Film INDEX Death Defying Acts (12A) ●●●●● (Gillian Armstrong, UK/Australia, 2007) Catherine Zeta-Jones, Guy Pearce, Timothy Spall. 97min. Freely mixing historical fact with fictionalised biography, this film turns on a fascinating premise: a battle of wits and wills between world-famous escapist and skeptic of all things supernatural Harry Houdini (Pearce) and a Scots con-woman posing as a psychic (Zeta-Jones). Interesting as all that sounds, though, Death Defying Acts is surprisingly dull. Part of Magic Cinema season. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Deep End (15) ●●●●● (Jerzy Skolimowski, Germany/UK, 1970) Jane Asher, John Moulder-Brown, Karl Michael Vogler. 92min. This coming-of-age cult sex comedy follows a naive school-leaver employed at a run-down swimming baths who obsesses over a colleague. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Dersu Uzala (U) ●●●●● (Akira Kurosawa, Japan/USSR, 1975) Maksim Munzak, Yuri Solo. 141min. Unusual project for Kurosawa, who went to Russia due to lack of work in his native country. The film is beautifully shot, especially the eerie Siberian landscapes, but the plot – concerning the meeting between a ‘civilised’ Russian military captain and a ‘primitive’ Oriental trapper – smacks of simplistic Mosfilm party line. Part of Environmental Dialogues season. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (U) ●●●●● (David Bowers, US, 2011) Zachary Gordon, Devon Bostick, Rachael Harris. 99min. Anaemic sequel to last year’s adaptation of Jeff Kinney’s best- selling books. General release. Early Years Screenings (U) (Various) Five screenings of films specially chosen to delight both the smallest members of the family and their chaperones alike: The Jungle Book (Sat 2 Jul), Peter Pan (Sun 3 Jul), Cat in the Hat (Mon 4 Jul), Ponyo (Tue 5 Jul), Yellow Submarine (Sat 9 Jul). Part of the Early Years Festival. Eastwood Park Theatre, Glasgow.
Edinburgh International Film Festival For coverage of the last few days of the EIFF, see feature, from page 24. Various Venues, Edinburgh. The Evil Dead (18) ●●●●● (Sam Riami, US, 1982) Bruce Campbell, Ellen Sandweiss, Betsy Baker. 85min. Five unsuspecting youngsters head off for a healthy weekend in a mountain cabin, only to fall foul of wicked demons whose purpose is wholesale slaughter. A classic. Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee. The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec (12A) ●●●●● (Luc Besson, France, 2010) Louise Bourgoin, Mathieu Amalric, Gilles Lellouche. 107min. Adapted from Jacques Tardi’s long-running comic book series and set on the eve of World War I, this polished blend of CGI effects and live-action footage is handsomely designed and makes effective use of its landmark Parisian locations. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Fast & Furious 5 (12A) ●●●●● (Justin Lin, US, 2011) Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Dwayne Johnson. 90min. Fifth installment in The Fast & the Furious franchise as Diesel returns with his big hot rod in this latest vroom vroom action adventure. Selected release. Fight Club (18) ●●●●● (David Fincher, US, 1999) Brad Pitt, Ed Norton, Helena Bonham Carter. 135min. Masculinity is in a mess and consumerism is to blame. Men have become docile spectators of life according to Fight Club, Fincher’s controversial adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk’s novel. In reckless response to this late 20th century malaise, Norton’s compliant spectator teams up with Pitt’s mischievous Tyler Durden to form an arena for men to beat each other to a pulp and thus reconnect with the world. It’s hit and miss, but enough of the punches connect. Sloans, Glasgow. Film London Artists’ Moving Image Network: Selected (18) (Various, UK, 2011) 90min. A touring film programme curated by Ben Rivers, Emily Wardill, Zineb Sedira and Spartacus Chetwynd, the 2010 nominees for the Jarman Award. CCA, Glasgow. Fire in Babylon (12A) ●●●●● (Stevan Riley, UK, 2010) 82min. Documentary about the many successes of the West Indian cricket team of the 1970s and 80s. Filmhouse, Edinburgh; Glasgow Film Theatre. The First Grader (12A) ●●●●● (Justin Chadwick, UK/US/Kenya, 2010) Naomie Harris, Sam Feuer, Tony Kgoroge. 103min. Kimani Ng’ang’a Maruge (Oliver Musila Litondo) is an old man who decides to attend school in his Kenyan homeland, taking up the government’s promise that education should be free for all. Based on real life, Chadwick’s film seeks to inspire and uplift, but succeeds only in neutering the story. Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee. Flying Monsters (U) (Matthew Dyas, UK, 2011) 39min. Sir David Attenborough investigates the life of dinosaurs. Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee. Glyndebourne – Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg (E) (David McVicar, UK, 2011) 360min. This celebration of art and the shared joy of song tells the tale of a young knight who wins the hand of a goldsmith’s daughter with the help of cobbler-poet Hans Sachs. Glasgow Film Theatre. The Great White Silence (U) ●●●●● (Herbert G Ponting, UK, 1924) 108min. This documentary follows the fateful British Antarctic Expedition led by Captain Scott, filmed by official photographer Herbert Ponting and now restored by the BFI National Archive. Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee; The Hippodrome, Bo’ness. Green Lantern 2D (12A) (Martin Campbell, US, 2011) Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Mark Strong. 113min. Summer superhero blockbuster as Reynolds is bestowed the power of the Green Lantern in this sci-fi action romp. See review at list.co.uk. General release. Green Lantern 3D (12A) (Martin Campbell, US, 2011) Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Mark Strong. 113min. See above. General release.
