Film LISTINGS
Marina Abramovic: The Artist is Present (15) ●●●●● (Matthew Akers, US, 2012) Marina Abramovic, Ulay, Klaus Biesenbach. 105min. Akers’ documentary about Serbian performance artist Marina Abramovic offers a helpful crib-sheet to her career. There are revealing interviews and some shocking clips of her earlier work, some of which involves self-mutilation; but Akers’ film manages to make the artist’s work seem accessible and ultimately even life-affirming. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Men in Black III (PG) ●●●●● (Barry Sonnenfeld, US, 2012) Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Josh Brolin. 105min. In a Back to the Future-style escapade, Agent J (Smith) must go back in time and stop the young Agent K (Josh Brolin) being killed by an alien criminal and altering the shape of the Agency. General release. Men Who Swim (tbc) (Dylan Williams, UK/Sweden, 2010) 60min. Documentary about a group of middle-aged Swedish men who form a synchronised swimming team. Free pop-up cinema screening as part of the Express Arts for All programme in the Pollok area. Pollok Civic Realm, Glasgow. Merchant City International Indie Film Fest Screenings of short films and features on different themes, from around the world. Over 18s only for the evening screenings, families and ages 10 and up in the afternoons. Glasgow Media Access Centre, Glasgow. Mirror Mirror (PG) ●●●●● (Tarsem Singh, US, 2012) Lily Collins, Julia Roberts, Armie Hammer. 106min. Roberts stars as the narcissistic evil queen in this comic-fantasy twist on the Snow White story. Odeon at the Quay, Glasgow. Moonrise Kingdom (12A) ●●●●● (Wes Anderson, US, 2012) Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand, Harvey Keitel, Jason Schwartzman, Kara Hayward, Jared Gilman. 94min. A story of pre-teen romance, Anderson’s new movie is sure to delight his fans; others may consider it overlong, whimsical and emotionally lightweight. Odeon Lothian Road, Edinburgh. Nanny McPhee & The Big Bang (U) ●●●●● (Susanna White, US, 2010) Emma Thompson, Ralph Fiennes, Maggie Gyllenhaal. 109min. Sequel to the popular 2005 family film. This time Gyllenhaal is single mum Isabel Green (hubbie is off to fight the Hun in WWII) with three out of control nippers to contend with and two insufferably posh evacuee cousins about to arrive on their farm. Glasgow Film Theatre. New Glasgow Shorts (15●) (Various, UK) 90min. Selection of local short films, with many filmmakers introducing their own work. Glasgow Film Theatre.
✽ Nostalgia for the Light (12A) ●●●●● (Patricio Guzman, France/
Germany/Chile, 2010) 90min. See review page 57. Glasgow Film Theatre. NT Live: Frankenstein (15) (Danny Boyle, UK, 2011) Benedict Cumberbatch, Jonny Lee Miller. Mary Shelley’s classic gothic tale, written by Nick Dear and realised by Danny Boyle in his return to theatre. The roles of Dr Frankenstein and the Creature are alternated between Benedict Cumberbatch and Johnny Lee Miller. Selected release. Opera Australia (E) (Various, Australia, 2012) Big-screen viewings of Opera Australia’s sumptuous productions of Don Giovanni and La Traviata. Selected screenings. Persepolis (12A) ●●●●● (Marjane Satrapi, Vincent Paronnaud, France/ US, 2007) Chiara Mastroianni, Catherine Deneuve, Danielle Darrieux. 96min. This adaptation of Satrapi’s autobiographical coming-of-age graphic novel makes an exceptionally moving piece of animation. Part of the Merchant City Festival. St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art, Glasgow. Personal Best (18) (Robert Towne, US, 1982) Mariel Hemingway, Scott Glenn, Patrice Donnelly. 124min. Two pentathletes competing to join the 1980 US Olympics squad experience mutual attraction. Lock Up Your Daughters screening, introduced by a discussion of sexual discrimination and homophobia in sport. Part of the On Your Marks season. Glasgow Film Theatre.
