Film INDEX
Grown Ups (12A) ●●●●● (Dennis Dugan, USA, 2010) Adam Sandler, Chris Rock, Salma Hayek. 102min. Five school friends reunite 30 years after graduating on the fourth of July weekend and much high jinks ensue. Regrettably predictable buddy comedy featuring almost the entire Saturday Night Live early 1990s cast. Vue Ocean, Edinburgh. Guelwaar (12) ●●●●● (Ousmane Sembene, Senegal/France/Germany, 1992) Mame Ndoumbé Diop, Thierno Ndiaye, Belle Mbaye. 115min. Darkly satirical portrayal of the religious and political chaos unleashed when a Christian activist is buried in a Muslim cemetery in Senegal. Part of Sembene season. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Guzaarish (12A) (Sanjay Leela Bhansali, India, 2010) Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai. 125min. Bollywood drama about euthanasia. Selected release. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (12A) ●●●●● (David Yates, UK/US, 2010) Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint. 146min. See review, page 44. General release. The House of Mirth (PG) ●●●●● (Terence Davies, UK, 2000) Gillian Anderson, Eric Stoltz, Anthony LaPaglia. 140min. Davies’ superb screen adaptation of Edith Wharton’s novel, filmed in Glasgow, makes it clear that beneath the well-bred skin of New York society at the turn of the century lurks a remorseless savagery. Davies charts protagonist Lily’s tragic descent with formal rigour, framing scenes with self-consciously painterly tableaux that evoke the era’s fashionable artists. But, as with his other work, aesthetic control goes hand in glove with a deep compassion. Brunton Theatre, Edinburgh. Hubble 3D (U) (Toni Meyers, Canada, 2010) 44min. Leonardo Di Caprio narrates the latest 3D IMAX space adventure. IMAX Theatre, Glasgow. Ice Age (U) ●●●●● (Chris Wedge & Carlos Saldanha, US, 2002) Voices of John Leguizamo, Goran Visnjic, Jack Black. 81min. There’s a faint air of cynicism in this story of a morose mammoth, a bumbling sloth and a wily tiger who join forces, despite all their better instincts, to return a human baby to his father. The animators try desperately to make you fall in love with this unlikely band of creatures, to make you see the good hearts beneath the frosty exteriors, but they don’t deliver that all important charm, wit, flair and imagination. St Bride’s Centre, Edinburgh. The Illusionist (12A) ●●●●● (Sylvain Chomet, UK/France, 2010) Voices: Jean-Claude Donda, Eilidh Rankin. 83min. The product of five years’ work in an animation studio that Chomet (Belleville Rendezvous) set up in Edinburgh when he fell in love with the capital after attending its International Film Festival, this is an uncannily accurate portrayal of Edinburgh and Scotland. The story is an unfilmed script from Jacques Tati and the main character, an ageing magician whose beloved act no longer interests the rock’n’rolling 1950s youth, is based somewhat on Tati himself and is carefully and emotively rendered by Chomet and his team. Cameo, Edinburgh. Imagine 2018 (E) (Various, 2010) 90min. The results of a project in which youth groups in both Israel and Palestine were asked to imagine what their homelands would be like in 2018 if a peace agreement were signed, with ten of the best ideas being visualised by Hollywood directors. Charles Kennedy and One Voice Glasgow introduce the screening. CCA, Glasgow.
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48 THE LIST 18 Nov–2 Dec 2010
✽✽ Imogène McCarthery (12A) (Alexandre Charlot & Franck Magnier,
France, 2010) Catherine Frot, Lambert Wilson, Michel Aumont. 82min. Espionage comedy about a clumsy Scottish nationalist spy. Part of French Film Festival. Glasgow Film Theatre; Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Iranian Short Films (E) (Iran, Various) 40min. A selection of contemporary short films from Iran, followed by a talk and Q&A with Iranian political exile Yassamine Mather. Pearce Institute, Glasgow. Ironmaster (18) (Umberto Lenzi, Italy/France, 1983) George Eastman, Sam Pasco, Elvire Audray. 90min. Low budget fantasy ‘epic’ detailing the dawn of Iron Age man with suitable 80s Italian gusto. Screening as part of the Edinburgh Zombie Club’s George Eastman night. The Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh. Jackass 3D (18) ●●●●● (Jeff Tremaine, US, 2010) Johnny Knoxville, Steve-O, Bam Margera. Chris Pontius. 93min. Knoxville and his daredevil buddies get up to more mischief. This time in 3D. General release. Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance (tbc) (Alanis Obomsawin, Canada, 1993) 119min. Documentation of the Native American Mohawk blocking of reserve land in Quebec that was being taken over by the white community, leading to a confrontation between the two sides. Pearce Institute, Glasgow. The Karate Kid (PG) ●●●●● (Harald Zwart, USA/China, 2010) Jackie Chan, Jaden Smith, Taraji P Henson. 139min. The remake of the 1984 hit in which a bullied boy becomes a karate master delivers a half-decent punch, despite Smith’s lazy performance. The training scenes and a downbeat performance from Jackie Chan playing Mr Han lend the film unmerited but welcome pizzazz and charm. Vue Ocean, Edinburgh.
