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OTHER RELEASES

Other releases Compiled by Martin Williams
	Mother of Tears Way back in 1977, groundbreaking Italian horror director Dario Argento unleashed Suspiria, a stylish, intense and brutal tale of witches in a German dance school that ended up on critics' lists of the best horror films ever made - and which continues to amaze viewers today. The second in the trilogy was Inferno (1980), with a second witch at the helm. Now, after 27 years, comes the "third mother" of the trilogy, the Mother of Tears, who is preparing to inflict carnage on Rome as demon creatures run amok in the streets and death takes control. For most critics the film doesn't hold a candle to Suspiria, but then how could it? And at least it's brutal. Stars the director's daughter, Asia Argento (Land of the Dead).
	The Pope's Toilet This is a film from Uruguay that recreates a trip by the pope in the late 1980s to a poor town whose residents try to make hay from the swarms of wealthier people expected to come to hear the pontiff speak. One genius hits upon the idea of renting out use of an improvised toilet, and he and his family embrace the chance to make some cash as the big day looms. But sometimes fate will not smile on the entrepreneur, even when the pope is involved. This won awards on the Latin American festival circuit.
	Bordertown Based on true events in the horrid border town of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, where hundreds, and possibly thousands, of women have been killed and buried in the desert as police and too many citizens look in every other direction. Jennifer Lopez is a reporter sent in to investigate, with predictable plot and character development consequences, and maybe a few non sequitur political attacks. Also stars Antonio Banderas, Martin Sheen and Sonia Braga. Barely released in the US, though some critics stand by the film's sincerity.
	Step Up 2: The Streets A sequel to Step Up from 2006, this dance musical is set in the bad blocks of Baltimore and focuses on rebellious Andie (Briana Evigan), whose membership in a dance gang gets her into trouble - and lands her in the local, straight-laced dance school. Eventually she confronts her old pals in an underground dance contest. If you were astonished by the Los Angeles-based dance doco Rize, this film also offers powerhouse dance sequences and might impress as a fictional east coast counterpart to that unforgettable study of urban dance evolution. Also notable for its use of MySpace in casting and promotion.
	The Living and the Dead A study of madness in the rotting British aristocracy, this film from 2006 has thematic ties to Savage Grace, which opened here a few weeks ago. But the story - an increasingly deranged young man causes havoc in his parents' mansion, or so it seems - is no biographical yarn; it's an almost experimental exercise, which Variety called "near-brilliant," the Village Voice dismissed as superficial and Film Threat magazine described as "genuinely horrific and unrelentingly sad and grim." Horror fans and other adventurous souls should have a good time debating the merits of this one. Starts tomorrow.
	Mushiking: Altered Beetles of Darkness PLUS Love and Berry Dress Up and Dance! This double feature of animated films is strictly for the kids, and particularly kids hopelessly addicted to video games - or who are about to be. Both titles are based on Japanese video and collectible card games released by Sega, making the twosome a fairly brazen tie-in promotion, even by industry standards. In Mushiking, various insects of the forest do battle, while in Love and Berry the two teen princesses (and close friends) of the title try to use their magical abilities to counsel a new friend. The first film benefits somewhat from sinister-looking creepy-crawlies in extreme close-up that aren't necessarily malevolent.

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