IN THE MOOD FOR A...
Chick Flick
Morning Glory
Rachel McAdams takes on Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford - and wins - in this sassy screwball comedy about a BlackBerry-addicted producer whose dream job on a morning television show quickly descends into a nightmare. But warring co-hosts, sliding ratings, and even dubious talent are no match for McAdams's indefatigable Becky Fuller. A fresh, intelligent take on a tried-and-true formula from director Roger Michell.
Slice of real life
Another Year
UK director Mike Leigh has never been one to pull his punches, but this working-class drama is bruising even by his standards. Unlike the buoyant heroine of his 2008 comedy Happy-Go-Lucky, the lonely lush at the heart of this film is as brittle as a hangover. If it weren't for the earthy, domestic Zen of married couple Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen, the sense of disappointment pervading this movie would be too much to bear.
Dance in the dark
Black Swan
Having pinned Mickey Rourke's wrestler to the mat, director Darren Aronofsky turns his attention to the world of ballet - to similarly visceral effect. Natalie Portman reveals hitherto unsuspected depths in a mesmerising performance as the titular character, an intense prima ballerina prepared to sacrifice everything for her art. Black Swan is the best ballet film since 1948's The Red Shoes, which has been an influence here.
Ready for her close-up
The switch from pop singer to silver screen siren hasn't always been a seamless one. Mariah Carey's Glitter, Britney Spears's Crossroads and Madonna's Swept Away created anxiety for fans and filmgoers alike, before Beyoncé's knockout performance in Dreamgirls. Now, it's newly single Christina Aguilera’s turn in Steve Antin’s Burlesque, the tale of a naive ingenue seeking her big break in Tinseltown. With one of the oldest scripts in the Hollywood playbook, coupled with veteran Oscar-winning co-star Cher - gracing the screen after a seven-year hiatus - every eye will be on Aguilera. Only time will tell whether her singing prowess will be enough to cast the film alongside Moulin Rouge! or whether Aguilera's acting debut will have it teetering in Showgirls territory. Burlesque is in cinemas on January 13.
This month's best DVDs
- Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg's misfit cops team up in The Other Guys.
- Susan Sarandon and Cillian Murphy star in the thriller Peacock.
- Critically acclaimed teen comedy Easy A, with Emma Stone and Penn Badgley.
Morning Glory
Rachel McAdams takes on Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford - and wins - in this sassy screwball comedy about a BlackBerry-addicted producer whose dream job on a morning television show quickly descends into a nightmare. But warring co-hosts, sliding ratings, and even dubious talent are no match for McAdams's indefatigable Becky Fuller. A fresh, intelligent take on a tried-and-true formula from director Roger Michell.
Another Year
UK director Mike Leigh has never been one to pull his punches, but this working-class drama is bruising even by his standards. Unlike the buoyant heroine of his 2008 comedy Happy-Go-Lucky, the lonely lush at the heart of this film is as brittle as a hangover. If it weren't for the earthy, domestic Zen of married couple Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen, the sense of disappointment pervading this movie would be too much to bear.
Black Swan
Having pinned Mickey Rourke's wrestler to the mat, director Darren Aronofsky turns his attention to the world of ballet - to similarly visceral effect. Natalie Portman reveals hitherto unsuspected depths in a mesmerising performance as the titular character, an intense prima ballerina prepared to sacrifice everything for her art. Black Swan is the best ballet film since 1948's The Red Shoes, which has been an influence here.
The switch from pop singer to silver screen siren hasn't always been a seamless one. Mariah Carey's Glitter, Britney Spears's Crossroads and Madonna's Swept Away created anxiety for fans and filmgoers alike, before Beyoncé's knockout performance in Dreamgirls. Now, it's newly single Christina Aguilera’s turn in Steve Antin’s Burlesque, the tale of a naive ingenue seeking her big break in Tinseltown. With one of the oldest scripts in the Hollywood playbook, coupled with veteran Oscar-winning co-star Cher - gracing the screen after a seven-year hiatus - every eye will be on Aguilera. Only time will tell whether her singing prowess will be enough to cast the film alongside Moulin Rouge! or whether Aguilera's acting debut will have it teetering in Showgirls territory. Burlesque is in cinemas on January 13.
This month's best DVDs
- Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg's misfit cops team up in The Other Guys.
- Susan Sarandon and Cillian Murphy star in the thriller Peacock.
- Critically acclaimed teen comedy Easy A, with Emma Stone and Penn Badgley.
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