y-cyt.\-..t:st.co.uls film
Far North ( l5) .... (Asif
Kapadia. l‘K/I‘rance. 3007) Michelle Yeoh. .\lichelle Krusiec. Sean Beati. 89min. Adapted from short story True North by Sara Maitland. I'ill' .\‘urt/i delivers a slow -burning evocation of lives lived against the odds on the free/ing w astelands of the inhospitable Arctic 'I'undra. ('ursed from birth by a shaman. Savia (Yeoh) and her adoptive dattghter Ania (Krtisiec) nurse fro/en soldier Yoki (Beaii) back to health. only to trigger a shockingly \ ioletit and macabre finale. (itmeo, Iz'iliii/mre/i. Fear(s) of the Dark ( 12A) 0000 (Various. lirance. 2007) 85min. ‘I'he (iallic term ‘outre'. meaning beyond or excessive. perfectly describes this imaginatively conceived and immaculately executed l-‘rench Iaiigtiage portmanteau horror. Paris-based producers commissioned six cartoonists and animators to make five short films that exploit our dread of the gloom. The film features an filth century .\Iarquis who htiiits children and a blood-splattered Japanese anime concerning a girl who‘s terrorised by the ghost of a dead samurai. (iluseoii I’llm T/teull‘e. Four Christmases ( 12A) 00 (Seth (iordon. l'S/(ieriiiany. 2008) Vince Vaughn. Reese \‘s’itherspoon. Kristin (‘lienowetlr 88min. Another year. another ('hristinas cotiiedy starring Vaughn. This time he‘s teamed tip with \\'iihcrspoon for a likeably silIy comedy about divorced parents and the pressure of yuletide family gatherings. Se/eelerl release. 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days I IS) .... ((‘ristian .\lungio, Romania. 2007) Anatnaria .\larinca. I.aura Vasiliu. \‘Iad Ivanov. ll3min. .\lungiu's impressively acted new feature explores a long. dark night of the sotil in late 1980s Romania. unfolding towards the end of .\Jicolae ('eausescu‘s dictatorship. iii which a poor college student Iias become pregnant and decided to seek an illegal abortion. performed by a hired doctor in a hotel room. 4 .UUIIIIM. .i' flee/cs (URI 3 Days is a gripping portrayal of sttry ival under a totalitarian regime. Part of BB(' four \Vorld (‘ineina Awards 200‘). Ii/ntlmuxe. l-[ilt/i/iiirgli. The Fox and the Child (t) 000 (I.uc Jacquet. l-‘rance. 3007) Voice of Kate Winslet. Bertille .\'oeI-Brtincau. 'I‘homas I.aliberte. ‘Dmin. A giggly eight-year-old I-‘rench child (Noel-Bruiieau) strikes up a friendship with a fox she meets on the way home froin school. This marks a step forward in narrative storytelling for Jacquet. who successfully depicts the fox as a wild and uncontrolled force in a non-Disney manner. An often begtiiliiig account of how matikind and animals can exist in harmony. (imieo. Izilt'Ii/iure/i. Ghajini ( 18) (AR .\furugadoss. India. 3005) Surya Sivakuniar. Nayantara. Asin. ISIniin. Romantic action thriller about a businessman who suffers from anterograde amnesia inspired by (‘hristopher Nolan's 200 film .llenientu. (ihajini is a Hindi remake of a 2005 Tamil film of the same name by the same director. ('tneworli/ ReIi/rew Street. Glasgow: Ghost Town ( IZA) ... (David Koepp. IS. 2008) Ricky (iei'vais. l-"rank' Kinnear. Tea I.eoni. I02min. lior this .\Ianhattan-set interpretation of A (‘liri'vtmus ('(iml (iervais plays middle-aged smock- wearing tooth jockey' (dentist) Bertram Pincus. a hateful runt of a man. After going into hospital for an endoscopy. Bertram starts to see dead people. one of whom. I’rank (Kinnear). is about to change Bertram's life by introducing him to widower (Ewen (I.eoni ). The results are predictably bland btit not without their merits. l'ue lz‘iliiiliiire/i ()eeuli. lz‘iltri/mruli. Gomorrah ( I5) .... (.\latleo (iarrone. Italy. 2008) Salvatore Abi‘ti/lese. Simone Sacchettino, Salvatore Rocco. l37min. (iarrone offers an intriguing account of the Napoli-based ('aniorra. adapted from the bestselling book by journalist Roberto Saviano. This excellent ensemble drama shows tis various facets of .\lalia life. from the recruiting of young kids to the infiltration of seemingly legitimate industries such as hattte couture and segues into the waste industry. A deserving w inner of the (irand I’rix at ('annes. Part of BB(' liotir \Vorld ('inema Awards 200‘). I'ilmlioirve. l-jtltii/iurg/i.
