Bikini-clad girls go wild in "Spring Breakers"
DIRECTOR HARMONY Korine is no stranger to generating water-cooler talk with his controversial and polarising films that are down-and-dirty portrayals of the lives of youngsters.
His latest unapologetically grimy yet candy-coloured effort, “Spring Breakers” stars ex-Disney princesses Selena Gomez and Vanessa Hudgens along with Ashley Benson and Rachel Korine.
They are bikini-clad college girls who turn to robbery to finance their spring-break vacation. Caught and put in jail, they are bailed out by a sleazy, oddball character named Alien – James Franco in an instantly iconic performance.
Also opening
l “Riddick” – Before there was “Fast and Furious”, there was “Pitch Black”, the movie that made Vin Diesel a cult figure. He’s back as the space-faring anti-hero in this third live-action entry in the Riddick series. Karl Urban, Katee Sackhoff, Dave Bautista and Bokeem Woodbine also star. David Twohy, director of the previous two Riddick movies, also returns.
l “The Bling Ring” – And here’s more youngsters breaking bad. Sofia Coppola directs this fact-based comedy about young Hollywood social-climbers who rob the homes of the rich and famous, stealing their luxury-brand fashion accessories. Harry Potter’s witchy pal Emma Watson stars along with Israel Broussard, Katie Chang, Claire Julien and Taissa Farmiga.
l “Closed Circuit” – Eric Bana and Rebecca Hall star in this Brit thriller about a high-profile legal case involving a terrorist attack in a busy London market. John Crowley (“Intermission”) directs.
l “Switch” – Andy Lau battles an array of foreign villains as he tries to recover a Yuan Dynasty scroll that holds ancient secrets.
l “The Man Who Laughs” – Jean-Pierre Ameris directs this new adaptation of Victor Hugo’s novel about a man with a scar on his face that gives him a permanent smile, kind of like the Joker in “The Dark Knight”. Marc-Andre Grondin stars along with Gerard Depardieu.
l “Shuddh Desi Romance” – Shield your eyes or turn your head demurely away, because there’s supposedly kissing in this Bollywood romantic comedy. It stars Sushant Singh Rajput, Parineeti Chopra and Vaani Kapoor. It’s at Major Cineplex Sukhumvit, Rama III and Pattaya.
Also showing
l The Friese-Greene Club – The club’s new schedule has David Cronenberg movies every Friday this month. Tonight, it’s “Videodrome”. And if that doesn’t freak you out then David Lynch’s “Eraserhead” tomorrow night will. It’s preceded by “Midnight Movies – From the Margin to the Mainstream”, a documentary that explains what the heck this all means. Sunday’s offering is a little movie about a guy who thought it would be fun to run a newspaper. He goes crazy and ends up mumbling “Rosebud”. Shows are at 8pm. For reservations, book at FCG.in.th.
l Elle Fashion Film Festival – Dovetailing nicely with the release of “The Bling Ring” and “Spring Breakers” is fest of films inspired by the world of fashion. It starts on Tuesday at SFX the Emporium. Read more about it at left.
