www.list.co.uk/film James, Winona Ryder, Jennifer Connolly. 111min. Mediocre and unfunny bromance that wastes the talents involved including Ryder and Connolly. Cameo, Edinburgh. Don’t Look Now (18) ●●●●● (Nicolas Roeg, UK, 1973) Donald Sutherland, Julie Christie. 103min. Splendid supernatural suspense movie, as subtly textured and brilliantly edited as any of Roeg’s work, with the added advantage that it’s a rather good yarn. Part of Nick Roeg season. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Drive Angry 3D (18) ●●●●● (Patrick Lussier, US, 2011) Nicolas Cage, Amber Heard, Katy Mixon. 104min. A vengeful father (Cage) breaks out of hell and goes after the men who killed his daughter. See review at www.list.co.uk. General release. Eleftherios Venizelos (15) (Pantelis Voulgaris, Greece, 1980) Minas Christidis, Giannis Voglis, Dimitris Myrat. 157min. A chronicle of the life and influence of Eleftherios Venizelos, a long-time prime minister of Greece and the man responsible for Crete’s unification with the nation. Part of Greek Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Eureka (18) ●●●●● (Nicolas Roeg, US, 1982) Gene Hackman, Theresa Russell, Rutger Hauer, Mickey Rourke. 129min. Impressive story of lust for flesh and material wealth, with metaphysical overtones added to the heady brew. Part of Nick Roeg season. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Exile Island (15) (Elias Giannakakis & Evi Karabatsou, Greece, 2008) 90min. Insight into the ‘National Reformatory’, built in the 1940s to ‘rehabilitate’ leftists on the uninhabited island of Makronisos. Part of Greek Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec (12A) (Luc Besson, France, 2010) Louise Bourgoin, Mathieu Amalric, Gilles Lellouche. 107min. A supernatural adventure about a travel writer who believes an Egyptian tomb holds the secret that can save her ailing sister: full of silliness and mummies. Part of Rendez-vous with French Cinema season. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Fair Game (12A) ●●●●● (Doug Liman, US/UAE, 2010) Naomi Watts, Sean Penn. 108min. See review, page 65. General release. The Family Friend (15) ●●●●● (Paolo Sorrentino, Italy, 2006) Giacomo Rizzo, Fabrizio Bentivoglio, Laura Chiatti, Clara Bindi. 102min. Odd but pleasing Fellini-esque farce. Part of An Introduction to European Cinema. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Faster (15) ●●●●● (George Tillman Jr, US, 2010) Billy Bob Thornton, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Dwayne Johnson. 97min. See Also Released, page 68. General release. The Fighter (15) ●●●●● (David O Russell, US, 2010) Mark Wahlberg, Christian Bale, Amy Adams. 115min. Based on the true story of half-brothers Micky Ward (Wahlberg) and Dicky Eklund (Bale), David O Russell’s biopic charts their rise from a white trash neighbourhood in Massachusetts during the 1980s to world welterweight champion and jail respectively. General release. Fitzcarraldo (15) ●●●●● (Werner Herzog, Peru/West Germany, 1982) Klaus Kinski, Jose Lewgoy, Claudia Cardinale. 158min. Determinedly realistic South American odyssey that proved punishing for director, star, and the unfortunate hordes sucked into making their dreams a reality. But the result is damned impressive. Part of Werner Herzog season. Cameo, Edinburgh. Fly Me to the Moon (U) ●●●●● (Ben Stassen, US, 2008) Buzz Aldrin, Adrienne Barbeau, Ed Begley Jr. 84min. A 3D film describing mankind’s first trip to the moon. IMAX, Glasgow. The 400 Blows (PG) ●●●●● (François Truffaut, France, 1959) Jean- Pierre Léaud, Albert Rémy, Claire Maurier. 101min. Truffaut’s debut about a 13-year- old Parisian boy’s odyssey through his depressing family life is intensely moving and startlingly perceptive about childhood. A masterpiece. Cameo, Edinburgh. Four Lions (15) ●●●●● (Christopher Morris, UK, 2010) Benedict Cumberbatch,
Festival of Silent Cinema
Scotland’s first ever festival celebrating silent cinema starts this month in Scotland’s most beautiful cinema, The Hippodrome. Opening with a rare screening of Josef Von Sternberg’s 1927 flapper comedy It starring the mighty Clara Bow and closing with FW Murnau’s Nosferatu, this is three jam packed days not to be missed. Laurel and Hardy (pictured) and Charlie Chaplin films are honoured with a live accompaniment from the brilliant Neil Brand, who will also be giving a masterclass. There are also documentaries, workshops and the world premiere of a score composed by the local schools orchestra. Book now and book fast. Ticket deals available. ■ Hippodrome, Bo’Ness, Fri 18-Sun 20 Mar.
