A dynamic duo of classy, Oscar-buzzed dramas lead this week's packed movie round-up. Scroll down for all the details of what's on and when.
Steve Jobs
What's the story? Discover the man behind the image in this candid biopic about computer genius Steve Jobs.
From the pen of Aaron Sorkin ( The West Wing, A Few Good Men, The Social Network) comes this riveting and revealing movie about one of the late 20th century's most towering figures – Apple supremo Steve Jobs.
Taking place at three key stages of Jobs' life, from the unveiling of the first Mac in 1984, through his split from Apple in 1988 to his return in 1998 and the release of the revolutionary iMac, the film provides an intimate study of a man whose private life was often as turbulent as his professional life.
The explosive Michael Fassbender ( 12 Years a Slave) takes on the lead role as Steve Jobs, heading up a starry cast that includes Kate Winslet, Seth Rogen and Jeff Daniels. And in the director's chair is Slumdog Millionaire Oscar winner Danny Boyle.
Click here to book your tickets for Steve Jobs.
The Lady in the Van
What's the story? Dame Maggie Smith stars as an eccentric homeless woman who befriends a famous playwright in this heartfelt true-life tale.
In the early 1970s, playwright Alan Bennett befriended an elderly homeless woman named Mary Shepherd. In an act of typical kindness, Bennett let the eccentric Shepherd live in a caravan on his driveway, in what he believed would be a short-term arrangement. Fifteen years later, she was still there.
The Lady in the Van tells the remarkable true-life story of Alan Bennett and Mary Shepherd, about their unusual and sometime stormy relationship and about her eccentric run-ins with authority.
The Queen actor Alex Jennings plays Alan Bennett, with the legendary Dame Maggie Smith, in a role far away from her turn as Violet Crawley the Dowager Countess of Grantham in Downton Abbey, as the bedraggled Mary Shepherd.
Click here to book your tickets for The Lady in the Van.
The Hallow
What's the story? A couple with a young baby are terrorised by evil creatures in this chilling horror.
Married couple Adam (Joseph Mawle) and Clare (Bojana Novakovic) have recently relocated to Ireland with their newborn son, Finn. However, upon moving into their remote house, they slowly become aware that something is wrong.
Their neighbour warns that the couple will become the targets of evil woodland spirits intent on stealing children, and when Adam discovers a deer carcass covered in a mysterious substance, it seems as if the folklore is about to become reality. Soon they are plunged into a fight for their lives against terrifying monsters.
This full-throttle creature feature marks the directorial debut of visual artist Corin Hardy and lays on the shocks with aplomb. The director's enthusiasm for things that go bump in the night has already resulted in him being attached to the future remake of cult classic The Crow.
Click here to book your tickets for The Hallow.
Fathers and Daughters
What's the story? Amanda Seyfried and Russell Crowe star in an emotionally powerful exploration of parental love.
Jake Davis (Russell Crowe) is a Pulitzer Prize winning novelist who was left to raise his young daughter Katie (Kylie Rogers) alone after his wife died in a tragic car accident. When Jake himself suffers failing health, Katie is sent to live with relatives.
Twenty-five years later, the adult Katie (Amanda Seyfried) remains scarred by this traumatic formative experience and has trouble maintaining relationships. However, it turns out her latest partner, Cameron (Aaron Paul), is a big fan of her father's writing, forcing Katie to come to terms with her past.
The Pursuit of Happyness director Gabriele Muccino skilfully interweaves the narrative of this heart-wrenching drama between the 1980s and the present day. As the story develops, we learn of the extraordinary lengths to which Jake is prepared to go to hold on to the most important thing in his life – his daughter.
Click here to book your tickets for Fathers and Daughters.
Angels vs. Bullies
What's the story? A seemingly ordinary teenager discovers his supernatural destiny in this anti-bullying drama.
In a failing music school, Gabriel (Harry Goodwins), gang-leader, juvenile delinquent and graffiti artist, breaks into the building after dark. Whilst there, he realises he has the ability to see the ghosts that exist within the walls. Having come to terms with this revelation, Gabriel soon realises his destiny: he must work with the ghosts to help save a fellow pupil from being bullied. Can Gabriel save the girl and the school... and escape unharmed?
Written and directed by debut filmmaker Christopher Turner, who also composes the soundtrack and acts as editor, this inventive and atmospheric British fantasy/drama features a strong anti-bullying message and is funded by Essex Community Foundation under the Fair Share Lottery Programme. The film features a hot young cast headed by lead Harry Goodwins, Rosie Woolman and Eleanor Corcoran.
Click here to book your tickets for Angels vs. Bullies.
Prem Ratan Dhan Payo (Hindi) (opens Thursday 12th November)
What's the story? A king and a commoner change identities in this Bollywood adaptation of The Prince and the Pauper.
In this loose adaptation of Mark Twain's classic novel, The Prince and the Pauper, a king (Salman Khan), who is loved by all his subjects, dreams of a normal life, away from the stresses of the kingdom. So when he finds an identical commoner, Vijay (Khan again), he decides this is his chance of escaping his royal duties.
This compelling Indian drama is written and directed by Sooraj Barjatya, most famous for his 1989 cult classic Maine Pyar Kiya. The film marks the fourth big screen collaboration between Barjatya and his regular leading man Salman Khan. Popular actress Sonam Kapoor stars as Maithili, Khan's love interest.
Click here to book for Prem Ratan Dhan Payo.
Vedalam
(Tamil) (opens Thursday 12th November)
What's the story? Charismatic Ajith Kumar plays a taxi driver who tussles with villains in this Tamil action movie.
