WEEKEND PIC - April 10 - 12, 2009

YOUR GUIDE TO THE WEEKEND MOVIES

NEW THIS WEEK:

a. CARAMEL (Lebanese dramedy (right) with Nadine Labaki, Yasmine Al Masri, Joanna Moukarzel, Sihame Haddad, Adel Karam, Gisèle Aouad, Aziza Semaan and Fadia Stella) Rated * * * (3 stars out of 4): For a first-time effort, this ensemble film is surprisingly absorbing, with an exotic Middle-Eastern flavour centred around five women and a beauty salon in Beirut. At GSC International Screens only (Reviewed below)

b. SOUL MEN (musical comedy with Samuel L. Jackson, Bernie Mac, Jennifer Coolidge, Sean Hayes, Ken Davitian, Sharon Leal and Isaac Hayes) Rating * * * (3 stars): A crude and brash take about two members of a 70s soul band. The many cuts many cuts may send viewers hunting for the DVD, though.

c. HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU (romantic comedy with Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly, Drew Barrymore, Kevin Connolly, Bradley Cooper, Scarlett Johansson, Ben Affleck, Kris Kristofferson and Justin Long) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): Another ensemble effort about five women in pursuit of love. This one has a cast of top-liners but they are largely wasted here. We are just not that into them either. (Reviewed below)

d. FRIDAY THE 13th (horror thriller (pic) with Jared Padalecki, Daneielle Panabaker, Aaron Yoo and Amanda Righetti) Rating * * (2 stars): Yet another remake of the 80s slasher horror that tries to outdo Saw. Only for horror fans who can't get enough of blood and gore.

STILL GOING STRONG:

1. FAST & FURIOUS 4 (action thriller with Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, John Ortiz and Laz Alonso) Rated * * * (3 stars): Right from the opening, we are plunged into the F&F world of fast cars, spectacular crashes and hot chicks. Plus, there's chemistry between Diesel and Walker as two feuding rivals caught on the same side of an FBI investigation. (Reviewed below)

2. SHINJUKU INCIDENT (action drama with Jackie Chan, Daniel Wu, Naoto Takenaka, Fan Bingbing, Jack Kao, Masaya Kato and Xu Jinglei) Rated * * * (3 stars): No longer the kungfu comedian, this is Jackie's first foray into a serious role in Derek Yee's story about the Chinese refugees in Japan. Contains some violent scenes. (Reviewed below)

3. RIGHTEOUS KILL (cop thriller with Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, 50 Cent, Carla Gugino, Donnie Wahlberg and John Leguizamo) Rating * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): With two fiery stars, De Niro and Pacino, in the cast, one would expect sparks to fly out of the screen. But no. It's just your regular thrilla and a letdown.

4. KNOWING (sci-fi thriller with Nicolas Cage, Rose Byrne, Chandler Canterbury, Ben Mendelsohn, Adrienne Pickering and Lara Robinson) Rated * * 1/2 (2.5 stars): The plot is messy and defies logic but the action sets are the highlights of this combination of X-Files and Independence Day thrillers. (Reviewed below)

5. CONFESSIONS OF A SHOPAHOLIC (romantic comedy with Isla Fisher, Hugh Dancy, Joan Cusack, John Goodman, John Lithgow and Kristin Scott Thomas) Rating: * * (2 stars): Shoddily written rom-com that is neither funny nor romantic. Doesn't come close to The Devil Wears Prada.

6. THE UNBORN (horror thriller with Odette Yustman, Gary Oldman, Cam Gigandet, Meagan Good, Jane Alexander, Idris Elba and Carla Gugino) Rated * 1/2 (1.5 stars): Shameless copycat horror that allows you to play a game guessing which famous movie a particular scene comes from. (Reviewed below)