Alex MacQueen, Julia Davis. 101min. Post- 9/11 worthiness put aside, Morris hits the right note as he pokes fun at prejudices with some hapless British Muslims who want to blow themselves up as part of a misconstrued notion of Jihad. Cineworld Renfrew Street, Glasgow; Cineworld Fountainpark, Edinburgh. Future Shorts (E) (Various) 90min. An international initiative offering a monthly showcase of the finest short films from around the world. Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh. Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould (U) ●●●●● (Michèle Hozer, Peter Raymont, Canada, 2009) 111min. Utilising never-before seen footage, photographs, home recordings and diary entries, Hozer and Raymont’s documentary is a largely successful attempt to untangle the many myths that surround the life, talent and mental health of the enigmatic but extraordinary piano genius. Glasgow Film Theatre. Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (U) ●●●●● (Howard Hawks, US, 1953) Marilyn Monroe, Jane Russell, Charles Coburn. 91min. Digital re-release of Howard Hawks’ beloved 1953 comedy musical starring Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Get Low (PG) ●●●●● (Aaron Schneider, USA, 2009) Robert Duvall, Bill Murray, Sissy Spacek. 101min. A cobwebby comic spin on a 1930s American folk tale. A small town is surprised when curmudgeonly recluse Felix (Duvall) arranges to hold his own funeral before his death to see who turns up. Terrific performances from Duvall and Spacek as his only friend Mattie, but a hokey piece of storytelling. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (18) ●●●●● (Niels Arden Oplev, Sweden, 2009) Michael Nyqvist, Noomi Rapace, Peter Haber. 152min. The first of Stieg Laarson’s deservedly successful millennium thrillers receives a faithful but laborious film treatment. Cineworld Renfrew Street, Glasgow; Cineworld Fountainpark, Edinburgh. Gnomeo & Juliet 2D (U) ●●●●● (Kelly Asbury, UK/US, 2011) James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Michael Caine. 83min. Animated adaptation of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet ultimately undone by a few too many pop culture references and by the decision to concentrate on Elton John’s material rather than the bard’s. Selected release. Gnomeo & Juliet 3D (U) ●●●●● (Kelly Asbury, UK/US, 2011) James McAvoy, Emily Blunt, Michael Caine. 83min. See above. General release. Go (15) (Isao Yukisada, Japan, 2001) Yosuke Kubozuka, Kou Shibasaki, Shinobu Otake. 122min. Compelling drama about a Korean teenager living in Japan who falls in love with a Japanese girl and is left with a dilemma over whether or not to reveal his nationality to her. Part of Japanese Cinema Since the Mid-90s season. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Gypsy Melody (PG) ●●●●● (Edmond T Greville, UK, 1936) Lupe Velez, Alfred Rode, Jerry Verno. 73min. Full of rousing gypsy tunes performed by Alfred Rode and his Tzigane Orchestra, this tale combines cheery comedy with a story of the (still ongoing) Romany oppression. Part of Projecting the Archive. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Hall Pass (15) ●●●●● (Bobby Farrelly/Peter Farrelly, US, 2011) Owen Wilson, Jason Sudeikis, Jenna Fischer. 105min. See Also Released, page 68. General release. Happy Day (15) (Pantelis Voulgaris, Greece, 1976) Zorz Sarri, Giorgos Moshidis, Stavros Kalaroglou. 105min. This thinly- disguised allegory on Greece’s 1967–74 military junta is about the political prisoners of a concentration camp on a scorched island preparing a feast for the arrival of the ‘great mother’. Part of Greek Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (12A) ●●●●● (David Yates, UK/US, 2010) Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint. 146min. The seventh installment of the wildly popular wizard franchise is atmospheric but emotionally hollow. Vue Omni, Edinburgh. His & Hers (U) ●●●●● (Ken Wardrop, Ireland, 2009) 83min. See Also Released, page 68. Glasgow Film Theatre. How Much Does Your Building Weigh, Mr Foster? (E) ●●●●● (Carlos Carcas & Norberto Lopez Amado, UK/Spain/Germany/US/Switzerland/France/ China/Hong Kong, 2010) 78min. See Also Released, page 68. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. How to Train Your Dragon 2D (PG) ●●●●● (Dean DeBlois/Chris Sanders, US, 2010) Jay Baruchel, Gerard Butler, America Ferrera. 97min. Commendable
