Film Index PROFILE
VITTORIO GASSMAN Born 1 September 1922, Genoa Died 29 June 2000, Rome
Background Born to a German father and Italian mother, Gassman studied at the Silvio D’Amico Academy of Dramatic Arts in Rome. He made his theatrical debut in 1943, quickly taking on lead roles. In 1946, he made the move to film, appearing in several modest productions. Nicknamed ‘Il mattatore’, Gassman matured into an actor of immense power and great versatility by the early 1950s. After a brief period in Hollywood, he returned to Italy to star as boxer Peppe ‘er Pantera in Mario Monicelli’s 1958 comedy I Soliti Ignoti, a classic of the commedia all’italiana. With roles in other classic comedies I Mostri and Il Sorpasso, Gassman became known – along with Alberto Sordi, Marcello Mastroianni, Ugo Tognazzi and Nino Manfredi – as one of the so-called ‘mostri’ (or ‘five musketeers’) of Italian comedy. Gassman the ‘European actor’ Director Dino Risi described Gassman as ‘a great European actor in every sense of the word.’ His towering, athletic physique and formidable intelligence allowed him to move effortlessly from comedy to tragedy, and from stage to screen.
On acting ‘All the actors I worked with, from the so-called ‘lazy’ ones such as Tognazzi or Mastroianni to the more ‘violent’ ones like myself, always enjoyed making films – it never seemed like work to us. It’s true that a day of shooting can be tiring but, as we always told each other, it’s always better than working for a living.’ On his favourite film role
‘L’Armata Brancaleone [1966] was one of my favourite roles. It was my most popular character, certainly amongst younger audiences. We really had fun, traveling around Viterbo and Calabria. We had the feeling we were making something special – and the film of course became massively successful.’ (Pasquale Iannone) ■ Italian Film Festival: Tribute to Vittorio Gassman from Wed 21 Apr.
52 THE LIST 15–29 Apr 2010
The Unknown Woman (18) ●●●●● (Giuseppe Tornatore, Italy/France, 2006) Xenia Rappoport, Pierfrancesco Favino, Alessandro Haber. 118min. A dark thriller from the Cinema Paradiso director about Irina (Rappoport), a Ukranian girl drawn into an international prostitution ring. Now in her thirties and working as a cleaner for an unsuspecting family, Irina’s troubling past continues to haunt her. Part of Italian Film Festival. Glasgow Film Theatre; Filmhouse, Edinburgh. The Unloved (15) ●●●●● (Samantha Morton, UK, 2009) Molly Windsor, Lauren Socha, Robert Carlyle. 103min. Actress Morton examines the British care system in her dramatic directorial debutwith commendable results. Great performances especially from Carlyle. Cameo, Edinburgh. Until the Light Takes Us (18) ●●●●● (Aaron Aites, Audrey Ewell, US, 2008) 93min. See Also Released, page 48. Glasgow Film Theatre. Vortex (15) (Gytus Luksas, Lithuania, 2009) Giedrius Kiela, Egle Mikulionyte, Oksana Borbat. 142min. Austere Lithuanian period drama about Juzik (Kiela), a young man who returns from military service to take up a job in a corrupt quarry, where he becomes involved with two self-destructive women – promiscuous Klara (Varenitsa) and insecure Maska (Borbat). Part of New Europe Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. We All Loved Each Other So Much (C’eravamo Tanto Amati) (15) (Ettore Scola, Italy, 1974) Vittorio Gassman, Nino Manfredi, Stephania Sandrelli. 136min. The trials that three comrades-in-arms endure throughout World War II pale in comparison with the tribulations of the heart that each suffers at the hands of one woman. Will Antonio (Manfredi) stay true to himself and win the love of the actress (Sandrelli)? This comic tale spans 30 years of cinematic history. Part of Italian Film Festival. Glasgow Film Theatre. Where the Wild Things Are (PG) ●●●●● (Spike Jonze, US, 2009) Max Records, Pepita Emmerichs, Mark Ruffalo. 