Sanctum

Intense and thrilling is this breathtaking journey of an underwater cave diving team that gets trapped in a subterranean cave after a tropical cyclone cuts access to their only known exit. The divers now must confront their ultimate test of survival and navigate the treacherous, claustrophobic, labyrinthine cave and plunging cliffs to find an escape route.

Master diver Frank McGuire (Richard Roxburgh) is challenged by the disjointed efforts of crew members Carl Hurley (Ioan Gruffudd), the expedition's reckless financier with his adventurous girlfriend Victoria (Alice Parkinson), and Frank's estranged teenager son, Josh (Rhys Wakefield). Frank's only constant support comes from his loyal assistant Crazy George (Dan Wyllie).

Australian director Alister Grierson (Kokoda, 2006) loosely based the feature on the 2007 real life experience of caver and co-screenwriter Andrew Wight. Sanctum is set in the world's largest cave labyrinth, in the South Pacific's Esa'ala caves of Papua, New Guinea, but was filmed in Queenland's Gold Coast as well as in South Australian caves.

The feature's highlight is in its visuals. Director of photography, Jules O'Loughlin applied the same Fusion 3D Camera System James Cameron used in Avatar. His stunning underwater cinematography along with Nicholas McCallum's detailed production design of underground caves, long flowing rivers and waterfalls, visually immerse the audience in an awe-inspiring underwater world.

Plastic Planet

In this well researched and compelling documentary, Austrian director Werner Boote challenges us to take a closer look at plastic. Its lightweight, easily shaped and economical benefits has made it an integral part of our daily life. However, plastic remains in the ground and water for up to 500 years, and while decaying, it slowly releases toxins that are harmful to us and to our environment.

Boote, grandson of a former managing director of the German Interplastic Werke, embarks on a journey of 12 countries to interview foremost plastic experts and address the environmental, scientific, manufacturing, and regulatory issues surrounding the world of plastic.

Among the included interviewees are: former president of PlasticsEurope, John Taylor, Italian investigative judge and current Senator of the Italian Parliament, Felice Casson, Beatrice Bortolozzo, daughter of Gabriele Bortolozzo, fatality victim in the trial against Montedison, environmental scientist Susan Jobling-Eastwood, a Japanese plastic sculptor, Hiroshi Sagae, the renowned geneticist at Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio, Patricia Hunt, pharmacologist and cell biophysicist at the University of Cincinnati, Scott Belcher, the president of The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX), Theo Colborn, biologist Fred Vom Saal, a prominent plastic surgeon in Hollywood, Frederick Corbin, Captain Charles Moore, hormone specialist, Peter Frigo, Austrian environmental analyst, Kurt Scheidl, the current vice-president of the European Commission of chemicals regulation, REACH, Margot Wallström, medical biologist in Innsbruck, Klaus Rhomberg, author, speaker, and lobbyist for PlasticsEurope, Ray Hammond, and German plasticization artist, Gunther Von Hagens.

Boote's voice-over narration, archival footage, and Peter Höhsl's awesome animation, effectively leaves the viewer informed and entertained.

The Dilemma

Issues of infidelity, trust and honesty are at the center of this latest feature by Ron Howard who returns to comedy after more than a decade of directing dramas and thrillers.

Ronny (Vince Vaughn) discovers his buddy's wife, Geneva (Winona Ryder) in the arms of another man, the heavily tattooed Zip (Channing Tatum). The Dilemma centers around Ronny’s attempts to tell his buddy Nick (Kevin James) about the affair without jeopardizing their friendship, their impending business deal and his engagement to the beautiful Beth (Jennifer Connelly).

While serious topics tilt the comedy, good performances uplift it, especially Winona Ryder’s challenging multifaceted role as the conniving cheating wife, the ex lover, and the old time friend.

TRON: Legacy

Just like the original 1982 release of the groundbreaking cult classic TRON that set the beginning of CGI, Disney's newly released futuristic action adventure TRON: Legacy stands out in cutting-edge, high tech special effects and set designs.

Perfectly blending the real and the unreal, the never before seen on the big screen digital landscape consists of unique live action, photorealistic CG as well as hand drawn animation. The Grid's stunning visuals and arresting dynamic action scenes are amplified by 3D and IMAX®.

In his debut as feature director, Joseph Kosinski uses geometric shapes and minimalist interiors. Innovative use of light leaves every surface illuminated, including the drinks and the self-illuminated body-molded suits by costume designer Michael Wilkinson. In addition, fans will recognize many of the original film's images and props incorporated in the scene showing Flynn's secret lab.

