Film INDEX
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
The A-Team (12A) ●●●●● (Joe Carnahan, US, 2010) Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper, Jessica Biel. 118min. Just like the 80s TV show that spawned it, The A-Team is over the top, macho fun. But for all its exuberance, this is an overly flashy endeavour and ends up feeling calculated, uncomfortable and empty. Empire, Clydebank.
✽✽ The Absence (15) (Mama Keïta, Senegal/France, 2009) Mame Ndoumbé Diop, Mouss Diouf, Ibrahima Mbaya. 81min. Drama about a Senegalese man’s shock upon returning to his homeland after years working as a successful engineer in Europe. Part of Africa in Motion Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
✽✽ Africa in Motion Short Film Competition (15) (Various, 2009/10)
118min. A selection of innovative and original films by African filmmakers from a variety of countries and backgrounds. Part of Africa in Motion Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Africa United (12A) ●●●●● (Debs Gardner-Paterson, UK, 2010) Eriya Ndayambaje, Roger Nsengiyumva, Sanyu Joanita Kintu. 88min. See review, page 46. Selected release.
✽✽ Africa, I Will Fleece You (15) (Jean-Marie Téno,
Cameroon/France/Germany, 1993) 88min. Freestyle documentary from Téno juxtaposing the colonial experiences of Africa’s past with current conflicts. Followed by Q&A session with Téno. Part of Africa in Motion Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
✽✽ African Film Poetry (15) (Various) 108min. Screenings of African shorts
evoking a strong sense of the culture and environment of parts of the vast continent. Part of Africa in Motion Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
✽✽ African Films for Children (U) (Various) 90min. Films made by and for
children in Africa. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Ainu in Anime (15) (Various, Japan, Various) 150min. Exploring the lives, culture and traditions of Japan’s long-persecuted indigenous people through two episodes from the Samurai Champloo and Moribito anime television series. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Alibi (15) ●●●●● (Brian Desmond Hurst, UK, 1942) Margaret Lockwood, Hugh Sinclair, James Mason. 82min. Surprisingly racy remake of the French original that stars Lockwood as a nightclub girl who is duped by a mind reader into providing him with an alibi for a murder. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Alien Adventure 3D (U) ●●●●● (Ben Strassen, Japan, 2001) Voice of John Boyle, Bouli Lanners. 37min. An alien race looking for a planet to colonise find earth and unfortunately enter a theme park where they cause much amusing mayhem. IMAX Theatre, Glasgow.
Dorian Gray Tamara Drewe (15) (15) Mon 1 Nov 19:30 Wed 4th Oct Wed 3 Nov 11:00 11am, 2pm, (cuppa), 19:30 7:30pm 48 THE LIST 21 Oct–4 Nov 2010
Alpha & Omega (U) ●●●●● (Anthony Bell/Ben Gluck, US, 2010) Voices of Hayden Pannetierre, Christina Ricci, Justin Long. 87min. See review, pge 46. Selected release. Amélie (15) ●●●●● (Jean-Pierre Jeunet, France, 2001) Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Serge Merlin. 120min. Within Jeunet’s fantastical world – a reimagining of Paris’ oldest quarter, Montmartre – the eccentric adventures of his eponymous heroine unfold in a manner as complex as a Swiss timepiece when Amélie decides to bring happiness to deserving people by playing elaborate practical jokes on them. Cameo, Edinburgh. Another Year (12A) (Mike Leigh, UK, 2010) Jim Broadbent, Lesley Manville, Ruth Sheen, Peter Wight. 129min. A look at how the other half live, comparing happy, successful and stable Tom and Gerri with their pathetic single friends Mary and Ken over the course of one year. The ever- fabulous Broadbent provides the magic. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow.
