The Next 48hOURS ≈ Movies Guide

FILM: ROBOCOP 1980s cult classic. “Back in the 1980s, CAST: JOEL KINNAMAN, , MI- the idea of a half-man, half-robot could CHAEL KEATON, only take place in the far future. But it’s DIRECTOR: JOSE PADILHA actually happening now,” says director José Padilha.“From prosthetics to drones In ‘RoboCop’, the year is 2028 and mul- to self-driving cars, this idea is becom- tinational conglomerate OmniCorp is at ing part of everybody’s life. It’s raising the center of robot technology. Over- a lot of legal and ethical issues that seas, their drones have been used by the we’re all dealing with. And Alex Murphy military for years, but have been forbid- embodies all of those questions – what den for law enforcement in America. happens when you put the man inside Now OmniCorp wants to bring their the machine?” controversial technology to the home For OmniCorp, Murphy represents a front, and they see a golden opportu- tremendous opportunity. “He’s a prod- nity to do it. When Alex Murphy (Joel uct they want to sell,” Padilha explains. Kinnaman) - a loving husband, father “He’s a prototype. He’s been developed, and a good cop doing his best to stem just like a soda company might develop the tide of crime and corruption in De- a new bottle: they’re trying to find the troit - is critically injured, OmniCorp sees ideal design for a robot to sell to police their chance to build a part-man, part- departments. It’s potentially billions of robot police officer. OmniCorp envisions dollars for the company, so they’re will- a RoboCop in every city and even more ing to cut a few ethical corners to get Movies billions for their shareholders, but they there. But they forgot something – in- A scene from ‘Robocop’ never counted on one thing: there is still side the product, there is a man; it’s not a man inside the machine. just a suit, it’s a human being. They set The film is a reimagining of the up this invention that they think they can control, but they pick the wrong when Alex comes in contact with his guy. They pick somebody too good, a family, his emotions find a way back and guy determined to use his new powers override the computer system. He starts for justice.” making his own decisions again.” “OmniCorp’s idea is that they need Kinnaman says he was attracted to a man inside the machine, a man who play the role of Alex Murphy after meet- makes the decisions so the corpora- ing with Padilha. “José described his tion won’t be held liable if something vision – his philosophical and political goes wrong,” says Kinnaman, star of the ideas that could fit inside the concept of television series ‘’, who plays ‘RoboCop’,” says Kinnaman. “You could Murphy. “They leave his emotions intact use that concept to talk about a lot of in social situations, but when facing a other interesting things. He wanted to threat or when a crime is committed, the make a fun action movie that discusses computer takes over. When they realize philosophical dilemmas that we will face Also showing: his emotions make the system vulner- in the very near future. And I wanted to ‘Cloudy with a able, they completely shut them off. But be a part of that.” chance of Samuel L. Jackson in ‘Robocop’ meatballs’

ed, Romeo spies Juliet on her balcony they also wanted to make it imme- rative. As for the language, we were and boldly declares his love for her. diate and accessible and new. “Right determined not to exclude that same With the help of Friar Laurence from the start, we wanted Carlo Car- young audience, those same young (Paul Giamatti), Romeo tries to con- lei at the helm, because he’s as much men and women whose discovery spire a way to pursue Juliet without a painter with film as a film director,” of love, a discovery which is new for incurring the wrath of his family, mentions Fellowes. every generation, is being examined while Juliet relies on her nurse to dis- “He creates extraordinary and rav- here. This was our constant refrain as creetly deliver messages to her love. ishing visual images, but he also pays we prepared the screenplay.” But the bad blood between the close attention to the emotional nar- two families is too strong: in a street duel, an angry Tybalt slays Romeo’s beloved kinsman Mercutio (Chris- tian Cooke). Romeo, his passions unchecked, then kills Tybalt. Hop- ing to put an end to the blood feud, the Prince banishes Romeo from Ve- rona – but this is worse than death, because he will forever be separated from Juliet. As the lovers grow more desperate, Friar Laurence attempts to hatch a plan that will allow them to be together forever – but will their boldness and bravery in love result in eternal happiness or tragedy? “For me, ‘’ is in ‘Romeo & Juliet’ an exploration of what it is to be in love for the first time. It is a timeless story, and it has never been equalled FILM: ROMEO & JULIET estate, and Romeo manages to secure in any language,” says screenwriter CAST: Hailee Steinfeld, Douglas an invitation. The Capulet household Julian Fellowes, perhaps best known Hailee Steinfeld and in ‘Romeo & Juliet’ Booth, ED WESTWICK, CHRISTIAN prepares for the event, where Lord for his work on the popular TV series COOKE, PAUL GIAMATTI, KODI SMIT- and Lady Capulet (, ‘Downton Abbey’. MCPHEE, LESLEY MANVILLE, TOMAS Natascha McElhone) hope that their “When a new telling of the story ARANA, LAURA MORANTE, DAMIAN LEW- daughter Juliet (Hailee Steinfeld) will of the doomed lovers was suggested, LABIA Gardens Tel (021) 424 5927 IS, NATASCHA McELHONE, TOM WISDOM, accept the advances of young Count I knew at once that I wanted to be Fri 07 – Thurs 13 Feb R40 (Subject to Concessions) www.thelabia.co.za STELLAN SKARSGÅRD Paris (Tom Wisdom). involved in the next interpretation of DAILY 11.45AM, 4.00, 8.15PM DAILY 2.45PM DIRECTOR: CARLO CARLEI A free spirit little interested in ro- this most iconic of plays. Of course BLUE JASMINE (13LVD) PRISONERS (16LV) mance, Juliet seems more interested it is a bold thing to attempt, to re- The families of Montague and Capu- in bantering with her nurse (Lesley interpret Shakespeare, and there are DAILY 12.00, 2.45, 5.45, 8.30PM DAILY 12.15, 6.15PM let use any excuse to publicly fight Manville) than listening to her par- no doubt many who disagree with us THE BOOK THIEF (10-12PGV) GRAVITY (7-9PGL) in the streets of Verona, drawing a ents. for even trying. I can’t say I blame strict rebuke from the Prince (Stellan At the ball, Romeo instantly for- them. It’s hard to think of another DAILY 2.15, 8.15PM DAILY 2.00, 6.15PM Skarsgård). But young Romeo (Doug- gets his feelings for Rosaline when title, even among the works of the CAPTAIN PHILLIPS (13V) ENOUGH SAID (10-12PGS) las Booth) of the Montagues is not he spies Juliet; she is likewise struck great bard, which triggers the re- interested – he is far too in love with dumb when she sees Romeo. They sponse that, worldwide, greets the DAILY 11.45AM, 8.30PM DAILY 5.45PM (EXCEPT SUN) Rosaline, a cousin to the Capulets, a dance briefly, noted by Juliet’s cousin three words: ‘Romeo and Juliet’. MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM MUD (10-12PGV) romance which his cousin Benvolio Tybalt (Ed Westwick), who is told by Producer Ileen Maisel and Fellow- (10LPSV) (Kodi Smit-McPhee) urges him not to Lord Capulet to let them be and not es wanted to give the modern audi- pursue. start trouble. Later, Romeo and Juliet ence a traditional, romantic version SUN 6.15PM But that night, there is to be a are dismayed to learn that their new of the story, complete with medieval WHEEL OF TIME WWW.EXPLORINGCONSCIOUSNESS.ORG.ZA masked celebration at the Capulet loves are of the rival family; undaunt- costumes, balconies, and duels, but

8 The Next 48hOURS www.48hours.co.za 07 February - 13 February 2014