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HITLIST HITLIST THE BEST FILM RELEASES & EVENTS THE BEST FILM RELEASES & EVENTS
a family caught up in the 2004 Indian
The ever-popular Glasgow author delivers
✽ The Impossible Powerful drama about ✽ Louise Welsh Ocean tsunami starring Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts. See interview, page 91 and a lecture entitled ‘Robert Louis Stevenson review, page 95. General release from Tue 1 Jan. and the Theatre of the Brain’. If that wasn’t intriguing enough, let us hit you with the event’s subtitle: ‘An Exploration of.
Journey Peter Jackson returns with
✽ The Hobbit: An Unexpected ✽ Louise Welsh the first in three films adapting JRR Tolkien’s The Hobbit to the big screen. Expect a jaw- The ever-popular Glasgow author delivers dropping cinematic spectacle. See review, left. a lecture entitled ‘Robert Louis Stevenson General release from Thu 13 Dec. and the Theatre of the Brain’. If that wasn’t intriguing enough, let us hit you with the event’s adaptation of Yann subtitle: ‘An Exploration of. Martel’s story of a boy shipwrecked at sea with a tiger. From Oscar-winning director Ang Lee. See review, page 92. General release from Thu 20 Dec.
✽ Life of Pi Magical
✽ The Pool Likeable drama set in Goa with
similarities to Slumdog Millionaire. A delicately observed and gently humorous story of two boys who strike up a
relationship with a man and his daughter who own a holiday home with a beautiful pool. See review, page 93. GFT, Glasgow, Tue 18 Dec– Thu 20 Dec.
✽ Chasing Ice Breathtaking environmental documentary about National Geographic
photographer James Balog who has dedicated himself to photographing the world’s retreating glaciers. See Big Picture, page 9 and review, page 94. Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Thu 27–Mon 31 Dec.
✽ The Sessions Drama inspired by the true story of Mark O’Brien and
his experiences with a sexual surrogate. See profile, page 96 and review, page 93. Selected release from Fri 18 Jan.
✽ Babette’s Feast Mouth-watering new digital transfer of this Scandinavian classic
about two sisters who unexpectedly take in a Parisian cook. See preview, page 100. Selected release from Mon 17 Dec.
RECOMMENDED THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY
The fi rst in a trilogy of fi lms adapting Tolkien’s book is a glorious success P eter Jackson returns to the Middle dragon, Smaug.
Earth he rendered so faithfully in Lord of the Rings, and it’s never looked so glorious. Adapting JRR Tolkien’s 1937 novel The Hobbit – set sixty years before Rings – this first film in a planned trilogy is so alive, so immersive, you feel as if you’ve set foot in the Shire itself. The Office’s Martin Freeman leads the way as Bilbo Baggins, the timid hobbit who is recruited by the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) to accompany thirteen dwarves to reclaim the Lonely Mountain, now the resting place of the terrifying
Freeman is perfect as the bookish Bilbo, gradually growing in courage as the film unfolds. Yet it’s the technical innovations here that will really leave you breathless. The set-pieces – notably the group’s encounter with the Great Goblin and his hordes – are astounding, showing Jackson hasn’t lost any of his ability for conjuring great spectacle. Next year’s second instalment can’t come fast enough. (James Mottram) (12A) 169min ●●●●● General release from Thu 13 Dec.
90 THE LIST 13 Dec 2012–24 Jan 2013 13 Dec 2012–24 Jan 2013 THE LIST 90