Film INDEX
Mrs Doubtfire (PG) ●●●●● (Chris Columbus, US, 1993) Robin Williams, Sally Field, Pierce Brosnan. 125min. Separated from his wife and kids, out-of-work voice actor Daniel Hillard (Williams) dons make-up and body-padding to become a sexagenarian nanny. St Bride’s Centre, Edinburgh. My Night with Maud (Ma Nuit Chez Maud) (PG) ●●●●● (Eric Rohmer, France, 1969) Jean-Louis Trintignant, Francois Fabian, Marie-Christine Barrault. 101min. New digitally restored print of quintessential bourgeois drama by late great French New waver Rohmer. Cameo, Edinburgh. My Son, my Son, What Have Ye Done? (15) ●●●●● (Werner Herzog, USA/Germany, 2009) Michael Shannon, Willem Dafoe, Chloë Sevigny. 91min. David Lynch and Herzog band together to tell the tale of an actor who commits the crime he is to perform in a Greek tragedy. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. New York I Love You (15) ●●●●● (Various, US, 2010) Shia LeBoeuf, Natalie Portman, Bradley Cooper. 103min. The second instalment of the Emmanuel Benbihy’s Cities of Love franchise interweaves eleven ten-minute tales of love, loss and heartbreak. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow. No Impact Man (15) ●●●●● (Laura Gabbert/Justin Schein, US, 2009) 91min. Compelling if mildly conceited documentary about a middle class Manhattan couple who spend a year massively reducing their carbon footprint. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow. Nosferatu (PG) ●●●●● (FW Murnau, Germany, 1922) Max Schreck, Alexander Granach, Gustav von Wangenheim. 72min. Schreck is a truly terrifying figure as Bram Stoker’s famous vampire, looking more like a skinned bat than a human being. With live score Grosvenor, Glasgow. The Nurture Room (12A) (Matt Pinder, UK, 2010) 90min. Documentary shot over the course of a year by Pinder, following three Glasgow schoolchildren growing up amidst trouble and family problems, and observing the care and nurture that their teachers provide. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow.
✽✽ 1001 Voices (15) (Mahmoud Ben Mahmoud, Tunisia, 2001) 90min. A
documentary exploration of the influences and different forms of Sufi mysticism – the musical expression of Islam. Part of Africa in Motion Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Orlando (PG) (Sally Potter, UK, 1992) Tilda Swinton, Billy Zane, Quentin Crisp. 92min. A male Elizabethan courtier begins a journey of self-discovery that involves four centuries and a sex change. Swinton’s simple but unique beauty captures the androgyny of the perfect Everyman/woman, while director Potter creates from Virginia Woolf’s novel a humorous and visually splendid succession of episodes that is a constant joy to watch. Part of Glasgay!. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow. Orphée (15) (Jean Cocteau, France, 1950) Jean Marais, Marie Dea, Maria Casares. 95min. Cocteau creates an unrivalled cinema fantasy in this stunning modern version of the Orpheus legend. Part of Screening Surrealism season. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. The Other Guys (12A) ●●●●● (Adam McKay, US, 2010) Will Ferrell, Mark Wahlberg, Samuel L Jackson. 107min. While it doesn’t hit the mark of previous Ferrell/McKay success story (Anchorman), their chemistry works its low-brow magic to provide a sense of fun much needed in wannabe blockbusters. General release.
✽✽ Ouaga Saga (15) (Dani Kouyaté, Burkina Faso/France, 2004) Amidou Bonsa, Sébastien Belém, Aguibou Sanou. 86min. Fast-paced comedy about a group of unemployed boys making the most of life in Burkina Faso, directed by the son of the late Burkinabe actor Sotigui Kouyaté. Part of Africa in Motion Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Paranormal Activity 2 (15) (Tod Williams, US, 2010) Katie Featherston, Gabriel Johnson. 91min. See Also Released, page 47. General release. Peepli Live (15) ●●●●● (Anusha Rizvi, India, 2010) Omkar Das Manikpuri, Raghubir Yadav, Shalini Vatsa. 107min. Satire from India in which the farmers in a small village have become so desperate that they’re considering suicide. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow.
