DIFF 2017 is here, but that doesn’t mean the wide releases across the UAE are slowing down, far from it. Let’s see the highlight of the weekend’s new releases.
Battle of the Sexes
Directed by: Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris
With: Emma Stone, Steve Carell,and Andrea Riseborough
What is it about? The true story of the 1973 tennis match between World number one Billie Jean King and ex-champ and serial hustler Bobby Riggs.
Heads Up: This film which is based on a true story was well received critically, and there is already an awards buzz around it, even though it came out in the late summer. This is the kind of film that is usually screened in DIFF, so you should definitely give it a consideration.
Jungle
Directed by: Greg McLean
With: Daniel Radcliffe, Alex Russell, and Thomas Kretschmann
What is it about? A group of friends join a guide for a trek into the Bolivian jungle, searching for an Indian village. The men soon realize that the jungle is a difficult place to be.
Heads Up: This action drama has gotten mixed reviews, and also available for rent on VOD platforms, thus why I suggest you put that in the back-burner and watch it later in the comfort of your home.
Just Getting Started
Directed by: Ron Shelton
With: Morgan Freeman, Tommy Lee Jones Rene Russo
What is it about? An ex-F.B.I. Agent and an ex-mob lawyer in the Witness Protection Program have to put aside their petty rivalry on the golf course to fend off a mob hit.
Heads Up: God bless Morgan Freeman who has been starring in the last few years in films like Last Vegas, Going in Style, and now this film. These usually are formulaic and predictable, but they are geared toward the under-served older audience, and usually are mid-sized hits. So who am I to tell you not to go out and watch a Morgan Freeman/Tommy Lee Jones film?
Sheikh Jackson
Directed by: Amr Salama
With: Ahmed El Fishawy, Basma, Maged El Kedwany, and Mahmoud El-Bezzawy
What is it about? An Islamic cleric has a crisis of faith when he hears the news that his childhood idol, Michael Jackson, has died.
Heads Up: Egypt’s submission to the Oscars this year has been well-received upon its premier at Toronto International Film Festival, but did not impress many people, and I doubt it will make the cut and get nominated. Again, such a film would have been a DIFF highlight had it not come out earlier in the year, so if you want to see what serious Arab cinema has to offer then here is the chance.
