Movies out Today: 04 November 2016

Marvel magic, modern cowboys and two rather… interesting local movies take centre stage with this week’s new releases

P.S. Just a heads up, Ster Kinekor’s website is currently under construction, in case the below links don’t work.

• Doctor Strange

  Age Restriction: 10–12PG V

After a tragic car accident, talented neurosurgeon Doctor Stephen Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) must put ego aside and learn the secrets of a hidden world of mysticism and alternate dimensions. Based in New York City’s Greenwich Village, Doctor Strange must act as an intermediary between the real world and what lies beyond, utilizing a vast array of metaphysical abilities and artifacts to protect the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

By now you kind of know how a Marvel origin movie goes, and Doctor Strange doesn’t break their successful, and incredibly lucrative, mould. But what it may slightly lack in the originality department, it makes up in spades everywhere else. The effects are astonishing, the story is great and the laughs are plenty. Doctor Strange is another jewel in the shining MCU crown.

TheMovies review score: 4/5 stars
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
Metacritic: 72

Book now at Nu Metro or Ster Kinekor

• Hell or High Water

  Age Restriction: 13 L V

Two brothers—Toby (Chris Pine), a straight-living, divorced father trying to make a better life for his son; and Tanner (Ben Foster), a short-tempered ex-con with a loose trigger finger—come together to rob branch after branch of the bank that is foreclosing on their family land. The hold-ups are part of a last-ditch scheme to take back a future that powerful forces beyond their control have stolen from under their feet. Vengeance seems to be theirs until they find themselves in the crosshairs of a relentless, foul-mouthed Texas Ranger (Jeff Bridges) looking for one last triumph on the eve of his retirement. As the brothers plot a final bank heist to complete their plan, a showdown looms at the crossroads where the last honest law man and a pair of brothers with nothing to live for except family collide.

If you’re hankering for a decent Western, but the generic update of The Magnificent Seven left you unsatisfied, then Hell or High Water is the movie you didn’t realise you needed to watch. Modernised as it may be, at its heart it’s a true Western. Drawling, modern-day cowboys in Stetsons moving expertly through a slow-burning plot peppered with some wildly exciting shoot-em-up scenes. Kervyn reckons that Hell or High Water is one of 2016’s best films so far.

TheMovies review score: 4/5 stars
Rotten Tomatoes: 98%
Metacritic: 88

Book now at Nu Metro or Ster Kinekor

• When the Bough Breaks

  Age Restriction: 13 L S V

John and Laura Taylor (Morris Chestnut and Regina Hall) are a young, professional couple who desperately want a baby. After exhausting all other options, they finally hire Anna (Jaz Sinclair), the perfect woman to be their surrogate – but as she gets further along in her pregnancy, so too does her psychotic and dangerous fixation on the husband. The couple becomes caught up in Anna’s deadly game and must fight to regain control of their future before it’s too late.

When the Bough Breaks might have strong performances from the two leads, but absolutely nothing else. The tired, predictable plot trudges along to a weary, clichéd conclusion, with nary an ounce of excitement and thrills along the way.

Rotten Tomatoes: 6%
Metacritic: 28

Book now at Nu Metro or Ster Kinekor

• Julieta

  Age Restriction: 13 S

Julieta lives in Madrid with her daughter Antía. They both suffer in silence over the loss of Xoan, Antía’s father and Julieta’s husband. But at times grief doesn’t bring people closer, it drives them apart. When Antía turns eighteen she abandons her mother, without a word of explanation. Julieta looks for her in every possible way, but all she discovers is how little she knows of her daughter

A sophisticated, character-driven drama about guilt and grief, Julieta might be slow to get going but winds up as engrossing and engaging, if not a bit on the schmaltzy side.

Rotten Tomatoes: 77%
Metacritic: 64

Book now at Cinema Nouveau, exclusive to Ster Kinekor

• Hatchet Hour

  Age Restriction: TBA

An ambitious lawyer kills her gardener by mistake, fearing her chances with the law and the impact this will have on her career at a prestigious firm, she turns to her best friend to help her get rid of the body.

I’m not entirely sure what’s going on in Hatchet Hour, but the trailer looks very interesting. It’s certainly a departure from the usual South African movie, which is great to see. Also, it was one of our entries into the Toronto International Film Festival, so that’s pretty cool too.

Book now at Ster Kinekor

• Eintlik Nogal Baie

  Age Restriction: 10–12PG V

Jay van Niekerk is a young, attractive and career driven comic book illustrator. Although he is advancing in almost every aspect of his personal and professional life, his one true desire seems to be the one furthest from reach. This has brought him to a crossroad in his life. Does he give up and keep fully focused on his career or does he finally open his heart to fulfill his deep longing for love and set out to meet the woman of his dreams? He wants someone funny, someone bright, who will appreciate his love of comics and embrace his eccentric lifestyle.

OK, I’m really not sure what’s going on in Eintlik Nogal Baie, and it’s not the language barrier for a change. I have no idea what this movie is supposed to be. The trailer starts off as a boy-meets-girl romance with a dash of manic-pixie-dream-girl thrown in. Then we take a quick detour past a meet-the-parents comedy, swerve through torrid love triangle territory and find ourselves in a Goodfellas type thriller, with a parting shot that looks like it was lifted from a Nicholas Sparks adaptation. Eintlik Nogal Baie has every genre you could want in one film, which would make it excellent value for money, if nothing else.

Book now at Nu Metro or Ster Kinekor

For more information about the age restrictions, click here.

Last Updated: November 4, 2016