INDEX Film
new DreamWorks animation set in the mythical world of Vikings and dragons, and based on the book by Cressida Cowell. Hiccup, a Viking teenager, befriends a dragon. Macrobert, Stirling. Howl (15) ●●●●● (Rob Epstein & Jeffrey Friedman, US, 2010) James Franco, Jon Hamm, Mary-Louise Parker. 84min. See review, page 65. Glasgow Film Theatre; Filmhouse, Edinburgh. I Am Number Four (12A) ●●●●● (DJ Caruso, US, 2011) Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant, Teresa Palmer. 109min. Action-packed thriller based on book by Pittacus Lore about young man, John Smith (Pettyfer), who is a fugitive on the run from ruthless enemies sent to destroy him. Decent enough adventure thriller. General release. I for India (PG) ●●●●● (Sandhya Suri, UK, 2005) 70min. Lovely documentary which tells the story of Yash Pal Suri, an immigrant from India to the UK in 1965 who kept in touch with his family back home through a series of Super 8mm movies. Glasgow Women’s Library, Glasgow. I Was a Male War Bride (PG) ●●●●● (Howard Hawks, US, 1949) Cary Grant, Ann Sheridan, Marion Marshall. 106min. Rambunctious Hawksian romantic comedy set against realistic backgrounds. Part of Hawks season. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. The Insatiable Moon (15) ●●●●● (Rosemary Riddell, New Zealand, 2010) Ian Mune, Bruce Phillips, Sara Wiseman. 101min. See Also Released, page 68. Glasgow Film Theatre. In The Name of The Father (15) ●●●●● (Jim Sheridan, US/Ireland, 1993) Daniel Day-Lewis, Pete Postlethwaite, John Lynch. 133min. Writer-director Sheridan manipulates the facts concerning the wrongful arrest and eventual acquittal of Gerry Conlon, one of the Guildford Four; but the deep, disturbing truths of this miscarriage of justice remains. Day-Lewis and Postlethwaite give career-best performances as Gerry and Giuseppe Conlon, the father and son whose relationship provides the emotional core of the movie. Macrobert, Stirling. Inception (12A) ●●●●● (Christopher Nolan, US, 2010) Leonardo DiCaprio, Ken Watanabe, Ellen Page. 147min. DiCaprio stars as Don Cobb, a thief who is the master of the art of extraction, stealing secrets from the minds of the unconscious. Macrobert, Stirling. Inside Job (12A) ●●●●● (Charles Ferguson, US, 2010) Matt Damon, William Ackman, Daniel Alpert. 108min. The causes of the global financial crisis of 2008 are rigorously explored in this absorbing documentary from American filmmaker Ferguson. Cameo, Edinburgh. Insignificance (15) ●●●●● (Nicolas Roeg, UK, 1985) Michael Emil, Theresa Russell, Tony Curtis. 109min. Roeg’s adaptation of a play by Terry Johnson sees 20th-century stars from Marilyn Monroe to Senator McCarthy meet for a series of intense head-to-heads in hotel rooms. Part of Nick Roeg season. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Ironclad (15) ●●●●● (Jonathan English, UK/US, 2011) Brian Cox, Paul Giamatti, Derek Jacobi. 121min. See Also Released, page 68. General release. It (U) ●●●●● (Clarence Badger, US, 1927) Clara Bow, Antonia Moreno, William Austin. 76min. Bow is Betty Lou Spence, a shop girl with plenty of ‘it’ (as in ‘she’s got it’), and she’s in hot pursuit of department store owner Cyrus Waltham (Moreno). Screened with live piano accompaniment. Part of Festival of Silent Cinema. Hippodrome, Bo’ness. It’s a Long Road (15) (Pantelis Voulgaris, Greece, 1998) Thanasis Vengos, Giorgos Armenis, Dimitris Katalifos. 118min. Three parter dealing with people at major turning points in their lives – an archaeologist making a big discovery, a group of ornithologists facing a momentous decision and a factory owner abandoned by his wife and children. Part of Greek Film Festival. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. 3–31 March 2011 THE LIST 71