Film LISTINGS small-time narcotics supplier who’s tempted into taking a larger than usual risk on a larger than usual deal. A respectful remake of the 1996 Danish thriller, with Coyle an engaging presence amid a terrific cast. Selected release. The Queen of Versailles (PG) ●●●●● (Lauren Greenfield, US, 2012) Virginia Nebab, David Siegel, Jaqueline Siegel. 100min. A documentary following the effects of the recession on a ‘top 1%’ couple. macrobert, Stirling, Thu 18 Oct. Ruby Sparks (15) ●●●●● (Jonathan Dayton/Valerie Faris, US, 2012) Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Annette Bening. 104min. A blocked writer (Dano) begins to write about an ideal woman, Ruby Sparks (Kazan), who proceeds to manifest herself in the real world. Despite occasional rockiness it’s endearing, tender and clever, with outstanding performances from the leads. General release. Sinister (15) ●●●●● (Scott Derrickson, US, 2012) Ethan Hawke, Juliet Rylance, James Ransone. 110min. Crime writer Ellison (Hawke) moves into a house and discovers disturbing film footage of murder. Derrickson offers an unusual twist on the ‘found footage’ genre, with Hawke particularly convincing as the obsessive writer. General release. The Snows of Kilimanjaro (15) ●●●●● (Robert Guédiguian, France, 2011) Ariane Ascaride, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, Gérard Meylan. 107min. Michel (Darroussin) is a dockworker and union rep who takes early retirement, but when he and wife (Ascaride) are the victims of a violent robbery committed by another former dockworker, their socialist principles clash with their comfortable lifestyle. Tough-minded and warm-hearted stuff from Guédiguian. The Hippodrome, Bo’ness, Sat 27–Sun 28 Oct. Taken 2 (12A) ●●●●● (Olivier Megaton, France, 2012) Liam Neeson, Famke Janssen, Maggie Grace. In this sequel to the 2008 thriller, former government agent Bryan Mills (Neeson) and his ex-wife (Janssen) are kidnapped by the father of one of the men he killed first time round. Neeson remains good value but the action has been needlessly toned down, and the novelty and audacity are missing. General release. To Rome with Love (12A) ●●●●● (Woody Allen, Spain/US/Italy, 2012) Woody Allen, Penélope Cruz, Jesse Eisenberg. 112min. Allen continues his recent practice of translating an American tourist’s view of European culture onto the big screen, with four separate storylines set in Rome, intercut but not interwoven. It’s joyfully silly and exuberant, if a bit fragmented, and although not ‘major’ Allen still contains treats aplenty. The Hippodrome, Bo’ness, Sat 3–Mon 5 Nov. Untouchable (Intouchables) (15) ●●●●● (Olivier Nakache/Eric Toledano, France, 2011) François Cluzet, Omar Sy, Anne Le Ny. 112min. Paralysed aristocrat Philippe (Cluzet) hires impoverished drifter Driss (Sy) as his assistant. Life lessons ensue. Despite some predictable plotting, Nakache and Toledano’s movie is genuinely funny and moving, thanks to deft performances from Sy and Cluzet. Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee, Thu 18–Thu 25 Oct; The Hippodrome, Bo’ness, Sat 10– Thu 15 Nov; Grosvenor Cinema, Glasgow, Thu 18 Oct.
ONE-OFFS, SEASONS AND FESTIVALS
50 and Counting (tbc) The Portal Seniors’ Film Club presents an upbeat film celebrating creative opportunities for older people, highlighting the group’s own experience and achievements. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Thu 25 Oct. Part of Luminate.
✽ Africa in Motion Film Festival See preview, page 72. Glasgow Film
Theatre, Glasgow, Thu 25 Oct–Fri 2 Nov; Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Thu 25 Oct–Fri 2 Nov.
