www.list.co.uk/film absorption of that filmic space. As the young artist wanders round its streets, sits in cafes sketching the faces of people who hold his attention, or searches for the Sylvia of the title, so the film offers an essay on perception. A fascinating and brilliant unhurried delight. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. It Might Get Loud (PG) ●●●●● (Davis Guggenheim, US, 2008) Jimmy Paige, The Edge, Jack White. 97min. Documentary paean to the electric guitar as seen through the eyes of three virtuosos from three different generations. Glasgow Film Theatre; Cameo, Edinburgh. It’s Complicated (15) ●●●●● (Nancy Meyers, US, 2009) Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwyn, Steve Martin. 118min. See review, page 46. General release. Law Abiding Citizen (18) ●●●●● (F Gary Gray, US, 2009) Gerard Butler, Jamie Foxx, Colm Meaney. 108min. Messily attempting to juggle crowd- pleasing retribution with cheap pot shots, this tale of one man’s fight against the corrupt judiciary system and the ambitious attorney (Foxx) that set free his wife’s murderer is undermined by a dubious morality and an unpleasant glorification of violence. Selected release. Love Happens (12A) (Brandon Camp, US, 2009) Jennifer Aniston, Aaron Eckhart, Sasha Alexander. 108min. Aniston adds more fuel to the fire that she’s a one hit wonder with this muddled, befuddled not very rom and not very com mess with Eckart. Odeon at the Quay, Glasgow; Odeon, Edinburgh. The Magic Lantern (E) (Various, UK) 90min. A programme of short films that explore the ineffable truths and surreal paradoxes that lies beneath the familiar routines of the everyday. Stills, Edinburgh. MFA Screening (18) (Various, 2009) 90min. This screening is curated by current MFA student Deniz Üster and features a selection of work by Turkish and UK-based artists. CCA, Glasgow. Memento (15) ●●●●● (Christopher Nolan, US, 2000) Guy Pearce, Carrie-Ann Moss, Joe Pantoliano. 116min. Beginning where most other films would end with an act of vengeance, writer-director Nolan tells his story by gradually working backwards in time. Leonard Shelby (Pearce) is obsessed with avenging his wife’s rape and murder. Trouble is Leonard suffers from a condition of short- term memory loss, and so he relies on an elaborate system of mementoes – maps, polaroids, body tattoos - to piece together the clues in his investigation. A compelling, elliptical reconstruction of the revenge thriller, which skilfully examines the connections between memory, identity and perception. Scotsman Screening Room, Edinburgh. The Men Who Stare at Goats (15) ●●●●● (Grant Heslov, US/UK, 2009) George Clooney, Jeff Bridges, Kevin Spacey. 95min. A light-hearted yet intelligent trippy hippy satire on the strange-but-true story of the US military experiment to create a New Earth Army of ‘psychic soldiers’ preaching a creed of love not war. Witty and slickly directed, Heslov’s film features a cast on top form and is a definite crowd-pleaser with its sharp mix of humour and drama. Empire, Clydebank. Ming Ming (15) (Susie Au, Hong Kong, 2007) Zhou Xun, Tony Yang, Daniel Wu. 105min. This debut feature from renowned music video director Au follows lead character Ming Ming (Xun) as she robs from an underworld boss, and whilst fleeing from his henchmen, runs into her doppelganger. Part of Hong Kong women filmmakers' season. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Mr Right (15) ●●●●● (David Morris/Jacqui Morris, UK, 2006) Georgia Zari, Luke de Woolfson, Jeremy Edwards. 94min. All goes a little belly-up in this Soho-set romp when unlucky-in-love Louise (Zari) introduces her boyfriend (former Hollyoaks star Edwards) to her bed-hopping pals. Glasgow Film Theatre. Mugabe and the White African (E) ●●●●● (Lucy Bailey/Andrew Thompson, UK, 2009) 90min.
Index Film
Journalism on Screen Short season of films depicting hacks on the big screen programmed to coincide with the release of Strathclyde University Professor Brian McNair’s
new book Journalists in Film. Sadly, the greatest film ever about the rag trade, Billy Wilder’s Ace in the Hole isn’t showing, but old favourite Broadcast News is, alongside more sour forays into the fourth estate including Sweet Smell of Success, Michelangelo Antonioni’s bewilderingly (but brilliant) The Passenger (pictured) and Shattered Glass. ■ GFT, Glasgow from Wed 13 Jan-Wed 3 Feb.
