lnsp
The r/R Road
ired doublelbill based
around the theme of surveillance. Czech filmmaker Karel Kachyna’s superb 1970 drama about a well-connected Communist party apparatchik who returns to his house with his wife after a party only to find the house
unlocked, without electricity and bugged. A harrowing night follows as the two deconstruct their downfall in the areas of the house they think are safe (the toilet, bathroom and kitchen). It is not difficult to see why this film was banned under Soviet rule. Andrea Arnold’s excellent Glasgow-based thriller (pictured) from last year about a surveillance camera operator’s ultimate revenge is the best film to come out of Scotland in a long time. Red Road is also showing here as a matinee until Thu 31 May.
I Cameo, Edinburgh, 8(1/727 May
The Magic Lantern Short Film Night (Ii) (Various. Variousfl’he monthly (ilasgow‘ short film night is back with an animation special. featuring a selection of animated shons from children's tales to more adult material. (iluxguw' [Vi/m 'I'lieutre. Glasgow:
Magicians ( 15) 0. (Andrew O‘Connor. (K. 2007) Robert Webb. Day-id Mitchell. 89min. Peep Show stars Mitchell and Webb hit the big screen in this disappointing comedy of rivalry and the black ans. (ieneru/ release.
The Maltese Falcon (PG) 0000
(John llttston. (TS. [941 ) Humphrey Bogart.
i i
Falkirk Town Hall lanai).- (.‘ouneil
For Your Consideration (12a) 11/10/728”) May 7.30
The Lives of Others (15) Thurs 3 75! May 7.30
Last King of Scotland (15) Mon 4th June
17.005117). 7,30. 7.30 Climates (15)
Thurs 7m June
7.30
Tickets and further information from The Steeple Box office or on the day
from the hall
(01324 506850)
44 THE LIST 2/1 May— 7' Jun 200/
Mary Astor. Sidney (ireenstrcet. l’etcr Lorre. lillmin. lltiston's first film is a quintessential. claustrophobic film noir. Bogart is caught in a web of deceit and betrayal as the lat Man uses ey ery means. including murder. to get his hands on the elusiye ornament of the title. l‘orget the
twists and turns of Dashiell llammett‘s plot;
enjoy instead the darkly comic world peopled by Sam Spade and Joel ('airo. (iluygun' I'i/m Thea/re. (i/uxgnn.
Meet the Robinsons (l') .00 (Stephen Anderson. LS. 3007) Voices of Angela Bassett. Daniel llanscn. Jordan l‘ry. liilmin. Lew is. an orphan. dreams of finding a family. When my sterious stranger Wilbur Robinson takes him to the future. maybe he w ill lind one. linjoyably referential screwball animated comedy with good yoice work. .X'e/eelet/ I'(‘/(’tl\('.
Miss Potter (l’(il O. ((‘hris Noolltlll. l‘K/l'S‘. 3000) RCHL‘C It‘ll“ cger. limily Watson. liw an Mc(iregor. 03min. '/.el|w eger's self-produced biopic of the creator of Peter Rabbit is a self-conscious \anily project that plays eycn less interestingly than any fluffy bunny bedtime story. (Menu. lat/i/i/mreh.
Mr Bean’s Holiday (Pt i) O.
(Steye Betttlclacls. LR. 3007) Rowan Atkinson. Willem Dafoe. 89min. Wordless misfit Mr Beaii (Atkinson) goes to the l‘rench Riy iera and becomes cnsnared in a broad liuropean adycnturc. A silly. occasionally funny. mildly xenophobic slapstick feature. Jacques 'l‘ati did it so much better. (it’llt'l‘tl/ I‘t'lt'usi'.
Monster House it') 00.0 «(ht Kenan. LS. 2000) Voices of Stcye Busccmi. Maggie (iyllenhaal. Mitchel Mtisso. Ulmin. 'l'rouble-making ty kes myestigatc the creepy
house in this film. which is wicked fun for all ages. ('(il production in which not only is the titular house a personable \ illain. it actually tears itself tip from its foundations in the climax of Kenan's skilfully realised family lilm. [fin/are ('lwle/mnk. ('ly'ile/mnk. Music and Lyrics ( 13A) 0.
