Film INDEX PROFILE
BRIAN WELSH Born Falkirk, 10 August 1981 Background Having left school with what he describes as ‘pitiful formal qualifications’, Welsh worked variously as a waiter, bartender and gas man while developing ideas for films. His interest in telling true stories about real people led Welsh to find work as an editor of documentaries dealing with social issues in Glasgow. From there, he enrolled at the National Film and Television School, where he made his writing and directing debut with the micro-budgeted domestic drama, Kin. A screening of that film at BAFTA impressed executives from UK film distributor and arthouse cinema chain owner Curzon Artificial Eye (CAE) and, as part of the production scheme the company runs in conjunction with the NFTV, they greenlit Welsh’s script In Our Name about a female soldier returning home from Iraq to Newcastle. What he’s up to now? Having directed his first feature as a post- graduate, Welsh is currently enjoying promoting In Our Name and is looking forward to beginning work on his next film. On In Our Name ‘I was moved by stories of soldiers with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Obviously, the symptoms are a real stumbling block for soldiers trying to readjust to life in a society that doesn’t understand what it’s like to be at war. With women playing a much more active role in frontline operations I wanted to explore this condition through the eyes of a female soldier. I think because of my background in documentary I look for a very particular type of acting and performance – a totally non-theatrical and naturalistic one. But I like a lot of cinema, Dardenne brothers, early Paul Greengrass, and Nil By Mouth was an important film for me. Interesting fact In Our Name is getting a limited traditional cinema release, but it’s also being released as part of CAE’s pioneering download service, Curzon on Demand, the aim of which is to make arthouse films available to UK audiences who do not have access to an arthouse cinema. (Miles Fielder) ■ In Our Name, available to download now at www.curzoncinemas.com and at Cameo, Edinburgh, Thu 16 Dec. 72 THE LIST 16 Dec 2010 – 6 Jan 2011
Swan Lake (U) (UK, 2008) Marianela Nunez, Thiago Soares. 160min. Screening of the greatest ballet of all time telling the story of Odette, who is turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer and featuring some of the most recognisable music in the world. Filmed live at the Royal Opera House. Hippodrome, Bo’ness. 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. A Carry On... version of The Archers, but less funny. At least the soundtrack’s good. Vue Ocean, Edinburgh. Tees Maar Khan (PG) (Farah Khan, India, 2010) Akshay Kumar, Katrina Kaif, Akshaye Khanna. 130min. Bollywood action comedy flick about an international conman with attitude. Cineworld Renfrew Street, Glasgow. The Thing (18) ●●●●● (John Carpenter, US, 1982) Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, David Clennon. 108min. Carpenter’s excellent 1982 monster flick revived on digital big screen projection. Cameo, Edinburgh. The Thorn in the Heart (E) ●●●●● (Michael Gondry, France, 2009) 86min. Challenging and eccentric documentary by Michel Gondry (Be Kind Rewind, The Science of Sleep, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) in which old secrets are uncovered as Gondry travels with his ageing aunt. More therapy than filmmaking, it is still worth catching. Cameo, Edinburgh. The Tourist (12A) ●●●●● (Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, US/France, 2010) Angelina Jolie, Johnny Depp, Paul Bettany. 103min. Lifeless European crime caper. There is no chemistry between the two stars and The Lives of Others director Von Donnersmarck seems completely out of his depth. General release. Toonpur Ka Superhero (tbc) (Kireet Khurana, India, 2010) Ajay Devgan, Kajol. Hindi live action/animated mix. Odeon at the Quay, Glasgow. Toy Story 3 2D (U) ●●●●● (Lee Unkrich, USA, 2010) Voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack. 108min. Andy has grown up and is on the way to college, so everyone’s favourite toys are packed off to Sunnyside day-care centre. 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. Cineworld Parkhead, Glasgow; Cineworld Fountainpark, Edinburgh. Trainspotting (18) ●●●●● (Danny Boyle, UK, 1995) Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller. 93min. John Hodge’s screenplay perfectly captures the desperate humour of Irvine Welsh’s novel, keeping the episodic structure of junkie scenes for the first half before concentrating on Renton in London in the later stages. Fast and stylish direction, with a creative soundtrack and acting that’s off-the-rails excellent this cinematic blast from beginning to end shows a complex – and true – understanding of the lure and fatal consequences of drug-taking. Part of Love Film, Love Edinburgh. