New Releases 26/06/14

In cinemas this week: Transformers: Age To Extinction, The Last Impresario, The Volcano, Tinkerbell: The Pirate Fairy and Yves Saint Laurent.

Transformers: Age of Extinction begins after an epic battle left a great city torn, but with the world saved. As humanity picks up the pieces, a shadowy group reveals itself in an attempt to control the direction of history…while an ancient, powerful new menace sets Earth in its crosshairs. With help from a new cast of humans (led by Mark Wahlberg), OPTIMUS PRIME and the AUTOBOTS rise to meet their most fearsome challenge yet. In an incredible adventure, they are swept up in a war of good and evil, ultimately leading to a climactic battle across the world.

The Last Impresario - English Theatre and Film producer Michael White can only be described as one of the world’s great impresarios, yet his story has never been told. A handsome presence in British cultural life and fashionable society for decades, the hundreds of shows he produced including The Rocky Horror Show, Oh! Calcutta!, Chorus Line and The Monty Python and The Holy Grail changed the face of theatre and dance worldwide. Playboy, gambler, bon vivant, friend of the rich and famous, he is now in his late seventies and still enjoys partying like there's no tomorrow. The Last Impresario is a touching biopic about Michael’s incredible career – covering the highs and lows of his life as an impresario producer - featuring interviews with 50 of his closest friends including Anna Wintour, Kate Moss, John Waters and Barry Humphries and, of course, the man himself. At once an homage to Michael’s contribution to British culture, the film also paints a picture of a life from youthful daring to older acceptance.

Yves Saint Laurent - In January 1958, Yves Saint Laurent (Pierre Niney) - aged merely 21 - was unexpectedly called upon to oversee the legendary Paris fashion house established by recently deceased Christian Dior. All eyes turned to this very young assistant as he presented his first collection for Dior and instantly ascended to the heights of haute couture's elite class. During Saint Laurent's breathtaking and groundbreaking show, he met with another fate in being introduced to Pierre Bergé (Guillaume Gallienne), patron of the arts, future love of his life and lifelong business partner. Three years later, the two founded the Yves Saint Laurent Company, which would rapidly become one of the biggest luxury powerhouses on the planet. Directed by Jalil Lespert with a screenplay by Lespert and Marrie-Pierre Huster, Yves Saint Laurent is at once a captivating story about the making of an icon and a testament to the power of enduring love.

The Volcano - For world travelers, the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökull is a blow. For Alan and Valerie, it is a disaster. In order to arrive on time in the small village in Greece where their daughter will be married the divorced couple, who have dedicated to each other a boundless hatred, will be forced to travel together.

Weekly Recommendation: I have seen three Transformers films and that is enough for me. No way I am seeing Michael Bay's latest headache. Reactions to Gracie Otto's The Last Impresario have been positive. Could be worth seeking out (Palace Cinemas). Reactions to Yves Saint Laurent...not.