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bad wolf tWarburtnn) all get In tell their side of the story. RIM/IIINIIHINI) le However the animation lalls way shan of the standards of l’ixar and Disney. I'JII/Hn' (‘lvdebanle ('lvdebank lAm Legend I l5) “. (l'taticls Lawrence. IS. 2007) Will Smith. Willow Smith. Darrell l-nster l00miii Surprisineg snlid adaptatinn nt Richard M.itliesntt\ much filmed III)\ el about the possible last man nil earth (Smith) and his attempts to find a cure for the iiian-iiiade bacterial \ iriis tliat has killed off everyone else. bar a few mutant vampires. Selei led release I Confess I IS) 0... (Alfred Hitchcock. l7S. I‘lfil) Montgomery ('lilt. Karl Malden 05min. ()uebec priest ('lilt hears a cnnlessinii lrnii) a murderer. but discretion and duty lead him In beenme the prime suspect. Fascinating. wonderfully atheistic mid—period Hitchcock. SI nix/nan SI reening Run/n. Edinburgh. In Memory of Myaelt I l ') COO (Sayertt) ('Iislali/I). Italy. 2007) ('ltrlslt) Jivkov. l-ilippn 'l‘mii. Maicn Baliaiii. llSiniii. In the follow -up to Berlin (inldcti Leopard-w mniiig debtit I’riiale. (‘nnstan/o presents an earnest iiicditatinii on faith. llanIlsoiiie young Andrea (Jiknv ) is contused by the endless possibilities open to ill”). In his bewilderment he undertakes the nnv mate. with the intention nl Joining the pi‘icslhtmd. ('ameri. Iidiiibiu'g/i.
In This World I IS) .000
(Michael Winterlmttniii. l'K. 200)) Jabal Udin ‘lnrabi. linayatullah. 88mm. 'l‘w'elverycar nld Jamal and his cousin liiiayatulla set out from the infamous Shaiiishatsim refugee camp in Pakistan for London. Their lives are in the hands of the people smugglers. ()uetta. ’l‘ehraii. lstaiibul. Sangatte and maybe beyond. II is a horrifying iourney .ind Winterbnttnii). sei‘iptwriter 'l‘nny (irisoni and cameraman Marcel Zyskitld do not flinch for It mniiient. And it's a difficult film to watch. lileiiients of cI)ri'esimndence cniiiiiicntary are mixed up with naiiseating naturalisiii. but the sense of genuine fear is so immediate one is never in doubt of the importance of the work. See preview. page 48. Part of Reel Afghanistan festival. I'ilmluiuse. It'diiibiugh. In the Valley of EIah I IS) 0. (Paul Haggis. US. 2007) 'l'nmmy Lee Jones. ('harli/e 'l‘hernn. Stisaii Sarandoii. I2 I min. After returning from service in Iraq Mike l)eerfield goes missing. When the local police authorities and military police clash over the case. it becomes clear that fntil play is involved. l)reary ‘war at home‘ drama from the writer/director of Academy Award-winner (rash. Seleeted release. The Indian and the Nurse I IS) tl)an \NlndarL‘ka. (‘lech Republic. 2000) 'l‘omas Masapust. |)enisa l)eiiieterova. Petr l.nenicka. 90min. Romany nurse Marie (Demeternva) is engaged In a local businessman when she falls for l‘rantisek (Masupust). a worker in a lumber mill who spends his free time with friends who emulate the traditions of Native Americans. A simple tale of two contemporary (‘Iech subcultures colliding. Part of Made in Prague season. Film/muse. Edinburgh.
The Italian I DA) (Andrei
Kravchuk. Russia. 2005) Kolya Spiridonov. Denis Moiseenko. Sasha Syrotkin. 90min. See review. page 48. Film/muse. Edinburgh. Jodhaa Akbar I 12A) (Ashutnslt (inwariker. India. 2008) Aishwarya Rai. Hrithik Roshan.Bollywood presentation. .SI‘lI’I‘II’Il I'c'lc'usI'. JumperI l2A) 0.. (Doug l.iman. US. 2008) Hayden Christensen. Samuel l. Jackson. Diane Lane. 88min. See Also Released. page 48. (ieneral release.
Juno I l 2) 0... (Jason Reitman.
