he was born to be unhappy, sets about winding his tenants up. Trouble is, new girl Marta Etura proves immune to his attempts. He sets about upping the ante to make her uncomfortable. Wikipedia has a few extra tit-bits of info here, but this will be on a limited run only.

Stoker – acclaimed South Korean director Chan Woon-Park (Old Boy, Lady Vengeance) helms his first American feature in which Mia Wakowski’s weird Uncle Matthew Goode moves in after her dad dies. Suspecting him of funny goings on, she none the less becomes infatuated with him. Unstable Mum Nicole Kidman rounds off the bonkers family. Official Fox site is here; but will be screening at key UK cities only.

Trashed – good things expected of this environmental doc, with Jeremy Irons narrating and Vangelis providing the music. The focus of the film is the rubbish we dump and dispose of. No screening details yet, but the official site has a section to be updated here.

And as of Tuesday 5 March…

Verity’s Summer – sounds like another Nicholas Sparks novel slapped across the silver screen, but this has considerably more grit to it. A teenager on the Northumberland coast uncovers some uncomfortable truths about her policeman father’s role in the torture of Iraqi prisoners. Official website is here; there are details of a few of the screenings here.

For Ellen – Paul Dano (There Will Be Blood, Ruby Sparks) stars in this drama about an absent father who, when served with divorce papers by his estranged wife, suddenly realises he doesn’t want to give up on fatherhood altogether and treks across America with his lawyer to see his daughter. Official Soda Pictures website is here; showing at key cities only.

Madame de… – Also released under the title of The Earrings of Madame De…this is one of Max Ophuls’ stylish romantic tragedy’s that follows the fate that befalls a group of interlinked characters when a peniless Countess (Danielle Darrieux) sells a pair of the expensive earrings her husband (Charles Boyer) gave her as a wedding present. Distributed by the BFI, this will be shown in these following London cinemas.

Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God – this documentary recounts the story of four brave deaf men who in the first known case to go public, set about exposing the Catholic priests who abused them as children. Featuring the voices of Chris Cooper and Ethan Hawke, the film will be showing at key cities only and the official site is here.

Reign of Assassins – despite being initially released in 2010, this martial arts actioneer starring Michelle Yeoh as a former assassin who tries to go straight after being counselled by a Monk seems to have suffered delays due to the sale of distribution rights. Released to key cities only; Wikipedia has the low-down here.

Sammy’s Great Escape (3D) – animated 3D film from Belgium about a couple of turtles who are suddenly scooped up by a poacher. Showing nationwide, IMDb has the details here.

Side By Side – Martin Scorsese made a shock announcement last year that, despite being an ardent fan of celluloid, technological demands meant it was no longer viable to film in anything other than digital. This documentary from Keanu Reeves of all people features him, Danny Boyle, George Lucas, David Lynch, James Cameron and a host of others talking to Reeves about the pros and the cons of switching to digital film-making. The official Axiom Films website is here and this will be showing at key cities only.

And on Monday 18 February…

Ollie Kepler’s Expanding Purple World – strange sounding drama with Edward Hogg as an astronomer who is trying to get over the death of this wife, hampered by a broken promise that comes back to haunt him. Official website is here, but is on a limited release only.

And on Thursday 21 February…

The Butterfly’s Dream – this lush looking Turkish romance follows the lives of two poets who compete for the hand of a beautiful girl by writing her the best poems. Official site in English is here, but will only be showing on a limited release.

Antiviral – very strange horror from Brandon Cronenberg (yes, son of the illustrious David) starring Caleb Landry Jones as the lab technician who harvests viruses from celebrities to sell off to their deranged fans. After infecting himself with the virus that kills uber-celeb Sarah Gadon he becomes the target for her crazed followers. So Branders is a chip off the cinematic block? Official site is here; showing at key cities only.

Bullet to the Head – showing nationwide, this Walter Hill directed revenge thriller stars Sylvester Stallone as a hit-man who takes on the bad guys when they kidnap his daughter (Sarah Shahi). Trailer seems classy and Stallone has some killer one-liners (“You see, I’m a people person”). Official US site is here.

Bullhead – Rust & Bone‘s Matthias Schoenaerts stars as a cattle farmer who gets into trouble when he initiates a dodgy deal with a mafia type beef baron. Brokeback Mountain it ain’t! The official site is here and the film will be showing at key cities only.

Chained – it must be a week for gory North American films; Jennifer Lynch directs this horror about a taxi driving serial killer (Vincent D’Onofrio) and his young protogee (Evan Bird). Bird must decide whether he follows in D’Onofrio’s footsteps or makes a break for it on a night cruising the streets for victims. No official site, but IMDb has the technical details here and, mysteriously, this is on a ‘limited release’ only.

Cirque de Soleil: Worlds Away 3D – James Cameron is one of the big names behind the camera of this 3D circus/love story, showcasing the talents of the titular acrobatic troupe. It looks sexy and beautiful. The official (if rather ponderous) website is here and the film will be showing at key cities only.

Do Elephants Pray? – Jonnie Hurn is the advertising Exec who is shaken out of his dull life by free-spirited French girl Julie Dray. Sounds slightly samey, although this one has a bit more bite than the usual mid-life crisis wakes up story as Dray puts Hurn through a series of demoralising tasks. Official site is here and (for once) contains details of exactly where you can catch the film.

Flight – featuring possibly the most aggravating performance to be Oscar nominated this year, Denzel Washington stars as the ridiculously calm and clear-headed pilot who saves many lives during a daring move as his plane crash-lands. Trouble is, the experts who analyse his moves are unable to replicate it and an investigation finds he was drunk the night before the flight. He goes from hero to zero and it’s up to lawyer Don Cheadle to help him out. Robert Zemeckis directs from a script by John Gatins (Real Steel). The official site is here and it will be showing nationwide.

Hyde Park on Hudson – delectable sounding comic drama with Bull Murray starring as US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, hosting the British King and Queen (Sam West and Olivia Colman) for a weekend. They are trying to shmooze for American support during WWII, but FDR’s domestic life might complicate matters. Official Universal UK site is here; the film will play nationwide.

A Place in the Sun – Montgomery Clift is the socially aspirational guy who kills the dowdy factory girl carrying his child (Shelley Winters) so he can shack up with the factory owner’s daughter Elizabeth Taylor. Classic 1950’s melodrama from director George Stevens showcasing Clift and Taylor at their best – surely they were never lovelier than in this film? Official BFI website is here, but showing at BFI Southbank only.

Punk Syndrome – if Finnish punk rock is your scene, then this is the film for you. Showing at key cities; the Wikipedia page has a little more detail here.