GRACE OF MONACO
1962, Six years after one of the world’s most celebrated weddings between film star Grace Kelly (Nicole Kidman) and Prince Rainier III of Monaco (Tim Roth), Kelly finds herself with in a crisis of her own identity putting at risk her “happy” marriage and the career she so dearly loves.
Grace of Monaco is a snapshot in the life of former Hollywood actress Grace Kelly. Being based on a true story some may think this film should be compelling, however with a thoroughly weak and flimsy script with pretty wooden performances thrown together with an even less convincing character portrayal from Kidman and Roth, who you would expect better from, this take on one of Hollywood’s most cherished actresses is pretty much a massive disappointment.
See if you liked: Diana, Yves Saint Laurant.
FRUITVALE STATION
This is a true story of Oscar Grant III (Michael B. Jordan), a 22-year-old Bay Area resident who wakes up on the morning of December 31, 2008 and feels something in the air. Not sure what it is, he takes it as a sign to get a head start on his resolutions. Things seem to be going well, but as the day goes on, he realizes that change is not going to come easy. He crosses paths with friends, family. But it would be his final encounter of the day, with police officers at the Fruitvale station that would shake the Bay Area to its very core, and cause the entire nation to be witnesses to the story of Oscar Grant.
Brought to us by first time director Ryan Coogler and produced by academy award winner Forest Whitaker, we have a gritty, hard hitting, passionate and powerfully acted drama on our hands. With Michael B. Jordan coming into his own, he oozes an acting resemblance to a young Denzel Washington so effortlessly, Along with equally strong performances from Octavia Spencer as his mother, Melonie Diaz as his partner. As most films of this nature key information on what happened may have been left out but this does not take away from an enthralling powerful portrayal of a tragic story.
See if you liked: The Place Beyond The Pines, End of Watch
22 JUMP STREET
The boys are BACK! After making their way through high school (twice), big changes are in store for officers Schmidt (Jonah Hill) and Jenko (Channing Tatum) when they go deep undercover at a local college. As they infiltrate the college scene they start to question their relationship, not only do they have to crack the case they have to figure out if there bromance can last!
Tatum and Hill are back in this sequel to the highly hilarious 21 Jump Street, but can they pull of the success of the 1st film with as much silliness and stupidity as the 1st? This is pretty much a no brainer comedy which doesn’t need much thinking to enjoy. Sit back, relax and have a few belly laughs and for the girls a bit of eye candy in the form of Mr sex on legs himself, Channing Tatum.
See if you liked: 21 Jump Street
MY PICK OF THE WEEK: FRUITVALE STATION