list.co.uk/fi lm
Theorem (15) (Pier Paolo Pasolini, Italy, 1968) Terence Stamp, Silvana Mangano, Massimo Girotti, Anne Wiazemsky. 98min. Pasolini’s twin obsessions, Christianity and Marxism, are brought searingly to life in this intense fable, featuring Tel as a mysterious Christ figure who creates spiritual, sexual and emotional upheavals within a wealthy family when he stays for a short time in their home. Limited release from Fri 12 Apr. Trance (15) ●●●●● (Danny Boyle, UK, 2013) James McAvoy, Rosario Dawson, Vincent Cassel. 101min. See review, page 60. General release from Wed 27 Mar, incl Cineworld Fountainpark, Edinburgh; Cineworld Parkhead, Glasgow; Cineworld Renfrew Street, Glasgow. STILL SHOWING Arbitrage (15) ●●●●● (Nicholas Jarecki, UK, 2012) Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Brit Marling. 107min. Gere plays a hedge fund billionaire who’s financial dealings are jeopardised when his affair with an art gallery owner spirals out of control. Vue Ocean, Edinburgh, Thu 21 Mar. Argo (15) ●●●●● (Ben Affleck, US, 2012) Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman. 120min. The craziness of the real-life hostage rescue story inspires the oddball mix of political thriller and showbiz satire, and Affleck directs with taut authenticity. Odeon Lothian Road, Edinburgh, Thu 21 Mar; Odeon at the Quay, Glasgow, Thu 21 Mar. Beyond the Hills (12A) ●●●●● (Cristian Mungiu, Romania/France/ Belgium, 2012) Cosmina Stratan, Cristina Flutur, Valeriu Andriuta. 150min. Alina (Flutur) and Voichita (Stratan) were brought up in a Romanian orphanage, but while Voichita has moved to a monastery, Alina has lived in Germany, and now wants her friend to join her. Quietly chilling drama from 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days director Mungiu. Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Thu 21–Thu 28 Mar. Broken (15) (Rufus Norris, UK, 2012) Tim Roth, Cillian Murphy, Rory Kinnear. 90min. A young girl witnesses a violent attack on a man by his neighbour, with the event carrying tragic consequences for everyone on the street. Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee, Thu 21 Mar; Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Thu 21 Mar. Caesar Must Die (tbc) ●●●●● (Paolo Taviani/Vittorio Taviani, Italy, 2012) Cosimo Rega, Salvatore Striano, Giovanni Arcuri. 76min. A cast of hardened prisoners rehearse Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, with the Taviani brothers’ sensitive approach and actors’ impressive performances helping the doc to win the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival. Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee, Thu 21 Mar; Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Fri 22–Thu 28 Mar. Cloud Atlas (15) ●●●●● (Lana Wachowski/Tom Tykwer/Andy Wachowski, Germany/US/HK/ Singapore, 2012) Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant. 172min. An epic story of humankind in which individual actions impact one another throughout the past, present and future, with a single act of kindness rippling out for centuries to inspire a revolution. Odeon Lothian Road, Edinburgh, Thu 21 Mar. The Comedy Store: Raw and Uncut (tbc) (UK, 2013) A showcase of the funniest people the UK has to offer as they perform their trade live from the London Comedy Store stage. Limited release. Django Unchained (18) ●●●●● (Quentin Tarantino, US, 2012) Jamie Foxx, Christoph Waltz, Leonardo DiCaprio. 165 min. Tarantino’s spaghetti ‘southern’ is giddily violent, shockingly profane and never boring. Odeon Lothian Road, Edinburgh, Thu 21 Mar; Cameo, Edinburgh, Sun 31 Mar.