50 THE LIST 8 ’2? Jan 200‘.)
Gonzo: The Life and Work of Dr Hunter S Thompson ( I5) 0000
(Alex (iibney. l'S. 200S) I I‘lmin. Informative new documentary about the photopiurnalist and socio political clironiclcr Iluntcr S 'I’hoiiipson's turbulent life and work. Iiyt‘t'}”iic' from Tom Wolfe and Ralf Steadman to Johnny Depp are wheeled out to recall the mischievous outlaw journalist while (iibney utilises intimate. neyei'--bcfoi'e<seen home videos. fancy split screen rostrum and animation work to paint a revealing portrait of the comic Aiiici'ican w rilei‘. (ii/rim. Ink/titlitirq/i.
Hail! Hail! Rock’n’Roll (l’(ii ... ('l'a)|or Ilackford. l'S. IVS") ('huck Bert"). Keilli Richards. Iiric ('laptoii. Illiiiin. llackford's documentary portrait of the duck walking legend w hilcwashes the star's notoriously obnoxious personality (Berry himself corproduced). biit a few glimpses of an increasingly hassled ‘Keef' Richards attempting to organise an all-star ()lllll birthday tribute concert attest to his ctiriiiudgeonly status. .\ltisic's great though. lat/iti/ittrg/i I'll/ll (ith/(l.
I’ve Loved you So Long f l:.'\l
... (l’hilippe ('laudel. I‘i'ance. 300M Kristin Scott ‘l'homas. IiIsa /.y lbcrstcin. Serge Ila/anavicius. I I"nun. In northeast l‘rance. l.ea f/y Iliet‘sleflil lids (ltsl been released It'oill I‘eltltitl bars and the story follows ltet‘ re introduction into society and gradual emotional rappriiclieiiient w ith her sister (Scott ‘I‘hoiiiasi. ('latidel's directorial debut places everyone inside metaphorical prisons iii this patient and sensitively shot family drama. (Ii/eon .vlt 'l‘lit Quin. (i/itveuu.
Igor ( l’(i) ... (Anthony I.eoiidis. l‘S/liance. Illllb'» Voices of John ('usack. John ('Icese. Izddie I//ard. Soiiiin. lIuncliIxicked Igor (voiced by (‘usacki ckes out his precarious existence as humble scr\ant to the sinister Dr (iIickenstein (('leesei. an e\il genius set on winning the annual evil science fair in the badass province of .\lalaiia. But lgoi‘ bray ely decides to enter the coiiipetiton himself and enters his Bride of l-‘rankeiistcin-sty Ie creation called liva (.\lolly Shannon). Decent but uninspired animation. Iiie [xi/tithing]; ()t ((1/1. lai/i/i/mrg/i. In Prison my Whole Life I IS) (.\Ial'v‘ Ii\ans. I'K/I'S. 200‘) William I‘i'ancoiiic. .\Itiiiiia .\bu~.lamal. .\'oam ('Iiomsky. 00min.
