list.co.uk/fi lm university’s all-girl singing group who then take on the boys in a campus competition. Selected release. Quartet (12A) ●●●●● (Dustin Hoffman, UK, 2012) Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Billy Connolly, Pauline Collins. 90min. The residents of a home for retired musicians prepare for their annual gala concert. Hoffman’s debut film as a director is polished entertainment and nicely cast with fine performances, but it’s odd that a leading light of New Hollywood should make something so safe, for- mulaic and British. General release. Rise of the Guardians (PG) ●●●●● (Peter Ramsey, US, 2012) Voices of Hugh Jackman, Alec Baldwin, Isla Fisher. 97min. A set of childhood heroes (including Jack Frost, Easter Bunny and Santa Claus) unite to combat Pitch the Bogeyman in this adaptation of William Joyce’s novel The Guardians of Childhood. Cineworld Fountainpark, Edinburgh, Thu 24 Jan; Showcase Cinema Glas- gow, Glasgow, Thu 24 Jan; Showcase Cinema Paisley, Paisley, Thu 24 Jan. The Sessions (15) ●●●●● (Ben Lewin, US, 2012) John Hawkes, Helen Hunt, William H. Macy. 95min. Mark (Hawkes, remarkable) is a writer and polio survivor. Paralysed since childhood, he’s a virgin in his late 30s whose main confidant is his Catholic priest (Macy), but then he hires a sexual surrogate (Hunt). Based on a true story, it deftly avoids mawkish- ness and is pleasingly frank, funny and moving. General release. Seven Psychopaths (15) ●●●●● (Martin McDonagh, UK, 2012) Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Woody Har- relson, Christopher Walken, Abbie Cornish, Olga Kurylenko, Tom Waits. 110min. Alcoholic screenwriter Marty (Farrell) has a title for his new script but no story, until his unstable friend Billy (Rockwell) kidnaps the beloved dog of a crime boss (Harrelson). Sen- sational performances from Rockwell and Walken plus McDonagh’s riotous script and energetic direction make it an unabashed, very funny hell-raiser. The Hippodrome, Bo’ness, Thu 24 Jan. Skyfall (12A) ●●●●● (Sam Mendes, UK, 2012) Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Judi Dench. 145min. After the let- down of Quantum of Solace, the 23rd official Bond movie is a belter; the script is smart, Craig is better than ever, and Bardem is a thrilling villain. 50 years on from Dr No, it’s a well- wrapped birthday present. Selected release. Texas Chainsaw 3D (18) ●●●●● (John Luessenhop, US, 2013) Alexandra Daddario, Tania Raymonde, Scott Eastwood. 92min. This 3D sequel/re- boot follows the surviving members of the murderous Sawyer clan but fluffs the timeline and is packed with stupid people doing stupid things, while the acting is also pretty wooden through- out. It just about works as undemand- ing horror fare but is a generic by the numbers slasher that squanders TCM’s grimy history. Selected release. Tinker Bell and the Secret of the Wings (U) ●●●●● (Roberts Gannaway, Peggy Holmes, US, 2012) Voices of: Timothy Dalton, Lucy Hale and Megan Hilty. 92min. The latest adventures of the mischievous fairy. Selected release. The Wee Man (tbc) ●●●●● (Ray Burdis, UK, 2012) Patrick Bergin, Hannah Blamires, Martin Compston. 90min. The true-life story of Paul Fer- ris, an ordinary young kid from decent hardworking parents, brought up in the notorious area of Blackhill, Glasgow and his journey through his teenage years to manhood. Set in the sixties, at aged 11, Paul is already familiar with how tough life is on the street. Selected release. What Richard Did (15) ●●●●● (Lenny Abrahamson, Ireland, 2012)
Jack Reynor, Róisín Murphy, Sam Keeley. 84min. Dark coming of age drama set in South Dublin. Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Fri 25–Thu 31 Jan; Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee, Thu 24 Jan.
