Film INDEX A Ship to India (15) ●●●●● (Ingmar Bergman, Sweden, 1947) 96min. A powerful love triangle featuring a hunchback sailor, his drunk father and a chorus girl. Part of Bergmann season. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Shout (15) (Ester Gould, Sabine Lubbe Bakker, Netherlands, 2010) 73min. As children, Ezat and Bayan planned to make the journey from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights across the UN-monitored no man’s land to study in Damascus. This documentary follows that journey. Followed by a Syrian short, Saturday Morning Gift. Part of Reel Festivals 2011: Syria and Lebanon. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. The Silent House (La Casa Muda) (15) ●●●●● (Gustavo Hernández, Uruguay, 2010) Florencia Colucci, Abel Tripaldi, Gustavo Alonso. 86min. Scary thriller about a young woman and her father who move into a seemingly perfect, off-the- beaten-track house, only to start hearing some unnerving bumps in the night. Glasgow Film Theatre. Simon Rattle & the Berlin Philharmonic: A Musical Journey (U) (UK, 2011) 105min. A recording of the Berlin Philharmonic made at Singapore’s Esplanade Concert Hall, with brilliant conductor Simon Rattle at the helm as they perform Mahler’s Symphony No 1 in D Major and Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances. Glasgow Film Theatre. Skin Cancer Event (12A) (Various, UK, Various). 120min. The British Science Association and the Edinburgh Cancer Research UK Centre present two documentaries, along with a short talk and Q&A. Moon Children examines the few children who cannot tolerate any sun and whose exposure causes skin cancer. Nicola Roberts: The Truth About Tanning follows the naturally pale Girls Aloud singer as she examines the culture of tanning amongst the UK’s youngsters. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. A Small Act (12) ●●●●● (Jennifer Arnold, US, 2010) 88min. A boy’s life in a Kenyan village was transformed when he won the sponsorship of a Swedish woman – Hilde Back – who he knew only by name. Now a graduate from Harvard and a Human Rights lawyer working for the UN, he has set up his own education programme for Kenyan children in her name. A moving testament to the selfless act of giving. Macrobert, Stirling. Sofi’s Carl Award Short Film Competition 2011 (E) (Various) Screening and judging of short films from local filmmakers. Contact sofis@bodabar.com for more information; submission deadline Mon 16 May. Sofi’s, Edinburgh. Something Borrowed (tbc) (Luke Greenfield, US, 2011) Kate Hudson, Ginnifer Goodwin, John Krasinski. tbcmin. See Also Released, page 57. General release. Source Code (12A) ●●●●● (Duncan Jones, US/France, 2011) Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga. 93min. Jones’ follow-up to dazzling debut Moon can’t quite match up but it does ensure the director’s career remains on the right track. Source Code is an intriguing race against
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time thriller with sci-fi and philosophical elements. While undoubtedly silly, it grips by virtue of its sharply drawn characters and its mix of wider ethical issues. General release. Steel Magnolias (PG) ●●●●● (Herbert Ross, US, 1989) Shirley MacLaine, Dolly Parton, Sally Field, Olympia Dukakis, Julia Roberts. 117min. The ‘down home’ tale of a bevy of southern belles who support each other through weepy tragedy by means of hugs and wisecracks. Loads of local colour and tragedy but you can’t help feeling that you’ve been emotionally manipulated by a bunch of Sindy dolls. Sloans, Glasgow. La Strada (15) ●●●●● (Federico Fellini, Italy, 1954) Guilietta Masina, Anthony Quinn, Richard Basehart. 115min. Fellini’s wife Masina is unforgettable as a simple-minded girl in love with larger-than- life circus strongman Zampano (Quinn), who dies of a broken heart when he kills the gentle tightrope-walker (Basehart) who had befriended her. Part of Dylan at the Movies season. Glasgow Film Theatre. Submarine (15) ●●●●● (Richard Ayoade, UK, 2010) Craig Roberts, Yasmin Paige, Noah Taylor. 94min. A witty, poignant and hugely accomplished British comedy about a 15-year-old schoolboy (Roberts) struggling with a rich fantasy life in a Welsh village in the late 20th century. Debut director Ayoade (star of The IT Crowd) looks set for a glowing career. Selected release. Sucker Punch (12A) ●●●●● (Zack Snyder, US/Canada, 2011) Emily Browning, Abbie Cornish, Jena Malone. 109min. Epic action fantasy that takes us inside the vivid imagination of a young girl. Selected release. Syrian Schools (15) (May Abdalla, Max Baring, Sarah Hamilton, UK, 2010) 60min. Covering a year in the life of four schools in Damascus, this film reveals some remarkable characters and challenges. Part of Reel Festivals 2011: Syria and Lebanon. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. TT3D: Closer to the Edge (E) ●●●●● (Richard de Aragues, UK, 2011) Guy Martin, Ian Hutchinson, John McGuinness. 103min. Impressively shot documentary about The Isle of Man’s annual dangerous and exhilarating motorcycling Tourist Trophy. Cameo, Edinburgh. Take Me Home Tonight (15) ●●●●● (Michael Dowse, US/Germany, 2011) Topher Grace, Anna Faris, Dan Fogler. 