US. 2007) lillen Page. Michael ('era. Jennifer (iamer. 95min. Teenage Juno (Page) finds herself pregnant and confused. When the baby's father turns out to be an airhead jock. and an abortion doesn't agree with Juno‘s principles. adoption seems the only option. A newspaper advert puts her in contact with childless couple Mark and Vanessa. but Juno's predicament complicates as their
relationship begins In tray Reitman nes er slumps II) gross-nut Iir sltipsllck \Hllt the result tliat this is a comedy that makes you laugh out loud. btit that ynu can still respect in the morning (ieru'ral ri'li'au' The Kite Runner« ISA) om (Mare l-nrster. IS. 2007) Khalid Abdalla. Izhsan Amati. Vsevnlnd Bardashev 28min (iripping and iiin mg adaptatinn nt the novel by Khaled Hnssemi. about two boys whose ordmaiy lives become caught up it) .-\Ighamstan's Iiiiiitiltunus politics Spanning three decades and two continents. Ihe Kile Runner is a saga of gtillt. regret and redemption. As a iiieIlitatinn on Atghaiiistan. it will always have In stand in line with Siddiq Barinak's disturbing ()sama and Sattiii'a Makhtiialbal 's A! I‘lt't‘ in the :l/Iei'rlrmit. btit tliat is fine company It) keep .Si'lI’I‘II‘Il rI'lI'IIH'. Knocked Up I 15).... IJuIIII Apatow. IS. 2006) Katherine lleigl. Seth Roget). Paul Rudd. l2Unim. \‘v'riIer/direetnr Apatnw 's remarkable new comedy. in which two strangers have a one night stand and accidentally cniicieye a baby. Slacker Ben tRngeii) and career girl Alison (lleigl) decide In make a go of it and hilarity ensues. A superb ltll\ of Animal House- style gross nut humour and Lure .Slurv sentimentality. that stands out. not itist became the Jokes are side-splittineg funny. but because nearly everything tliat happens In the couple rings so true. (irrisi'enur. (ilasemi: Last Tango in Paris I )8) 00000 (Bernardo Bertnlucci. France/Italy. W72) Marlon Brando. Maria Schneider. H0min. A young Parisienne meets a middle-aged man with w linii) she develops an increasineg \ inleiit and purely se\ua| relationship. ()ne of the key lillns of its decade. Bci'tnlucci's powerful drama is a meditation on the expression and eoiiiinuiiication of personal identity through intense sexual contact. Searsman .S‘I'reening Rim/n. Edinburgh. The Little Polar BearItI) .00 t'l‘lttlt) Rnthkirch and Piet dc Rycker. (iermany. 2003) 78min. Inn is a sweet little polar bear who wants In be friends with everyone. including Robbie the seal. After convincing the other bears In stop eating seals and feed on fish instead. he is faced with a dilemma when the fish run out and the seals are about In become lunch again. Based on the storybonks by Hans De Beer. the arctic selling of this animated film creates a similar magical atmosphere In that of The Shun-man. A cute and slushy story for young children. providing a few light-hearted laughs. (imsrenm; (Has-gait: Malalai Joya IAINA. Afghanistan. 2007) l0min. A shan portrait of the politician and women's rights activist Malalai Joya made by the Afghan women's film group. See preview. page 48. Pan of Reel Afghanistan festival. l-‘ilinhnuxe. Edinburgh. Marcela I IS) (Helena 'l'restiknva. (‘Iech Republic. 2007) 80min. A documentary portrait of an ‘ordinary' woman's life and opinions. spanning 26 years through (‘ommunism and capitalism. Part of Made in Prague season. Film/muse. Edinburgh. Marty (U) C”. (Delbert Mann. US. IUSSI lirnest Borgnine. Betsy Blair. listher Minciotti. Joe Mantell. 90min. Simple. heartbreaking melodrama about Marty (Borgnine). a man who has given up on the dating scene. until the night he meets (‘lara (Blair). a plain (‘hcmistry teacher with whom he immediately hits it off. But his mother. suddenly afraid of being left alone. tries In convince Marty that (‘lara is not the right girl for him. (‘nmmemoration screening. I-ilmhuuse. Edinburgh. The Metropolitan Opera: Puccini’s Manon Lescaut Ili) It's. 2008) l20min. Join the New York Metropolitan Opera for Puccini's Manon Lescaut. starring Karita Matilla. Shown live and in high definition. (llH'M'UF/(l Renfrew Street. (ilasgmr; ('ainea. Edinburgh. Mr Magorium‘a Wonder Emporium (U) .0 (Zach Helm. US. 2007) Natalie Portman. Zach Mills. DUstin Hoffman. 94min. Molly Mahoney (Portman) is the awkward and insecure manager of Mr Magorium‘s Wonder
