Film
Harsh Times ( l5) 0... (David Ayer. US. 2005) (‘hristian Bale. Freddy Rodriguez. liva Longoria. 1 l9min. (‘hristian Bale discovers that it's pretty tough for an unstable (iulf War veteran to get ajob in LA. finding up in emotional turmoil when asked to choose between love and a job busting drug cartel. The Mexican landscape provides a sharp contrast to the urban metropolis. but it's Bale's emotional extremes that are most intriguing in Ayer's impressive debut. l’ue Edinburgh ()eeun. Edinburgh.
I Saw Ben Barka Get Killed ( 12A) O... (Serge Le Peron. Said Smihi. .‘vlorocco/Spain/France. 2005) (‘harles Berling. Sitnon Abkarian. Josiane Balasko. l02min. ()n 29 October 1965. exiled Moroccan dissident Mehdi Ben Barka (Abkarian) was abducted in Paris by police officers. never to be seen again. Freely mixing fact and speculation. the Hilth Sunset Boulevard style narrator (Berling) leads a paranoia-infused. jau scored conspiracy thriller through the murky circumstances surrounding one of(iaullist France’s greatest political scandals. ('urneo. Edinburgh.
Infamous ( l5) OO (Douglas Mc(irath. LS. 2006) Toby Jones. Sandra Bullock. Daniel (‘raig llein. A more flamboyant and light-hearted biopic of Truman ('apote than Bennett Millet"s 2005 film ('upore. Jones is great in the lead as the eccentric writer btit a weak supporting cast renders this the lesser of the two. ('ineimr'ld Ren/r‘ew Slr'eel. Glasgow; ('urnerr. Edinburgh.
International Velvet (P( i) 00
(Bryan Forbes. LS. 1978) Natiette Newman. Anthony Hopkins. Tatuni ()‘Neal. l26min. The lilirabeth Taylor character from the I944 classic National Velvet is now a grown woman with a niece following in her hoof prints as a would-be ()lympic competitor. Nonsense horse opera sequel. ('irreimr'ld I’ur'klteud. (i/(tsgmi‘.
It’s a Boy Girl Thing ( IZA) .0
(Nick Hurran. [PK 2006) Samaire Armstrong. Kevin Zegers. limin Hampshire.
FANCY
94min. Teenagers Nell (Armstrong) and Woody (Xeggers) just don't get on. in fact they hate each other. When they find themselves in each other’s bodies they set about trying to ruin each other‘s lives. Intriguing British variation on your typical life swap comedy. which sadly never really delivers on its promise. Selected release. Kes (P(i) 0... (Ken Loach. t'K. I969) David Bradley. Lynne Perrie. ('olin Welland. Brian (ilover. |09min. In the run-down industrial north. at young boy learns some harsh lessons about life from the fate of his pet bird. ('lassic piece of British realism which showed that Loach's television work could transfer to the big screen. A very humane sense of humour leavens a tale of some desolation. Edinburgh I-ilrn (r'uild. Edinburgh.
Knowledge is the Beginning (PG) .0. (Paul Sntac/ny. Denmark. 2005) 90min. Iimmy-nominated documentary about the controversial West-liastern Divan ()rchestra comprising Israelis. Palestinians. Egyptians. Jordanians and Syrians that was founded in 1999 by conductor Daniel Barenboim and writer lidward Said. Part of Middle liast season. I’ilrnhouse. Edinburgh. Kranked 6 ( l2A) (Bjorn linga. LS. 2006) 40min. The newest instalment of popular series KI'tlIl/v't't/ shows high def renditions of Steve Peat. Mike Kinrade. Ryan Leech and many more taking tip a challenge to create the most stunning and progressive mountain bike line and ride it. Part of Winter Bicycle Film Festival. I’ilrnlurus‘e. Edinburgh.
* The Last King of Scotland ( 15) O... (Kevin Macdonald. t'S/t'K. 2006) Forest Whitaker. (iillian Anderson. James McAvoy. l23min. Macdonald's first fictional film sees McAvoy playing Nicholas (iarrigan as a smooth-talking lovable rogue who accidentally ingratiates himself with l970s L'gandan president Idi Amin (Whitaker). With a career best performance from Whitaker and an action packed pace. it makes for a commendable action film rather than an astute political portrait. (r'errer'u/ release.
YOURSELF AS A BIT OF A FILMMAKER?
Tim Burton. George Lucas and Ridley Scott all started out their careers with short films. So if you fancy yourself as a bit of a filmmaker. then yOu're in luck.
The List has joined forces with film production company Metro Ecosse to unearth Scottish filmmaking talent with a new national short film competition.
