Film News South Africa

#OnTheBigScreen: Godzilla, Brightburn and Young Picasso

Movies entering the South African box office this week are: Godzilla: King Of The Monsters, Brightburn, Till Death Do Us Part and Young Picasso.

Godzilla: King Of The Monsters

Following the global success of Godzilla and Kong: Skull Island, comes the next chapter in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ cinematic Monsterverse: Godzilla II: King of the Monsters – an epic action-adventure that pits Godzilla against some of the most popular monsters in pop culture history.

The new story follows the heroic efforts of the crypto-zoological agency Monarch as its members face off against a battery of god-sized monsters, including the mighty Godzilla, who collides with Mothra, Rodan and, his ultimate nemesis, the three-headed Ghidorah. When these ancient super-species –thought to be mere myths – rise again, they all vie for supremacy, leaving humanity’s very existence hanging in the balance.

Director/co-writer Michael Dougherty brings together some of the biggest, baddest monsters in big-screen history, realised without limits for the first time in the modern age, in an epic, globe-spanning battle royale for the future of the planet that links the fates of monsters and man. Dougherty crafted the screenplay with Zach Shields, from a story by Max Borenstein and Michael Dougherty and Zach Shields, based on the characters Godzilla, King Ghidorah, Mothra and Rodan owned and created by Toho Co., Ltd.

Read more here.
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Brightburn

At a time when comic book superheroes dominate the pop culture landscape, the filmmaking team of Brightburn saw a unique opportunity to use the long-held tropes of the genre and turn them on their head to create a terrifying horror film that would feel entirely new. Directed by David Yarovesky and written by Brian Gunn and Mark, this origin story unlike any ever seen before, questions: What if a child from another world crash-landed on Earth, but instead of becoming a hero to mankind, he proved to be something far more sinister?

After a difficult struggle with fertility, Tori Breyer’s (Elizabeth Banks) dreams of motherhood come true with the arrival of a mysterious baby boy. Brandon appears to be everything Tori and her husband Kyle (David Denman) ever wanted – bright, talented, curious about the world. But as Brandon (Jackson A. Dunn) nears puberty, a powerful darkness manifests within him, and Tori becomes consumed by terrible doubts about her son. Once Brandon begins to act on his twisted urges, those closest to him find themselves in grave danger, as the miracle child transforms into a vicious predator unleashed on a sleepy Kansas town.

Read more here.

Till Death Do Us Part

Michael and Madison Roland had planned to spend the rest of their lives together until one day when Michael’s controlling ways turned their perfect marriage into an abusive rollercoaster no woman could survive. With the help of her best friend, Madison decides to get away. After adopting a new identity, she meets Alex Stone and learns to love again.

All is well, until Michael discovers Madison’s whereabouts, and recreates the nightmare she once lived all over again. A psychological thriller film written and directed by Christopher B Stokes. The film stars Annie Ilonzeh, Stephen Bishop and Taye Diggs, who is also one of the film’s producers.

Young Picasso

There are many films about Picasso’s later years – which speak to the art, the affairs and his wide circle of friends. But where did this all begin? The film shows the upbringing and learning that led to his extraordinary achievements. It reveals how three cities Malaga, Barcelona and Paris influenced the artist, focusing on specific artworks influenced by a specific city during these years. Looking carefully at two key early periods, the so-called Blue Period and Rose Period, the film takes us all the way to 1907 and to the creation of a key painting in the history of art, Les Demoiselles d’Avignon, which Picasso painted at 25 years old. Working closely with all three Picasso Museums in Malaga, Barcelona and Paris, this film explains how he rose to such great heights.

The sixth season of Exhibition on Screen brings to life the glorious exhibitions of the works of some of the greatest artists that ever lived. The films also offer deep insight, and exclusive behind-the-screens footage of exhibitions, while weaving lesser-known life stories of legendary artists. Showing at Rosebank Nouveau in Johannesburg, Brooklyn Nouveau in Pretoria and Ster-Kinekor Gateway Nouveau in Durban.be screened at Rosebank Nouveau in Johannesburg, Brooklyn Nouveau in Pretoria and Ster-Kinekor Gateway Nouveau in Durban.

Read more about the latest and upcoming film releases: writingstudio.co.za/lets-go-to-the-movies.

About Daniel Dercksen

Daniel Dercksen has been a contributor for Lifestyle since 2012. As the driving force behind the successful independent training initiative The Writing Studio and a published film and theatre journalist of 40 years, teaching workshops in creative writing, playwriting and screenwriting throughout South Africa and internationally the past 22 years. Visit www.writingstudio.co.za
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