Film index
Happiness Costs Nothing (La Felicita non Costa Niente) (18) (Mitnmo (‘alopresti. Italy. 2003) Piergiorgio Bellocchio. (iiovanni ('alcogno. Luigi I.o (‘ascio. Roberto Herlitzka. 95min. Architect Sergio has everything. a successful career. loving wife. a son and good friends bttt all of a sudden. his life becomes meaningless to him and he is ttnable to explain why. Mimmo ('alopresti's portrait of a man in crisis. Part of the Italian filtn festival. (IF/I (iltts‘gmi‘; Eiltnhouse. Edinburgh.
Hidalgo ( 12A) 0. (Joe Johnstonc. IS. 2004) \‘iggo Mortensen. Xuleikha Robinson. ()mar Sharif. I.ouise I.ombard. 137mm. See review. page 30. General release.
High Society (I') O... ((‘harles Walters. IS. 1950) Bing (’rosby. (irace Kelly. I-‘rank Sinatra. ('eleste Holm. 107mm. (‘Iassic musical entertainment frotn the MGM sttidios. in which a rich bitch plays hard to get with a string of suitors. The plot of Philadelphia Story goes out the window. but with stars like these. style is everything. I'll/tt/tutlsr'. Edinburgh.
Honey ll’(i) .. (Bille \Vootlrttl'li lb. 2003) Jessica Alba. I.il' Romeo. Mekhi Phifer. David Moscow. 93min. Piotis. uninvolving against all the ghetto odds children's dance flick. It's enough to force the closure of every community street theatre for kids. Seleeted release.
The Hunger ( 18) (Tony Scott. t'S. 1983) (‘atherine I)eneuve. David Bowie. Stisan Sarandon. ('liff De Young. 99min. Hugely stylish but somewhat abstruse adaptation of Whitley Strieber's novel. in which I)eneuve plays the last survivor of a race of vampires. whose sexual partners enjoy an extended lifespan. followed by a rather sharp decline. Bowie (who looks rather more healthy in his second century than he does now ) and Sarandon are her victims. Beautiful and erotic. but pretty darned confusing. Part of Dead by Dawn. Eilnthuuse. Edinburgh.
I’m Not Scared ( 12A) ((iabriclc Salvatores. ltaly/Spain/I'K. 2002 1 Aitana Sanchez-(iijon. Dino Abbrescia. (iiorgio (‘areccia. (iittseppe (’ristiano. Mattia Di Pierro. Diego Abatantuono. 108mm. This is an adaptation of Niccolo .-\mmaniti's w idely successful novel sees a nine-year-old boy Michele discover another boy l‘illipo down a hole during Italy ‘s hottest summer. What seems like an innocent childhood tale develops into something more sinister. Part of the Italian film festival. (il‘l. (ilutgmv; Eilmhause. Edinburgh.
Intolerable Cruelty ( 12A) 000 (Joel/Ethan ('oen. IS. 2003) (ieorgc (‘looney. ('athcrine '/.eta Jones. Billy Bob Thornton. Winin. The ('oens' latest is a return to the screwball comedies of yesteryear. With this cast it’s going to be a success but this is their weakest film to date. It's your typical lawyer meets goldigger romantic comedy. A lot of fttn. bttt closer in studied. slightly cheerless spirit to Iludsueker I’mty than anything they have done in the last few years. ()deun at tlte Quay. (ilasgmv, (ilaxgmv.
The Island (L’lsola) ( 15 ) ((‘ostan/a Quatriglio. Itlay. 2003) Veronica (iuarrasi. lgnazio lirnadndes. Marcello Mozzarella. Iirri De Luca. 103mm. (‘oming-of-age story about a 14-year-old Sicilian. Turi. Ile does not want to follow his father and become a fisherman so pursues an alternative life in his imagination. Perhaps not an original. but a well delivered movie nonetheless. Pan of the Italian film festival. (il‘l: (ilasgmv; l'ilttihttitst'. Edinburgh.