MINUTE WONDER
NATIONAL FILM COMPETITION
Five winners will be selected by production company Metro Ecosse to shoot and edit their film in high definition. The five Winning films V/Ill then be shown on the big screen in Scotland and across some lzuropean film festivals. Visit www.list.co.uk for more information and registration.
54 THE LIST 1—15 Feb 2007
Leonard Cohen: I’m Your Man (PG) .0. (Lian Lunson. l'S. 2005) l03min. A loving tribute to the man responsible for a unique style of downbeat yet irresistibly beautiful and emotive music. It features performances of his songs by Nick (‘ave. Bono. Jarvis ('ockcr and more. btit only hints at the man's intriguing life. (ilusgow I‘ilrn 'I'heulr'e. (ilus’grrtt:
Little Miss Sunshine ( l5) 0... (Jonathan Dayton. Valerie Faris. LS. 2006) Abigail Breslin. (ireg Kinnear. Paul Dano. Alan Arkin. Toni (‘ollette. l0linin. Probably the planet’s most dysfunctional family embark on a road trip to that totem of American aspirations: a children's beauty contest in ('alifornia. An amusing script. impressive acting and memorable fantasy sequences round out the critique of the prevailing win-at-all-costs culture. ('iltett‘rrl'ld ReIl/r‘ett' Street. (i/(tvgmi‘: ('ineivrrr'ld Edinburgh. Edinburgh.
Live and Become l 12A) 0000
(Radti Mihaileanu. France/Belgium/ Israel/Italy. 2005) Ya'el Abecassis. Roschdy
'/.em. Moshe Aga/ai. Moshe Abebe. l-lSmin.
Bucharest-born filmmaker Mihaileanu again tells a story of what he calls ‘positivc impostui'e‘. in this case the remarkable tale of a black ('hristian lithiopian child who is instructed by his mother to pass himself off as a Jewish orphan. A persuasive account of an immigrant‘s experiences. conveying a strong sense of tile religious and political tensions and conflicts within wider Israeli society. Part of the [K Jewish Film Festival. (ir‘rrsi'enor: (ilusgmv.
London to Brighton ( l8) .0.
(Paul Andrew Williams. (K. 2006) Lorraine Stanley. Johnny Harris. (ieorgia (irooine. 85min. Seasoned prostitute Joanne ((iroonie) and a lost young girl called Kelly (Stanley) exist in a world of pushers. pimps and kingpin London gangsters. Williams' impressive debut feature sticks steadfastly to the tested ‘hard boiled llick‘ formula and the finely structured result is curiously joytess. btit you’ll be pushed to recall a recent British film more visceral or seamlessly executed. ('irlett'rrr'ld lv’ert/r'eti' Street. Glasgow: ('ineii'rrr'ld Edinburgh. Edinburgh. * The Maltese Falcon (PG) 0... (John lluston. t'S. l9-tl ) Humphrey Bogart.
Mary Astor. Sidney (irecnstreet. Peter Lorre.
l0lmin. lluston‘s first film is a quintessential. claustrophobic film noir. Bogart is caught in a web of deceit and betrayal as the Fat Man tises every means. including murder. to get his hands on the elusive ornament of the title. Forget the twists and turns of Dashiell Hammett's plot; enjoy instead the darkly comic world peopled by Sam Spade and Joel ('airo. Part of the John Htiston season. See feature. page 42. l'i/rn/Irrus'e. Edinburgh.
Marie Antoinette ( t2.'\) .0.
(Sofia Coppola. LS. 2006) Kirsten Dunst. Jason Schwart/man. Rip Torn. l22min. ('oppola Jr follows her mttch lauded Ens! in Il'(lll.\'/(llll)ll with a punky biography of the misunderstood Queen of France. adapted from Antonia Fraser‘s book on the subject. A daring and bold attempt to rework formulaic staid costume dramas or a feature-
length pop promo that reaches new depths of
shallow'ness'.’ You decide. ('ineimr'ld l’rtr'kheud. (i/(rsgrrii:
Miss Potteril’m O. ((‘hris Noonan. t'K/l'S. 2006) Renee Zellwegcr. limily Watson. liwan Mc(iregor. 92min. Xellwegcr‘s self-produced hitipic ()l‘ the creator of Peter Rabbit is a self-conscioiIs vanity project that plays even less interestingly than any fluffy bunny bedtime story. (iener’rr/ r‘eleuve.
Music and Lyrics ( l2.-\) .0
(Marc Lawrence. (S. 2007) lltigh (irant. Drew Barrymore. 90min. See Also Released. page 45. (it'ltel‘u/ r‘eleuse.