100min. Maurice Sendak’s nine-sentence children’s tale about a boy whose bedroom turns into a forest full of huge creatures gets the Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich) treatment. Any joy here comes from the brilliant production design of the creatures – Jonze opts to use puppetry over CGI and this gives the action an ethereal quality. Unfortunately the creatures are emotional stereotypes and as such, lack dimension. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Whip It (12A) ●●●●● (Drew Barrymore, US, 2010) Ellen Page, Marcia Gay Harden, Kristen Wiig. 111min. When the quietly rebellious Bliss (Page) falls in with the local roller derby team, and realises she’s good at the sport, she’s on a one-way ticket to confrontation with her Texan firebrand of a mother. A pleasant surprise, Barrymore’s directorial debut, adapted by Shauna Cross from her own novel Derby Girl, is by turns clichéd, silly, old fashioned and a whole load of fun. General release. White Fang (PG) ●●●●● (Randal Kleiser, US, 1990) Klaus Maria Brandauer, Ethan Hawke, Jed the dog, Bart the bear. 109min. Jack London’s classic adventure yarn set in the cold wastes of the Klondike, brought to the screen again by Disney’s Touchstone subsidiary. A satisfying version with a strong cast and excellent use of bleak Alaskan locations. Grosvenor, Glasgow. White Space (15) (Francesca Comencini, Italy, 2009) Margherita Buy, Antonia Truppo, Gaetano Bruno. 98min. A close character examination of a footloose teacher who falls pregnant during a short- lived affair and then gives birth to a premature baby. Part of Italian Film Festival. Glasgow Film Theatre. Zero (15) (Pawel Borowski, Poland, 2009) Robert Wieckiewicz, Bogdan Koca, Zbigniew Konopka. 110min. Employing an unusual narrative form, Polish director Pawel Borowski follows 24 people with 24 different stories about jealousy, deceit, revenge and despair. Part of New Europe Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
Films are listed by city, then alphabetically by cinema. Listings are compiled by Suzanne Black.
Glasgow The Arches
253 Argyle Street, 0141 565 1000. Prices vary. TUESDAY 27 APR Future Shorts/Lights in the Dark (18) 7.00.
CCA 350 Sauchiehall Street. Bookings: 0141 352 4900. Prices vary.
THURSDAY 29 APR Privilege (18) 7.00. Cineworld Parkhead
Forge Shopping Centre, 1221 Gallowgate. 0871 200 2000. Adults £6.30 (£5.70 Mon–Thu before 5pm). Children & Students £4.60 (£4.20 Mon–Thu). Seniors £4.60. Family ticket £18. Early bird (before noon): £4.20. Movies for Juniors (selected films Sat am): £1.
THURSDAY 15 APR Alice in Wonderland 2D (PG) 10.40am, 1.10. The Blind Side (12A) 6.20, 9.05. Cemetery Junction (15) 6.40, 8.45. Clash of the Titans 2D (12A) 11.10am, 1.35, 4.10, 6.45, 9.10. Dear John (12A) 4.15, 6.30, 8.45. How to Train Your Dragon 2D (PG) 11.15am, 1.40, 3.55, 6.10, 8.40. Kick-Ass (15) 12.35, 3.20, 6.05, 8.50. Nanny McPhee & The Big Bang (U) 10.30am, 11.00am, 1.15, 1.45, 3.45, 4.15, 6.15. Remember Me (12A) 9.10. Whip It (12A) 10.45am, 1.30, 4.00, 6.30, 9.00. FRIDAY 16–THURSDAY 22 The Blind Side (12A) Fri–Tue: 8.55. Cemetery Junction (15) Daily: noon, 2.20, 4.40, 7.00, 9.15. Clash of the Titans 2D (12A) Daily: 11.10am, 1.35, 4.10, 6.45, 9.10. Date Night (15) Wed & Thu: 6.30, 8.30. Dear John (12A) Daily: 11.00am, 1.30, 4.00, 6.30, 9.00. The Ghost (15) Daily: 11.40am, 2.40, 5.40, 8.40. Hotel for Dogs (U) Sat: 10.00am. How to Train Your Dragon 2D (PG) Daily: 11.30am (not Sat), 1.50, 4.15. It’s a Wonderful Afterlife (12A) Wed & Thu: 6.40, 8.50. Kick-Ass (15) Daily: 3.50, 6.25, 9.05. Nanny McPhee & The Big Bang (U) Daily: 10.30am (not Sat), 11.10am, 1.00, 1.20, 3.40, 6.10 (not Wed & Thu). Ponyo (U) Sat: 10.00am. The Princess and the Frog (U) Sat: 11.30am. Whip It (12A) Fri–Tue: 6.30, 9.10.
Cineworld Renfrew Street
7 Renfrew Street. 0871 200 2000. Adults £7 (£6 Mon–Thu before 5pm). Children 14 and under / Seniors / Students £4.90. Family ticket £20 (£18.60 Mon–Thu). Early bird (before 1pm): £4.70. 3D Supplement: Adult £1.90; Children / Students / Seniors / Unlimited £1.30; Family Ticket £5; Glasses 80p per pair. THURSDAY 15 APR Alice in Wonderland 2D (PG) 10.20am. Alice in Wonderland 3D (PG) 11.30am, 2.30, 5.30, 8.20.
