Film REVIEWS
ALSO RELEASED
Donor Unknown (15) 78min ●●●●● Intriguing documentary about a woman who goes in search of her sperm donor father. A Q&A will follow this screening with the filmmakers and specialists in reproductive medicine, fertility and medical ethics. GFT, Glasgow. Thu 9 Jun. Rio Breaks (12A) 84min ●●●●● Documentary about two adolescent friends who try to escape the Rio slums through their love of surfing. Selected release from Fri 3 Jun. Screwed (18) 109min Drama based on prison guard Ronnie Thompson’s book about working in some of the UK’s worst prisons. James D’Arcy and Noel Clarke star. Will be reviewed at list.co.uk. Selected release from Fri 3 Jun.
Senna (12A) 105min Acclaimed filmmaker Asif Kapadia’s documentary biography of the short and wild times of Brazilian Formula One champion Ayrton Senna. Will be reviewed at list.co.uk. GFT, Glasgow, Fri 3–Thu 16 Jun. The Flaw (tbc) 66min ●●●●● Commendably intelligent documentary about the models of economic meltdown that proceeded the 2008 collapse. Selected release from Fri 3 Jun. Cutter’s Way (15) 104min ●●●●● Welcome reissue of Ivan Passer’s excellent 1981 noir starring Jeff Bridges and John Heard. Selected release from Fri 10 Jun. Sweetgrass (15) 101min ●●●●● Visually stunning documentary about a group of ageing shepherds/cowboys who take their flocks of sheep on a 300-mile trail through Montana for one last time. Will be reviewed in full at list.co.uk. Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Fri 10–Mon 13 Jun. Honey 2 (12A) 110min Belated sequel to 2003 drama about dancer and choreographer Honey Daniels. Her spirit lives on in talented Bronx girl Maria (Katerina Graham). Will be reviewed at list.co.uk. General release from Fri 10 Jun. Jumping the Broom (tbc) 112min Two African-American families from different economic backgrounds come together for a wedding at Martha’s Vineyard. Will be reviewed at list.co.uk. General release from Fri 10 Jun. Kung Fu Panda 2 (PG) 90min Sequel to popular animated comedy. Will be reviewed at list.co.uk. General release from Fri 10 Jun. Bad Teacher (15) 91min A foul- 86 THE LIST 26 May–23 Jun 2011
mouthed young teacher causes chaos when she tries to seduce a colleague. Comedy starring Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake, directed by Jake Kasdan (Walk Hard: the Dewey Cox Story). Will be reviewed at list.co.uk. General release from Fri 17 Jun. Green Lantern (tbc) tbcmin First of the summer superhero blockbusters stars Ryan Reynolds and is directed by Casino Royale’s Martin Campbell. Will be reviewed at list.co.uk. General release from Fri 17 Jun. Stake Land (15) 98min ●●●●● Very impressive post apocalyptic vampire road movie. See profile, page 82, and read full review at list.co.uk. General release from Fri 17 Jun. Swinging with the Finkels (15) 84min Comedy about a couple who try to save their marriage with experimental sex. Will be reviewed at list.co.uk. Selected release from Fri 17 Jun. Life, Above All (12A) 105min ●●●●● Powerful mother/daughter relationship drama set in modern- day South Africa. Read full review at list.co.uk. Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Fri 10–Wed 15 Jun; GFT, Glasgow, Mon 20–Wed 22 Jun. Viva Riva! (15) 98min ●●●●● Impressive Congolese drama set in the black market community of Kinshasa. Reviewed in full at list.co.uk. GFT, Glasgow, Fri 24–Thu 30 Jun; Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Fri 1–Thu 21 Jul. The Big Picture (L'Homme Qui Voulait Vivre Sa Vie) (tbc) 114min ●●●●● Artful and nuanced adaptation of Douglas Kennedy's existential thriller of murder, identity theft and abandonment. Stars Romain Duris. Read full review at list.co.uk. Selected release from Fri 24 Jun. Countdown to Zero (12A) 91min ●●●●● Documentary filmmaker Lucy Walker's fast paced and absorbing film put forwards an argument for nuclear disarmament by looking at its sorry history as a military deterrent. Read full review at list.co.uk. Selected release from Fri 24 Jun. Fire in Babylon (12A) 86min ●●●●● Enjoyable documentary about the great West Indies cricket team of the 1970s and 1980s. Reviewed in full at list.co.uk GFT, Glasgow, Mon 27–Wed 29 Jun; Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Mon 27 & Tue 28 Jun.
COMEDY/HORROR/SCI-FI KABOOM (15) 86min ●●●●●
Cult director Gregg Araki (The Living End, Mysterious Skin), one of the leading figures in the New Queer Cinema of the 90s, returns to the style of his earlier work for Kaboom, a gloriously trashy, insane ride of a film that wears its B-movie influences on its sleeve. Smith (Thomas Dekker) is a college student in California. His life involves
hanging out with his quick-witted best friend Stella (Haley Bennett) and lusting after his surfer roommate Thor (Chris Zylka). After one surreal night, things take a bizarre turn and he begins to be plagued by a series of strange events leading him to believe that he is at the centre of a giant conspiracy.
As only the best directors succeed in doing, Araki creates his own distinct world, one of beautiful, hip people, witty dialogue and dreamlike happenings. There is also sex, lots of it (something that won’t surprise fans of the filmmaker). Kaboom is a riot of wild plot developments which send the film careering from one unexpected scenario to the next, taking its viewers on an increasingly crazy journey. It might not make a whole lot of sense, but for those willing to jump aboard and go with it, it’s unbridled fun. (Gail Tolley) ■ Selected release from Fri 10 Jun. See profile at list.co.uk.
BIOGRAPHY/DRAMA THE FIRST GRADER (12A) 102min ●●●●●
The importance of free education may be a perennial political hot potato, but films like Justin Chadwick’s The First Grader add little to the debate other than good intentions. Based on a true story, Chadwick’s film seeks to inspire and uplift, but succeeds only in neutering a story that could have more potent meanings.
Kimani N’gan’ga Maruge (Oliver Musila Litondo) is an 85-year-old man who decides to attend school in his mountainous Kenyan homeland, taking up the government’s promise that education should be free for all. Unable to read and write, he’s incongruously forced to attend classes alongside six-year-olds, but presses on with the help of his sensitive teacher Jane Obinchu (Naomie Harris). The reasons for Maruge’s illiteracy are sketched in through flashbacks, as his refusal to bend to his British oppressors leads to his tragic separation from his wife and child. The First Grader pulls few punches in terms of its negative portrayal of British
colonialism, but swathes its politics in bland, feel-good emotion that waters down its criticism. Chadwick, a TV director who graduated via the dire The Other Boleyn Girl, never grasps at the angry heart of the story, and instead offers up a wan inspirational teacher drama with a climax lifted directly from Dead Poets Society. (Eddie Harrison) ■ Selected release from Fri 24 Jun.