Film HITLIST THE BEST FILM & DVD RELEASES

list.co.uk/film

50/50 Joseph Gordon-Levitt stars in this unlikely comedy about a young man dealing with cancer. It’s from a script by Will Reiser, who based it on his own experience with the disease, with Reiser’s real-life mate Seth Rogen filling the same role onscreen. See review, page 74. General release from Fri 25 Nov.

Another Earth Indie sci-fi romance about a tormented couple who glimpse a chance at a new start when an alternative-reality planet materialises. See review, page 72. General release from Fri 9 Dec.

Blood in the Mobile Hard-hitting documentary about the human cost of the telecommunications industry. See review, page 73. Filmhouse, Edinburgh from Fri 25 Nov–Thu 1 Dec. Part of the Take One Action Film Festival. Las Acacias The ‘high quality South American road movie’ genre gains another member with this minimalist drama from Argentina. See review, page 71. Selected release from Fri 2 Dec.

Oslo, August 31st Beautifully melancholic drama from award-winning director Joachim Trier, about a recovering drug addict fresh out of rehab, set over the course of 24 hours. See review, page 71. GFT, Glasgow from Fri 18-Thu 24 Nov. Puss in Boots Antonio Banderas pulls on the oversize boots and furry feline outfit yet again, with surprisingly funny results. Zach Galifianakis, Salma Hayek and Billy Bob Thornton. See review, page 71. General release from Fri 9 Dec.

We Have a Pope Funny yet moving drama about a newly elected Pope who’s not entirely sure he’s up for the job, and seeks help from secular psychoanalysts to find out. See review, page 70. Selected release from Fri 2 Dec.

The Deep Blue Sea Rachel Weisz, Tom Hiddleston and Simon Russell Beale form three sides of a love triangle in Terence Davies’ adaptation of Terence Rattigan’s play. See review, page 72. General release from Fri 25 Nov.

Tintin Hergé’s boy detective is still lighting up the multiplexes in this rollicking adventure directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Jamie Bell and Daniel Craig. See review at list.co.uk. Out now on general release.

Black Pond The Thick of It’s Chris Langham returns to the screen in this indie black comedy about a family accused of murder, also featuring Simon Amstell. See review at list.co.uk. Cameo, Edinburgh, Fri 25 Nov–Thu 1 Dec.

Profile

MICHAEL SHANNON

Born August 7th, 1974 Background Intense actor from Kentucky, best known for playing disturbed characters in films such as Bug and Revolutionary Road. In Take Shelter he portrays a man suffering from apocalyptic nightmares. Also crops up in Boardwalk Empire and the forthcoming Man of Steel.

Why he’s playing another unstable character in Take Shelter ‘When I do something like this, I’m not thinking: “Wow, what a great opportunity to explore mental illness.” I’m thinking, “This is a fantastic love story.”’

On apocalyptic anxieties ‘People have been thinking the world was going to end ever since it started. But it is getting a bit oppressive right now. It’s very hard to read a newspaper or a magazine without seeing a story about how screwed everything is. It’s kind of like Chinese water torture. Eventually it’s going to make a mark.’ He’d like to work with Lars von Trier, despite the director’s ‘Nazi’ meltdown in Cannes ‘[Cannes was] blown out of proportion. I read an article in American GQ recently where he’s trying to explain himself . . . [and] the guy’s obviously incredibly tortured. I don’t think a day passes where he doesn’t feel like he’s going to lose his mind. People that say things like that, they’re usually suffering quite a bit.’

On trying to understand real-life contract killer Richard Kuklinski, for 2013’s The Ice Man ‘We’re all people, and any one of us is capable of anything . . . I would never endorse anybody harming anybody in any way, shape or form, but I look at somebody like Kuklinski and this double life he led, and that is fascinating to me.’ (Stephen Applebaum) Take Shelter is on selected release from Fri 25 Nov.

17 Nov–15 Dec 2011 THE LIST 69