The Definitive Guide to Living in the Capital , Cairo , Egypt

As per usual on Wednesdays, we bring you bits and pieces of different films that have hit Cairo’s cinemas. So decide which one might grab your attention, and best suits your interests. For action, thriller, and science fiction fans, this week’s movie is Upgrade; while crime, drama, and mystery fans will surely go for The Mule. For those looking for good laughs, you’ll be glad to know that What Men Want is also out now!  

The Mule

What’s it about? Earl Stone (Clint Eastwood) is alone, penniless, and facing the foreclosure of his business. He is initially offered a job as a driver, and later he becomes a drug courier for a Mexican drug cartel, led by Andy Garcia. Stone excels in his role as a courier, and soon enough becomes a handler. In the meantime, Stone appears on the radar of DEA agent Colin Bates (Bradley Cooper). And, although Stone’s financial dilemmas become a thing of the past, some other old issues weigh heavily on him; Stone eventually finds himself caught between law enforcement and the cartel’s enforcers.

The good: Critics have applauded several elements in the film, including the setting, music, the characters, and the film’s pace. 

The bad: Some have mentioned that the movie is filled to the brim with clichés; indeed, the trailer looks pretty generic. 

What Men Want

What’s it about? Ali Davis (Taraji P. Henson) is a successful Sports Agent, who is forever shut out by her male colleagues. When she earns a well-deserved promotion, she starts to question what more she could do in order to pull it off in a man’s world. Davis eventually gains a mystical power; she is able to hear what goes on inside the minds of men.

The good: A fun twist on an old concept, with cool cameos, and some genuinely funny moments.

The bad: The movie seems to be riddled with predictability. 

Upgrade

What’s it about? After a brutal mugging, Grey Trace’s (Logan Marshall-Green) wife (Melanie Vallejo) is killed and he is left paralysed. He is later approached by a billionaire inventor (Steve Danielsen) with an experimental cure that will “upgrade” his body. It is an artificial intelligence implant called STEM which gives him exceptional physical abilities, and therefore the capability to claim vengeance against those who killed his wife.

The good: Critics have been raving about the film’s exceptional cinematography.

The bad: It’s not that full of substance. The film just seems like others we have already seen a million times over.

To find out where and when you can catch these films, check out the Cairo 360 Cinema Guide.