ONE-OFFS, SEASONS AND FESTIVALS Alien (18) ●●●●● (Ridley Scott, US, 1979) Sigourney Weaver, Ian Holm, John Hurt. 116min. Agatha Christie in outer space as a freighter lands on a mysterious planet and is ingeniously invaded by a ravenous intruder which proceeds to chomp its way through the cast list. Edge-of-the-seat suspense thriller with a strong cast and ghastly special effects. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Sun 27 Jan. Babette’s Feast (U) (Gabriel Axel, Denmark, 1987) Stephane Audran, Jean-Philippe Lafont, Bibi Anders- son. 103min. In the Jutland peninsula during the late 19th century, exiled French housekeeper Audran prepares a sumptuous banquet in honour of a deceased Lutheran dean. But when the shopping list arrives the sisters begin to wonder if a feast is compatible with their piety. A delicious gastronomic experience and an exquisite, boisterous slice of cinematic narrative with real feeling. The Hippodrome, Bo’ness, Sat 26–Sun 27 Jan. Banff Mountain Film Festival (E) (Various, Various) A collection of films selected as the best of their kind at this prestigious mountain festival. The films cover feats of ski- ing, climbing, white water rafting, and extreme mountain biking and many more daredevil activities from across the globe. Mitchell Library Theatre, Glasgow, Wed 30 Jan; The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Fri 1 Feb. Baraka (PG) (Ron Fricke, US, 1992) 96min. Environmentally aware eco-doc in the style of Koyaanisqatsi has the major advantage of having been shot in 70mm, which makes the stunning cinematography the star of the show. Beautiful footage of Planet Earth is juxtaposed with man’s harmful relation to it, with the Big Statement being pushed forwards by a series of powerful images. A genuine spectacle. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Fri 25–Sat 26 Jan. The Birds (18) (Alfred Hitchcock, US, 1963) Rod Taylor, Tippi Hendren, Suzanne Pleshette. 119min. Brilliant macabre idea from a Du Maurier tale to have our winged friends turned into malevolent killers. This is Hitch at his most mischievous. Oh and for the ama- teur psychologists among you, there is a glacial blonde leading lady and she is mistreated. Cameo, Edinburgh, Sun 3 Feb. Bolshoi Ballet: Bayadère (tbc) (Pavel Sorokin, 2013) Maria Alexan- drova, Maria Allash, Anna Anton- icheva. Ballet performance of Marius Petipa’s seminal work recounting the impossible love between a dancer and a warrior. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Sun 27 Jan; Cameo, Edin- burgh, Sun 27 Jan; Dundee Contem- porary Arts, Dundee, Sun 27 Jan. Brave (PG) ●●●●● (Mark Andrews, Brenda Chapman, US, 2012) Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson. 100min. A rebellious Scot- tish princess defies her mother’s mar- riage plans and unleashes a curse on her fairytale kingdom, then must com- plete a number of challenges in order to lift it. The kick-ass tomboyishness of Merida and luscious landscapes make up for a wavering story. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Sat 2 Feb. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (15) ●●●●● (Blake Edwards, US, 1961) Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Patricia Neal, Buddy Ebsen, Mickey
Rooney. 115min. ‘How do I look?’ asks original waif Hepburn in the role of borderline schizophrenic Holly Golightly. ‘Very good, I must say I’m amazed,’ replies Peppard in the role of frustrated writer and part-time gigolo Paul Varjak in this adaptation from the novel by Truman Capote. The iconic Hepburn has never made neurosis look so good, and while the film may have numerous redeeming features (not least the exquisite cinematography by Franz F Plane and the swinging soundtrack by Henry Mancini), it is she who remains responsible for making it such a well-loved classic. Eastwood Park Theatre, Glasgow, Mon 11 Feb; Cameo, Edinburgh, Thu 14 Feb. Casablanca (PG) ●●●●● (Michael Curtiz, US, 1942) Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Dooley Wilson. 102min. You must remember this . . . Bogart being impossibly noble, Berg- man torn between two lovers, Claude Rains playing both ends against the middle, devious Nazis, a fogbound airport, a piano-player tinkling that tune. A wonderful hill of beans. Scots- man Screening Room, Edinburgh, Sun 10 Feb. Casino Royale (12A) ●●●●● (Mar- tin Campbell, US/UK/Czech Republic, 2006) Daniel Craig, Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen. 144min. The prequel to the other Bond films time warps back to the enduring action hero becoming a 00 licensed to kill. The latest Bond (Craig) proves to be a strong leading man, but the film is let down by trying to do too much. With a weak villain and Bond girl to boot, it doesn’t really feel like a Bond film at all. Preceded at 12pm by a cocktail and followed by Bond-flavoured drinks until 5pm. Blythswood Square Hotel, Glasgow, Wed 6 Feb. Chasing Ice (12A) ●●●●● (Jeff Or- lowski, US, 2012) James Balog, Svavar
Index | FILM Jonatansson, Adam LeWinter. 74min. National Geographic photographer James Balog’s time-lapse ‘extreme ice survey’ demonstrates undeniable evidence of our planet’s changing cli- mate. macrobert, Stirling, Thu 24 Jan. Chinatown (15) ●●●●● (Roman Polanski, US, 1974) Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, John Huston. 131min. Private eye Jake Gittes takes on a routine case in 1937 LA and ends up uncovering more than he bargained for. Splendid conspiracy thriller with a handsome period look and a quite su- perlative cast. Despite rumours spread by Nicholson and Polanski, though, the nose-slitting scene was faked. Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee, Sun 3 Feb; Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Fri 25–Mon 28 Jan. Cinema Paradiso (15) ●●●●● (Giuseppe Tornatore, Italy/France, 1988) Phillipe Noiret, Jacques Perrin, Salvatore Cascio. 123min. Told largely in flashback, the winner of the 1990 Oscar for Best Foreign Film traces young Salvatore’s infatuation with his village cinema, and his grow- ing friendship with its projectionist (played to perfection by Noiret). Es- sentially, it’s Tornatore’s lament for the joyous movie-going experience of his youth and recognition of the price we pay for our maturity. Dundee Contem- porary Arts, Dundee, Thu 14 Feb. The Counterfeiters (15) (Stefan Ruzowitzky, Austria, Germany, 2007) Karl Markovics, August Diehl, Devid Striesow. 98min. The true story of a counterfeiting operation set up by the Nazis, an attempt to weaken the economies of Allied nations. The Hip- podrome, Bo’ness, Mon 28 Jan. Cul-de-sac (15) (Roman Polan- ski, UK, 1966) Donald Pleasence, Françoise Dorléac, Lionel Stander. 113min. Polanski examines some of his favourite themes: sexual perversity, insecurity and humiliation as a couple
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24 Jan–21 Feb 2013 THE LIST 65