YOUR GUIDE TO THIS WEEK’S NEW CINEMA RELEASES

Ready to go see some new movies at the cinema? …

TOP PICK TO SEE

Top of the list this week is EX MACHINA, a sci-fi drama about a young programmer who is selected to participate in a breakthrough experiment in artificial intelligence by evaluating the human qualities of a breathtaking female A.I. According to Empire’s Dan Jolin, EX MACHINA is Stylish, elegant, tense, cerebral, satirical and creepy. Garland’s directorial debut is his best work yet, while Vikander’s bold performance will short your circuits. It’s only in limited release so you might need to look around your city for it.

OTHERS TO SEE

KURT COBAIN: MONTAGE OF HECK is an authorized documentary on the late musician Kurt Cobain, from his early days in Aberdeen, Washington to his success and downfall with the grunge band Nirvana. I have never listened to Cobain’s music but am aware of his tragic end. Total Film’s Kevin Harley, describes this biographical documentary as Like a Cobain mixtape brought to feral life… Montage is scruffy, sharp and insightful on an oft-explored subject. The pay-off is terribly moving – it’ll drain you. Given this high praise, I may take the opportunity to see it.

CLOUDS OF SILS MARIA tells the story of a veteran actress who comes face-to-face with an uncomfortable reflection of herself when she agrees to take part in a revival of the play that launched her career 20 years earlier. It stars Juliette Binoche and Kristen Steward – and interesting combination. The Telegraph’s Robbie Collin describes it as a … a complex, bewitching and melancholy drama, another fearlessly intelligent film from Assayas.

MAYBE/MAYBE NOT

Finally, PITCH PERFECT 2 has arrived in which, after a humiliating command performance at Lincoln Center, the Barden Bellas enter an international competition that no American group has ever won in order to regain their status and right to perform. I saw this last night with fairly low expectations (given it was a sequel) and a big crowd. It was worse than I expected. I’d give it **1/2 stars and will post my review shortly. It’s getting rated as average by general audiences but no consensus has emerged from critics yet – so up to you! I don’t expect positive reviews.

That’s it for this week. See you at the movies!

*NOTE* Movie summaries are adaptations of movie summary on IMDB. Opinions are mine unless credited.