Janghwa, Hingryeon (A Tale of No Sisters) (tbc) (Ji-woon Kim. Sotttlt Korea. 2003) Kap-su Kim. Jung-ah Yum. Su-jeong 1.im. (ieunn—yeong Mun. 115mm. A ghost comes to trouble a family after the two sisters return from time in a mental asylum. I'nable to contain the ghost or the unruly and obsessive stepmother. the sisters become entangled in the mysteries of their hottse. Part of Dead by Dawn. l‘iltttlttnlse. lz'dinlmrgh. The Job (II Posto) ( 15) (Iirmanno ()Imi. Italy. 1961 ) Sandro Pan/eri. I.oredana I)etto. Tullio Ke/ich. 90min. Iirmanno()1mi‘s second feature film tracks the fortunes of a young Milanese man who opts out of further education for the certainty of a clerical post. ()Imi's triumph is making the most mundane action become a revelation. Part of the Italian
38 THE LIST 113-25) Apr 900/.
filtn festival. (I'E'Ii Glasgow; Eilmhouse. Edinburgh.
A Journey Called Love (Un Viaggio Chiamato Amore) (15) (Michele Placido. Italy. 2002) Laura Morante. Stefano Accorsi. Katy I.ouise Saunders. Alessandro Ilaber. 00min. The tormented love affair between writers. Dino (’ampana and Sibilla Alcramo. is given a beautiful depiction here by director Michele Placido. Ilowever. the action that takes place between 1916 and 1918 is frequently dark in nature. Part of the Italian film festival. (:‘E'E (ilasgon'; l-‘ilnihouse. Edinburgh.
Keep on Walking (Cammina Cammina) ( l2) (Iirmannof)1mi. Italy. 1983) Alberto I-‘umagalli. Antonio ('ucciarre. liligio Martel I.acci. Renzo Samminiatesi. loSmin. (ientle comedy following the Magi towards Bethlehem. Some are hopeful. some are sceptical; but they keep walking. following the star. Part of the Italian filttt festival. (il-"IZ (ilaigmv; I-‘ilnthouse. Edinburgh.
Kids Portuguese Animation (tbc) (Jose Miquel Ribeiro. Portugal. 2003 )Two animation films for children. The first film. Home Things (Ax ('ois'as de la ('asa). contains six stories animated in plasticine in which the tnain characters are household objects (suitable for 2 4-year-olds). The second film. The Suspect (A .S'uspeita). is a mystery story set about a train compartment (suitable for ages 6 and tip). ('(Irl. (ilusgon:
Kiki’s Delivery Service (1') (llayao Miya/aki. Japan. 1089) Voices of Kirsten Dunst. Janeane (iarafolo. Phil Hartman. 103mm. Japanese animation with Atnerican voice-ox er in which a young witch finds fitting into a new community difficult while she supports herself running an airborne broomstick delivery service. Part of the Studio (ihibli season. North Edinburgh .-lt‘t.v ('entre. Edinburgh.
0 Kill Bill: Volume 2 ( 18) oooo (Quentin Titrantino. IS. 2004) l‘ma 'I'hurman. David ('arradine. Daryl Hannah. Michael .\ltttlsett. Samuel 1. Jackson. (Mann. See preview. page -8 and review. page 31. (ieneral release.
King of the Ants (tbc) (Stttart (iordon. IS. 2003) (‘hris McKenna. Kari Wuhrer. Daniel Baldwin. (ieorge Wendt. 102mm. Written by (‘harlie Higson of The East Show. Ring of the .'illl.\ is a powerful and brutal drama about a man without direction. He is hired to kill an accountant. but things go wrong when he doesn't get paid. Part of Dead by Dawn. Eilnthuuse. Edinlntrgh.
