www.list.co.uk/film
anticipated reunions in cinema history - between Murphy and director Brian Robbins (Norbit) - invites us to Meet Dave. You really shouldn't bother. (‘ineworld l’arkhead. Glasgow; ('ineworld Edinbiogh. Edinburgh.
Mes Amis, Mes Amour ( l5) so (Lorraine Levy. France. 2008) Virginie Ledoyen. Bernadette Lafont. Florence Floresti. l06min. Less a romantic comedy than a sentimental fantasy of city living atnong an ultra-friendly community of shopkeepers and bistro-owners. Levy's film examines the incotnpatibilities of two middle- aged pals who are both divorced and decide to co—habit. The vistial and verbal gags reap precious few dividends. however. and Levy appears only to be able to conceive of London in picture-postcard tertns. ('anieo. Edinburgh. Metropolis (PG) ooooo (Frill. Lang. Gertnany. I926) Brigitte lleltn. Alfred Abel. Gustav Frolich. l2-lmin. ()ne of the greatest films of all time. here in its longer-length. black and white version. free from Giorgio Moroder's tacked-on rock soundtrack. 'l he cityscapes remain unsttrpassed. although the allegory against totalitarianism is a bit naive. Ei/nrhouse. Edinlnirgh.
Mirrors ( 18) O. (Alexandre Aja. l'S/Romania. 2008) Kiefer Sutherland. Paula Patton. (’ameron Boyce. 1 10min. This Into the .llirror remake featttres Sutherland in full Jack Batter mode as an ex-cop who turns security guard to patrol the scorched interiors of a fire-gutted New York hotel. Having accidentally shot his partner in the line of duty. alcoholic ('arson soon begins to hallucinate that an evil force behind the hotel's mirrors is after his family. General release.
Mutant Chronicles ( 18) see
(Sitnon Hunter. LS. 2008) Thomas Jane. Ron Perlman. Devon Aoki. l l lmin. Major Mitch Hunter (Jane) leads a war against an army of necro-mutants. Impressiver dark and odd horror sci-fi adventure co-starring Ilellbov's Ron Perltnan. Minor cult status of minor franchise series beckons. Selected release.
Night of the Iguana ( 12) 0000 (John Huston. l'S. 1964) Richard Burton. Ava Gardner. Deborah Kerr. 1 l7min. ()ne of the more satisfactory screen adaptations of Tennessee Williams‘ work has Bttrton as the unfrocked. alcoholic priest who finds work as a bus-tour guide in Mexico and becomes involved with both spinster-poetess Kerr and earthy hotel-owner Gardner. Particularly fine performances all round and a satisfying balance between pathos and comedy. Glasgow I’ilnt Theatre. Glasgow; l'ilnthouse. Edinburgh.
Nights in Rodanthe (PG) 0
(George (‘ Wolfe. l'S/Atistralia. 2008) Richard Gere. Diane Lane. ('hristopher Meloni. 96min. l'nhappily married Adrienne (Lane) and an emotionally confused doctor ((iere) are drawn together when a storm closes in on the North (‘arolina hotel. Schmalt/y. dreary and tedious second-chance rotnancer based on a noch by Nicholas Sparks. General release. Noir et Blanc ( 18) 000 ((‘lairc Devers. France. 1986) Francis Frappat. Jacques Martial. Josephine Fresson. 80min. A mild-mannered accountant forms a bi/arre and increasingly hazardous sado- masochistic relationship with a burly masseur while working at a health club. Devers planned to make a documentary bttt when her research ran into hostility. she decided to work in the basic premise of a short story by Tennessee Williams. The result is a spare. clattstrophobically intense study of pain and pleasure. desire and brutalisation. Part of Tennessee Williams season. I'illttltouse. Edinburgh. Pineapple Express ( IS) 0000 (David Gordon Green. LS. 2008) Seth Rogen. James Franco. Bill llader. l l lmin. Knoeked ('p star Rogcn returns to play Dale. a pertnanently-baked legal process- server whose friendly weed-dealer Saul (Franco) sells him a rare strain of cannabis known as ‘Pineapple lixpress’. When Dale accidentally leaves a half-smoked joint at the scene of gangland tnurder. the pair are forced to go on the run. A loose. freewheeling and highly enjoyable action comedy. Selei‘led release.
