Five new movies released on 8 March nationwide in South Africa. From heartthrob Channing Tatum in a 10-year reunion movie, the wonderful world of Oz brought to magical life in 3D, a South African thriller with a strange twist, “The Rock’ taking on drug cartels to a mother-and-son road trip, it’s time to smell the popcorn!
10 Years
This ensemble comedy follows a group of friends on the night of their high school reunion. They discover that a decade later, most of them haven’t quite grown up. Channing Tatum (Jake) is besotted with his girlfriend, Jess (Jenna Dewan-Tatum), until he runs into Mary (Rosario Dawson), his high school sweetheart, for the first time in years. Critics say 10 Years “finds a novel and nuanced approach to addressing the ways that our mistakes make us better, wiser and more human’.
Also starring Lynn Collins, Brian Geraghty, Justin Long, Kate Mara, Max Minghella and Chris Pratt.
Written and directed by Jamie Linden.
Produced by Anchor Bay Films, Boss Media, Temple Hill Entertainment, Iron Horse Entertainment, 33andOut Productions and EG Productions.
Distributed by Ster-Kinekor.
Oz: The Great and Powerful (2D and 3D)
In this prequel to The Wizard of Oz, a small-time circus magician (James Franco) is yanked away from Kansas to the wonderful Land of Oz. He think he’s hit fame and fortune until he meets three witches Theodora (Mila Kunis), Evanora (Rachel Weisz) and Glinda (Michelle Williams), who are not convinced he is the great wizard everyone thinks he is. Oscar must somehow transform himself into the great wizard of Oz… and perhaps into a better man as well. The film shows in 2D and 3D.
Also starring Zach Braff, Bill Cobbs, Tony Cox and Joey King.
Directed by Sam Raimi.
Written by David Linsay-Abaire and Mitchell Kapner, based on characters by L. Frank Baum
Produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Roth Films.
Distributed by Ster-Kinekor.
Sleeper’s Wake
After John Wraith regains his memory after waking up in hospital, he realises that he’s responsible for the death of his wife and daughter after falling asleep behind the wheel of his car. He tries to find solace in a wild, unspoilt coastal settlement in South Africa called Nature’s Cove. However, he meets a teenage girl, Jackie, and they unite in their grief and guilt about the death of a loved one. But Jackie’s father is not happy with the couple’s relationship at all.
With Lionel Newton, Jay Anstey, Bayo Jwayi, Amanda Lane, Deon Lotz and Stiaan Smith.
Written and directed by Barry Berk.
Produced by Bioscope Pictures, Liquid Crayon and VideoVision Entertainment.
Distributed by UIP.
Snitch
In this fast-paced action thriller, Dwayne “The Rock’ Johnson plays John Matthews, a father whose teenage son is wrongly accused of drug distribution. Desperate to rescue his son, who faces a mandatory minimum prison sentence of 10 years, Matthews agrees to work as an undercover informant and infiltrate a drug cartel on a dangerous mission endangering his own life and those of his family.
Also with Jon Bernthal, Rafi Gavron, Barry Pepper, Susan Sarandon and Michael Kenneth Williams.
Directed by Ric Roman Waugh.
Written by Justin Haythe and Ric Roman Waugh.
Produced by Summit Entertainment, Exclusive Media Group, Participant Media, Imagenation Abu Dhabi FZ, Front Street Productions and Spitfire Productions.
Distributed by Nu Metro.
The Guilt Trip
In this comedy Andrew Brewster (Seth Rogen) and his widowed mother Joyce (Barbra Streisand) go on a road trip together, which leads to arguments, awkward situations and eventually, to a deeper understanding between mother and son. Rogen plays an inventor who has created an environmentally sound cleaning fluid and takes his mom with him to sell it to wholesalers. On the way he plans to stop in San Francisco to reunite her with a former teenage love. Instead Andrew and Joyce learn more about each other than they ever thought possible…
With John Funk, Zabryna Guevara and Julene Renee-Preciado.
Directed by Anne Fletcher.
Written by Dan Fogelman.
Produced by Paramount Pictures, Skydance Productions and Michaels-Goldwyn.
Distributed by UIP.