✽✽ The Arbor (15) ●●●●● (Clio Barnard, UK, 2010) Christine
Bottomley, Neil Dudgeon, Robert Emms. 94min. See review, page 46. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow; Cameo, Edinburgh. Autoconstrucción (E) (Abraham Cruzvillegas, UK/Mexico, 2009) 63min. A film developed by Mexican artist Abraham Cruzvillegas during a residency at the CCA exploring ideas of autoconstrucción (self- construction) in relation to the district of Ajusco in Mexico City where he grew up. CCA, 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. This visually stunning sci-fi epic sadly remains deeply flawed. IMAX Theatre, Glasgow. Back to The Future 25th Anniversary Re-Issue (PG) ●●●●● (Robert Zemeckis, US, 1985) Michael J Fox, Lea Thompson, Crispin Glover. 116min. Deservedly popular time-travelling fantasy adventure. Odeon at the Quay, Glasgow. The Battleship Potemkin (PG) ●●●●● (Sergei Eisenstein, USSR, 1925) A Antonov, Vladimir Barski, Grigori Alexandrov. 75min. Made for the 20th anniversary of the 1905 revolution, Eisenstein’s all-time classic follows the mutiny by the crew of the Prince Potemkin and the support given by the local civilian population, who are mown down by the Czar’s troops in the famous Odessa Steps sequence. Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
✽✽ Bent Familia (Daughter of a Good Family) (15) (Nouri Bouzid,
Tunisia, 1997) Amel Hedhil, Nadia Kaci, Leila Nassim. 112min. Two women begin to question their lives when they meet an Algerian refugee. Part of Africa in Motion Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Blackmail (PG) (Alfred Hitchcock, UK, 1929) Anny Ondra, Sara Allgood, John Longden. 85min. Creaky first talkie by Hitch. The plot revolves around a police inspector who is blackmailed when he covers up his girlfriend’s involvement in a murder. Alternates between the very stagey and moments of promise from the master. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Buried (15) ●●●●● (Rodrigo Cortés, Spain, 2010) Ryan Reynolds, Robert Paterson, Stephen Tobolowsky. 94min. Not one for claustrophobes, Cortés’s debut feature stars Reynolds as a contractor trapped in a coffin and buried alive by Iraqis, who must raise a $5 million in a ransom before the battery on his mobile dies, or be left to perish. Selected release. Burke and Hare (15) (John Landis, UK, 2010) Simon Pegg, Andy Serkis, Isla Fisher. 100min. See Also Released, page 47. General release. Cannibal Apocalypse (18) ●●●●● (Antonio Margheriti, Italy/Spain, 1980) John Saxon, Elizabeth Turner. 96min. Former Video Nastie as genre favourite Saxon fights the urge to give into ‘contagious cannibalism’. Edinburgh B Team presentation. The Jekyll & Hyde, Edinburgh.
Cannibal Holocaust (18) ●●●●● (Ruggero Deodato, Italy, 1980) Robert Kerman, Francesca Ciardi, Perry Pirkanen. 89min. One of the most gruelling, shocking and infamous of the Video Nasties as a documentary team come across cannibals in the South American jungles. Followed by a Q&A and signing session with star Ciardi. Edinburgh B Team presentation. The Jekyll & Hyde, Edinburgh.
✽✽ Carlos (15) ●●●●● (Olivier Assayas, France/Germany, 2010) Edgar Ramírez, Alexander Scheer, Christoph Bach. 166min. See review, page 45. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow; Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
✽✽ Carlos (Festival Version) (15) ●●●●● (Olivier Assayas,
France/Germany, 2010) Edgar Ramírez, Alexander Scheer, Christoph Bach. 355min. Full-length six-hour version of this exhilarating epic. See above. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore 2D (U) ●●●●● (Brad Peyton, USA/Australia, 2010) Voices of James Marsden, Nick Nolte, Christina Applegate. 82min. Likeable but instantly forgettable sequel to 2001’s live action adventure Cats & Dogs. Odeon at the Quay, Glasgow. Chasing Legends (E) ●●●●● (Jason Berry, US, 2009) 94min. See Also Released, page 47. Odeon Braehead, Renfrew. City of Borders (tbc) (Yun Suh, USA, 2009) 66min. Powerful documentary revolving around Jerusalem’s only gay bar and its patrons. Part of Glasgay!. CCA, Glasgow. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2D (U) ●●●●● (Phil Lord, US, 2009) Voices of Bill Hader, Anna Faris, James Caan. 90min. Vivid and likeable animated version of Judi and Ron Barrett’s 1978 children’s book set in the town of Chewandswallow. Cineworld Parkhead, Glasgow; Cineworld Fountainpark, Edinburgh.
✽✽ Congo in Four Acts (15) (Diudo Hamadi/Divita We Lusala/Patrick Ken
Kalala/Kiripi Katembo Siku, Democratic Republic of the Congo, 2010) 72min. Four young Congolese directors offer an insight into the country immortalised as the ‘Heart of Darkness’ in Joseph Conrad’s 1902 novel and characterised in the popular consciousness as a place of savagery and danger ever since. Part of Africa in Motion Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Coraline 2D (PG) ●●●●● (Henry Selick, US, 2009) Voices of Dakota Fanning, Teri Hatcher, John Hodgman. 100min. A lush, visually imaginative and freshly entertaining stop-motion adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s children’s novel. Grosvenor, Glasgow.
✽✽ Dance Got Me (15) (Ingrid Sinclair, Zimbabwe/UK, 2006) 52min.
