Life of Crime (Opens Sep 11)

This Hollywood ransom movie is certainly no Taken. Desperate to get their hands on some quick cash, two fumbling ex-cons (Yasiin Bey and John Hawkes) kidnap a wealthy real estate developer’s wife (Jennifer Aniston) -- only to find out that he’s filing for divorce and has no intention of getting her back. What ensues is a comical sequence of double crosses and plot twists which you wouldn’t quite expect from a conventional hostage flick.

The Maze Runner (Opens Sep 11)

If you haven’t gotten your fill of young adult novels-turned-movies yet, here’s another one for your viewing (dis)pleasure. In this post-apocalyptic world, a teenage boy named Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) wakes up to find himself trapped in a giant maze with no memory of his past whatsoever. As you would probably have guessed, this maze is chocked full of vicious traps and diabolical creatures which have to be defeated before sanity is restored. And of course, romance blossoms in the form of Thomas’ telepathic relationship with a fellow freedom seeker (Kaya Scodelario). 

Cutie and the Boxer (Sep 14, 8:30 pm)

The popular Design Film Festival continues this weekend with the screening of Cutie and the Boxer. Though sounding very much like a Cartoon Network children’s show, the film’s actually a documentary chronicling the lives of married Japanese artists Ushio and Noriko Shinohara. Its main premise revolves around Noriko’s 40 year marriage and her attempts to break out of the shadows of her domineering husband. Universal issues such as gender relations, sacrifice and aging serve as a backdrop to this intimate portrayal of a couple's commitment to art. 

Yves Saint Laurent (Sep 13, 8:30pm and Sep 14, 12:30pm)

Another screening you should definitely catch before the festival comes to an end is Yves Saint Laurent, a French film exploring the life and times of designer Yves Saint Laurent. Besides portraying his rise to stardom upon succeeding Christian Dior, the fashion legend’s romantic relationship with partner Pierre Berge is also a storyline. Taking the director’s seat is French actor and screenwriter Jalil Lespert, who’s worked alongside stars like Audrey Tautou and Isabelle Carré. 

Deswa (Sep 13, 3pm)

This Indian Bhojpuri language feature screens at The Cathay as part of Darpan Film Festival, an annual event showcasing award-winning Indian films from around the region. A social drama centered on contemporary issues affecting youths, Deswa marks the feature film debut of Ajay Kumar, Deepak Sing and Kranti Prakash Jha, three young actors who are quickly gaining prominence in the Indian film industry. Despite the heavy themes in this two-and-a-half hour long outing, there’s also songs and a folk dance number by actress Neetu Chandra.