Bridget Jones first exploded onto bookshelves in HELEN FIELDING’s literary phenomenon Bridget Jones’s Diary, which became a global bestseller and a blockbuster film.

As a single career woman living in London, Bridget Jones not only introduced the world to her romantic adventures, but added “Singletons,” “Smug Marrieds” and “f—wittage” into the global lexicon. Bridget’s ability to triumph despite adversity led her to finally marry top lawyer Mark Darcy (Academy Award® winner COLIN FIRTH) and to become the mother of their baby boy. Happiness at last.

But in Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, Bridget is alone once again, widowed four years ago, when Mark was killed on a humanitarian mission in the Sudan. She’s now a single mother to 10-year-old Billy (CASPER KNOPF, Halo) and 6-year-old Mabel (newcomer MILA JANKOVIC), and is stuck in a state of emotional limbo, raising her children with help from her loyal friends, including her former lover, Daniel Cleaver (HUGH GRANT).

Pressured by her Urban Family —Shazzer (SALLY PHILLIPS; Smack the Pony, Veep, Love at First Sight), Jude (SHIRLEY HENDERSON; See How they Run, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, The Mandalorian) and Tom (JAMES CALLIS, Slow Horses, Blood & Treasure, Castlevania), her work colleague Miranda (SARAH SOLEMANI; Barry, Bad Education, Chivalry), her former editor Richard Finch (NEIL PEARSON; Silent Witness, Waterloo Road, In the Club) and her gynecologist Dr. Rawlings (Oscar® winner EMMA THOMPSON) — to forge a new path toward life and love, Bridget goes back to work and even tries out the dating apps, where she’s soon pursued by a dreamy and enthusiastic younger man (LEO WOODALL; One Day, White Lotus).

Now juggling work, home and romance, Bridget grapples with the judgment of the perfect mums at school, worries about Billy as he struggles with the absence of his father, and engages in a series of awkward interactions with her son’s rational-to-a-fault science teacher (Oscar® nominee CHIWETEL EJIOFOR; 12 Years a Slave, Children of Men).

The returning cast includes Oscar® winner JIM BROADBENT (Paddington films, Iris) and BAFTA winner GEMMA JONES (Wicked Little Letters, Sense & Sensibility) as Bridget’s parents.

New cast members include LEILA FARZAD (The Marvels, I Hate Suzie, The Decameron) as Perfect Nicolette, a mother at Bridget’s children’s school; JOSETTE SIMON (Wonder Woman, Pokémon: Detective Pikachu, The Crow) as Bridget’s new colleague Talitha; and NICO PARKER (The Last of Us, Dumbo, upcoming How to Train Your Dragon) as Bridget’s nanny, Chloe.

Based on the novel by HELEN FIELDING, Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is directed by acclaimed filmmaker MICHAEL MORRIS (To Leslie, Better Call Saul), from a screenplay by BAFTA nominee HELEN FIELDING and Oscar® nominee DAN MAZER (I Give It a Year, Bridget Jones’s Baby) and Emmy winner ABI MORGAN (The Iron Lady, Eric).
www.facebook.com/UniversalPicturesAU/

With a film title almost as long as the distance he travels, take a journey with Harold Fry as he leaves home, walking to his post office to send a letter and out of the blue decides to keep walking, all the way to his dying friend who is 450 miles away.

This heartfelt tale is a cross between a late-life coming-of-age story and a universal love story of partnership, children, parents, neighbours, friends and strangers.

Join Dendy Coorparoo or Dendy Portside on Thursday June 1st for a special Preview Screening including a complimentary morning tea including cake & baked delights before the screening.

“One of the great movies about ageing and regret” – The Guardian

“It’s impossible not to love this movie” – The Lady UK

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry opens at Dendy Cinemas 8 June.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry Seniors morning tea preview
1 June 2023 – 10am
Dendy Coorparoo or Dendy Portside
www.dendy.com.au

The film starts when his protest against the TV levee that the government inflicted back in the sixties lands him in jail where he does time. Broadbent is perfectly cast as the heart of gold Bunton as is the always impeccable Helen Mirren as his long-suffering wife Dorothy. His activities escalate until he is accused of stealing a portrait of the Duke of Wellington by the Spanish painter Goya.

