THE ARTIST DVD
Win one of 10 copies of Academy Award winning film The Artist on DVD, starring Jean Dujardin, Berenice Bejo, courtesy Roadshow Home Entertainment. Available on DVD from June 28.

At the end of the 19th century, a young man destined to inherit the vast wealth of a Chinese banking empire must decide whether to follow his strong willed father's path or find his own. Greed, deception and jealousy surface under the pressures of war and the impending change from silver to paper bills... and the love of his life has become his step-mother. (Based on a true story.) FEATURE

Preview trailers of many films on your own screen.
The Dark Knight Rises, stars Christian Bale, Joseph Gordon-Levitt;
Swerve, stars Jason Clarke, Emma Booth and David Lyons;
Dark Shadows, stars starring Johnny Depp, Michelle Pfeiffer, Eva Green;
That's My Boy, stars Adam Sandler, Andy Samberg;
Iron Sky, stars Julia Dietze, Peta Sergeant, Götz Otto;
To Rome With Love, stars Woody Allen, Penelope Cruz, Jesse Eisenberg, Judy Davis;
Hotel Transylvania, voices of Adam Sandler, Kevin James;
Men in Black 3, stars Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin, Emma Thompson;
Bel Ami, stars Robert Pattinson, Uma Thurman;
The Amazing Spider-Man, stars Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone;
TRAILERS

TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY - Stars Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Kathy Burke, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Toby Jones, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ciaran Hinds. “.. a splendid film on every level, soaking us in the period while retaining a contempo sensibility,” says Andrew.

THE MUPPETS - Stars Amy Adams, Jason Segel, Chris Cooper. “I smiled throughout this madcap joyous adventure in which the Muppets are funny, silly, colourful and totally endearing in what must be one of the happiest film of the year,” says Louise.

JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND - Stars Josh Hutcherson, Dwayne Johnson, Vanessa Hudgens, Michael Caine. “ .. a likeable film that speeds along with a happy rush and is filled with grandiose imaginative ideas,” says Louise.

YOUNG ADULT - Stars Charlize Theron, Patrick Wilson, Patton Oswalt. “Your expectations will bump into some fairly dark material, and while there is undoubted humour (quite a lot) it isn’t what you are led to expect,” says Andrew.

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO - Stars Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgård. “The key to the credibility of the film lies in the casting of its incongruous diminutive heroine Lisbeth Salander (Mara) and the morally scrupulous journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Craig) and the chemistry they evoke with each other,” says Louise.

HUGO – Stars Asa Butterfield, Chloe Grace Moretz, Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Ray Winstone, Emily Mortimer. “With its exquisite production design depicting the ambience and life at the 19th century Paris railway station, Scorsese creates a reality that we immediately embrace,” says Louise.

ARRIETTY - voices of Saorse Ronan, Tom Holland, Olivia Colman, Phyllida Law. “ .. a somewhat charming experience, albeit not as successful as Spirited Away or Howl’s Moving Castle,” says Louise.

THE WOMEN ON THE 6TH FLOOR - Stars Fabrice Luchini, Sandrine Kiberlain, Natalia Verbeke, Carmen Maura, Lola Duanas. “An uplifting story with plenty of chuckles and surprises, the women on the 6th floor are definitely ones you will want to meet,” says Louise.

X - Stars Viva Bianca, Hanna Mangan Lawrence, Wayne Blair, Peter Docker. “Sex, violence, corruption and disillusionment are the themes of Jon Hewitt’s darkly erotic thriller in which two call-girls get more than they bargain for,” says Louise.

ALVIN & THE CHIPMUNKS – Voices Justin Long, Matthew Gray. "The 8 year old inside me really loved this movie as it turns what was to be a sedate sailing holiday on the huge cruise ship into a wonderful adventure on a desert island," says Andrew.

UNDERWORLD: AWAKENING – Stars Kate Beckinsale, Michael Ealy, India Eisley. "Garbled from the start, the story pits humans against the werewolf Lycans and the competing vampires," says Andrew.

THE WELL-DIGGER’S DAUGHTER - Staars Daniel Auteuil, Kad Merad, Nicolas Duvauchelle, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Sabine Azéma. “A bucolic provincial romance, you could call it, and gently, sensitively done, with no heavily dramatic scenes,” says Andrew.

Every Australian film we have ever reviewed (film / video release), or have reported from the set, or featured in any way, is listed here, going back to films made even before the launch of Urban Cinefile, such as The Piano, Romper Stomper, Muriel’s Wedding, The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert and dozens more. Approximately 500 films AUSTRALIAN FILMS

GILLETTE CASTLE
Celebrating its 10th anniversary (in 2012) since reopening to the public in 2002, Gillette Castle in Connecticut now attracts over 300,000 visitors a year – yet it’s virtually unknown internationally as a tourist attraction, with access to it only via beautiful, winding country roads. Andrew L. Urban drove out to see what’s so special about it. (Photos by Louise Keller)

OTHER DESTINATIONS
Join Andrew L. Urban in Mexico, Monaco and Tyrol ... and Alien in Switzerland! FEATURES