Reel Talk: October 2012
What to watch, why, and where
Tuesday, 2 Oct 2012
Watch Emma Watson step out of her role as Hermione Granger, see over 200 short films, and find out if you can ever really be just friends with an ex.
Critic’s Pick
The Perks of Being A Wallflower (trailer)
The Perks of Being A Wallflower follows the life of Charlie (Logan Lerman), a high school freshman whose only friend has just committed suicide. It takes a while, but Charlie befriends Sam (Emma Watson), her step-brother, Patrick (Ezra Miller), and – surprise – his English teacher, Mr Anderson (Paul Rudd). This classic bildungsroman chronicles Charlie’s growth and relies heavily on literature and music (we’re talking great classics like The Fountainhead and The Catcher in the Rye, as well as great songs like Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”.
We’ll be honest. If you’ve read the book, you might be underwhelmed by this film adaptation; we’ve read it and are less than thrilled by what we’ve seen so far. Also, it’s pretty hard getting past the fact that Emma Watson is no longer Hermione Granger.
Opens 11 Oct 2012 at Shaw Theatres
The Cinephile
Majulah! The Film Music of Zubir Said
Get schooled in national history with Zubir Said, the man best known for composing our national anthem. The ten-day retrospective will screen a series of these films. Our top picks include: Chinta (1948), Singapore’s oldest surviving feature film; Sumpah Pontianak (1958), which makes for a night of ghoulish entertainment; and of course, Hussain Haniff’s masterpiece Dang Anom (1962).
Screening at the National Museum of Singapore from Wed 10 Oct 2012-Sat 20 Oct 2012, $8/show, details here
Shnit International Short Film Festival
200+films, 10 cities, one small (but giant) film festival. The tenth festival edition of Shnit will be screening in ten cities around the world in real time from 3-7 Oct 2012, including Cape Town, San Jose, Vienna, Cairo, and Buenos Aires, among other cool spots. Check out the programme here – we’re mad impressed by the diverse variety.
Playing at The Screening Room from Wed 3 Oct to Sun 7 Oct 2012
Fit for the Family
Sure you may already be familiar with the story of the lost clownfish, Nemo, and his Dad who adventures across oceans to find him, but bring the kids to see it in 3D and hey, what do you know? It’s like seeing a whole different film again.
Playing in theatres everywhere, opens 25 Oct 2012
With Family, Friends, Fiends, or Dates
Celeste and Jesse Forever (trailer)
Million dollar question: can you remain friends with an ex? Celeste and Jesse are getting a divorce but still hang out together as best friends… until Jesse starts dating someone new. Understandably Celeste crashes and burns, and we all know she’ll pick herself up again, but the real question on our minds is – will they get back together or will the film end on a truthful (but very real) note?
Opens 4 Oct 2012 at Cathay Cineplexes
Looking for more romcoms? Check out Woody Allen’s To Rome with Love, playing in theatres everywhere from Oct 2012.