✽✽ Khamsa (15) (Karim Dridi, France, 2008) Marc Cortes, Raymond Adam, Tony Fourmann. 110min. Thirteen-year old Khamsa flees his foster family to return to the gypsy camp where his real family live. Not much seems to have changed until he begins to get involved with his cousins who welcome him into a world of strange crimes. Part of French Film Festival. Glasgow Film Theatre; Filmhouse, Edinburgh. The Kids are All Right (15) ●●●●● (Lisa Cholodenko, US, 2010) Annette Benning, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo. 106min. Original and insightful comedy of social dilemmas telling the story of lesbian couple Nic (Benning) and Jules (Moore) and the unpredictable events that unfold when their sperm-donated son Laser sets out to find his biological father. Selected release.
✽✽ LOL (tbc) (Lisa Azuelos, France, 2009) Sophie Marceau, Francoise
Fabian, J Quivrin. 107min. Marceau plays an exasperated mother who joins her teenage daughter in the search for meaning. Part of French Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’hoole 2D (PG) ●●●●● (Zack Snyder, USA/Australia, 2010) Jim Sturgess, Joel Edgerton, Ryan Kwanten. 90min. Off-kilter and inept owlimation from 300 director Snyder featuring Sturgess and Kwanten as young owlets kidnapped and pressed into service as soldiers, who attempt to seek out the mythic guardians of Ga’hoole and defeat the nefarious Metalbeak. Selected release.
✽✽ Let Me In (15) ●●●●● (Matt Reeves, US, 2010) Kodi Smit-
McPhee, Chloe Moretz, Richard Jenkins. 116min. An American remake of Swedish film Let the Right One In which isn’t as bad as anticipated. Bullied school kid Owen befriends neighbour Abby only to find she’s a creature of the night. Where the film falls down is in its poor CGI, rendering the vampires more laughable than scary. General release. Life As We Know it (12A) ●●●●● (Greg Berlanti, US, 2010) Katherine Heigel, Josh Duhamel. 114min. Career singles Holly (Katherine Heigl) and Eric (Josh Duhamel) are loving godparents to
Sophie. They can’t stand each other but both share a love of their goddaughter. When Sophie’s parents die unexpectedly they find they themselves sharing a house and caring for Sophie. Harmless and likeable if predictable and uninspired rom- com. Cameo, Edinburgh. Like You Know it All (15) (Hong Sangsoo, South Korea, 2009) Kim Taewoo, Ko Hyunjung, Uhm Jiwon. 126min. With a protagonist who’s an arthouse film director, Sangsoo evidently didn’t have to look far for the inspiration for this comedy of manners. Part of Sangsoo season. Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
✽✽ Little Nicholas (PG) (Laurent Tirard, France/Belgium, 2009)
Maxime Godart, Kad Merad, Sandrine Kiberlain. 91min. Comedy about the misadventures of a little boy in 1950s France. Part of French Film Festival. Cineworld Parkhead, Glasgow. The Little Vampire (U) ●●●●● (Uli Edel, UK, 2000) Rollo Weeks, Richard E Grant, Jonathan Lipnicki. 95min. Tony (Lipnicki), fresh from the orange groves of California, moves with his family to Scotland. He quickly becomes the leas popular kid in his class, but finds a playmate when a 10-year-old vampire conveniently falls down his chimney. Despite its Hollywood revamp, Angela Sommer-Bodenburg’s well-loved novel emerges with its sense of fun intact. However, while this film certainly doesn’t suck, it ultimately lacks real bite. Brunton Theatre, Edinburgh. London Boulevard (15) ●●●●● (William Monahan, UK, 2010) Colin Farrell, Keira Knightley, Stephen Graham. 90min. See Also Released, page 44. General release. London International Documentary Festival Screening (E) (Various) 90min A programme selected by LIDF to contextualise the current Artur Zmiejewski exhibition at the Tramway, including the Scottish premiere of Let’s Shoot, which follows Polish director Andrzej Wajda as he makes his Oscar- nominated account of the Soviet massacre of thousands of Polish soldiers in 1940, Katyn. Tramway, Glasgow.
✽✽ Machete (18) ●●●●● (Robert Rodrigues, US, 2010) Danny Trejo, Michelle Rodriguez and Robert De Niro. 105min. See feature, page 42 and review, page 43. General release, Fri 26 Nov. Made in Dagenham (15) ●●●●● (Nigel Cole, UK, 2010) Sally Hawkins, Miranda Richardson, Rosamund Pike. 112min. Entertaining crowd-pleaser made in the mould of British comic dramas such as director Nigel Cole’s other feature Calendar Girls dramatising the true story of the industrial dispute between the female work force and the management of the Ford’s motor plant that took place in suburban Essex in 1968. Starring Sally Hawkins. Dominion, Edinburgh.