Documentary about the amazing journey of Bawren Tavaziva from street dancer in the townships of Zimbabwe to leader of a highly successful UK-based dance company. Followed by an audience discussion with Tavaziva himself. Part of Africa in Motion Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
✽✽ The Dancing Forest (PG) (Brice Lainé, Togo, 2008) 52min. Documentary about two citizens of Togo who, on seeing the ruin being wreaked upon their native village, formed the International Centre for Agro- Pastoral Development. Followed by Malawian short film Joseph’s Road. Part of Africa in Motion Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. The Day a Pig Fell into the Well (15) (Hong Sangsoo, South Korea, 1996) Kim Uiseong, Park Jinseong, Cho Eunsuk. 114min. Featuring no pigs or wells, this is the story of a day that goes very wrong for four people embroiled in a web of love and deceit. Part of Hong Sangsoo season. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Dead Meat (18) ●●●●● (Conor McMahon, Ireland, 2004) Marian Araujo, Anthony Litton, David Mallard. 80min. Mad Cow Disease mutates as the bovines attack, infecting humans and turning them into flesh hungry zombies. Part of the Edinburgh Zombie Club Irish Exploitation Night. The Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh. The Death and Life of Charlie St Cloud (12A) ●●●●● (Burr Steers, US, 2010) Zac Efron, Charlie Tahan, Kim
Basinger. 99min. Efron stars as Charlie St Cloud, a young man overcome by the death of his younger brother Sam. When a girl comes into Charlie’s life and he must choose between her and keeping a promise he made to Sam. General release.
✽✽ Demons (18) (Lamberto Bava, Italy, 2010) Umberto Barberini, Natasha
Hovey, Karl Zinny. 84min. Classic Italian 80s horror shocker. Part of The Sinister Sunday of Shock! Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow. Despicable Me (U) (Pierre Coffin/Chris Renaud, US, 2010) Voices of Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Russell Brand. 94min. Universal’s latest offering is a good- humoured tale of a curmudgeonly aspiring supervillain (Carrell). Engaging, if not quite a classic. General release. Devil (15) ●●●●● (Drew Dowdle/John Erick Dowdle, US, 2010) Geoffrey Arend, Bojana Novakovic, Logan Marshall-Green. 80min. Effective minimalist horror in which a group of people stuck in a lift realise the devil is amongst them. Showcase Cinema, Glasgow. Diary of a Wimpy Kid (PG) ●●●●● (Thor Freudenthal, US, 2010) Zachary Gordon, Steve Zahn, Rachael Harris. 92min. The inevitable adaptation of Jeff Kinney’s illustrated novel about wise-cracking schoolchild Greg (Gordon). Selected release.
✽✽ Document 8 (E) (Various) Human rights film festival featuring shorts,
documentaries and features. CCA, Glasgow. Donkeys (15) ●●●●● (Morag McKinnon, UK, 2010) James Cosmo, Martin Compston, Kate Dickie. 78min. Glaswegian black comedy detailing the travails of old rogue Alfred (Cosmo) as he attempts to rekindle relations with his estranged family. Director McKinnon’s first feature is both a strong and distinctive follow up to Red Road (it is part of the same Scottish-Danish co-production project as Andrea Arnold’s film) and a stand- alone success. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Easy A (15) ●●●●● (Will Gluck, US, 2010) Emma Stone, Cam Gigandet, Amanda Bynes. 92min. See reviw, page 45. Selected release. Eat Pray Love (PG) ●●●●● (Ryan Murphy, US, 2010) Julia Roberts, Billy Crudup, James Franco. 139min. Self- indulgent schmaltzfest starring Roberts as a New York writer who embarks on a journey of self-discovery across some of the world’s most photogenic locations. Selected release. Edinburgh Mountain Film Festival (E) (Various) A season of films focused on climbers, outdoor activities and extreme mountain sports. George Square Lecture Theatre, Edinburgh. Edie & Thea: A Very Long Engagement (tbc) (Susan Muska/Gréta Olafsdóttir, US, 2009) 61min. Film charting the inspirational love story of Edie and Thea, together for 42 years and finally getting married. Part of Glasgay! Glasgow Women’s Library, Glasgow.
✽✽ The Fake Prophet (15) (Teco Benson, Nigeria/UK, 2010) 79min. From prolific Nollywood director Benson comes this action-packed thriller dealing bluntly with the topic of child witches and role of religion in Nigerian society. Screening with satirical short The Deliverance of Comfort, also about a supposed child witch. Part of Africa in Motion Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Fatal Deviation (15) (Shay Casserley/Simon Linscheid, Ireland, 1998) James P Bennett, Mikey Graham. 90min. Irish martial arts action, so cheap it’s almost a home movie, so bad it’s beyond good. Part fo the Edinburgh Zombie Club Irish Exploitation Night. The Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh.
✽✽ Fezeka’s Voice (15) (Holly Lubbock, UK/South Africa, 2009)
80min. Documentary about an inspirational high school choir leader in South Africa. Part of Africa in Motion Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
✽✽ The Fighting Spirit (15) (George Amponsah, Ghana, 2007) 85min.
Documentary about a run-down village in Ghana where the local youths have turned to professional boxing as an escape route from a life of poverty. Followed by short film Unfinished Business. Part of Africa in Motion Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh.