Film Index www.list.co.uk/film
Films screening this fortnight are listed below with certificate, star rating, credits, brief review and venue details. Film index compiled by Paul Dale ✽✽ Indicates Hitlist entry Afghan Star (E) ●●●●● (Havana Marking, UK/Afghanistan, 2009) 87min. One of the first shows to be on the newly re-established Afghan television services (it was banned under the Taliban) was Afghan Star, a Pop Idol-style talent show. This documentary follows the young contestants as they risk their lives and go through some utterly new experiences. Part of Refugee Week. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow. Alice in Wonderland 2D (PG) ●●●●● (Tim Burton, US, 2010) Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter. 108min. A sequel of sorts that takes in elements of both Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass, this finds Alice (Wasikowska) as a teenager returning to Underland, which has long since fallen into the tyrannical grip of the Red Queen (Bonham Carter). Dark and visually arresting, yet not quite as emotionally involving as Burton’s very best work. Vue Omni, Edinburgh. Alvin and the Chipmunks 2: The Squeakquel (U) ●●●●● (Betty Thomas, US, 2009) Voices of Justin Long, Anna Faris, Jason Lee. 88min. The singing chipmunk trio contend with the pressures of high school, celebrity and rival female band The Chipettes. Cineworld Fountainpark, Edinburgh. And Then Came Lola (15) (Megan Siler/Ellen Seidler, US, 2009) Ashleigh Sumner, Jill Bennett, Cathy DeBuono. 70min. Lesbian romantic comedy about carefree photographer Lola (Sumner) who has three chances to save both her girlfriend
Casey’s (Bennett) design career and Casey herself from the clutches of predatory Danielle (DeBuono). Part of London Lesbian and Gay Film Festival. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow. Avatar 3D (12A) ●●●●● (James Cameron, US, 2009) Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez. 166min. Set in 2154, Cameron’s much- hyped Avatar focuses on a paraplegic marine named Jake Sully (Worthington), who arrives on the distant moon of Pandora with a mission to help displace its indigenous population. But, after winning their trust, Jake finds his allegiances gradually shifting. High on technical flair but short on storytelling ambition, this visually stunning sci-fi epic sadly remains deeply flawed. IMAX Theatre, Glasgow. Baarìa (tbc) (Giuseppe Tornatore, Italy, 2009) Francesco Scianna, Margareth Made, Angela Molina. 150min. Slow, romantic tale set in 20th century Sicily and seen through the eyes of an individual whose youth and process of growing up coincides with the rise of the Fascists. The hot, dusty peace is soon shattered by war and love. Preview screening. Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
✽✽ Bad Lieutenant – Port of Call: New Orleans (18) ●●●●●
(Werner Herzog, US, 2009) Nicolas Cage, Eva Mendes, Val Kilmer. 122min. New Orleans police sergeant Terence McDonagh (Cage) saves a drowning prisoner, earning him a promotion and a back injury. Addiction follows and as things spiral out of control momentum and perception change and nothing goes the way one might expect. Repeated viewing is necessary, cult status is guaranteed. General release. Bananas! (E) ●●●●● (Fredrik Gertten, Sweden, 2009) 87min. Bananas! recounts a David-versus-Goliath legal battle in which a dozen Nicaraguan banana plantation workers launch a class action lawsuit
against the giant multinational corporation Dole Food. This release is supported by global action cinema project Take One Action and there will be an audience discussion after the opening screening. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Beyond Rangoon (15) ●●●●● (John Boorman, UK/US, 1995) Patricia Arquette, U Aung Ko, Frances McDormand. 100min. Holidaying in Burma in 1988, an American tourist joins political rallies with university students protesting for democracy, and travels alongside the student leader. This screening marks the 65th birthday of Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese pro-democracy leader. Part of Leith Festival. St Margaret’s Episcopal Church, Edinburgh. Bill Hicks: Relentless and Revelations (18) ●●●●● (Various, UK, 1992/1993) Bill Hicks. 90min. Two classic filmed performances of this brilliant comedian. Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
✽✽ Black Death (15) ●●●●● (Christopher Smith, UK/Germany,
2010) Sean Bean, Carice Van Houten, Kimberley Nixon. 101min. See review, page 54. Selected release. Black Narcissus (PG) ●●●●● (Michael Powell, UK, 1947) Deborah Kerr, Sabu, Jean Simmons, David Farrar, Flora Robson. 100min. Kerr’s colony of nuns in the Himalayas find their faith tested by desires of the flesh. An unlikely subject matter, astonishingly evocative studio settings and affectingly controlled performances are combined in a beautiful, unique film. Part of Jack Cardiff season. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow. The Blind Side (12A) ●●●●● (John Lee Hancock, US, 2010) Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw, Kathy Bates. 128min. Based on the moving true story of Michael Oher, a black teenager from the Memphis projects with burgeoning sporting talent, who is adopted by WASPs, led by Leigh Ann
Index Film (Bullock). It’s been a huge success stateside, hailing from a mildly offensive line of American sports films, blandly but effectively directed by Hancock with Bullock valiantly delivering some of the worst dialogue ever uttered south of the Dixie line. Odeon at the Quay, Glasgow; Odeon, Edinburgh. Bolt (PG) ●●●●● (Byron Howard/Chris Williams, US, 2009) Voices of Miley Cyrus, John Travolta, Susie Essman. 103min. Heart-tugging Disney animation about child actress Penny (voiced by Cyrus) and dog Bolt (Travolta) who star in a hit TV series. The dog believes it’s all real, so when he escapes from his trailer and ends up on the other side of the country he is in for a few rude surprises. Cineworld Parkhead, Glasgow; Cineworld Fountainpark, Edinburgh. Broadway Danny Rose (PG) ●●●●● (Woody Allen, US, 1984) Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, Nick Apollo Forte. 82min. Allen is on splendid form as manager of a stable of bottom-of-the-bill nightclub acts, who finally looks about to make it big when a fading crooner takes a sudden upsurge in popularity. Matters are complicated however by Mafia connections and a misplaced romantic involvement. Beautifully controlled narrative, sparkling screenplay and excellent performances make this one of the contemporary master’s best. Part of Allen retrospective. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Brooklyn’s Finest (18) ●●●●● (Antoine Fuqua, US, 2010) Richard Gere, Don Cheadle, Ethan Hawke. 132min. The ironic title refers to three police officers that operate within the grey area of the law, where upholding justice and personal interest make uncomfortable bedfellows. Although the acting falls short, Fuqua ensures that there is always something interesting to watch on screen. General release.
West End Festival Comedy Night This year the popular Glasgow area festival has its own film festival. Well three much loved films showing over the weekend, anyway. There will be a late night screening of Stanley Kubrick’s
seminal anti war comedy Dr Strangelove (or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb, pictured) and a matinee screening of Calamity Jane on the Saturday. Things are rounded off by a late night screening of Ghostbusters. ■ Grosvenor, Glasgow, Fri 11 & Sat 12 Jun.
56 THE LIST 10–24 Jun 2010