✽✽ Mademoiselle Chambon (15) (Stéphane Brizé, France, 2009)
Vincent Lindon, Sandrine Kiberlain, Aure Atika. 101min. A father is confronted with difficult choices when he falls for his son’s teacher. Part of French Film Festival. Glasgow Film Theatre. The Madness of King George (PG) ●●●●● (Nicholas Hytner, UK, 1994) Nigel Hawthorne, Helen Mirren, Rupert Everett. 110min. Alan Bennett’s adaptation of his own stage play is a great British film in its own right with no lingering sense of theatricality. Hawthorne’s excellent portrayal of the King, his demented behaviour threatening the stability of the nation, gives the film an emotional core, while the script’s themes are intelligently handled throughout. Part of the Psychiatry Ethics Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
✽✽ Making Plans for Lena (15) (Christophe Honoré, France, 2009)
Chiara Mastroianni, Marina Fois. 105min. Drama following single mother Lena (Mastroianni) as she struggles to deal with a break-up despite her do-good family who are determined to make her happy again. Part of French Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
Mary and Max (12A) ●●●●● (Adam Elliot, Australia, 2009) Voices of Toni Collette, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, Barry Humphries. 92min. Bonding over their misfit status, the 20-year pen-friendship between young girl and middle-aged loner is followed in witty, compassionate, monochrome claymation. Humourous and bruising simultaneously, the sad yet uplifting conclusion befits a film that is a consistent joy to watch. Hippodrome, Bo’ness. Mental: A History of the Madhouse (12A) (Chris Boulding, UK, 2010) 59min. Documentary telling the story of Britain’s mental asylums, and the effects of their closure. Part of the Psychiatry Ethics Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. The Miracle Woman (15) ●●●●● (Frank Capra, US, 1931) Barbara Stanwyck, David Manners, Sam Hardy. 90min. Fictionalised story of a phoney evangelist preacher based on real-life figure Aimee Semple McPherson. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. My Afternoons with Margueritte (15) ●●●●● (Jean Becker, France, 2010) Gerard Depardieu, Gisele Casadesus. 82min. An elderly woman (Casadesus) bonds with an illiterate man (Depardieu) over their love of pigeons and decides to tutor him by reading aloud extracts from her novels. Sweet and moving French drama from veteran filmmaker Becker (Conversations with My Gardener, One Deadly Summer). Glasgow Film Theatre; Cameo, Edinburgh. My Childhood (PG) ●●●●● (Bill Douglas, UK, 1972) Stephen Archibald, Hughie Restorick, Jean Taylor-Smith, Bernard McKenna. 48min. The first instalment of Maxim Gorky’s trilogy of autobiographies, all of which Douglas filmed over a period of seven years. The setting is transported from 19th century Russia to Scotland in the 1940s, but the picture of grit, determination and human warmth in the face of awful hardship is beautifully preserved. Brunton Theatre, Edinburgh. The New Barbarians (18) (Enzo G Castellari, US/Italy, 1982) George Eastman, Fred Williamson, Giancarlo Prete. 87min. Cult post-apocalyptic tale of bikers, cannibalised vehicles and explosions that owes a big debt to Mad Max. Screening as part of the Edinburgh Zombie Club’s George Eastman night. The Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh. Night and Day (15) (Hong Sangsoo, South Korea, 2008) Kim Youngho, Park Eunhye, Hwang Sujung. 145min. A Korean painter flees to Paris in this cynical comedy. Part of Sangsoo season. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. No One Knows About Persian Cats (12A) ●●●●● (Bahman Ghobadi, Iran, 2009) Negar Shaghaghi, Ashkan Koshanejad, Hamed Behdad. 106min. Freewheeling mockumentary about the underground Iranian music scene in Tehran featuring real musicians from the director A Time For Drunken Horses and Turtles Can Fly. Moving, funny and worrying – this unique little film deserves to find an audience, plus the soundtrack is a killer. Garnethill Multicultural Centre, Glasgow. Old Boy (18) ●●●●● (Park Chan- wook, South Korea, 2004) Choi Min-sik , Yu Ji-tae. 120min. Kidnapped, locked up for 15 years and then released for no apparent reason, Oh Dae Su (Choi) is now a neanderthal on the rampage. He wants answers and revenge and he will take them by claw hammer or scissor. Part existential thriller, part Oedipal myth, Park ‘s second revenge movie is the generic equivalent to an electric current through the gonads. He slices and dices between absurdist comedy, horror and enigmatic philosophy with breathtaking skill. A masterpiece. Grosvenor, Glasgow. 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