A Good Day to Die Hard (12A) ●●●●● (John Moore, US, 2013) Bruce Willis, Jai Courtney, Sebastian Koch. 97min. From wretched title to poorly conceived premise, this dispiriting exercise in franchise flogging lacks the tense action and engaging character drama that made the series so beloved in the first place. General release. The Guilt Trip (12A) ●●●●● (Anne Fletcher, US, 2012) Seth Rogen, Barbra Streisand, Julene Renee-Preciado. 95min. Inventor Andy Brewster (Rogen) plans a business-related road trip, but a quick visit to his widowed mother Joyce (Streisand) causes her to come along for the ride. Rogen and Streisand may sound mismatched but they strike a few sparks in this heartfelt, character-driven comedy. Limited release. Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (15) ●●●●● (Tommy Wirkola, Germany/US, 2013) Jeremy Renner, Gemma Arterton, Peter Stormare. 88min. Despite a promisingly daft concept this horror/comedy/ action flick lacks frights, laughs and excitement. Cineworld Fountainpark, Edinburgh, Thu 21 Mar; Vue Omni, Edinburgh, Thu 21 Mar. I Wish (Kiseki) (PG) ●●●●● (Hirokazu Koreeda, Japan, 2011) Koki Maeda, Ohshiro Maeda, Ryoga Hayashi. 128min. Young brothers Koichi and Ryunosuke are separated when their parents divorce, but plan to reunite. An unsentimental, life-affirming story about growing up, anchored by delightful performances from the brothers. Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Fri 29 Mar–Tue 2 Apr. The Incredible Burt Wonderstone (15) ●●●●● (Don Scardino, US, 2013) Steve Carell, Steve Buscemi, Olivia Wilde, Alan Arkin, Jim Carrey. 100min. A pair of jaded illusionists reform their act when a street magician steals the limelight. General release. Les Miserables (12A) ●●●●● (Tom Hooper, UK, 2012) Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway. 158min. It all depends on your tolerance for people bursting into song; easy to mock, perhaps, but fun while it’s on, and the sincere performances (especially Hathaway’s) aid the immersion. Limited release. A Liar’s Autobiography: The Untrue Story of Monty Python’s Graham Chapman (15) ●●●●● (Bill Jones/Jeff Simpson, UK, 2012) Graham Chapman, Philip Bulcock, John Cleese. 85min. Animated biography of the late Graham Chapman whose patchwork style captures Chapman’s anarchic spirit but doesn’t exactly illuminate him. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Tue 26–Wed 27 Mar. Life of Pi (PG) ●●●●● (Ang Lee, US, 2012) Suraj Sharma, Irrfan Khan, Rafe Spall. 127min. A beautiful and faithfully-adapted adventure story, demonstrating that Lee hasn’t lost his knack for turning literary subjects into cinematic gold. Odeon Lothian Road, Edinburgh, Thu 21 Mar; Vue Omni, Edinburgh, Thu 21 Mar. Lincoln (12A) ●●●●● (Steven Spielberg, US, 2012) Daniel Day-Lewis, Sally Field, David Strathairn. 150min. The epic about the final four months of Lincoln’s life largely eschews the sentimentality that is considered a Spielberg trademark, resulting in a film as absorbing and unassuming as the central character. Odeon Lothian Road, Edinburgh, Thu 21 Mar; Odeon at the Quay, Glasgow, Thu 21 Mar. Mama (15) ●●●●● (Andrés Muschietti, Spain/Canada, 2013) Jessica Chastain, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Megan Charpentier. 100min. Two young girls, wild after living solo in the forest, get brought back to civilisation and into the home of their aunt and uncle – along with an unseen, unworldly protective force. General release. Outside Satan (Hors Satan) (15) ●●●●● (Bruno Dumont, France, 2011) David Dewaele, Alexandra Lemâtre, Christophe Bon. 110min. A troubled teenage girl (Lemâtre) befriends an unnamed drifter (Dewaele) in this metaphysical fable which poses questions rather than provide answers. Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Wed 27–Sat 30 Mar. Oz: The Great and Powerful (PG) ●●●●● (Sam Raimi, US, 2013) James Franco, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz. 130min. Raimi’s visually lush prequel to The Wizard of Oz spawned from L Frank Baum’s 1900 novel, finds Oz (Franco) deciding which side of the curtain he’ll end up on. General release. The Paperboy (15) ●●●●● (Lee Daniels, US, 2012) Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey, Zac Efron, John Cusack. 107min. Florida, 1969: a journalist investigates the story of a man sentenced to death for killing a cop. Though containing some bizarre moments, such as a soon-to- be-notorious peeing scene, the film is surprisingly involving and has solid performances; Kidman is remarkable. Limited release. ParaNorman (PG) ●●●●● (Chris Butler/Sam Fell, US, 2012) Voices of Kodi Smit-McPhee, Anna Kendrick, Christopher Mintz-Plasse. 92min. A funny and stylish kids’ film, but given the reanimated corpses and terrifying witch, it’s worth making sure your little ‘un is prepared for terror as well as laughs. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Sat 23 Mar. Parker (15) ●●●●● (Taylor Hackford, US, 2013) Jason Statham, Jennifer Lopez, Michael Chiklis. 118min. Parker (Statham) believes in a code of honour whereby he never steals money from those who need it. General release. Red Dawn (15) ●●●●● (Dan Bradley, US, 2012) Chris Hemsworth, Isabel Lucas, Josh Hutcherson. 93min. There’s an invasion of North Korean soldiers (because Soviet forces are so passe), and it’s up to Helmsworth and his buff and be-gunned crew to defend their all- American town. General release. Robot & Frank (12A) ●●●●● (Jake Schreier, US, 2012) Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, Peter Sarsgaard, James Marsden, Liv Tyler. 89min. Frank (Langella) is an elderly ex-burglar fighting the onset of dementia whose son gives him a robot butler (voiced by Sarsgaard) to look after him. Charming, funny and affecting, with a memorable double act from Langella and Sarsgaard. Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee, Thu 21–Thu 28 Mar. Safe Haven (12A) ●●●●● (Lasse Hallström, US, 2013) Julianne Hough, Josh Duhamel, Cobie Smulders. 115min. Anemic romance based on a Nicholas Sparks novel; further evidence of the decline of once-talented director Hallström. Limited release. Seven Psychopaths (15) ●●●●● (Martin McDonagh, UK, 2012) Colin Farrell, Sam Rockwell, Woody Harrelson, Christopher Walken. 110min. Sensational performances from Rockwell and Walken plus McDonagh’s riotous script and energetic direction make it an unabashed, very funny hell-raiser. Cineworld Renfrew Street, Glasgow, Sat 30 Mar. Shell (15) ●●●●● (Scott Graham, UK, 2012) Chloe Pirrie, Tam Dean Burn, Morven Christie. 91min. Shell (Pirrie) is a lonely teenager manning her father’s isolated garage in the Highlands. The expanded short has occasional forced symbolism and gloomy arthouse clichés, but Graham has a definite way with actors, and it’s eloquent and atmospheric. Impressive. Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee, Fri 22–Thu 28 Mar; Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Thu 21–Thu 28 Mar; Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Thu 21–Sun 24 Mar. Side Effects (15) ●●●●● (Steven Soderbergh, US, 2013) Rooney Mara, Channing Tatum, Jude Law. 106min. Soderbergh’s thriller features Rooney
Index | FILM
as a young woman whose life is turned upside down by the side effects of a drug prescribed by her psychiatrist. General release. Song for Marion (PG) ●●●●● (Paul Andrew Williams, UK, 2012) Terence Stamp, Vanessa Redgrave, Christopher Eccleston. 93min. Nauseatingly sentimental weepy about bitter elderly man and his ailing wife that consistently opts for cheap emotional reactions rather than trying to grasp something more truthful. Limited release. The Spirit of ‘45 (tbc) ●●●●● (Ken Loach, UK, 2013) 94min. Loach’s documentary focuses on the spirit of unity which kept Britain together during WWII and carried on to help create a better society. Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Thu 21 Mar. Stoker (18) ●●●●● (Chan-wook Park, US, 2013) Mia Wasikowska, Nicole Kidman, Matthew Goode. 98min. Following a mysterious car accident, India Stoker’s charming Uncle Charlie suddenly arrives, taking refuge with India’s emotionally unstable mother. Rather than feeling repelled she soon becomes infatuated with him. Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee, Thu 21 Mar; Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Fri 22–Thu 28 Mar. Welcome to the Punch (15) ●●●●● (Eran Creevy, US/UK, 2013) James McAvoy, Mark Strong, Peter Mullan, Andrea Riseborough. 99min. Max (McAvoy) is a volatile young cop haunted by an incident in which he let a bad guy get away; but then the villain comes back into view. It’s swaggering and glossy but derivative and hypocritical, in that it deplores gun violence while making guns look not just sexy but essential. General release. Wreck-It Ralph (PG) ●●●●● (Rich Moore, US, 2012) Voices of John C Reilly, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch. 108min. This cleverly-targeted family romp set in the world of videogames marks a step up both commercially and artistically for the non-Pixar side of Disney animation. The script is brilliantly witty; the visuals sweep, swoop and sparkle; and the message about flawed individuals finding their own way to be heroes is a kindly one, intelligently expressed. General release.
ONE-OFFS, SEASONS AND FESTIVALS Bedknobs and Broomsticks (PG) ●●●●● (Robert Stevenson, US, 1971) Angela Lansbury, David Tomlinson, Roddy McDowall. 117min. An apprentice witch and three English kids contribute to the war effort via some enjoyable set pieces and some less than wonderful songs. Scotsman Screening Room, Edinburgh, Sun 14 Apr; macrobert, Stirling, Sat 23 Mar.
EDINBURGH & GLASGOW EATING& DRINKING Guide
PUBLISHED APRIL 17TH
21 Mar–18 Apr 2013 THE LIST 67