50 THE LIST 21 Oct–4 Nov 2010
Peppa Pig: Mr Potato Comes to Town & Other Stories (U) (Mark Baker, UK, Various). Everyone’s favourite cartoon pig. Cameo, Edinburgh. Play Me Something (15) ●●●●● (Timothy Neat, UK, 1989) John Berger, Tilda Swinton, Hamish Henderson. 72min. In the lounge at Barra’s airport, assorted travellers await the fogbound Glasgow plane, and old man Henderson conjures up a storyteller (Berger) to keep them entertained. The result is an impressive examination of the art of narrative from a celebrated homegrown talent. A Monorail Film Club presentation. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow. The Power of Kangwon Province (tbc) (Hong Sang-soo, South Korea, 1998) 109min. Sang-soo’s follow-up to The Day A Pig Fell Into the Well traces the separate wanderings of a man who a woman who have recently ended their covert affair. Part of Hong Sangsoo season. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Prayers for Bobby (15) (Russell Mulcahy, US, 2009) Sigourney Weaver, Ryan Kelley, Henry Czerny. 92min. Prayers For Bobby is the rousing story of a suburban housewife, Mary (Weaver) who discovers her ‘perfect’ son Bobby is gay. Part of Glasgay!. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow. The Princess and the Frog (U) ●●●●● (Ron Clements/John Musker, US, 2010) Voices of Anika Noni Rose, Bruno Campos, Keith David. 97min. Set in 1920s Louisiana and featuring Disney’s first African-American Princess. Empire, Clydebank. Psycho (15) ●●●●● (Alfred Hitchcock, US, 1960) Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Martin Balsam, John McIntire. 109min. Hitch’s misogynistic masterpiece has a young secretary take off to hicksville with a bagful of her boss’ money. Unfortunately for her, she chooses to put up at the Bates’ Motel, run by that nice Norman boy. Scotsman Screening Room, Edinburgh. RED (12A) ●●●●● (Robert Schwentke, US, 2010) Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, Helen Mirren. 111min. See Also Released, page 47.. General release.
✽✽ Ramata (15) (Léandre-Alain Baker, France/Senegal, 2009) Katoucha Niane,
Viktor Lazlo, Ibrahima Mbaye. 84min. Ramata, a 50-year-old woman living in Dakar, defies convention by finding love with a man half her age – but even in middle age, the course of true love does not run smooth. Part of Africa in Motion Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Ramona & Beezus (U) ●●●●● (Elizabeth Allen, US, 2010) Joey King, Selena Gomez, John Corbett. 103min. See review, page 47. General release. Restrepo (15) ●●●●● (Tim Hetherington/Sebastian Junger, US, 2010) 93min. A gripping and unflinching insight into the experiences of a front-line US platoon stationed in Afghanistan’s lethal Korengal Valley, detailing the day-to-day realities of the soldiers’ experiences and attempting to convey the humanity behind the headlines. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Robin Hood (12A) ●●●●● (Ridley Scott, USA/UK, 2010) Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Matthew MacFadyen. 140min. Scott goes for a gritty take on the legend of the outlaw who robbed the rich to give to the poor, at least Crowe lends the character a level of credability Kevin Costner never attained. Vue Ocean, Edinburgh. The Runaways (15) ●●●●● (Floria Sigismondi, US, 2010) Kristen Stewart, Dakota Fanning, Michael Shannon. 106min. A standard issue biopic of the 1970s all-girl group although following the hope-to- heartache via drink and drugs formual. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow.
✽✽ Sacred Places (15) (Jean-Marie Téno, Cameroon/France, 2009) 70min.