lzmporium. the strangest and most fantastic toy store in the world But when Mr Magorium bequeaths the store In her. a dark and ominous change comes over the limpnrium Besides the irresistible high of seeing Pnnman finding her witchcraft. nothing has much resonance here It's all bright surfaces with nothing behind them. and the result is flat and inconsequential lire ladinbureh ()i‘i'an. lidinbureh My Blueberry Night: I i2A) O. (Wong Kar-wai. Hong Kong/('liiii.u’l'r;iiice. 2007) Norah Jones. Jude Law. l)d\ld Strathairn 95min See review. page 45 .Vi'lr’I ted ri’lI’IMI'. National Treasure: Book of Secrets (P( i) 0. (Jon 'l‘urteltaub. IS. 2007) Justin Bartha. 'l‘y Burrell. Nicolas ('age l2-Imin Exchange the religious sub-plot from Ihe Ha \inIi (‘nde with some spurinus blather about the history of the IS (‘onstitutinn and you bav e the successful formula for the .N'atuiiial 'I'reaiure franchise. The second instalment has adventurer Ben (iates ((‘agel chasing around various worldwide tourist traps while dodging the attentions of his rival Mitch Wilkinson (Harris). The shared object of their desire is a semi- mythical Inme that supposedly contains the diaries of every American president. Returning directnr 'l‘urteltaub's serviceable adventure features a constant escalation of action. but the endless cheerleadiiig for America proves tiresome. (ieneral I‘I'lr'IMr'. No Country For Old Men I IS) 0... (Joel/lithan (‘oeii. US. 2007) Javier Bardem. Josh Brolin. Kelly Macdoiiald. l22min. The (net) Brothers return to form with this adaptation of (‘nrmac McCarthy's novel. When Llewelyn Moss (Brnlin) takes a bagful of cash from a drug deal that goes wrong he sets off a chain of events that lead psycho- killer ('higurh (prnnnunced sugar) to vow to do anything to get the money back. 'l'hnugh based on Mc(‘arthy's least interesting novel. the (‘oens imbue this simple tale with their trademark quirkiness and wry humour. (ieneral release. Nododlman tl/utsu Ka/uyuki. Japan. I‘NQ) Shigeru Murni. Knhei ()tnttln. lsao Bitnh. I 12min. 'l'raditional Japanese pop singer Rcikn (Muroi) decides to enter a well-known TV programme for amateur singers along with a confused teenager (()tomo) and a 40-year-old father of four (Bitnh). Brimming with old and new Japanese songs and covers of Western pop. Gilmore/till ([12. Glasgow: Oaama I I2A) mo (Siddik Barmak. Afghanistan/lreland/Japan. 2003) Marina (iolbahari. Arif Herati. Ztibaida Sahar. 83min. Writer/director and editor Siddiq Barmak's debut feature film exposes the plight of ()sama ((inlbahari) a l2-year-nld girl whose life under the Taliban is blighted by povein and oppression. When her mother loses her job after the Taliban close down the local hospital. she becomes her mother and her grandmother‘s only chance of survival. Stunning and frightening award-winning drama from Afghanistan. Part of Reel Afghanistan festival. See preview. page 48. Film/muse. Edinburgh. Over Her Dead Body I 12A) 00 (Jeff Lowell. US. 2008) Eva Lnngnria Parker. Paul Rudd. Lake Bell. 94min. When his fiancee Kate (Lnngnria Parker) is killed on their wedding day. Henry (Paul Rudd) finds himself falling for psychic Ashley (Bell). Kate's angry ghnst then haunts Ashley. This is a pale. hysterical and overly schematic retread of Noel (‘oward‘s Blithe Spirit. (ieneral release. PSI Love You ll2A) 0 (Richard l,a(iravenese. US. 2007) Hilary Swank. (ierard Butler. Lisa Kudrow, (iina (iershon. l25min. ()verlong. bland and ham-listed adaptation of the novel by (‘ecilia Ahern. A young widow‘s (Swank) grief at losing her hUsband is tempered when she finds a series of messages he wrote her before he died. Initially reluctant to re-engage with love. she soon recovers her sense of womanhood through a series of unlikely steps with her husband cheerleading her on from above. Selected release.
Name Stellan Skarsgard Born 13 June. 1951, Gothenburg, vastra GOtaIands Ian, Sweden.
Background Skarsgard became an international celebrity after his strong turn in Lars Von Trier's Breaking The Waves in 1996. In stark contrast. Scandinavian audiences have been familiar with the actor ever since his teens when be became a TV star and even released a pop song. He was also a huge star of the stage and a regular at The Royal Dramatic Theatre in Stockholm until 1988. The success of Breaking The Waves enabled the actor to break into Hollywood and he can be seen in Good Will Hunting. Amlstad and the Pirates of the Caribbean trilogy.
What's he up to now? When The List caught up with him, Mr Skarsgard was sitting wearing only his underpants on a trailer in Belfast. He was shooting the horror film WAZ (reviewed this issue). In it he plays city cop Eddie Argo. who. along wrth his beautiful new assistant (Melissa George) are called to investigate when two mutilated bodies are found on the docks.
What he says about doing Interview: In Me underpants
‘If you feel uncomfortable I can put my trousers on. But there is nothing strange in being nearly naked. It 's quite liberating and fun. It means I can relax and unwind after a hard days work.“ Interean Fact Skarsgérd is a patron of the Northern Lights Film Festival which takes place in Newcastle each December. The festival focuses in on British. Scandinavian and Baltic films. (Kaleem Aftab)
I Waz is on selected release from Fri 22 Feb. See review, page 46.
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14—28 Feb 2008 THE LIST 53