On general release across the UK this weekend, we have: foulmouthed tough guys, an eccentric crossword puzzler, another(!) end-of-the-world drama, and a jet-setting George Clooney...
"44 INCH CHEST"
Drama. A jealous husband and his friends plot the kidnapping of his wife's lover with the intention of restoring his wounded ego.
Director: Malcolm Venville.
Starring: John Hurt, Ray Winstone, Ian McShane, Tom Wilkinson, Joanne Whalley & Steven Berkoff.
Tomatometer: 56% (Fresh; based on 34 reviews)
"ALL ABOUT STEVE"Comedy. Convinced that a CCN cameraman is her true love, an eccentric crossword puzzler trails him as he travels all over the country, hoping to convince him that they belong together.
Director: Phil Traill.
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Thomas Haden Church, Bradley Cooper, Ken Jeong & DJ Qualls.
Tomatometer: 6% (Rotten; based on 115 reviews) "All About Steve is an oddly creepy, sour film, featuring a heroine so desperate and peculiar that audiences may be more likely to pity than root for her."
"THE BOOK OF ELI"Action-adventure drama. A post-apocalyptic tale, in which a lone man fights his way across America in order to protect a sacred book that holds the secrets to saving humankind.
Directors: Albert Hughes & Allen Hughes.
Starring: Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, Mila Kunis, Ray Stevenson, Jennifer Beals, Evan Jones, Frances de la Tour & Michael Gambon.
Tomatometer: 47% (Rotten; based on 96 reviews) "It's certainly uneven, and many viewers will find that its reach exceeds its grasp, but The Book of Eli finds the Hughes brothers injecting some fresh stylish fun into the kind of post-apocalyptic wasteland filmgoers have seen more than enough of lately."
"UP IN THE AIR"Rom-com. With a job that has him traveling around the country firing people, Ryan Bingham leads an empty life out of a suitcase, until his company does the unexpected: ground him.
Director: Jason Reitman.
Starring: George Clooney, Vera Farmiga, Anna Kendrick, Jason Bateman, J.K Simmons, Sam Elliott, Danny McBride & Zach Galifianakis.
Tomatometer: 90% (Fresh; based on 222 reviews) "Led by charismatic performances by its three leads, director Jason Reitman delivers a smart blend of humor and emotion with just enough edge for mainstream audiences."