Following the 20 year mysterious disappearance of his leading tech visionary father, Kevin Flynn (Oscar® and Golden Globe® winner Jeff Bridges), the rebellious 27-year-old Sam Flynn (newcomer Garrett Hedlund) finds himself at the epicenter of a digital world ruled by a ruthless villain. With the help of the beautiful and fearless warrior Quorra (Olivia Wilde) he embarks in a life-and-death journey marked by gladiator-like lightcycle vehicular chases, disc battles, weapons, light discs and teleportation.

Bridges performs both parts of the hero and his younger fully digital character, the villain Clu, whose movements and facial expressions Bridges controls by a helmet mounted camera.

Additional good cast includes Bruce Boxleitner as Kevin Flynn's longtime friend and associate, Alan Bradley, James Frain as Clu's main henchman proficient in intelligence gathering, Jarvis, Beau Garrett as the Siren Gem, and Michael Sheen in the role of the dandified club owner, Castor.

The award winning French musical duo Daft Punk's phenomenal score blurs the limit of music and sound design with a unique combination of orchestra, electronic and granular sounds intricately tied to the visuals.

Engaging action and arresting visuals immerse the viewers in this original and fascinating cyber world. 

India's Fabled City: The Art of Courtly Lucknow

Celebrating the sophistication and splendor of mid-18^th and mid-19^th century Lucknow, is the core of this first major international exhibition at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).

Following ten years of planning, curators Stephen Markel and Tushara Bindu Gude provide a historical framework for this region's rich and unique artistry, and display Lucknow's artistic transformation, from the traditional 16^th century paintings depicting the royal court and battle scenes, to the more cosmopolitan landscapes and daily life. As a multicultural nexus point, Lucknow flourished leaving behind vibrant aesthetic achievements and a vital artistic legacy.

The exhibit has something for everyone. Following a chronological and thematic display, this extraordinary exhibit is presented in twelve sections and ten galleries of approximately 200 British and Indian artworks. Included are portraits of Awadh rulers and their patronage of European artists, paintings and 19^th century Indian photographs capturing the beautiful city architecture and landscape, prints, textiles, sumptuous decorative arts, royal garments, weaponry, jewelry and Indian films.

Following its run at LACMA, the exhibition will travel to Musée National des Arts Asiatiques-Guimet, Paris, and will be on view from April 6, 2011 through July 11, 2011.

The exhibition is organized by LACMA curator of South and Southeast Asian art and department head Stephen Markel and associate curator Tushara Bindu Gude.

The exhibit runs from December 12, 2010 through February 27, 2011 at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) located at 5905 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036. For more information call (323) 857-6000 or visit www.lacma.org

Black Swan

Similar to The Wrestler, director Darren Aronofsky's Black Swan shares the ruthless competitive drive, as well as the obsessive pressures some undergo to reach their goal.

Aronofsky sets his first psychological thriller in the world of New York Ballet where prima ballerina Nina (Natalie Portman) is pushed to the limit by her demanding artistic director, Thomas Leroy (Vincent Cassel) as she competes against her rival Lily (Mila Kunis).

In what may be considered her best performance to date, Portman delivers a riveting portrayal of Nina. Inhabiting a complex multifaceted personality and fragile mental state, Nina gradually loses herself in her frightening quest for perfection.

Visceral light and dark scenes filled with refractive mirrors create parallels between Nina and her Swan Lake character. Matthew Libatique's hand held camera work captures the dancers' energy, sweat and pain, effectively submerging the audience into a rarely seen backstage reality of dance. Clint Mansell's score weaved with Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake heightens the unsettling mood and edge of the seat suspense.

When We Leave (Die Fremde)

The 83rd Academy Awards® 2011 Official German entry for the Best Foreign Language Film is a complex and gripping portrait of a family in crisis.

Hoping to start a new life, Umay (Sibel Kekilli) flees, along with her five years old son Cem (Nizam Schiller), from her oppressive marriage in Istanbul, Turkey, to her native Berlin, Germany. Instead, her path for self determination leads to intense conflicts with her family who love her but are bound by culture and traditions.

The superb cast includes Turkish stars Settar Tanriögen as Kader, Umay's father, and Derya Alabora as Halime, Umay’s mother. However, it is Sibel Kekilli's remarkable screen presence and expression of inner turmoil that steals the show.

The feature's most exceptional shots are also the most heartbreaking and violent. Included are many non-verbal, yet extremely powerful, expressive, and moving scenes.

The cast conveys a realistic empathetic portrayal of the transcultural and sociocultural conflicts impacting all of the family members. The skillful narrative by Feo Aladag, in her debut as writer, director and co-producer with Züli Aladag, portrays the dreadful predicaments of honor killing on all the characters, including the men, showing them not simply as culprits but also as victims of a structural, traditional dynamics.


Film opens in the United States, January 28, 2011. Find additional information at www.WhenWeLeave.com