Every week on Aden Thomas' show, Barry Ronge - South Africa's most
acclaimed entertainment guru and critic - takes a
few minutes to review new releases on the film
circuit. Click here for full reviews of
the films below. Back to Aden's page
PICK OF THE WEEK
Forgetting Sarah Marshall Cast: Jason Segel
Mila Kunis
Kristen Bell
Russell Brand
Bill Hader
Paul Rudd
Liz Cackowski
Jonah Hill Director: Nicholas Stoller Running Time: 110 min
The latest “nerd on top” offering from the Judd Apatow comedy collective is hilarious, scathing and, at its core, human enough to make it an amusing film. But the once-fresh and outrageous Apatow touch is feeling way too familiar. The shock value has lost some of its punch, the comedy is feeling a bit glib and self- satisfied, and no amount of male nudity can conceal that this formula is wearing thin.
Speed Racer
Cast: Emile Hirsch
John Goodman
Christina Ricci
Susan Sarandon
Matthew Fox Director: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski Running Time: 135 min
I suppose it was the ‘cool” factor of the Wachowski Brothers that attracted this high-powered cast into the film, but there’s nothing even slightly cool about seeing Susan Sarandon playing a sitcom mom or Emile Hirsch, fresh from his triumph in “Into the Wild”, smirking and strutting his way through this banal affair. Very young kids may have a lot of fun, but after two hours of relentless speed and manic colours, you kind of wish that this “Speed Racer” had been disqualified early on.
Son of Man
Cast: Andile Kosi Director: Mark Dornford-May Running Time: 86 min
This is a powerful film that uses South Africa as generic African context for a radical re-telling of the Passion of Christ. Jesus, as played by Andile Kosi, is an idealistic firebrand opposing political domination and social corruption in a vast shanty-town. The film was shot in Khayelitsha near Cape Town. It’s one of the most interesting religious films to be made in this country. Take note that there are only nine prints of the film on circuit, so check your film directories.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
