MEIFF: Film feast in Abu Dhabi
Here's our pick of the best movies in various categories at the MEIFF
ACTION
Blue (Duration: 128 minutes)
Bollywood's costliest film ever, Blue, loosely inspired by Hollywood thriller The Deep, is the story of three friends seeking sunken treasure buried deep at the bottom of the ocean. Directed by Anthony D' Souza, the fast-paced oceanic spectacle features Sanjay Dutt, Akshay Kumar, Lara Dutta, Zayed Khan, Rahul Dev and Katrina Kaif. Oscar winner A.R. Rahman has composed the tracks for the film which has Australian sensation Kylie Minogue in a rare Bollywood sojourn.
- WATCH IT BECAUSE: It's got amazing underwater action sequences put together by action director James Bomalick who set our pulse racing in The Fast and The Furious - Tokyo Drift.
- DID YOU KNOW?: It will be the world premiere of the movie
- WHEN: October 14, 9.30pm at Emirates Palace Auditorium
NARRATIVE
Son of Babylon (Ibn Babil) (Duration: 90 minutes)
A wilful young boy and his just as obstinate grandmother journey across Iraq in search of their missing loved one, a former political prisoner. This stunning new work by Mohammad Al Daradji, the director of Ahlaam is a testament to Iraq's continuing search for justice after Saddam Hussain's fall.
- WATCH IT BECAUSE: It's by the same director whose last movie, Ahlaam, won worldwide acclaim.
- WHEN: October 9, 6.30pm at Emirates Palace Auditorium and October 10, 4pm at Cinestar 4
DOCUMENTARY
Capitalism: A Love Story (Duration: 120 minutes)
Michael Moore is up to his old tricks in Capitalism: A Love Story - a movie that's sure to both infuriate and entertain as well as inform, depending on which side of the Michael Moore fence you stand.
- WATCH IT BECAUSE: It lives up to its hype in its first five minutes and builds from there.
- WHEN: October 16, 9.30pm at Emirates Palace Auditorium and October 17, 2.30pm, Cinestar 1
BIOGRAPHY
Valentino: The Last Emperor (Duration: 96 minutes)
The sparkling world of haute couture comes to life in this globe-trotting portrait of fashion icon Valentino, who has dressed everyone from Princess Diana to Gwyneth Paltrow.
The movie is directed by long-time Vanity Fair editor Matt Tyrnauer.
- WATCH IT BECAUSE: It stars Valentino Garavani, Gwyneth Paltrow, Elizabeth Hurley and Farah Pahlavi.
- WHEN: October 9, 7.15pm at Cinestar 1 and October 12, 4pm at Emirates Palace Auditorium
CHILDREN
Shorts (Duration: 89 minutes)
A clever fantasy about a nerdy suburban tween named "Toe" who finds a rainbow-coloured stone with wish-fulfilment attributes. This out-of-control kids' film is directed by Robert Rodriguez, the director of Spy Kids and Planet Terror fame.
- WATCH IT BECAUSE: The hyper-active adventure is guaranteed to keep you giggling.
- WHEN: October 10, 4pm at Emirates Palace Auditorium
COMEDY
Men Who Stare At Goats (Duration: 93 minutes)
An entertaining satire played by a cast (George Clooney, Kevin Spacey, Ewan McGregor and Jeff Bridges) at the top of its game, this dark comedy by Jon Ronson is inspired by a secret unit started by the US army to develop new fighting techniques such as walking through walls and killing goats by staring at them.
- WATCH IT BECAUSE: Despite its black humour, this is a chilling story.
- WHEN: October 17, 8pm at Emirates Palace Auditorium
THRILLER
The Informant (Duration: 108 minutes)
A fascinating true story inspired by the highest-ranking corporate whistle-blower in US history, The Informant is a quirky combination of oddball satire and corporate thriller that reunites actor Matt Damon with his Ocean's 11, 12 and 13 director Steven Soderbergh. Matt plays whistle-blower Mark Whitacare who exposes his company's role in an international price-fixing conspiracy.
- WATCH IT BECAUSE: This is Matt Damon's best performance yet.
- WHEN: October 12, 9.30pm at Emirates Palace Auditorium
- DID YOU KNOW?: Matt Damon packed on 30 pounds to play a wacky, delusional corporate whistle-blower in this movie.
ROMANCE
Wild Grass (Les herbes folles) (Duration: 105 minutes)
An offering from France, Wild Grass is a candy-coloured fantasia that focuses on the intricacies of romance and the irrepressible vitality of love. Strong-willed dentist Marguerite's lost handbag is found by middle-aged Georges and he becomes fascinated with its owner.
- WATCH IT BECAUSE: It's the only decent movie in this genre.
- WHEN: October 14, 6.30pm at Cinestar and October 15, 4pm at Grand Abu Dhabi Mall
ALSO CONSIDER
The Frontier Gandhi: Badshah Khan, A Torch for Peace: Cinestar 2, October 13, 6.45pm
Farewell: Cinestar 3, October 15 at 10pm
MEIFF Ticket info
Tickets, Dh20 for general and dh30 for gala screenings, can be bought either online (www.meiff.com) or at any of the four MEIFF box offices daily between noon and 10pm
