Bunch of Amateurs, A

Jefferson Steel (Burt Reynolds) is an ageing Hollywood action hero. He’s out of work, vain insecure and is desperate to revive his flagging career. Under pressure from his client, Jefferson’s incompetent LA agent Charlie (Charles Durning) is forced to go through his trash in a final attempt to find Jefferson work… and stumbles upon the perfect role: a prestige run in the British theatre playing King Lear at Stratford.

Jefferson believes he has landed the role of a lifetime and arrives in the UK only to discover the reality. Instead of a leading role in a Royal Shakespeare Company Production at Stratford upon Avon, Jefferson has committed to star as King Lear for an amateur dramatic society in Stratford St John in Suffolk.

Actors
Burt Reynolds, Derek Jacobi, Imelda Staunton, Camilla Arfwedson, Samantha Bond, Ty Davies, Charles Durning, Elesia Ennis, Sarah Goldberg, Peter Gunn & Libby Hayter

Escapist, The

Continuing the trend of making engaging productions out of the concept of a prison break, The Escapist earns extra bonus points by throwing in a meaty role for Brian Cox in the process. He plays Frank Perry, a prisoner who’s 12 years into his sentence with no hope of parole. Yet when his daughter becomes ill, he realises that he needs to be on the other side of the walls, and sets about hatching a plan to make that possible. In short, the break is on…
Naturally, the master plan involves bringing together a mismatch of fellow prisoners to help, and The Escapist then follows their attempts to break out. Standing in their way? Damian Lewis’ sinister turn as Rizza, a threat more potent than any guard.

Grounded on a solid script, The Escapist has plenty in its corner. Debut director Rupert Wyatt (who co-wrote the script) knows not to overcook his ingredients, and thus demonstrates commendably restraint, which really pays off when he needs to ratchet up some menace and tension. And then there’s the cast, led superbly by Brian Cox. Cox deserves far more roles of this quality, because he’s quite magnificent here, single-handedly lifting the film from a firm rental to a must-see.


Cast: Brian Cox, Joseph Fiennes, Damian Lewis, Liam Cunningham, Seu Jorge
Director: Rupert Wyatt

Solo

Synopsis
Contract killer Jack Barrett (Colin Friels Dark City) has decided to retire from the gangster business - except the Down Under underworld does not want him to leave - and they have their way of proving it. With racketeers, crooked cops and one investigative reporter putting but their lives in danger, Jack is about to find out that his employers' idea of a pension includes a couple of bullets and a shallow grave.

Cast & Crew
Actors:
• Colin Friels
• Bojana Novakovic
• Bruce Spence
• Chris Haywood
• Tony Barry
• Vince Colosimo

Writers:
• Morgan O'Neill

Producers:
• Sue Seeary

Directors:
• Morgan O'Neill

Forever Strong

A talented but troubled high-school rugby star gets a second shot at redemption after being sentenced to serve time in a Salt Lake City boys' home and landing a coveted spot on the famed Highland High School rugby team in this inspirational sports drama from director Ryan Little (Saints and Soldiers, Everything You Want). Rick Penning (Sean Faris ) was the star player on his Arizona rugby team until his life took a turn for the worse. Now, after a fateful brush with the law, Rick finds himself out of the spotlight and forced to ponder the consequences of his actions in a Salt Lake City juvenile detention center. As fate would have it, however, Salt Lake's famed Highland High rugby team could use a player like Rick. With a little help from coach Larry Gelwix (Gary Cole), Rick may even be able to lead the Highland High team to the national championships. When Rick discovers that the team they'll be competing against is none other than his old team from Arizona, which is coached by his father, Richard Penning (Neal McDonough), the deciding game takes on a newfound sense of gravity in the eyes of the ambitious young athlete. Arielle Kebbel and Sean Astin co-star.

Actors: Sean Faris, Penn Badgley, Sean Astin, Gary Cole
Directors: Ryan Little

Underworld: Rise Of The Lycans

Synopsis
The prequel story traces the origins of the centuries-old blood feud between the aristocratic vampires known as Death Dealers and their onetime slaves, the Lycans. In the Dark Ages, a young Lycan named Lucian (Michael Sheen) emerges as a powerful leader who rallies the werewolves to rise up against Viktor (Bill Nighy), the cruel vampire king who has enslaved them. Lucian is joined by his secret lover, Sonja (Rhona Mitra), in his battle against the Death Dealer army and his struggle for Lycan freedom.

Cast & Crew
Actors:
• Rhona Mitra
• Bill Nighy
• Michael Sheen

Writers:
• Danny McBride (I)
• Howard McCain
• Dirk Blackman

Directors:
• Patrick Tatopoulos