Mmmrmsoi
Documentary about imprisoned political activist and foi'iiier Black Panther member. .\ltimia Abu—Jaiiial. who‘s death sentence for killing a police officer was overturned in 3001. due to errors made during his original I982 sentencing hearing, (i/iivgmi' l'ilm 'l'lieittre. Inkheart i I’(i) . (lain Softley. (ierniany/l 'K/l 'S. 2008) Brendan I‘raser. I-LIi/a Bennett. I’auI Bettaiiy. Ifloiiiin. Iain Softley 's Iong~slielv ed adaptation of ('ornelia I'unke's children's no\ cl sees I‘raser Pla.‘ ‘ .\lo lilockart. aka Silvertonguc. blessed with the magical ability lo bring stories to life by reading them aloud. \\'itli daughter .\leggie (Bennett) in tow. .\lo tray crses Iiuropc iii search of liiA/teurt. aii ultra-rare book. Aii illiterate and e\liatistiiig experience for all ages. St'lt't'll'l/ I'('/('(l\('.
Julia ( I5) .... (lirick /.onca.
I’raiice/l'S/.\le\ico/Belgiuin. 2003) 'I‘ilda Swinton. Saul Rubinek. Kate del ('aslillo. 138mm. See review. page 40 and profile. l‘l/lll/ltillu’. l'.t/lll/’lll""/I. La Boheme (Pt if 000 (Robert l)ornheim. Austria/tiermany. 2008) Anna .\‘eti'ebko. Rolando \‘illa/on. (ieorgc \on Bergen. II‘llIlllI. Decent film version of classic opera. l‘l/HI/lttllyt'. Iz'i/ttt/ittrg/i. Lemon Tree (I’m 000 (Iiran Riklis. lsi'ael,’(icrmail} /I"rance. 2008) lliatii Abbas. Doron Inuit}. Ali Sulinian. llloinin. ’I‘his powerfully affecting drama tises the tale of a battle of w ills between a Palestinian widow and an Israel politician as a parable for the troubled cross border relations. \Vlieti llle recently appointed defence minister Israel .\'av ron ('l’avoi'y ) (times into his new home he orders the neighbouring lemon tree groy c to be chopped down. btit owner of tlie groy e Saliiia (Abbassi puts tip a strenuous resistance. (ii/lieu. l'ji/t'tilmrgli. Lift to The Scaffold (l’tii oooo (I,ouis .\lalIc. I’i'ancc. 195") .Ieaiiiie .\lorcau. .\lauricc Ronct. (ieorges I’ouiouly. 00min. ('oiisidered quite a gripping thriller in its day. .\lallc's first dramatic feature hinges on a perfect crime of murder that does not go according to plan. The cool iioii' elements are \llll effective. the .\liles “to is score \liII sets a decadent tone. and .\Iorcau is still glowing on screen. Part of the Introduction to Izuropean ('inenia course. film/muse. lat/tit/ittrg/i.
SanPedt'ani
Helmed by the newly restored print of Peckinpah’s seminal 1974 feature Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia, this eleven film retrospective of the US auteur’s work runs the gamut from his 1964 debut Ride the High Country (released in the UK as Guns in the Afternoon), an elegiac buddy western starring horse riding stalwarts Randolph Scott and Joel McCrea (pictured), to his wonderfully nutty 1975 political thriller The Killer Elite starring James Caan. There’s lots of rarities and pleasures along the way including screenings of the fantastic but odd The Ballad of Cable Hogue, plus The Getaway starring Steve McQueen and Ali McGraw and his two irreproachable masterpieces Pat Garrett and Billy The Kid and The Wild Bunch. Do yourself a favour and book that season ticket now.
www.fi|mhousecinema.com
I Fi/tii/itxtra). lt/i/ilu/tgli (l/ll/l fiat /' / ()l).