The Green Wave (E) (Ali Samadi Ahadi, Germany, 2010) 80min. This documentary, combining animation, live action, tweets and more examines the effects of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s victory in Iran’s 2009 elections under suspicious circumstances. It paints a portrait of political rebellion, government-sanctioned violence and a vision of hope. This screening will be accompanied by an introduction and Q&A with director Ali Samadi Ahadi. A Take One Action Presentation. Glasgow Film Theatre. The Guard (15) ●●●●● (John Michael McDonagh, Ireland, 2011) Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle, Liam Cunningham. 96min. See review, page 63. Selected release Gulliver’s Travels 2D (PG) ●●●●● (Rob Letterman, US, 2010) Jack Black, Jason Segel, Chris O’Dowd. 87min. Tiresome ageing man-child Black plays himself in this film that doesn’t so much deviate from Swift’s landmark work of satire as transform it into a flimsy piece of pop culture-obsessed fluff. Gulliver becomes a mail clerk shipwrecked on an island of tiny folk who finds favour with the local royals but is troubled by the machinations of governor Edwardian (O’Dowd). Unfunny and lacking cohesion. The Hippodrome, Bo’ness. The Hangover Part II (15) ●●●●● (Todd Phillips, US, 2011) Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Jamie Chung. 101min. Hair of the dog anyone? Those bad boys from The Hangover head to Thailand for more rum, sodomy and the lash. The law of diminishing returns ensures that The Hangover: Part II is a painful, queasy retread. General release.
✽✽ Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (12A) (David
Yates, UK/US, 2011) Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint. 130min. See Also Released, page 64. General release. Heathers (15) ●●●●● (Michael Lehman, US, 1989) Winona Ryder, Christian Slater, Lisanne Falk. 102min. An ultrablack parody of the high school teenflick, Lehman’s first feature film
CINEMA INFORMATION GLASGOW
Britannia Panopticon Music Hall above Mitchell's Amusements, Trongate. 0141 553 0840 Free. CCA 350 Sauchiehall Street. 0141 352 4900. cca- glasgow.com Prices vary (free--£5).
Cineworld Parkhead Forge Shopping Centre, 1221 Gallowgate. 0871 200 2000. cineworld.co.uk £5.90--£6.50 (£4.40--£4.80; family ticket £18.80); 3D supplement £2.10 (£1.50); glasses 80p per pair. Off peak prices Mon--Thu before 5pm.
Cineworld Renfrew Street 7 Renfrew Street. 0871 200 2000. cineworld.co.uk £6.30--£7.50 (£5.20; family ticket £21.20); 3D supplement £2.10 (£1.50); glasses 80p per pair. Off peak prices Mon--Thu before 5pm and Fri--Sun before noon. Eastwood Park Theatre Rouken Glen Road, Giffnock. 0141 577 4970.
Screenings this month are as part of the Early Years Festival; all tickets £3. Empire Clyde Regional Centre, 23 Britannia Way. 0871 471 4714. empirecinemas.co.uk £5.20--£6.75 (£5; family ticket £20); 3D supplement £1.50. Off peak prices Mon--Thu before 5pm; SaverDay Tuesday £3.95.
Glasgow Film Theatre 12 Rose Street. 0141 332 6535. glasgowfilm.org/theatre £6.90 (£5.20).
Grosvenor Ashton Lane, Hillhead. 0845 166 6002. grosvenorcafe.co.uk/cine ma £5--£7.75 (£4--£6; sofa seats £15--£30). Various peak and off peak prices throughout the week. IMAX Theatre Glasgow Science Centre, 50 Pacific Quay. 0141 420 5000. gsc.org.uk/imax Feature films £9.95 (£7.95); IMAX science films: add £2.50 to Science Mall admission.