74 THE LIST 18 Oct–15 Nov 2012
Alchemy Film and Moving Image Festival The pretty town of Hawick hosts a weekend of experimental and artist film exploring landscape and the natural world. See preview page 73. Various venues, Hawick, Fri 26 Oct–Sun 28 Oct. All Divided Selves (15) (Luke Fowler, UK, 2011) RD Laing. 93min. Arthouse documentary about the life and work of Glasgow counter-culture psychiatrist RD Laing. Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee, Mon 29 Oct. Arsenic and Old Lace (PG) (Frank Capra, US, 1942) Cary Grant, Raymond Massey, Peter Lorre. 118min. Priceless black comedy has Grant upping the double- take factor when sinister criminals Massey and Lorre come to stay with his two sweet aunts, a double-act who, of course, are just as murderous themselves. The Hippodrome, Bo’ness, Mon 22 Oct. La Baie des Anges (15) (Jacques Demy, France, 1963) Jeanne Moreau, Claude Mann, Paul Guers. 85min. A bank clerk is bewitched by a gambling-addict beauty at a casino, their blossoming romance caught up with their luck at the roulette tables. Institut Français d’Ecosse, Edinburgh, Wed 31 Oct. Showing as part of The Universe of Jacques Demy Retrospective. Best International (tbc) A selection of short films from around the world. Part of the Lock Up Your Daughters – Queer Shorts Weekend. CCA, Glasgow, Sat 3 Nov. Part of Glasgay! Bhoot (15) (Ram Gopal Varma, India, 2003) Ajay Devgn, Urmila Matondkar, Nana Patekar. 113min. Odeon at the Quay, Glasgow, Thu 18 Oct. The Big Picture: Rethinking Dyslexia (tbc) An intimate and intriguing look at dyslexia in young people, featuring interviews with experts in the field, trying to lift the stigma. Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Wed 7 Nov. EdinDocs
The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari (PG) (Robert Wiene, Germany, 1919) Werner Krauss, Conrad Veidt, Lil Dagover. 90min. A landmark of expressionist cinema, feasting the eyes with bizarre, angular visuals despite its technical crudity. The acting and directing are superb, and the story of a fairground hypnotist who uses a sleepwalker to carry out murders still retains a unique sense of horror. Showing of the classic horror film with live organ music by Donald McKenzie. Usher Hall, Edinburgh, Sun 28 Oct. Call Me Kuchu (tbc) ●●●●● (Katherine Fairfax Wright/Malika Zouhali- Worrall, US/Uganda, 2012) 90min. Insightful documentary about the attempt by the Ugandan government to make homosexuality punishable by death, and the murder of Ugandan gay rights activist David Kato. Although there’s still virulent Christian homophobia in Africa, the wave of international sympathy in the wake of Kato’s death was ‘empowering’ for LGBT activists like Rwanda’s Naomi Ruzindana. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Tue 23 Oct. Part of Glasgay! Chained (tbc) (Jennifer Chambers Lynch, US, 2012) Vincent D’Onofrio, Eamon Farren, Julia Ormond. A taxi driver/serial killer prowls the streets of the city with his young protégé, looking for their next victim. The youngster decides to try to escape, but first he’ll have to get past his horrific master alive. Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee, Sat 27 Oct. Part of Dundead. The Complete Twilight Saga (12A) (Catherine Hardwicke, Chris Weitz, David Slade, Bill Condon, US) Taylor Lautner, Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson. A chance to catch all five installments of the vamp romance in a single sitting, with a midnight screening of the final part Breaking Dawn Part 2. Plus cast and crew interviews, music vids and more to appease the Twihard faithful. General release. The Crown Jewels (Kronjuvelerna) (15+) (Ella Lemhagen, Sweden, 2011) Alicia Vikander, Bill Skarsgård, Loa Falkman. 120min. When a woman is arrested for the attempted murder of the son of a powerful factory owner, she tells her amazing life story from impoverished childhood up to her current predicament. This Swedish drama owes Slumdog Millionaire a pint or two. Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee, Sat 3 Nov. Part of the Discovery Film Festival. Discovery Film Festival Scotland’s international film festival for children and young people features a whole range of international treats, including films from as far afield as Japan, Russia and Africa. There’s also the chance to get involved in workshops, industry master classes and lots of fun film events. See preview page 76. Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee, Sat 20 Oct–Sun 4 Nov. Document 10 Film Festival This documentary film festival uses international film to raise the profile of human rights and social issues that are not exposed in the mainstream media. This year is the festival’s tenth anniversary, so there are a number of special events including a retrospective of the best films from the last decade as well as the usual wide range of films from reportage to cinematic essays, investigative journalism to left- field experiments, plus an accompanying programme of art, live music and talks. CCA, Glasgow, Fri 19–Sun 28 Oct. Dolfje Weerwolfje (Alfie the Little Werewolf) (7+) (Joram Lürsen, Netherlands, 2011) Ole Kroes, Maas Bronkhuyzen, Remko Vrijdag. 95min. Based on a popular series of books, this traditional animation follows a little boy who becomes a werewolf on his 7th birthday but manages to overcome this minor issue with the help of his family. Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee, Sat
Three evenings packed with independent documentaries on topics as diverse as the revolution in Yemen (Karama Has No Walls, Fri 19 Oct); Kirkaldy’s famous darts champion Jocky Wilson (Kirkaldy Man, Fri 19 Oct) and the impact of General Videla’s dictatorship in Argentina (Abuelas, Sat 20 Oct). The weekend is a unique opportunity to see films from up-and-coming talent by both local and international filmmakers, some of whom will be in attendance for post-screening Q&As. ■ Cameo, Edinburgh, Fri 19–Sun 21 Oct.