The Lives of Others (Das Leben der Anderen) ( 15) 0000 (Florian IIenckel yon l)onnersinarck. (ierinany. 300m .\lartiiia (iedeck. l'lrich .\luehe. Sebastian Koch. I37inin. lixcellent cold war thriller about surveillance and cultural freedom in [fast Berlin under the Stasi (secret police). A film that manages to be both horrifying and humorous. Highly rectmimended. Part of (iernian I‘ilm and Language season. I’i/Hl/IUHH'. Ifilitthtire/i. Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa (PG) ... (lirie Darnell. [-5. 3008) Voices of Ben Stiller. ('hris Rock. David Schwinuiier. Sacha Baron (‘ohen. 89min. Alex the lion (voiced by Stiller). (iloria the hippo (Smith). .\lelnian the giraffe (Schwimmer) and Marty the rebra (Rock) are put on an fiight back to their No home. only to crash latid in Africa. The going native theme is expanded. with good-time fascist Ieiiiur ((‘oheni getting the best lines and the penguins the best laughs. With clever riffs and unexpected poetry. this is a welcome prospect. (ietieml release. Major Dundee (I’(ii oooo (Sam I’eckinpah. IS. 1965) ('harlton Ileston. Richard Harris. Jim IIutton. l3(iiiiiii. Federal officer .\lajor Dundee is relegated to command of a prison camp and sets otit to subdue a baiid of uprising Apaches with a motley band of thieves. renegadcs and paroled ('onfederale prisoners. liarly l’eckinpah character study /actioner which signals the genius and brilliance to come. Part of l’eckinpah season. I'i/niliuuxe. [Jilin/Hugh. Mamma Mia! (I’(i) .. (I’hy'llida Lloyd. I'K/l'S. ZlKlb'l Meryl Streep. Pierce Brosnan. (‘olin l-‘irth. I08min. A bride-to-be tries to find out the identity of her real father in the lead tip to her wedding on a (ireek islatid. liaithful film adaptation of Broadway and \\ est lind ABBA sotig musical mega hit with all star cast. lirtuito/i 'Iilieutre. [xi/iii/iiirglt. The Man from London (A Londoni férfi) ( 13A) ... (liela 'l‘arr. I"i‘;tiice/( iermany/I Iungary. 3007) Tilda Swinton. .\liroslav Krobot. Iirik'a Bok. l35min. See rev iew. page to. Film/muse. lailiti/mrg/i. Man on Wire ( IZA) .... (James .\larsh. (K. 2008) U-fmin. ()ii the (i Augiist l‘)7-l. l-‘rench artist. performer and hire w ire walker. Phillipe l’etit committed the biggest \ ictiinless art crime of the century. The story of that daring caper. the practice events that led tip to it (.\'otre Dame ('atliedral and Sydney Ilarbour Bridge) and the genesis of this the maddest of living performance artists is told in this engrossing and thrilling film. ()(ll’UII.' lime/tern]. It’ett/i'eii'. A Matter of Life and Death (PG) ...” (.\lichael l’ow'clI/Iimerie l’ressburger. l'K. I946) David Niven. Kim IIuntei'. Roger l.ivesy. Raymond .\Iassey. l0-lmin. Wonderful film that rises above its beginnings as a piece of wartime propaganda about goodwill between Britain and the ISA. .\'i\'en is an RAF pilot who finds himself before a heavenly tribunal w hen he bales out of his burning plane. A witty and stylish fantasy with a fair share of on-larget satire. .\'cw digital print. (i/usgmr I'i'lm Theatre. The Motorcycle Diaries f 15) 000 (Walter Salles. I'S/(ierniany /l 'K/I’eru/Argentina/('hiIe. 300-1) (iael (iarcia Bernal. Rodrigo de la Serna. .\lia .\laestro. l28min. Years before he became one of the leaders of the (‘uban Revolution. lirnesto ‘(‘he' (itievara took a formative journey across Latin America on a rickety motorbike with his friend Alberto (iranado. Inspired by (iuevara'sjournal account. Bra/ilian director Walter Salles lovingly recreates this epic cross-continental trip. in a film that grows in stature as it progresses. Minus the iconic cap and beard. .\lcxican man-of-the-moment Bernal plays [if (‘he with a quiet assurance. while Rodrigo de la Serna is the perfect foil as the liisty (iranado. A film that pays its respects w ithotit resorting to crass cliche. .S'mtsniiui .S'ereenine Room. [xi/titliureli. My Bloody Valentine 3D ( lts’) ... (Patrick I.tissier. IS. 2000) Jensen Ackles. Jaime King. Kerr Smith. 95min. See Also Released, page 47. General release.