Odeon at the Quay Springfield Quay, Paisley Road. 0871 22 44 007. odeon.co.uk £7.10--£8.40 (£4.85--£6.25;
family ticket £19.40--£23); 3D supplement £2 (£1.60); glasses £1 per pair. Off peak prices Mon--Thu before 5pm.
Odeon Braehead X-scape, Kings Inch Road. 0871 2244 007. odeon.co.uk £7.10--£8.40 (£5.20--£6.80; family ticket £20.80-- £24.60); 3D supplement £2 (£1.60); glasses £1 per pair. Off peak prices Mon--Thu before 5pm.
Showcase Cinema Barrbridge Leisure Centre, Coatbridge. 0871 220 1000. showcasecinemas.co.uk £5.90--£7.20 (£5.40); 3D supplement £2; glasses £1 per pair. Off peak prices before noon. Showcase Cinema Griffin Avenue, Phoenix Business Park, Paisley. 0871 220 1000. showcasecinemas.co.uk £5.90--£7.20 (£5.40); 3D supplement £2; glasses £1 per pair. Off peak prices Mon--Fri before 6pm; Sat & Sun before noon. Sloans 62 Argyle Arcade, 108 Argyle Street. 0141 221 8886. sloansglasgow.com/eatfil m Free.
EDINBURGH
Brunton Theatre Ladywell Way, Musselburgh. 0131 665 2240. bruntontheatre.co.uk £5.60 (£4.60--£5.10). Cameo 38 Home Street. 0871 902 5723. picturehouses.co.uk £5.30--£7.30 (£2--£5.80). Sunday double bills £7.30 (concessions £5.80; members free).Off peak price Tue--Fri before 5pm, all late shows and all day Mon; Wed first screening £2 for concessions.
Cineworld Fountainpark Fountain Park, 130/3 Dundee Street. 0871 200 2000. cineworld.co.uk £6.70--£7.90 (£5.10; family ticket £21.60); 3D supplement £2.10 (£1.50); glasses 80p per pair. Off peak prices Mon--Fri before 5pm.
Dominion 18 Newbattle Terrace. 0131 447 4771. dominioncinemas.net £6--£10.90 after (£4.60-- £7.90; seniors discount Sun--Thu only). Off peak prices before 6pm. Filmhouse 88 Lothian Road. 0131 228 2688.
filmhousecinema.com £5.60--£7.50 (£2.60-- £5.50). Off peak prices Mon--Fri before 5pm (extra discount on Fri). Ingleby Gallery 15 Calton Road. 0131 556 4441. inglebygallery.com Free; booking required, email info@inglebygallery.com, subject line FILM.
Odeon 118 Lothian Road. 0871 22 44 007. odeon.co.uk £7.50--£8.85 (£5.50--£6.90; family ticket £22--£26); 3D supplement £2 (£1.60); glasses £1 per pair. Off peak prices Mon--Thu before 5pm. Odeon Wester Hailes 120 Wester Hailes Road, Westside Plaza. 0871 22 44 007. odeon.co.uk £6.60--£7.85 (£4.75--£6; family ticket £19--£22.60); premier seat upgrade £1.10 (family £4.40); 3D supplement £2 (£1.60); glasses £1 per pair. Off peak prices Mon--Thu before 5pm.
Vue Ocean Ocean Terminal, Ocean Drive, Victoria Dock, Leith. 0871 224 0240. myvue.com £5.95--£8 (£4.50--£6.10; family ticket £18--£23.80); 3D supplement £2.40
(£1.80). Off peak prices all day Mon--Thu and Fri before 5pm (extra discounts Mon--Thu before 5pm). Vue Omni Omni, Greenside. 0871 224 0240. myvue.com £5.95--£8 (£4.50--£6.10; family ticket £18--£23.80); 3D supplement £2.40 (£1.80). Off peak prices all day Mon--Thu and Fri before 5pm (extra discounts Mon--Thu before 5pm).
OTHER INDEPENDENTS The Hippodrome 10 Hope Street, Bo'ness. 01324 506850. falkirk.gov.uk/ hippodrome £5.55 (£4.25; family ticket £15.20).
Macrobert University of Stirling, Stirling. 01786 466666. macrobert.org £4.75--£5.75 (£4.25-- £5.25). Off peak prices before 6pm. Dundee Contemporary Arts Nethergate, Dundee. 01382 909900. dca.org.uk £4.50--£6 (£3.50). Off peak prices before 5pm (extra discounts Mon--Thu).
66 THE LIST 23 Jun–21 Jul 2011