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Tron: Legacy 2D (PG) ●●●●● (Joseph Kosinski, US, 2010) Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Michael Sheen. 127min. See review, page 64. Selected release. Tron: Legacy 3D (PG) ●●●●● (Joseph Kosinski, US, 2010) Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Michael Sheen. 127min. See above. General release. The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (12A) ●●●●● (David Slade, US, 2010) Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner. 123min. The epic relationship between Bella (Stewart) and undead Edward (Pattinson) falters when her new lupine friend Jacob (Lautner) is added to the mix. Will humans, vampires and werewolves ever get on? The fun of Twilight is seeing this situation treated as though it is of life- shattering importance. Vue Ocean, Edinburgh. Uncle Boonmee who Can Recall his Past Lives (12A) ●●●●● (Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Thailand, 2010) Sakda Kaewbuadee, Jenjira Pongpas, Thanapat Saisaymar. 113min. Palme D’Or winning fantasy drama about an old man on his deathbed, looking back over his many lives. Glasgow Film Theatre. Unstoppable (12A) ●●●●● (Tony Scott, US, 2010) Denzel Washington, Chris Pine, Rosario Dawson. 98min. Another piece of train-based nonsense from Tony Scott, following on the rails of The Taking of Pelham 123. An unmanned train packed with explosives hurtles out of control, but who can stop it? That’s right – Den-ZEL, and sidekick Will (Pine). Slick, but corny. General release. The Warrior’s Way (15) ●●●●● (Sngmoo Lee, New Zealand, 2010) Dong-gun Jang, Kate Bosworth, Geoffrey Rush. 100min. East meets West martial arts adventure in which the world’s greatest swordsman abandons his clan to start a new life in America. It’s all a bit heavy on the old mythical overtones but excellent action scenes and decent performances from Korean superstar Jang, Bosworth, Danny Huston and Rush really help. Cineworld Renfrew Street, Glasgow; Vue Ocean, Edinburgh. The Way Back (12A) ●●●●● (Peter Weir, US, 2010) Colin Farrell, Ed Harris, Dejan Angelov. 132min. See review, page 66 and profile, Listings. Glasgow Film Theatre; Filmhouse, Edinburgh. White Christmas (U) ●●●●● (Michael Curtiz, US, 1954) Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera- Ellen. 120min. Christmas staple starring Crosby and Kaye as a song-and-dance troupe who become involved with a sister act. Part of Christmas at Our House. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. The Wiggles: Dorothy the Dinosaur’s Rockin’ Christmas (U) (Paul Field, Australia, 2010) The Wiggles. 58min. Live recording of Australian children’s entertainers The Wiggles featuring Dorothy the Dinosaur. Cineworld Parkhead, Glasgow. Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory (U) ●●●●● (Mel Stuart, US, 1971) Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson. 100min. Charming and potty version of Roald Dahl’s classic children’s fable. A treat for big and little kids alike. Sloans, Glasgow. The Wizard of Oz (U) ●●●●● (Victor Fleming, US, 1939) Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Margaret Hamilton, Toto. 102min. Miserable Dorothy runs away from home but is soon whisked up into a magical land where her adventures teach her that happiness is to be found in her own back yard. Classic stuff indeed, just chockful of great songs, characterisation and memorably garish design. Perhaps marginally less enjoyable for the curmudgeonly element rooting for the Wicked Witch of the West though. Part of Christmas at Our House. Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
Boudu Saved From Drowning
Jean Renoir’s brilliant and surprisingly vicious 1932 class comedy has been digitally restored. An anarchic tramp Boudu (Michel Simon) is rescued from drowning by a petit bourgeois Parisian bookseller (Charles Granval) who then takes him to his home to recuperate where chaos and farce ensue. This film was remade as Down and Out in Beverley Hills in 1986, but this is the version you should see. Do not miss. ■ Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Fri 17-Thu 30 Dec (not Sat 25 & Sun 26 Dec) and selected release thereafter.