A week of it

Scott Kara

MOVIES

It's the opening night of the New Zealand International Film Festival tonight and kicking things off is I Am Love, an Italian drama about a family of rich industrialists starring Tilda Swinton. Critics have gushed about the film, and Swinton's performance especially, with a bloke from the Telegraph moved to say "exploring her puzzled, porcelain allure" makes the "screen fairly quiver". I tell you something, if the giant Civic screen starts to quiver, I'm outta there. Click here to read an interview with Swinton.

The festival runs until July 24, with the closing night film, local macabre comedy Predicament, based on Ronald Hugh Morrieson's book about the kooky and dodgy characters living in a Taranaki town. Also worth checking out will be The Runaways, about the 70s all-girl band, which is sure to be a hit considering it stars Twilight's Kristen Stewart as Joan "I love rock'n'roll" Jett.

TV

Imagine if the motley lot in 80s movie The Breakfast Club left detention and walked out into an electrical storm and suddenly became superheroes. That is - kind of - the premise behind C4's new superhero show Misfits (Mondays, 9.30pm), which won a Bafta for best drama series. Also starting this week is Castle (Wednesday, 8.30pm, TV One), about best-selling crime writer-turned-police case solver Richard Castle who, in the name of good TV, is also a bit of a player. On the sport front, as well as the All Blacks playing the Springboks on Saturday (Sky Sport 1, 7.25pm), the lycra-clad lads of the Tour de France head into the French Alps this weekend, where the business end of racing really starts.

MUSIC

South Auckland hip-hop crew the Deceptikonz bid farewell this week at The Evolution Grand Finale concert at the Studio on Saturday. The group, made up of rappers Savage, Mareko, Devolo and Alphrisk, are going their separate ways after more than a decade and also celebrating the release of their final album, Evolution: Past, Present, Beyond. On Friday night the annual Matariki concert Native Noise is on at Auckland Town Hall with headliners Kora supported by dub, drum 'n' bass and roots band Six60, and Northland roots reggae act 1841. Or for something more rock - and rugby - the feelers play the Powerstation tomorrow night to trumpet the release of an EP featuring World Cup song Right Here, Right Now.

OR ...

Check out Boy for free at a marae near you as part of Matariki 2010. Today you can head along to Te Piringatahi o te Maungaarongo Marae in West Harbour at 7pm, or on Saturday at 7pm at Manurewa Marae. It goes without saying it might pay to arrive early to ensure you get the best seat in te whare.