Documentary charting the many paradoxes of life in contemporary Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso. Followed by a Q&A session with director Téno. Part of Africa in Motion Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
✽✽ Saw 3D (18) (Kevin Greutert, US, 2010) Tobin Bell, Cary Elwes, Costas Mandylor. 89min. See Also Released, page 47.. General release. Scott Pilgrim vs The World (12A) ●●●●● (Edgar Wright, US, 2010) Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Kieran
Culkin. 112min. The first big-budget blockbuster from serial subverter Edgar Wright (Spaced, Shaun of the Dead) doesn’t disappoint. Typecast geek Cera plays Scott, an unemployed musician who falls hard for Ramona Flowers (Winstead) only to find he must defeat a succession of evil ex-boyfriends in fights to the death. Vue Omni, Edinburgh. The Secret in their Eyes (El Secreto De Sus Ojos) (18) ●●●●● (Juan José Campanella, Argentina/Spain, 2009) Ricardo Darín, Soledad Villamil, Pablo Rago. 129min. The surprise winner of 2010’s Best Foreign Film Oscar, and deservedly so. A richly satisfying and unashamedly old- fashioned piece of film noir storytelling, following a retired prosecutor as he researches a novel based on a brutal and still unsolved case from early in his career. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. The Secret of Kells (PG) ●●●●● (Tomm Moore/Nora Twomey, Ireland/France/Belgium, 2009) Voices of Evan McGuire, Christen Mooney, Brendan Gleeson, Mick Lally. 78min. Luscious and old-fashioned independent 2D animation inspired by Irish medieval manuscript The Book of Kells. Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
✽✽ Sex, Okra and Salted Butter (15) (Mahamat-Saleh Haroun,
France/Chad, 2008) Marius Yelolo, Mata Gabin, Manuel Blanc. 80min. A 40-year-old nurse from the Ivory Coast runs away with her French lover, leaving her husband to care for their children alone. Part of Africa in Motion Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Shorts for Wee Ones (U) (Various) 70min. A collection of short films from around the world aimed at young children, often with bright visuals and minimal dialogue. Ages 2–6. Part of the Discovery Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
✽✽ The Silver Fez (12A) (Lloyd Ross, South Africa, 2009) 87min.
Extraordinary insight into the Malay musical subculture of Cape Town. Screening is followed by short film, Passion Gap. Part of Africa in Motion Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. The Social Network (12A) ●●●●● (David Fincher, US, 2010) Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, Justin Timberlake. 120min. Dramatisation of the story behind the founding of the world’s most ubiquitous stalking vehicle, starring Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg. General release. The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (PG) ●●●●● (Jon Turteltaub, USA, 2010) Nicolas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina. 111min. Too much is made of sappy romance instead of indulging in duels, the acting is dry and dusty and the film lacks the magic it promises. Vue Ocean, Edinburgh. Source Vision Gala Event (12) (Various) 120min. Screening of ten films shortlisted for Source magazine’s short film competition, introduced by Kick-Ass creator Mark Millar. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow.
✽✽ Stalker (18) (Martin Kemp, UK, 2010) Jane March, Linda Hayden, Billy
Murray. 88min. A novelist retreats to her country home to focus on her writing, only to become embroiled in a nightmarish multiple- murder scenario. Part of The Sinister Sunday of Shock! Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow. Stonewall Uprising (tbc) (Kate Davis/David Heilbroner, USA, 2010) 80min. Documentary exploring the Stonewall Riots and the tremors felt around the world with the birth of Gay Liberation. Part of Glasgay!. CCA, Glasgow. StreetDance 2D (PG) ●●●●● (Max Giwa/Dania Pasquini, UK, 2010) Nichola Burley, Charlotte Rampling, George Sampson. 98min. Carly (Burley) and her crew attempt to triumph at the UK Street Dance Championships with the unlikely help of some ballet students. Empire, Clydebank. The Sun Behind the Clouds: Tibet’s Struggle for Freedom (15) (Ritu Sarin/Tenzing Sonam, UK/India, 2009) 79min. An account of Tibet’s struggle for independence, with an original score from Gustavo Santaolalla. Part of Tibet Film Festival. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow. The Switch (12A) ●●●●● (Josh Gordon/Will Speck, US, 2010) Jennifer Aniston, Jeff Goldblum, Juliette Lewis. 101min. Forgettable and schematic but