97min. Predictably tedious Yuppie-era romantic comedy with all the requisite bad- taste 80s stylings. General release. Tangled 2D (PG) ●●●●● (Nathan Greno, US, 2010) Voices of Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi, Donna Murphy. 96min. Disney/Pixar funk-up of the classic tale of Rapunzel that is nonetheless traditional to the core, blessed with catchy musical numbers and a plethora of scenes ripped off directly from the studio’s own back catalogue (see Aladdin, Little Mermaid et al). Macrobert, Stirling. Taxi Driver (18) ●●●●● (Martin Scorsese, US, 1976) Robert De Niro, Cybill Shepherd, Jodie Foster. 114min. See Also Released, page 57. Filmhouse, Edinburgh; Glasgow Film Theatre. Taxi Zum Klo (18) ●●●●● (Frank Ripploh, Germany, 1980) Frank Ripploh, Bernd Broaderup, Orpha Ter. 94min. The lifestyles of an ill-matched gay couple – one house-proud, the other happier out on the scene – are shown as ‘different’ but in no way perverse. While it reveals its low- budget and autobiographical roots, it still manages to dispel a few myths with its irony and wit. Cameo, Edinburgh. The Tempest (PG) ●●●●● (Julie Taymor, UK, 2011) Helen Mirren, Alan Cumming, Felicity Jones. 109min. With an all-star cast, stunning Oscar-nominated costumes by Sandy Powell and lashings of CGI, Taymor’s gender-bending adaptation (starring Mirren as ‘Prospera’) sounds lively enough, but it flounders in ugly visuals and pretension. Selected release.
✽✽ 13 Assassins (15) ●●●●● (Takashi Miike, Japan/UK, 2010) Kôji
Yakusho, Takayuki Yamada, Yûsuke Iseya.
126min. See review, page 54. Filmhouse, Edinburgh; Glasgow Film Theatre; DCA, Dundee. Thor 2D (12A) ●●●●● (Kenneth Branagh, US, 2011) Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins. 114min. Enjoyable and entertainingly absurd new superhero adventure introducing the hammering god. Branagh, as director brings a Shakespearean grandeur to proceedings. General release. Thor 3D (12A) ●●●●● (Kenneth Branagh, US, 2011) Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, Anthony Hopkins. 114min. See above. General release. A Touch of Evil (18) ●●●●● (Orson Welles, US, 1958) Orson Welles, Charlton Heston, Marlene Dietrich, Janet Leigh. 108min. In a sleazy border town, the murder of a Mexican bigwig causes friction between corrupt local detective Hank Quinlan (Welles himself) and upright Mexican narcotics agent Vargas (Heston). Sofi’s, Edinburgh. Tracker (12A) ●●●●● (Ian Sharp, UK/New Zealand, 2010) Ray Winstone, Temuera Morrison. 101min. Boer war soldier goes in search of a Maori accused of murder. Selected release. Transition in Scotland (E) (Various, UK, 2011) 26min. A programme of shorts showing how groups in Scotland are making changes to their ways of life in the face of climate change and peak oil. Glasgow Film Theatre. The Tree of Life (tbc) (Terrence Malick, US, 2011) Brad Pitt, Sean Penn, Jessica Chastain. 138min. See Also Released, page 57. General release. Tron: Legacy 2D (PG) ●●●●● (Joseph Kosinski, US, 2010) Jeff Bridges, Garrett Hedlund, Michael Sheen. 127min. Long-awaited sequel to the 1982 cult fave starring Hedlund as Sam, the son of missing games designer Kevin (Bridges) who follows his father into a virtual world. Konsinski’s remake will appeal to original fans but is otherwise a gaudy, nonsensical confection with cringeworthy dialogue (if good soundtrack). Glasgow Film Theatre. A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventures 2D (U) ●●●●● (Ben Stassen, Belgium, 2010) Voices of Melanie Griffith, Isabelle Fuhrman, Yuri Lowenthal. 85min. Likeable animation with an environmental message. Selected release. 12 Angry Lebanese: The Documentary (15) (Zeina Daccache, Lebanon, 2009) 78min. In 2008, drama therapist Zeina Daccache staged a production of 12 Angry Men in one of Lebanon’s toughest prisons, performed by a mixture of murderers, rapists and drug dealers. This documentary follows their individual and collaborative development. Part of Reel Festivals 2011: Syria and Lebanon. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Under the Sea (U) (Howard Hall, UK, 2009) Jim Carrey. 65min. Carrey narrates an underwater 3D look at the impact of global warming upon the diverse coastal regions of Southern Australia, New Guinea and the Indo-Pacific areas. Unknown (12A) ●●●●● (Jaume Collet- Serra, UK/Germany/France/Canda/Japan/ US, 2011) Liam Neeson, January Jones, Diane Kruger. 113min. Neeson plays a biotech scientist in Berlin set to attend a conference, but things go awry when the good doctor leaves his briefcase at the airport. One car crash later and he’s in a coma, his identity stolen and no one believes that he is the man he purports to be. Director Collet-Serra makes the best of the preposterous but plenty of suspension of belief is required. Selected release. Upside Down: The Creation Records Story (15) ●●●●● (Danny O’Connor, UK, 2010) 101min. See Also Released, page 57. Glasgow Film Theatre. The Veteran (tbc) ●●●●● (Matthew Hope, UK, 2011) Toby Kebbell, Brian Cox, Tony Curran. 90min. A soldier returning from Afghanistan uncovers mass corruption involving intelligence services and drug dealers. Selected release. Vidal Sassoon: The Movie (PG) ●●●●● (Craig Teper, US, 2010) 90min. See review, page 57. Selected release from Mon 30 May.