Documentary about Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe’s aggressive land reform programme and the effect it has had on white-owned farms and their inhabitants. The film follows the brave fight of farmer Michael Campbell to hold on to his farm and live peacefully. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Nativity! (U) ●●●●● (Debbie Isitt, UK, 2009) Martin Freeman, Marc Wootton, Ashley Jensen. 105min. Surprisingly enjoyable British family drama about one school’s attempt to put on the best nativity play in Britain by getting the media involved. Freeman and Wootton as the two primary school teachers at the eye of the storm are excellent. Vue Omni, Edinburgh. Nine (12A) ●●●●● (Rob Marshall, US/Italy, 2009) Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz, Marion Cotillard. 118min. Federico Fellini’s most perplexing and iconic work 8 1/2 gets the Broadway to movie adaptation treatment with Day- Lewis (showing a previously unseen penchant for song and dance) in the lead. His mistress Cruz is the real star turn, among a strong female cast of Cotillard, Nicole Kidman, Kate Hudson, Judi Dench and Sophia Loren. Selected release. Ninja Assassin (18) ●●●●● (James McTeigue, US/Germany, 2009) Rain, Naomie Harris, Shô Kosugi. 98min. See review, page 45. General release from Fri 8 Jan. Nowhere Boy (15) ●●●●● (Sam Taylor-Wood, UK/Canada, 2009) Kristin Scott Thomas, Thomas Sangster, Aaron Johnson. 97min. Artist Taylor-Wood turns feature director with Nowhere Boy, a portrait of John Lennon’s (Johnson) adolescence. Scott Thomas and Anne- Marie Duff come off best in this 1950s period tableaux but, shorn of Lennon’s rapier wit, Johnson comes over as just another moody pretty-boy, railing at the world to conceal his lack of self- understanding. Selected release. OSS 117: Lost in Rio (15) ●●●●● (Michel Hazanavicius, France, 2009) Jean Dujardin, Louise Monot, Rudiger Vogler. 101min. See Also Released, page 47. Glasgow Film Theatre. Only When I Dance (PG) ●●●●● (Beadie Finzi, Brazil/UK, 2009) Irlan Santos da Silva, Isabela Coracy Alves Nascimento Santos. 78min. To gifted teenagers Isabela and Irlan, ballet is the key to escaping their impoverished lives in one of the most violent favelas in Rio. Finzi’s documentary follows the two as they attend trials with some of the world’s most important dance companies, whilst their families fight to find the money required to keep their children’s dreams alive. Glasgow Film Theatre. Opera on the Big Screen – Don Carlo (PG) (Giuseppe Verdi, UK, 2009) Rolando Villazon, Elizabeth of Valois, Ferruccio Furlanetto. 210min. Verdi’s epic Don Carlo is a dramatic saga involving three generations of Spanish royalty. The sumptuous production was filmed live at the Glyndebourne festival 2009. Cineworld Renfrew Street, Glasgow. Paranormal Activity (15) ●●●●● (Oren Peli, US, 2007) Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat. 86min. Raw, truly lo-fi and also very clever, this Blair Witch-style homemade horror is a compelling introduction to director Peli. A suburban couple set up a
camcorder to record the things going bump in the night in their own home, and the fear factor is cranked up as the horror penetrates the domestic sphere; but crucially, there’s also humour in this over-hyped but enjoyable spine- chiller. Selected release. The Passenger (Professione: Reporter) (12A) ●●●●● (Michelangelo Antonioni, France/Italy/US/Spain, 1975) Jack Nicholson, Maria Schneider, Jenny Runacre, Ian Hendry, Steven Berkoff. 126min. A magnificent piece of 70s cinema, re-issued in newly restored director’s cut. Nicholson is on impressive form as a burnt-out TV reporter, who exchanges identities in Chad with a gun- running dead acquaintance. But the film is much more than mere thriller, with magnificent cinematography and a virtuoso seven minute single take climax. Part of Journalism On Screen season. Glasgow Film Theatre. Planet 51 (U) ●●●●● (Jorge Blanco/Javier Abad, US, 2009) Voices of Dwayne Johnson, Jessica Beil, Gary Oldman. 90min. Dull, mildly offensive Spanish animated feature about one astronaut’s adventures as an illegal alien on a far-flung planet. Selected release. Check out the GreatOffers on page 6
7–21 Jan 2010 THE LIST 51