Angadi Theru (12A) 12.50, 4.40, 8.10. The Blind Side (12A) 2.00, 5.10, 8.10. The Bounty Hunter (12A) 7.00, 9.30. Cemetery Junction (15) 10.40am, 1.00, 3.20, 5.40, 8.00. Clash of the Titans 2D (12A) 11.50am, 2.50, 5.50, 8.40. Clash of the Titans 3D (12A) 11.30am, 2.30, 5.30, 6.20, 8.20, 9.20. Dear John (12A) 10.30am, 1.00, 3.40, 6.30, 9.00. How to Train Your Dragon 2D (PG) 10.30am, 12.40, 3.00. How to Train Your Dragon 3D (PG) 10.20am, 11.00am, 12.50, 1.30, 3.30, 4.00, 6.30, 8.50. I Am Love (15) 12.40, 3.45, 6.45, 9.40. Kick-Ass (15) 11.40am, 2.40, 5.40, 6.40, 8.40, 9.40. Nanny McPhee & The Big Bang (U) 11.30am, 2.10, 5.00. Prince (PG) 12.30, 4.00, 7.30. Remember Me (12A) 11.30am, 2.10, 5.00, 8.00. Shelter (15) 11.00am, 1.40, 4.20, 6.50, 9.30. Shutter Island (15) 8.30. The Spy Next Door (PG) 11.20am. Whip It (12A) 10.30am, 1.10, 3.50, 6.30, 9.10. FRIDAY 16–THURSDAY 22 Alice in Wonderland 3D (PG) Daily: 11.30am, 2.30, 5.20, 8.20. The Blind Side (12A) Daily: 11.10am, 2.00, 5.10, 8.10. Also late Fri & Sat: 11.10. The Bounty Hunter (12A) Daily: 1.10, 3.40, 6.20, 9.00. Cemetery Junction (15) Daily: 10.40am, 1.00, 3.20, 6.00, 8.30. Also late Fri & Sat: 11.10. Clash of the Titans 2D (12A) Daily: 3.00, 5.50, 8.40. Also late Fri & Sat: 11.20. Clash of the Titans 3D (12A) Daily: 11.30am, 2.30 & 5.30 (not Mon), 6.20, 8.20, 9.10. Also late Fri & Sat: 11.20. Clash of the Titans 3D (Subtitled) (12A) Mon: 2.30, 5.30. Crying with Laughter (18) Daily: 12.30, 3.00, 5.30, 8.20. Also late Fri & Sat: 10.50. Date Night (15) Wed & Thu: 11.00am, 1.10, 3.20, 5.40, 8.00. Dear John (12A) Daily: 11.00am, 2.00, 5.00, 8.00. Also late Fri & Sat: 10.50. The Ghost (15) Daily: 11.00am, 2.10, 5.20, 8.30. Also late Fri & Sat: 11.40. How to Train Your Dragon 2D (PG) Daily: 10.30am, 12.40, 3.00, 5.15 (not Sat & Sun). How to Train Your Dragon 3D (PG) Daily: 10.20am, 11.00am, 12.50, 1.30, 3.30, 4.00, 6.30, 9.10. I Am Love (15) Fri–Tue: 8.00. It’s a Wonderful Afterlife (12A) Wed & Thu: 11.00am, 1.30, 4.00, 6.40, 9.15. Kick-Ass (15) Daily: 11.40am, 12.30 (not Wed & Thu), 2.40, 3.40 (not Wed & Thu), 5.40, 6.30 (not Tue), 8.50, 9.30. Also late Fri & Sat: 11.45. Nanny McPhee & The Big Bang (U) Fri–Tue: 10.10am, 11.30am, 12.40, 2.30 (not Sun), 5.30 (not Mon). Wed & Thu: 10.10am, 11.00am, 12.40, 1.30, 4.00. Nanny McPhee & The Big Bang (Subtitled) (U) Sun: 2.30. Mon: 5.30. Remember Me (12A) Daily: 11.20am, 2.00, 5.00, 8.00. Also late Fri & Sat: 10.50. Repo Men (18) Daily: 10.40am, 1.20, 4.00, 6.40, 9.20. Also late Fri & Sat: 11.50. Shelter (15) Fri–Tue: 3.40, 9.30. Wed & Thu: 8.30. Also late Fri & Sat: 11.50.