Bunton is so unassuming and eccentric that even with a country-wide search for the missing painting, no suspicion lands at his feet. Several scenes highlight the task of living with such a man and Mirren is a joy to behold as the magnanimous wife. Her class shines through.

Getting the components correct for a true feel-good experience is not an easy task. It’s a fine line between motivation and maudlin and The Duke is an expert at keeping that balance just right. Don’t miss the opportunity to spend some quality time with this easy-going treasure of a film.
Rob Hudson
www.facebook.com/transmissionfilms/

The film starts when his protest against the TV levee that the Poms inflicted back in the sixties lands him in jail where he does time. Broadbent is perfectly cast as the heart of gold Bunton as is the always impeccable Helen Mirren as his long-suffering wife Dorothy. His activities escalate until he is accused of stealing a portrait of the Duke of Wellington by the Spanish painter Goya.

Getting the components correct for a true feel-good experience is not an easy task. It’s a fine line between motivation and maudlin and The Duke is an expert at keeping that balance just right. Don’t miss the opportunity to spend some quality time with this easy going treasure of a film.
Rob Hudson

The Duke screenings in Brisbane
Palace Barracks
Wednesday 17, November 3:45 PM
Sunday 21, November 3:30 PM
Wednesday 24, November 1:30 PM
Friday 26, November 6:15 PM
Monday 29, November 10:50 AM

Palace James St
Tuesday 16, November 1:30 PM
Saturday 20, November 8:30 PM
Sunday 21, November 1:30 PM
Tuesday 23, November 1:30 PM
Saturday 27, November 5:45 PM
Tuesday 30, November 1:30 PM

The British Film Festival takes place in Brisbane from Wednesday 3 November until Wednesday 1 December and films will be shown exclusively at the Palace Barracks and James St Cinemas. Click here for more information about the festival, or head to the official website for more information and to book your tickets!
www.britishfilmfestival.com.au

A famous thief in his younger years, widower Brian Reader (Michael Caine), 77 years of age, pulls together a band of misfit criminals to plot an unprecedented burglary at the Hatton Garden Safe Deposit.

The thieves, all in their 60s and 70s except for one, employ their old-school thieving skills to plan the heist over the Easter holiday weekend. Posing as servicemen, they enter the deposit, neutralise the alarms, and proceed to drill a hole into the wall of the safe.

Two days later, they manage to escape worth allegedly over £200 million worth of stolen jewels and money. When police are called to the scene and investigation starts, the cracks between the misfit gang members begin to show as they row over how to share the goods and become increasingly distrustful of each other.

Meanwhile, the crime has become public knowledge, and a frenzy of speculations begin. As details about the crime come to light, both the British public and the media are captivated, and the investigation is followed with bated breath around the world until the criminals are eventually captured.

King of Thieves is In-Cinemas February 28!
www.kingofthievesmovie.com.au

To enter this great competition simply fallout the form below. Please note – these tickets are for a specific event only and can not be exchanged or refunded. The winners will need to be available on Wednesday February 27 at 6:30pm in Brisbane to be able to attend this event at Palace James Street.

The Chaperone Competition

Name *

Name

Email *

Email

Address *

Address

Captcha

Competition will be drawn 23 February 2019, winners will be notified by email.

Posing as servicemen, they enter the deposit, neutralise the alarms, and proceed to drill a hole into the wall of the safe. Two days later, they manage to escape with allegedly over £200 million worth of stolen jewels and money.

When police are called to the scene and the investigation starts, the cracks between the misfit gang members begin to show as they row over how to share the goods and become increasingly distrustful of each other.

Meanwhile, the crime has become public knowledge, and a frenzy of speculations begin. As details about the crime come to light, both the British public and the media are captivated, and the investigation is followed with bated breath around the world until the criminals are eventually captured.

King of Thieves is in Australian cinemas January 31!
www.facebook.com/KingOfThievesFilm

A Heyday Films and STUDIOCANAL production, Paddington’s return to the big screen is helmed by BAFTA nominated director Paul King (PADDINGTON, COME FLY WITH ME, THE MIGHTY BOOSH) written by Paul King and Simon Farnaby (PADDINGTON, YONDERLAND and MINDHORN).