Kirikou and the Sorceress (t')
.0. (Michel ()celot. l-‘rance/Belgium/ Luxembourg. 2003) Antoinette Kellcrm. I‘e/ele Mpeka. Kombisile Sangweni. Theo Sebcko. Mabutho ‘Kid' Sithole. 7-lmin. Tapping away from inside his mother's tummy. Kirikou wants to get on with life; he‘s impatient for it and so out he pops. Bttt crawling to the safety of mum's breast he learns the terrible truth. All his brothers and family have been eaten up by the evil Karaba.
the village is decimated — what are you going to do Kirikou‘.’ Fight her and rescue everyone. of course. Lovely little Kirikou — go on lad. (‘harming animation. North Edinbttrgh Arts
( 'entre. Edinburgh.
Kitchen Stories (PG) 0000 (Bent llamer. Norway. 2003) Joachim (’almeyer. Tomas .\'orstrom. Bjorn I’loberg. Reine Bry'nolfsson. Sverre Anker ()usdal. 95min. A team of Swedish scientists is dispatched to rural Norway in the early 1950s in order to carry out a research project into the kitchen routines of confirmed bachelors. ()ne of the hollins is the middle-aged 1-‘o1ke (Norstrom). who has been assigtied to tnonitor the habits of a reclusive elderly farmer Isak (Joachim (‘almeyer). Any fraternisation between observer and participant is strictly frowned upon. yet over time these two reticent men find their roles reversing. and. to the dismay of 1"o1ke‘s by-the-book boss Malmberg (Brynolfsson) and lsak's troubled neighbour (irant (Hoberg ). they develop an unexpectedly significant relationship. Beautifully observed. wry comedy drama that lays open many of the l‘)50s' scientific research myths with an assured sense of detail and deadpan humour. Also the photography is outstanding. (TA. (ilas'gtm'.
Kundun ( 15) C... (Martin Scorsese. IS. 1997) 140mm. Scorsese's biography of the l-lth Dalai I.ama is also a painstaking record of a culture close to extinction. The beauty of Tibet and gentle nature of the people are disrupted by the invasion of China. but the Dalai I.ama remains true to the ideal of non-violence. A highly cinematic. though heavily wrought film. Kundun also features a pulsating music score by Philip (ilass. The first hour. while beautiful to watch. does seem to pass very slowly. but. by the end. it has a cttriotis calming energy all of its own. Film/muse. Edinlntrgh.
The Last Days of Pompeii (Gil Ultimi Giorni Di Pompei) (12) (Antleto Palermi/(‘armine (iallone. Italy. 1926) Rina Dc l.igtloro, Maria ('orda. \"ictor Varconyi. Bernard (ioetzke. 188mm. Set under the shadow of Mount Vesuvius. this is a rare screening of the film based on the epic novel of Bulwer-I.ytton. Live music played by Forrester Pyke accompanies this silent feature. As the action proceeds. the plot of love and revenge culminates under the exploding volcano. Part of the Italian film festival. Eilnthouse. Edinburgh.
The Last Kiss (L’Ultimo Bacio) (18) O. ((iabriele Muccino. Italy. 2001) Stefano Accorsi. (iiovanna Meuogiorno. Stefania Sandrelli. 1 15min. lilaccid boy to adulthood transformation piece of part whimsy part machismo wish fulfilment. (’arlo (Accorsi) has got his girlfriend pregnant. his fear for the future is accentuated by his best friend Adriano (Passoti) bickering constantly about how the arrival of a baby has led to seven months of sexless and loveless marriage. ('arlo yearns for an idealised single life. l-‘iltnhouse. Edinburgh.
