STACK NZ March 2017 Issue 82

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The Underworld franchise is as tenacious as its
immortal vampires, having survived for 13 years
and five films. The conflict between Vampires and
Lycans heats up again in the aptly titled Blood Wars,
which fortunately opens with a handy "Previously,
on Underworld..." recap that brings us bang up to
date. Selene (Kate Beckinsale) is recruited by the
Vampire elders to train an army in the ways of the
Death Dealers, in order to take the fight to a new
and unstoppable Lycan leader. But the power-hungry
Samira (Lara Pulver) needs Selene's blood to take control of the
coven, resulting in the Death Dealer fleeing to a Nordic hideout with
new ally Thomas (Theo James). When it comes to vampire/werewolf
conflict, we'll take Underworld over Twilight every time. SH
Protect the bloodline.
UNDERWORLD: BLOOD WARS
Release Date: 22/03/17 Format:
very office-bound worker looks forward to the annual
hrissie party. A chance to let the hair down, and
elebrate 12 months of a job (sometimes) well done.
his expectation is keeping many at Zenotek going, but
ith their quarterly quota unmet, the Grinch is about to
trike. She would be Carol Vanstone (Jennifer Aniston,
ekindling her Horrible Bosses fire), who threatens
o rain down layoffs, cut bonuses and – in true Alan
Ickman style – cancel Christmas. Or at least the party.
er brother Clay (T.J. Miller), who also happens to be the
branch manager, has other ideas though, and the party to end all parties
launches complete with sex, drugs, rock ’n’ roll and, erm, roly-poly
snowman suits. Not for the prudish, this Office Christmas Party is a near-
literal riot – and you’ll also hear ‘Gone Girl’ used as an adjective. AF
Party like your job depends on it.
OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY
Release Date: 22/03/17 Format:
Nocturnal Animals unfolds through two distinct and
different timeframes. In one, Susan (Amy Adams), a
wealthy art gallery curator, is surprised to receive the
proofs of a forthcoming novel written by her ex-husband
Tony (Jake Gyllehaal). In the other, the novel's story plays
out in Susan’s mind, with Gyllenhaal also taking on the
role of the book’s lead character, who falls foul of some
redneck psychos while on a road trip through the Texas
badlands with his wife and daughter. Fashion designer
turned filmmaker Tom Ford seamlessly knits the disparate
strands of the film together and his cool, fluid visuals provide the perfect
counterpoint to the melodramatics that unfold on screen. A thoughtful
treatise on revenge and the life choices we all must make, Nocturnal
Animals comes highly recommended. JF (See page 16)
When you love someone you can't just throw it away.
NOCTURNAL ANIMALS
Release Date: 01/03/17 Format:
nostalgic blend of romance and Second World War
eroics, this old school melodrama is just the trick
or fans of classics like Casablanca. It's 1942 and
ing Commander Max Vatan (Brad Pitt) has arrived
n French Morocco to meet Marianne Beausejour
Marion Cotillard), a high ranking member of the French
esistance who will impersonate his wife and assist in
he assassination of the German ambassador. This sham
arriage quickly becomes the real deal, but things get
omplicated when leaked intelligence suggests that his
wife might actually be a Nazi spy. The period detail – especially the early
scenes set in Casablanca – is impressively recreated by director Robert
Zemeckis, while Pitt and Cotillard make for attractive stand-ins for Bogart
and Bergman. AC
As time goes by…
ALLIED
Release Date: 22/03/17 Format:
28 MARCH 2017
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