MARLON BRANDO... TO THE RESCUE!

THIS weekend's new cinema releases are a bit of a mixed bag as you'll see by reading my reviews in today's Birmingham Mail.

Smart People is a particular disappointment, given that the cast includes Dennis Quaid, Sarah Jessica Parker and Thomas Haden Church (on sub Sideways form).

After her performances in Hard Candy and Juno, for which she was Oscar nominated as a best actress contender, you could be forgiven for thinking that Ellen Page could be on her way to becoming one of the all-time greats.

But, in Hollywood, you are never more than your next film away from a turkey as everyone from Sean Connery to even Tom Hanks knows full well.

While Smart People isn't quite deserving of a packet of Paxo (why doesn't the stuffing brand capitalise on its turkey market with some bad movie awards?), it should serve as a reminder for Ellen to keep her feet on the ground. No bad thing, considering she's still only 21.

One of her future films is set to be Whip It! which should be Drew Barrymore's directorial debut next year.

Altbough a comedy-drama about a roller derby league doesn't exactly sound like an Oscar contender, you never know till you see 'em!

But back to this week...

All eyes are clearly waiting for the return of Indiana Jones IV at midnight on the night of Wednesday May 21 going into the early hours of Thursday.

Judging by the trailer, which suggests that star Harrison Ford's voice has gone and that it's going to be a movie stuffed full of weak CGI, you'd be rather foolish to expect Steven Spielberg's latest to be brilliant.

Hence the timely showing of the final film of our first Birmingham Mail Film Club season... Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather (18).

Showing at 8.30pm on Tuesday, May 20 and only at Birmingham Cineworld, we'll be giving everyone the rare chance to see it back on the silver screen where it belongs.

And so, if you are looking for guaranteed quality this week, it's a case of Marlon Brando riding to the rescue almost four years after he died aged 80 on July 1, 2004.

For a guy who literally lived it large in life, fancy that in death.

PS. All Birmingham Mail Film Club members will be able to see any film at any time at Cineworld Broad Street for just £4 this summer and, in these economically-challenging times you can't say fairer than that.

If you have any suggestions for films you'd like to see again in the cinema then just let me know and, subject to print availability, I'll see what we can do!