Neil Young: Heart of Gold ll’(i) OOO (Jonathan Demme. LS. 2006) Neil Young. Larry (‘ragg. limmylou Harris. ltHlltill. A concert movie depicting the two nights Young played at Nashv ille's legendary Ry'man auditorium in August 2005 jtist a few short months after he was diagnosed with a potentially fatal brain aneurism. The interviews and audience perspective performance footage show him to be in rude health in this nicely contrasting
companion piece to Jim Jarmusch’s l997 concert tour documentary. i'eur o/"rhe llor'se. (i/usgrrw I’ilrn 'I'heutr'e. Glasgow:
Night at the Museum (PG) 00. (Shawn Levy. LS. 2006) Ben Stiller. ('arla (iugino. Robin Williams. 108mm. Broad. imaginative and actually quite fun adventure comedy about a bumbling security guard (Stiller pltis a /any supporting cast) who lets loose an ancient curse at a Natural History Museum. which allows the exhibits to come to life. (iener‘ul r’e/euse.
* Night of the Iguana l ll) .00. (John lltiston. l'S. I964) Richard Burton. Ava (iardner. Deborah Kerr. l l7min. ()ne of the more satisfactory screen adaptations of Tennessee Williams' work has Burton as the tinfrocked. alcoholic priest who finds work as a btis-tour guide in Mexico and becomes involved with both spinster-poetess Kerr and earthy hotel-owner (iardner. Particularly fine performances all round and a satisfying balance between pathos and comedy. Part of the John Huston season. See feature. page 42. Film/rouse. Edinburgh.
Notes on a Scandal ( IS) .00 (Richard liyre. (K. 2006) Judi Dench. (‘ate Blanchett. Bill Nighy. 2006min. See feature. page l4. and review. page 4-1. (ienerril release.
Open Season (PG) 00 (Roger Alters. Jill ('ulton. Anthony Stacclii. LS. 2006) Voices of Martin Lawrence. Ashton Kutcher. Debra Messing. 86min. 900lb grizzly bear Boog (voiced by Lawrence) takes on a nasty group of human predators during the open hunting season with the help of lilliot (Kutcher). a fast-talking mule deer. Predictable. bland. cliche ridden and oversweet animation that jtist about passes muster as a soft-biained family flick. ('ineii'rrr'ld I’ur'lv'heud. (ilusgow; (‘ineii‘or'ld Edinburgh. Edinburgh.
Pan’s Labyrinth f IS) 0000 ((iuillermo Del Toro. Mexico/Spain/l'S. 2006) lvana Baquero. Doug Jones. Scrgi Loper. ll9min. In the closing stages of Spain‘s (‘ivil War young ()felia discovers a subterranean world populated by fairytale creatures. As she navigates tasks in the Lubv-r'inIh-like world the real dangers lie above ground the dissonance between the two proving that the real world is more horrifying than any imagined one. Selected I’t'lUUSt'.
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer ( l5) OOOO (Tom Tykwer. (ieriiiany/ France/Spain. 2006) Ben \‘v‘hishaw. Diistin Hoffman. Alan Rickman. l-t7miii. Jean- Baptistc (ircnouille (upcoming Brit Whishaw) is led to the gallows in l776 after perpetrating a series of murders trying to recreate the smell of his first (accidental) kill. 'l'wyker does his best to replicate the olfactory scintillation of Patrick Suskind’s source novel l’erj/urne through voiccover atid visual tricks bill is only partially successful. However. Whishaw‘s excellent murderous ambivalence and a killer ending manage to pull things back. ('inewor‘ld I’rir'lt/ierrd. (ilrrsgou': I'i/rnluruse. Edinburgh.
The Phantom of Liberty ( IS) 0..” (Luis Bunuel. France. I974) Monica Vitti. Michel Piccoli. Jean-('laude Brialy. Ill-1min. Bunucl links a series of episodes from the early l9tli century to the present day by coiling them around Karl Marx's phrase. ‘the phantom of liberty". This is a surreal portrait of a world turned upside down and inside otit. where dinner guests sit arotmd a table on individual lavatories before excusiiig themselves to go and eat in a small room behind a locked door. (i/rrsgoir I’i/rn ‘l‘heulr‘e. (iliisgoii:
* Playt l5) .... (Alicia Scherson. Argentina/('hile. 2007) Juan Pablo Que/ada. Aline Kuppenheim. Viviana Herrera. l05min. See rev ievv. page ~13. (i/usgoii' l’i/rn Thea/re. Glasgow:
The Pursuit of Happyness ( I2.-\)
O. ((iabriele Mttccino. LS. 2006) Will Smith. 'l‘liandic Newton. .laden Smith. ll7min. ('liris (iardner (Smithrs stll'\ ival skills are put to the test when his girlfriend Linda (Newton) leaves him. With a son to look after (Smith's real life offspring. .laden) and an unpaid internship for income. (iai‘dner’s pursuit of the .-\iiicrican Dream (dubbed ‘happyness') looks doomed. Smith Senior is tip to the dramatic challenge but