Ratatouille (l}) C... (Brad Bird. US. 2007) Voices of Patton ()swalt. Brian Dennehy. Brad Garrett. 1 10min. The latest Pixar masterpiece follows Remy the rat (voiced by ()swalt) as he chases his dream of becoming a gourmet chef. This is Pixar at its best. offering audiences both three dimensional images and storytelling with its thoughtful consideration of the relationship between the creative process and friendship. Yet Bird's colourful production never stints on fast. furious fun. with plenty of sight gags and chases through the streets. waterways. sewers and dinner tables of Paris. ()deon Hester llailes. Edinburgh. Righteous Kill ( l5) .0 (Jon Avnet. US. 2008) 50 Cent. Quinton Aaron. Alan Bltnnenfeld. I00min. New York police detective partners Rooster (Pacino) and Turk (De Niro) duke it out over a series of cop killings while staring admiringly at each other as if they’re celebrating a diamond-wedding anniversary. When they met in Michael Mann's Heat the anticipation was enormous but 13 years and a loss of kudos later. not so tnttch. Selected release.
The Rocker ( 12A) co (Peter ('attaneo. LS. 2008) Raittn Wilson. Christina Applegate. Teddy Geiger. l02min. See review. page 46. General release. SMS Sugarman (18) (Aryan Kaganof. South Africa. 2006) Aryan Kaganof. Leigh Graves. Deja Bernhardt. 85min. Kaganof‘s gritty South African film. shot entirely on mobile phone cameras. follows the Sugar Man (Kaganof) peddling tough foreign girls to wealthy black punters on (‘hristmas eve. Part of Africa in Motion. Eilnihouse. Edinburgh.
Savage Grace ( 18) coo (Tom Kalin. Spaiti/lfS/France. 2007) Julianne Moore. Stephen I)illane. lilena Anaya. 97min. New Queer Cinema-defining Kalin (Sn-non) makes a return with this flawed but nevertheless fascinating examination of decadence and dysfunction among the American aristocracy. Barbara (Moore). a middle class social climber marries wealthy Brooks Baekeland (I)illane). only to find herself drift into a series of twisted and uncomfortable familial encounters. Eilnihouse. Edinburgh.
Sex and the City: The Movie (15) .0. (Michael Patrick King. 2008) Sarah Jessica Parker. Kim (‘attrall. Cynthia Nixon. l45min. A few years on frotn packing away the series. the characters are back and fleshed out. the individual angst of each woman realised enough to engage even the hardened cynics. Like life however. the film isn‘t perfect. the beginning recap is clumsy. the ending is rushed. and the version of feminist power and female solidarity the filtn peddles is slightly simplistic. ('ameo. Edinburgh.
Sounds Film Festival New festival celebrating Glasgow's music and film connections. See panel page 54. Gilmorehill G12. Glasgow:
Space Chimps ((3) 0. (Kirk De Micco. L'S. 2008) Voices of Andy Satnber. ('heryl Hines. Jeff Daniels. 80min. ()n the whim of a sinister senator (Tucci). Ham lll (Samberg) - the circus performer grandson of one of the first chimpanzees in space is sent into orbit to retrieve a missing satellite. With endless monkey and banana puns and bog-standard animation. Spaee ('hintps is strictly for easily pleased little monkeys. Selei'led release.
The Stone of Destiny (PG) 00 (Charles Martin Smith. Canada/UK. 2008) Charlie (‘ox. Kate Mara. Billy Boyd. 96min. Smith's hysterical. historical heist film gets a Scotland-only release. (‘ox plays [an Hamilton. a student who sets ottt to liberate the Stone of Destiny from Westminster Abbey and bring in back to Scotland. A cinematic non-event. devoid of thrills. excitement and even common sense. General release.
Suddenly, Last Summer ( 15)
O” (Jospeh l. Mankiewicz. US. I959) Elizabeth Taylor. Katharine Hepburn. Montgomery (‘lift. 1 l4min. Catherine (Taylor) is dramatically traumatised after witnessing the death of her cousin in Spain. The cousin‘s Mother (Hepburn) can‘t stand to hear the facts of the boy‘s death and
instead insists that the wittering Catherine be labotomised. Luckily. the obliging brain surgeon Dr Cukrowicz (Clift) is only interested in uncovering guilty family secrets. Part of Tennessee Williams season. Glasgoti' Eilnt Theatre. Glasgow; Film/rouse. Edinburgh.