¡Viva México! (tbc) (Nicolás Défossé, Mexico, 2009) 120min. Documentary following Zapatista spokesman Subcommander Marcos on a journey across Mexico. Augustine United Church, Edinburgh; Glasgow Film Theatre. Waste Land (PG) ●●●●● (Lucy Walker, Brazil/UK, 2010) 98min. This Oscar-nominated documentary is set in the Jardim Gramacho in Rio de Janeiro, the world’s largest rubbish dump. Powered by Moby’s soundtrack, Waste Land engages a range of visual perspectives on the enormous site as artists and recyclers recreate classic paintings. Uplifting work which demonstrates how art can transform lives. The Hippodrome, Bo’ness. Water for Elephants (12A) (Francis Lawrence, US, 2011) Reese Witherspoon, Robert Pattinson, Christoph Waltz. 120min. See Also Released, page 57. General release. The Way (12A) ●●●●● (Emilio Estevez, US, 2010) Martin Sheen, Emilio Estevez, Deborah Kara Unger. 128min. See Also Released, page 57. Selected release. When We Leave (Die Fremde) (15) (Feo Aladag, Germany, 2010) Sibel Kekilli, Nizam Schiller, Derya Alabora. 119min. A Turkish woman flees her abusive husband to her home in Berlin. Love turns to rebellion as she is coerced by her family into accepting her fate. Filmhouse, Edinburgh; Glasgow Film Theatre. The Wiggles: Greatest Hits in the Round (U) (Paul Field, Australia, 2010) Anthony Field, Murray Cook, Jeff Fatt, Sam Moran. 82min. Twenty years of hits from hyperactive Australian children’s entertainers The Wiggles. Showcase Cinema, Paisley.
✽✽ Win Win (15) ●●●●● (Thomas McCarthy, US, 2011) Paul Giamatti,
Amy Ryan, Bobby Cannavale. 106min. See review, page 57. Selected release. Winnie the Pooh (U) ●●●●● (Stephen J Anderson/Don Hall, US, 2011) Voices: Jim Cummings, Craig Ferguson, John Cleese. 73min. Disney returns to the Hundred Acre Wood with pleasing results. General release. With Gilbert & George (E) (Julian Cole, UK, 2008) 104min. Cole examines the life and work of artists Gilbert & George. Macrobert, Stirling. With Landscape in Mind (E) (Joe Cornish, UK, 2011) 70min. Photographer Cornish journeys from coast to coast across the north of England in a combination of technical instruction and inspiration. Glasgow Film Theatre. Yogi Bear 2D (U) ●●●●● (Eric Brevig, US/New Zealand, 2010) Dan Aykroyd, Justin Timberlake, Anna Faris. 80min. Yogi Bear (Aykroyd) sets about saving Jellystone Park from corrupt politico Mayor Brown (Daly) with the help of a documentary maker (Faris) and pal BooBoo (Timberlake). Good films for children are hard to get right but Yogi Bear makes it look almost impossible. Vue Omni, Edinburgh. Your Highness (15) ●●●●● (David Gordon Greene, US, 2011) Danny McBride, Zooey Deschanel, James Franco. 102min. Epic comedy adventure set in a fantastical world of knights and dragons from gifted US filmmaker Greene (George Washington, Pineapple Express). General release. You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (12A) ●●●●● (Woody Allen, UK, 2011) Antonio Banderas, Josh Brolin, Anthony Hopkins, Gemma Jones. 98min. Allen returns to London with an amusing if slight comedy about failed ambitions and illicit passions. There’s pleasure to be found in Allen’s ability to expertly weave storylines together but despite its impressive cast, the characters and relationships feel like tired parodies. The Hippodrome, Bo’ness. Zabad (15) (Reem Ali, Syria, 2006) 48min. Intimate documentary about a Syrian family torn apart by its dependence on one member versus her desire to seek a better life abroad. Followed by the short Lights, exploring the influence of a dam on a family’s life. Part of Reel Festivals 2011: Syria and Lebanon. Filmhouse, Edinburgh.