Ganesh (Ajith Kumar) lives in Kolkata with his sister Tamizh (Lakshmi Menon). But his quiet life as a call taxi driver is interrupted by a bunch of villains who arrive in town and are surprised to find the man they know as Vedhalam is still alive. In flashback, we learn that Vedhalam was a criminal don who once ruled Chennai. Yearning for a more peaceful existence, he moved away and settled in Kolkata. But is his past about to catch up with him?
Tamil superstar Ajith Kumar takes on another of those multiple roles for which he has become famous as he reunites with Siva, who directed the 2014 hit Veeram. Soori plays the owner of the call taxi unit, with Thambi Ramiah as Ganesh's father and Appukutty as his friend. The film's heroine is an advocate played by Shruti Haasan.
Click here to book your tickets for Vedalam.
Akhil (Telugu)
What's the story? Akkineni Akhil makes his debut in this eagerly anticipated, effects-packed Telugu action fantasy.
The younger son of Telugu filmmaking legend Nagarjuna Akkineni, Akhil Akkineni explodes onto the screen in his debut leading role. Although he had a brief cameo in Vikram Kumar's Manam, this is the first opportunity fans have had to see this latest member of the great acting dynasty demonstrate his action skills and charisma on screen.
Subtitled 'The Power of Jua', the film that bears its star's name is directed by V.V. Vinayak, whose credits include such Telugu hits as Dil and Tagore. It also marks the screen debut of the latest member of another legendary Indian acting family: Sayesha Saigal, who's the daughter of Sumeet Saigal and Shaheen Banu, and grandniece of Dilip Kumar.
Produced jointly by actor Nithin and his father Sudhakar Reddy, the film's release was delayed to complete its state-of-the-art effects work. It promises to be well worth the wait.
Click here to book tickets for Akhil.
Thoongaavanam (Tamil)
What's the story? Veteran Tamil star Kamal Haasan takes the lead in this neo-noir crime thriller.
At the time of its release back in 2013, the award-winning spy thriller Viswaroopam ranked as the second highest grossing Tamil film of all time. So expectations are sky-high for this follow-up, which reunites that film's creative team. It's an official remake of Frederic Jardin's intense French cops-gone-bad thriller Sleepless Night, which is also currently being remade in Hollywood with Jamie Foxx and Michelle Monaghan.
Hugely popular, multi-talented Tamil cinema veteran Kamal Haasan has the lead role as an IRS officer working in the narcotics bureau. The female lead is Trisha, who plays a police officer for the first time. Prakash Raj takes the bad guy role as a drug dealer. In addition to starring in and co-producing the film, Kamal Haasan also wrote the screenplay for debutant director Rajesh M. Selva. A Telugu version was shot simultaneously using the same cast.
Click here to book tickets for Thoongaavanam.
Unlimited advance screening:
Black Mass (Tuesday 17th November, 7.30pm)
What's the story? Johnny Depp and Benedict Cumberbatch star in an engrossing true-life crime thriller.
As leader of the Winter Hill Gang, ruthless Irish-American mobster James 'Whitey' Bulger (Johnny Depp) controls the streets of early 70s South Boston. But the Angiulo family from the north of the city are looking to muscle in on his territory.
Whitey's childhood friend, FBI agent John Connolly (Joel Edgerton), is under pressure to nail the Angiulos. He covertly offers his brutal underworld chum immunity from prosecution in return for turning informant. With Whitey's powerful state senator brother (Benedict Cumberbatch) turning a blind eye, an extraordinary crimewave is unleashed.
Based on an incredible true story that also partially inspired Martin Scorsese's Oscar-winning The Departed, this taut and gripping crime thriller boasts a compelling performance by Johnny Depp as one of America's most notorious gangsters. Crazy Heart director Scott Cooper also gets outstanding, nuanced performances out of Joel Edgerton and Benedict Cumberbatch.
Remember: you only get to see this exclusive advance screening if you're part of the Unlimited club! Click here to book your tickets for Black Mass.
NT 2015: Of Mice and Men encore (Thursday 19th November, 7pm)
What's the story? This moving production of John Steinbeck's Depression-era classic returns to Cineworld.
During the American Depression of the 1930s, two drifters – the quick-witted George and his friend, the simple Lennie – dream of a better life for themselves. But after finding work on the fields, an incident with a young girl leads to trouble for the gentle but strong Lennie...
Based on John Steinbeck's celebrated novel, this acclaimed Broadway production was filmed on stage in New York and screens at Cineworld on 19th November. James Franco ( 127 Hours) and Chris O'Dowd (The IT Crowd, Bridesmaids) lead the cast of a production that The Independent has called "riveting" and "powerful". Tony Award winner Anna D. Shapiro directs.
Click here to book tickets for Of Mice and Men.
True Romance
(re-release) (Wednesday 18th November, 7pm)
What's the story? A dark and funny Tarantino-scripted romantic odyssey, back on screen as part of the BFI's LOVE season.
When nerdy comic store clerk Clarence (Christian Slater) meets the lovely Alabama (Patricia Arquette) in a cinema, it's love at first sight. He doesn't even mind when he learns that she's a hooker hired by his boss as a birthday present. But things start to get complicated very quickly.
Clarence becomes involved in a bloody shootout with Alabama's pimp, Drexl (Gary Oldman), and the couple find themselves on the run with a suitcase full of cocaine. They plan to sell this in LA and start a new life, but reckon without the pursuing mob and cops.
Directed by the late Tony Scott and written by Quentin Tarantino after his breakout success with Reservoir Dogs, the dazzling True Romance is filled with great characters and whip-smart dialogue. Watch out for the young Brad Pitt as a stoner who never leaves the couch!
Click here to book your tickets for True Romance.
Which of these incredible, unmissable movies and events will you be watching over the next week? Join the conversation @Cineworld and let us know. And don't forget to check out next week's round-up. We'll see you soon!
