FILM | Index
Nicholas Beveney, Daniel Fraser. 83min. Afghanistan, Helmand Province becomes one of the most dangerous places on earth as the British Army deploys into the Taliban heartland. An overextended British army patrol struggles to keep it together under increasingly tough conditions. Selected release from Fri 7 Feb. RoboCop (tbc) (José Padilha, US, 2014) Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton, Samuel L Jackson. 121min. Brazilian José Padilha, Oxford alumnus and director of Elite Squad, reimagines Paul Verhoeven’s classic ultra-violent 1987 original about a cop brought back from the dead as part man, part machine. General release from Fri 7 Feb. Teenage (12A) ●●●●● (Matt Wolf, US/Germany, 2013) 78min. Documentary using archive footage to tell the story of ‘teenagers’. See review, page 60. Selected release from Fri 24 Jan. That Awkward Moment (15) (Tom Gormican, USA, 2014) Zac Efron, Michael B Jordan, Miles Teller. 94min. Three best friends need to decide where their relationships are going. Selected release from Wed 29 Jan. Tinkerbell and the Pirate Fairy (tbc) (Peggy Holmes, US, 2014) Voices of Tom Hiddleston, Christina Hendricks, Mae Whitman. The fifth of DisneyToon Studios’ Tinker Bell films, based on the JM Barrie character. Selected release from Fri 14 Feb. Total Chaos (Total Siyapaa) (tbc) (Eeshwar Nivas, India, 2014) Anupam Kher, Ali Zafar, Yami Gautam. Hindi romance. Selected release from Fri 31 Jan. STILL SHOWING 12 Years a Slave (12) ●●●●● (Steve McQueen, US, 2013) Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael K Williams, Michael Fassbender. 133min. In the pre-Civil War United States, a free black man from upstate New York is abducted and sold into slavery. General release. All Is Lost (12A) ●●●●● (JC Chandor, US, 2013) Robert Redford. 106min. After a sea-based collision, a sailor finds himself confronting his own mortality. Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Thu 23 Jan; Cineworld Fountainpark, Edinburgh, Thu 23 Jan; Cineworld Renfrew Street, Glasgow, Thu 23 Jan. American Hustle (15) ●●●●● (David O. Russell, US, 2013) Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams. 138min. The Fighter director O. Russell reteams with Bale for this drama about a con artist forced to work with a federal agent. General release. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues (15) ●●●●● (Adam McKay, US, 2013) Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd. 119min. Sequel to the 2004 comedy about San Diego newsreaders. General release. The Butler (12A) ●●●●● (Lee Daniels, USA, 2013) Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, John Cusack. 132min. Loosely based on a true story about a man who rises from impoverished cottonfield worker to butler at the White House. Vue Glasgow Fort, Glasgow, Thu 23 Jan. Delivery Man (12A) ●●●●● (Ken Scott, US, 2013) Vince Vaughn, Chris Pratt, Cobie Smulders. 105min. An affable underachiever finds out he’s fathered 533 children when 142 of them file a lawsuit to reveal his identity. General release. Devil’s Due (R) ●●●●● (Matt Bettinelli-Olpin/Tyler Gillett, US, 2014) Allison Miller, Zach Gilford, Steffie Grote. 89min. An unexpected pregnancy takes a terrifying turn for newlyweds Zach and Samantha McCall. General release. Frozen (PG) ●●●●● (Chris Buck, US, 2013) Voices of Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, Idina Menzel. 108min. Princess Anna (Bell) is disturbed to find that her sister Elsa (Menzel) can create ice and
62 THE LIST 23 Jan–20 Feb 2014
snow, but when Elsa goes into exile the kingdom freezes, and Anna and friends must find her. General release. Gravity (12A) ●●●●● (Alfonso Cuarón, US/UK, 2013) Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, Eric Michels. 90min. A medical engineer and an astronaut work together to survive after an accident leaves them adrift in space. General release. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (12A) ●●●●● (Peter Jackson, US/New Zealand, 2013) Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage. 161min. Jackson continues his epic Tolkien hexalogy with the second of his films based on The Hobbit. General release. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (12A) ●●●●● (Francis Lawrence, US, 2013) Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth. 146min. Katniss (Lawrence) and Peeta (Hutcherson) are forced to enter a special 75th anniversary games featuring contestants who’ve previously won. Selected release. Last Vegas (12A) ●●●●● (Jon Turteltaub, US, 2013) Robert De Niro, Michael Douglas, Morgan Freeman. 105min. Four old timers go on a stag party to Vegas. Fogelman’s script is predictable, but there’s a certain amount of pleasure in seeing four princes of 80s cinema act like teenagers. General release. Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (12A) ●●●●● (Justin Chadwick, UK/ South Africa, 2013) Idris Elba, Naomie Harris, Terry Pheto. 146min. Biopic of Nelson Mandela, from childhood to inauguration as the first democratically elected president of South Africa. General release. Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (15) (Christopher Landon, US, 2014) Andrew Jacobs, Molly Ephraim, Richard Cabral. 