Magic in the Moonlight

It’s time for another Woody Allen flick, as he continues his prestigious output of a film a year. In contrast to recent years spent as a critical darling, his latest arrives in a year that has seen his off-screen life once again grabbing headlines. A romantic comedy set in the 1920s French Riviera, a surprising series of events eventuate after a master magician attempts to expose a psychic as a fraud. Colin Firth and Emma Stone costar. Typical for an Allen film, the cast is packed with top shelf thespians, including the likes of Marcia Gay Harden and Jacki Weaver.

X-Men: Days of Future Past (K12)

Given the recent furor regarding director Bryan Singer and allegations of rape and scandal, it’s been easy to forget that the new X-Men movie is also about to land in cinemas. And what will it be like? Well, early word has fans salivating over this latest installment that brings together the two X-Men worlds for what promises to be the most satisfying installment yet.

Fading Gigolo

Just in case you were thinking that Woody Allen’s acclaimed recent flourish of quality with his European films and Blue Valentine may mean that he is no longer willing to partake in lighter fare, along comes this, from writer/director John Turturro. Here Allen’s elderly New York bookstore owner turns pimp and transforms his middle-aged friend (Turturro) into an unlikely gigolo; all in the hope that they can raise enough cash when it looks like their store is going to have to shut its doors. Nonetheless, soon they are raking in more dough than they could possibly have ever expected. While the recent brouhaha regarding Allen’s alleged discretions with his adopted daughter seems to have died down for the time being, the jury is still out on the issue. Regardless, in cinematic terms, his stock has rarely been higher.

Premieres 25 April

The Railway Man

Trainspotting this aint as Colin Firth stars as a British Army officer who was tormented as a prisoner of war at a Japanese labour camp during World War II. Decades down the track, he discovers that the Japanese interpreter he holds responsible for much of his harrowing treatment is still alive and kicking. Setting out to confront him, and come to terms with his haunting past, the film is based on Eric Lomax’s best-selling memoir. Firth is supported by the likes of Nicole Kidman, Stellan Skarsgård and Jeremy Irvine in the thespianage department.

ONCE again the European Film Weeks are being staged in Helsinki. With 2014 seeing European Elections being held, this year’s theme is “Act.React.Impact”.

Here 29 inspirational and courageous films from around Europe showcase various examples of the collective and individual actions of people seeking to make a difference. The subject matter reflects the sheer variety of cinema being currently produced in Europe today. Everything from Sweden’s The Pirate Bay, to the Troubles in Ireland and African refugees in the Canary Islands shares the spotlight.