Releases 17/03

There are four notable releases today:

Battle: Los Angeles - This month's alien invasion film. When Earth's major cities all around the world are attacked by unknown alien forces. Los Angeles becomes the last stand for mankind, and it's up to Marine Staff Sergeant (Aaron Eckhart) and his new platoon to defend the city. Likely to lack any semblance of a plot or character, it still sounds like it could be an epic visual spectacle. Except I expect we will have seen it many times before. The film's direction, screenplay, editing and overall sense are all being severely criticized. I doubt it's worth it.

Rotten Tomatoes: 33%

Limitless - Aspiring author Eddie Morra (Bradley Cooper) is suffering from chronic writer's block, but his life changes instantly when an old friend introduces him to NZT, a revolutionary new pharmaceutical drug that allows him to tap into his full potential. With every single synapse crackling, Eddie can recall everything he has ever read, seen or heard, learn any language in a day, comprehend complex equations and beguile anyone he meets...as long as he continues to take the untested drug. Many are still debating whether Bradley Cooper can successfully be a leading man, but this could be the film that ends the skepticism. Abbie Cornish and Robert De Niro co-star. A seemingly well-directed film with an intriguing central idea, this could be worth checking out.

Rotten Tomatoes: 63%

Griff the Invisible - By day Griff (Ryan Kwanten) is an everyday office worker, in an everyday town. He lives a secluded life, bullied by his co-workers, with his protective brother his only friend. By night Griff assumes his other identity, roaming the dark streets protecting the innocent and the vulnerable from the dangers that lurk in the shadows - he is the hero, 'Griff the Invisible'. Increasingly concerned by Griff's eccentric behavior, his brother attempts to draw him back to the 'real world'. In doing so he introduces Griff to Melody (Maeve Dermody), an equally eccentric and charming girl. Griff the Invisible is a fresh, highly original Australian romantic comedy from the wildly fertile imagination of debut film writer/director Leon Ford. The film had it's world premiere at the 2010 Toronto International Film Festival, and is filmed on location close to my Sydney home. Definitely worth a look.

Rotten Tomatoes: 100%

The Reef - The Reef is an Australian horror film which tells the tale of the crew of a capsized sailboat on the Great Barrier Reef who are repeatedly hunted by a Great White Shark. The Reef is distributed by Gold Coast Film Fantastic Ltd. and written and directed by Andrew Traucki (Black Water). Featuring a quality cast including Adrienne Pickering, Zoe Taylor and Gyton Grantley, the reviews have been largely positive, and this promises to be a taut, suspenseful and chilling Aussie creature flick.

Rotten Tomatoes: 88%

Weekly Recommendation: Griff the Invisible.