Movies

The Thomas Crown Affair (1968)

MGM – Saturday 1 December, 8.30pm

The original version of this sexy and suspenseful classic, about a handsome, super-cool millionaire businessman, Thomas Crown (Steve McQueen), is also a high-stakes thief. His latest caper is an elaborate heist at a Boston bank. Why does he do it? For the same reason he flies gliders, bets on golf strokes and races dune buggies: he likes the thrill. A beautiful insurance investigator is sent to investigate him (Faye Dunaway). The chess scene is considered to be one of the steamiest scenes on film of all time. Edited and co-produced by Hal Ashby (who went on to direct classics Harold And Maude, Shampoo, Being There, and more).

Director/producer Norman Jewison (Fiddler On The Roof, In The Heat Of The Night, Moonstruck, The Hurricane) sites the French New Wave as an influence in the style he chose for this film. The multi-screen displays are one element of the film that gives it a particularly unique style. Featuring Oscar and Golden Globe winning original music.

Starring: Faye Dunaway, Steve McQueen, Jack Weston, Yaphet Kotto.

Rialto Premiere: Like Minds

Rialto – Saturday 1 December, 8.30pm

Privileged English public school student Alex Bennett is charged with the shotgun death of his one time room-mate, the enigmatic and intense Nigel Colby. Detective Martin McKenzie has no hard evidence and is under pressure from Alex’s father, who is also headmaster at Alex’s school, to have the charges dropped. McKenzie calls in forensic psychologist Sally Rowe, hoping she can determine Alex’s guilt.

Directed by Gregory J. Read

Starring Toni Collette and Richard Roxburgh.

NZ Short Film: Taua

Rialto – Saturday 1 December, 8.10pm

An impressive 50-foot waka is the focal point for this compelling historical tale that examines a young boy’s compassion amidst the rivalry of Maori tribes at war.

Directed by Tearepa Kahi.

Christmas Movie Time Special: Mickey’s Twice Upon Christmas

Disney Playhouse – Saturday 1 December, 7.00pm

Mickey’s Twice Upon Christmas is a collection of five heart-warming tales. In ‘Belles On Ice’, figure skaters Minnie and Daisy each thinks they’re the star of the big ice show. It’s ‘Christmas: Impossible’ for Huey, Dewey and Louie when they realize they may be left off Santa’s good list. ‘Christmas Maximus’ finds Max bringing his college girlfriend home to meet Goofy. In ‘Donald’s Gift’, Donald wants to stay home and avoid the hassle of Christmas. In ‘Mickey’s Dog-Gone Christmas’, Pluto runs away after destroying Mickey’s Christmas decorations.

WEDNESDAY 5th DECEMBER

BEVERLY HILLS NINJA

Comedy

Starring Chris Farley, Nicolette Sheridan, Robin Shou, Chris Rock

Directed by Dennis Dugan

US-1997

A well-meaning but hopelessly inept ninja ventures to the Hills of Beverly to rescue a mysterious beauty.
The story of an orphan who, as a baby, was found washed up on the shores of Japan and raised at a secret Japanese dojo. The ninjas think this child could be the Great White Ninja foretold in legend. Haru gets the chance to prove himself when the beautiful, Alison persuades him to embark on a dangerous mission into the wilds of Beverly Hills. With the help of his ninja brother, and a new American friend, Haru uncovers a plot much larger than he expected.

BEVERLY HILLS NINJA, Wednesday 5th December, at 8.30pm

Friday, November 23rd at 11:30pm

3 Film Festival: Guest House Paradiso

Comedian extraordinaires Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson star in this hilarious take on the hotel industry. Richie (Mayall) and Eddie (Edmondson) are in charge of the worst hotel in the UK – Guest House Paradiso, neighbouring a nuclear power plant. The illegal immigrant chef has fled and all the guests have gone. But when a famous Italian film star who is in hiding from a fiancé she doesn’t want to marry arrives at the hotel, things get very interesting!

Saturday, November 17th at 11:15pm

Come Together

James D’Arcy stars as Jack, a confirmed bachelor and struggling artist who finally meets the woman of his dreams. Just when he does, an incredibly attractive model arrives on his doorstep! Will he choose lust or true love? Jack struggles to decide in hysterical ways! Also starring Lucy Punch, Julian Ovenden, and Claire Bullus.

Saturday, November 17th at 8:30pm

Saturday Blockbuster: Die Another Day

Directed by New Zealander Lee Tamahori, Pierce Brosnan returns as Agent 007, James Bond in the action-packed Die Another Day. When Bond is captured and consequently tortured, he is released in a prisoner exchange but relieved of all duties, being accused of leaking information leading to the death of several agents. Bond then sets out to clear his name by conducting a personal investigation on North Korean terrorist Zhao, and, of course, meets a beautiful woman in the form of Jinx (Halle Berry) who is conducting an identical investigation.

Friday Night Movie: Dance With Me

Vibe – Friday 30 November, 8.30pm

When Rafael’s mother dies the last thing he expects on arriving in Houston are hot Cuban rhythms, steamy attractions or family reunions.

Starring Ugly Betty star Vanessa Williams.

Star Of The Month: Claude Rains: Saturday’s Children (1940)

TCM – Friday 30 November, 10:30pm

Based on Maxwell Anderson’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, John Garfield takes a break from his usual roles of louts and thugs to play a slow-witted inventor who has a habit of creating strange contraptions with little to no marketing potential. Anne Shirley plays a girl who falls in love with Garfield and manages to distract the absent-minded Garfield from his workshop enough to reciprocate. The two marries but money runs out, and her father (played by Claude Rains) decides to stage himself in an accident so the two can get the insurance money.