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Chloe Moretz starts in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Screen Gems' CARRIE.

Chloe Moretz starts in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures and Screen Gems' CARRIE.

Published Jan 3, 2014

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ENOUGH SAID...................8

Quirky writer-director Nicole Holofcener’s latest film is a treasure – a smart, sensitive romantic comedy for the middle-aged. It stars Julia Louis-Dreyfus, James Gandolfini and Catherine Keener. (PC)

MANDELA: LONG WALK TO FREEDOM............................8

There is no doubt that the sharpest, deepest and most subtle focus in this epic 146-minute Anant Singh production concerns the relationship, within the context of the larger SA political struggle for freedom, between Nelson Mandela and his second wife. (PC)

THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG...............................7

The second film in Peter Jackson’s well-received franchise has the dwarves, along with Bilbo Baggins and Gandalf the Grey, continuing their quest to reclaim Erebor, their homeland, from Smaug. Bilbo Baggins is now in possession of a mysterious and magical ring. Fun fare. (MO)

FREE BIRDS..........................6

Woody Harrelson and Owen Wilson head the voice cast of this animated tale about turkeys from opposite sides of the tracks who must put aside differences and team up to travel back in time to change the course of history – and get turkey off the holiday menu for good. (AH)

THOR: THE DARK WORLD...............................5

Lots of action in this bloated sequel which places the superhero with a hammer against a group of weird elves. Longwinded and a little boring at times. (BS)

KHU ....................................5

This South African animated movie features the voices of Liam Neeson and Steve Buscemi. It’s about a half-striped zebra on a daring quest to earn his stripes. (BS)

JACK AND THE BEANSTALK(Elizabeth Sneddon Theatre, Durban)

Durban’s most glossy Christmas cracker, this is another stellar pantomime from KZN’s top theatre company. Director Steven Stead, designer Greg King and a talented 11-member cast pull out all the stops for a show that enchants the young of all ages. Until January 5, but tickets are selling fast. A must! (BS)

THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL – THE WHITNEY HOUSTON SHOW

(iZulu Theatre, Sibaya Casino, near uMhlanga)

Powerful voiced, Port Elizabeth-born Belinda Davids is on fine form in this engaging show saluting hits of Whitney Houston, performed with four dancers, two backing vocalists and five-member band. The production runs until Sunday. (BS)

STRICTLY NO 1s

(Barnyard Theatre, Gateway, uMhlanga)

A fun party entertainment with hits from the 1950s to today. A good line-up of versatile vocalists include Lee Paver, Jonathan Taylor, Jae Green, Josh Ansley, Caelee Vercueil and Marvin Nethononda. The show is booked in until Sunday (BS)

CARRIE

Director: Kimberley Peirce

Cast: Chloë Grace Moretz and Julianne Moore

A reimagining of the classic horror tale about Carrie White, a shy girl shunned by her peers and sheltered by her deeply religious mother. She unleashes telekinetic terror on her small town after being pushed too far at her senior prom.

WHAT MAISIE KNEW

Directors: Scott McGehee and David Siegel

Cast: Onata Aprile, Steve Coogan and Julianne Moore

A contemporary New York City revisioning of the Henry James novel of the same name. What Maisie Knew tells the story of a captivating little girl’s struggle for grace in the midst of her parents’ bitter custody battle.

The Mercury

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