62 THE LIST 19 Jul–2 Aug 2012
Personal Best (12A) (Sam Blair, UK, 2012) 75min. Filmed over four years, this documentary follows British sprinters on their respective journeys to the London 2012 Olympics. Part of Let the Games Begin season. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Pretty in Pink (15) ●●●●● (John Hughes, US, 1986) Molly Ringwald, Harry Dean Stanton, Jon Cryer. 97min. Better- than-average teen movie from the doyen of that genre. Glasgow Film Theatre. Prometheus (15) ●●●●● (Ridley Scott, US, 2012) Noomi Rapace, Michael Fassbender, Guy Pearce, Idris Elba, Logan Marshall- Green, Charlize Theron. 123min. A spaceship’s crew investigates what appears to be an alien vessel. Despite a largely effective cast and stratospheric technical values the plot is murky and the tone is inconsistent. Selected release. Risky Business (18) ●●●●● (Paul Brickman, US, 1983) Tom Cruise, Rebecca De Mornay, Joe Pantoliano. 98min. Sharp, cheery and amoral satire on adolescent acquisitiveness, with a very likeable lead performance from Cruise. Sloans, Glasgow. A Royal Affair (15) ●●●●● (Nikolaj Arcel, Denmark/Sweden/Czech Republic/ Germany, 2012) Mads Mikkelsen, Mikkel Boe Folsgaard, Alicia Vikander. 137min. In 18th-century Denmark, the royal physician begins a liaison with the unhappily married Queen. The script is enjoyably literate but the cast lacks chemistry. Filmhouse, Edinburgh; The Hippodrome, Bo’ness. Salute (15) (Matt Norman, Australia/ US, 2008) 120min. On the podium after the 1968 Olympic 200-metre final, two Americans raised their fists in a ‘black power’ salute. This is the story of the third man that day, silver medallist Australian Peter Norman. Part of Let the Games Begin season. Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
✽ Searching for Sugar Man (12A) ●●●●● (Malik Bendjelloul, Sweden/
UK, 2012) 86min. See review page 56. Cameo, Edinburgh. Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (15) ●●●●● (Lorene Scafaria, US, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, 2012) Steve Carell, Keira Knightley, Melinda Dillon. 101min. As an asteroid makes its apocalyptic way towards earth, Dodge (Carrell) is abandoned by his wife so goes on a road trip with his neighbour Penny (Knightley). Initial hilarity gives way to naff romance as Knightley
makes even light comedy look like hard work. General release. Snow White and the Huntsman (12A) ●●●●● (Rupert Sanders, US, 2012) Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron. 127min. Generally impressive fairy tale sequel: Theron is imperious as the villain and Stewart is characteristically expressive as Snow White, but the ribald, all-star dwarves provide precious laughs. Selected release. Sodankylä Forever: Part Three (PG) (Peter von Bagh, Finland, 2010) 58min. The final part of Peter von Bagh’s trilogy of documentaries explores the visions of Roger Corman, Robert Wise, Bob Rafelson, Wim Wenders, Terence Davies and more. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap (15) (Ice T, Andy Baybutt, US/UK, 2012) 111min. Ice T directs and presents this feature-length exploration of the history of rap, featuring interviews with Eminem, Dr Dre and Kanye West. Selected release. Stand By Me (15) ●●●●● (Rob Reiner, US, 1986) River Phoenix, Will Wheaton, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Conners, Keifer Sutherland. 88min. A charming rite of passage movie which Reiner directs with a sure touch, carefully evading sentimentality. Scotsman Screening Room, Edinburgh. Stardust Memories (15) ●●●●● (Woody Allen, US, 1980) Woody Allen, Mia Farrow. 92min. A famous director of comedy films undergoes much soul- searching when the public and critics fail to appreciate his attempts at serious cinematic statement. Occasionally shrill and self- pitying autobiographical movie. Part of the Woody’s Goodies season. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Strawberry Fields (15) (Frances Lea, UK, 2012) Emun Elliott, Anna Madeley, Christine Bottomley. 86min. British coming-of-age drama. Followed by a Q&A with director Frances Lea. Glasgow Film Theatre.
✽ Ted (15) ●●●●● (Seth MacFarlane, US, 2012) Mark Wahlberg, Mila Kunis, Seth MacFarlane. 106min. See review page 56.General release from Wed 1 Aug. Trainspotting (18) ●●●●● (Danny Boyle, UK, 1995) Ewan McGregor, Ewen Bremner, Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller. 93min. Fast and stylish direction, with a creative soundtrack and acting that’s off-the-rails excellent. Courtyard Cinema
screening. The Three Sisters, Edinburgh. The Turin Horse (15) ●●●●● (Béla Tarr, Ágnes Hranitzky, Hungary/France, 2011) János Derzsi, Erika Bók, Mihály Kormos. 154min. A father and daughter scrabble for a living in a remote farm, but their livelihood is threatened when their ageing horse starts to sicken. Compellingly vivid film, in which workaday tasks are endowed with mythic grandeur and ordinary people with mysterious dignity. Cameo, Edinburgh. Where Do We Go Now? (Et Maintenant, On Va où?) (12●) ●●●●● (Nadine Labaki, France/ Lebanon/Italy/Egypt, 2011) Claude Baz Moussawbaa, Leyla Hakim, Nadine Labaki. 100min. A story about women in a Lebanese village trying to maintain peace across religious divides, told using intense drama, broad comedy and even musical sequences. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. The Wizard Of Oz (U) ●●●●● (Victor Fleming, Uncredited:, Norman Taurog, Richard Thorpe, George Cukor, King Vidor, Mervyn LeRoy, US, 1939) Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr, Jack Haley, Margaret Hamilton, Toto. 102min. Two screenings of the technicolour classic adventure, the second preceded by a talk from Laurie Figgis about the film’s relation to folklore. Part of the Merchant City Festival. Britannia Panopticon Music Hall, Glasgow. Michael Forbes, Donald Trump. 95min. Documentary charting US tycoon Donald Trump, as he plans to build an enormous golf and residential development on land in the north east of Scotland, much to the dismay of the local populace. Filmhouse, Edinburgh Zelig (PG) (Woody Allen, US, 1983) Woody Allen, Mia Farrow, Garrett Brown. 79min. Allen’s trickery with photography, which places ‘human chameleon’ Leonard Zelig at the heart of key scenes in the 20th century, is imaginative and funny; but behind it lies an affecting story about a nobody who’ll go to desperate lengths to be liked. Part of the Woody’s Goodies season. Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
✽ Woody’s Goodies (Various) See the very best of Woody Allen’s back
catalogue on the big screen with this retrospective. Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
✽ You’ve Been Trumped (12) ●●●●● (Anthony Baxter, 2011)
Batman All-Nighters The hype surrounding The Dark Knight Rises has reached such a state that both the Cameo and the Grosvenor have announced all-night trilogies leading up to it’s release date. Starting late on the night of Thu 19 Jul, Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are screening back-to-back, followed by an early doors edition of The Dark Knight Rises. They’re even throwing in breakfast. ■ Grosvenor, Glasgow, and Cameo, Edinburgh, Thu 19 & Fri 20 Jul.