Film HITLIST THE BEST FILM RELEASES
www.list.co.uk/film
Archipeligo More middle class holiday meandering from Unrelated writer-director Joanna Hogg. See review, page 65 and www.list.co.uk/gff for a recent interview with Hogg. GFT, Glasgow, Fri 4–Thu 10 Mar; Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Fri 4–Thu 17 Mar.
Route Irish Ken Loach and Paul Laverty finally take on Iraq in this military thriller, starring comedian John Bishop. See interview, page 64, and review at www.list.co.uk GFT Fri 18–Thu 24 Mar, and selected release. Submarine Coming of age comedy from Richard Ayoade, previously best known for his TV roles in The IT Crowd and The Mighty Boosh. See profile, right, and review, page 66. General release from Fri 18 Mar.
Cave of Forgotten Dreams (3D) Werner Herzog takes his camera potholing down some ancient caves with nausea-inducing effect in 3D. See review, page 67. Selected release from Fri 25 Mar.
The Adjustment Bureau Enjoyable sci-fi romantic drama based on a short story by Philip K Dick and starring Matt Damon and Emily Blunt as a politician and ballerina on the run. See review, page 67. General release from Fri 4 Mar. Animal Kingdom Explosive familial crime drama starring Guy Pearce and James Frecheville and set in Melbourne. Also with an Oscar- nominated supporting performance from Jacki Weaver (pictured). General release, out now.
Les Diaboliques Henri-Georges Clouzot’s murderous 1955 thriller starring Simone Signoret gets a new print makeover. See Also Released, page 68. Filmhouse, Edinburgh & GFT, Glasgow, Mon 28–Wed 30 Mar.
The African Queen Hepburn and Bogart head back to the jungle courtesy of a sparkling new 35mm print. See Also Released, page 68. Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Fri 4–Thu 10 Mar; GFT, Glasgow, Tue 22 & Wed 23 Mar.
True Grit Vengeance will be hers in the brothers’ first western which is a violent and sustained affair. Jeff Bridges, Josh Brolin, Matt Damon and Hailee Steinfield star. General release, out now.
The King’s Speech Oscar-laden British movie starring Best Actor Colin Firth as stammering George VI. Go see it to see Film Council (RIP) funding put to good use for once. General release, out now.
Profile Name Richard Ayoade
Born 12 June 1977, Whipp’s Cross, London
Background Best known for playing Moss in Graham Linehan’s hit TV comedy The IT Crowd, Ayoade first came to the notice of cult comedy fans as writer, director and co-star of spoof sci-fi series Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace in 2004. As well as featuring in The Mighty Boosh, he’s also directed music videos for Arctic Monkeys, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Vampire Weekend.
What’s he up to now? Ayoade has written and directed his first film, Submarine, a darkly funny coming-of-age story adapted from Joe Dunthorne’s novel. On turning the novel into a film ‘You can’t rely on literary fireworks, so it becomes more about behaviour; watching people and seeing how other people react. There’s no equivalent to a reaction shot in a book, there’s no way of instantaneously juxtaposing two views simultaneously. And films are good at that; they’re basically people just looking at one another! So you have to turn it into that – a series of looks.’
On casting the two young leads ‘They were great and never felt like they were deliberately playing it like comedians. When you reach my age you just go: “I don’t want to do stuff with people I don’t like.” That’s the main thing: [finding] people you can talk to and enjoy two months of drizzle with. In Wales.’
Interesting fact. Ayoade is developing a film based on Dostoevsky novella The Double. (Paul Gallagher) ■ Submarine, general release from Fri 18 Mar. See review, page 66.
3–31 March 2011 THE LIST 63