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Laurel Canyon (18) 0000 (Lisa ('holodenko. LS. 2003) Frances McDormand. (‘hristian Bale. Kate Beckinsale. Natascba Mclilhone. Alessandro .\'ivola. 104mm. Frances McDormand gives one of her best performances in years as the seducer. veteran record producer Jane. a sexual free spirit whose current main squeeze is a much younger British rock singer. Iirotic sparks fly when her puritanical psychiatrist son. Sam (Bale). and his equally uptight fiancee. Alex (Beckinsale) are forced to share Jane's house in the Hollywood Hills. laid- back. mature and sexy entertainment. (.'(’l
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Looney Tunes - Back in Action (PG) .0 (Joe Dante. US. 2003) Brendan liraser. Jenna Iilfman. Steve Martin. Timothy Dalton. Heather I.ocklcar. 90min. Bugs Bunny and the gang return for this feature length mixture of live action and animation. I.oads of iii-jokes but no genuine laughs beleaguer the usually reliable Dante‘s attempts to pay respect to the cartoon heroes and animators of yore. ()deon At The Quay. Glasgow; .S'Iet’ (’entury. Edinburgh.
The Lord of the Rings: The No Towers ( 12A) 0... (Peter Jackson. I'S/New Zealand. 2002) lilijah Wood. Viggo Mortensen. Liv Tyler. 179mm. The second part of Jackson's ambitious three-part adaptation of JRR Tolkien's epic fantasy adventure might lack the storytelling verve of the first film. but in terms of spectacle it takes blockbuster filmmaking to the next level. (‘ontinuing where lhe l'ellon-slu'p of the Ring left off. without any recap of the story so far. The lira lowers follows three separate pIotlines: l'ttKlo's trek to Modor to destroy the ring. his fellow Hobbits' meeting with the [flats (walking. talking trees) and the human/e1f/dwarf combo Aragon. I.egolas and (iimili's part in the siege of the human stronghold Helms Deep by the evil wizard Sauraman's 10.000-strong army. The latter provides the hour-long climax to the film. and it's an awesome thing to behold. But l"r()tl(i‘s meeting with the rings previotis owner. (iollum. also impresses here's a fully computer animated character that generates as much emotion as any of the living performers. The fifth suffers from being the second act of 'I'olkien‘s tale. but for Jackson‘s three hour filtn vision. there's no way around that. Eiltnhnuse. Edinburgh. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King ( 12A) .0... (Peter Jackson. l'S/NX. 2003) Iilijali Wood. Billy Boyd. Ian McKellen. (‘ate Blanchett. ()rlando Bloom. Viggo Mortensen. (‘hristopher I.ee. 210mm. A remarkable end to a remarkable series of films. the journey of I‘rodo. Sam and (iollum is the piece de resistance of the trilogy. The tension-filled journey forces both (iollum and Sam to show their true colours as I-‘rodo suffers under the burden of the ring. All around is war as Aragorn fights to reclaim what is rightfully his. Jackson's vision is awesome. The Return of the King is some kind of beautiful. some kind of masterpiece. I'nmissable. l‘illtt/tutlse. Edinburgh.
Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (PG) 0.... (Peter Jackson. .\'ew ZeaIand/I'S. 2001) Ian McKellen. [Elijah Wood. Liv Tyler. (’ate Blanchett. Viggo Mortensen. 178mm. At long last. a sword and sorcery adventure that really delivers the goods. JRR Tolkien‘s great achievement was to create an Iinglish mythology. located in a fantastical yet believable world. Jackson‘s great achievement is to bring the author's 1000 page tome to life. not merely realising the fantastic elements with special effects spectacle (though they are very spectacular). but through storytelling flare and marvellous performances from his cast. Visceral and breathtakingly dramatic. The fellowship of the Ring is an inspired labour of love and a monumental achievement. I’ilttt/tntlse. Edinburgh.
The Lost Boys ( 15) (Joel Schumachcr. IS 1987) Jason Patrick. (‘orey llaitn. Barnard Ilughes. 97min. Anaemic comic horror as a Santa Monica teen falls into bad company in the shape of a mad. bad and dangerous-to-know gang of vampires. (‘onstant MTV visuals make this an altogether resistible affair. Ei/nthnuse. Edinburgh.