In Cinemas: October 18 - 24

CURRENT RELEASES:

* The lovely time-travel comedy SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED finally begins this week. Starring Aubrey Plaza (PARKS AND RECREATION, SCOTT PILGRIM VS. THE WORLD) and Mark Duplass (YOUR SISTER'S SISTER, HUMPDAY), it follows a trio investigating a man who placed a newspaper ad looking for somebody to come back in time with him.

* The Palme d'Or nominated KILLING THEM SOFTLY arrives in NZ this week, well before The States for a change. A mob story based on the novel COOGAN'S TRADE, it stars Brad Pitt, Richard Jenkins, James Gandolfini, Ray Liotta, Sam Shepard and a bunch of other good folk. Playing pretty much everywhere. As Wikipedia kinda points out, it's NOT to be confused with this marvelous-looking erotic thriller from 2002:

* Ken Loach's latest film THE ANGELS' SHARE (NZFF 2012) also opens on screens across town. And while session times haven't been released as I'm writing this, The Academy's new manager Andy Miller will apparently be using the film to re-open the cinema this week.

* Elsewhere, Angels & Airwaves' astronaut film LOVE is playing in Rialto's e-cinema after 18 months on the festival circuit, to illustrate (as MOON did) how crazy it is to be stranded in space alone. PARANORMAL ACTIVITY 4 is here to keep the low-budget franchise trucking along; Tim Burton is back in the claymation game with FRANKENWEENIE 3D; This week's new Bollywood film is university rom-com STUDENT OF THE YEAR; plus there are advanced screenings of the French film THE INTOUCHABLES pretty much everywhere this weekend.

REPERTORY/ONE-OFF SCREENINGS:

* LED ZEPPELIN: CELEBRATION DAY is a concert film of their 2007 appearance at the O2 Arena. It plays at Hoyts & Event this Thursday (with a couple of extra sessions at Rialto later on).

* This weekend is the 2012 Indonesian Fair and they've chucked in a couple of free film screenings at the North Shore Events Centre. GARUDA DI DADAKU (Garuda on my Chest)(2009) is a film about a soccer-loving kid and plays at 1 PM. RUMAH TANPA JENDELA (The House without Windows)(2011) is about the friendship between two very different children in Jakarta, and plays at 4 PM.

* Film Society shows another 35mm print on Tuesday: Max Ophüls' LE PLAISIR (1952). It consists of three segments, each a story exploring the subject of pleasure. Do note that it's been bumped to Tuesday 6:30 PM due to Labour Day on Monday.

* And also probably due to the long weekend, there is a collection of ADVENTURE TIME WITH FINN & JAKE episodes playing for the kids (and me) at Event & Hoyts, plus for the even younger ones, the double-episode adventure DORA'S ROYAL RESCUE screens at Hoyts & Berkeley cinemas.

* It's time again for the monthly Gay Film Night presented by Number 8 Films. They are showing 2004 gay slasher flick HELLBENT (haha!) about a Hallowe'en killing spree. Plays at 6:30 PM Thursday at Rialto.

* The Auckland Art Gallery is showing THIS WAY OF LIFE (NZFF 2009) for free at 3 PM on Sunday; it's a documentary about the Karena family and their horses in the Ruahine Ranges down South. Back from this year's NZFF, TONGAN ARK is about the tiny island university, and there is a screening at the gallery 2 PM Labour Day, that costs $5 (fundraising for the struggling university itself).

* For all you snowboarding fans, the latest entry playing in the SESSIONS Action Sports 2012 season is THE ART OF FLIGHT. St. Lukes & Albany Event, Sunday 4 PM or Monday 8:30 PM.

* While there is still nothing in the Monterey Abroad slot this week, they have another screening of David Lean's LAWRENCE OF ARABIA (1962) at 2:00 PM Sunday, as well as a showing of his DOCTOR ZHIVAGO (1965) at 12:30 PM on Wednesday.

* A couple of short documentaries play together over at The Vic this week: RIVER DOG about a man & his dogs in the Wairarapa and GONE CURLING... about outdoor curling in Central Otago. The pair play 6 PM Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

* Finally, there is a few screenings of BBC LAST NIGHT OF THE PROMS at Bridgeway and Rialto, plus Bridgeway will show MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING twice this week, the stage-play filmed at Shakespeare's Globe last year. 10:30 AM Friday and Wednesday.


All times above are accurate at the time of publication. Your best bet would be to check Flicks or the theatre website before attending. Please let us know in the comments if you spy anything we've messed up/missed out!