#OnTheBigScreen: Crazy Rich Asians, The Wife, and a robotic dog

Crazy Rich Asians

This film is taking the world by storm and is the first all-Asian ensemble in a contemporary Hollywood film in 25 years.

Based on the acclaimed worldwide bestseller by Kevin Kwan, the contemporary romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians takes a fun, engaging, and hilarious look at what can happen when young love collides with old money.

The story follows New Yorker Rachel Chu (Constance Wu) as she accompanies her longtime boyfriend, Nick Young (Henry Golding), to his best friend’s wedding in Singapore. Excited about visiting Asia for the first time but nervous about meeting Nick’s family, Rachel is unprepared to learn that Nick has neglected to mention a few key details about his life. Not only is he the scion of one of the country’s wealthiest families, but also one of its most sought-after bachelors. Being on Nick’s arm puts a target on Rachel’s back, with jealous socialites and, worse, Nick’s own disapproving mother (Michelle Yeoh) taking aim.

It soon becomes clear that the only thing crazier than love is family, in this funny and romantic story sure to ring true for audiences everywhere.

The story mines humour from the idiosyncrasies of one family in a way that people everywhere can relate to—no matter who they are, how much money they have, or where they call home.  It taps into the fundamental desire to fit in, while honouring your own identity, in an era of blending—and sometimes clashing—cultures.

Like the book, the movie brackets the heartwarming and romantic with laugh-out-loud bursts of candour.

The Wife

A poignant, funny, and emotional journey; a celebration of womanhood, self‐discovery and liberation from top Swedish filmmaker Björn Runge. It tells the story of a long‐term marriage built on passion, ambition, and a huge compromise which comes crashing down many years later.

Joan Castleman (Glenn Close) is a highly intelligent and still‐striking beauty ‐ the perfect devoted wife. Forty years spent sacrificing her own talent, dreams, and ambitions to fan the flames of her charismatic husband Joe (Jonathan Pryce) and his skyrocketing literary career. Ignoring his infidelities and excuses because of his ‘art’ with grace and humour.

Their fateful pact has built a marriage upon uneven compromises. And Joan’s reached her breaking point. On the eve of Joe’s Nobel Prize for Literature, the crown jewel in a spectacular body of work, Joan’s coup de grace is to confront the biggest sacrifice of her life and secret of his career.

A.X.L

In the vein of classic ’80s family movies Short Circuit and Flight Of The Navigator, A.X.L. is a new adventure about a down-on-his-luck teenage bike rider, Miles (Alex Neustaedter), who stumbles upon an advanced, robotic, military dog named A.X.L.

The top-secret, robotic dog has advanced artificial intelligence created by the military. After an experiment gone wrong, A.X.L. is discovered hiding in the desert by Alex, a kind-hearted outsider who finds a way to connect with the robot. The two soon develop a special friendship based on trust, loyalty and compassion. Helping Miles gain confidence, A.X.L. goes to any length to protect his new companion, including facing off against the scientists who want their creation back.

Equalizer 2

Robert McCall (Denzel Washington) returns to deliver his special brand of vigilante justice — but how far will he go when it’s someone he loves?

If you have a problem and there is nowhere else to turn, the mysterious and elusive Robert McCall will deliver the vigilante justice you seek. This time, however, McCall's past cuts especially close to home when thugs kill Susan Plummer - his best friend and former colleague. Now out for revenge, McCall must take on a crew of highly trained assassins who'll stop at nothing to destroy him.

Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by Richard Wenk. It is a sequel to 2014 film The Equalizer, based on the TV series of the same name.

Read more about the latest film releases: www.writingstudio.co.za.