Sweet Bird of Youth (15) mo (Richard Brooks. US. I962) Paul Newman. Geraldine Page. Shirley Knight. l20min. Down on his luck playboy Chance Wayne (Newman) returns borne after many years of trying to make it in the movies. Despite the presance of the faded film star bride he's brought back with him. Chance chases after old childhood sweetheart Heavenly (Knight). Part of Tennessee Williams season. Glasgow Eilnt Theatre, Glasgow; Eilmhouse. Edinburgh. Taken (15) coo France. 2008) Liam l 'eeson. Maggie Grace. Fatnke Janssen. 93min. Retired US secret agent operative Bryan (Neeson) steps into fray when his daughter Kim (Grace). with his ex-wife (Janssen). is ‘taken‘ by sex traffickers on a trip to Paris. A high octane. blood thumping update of Paul Schrader‘s 1979 Hardcore is every bit as ridiculous as it sounds btit no less enjoyable for it. with Francophile attitude. Chekhovian familial regret. over the top torture and not a fundamentalist Muslim in sight. General
(Pierre Morel.
This is my Africa (15) m (Zina Saro-Wiwa. Nigeria/UK. 2008) 50min. Offering an alternative view to the picture of Africa often portrayed in the Western media. Nigerian-bom and London-raised filmmaker Saro-Wiwa explores the reflections of twenty London residents who hold a connection to the African continent. This screening will be followed by Jacquie Trowell's animated short Beyond l-‘reedom. which traces four South Africans and their encounters with a changing society. Part of Africa in Motion. Eilmhouse. Edinburgh. t themes of class conflict through the This Property is Condemned (12) l projection of the Western genre onto
(Sydney Pollack. US. 1966) contemporary London. ACE. Edinburgh.
Edinburgh.
Natalie Wood. Robert Redford. Charles Bronson. ll()tnin. Depression-era Dodson. Mississippi and railroad official ()wen Legate (Redford) has arrived to shut down the rail yard and lay off its employees. Tragedy ensues when he becomes embroiled in a passionate love affair with local girl Alva Starr (Wood) and an over- protective mother is woefully enraged. Part of Tennessee Williams season. Glasgow Film Theatre. Glasgow; Film/rouse.
Times and Winds (15) em
(Reba Erdem. Turkey. 2006) Ali Bey Kayali. ()zkan ()zen. Elit lscan. 1 12min. [irdem's magnificent work provides a striking vision of childhood in a mountainous Anatolian village overlooking the Aegean Sea. Concentrating on the experiences of a trio of pre-pubescent adolescents within this patriarchal community. where modem technologies are noticeably absent. religion and nature are billed as the only forces guiding the routines of the area's inhabitants. Directed with complete assurance. this is a film to savour. Cameo. Edinburgh. 0!! Toque de Rock (li) (Sergio Garcia. Mexico. 1988) David Celestinos. Nancy Cravioto. Tina French. l00min. A group of rebellious young Mexican women star in this experimental film without audible dialogue. Set to a soundtrack chiefly comprised of Mexican rock'n‘roll. Un 'quue de Rock features underground bands Chac Mool. Three Souls in My Mind and Jaime Lopez. (‘01. Glasgow. Trail of the Spider (ii) (Anja Kirschner/David Panos. UK. 2008) 54min. Since 2003 visual artist Anja Kirschner has made a series of films which combine documentary. literary and historical sources and reference popular genres such as sci-fi and action adventures. Her latest collaboration with David Panos addresses
Opera Unwrapped
Scottish
Opera
A FREE hour-long taster, introducing the characters, plot and some of the key scenes from La travlata. Featuring The Orchestra of Scottish Opera. singers and back-stage
crew. Book now to reserve your tickets.
5 November 6pm Eden Court. lnverness 01463 234 234
12 November 6pm His MaiestYs Theatre, Aberdeen 01224 641 122
25 November 6pm Festival Theatre Edinburgh 0131 529 6000
5 February 6pm Theatre Royal Glasgow 0870 060 6647
scottishoperaorguk
Sung Iii English wrtli English Supettltles
Registered m Scotland Number SCOJ'ISJ‘ Scottish Charity Number SCOi9787
16—30 Oct 2008 THE LIST 51