Snow In Paradise (18)
(Andrew Hulme, 2014, UK) Frederick Schmidt, Martin Askew, Aymen Hamdouchi, David Spinx. 108 mins
At last someone’s noticed that the East End isn’t just full of cockney geezers these days. It’s also inhabited by beard-grooming coffee drinkers and south-Asian communities. The latter, especially, come into play here, as a well-connected, white wide boy’s dodgy dealings force him to consider his options – one of which is the local mosque. In the end, you wish they’d explored that angle more, but with some lyrical imagery and a feel for the neighbourhood, it’s still a crime thriller with a difference.
Fifty Shades Of Grey (18)
(Sam Taylor-Johnson, 2015, US) Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan. 125 mins
It’s been all about the anticipation, appropriately, but few can realistically be expecting an epoch-defining erotic masterpiece here, considering the ropey (in every sense) source material. But then some people are gluttons for punishment.
Love Is Strange (15)
(Ira Sachs, 2014, US/Fra/Bra/Gre) John Lithgow, Alfred Molina. 94 mins
A middle-aged Manhattan couple finally win the fight for gay marriage, only to lose the one against property prices. Forced out of their mature comfort zone, their struggle makes for gently political comedy.
The Philadelphia Story (U)
(George Cukor, 1940, US) Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant. 110 mins
Screwball comedy at its finest, with Hepburn as a snooty bride-to-be thrown into confusion.
Coherence (15)
(James Ward Byrkit, 2013, US/UK) Emily Baldoni, Maury Sterling. 88 mins
A dinner party takes a turn for the puzzling, then the terrifying, then the sci-fi bonkers, in this ingenious no-budget brainteaser. Could that passing comet have something to do with it?
Two Night Stand (15)
(Max Nichols, 2014, US) Miles Teller, Analeigh Tipton. 84 mins
A calculated set-up (a couple snowed in after their one-night stand) yields some frank conversation, opposites-attract chemistry and second-chance romance. Two likeable leads try hard to make us care.
Dancing In Jaffa (PG)
(Hilla Medalia, 2013, US) 89 mins
A simple idea to shed light on a complex situation: partner Israeli and Palestinian schoolchildren for a ballroom-dancing competition. Engineered for heartwarming mini-drama and competitive jeopardy.
Down Dog (15)
(Andres Dussan, 2013, UK) Jason Durr, Nick Moran. 97 mins
Men Behaving Badly writer Simon Nye turns in a flimsy comedy about a party-happy divorcee who cleans up his act when he’s tricked into thinking he’s dying.
Fairytale: Story Of The Seven Dwarves (PG)
(Boris Aljinovic, Harald Siepermann, 2014, Ger) Joshua Graham. 85 mins
Second-tier family animation adventure with a Shrek-like fairytale mash-up premise.
Grease Sing-Along (PG)
(Randal Kleiser, 1978, US) John Travolta. 106 mins
Audience-participation event for one night (Saturday) only.
Casablanca (U)
(Michael Curtiz, 1942, US) Humphrey Bogart. 98 mins
Reissue for the perennially quotable wartime classic.
Love Is All (12A)
(Kim Longinotto, 2014, UK) 74 mins
The dulcet crooning of Richard Hawley accompanies a collage of romantic clips from the BFI archives, making for a romantic but rigorous social history.
Out from Friday
Cake Jennifer Aniston ditches the comedy to play a depressed woman in all kinds of pain.
The Duke Of Burgundy Domination, submission and extreme entomology in Peter Strickland’s beguiling retro fantasy.
Predestination Ethan Hawke seeks to control the narrative in a strange sci-fi.
Blackhat Cyber warfare spills on to the streets in Michael Mann’s tech thriller.
Kumiko, The Treasure Hunter A deluded Rinko Kikuchi seeks fortune in Fargo country.
Maidan Street-level document of Ukraine’s violent 2013-14 uprising.
Project Almanac Teens learn not to mess with time travel in a flashy thriller.
The Wedding Ringer A no-mates groom hires some buddies from Kevin Hart’s agency.
Kung Fu Killer Donnie Yen flexes his muscles in a Hong Kong action romp.
Badlapur Varun Dhawan leads an Indian revenge thriller.
Coming soon
In two weeks... Richard Gere checks into Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel… Promising British thriller Catch Me Daddy…
In three weeks... Julianne Moore’s Bafta-winning performance in Still Alice… Robot dreams in Neill Blomkamp’s Chappie…
In a month... Chris Rock tries to get serious in Top Five… Michelle Williams in Nazi occupation drama Suite Française…