Paddington 2 is produced by multi award-winning David Heyman (producer of all eight of the HARRY POTTER films, GRAVITY, THE BOY IN THE STRIPED PYJAMAS, FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM).

Paddington 2’s all-star cast is led by Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Julie Walters, Jim Broadbent, Peter Capaldi, Madeleine Harris and Samuel Joslin, with Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington, Imelda Staunton as the voice of Aunt Lucy and Michael Gambon as the voice of Uncle Pastuzo.

Paddington 2 will be released in Australian cinemas December 21 with advance screenings December 9-10 & 16-17.
www.facebook.com/PaddingtonBear

While searching for the perfect present for his beloved Aunt Lucy’s hundredth birthday, Paddington spots a unique pop-up book in Mr. Gruber’s antique shop and embarks upon a series of odd jobs to buy it. But when the book is stolen, it’s up to Paddington and the Browns to unmask the thief…

Golden Globe winner Hugh Grant and Golden Globe nominee Brendan Gleeson join the all-star returning cast of Golden Globe nominee Hugh Bonneville, Academy Award® nominee Sally Hawkins, Academy Award® nominee Julie Walters, Academy Award® winner Jim Broadbent, Academy Award® winner Peter Capaldi, Madeleine Harris and Samuel Joslin with Ben Whishaw as the voice of Paddington and Academy Award® nominee Imelda Staunton as Aunt Lucy. PADDINGTON 2 opens in cinemas nationally December 21.

Well it was also the first time I had ever laid eyes on Maggie Smith, who played the sea goddess, Thetis. And to my 12-year-old eyes, Maggie looked positively ancient. Of course, she was a spritely 47-year-old then (I say ‘spritely’ because that’s how old I am now) but she has grown older as I have grown older and, as a result, she has always looked ‘old’ to me.

At 81, it’s fair to say she has earned that mantle now but one thing that has not faded with her age is her performance acumen. Indeed, it’s better than ever and she’s an actress who has embraced her age beautifully if not being classically beautiful herself – and there is a great beauty in that in an industry that demands otherwise.

Having seen The Lady in the Van it’s hard to imagine anyone other than Maggie Smith playing the part of the titular ‘Miss Shepherd’. As wonderful as Smith’s thespian peers are, neither Judy Dench (too staunch) nor Charlotte Rampling (too classy) nor Helen Mirren (too young!) would be such a natural fit. Smith possesses just the right measure of hard-nosed frailty and acerbic humour that makes her perfect for the part.

In a time of pandering ‘oldies’ movies whose prime purpose is to be light-hearted and uplifting, whilst touching lightly on the issues of growing old (Quartet, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel etc.) it’s refreshing to find a film aimed at this market segment which actually has some artistic merit. The Lady in the Van isn’t alone, of course, the recent Youth and 45 Years attest to a recent push to make the ‘grey’ film segment more than just entertaining fluff.

The film is interestingly structured and well told from the point of view of playwright, Alan Bennett, played to perfection by Alex Jennings in a dual role representing Bennett’s two states of mind.

Bennett’s story is laced with comedy but it would be a mistake to call the film a comedy. The film is being marketed as such, however, and it is possibly suffering somewhat because of this in the eyes of its audience. It would be more accurate to call the film a drama with comic elements. And thank goodness for these comic elements, as it would be a tough watch otherwise!

The Lady in the Van is an excellent film. It’s so good, in fact, that it beggars belief that Sony shelved it for nearly 12 months! A film of this quality is clearly worthy of a Boxing Day release, not languishing in release schedule hell like some B grade turkey. And a film of this quality is worthy of a viewing from anyone of any age.

Stuart Jamieson
www.sonyclassics.com

The film follows Eilis (Ronan), a young Irish woman who leaves her small town in Ireland hoping for a brighter future in 1950s Brooklyn. Despite her initial homesickness, she falls in love with Tony (Cohen) an Italian-American who opens her eyes her new surroundings. But a family tragedy leads Eilis back to Ireland, where her American sophistication catches the eye of the charming Jim (Gleeson).

www.facebook.com/BrooklynMovie

Competition will be drawn 10 February 2016, winners will be notified by mail.