(Marc Lawrence. (S. 2007) Hugh (Brant. Drew Barrymore. 00min. (irant is Alex. a washed-up 80s pop star reduced to working the nostalgia circuit. He gets a chance at a comeback but Alex hasn't written a song in years. Luckily the kooky girl Sophie
(Barry more) has a talent he can tap into in more ways than one. llarmless romcom nonsense. (irmt'enm; (i/uyenw;
>i< Mutual Appreciation ( IS) 0000 (Andrew Bujalski. LS. 2005) Justin Rice. Rachel (‘Iift. Andrew Bujalski. lllb’min. See Also Released. page 3‘). (iluygnn~ [Vi/m ‘l‘lieulre. (i/uxgnn': I‘l/IH/IUILH’. lat/in/iiu'g/i. My Best Friend ( 12A) 0.. (l’atrice Lecontc. l-‘rance. Zoom Daniel Auteuil. Dany Boon. Julie (iayet. ‘Mmin. In this contemporary Parisian buddy moxie arrogant antitlues dealer l‘rancois (Auteuil) is teamed with the good—natured. triy ia— spouting taxi driy er. Bruno (Boon) after being challenged to proy'ide a ‘meilleur ami‘ by the end of the month. An amiable if formulaic diy'ertissement. (i/usemr [film Ali/tertlre. (i/uxeuii _' I'i/ni/muse. lat/inlmrg/i. The Namesake t 12A) 0000 (Mira Nair. LS, 2000) Kal l’enn. 'l‘abu. lrfan Khan. Jacinda Barrett. II l min. Ashoke (Khan) sury iycs a train crash in (alcutta atid moy es to America. cony'inced that .\l;ixi111(i()14()l‘s I‘lie ()l't'l‘t'tltl! sayed his life. Building on I‘Nl's .llisxissip/ii Mum/u. and using the (iogol short story as a bridge. .\'air pt'oy ides aii tinhurried. insightful drama
about first generation immigrant experience. Film/mute. lit/inlunje/i.
Next ( ISA) .0. (Lee 'I’amahori. IS. 3007) Nicolas Cage. Julianne Moore. Nicolas l’ajon. 95min. Moderately successful Philip K Dick adaptation about Las Vegas-based magician ('ris Johnson ((‘age) who can see into the future and thus is co-opted into lighting terrorists by ('allie l-‘erris (Moore). Solid direction and good performances make this an entertaining if oy er familiar thriller. ('inen‘m'lt/ Rea/few Street. (i/(t.y‘gmi': (Men/i 1m: Kinnuml. lat/inlnuieli.
Norbit ( 12A) 0 (Brian Robbins. (S. 2007) liddie Murphy. 'l‘handie Newton. liddie (iril'lin. l()2min. .\'orbit (Murphy) is an orphan brought up in the (‘hinese restaurant where he was abandoned. When he is forced into marrying the fat. mean. jtiiik food scofling Rasputia (also played by Murphy). Norbit realises that he has to get back to his childhood sweetheart Kate (Newton). Nonsense collection of fat. fart and foul sex gags. :\\'oitl. (i/uy‘gmr I'll/n Thea/re. (i/usgun‘.
Notes on a Scandal ( IS) 00. (Richard liyre. (K. 2006) Judi Dench. (‘ate Blanchett. Bill Nighy. 92min. Lonely teacher Barbara (‘oyett (a spellbinding Dench) becomes enraptured with new art teacher Sheba (Blanchetl) until she learns a secret about the latter and their relationship shifts into something much more sinister. Less cony incing in its melodramatic final stretches. but a good illustration of timeless class anxieties. Ifrunmn Theatre. Edinburgh. Over the Hedge (t') 0.. (Tim Johnson/Karey Kirkpatrick. l'S. Zoom Bruce Willis. (iarry' Shandling. Ayril
Lay igne. 33min. Above average