THE LOST CITY (12A, 112 mins)
Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum rumble in the jungle in an escapist action comedy directed by brothers Adam and Aaron Nee, which is blessed with a tongue-in-cheek cameo by Brad Pitt.
Reclusive historian Loretta Sage (Bullock) has made her name as an author of popular romance-adventure novels featuring a swaggering hero called Dash, who is portrayed on book jackets by handsome model Alan Caprison (Tatum).
During a book tour with Alan, Loretta is kidnapped by eccentric billionaire Fairfax (Daniel Radcliffe), who believes that her latest work of fiction may contain the secrets to unlocking a real-life ancient lost city and its treasure.
Alan believes he has the makings of a bona fide hero and resolves to rescue Loretta from her grim fate.
The author and her model muse are thrust together in tropical surroundings on a madcap survival mission to locate the booty before Fairfax and his goons.
THE NORTHMAN (15, 137 mins)
Shot on location in Northern Ireland, writer-director Robert Eggers’ follow-up to The Lighthouse reunites him with actor Willem Dafoe for a revenge thriller beginning in AD 895, which is inspired by Scandinavian legend.
As a boy, young Amleth (Oscar Novak) is devoted to his father, King Aurvandil War-Raven (Ethan Hawke), who rules their tribe with a strong hand and the unwavering support of his wife Queen Gudrun (Nicole Kidman).
The king’s fool, Heimir (Dafoe), provides comic relief and oversees a coming-of-age ritual to anoint Amleth as heir apparent.
Treachery within the royal court consigns the king to Valhalla and Amleth watches helplessly as his treacherous uncle Fjolnir (Claes Bang) seizes the throne.
“I will avenge you father, I will save you mother, I will kill you Fjolnir,” declares young Amleth as he rows out to sea to escape knife-wielding assassins.
Many years later, Viking warrior Amleth (now played by Alexander Skarsgard) smuggles himself aboard a slave ship bound for Fjolnir’s distant tribe.
En route, Amleth meets resourceful fellow prisoner Olga (Anya Taylor-Joy) and they forge a secret pact to bring down his murderous uncle.
BENEDETTA (18, 132 mins)
Dutch filmmaker Paul Verhoeven traverses sex and religion in an erotically charged historical drama co-written by the director and David Birke, based on the book Immodest Acts: The Life Of A Lesbian Nun In Renaissance Italy by Judith C Brown.
Benedetta Carlini (Virginie Efira) arrives at the Convent of the Mother of God in Pescia, northern Italy as a child in the late 16th century.
She becomes the property of Abbess Felicita (Charlotte Rampling) and The Nuncio (Lambert Wilson).
Benedetta dedicates herself to God and in adulthood, she experiences powerful visions of Jesus.
Her proclamations draw crowds to the convent.
Benedetta’s faith is severely tested by the arrival of Bartolomea (Daphne Patakia), the survivor of an abusive family.
Bartolomea arouses forbidden lust and Benedetta wrestles with her feelings, aware of the dire consequences for succumbing to carnal desire.