enjoyable fertility rom-com starring Aniston, Bateman and a turkey baster. Odeon at the Quay, Glasgow; Odeon, Edinburgh. Tamara Drewe (15) ●●●●● (Stephen Frears, UK, 2010) Gemma Arterton, Roger Allam, Tamsin Greig. 111min. Lazy reworking of Far From the Madding Crowd (allegedly), Tamara Drewe features an improbably perfect eponymous heroine (Arterton), once bullied, now successful, having returned to her home town to settle old scores. Cameo, Edinburgh. Le Testament D’Orphée (15) (Jean Cocteau, France, 1960) Jean Cocteau, Edouard Dermithe, Jean Marais, Maria Casares, Yul Brynner. 83min. The enfant terrible’s second dip into the Orpheus legend was also his last film, and pretty obscure it is too, unless you’re familiar with his earlier work. Part of Screening Surrealism season. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. There Will Be Blood (15) ●●●●● (Paul Thomas Anderson, US, 2007) Daniel Day- Lewis, Paul Dano, Kevin J O’Connor. 158min. Silver prospector Daniel Plainview (Day-Lewis) and his adopted son move to the impoverished evangelically centred town of New Boston and finds himself in a battle of wits against sleazy child preacher Eli Sunday (Dano) over oil, ethics and the American Dream. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. 3D Mania (U) (Various, US, 2010) 45min. 3D experiences including thriller rides and exciting scenes from theme park films. IMAX Theatre, Glasgow.
✽✽ Togetherness Supreme (15) (Nathan Collett, Kenya, 2010) Wilson
Maina, Geoffrey Jefferson Ong’ong’o, Martha Kisaka. 94min. A love triangle in Kenya between an artist, a hustler and a preacher’s daughter. Part of Africa in Motion Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. The Town (15) (Ben Affleck, US, 2010) Ben Affleck, Rebecca Hall, Jon Hamm. 124min. Affleck takes on another Boston crime novel for his second feature, in which he plays criminal gang leader Doug MacRay whose friendship with volatile sidekick Jem (Jeremy Renner) is tested to the limit when MacRay falls for an employee of the bank they’ve robbed. General release. A Town Called Panic (PG) ●●●●● (Stéphane Aubier, Vincent Patar, Belgium/Luxembourg/France, 2009) Voices of Stéphane Aubier, Jeanne Balibar, Bruce Ellison. 75min. Gloriously silly if somewhat relentlessly frantic spin-off of the Belgian series of the same name following best friends Cowboy, Indian and Horse on a series of ridiculous adventures. Cameo, Edinburgh. Toy Story 3 (U) ●●●●● (Lee Unkrich, USA, 2010) Voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack. 108min. After a whirlwind of close-cut situations, the film manages to retain its good humour and pathos long enough to bring all the characters safely to a satisfying resolution. Selected release.
✽✽ Umm Kulthum – A Voice Like Egypt (PG) (Michal Goldman, Egypt,
1996) Voices of Virginia Danielson, Om Koultoum, Omar Sharif. 67min. A documentary, narrated by Sharif, about Egyptian singer Ummm Kulthum, who is a singing legend in the Arab world. This film shows her life story through interviews, live performances and the Egyptian public’s reaction to her. Part of Africa in Motion Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Up 2D (U) ●●●●● (Pete Docter/Bob Peterson, US, 2009) Voices of Christopher Plummer, Edward Asner, Paul Eiding. 96min. Seventy-eight–year-old curmudgeon Carl Fredericksen and eight-year-old Junior Wilderness Explorer Russell embark on the adventure of a lifetime in South America. While it unfolds on a grand scale, at its heart is a human story that will resonate with viewers of every age. St Bride’s Centre, Edinburgh. Vampires Suck (12A) ●●●●● (Jason Friedberg/Aaron Seltzer, US, 2010) Jenn Proske, Matt Lanter, Chris Riggi. 82min. Tedious spoof of vampire-themed movies (particularly the Twilight saga) from the one trick ponies who gave us the Scary Movie films. General release. Virgin Stripped Bare by her Bachelors (15) (Hong Sangsoo, South Korea, 2000) Lee Eunju, Jung Boseok, Moon Sungkuen. 126min. A skewed take on the