This week sees three new movies release in addition to a number of special big screen experiences and more niche movie debuts. The latter includes Bollywood romantic comedy Sunny Sanskari Ki Tulsi Kumari, local political documentary The Bengal Tiger: The Rajbansi Story, and the re-release of Avatar: The Way Of Water in preparation for follow-up Avatar: Fire and Ash in December. Ster Kinekor has also doubled up on its Throwback Cinema offerings this week, with both Disney’s animated Aladdin and Oscar-winning Barbra Streisand classic Funny Girl briefly back on the big screen.
Sure to do better than all of these, though, is Taylor Swift – The Life of a Showgirl, a music special that serves as a release party for Swift’s brand new album. If you’re a fan, just be aware that your watch window is small, limited to 3 – 5 October only. Now onto the week’s bigger feature releases…
Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson makes his first proper bid for award season glory with A24 sports drama and biopic The Smashing Machine. Johnson has physically transformed himself to play pioneering MMA fighter and UFC Heavyweight Champion Mark Kerr, whose success in the 1990s was paired with substance abuse struggles. Emily Blunt appears as Kerr’s then girlfriend Dawn Staples. Uncut Gems’ Benny Safdie is in the director’s chair for this fictionalised remake of the 2002 HBO documentary of the same name.
Look out for our The Smashing Machine review soon.
Although releasing with Jordan Peele’s name prominently attached, psychological horror tale Him is actually directed by up-and-coming Justin Tipping. In the film, promising football player Cameron Cade (Tyriq Withers) suffers a potentially career-ending injury. He’s offered a lifeline, though, by legendary quarterback Isaiah White (Marlon Wayans). Invited to train at White’s compound, Cameron is exposed to darker, disturbing truths about his childhood hero, and must decide how far he’ll go for glory.
Romance, whimsical fantasy and a hefty dollop of emotion blend together in A Big Bold Beautiful Journey. Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie star as two strangers drawn together by fate, and given the unique opportunity to relive important moments from their past via mysterious doorways. This revisiting of memories illuminates how they reached their current state of being, but also holds the key to a happier shared future.