84min. After being ‘marked,’ Jesse is pursued by mysterious forces while his family and friends try to save him. Selected release. Philomena (12A) ●●●●● (Stephen Frears, UK/US/France, 2013) Michelle Fairley, Judi Dench, Steve Coogan. 98min. Oscar nominated tale about an elderly woman trying to track down the son who was taken from her. Cineworld Fountainpark, Edinburgh, Thu 23 Jan; Cineworld Parkhead, Glasgow, Thu 23 Jan; Cineworld Renfrew Street, Glasgow, Thu 23 Jan. The Railway Man (15) ●●●●● (Jonathan Teplitzky, Australia/UK, 2013) Nicole Kidman, Colin Firth, Jeremy Irvine. 116min. A veteran of the ‘Death Railway’ – the line from Bangkok in Thailand to Rangoon in Burma constructed by Allied prisoners of war during World War II – sets out many years later to find those responsible for his torture. General release. Saving Mr Banks (PG) ●●●●● (John Lee Hancock, US/UK/Australia, 2013) Emma Thompson, Tom Hanks, Colin Farrell. 125min. Story of the creation of Mary Poppins. Odeon Wester Hailes, Edinburgh, Thu 23 Jan; Cineworld Fountainpark, Edinburgh, Thu 23 Jan. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (PG) ●●●●● (Ben Stiller, US, 2013) Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Adam Scott. 114min. Comedy drama about an office worker who lives in his own fantasy world. General release. Walking with Dinosaurs (U) (Neil Nightingale/Barry Cook, UK/US/ Australia, 2013) John Collee, Theodore Thomas. 87min. This combination of live footage and computer effects brings every child’s favourite extinct animals to life. Selected release. The Wolf of Wall Street (18) ●●●●● (Martin Scorsese, US, 2013) Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Matthew McConaughey. 165min. Based on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stockbroker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government. See review, page 55. General release.
ONE-OFFS, SEASONS AND FESTIVALS A Story of Children and Film (PG) (Mark Cousins, UK, 2013) 106min. Documentary exploring the way children are portrayed on film. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Sat 8 Feb. Part of Glasgow Youth Film Festival. Aya de Yopougon (Aya of Yop City) (tbc) (Marguerite Abouet/ Clément Oubrerie, France, 2013) Aïssa Maïga, Tella Kpomahou, Tatiana Rojo. 84min. Animated glimpse into the lives of African teenagers. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Tue 11 Feb. Part of Glasgow Youth Film Festival. Bancs publics (Versailles rive droite) (Park Benches) (15) (Bruno Podalydès, France, 2008) Sabine Azema, Emmanuelle Devos, Chiara Mastroianni. 110min. Director Podalydes explores themes of urban solitude. Institut Français d’Ecosse, Edinburgh, Tue 11– Wed 12 Feb. Banff Mountain Film Festival A collection of films selected as the best of their kind at this prestigious mountain festival. The Queen’s Hall, Edinburgh, Fri 31 Jan–Sat 1 Feb; City Halls, Glasgow, Fri 14 Feb. Basically, Johnny Moped (tbc) (Fred Burns, UK, 2013) 77min. Documentary about Johnny Moped, the Croydon-based punk band who almost made it. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Sun 26 Jan. Beetlejuice (15) ●●●●● (Tim Burton, US, 1988) Geena Davis, Alec Baldwin, Michael Keaton. 92min. Classic Burton comedy about a recently deceased couple who have difficulty in adjusting to the afterlife. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Fri 7 Feb. Part of Glasgow Youth Film Festival. Besa: The Promise (God’s House) (tbc) (Rachel Goslins, US, 2012) 90min. When the Nazis occupied Albania, not a single Jew was betrayed by its citizens – mostly Muslims. Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Mon 27 Jan. Black Swan (15) ●●●●● (Darren Aronofsky, US, 2010) Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis. 108min. Intense and gripping portrayal of psychological meltdown. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Tue 28 Jan. Blue Exorcist: The Movie (Ao no Ekusoshisuto: Gekijô-ban) (tbc) (Atsushi Takahashi, Japan, 2012) Nobuhiko Okamoto, Jun Fukuyama, Kana Hanazawa. 88min. When a mysterious demon appears at a festival, twins are sent to help out. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Sun 9 Feb. Part of Glasgow Youth Film Festival. Blue Jasmine (12A) ●●●●● (Woody Allen, US, 2013) Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Sally Hawkins. 98min. A life crisis causes a vapid and narcissistic socialite to try to reconnect with her sister. Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Mon 27 Jan. LIVE SCREENING Bolshoi Ballet Live: Lost Illusions (tbc) A live screening of a new version of Balzac’s tale of thwarted love and ambition. Selected release. Born to Be Wild (U) (David Lickley, USA, 2011) Birute Galdikas, Daphne Sheldrick, Morgan Freeman (voice). Nature documentary set in an animal rescue and rehabilitation centre in the rainforests of Borneo. Cineworld IMAX, Glasgow, Thu 23–Thu 30 Jan. Breakfast at Tiffany’s (15) ●●●●● (Blake Edwards, US, 1961) Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Patricia Neal, Buddy Ebsen, Mickey Rooney. 115min. Classic romantic comedy, only dated by Rooney’s awkward caricature. House of Fraser, Glasgow, Wed 5 Feb. The Bridge Rising (An Drochaid) (tbc) (Robbie Fraser, Canada/UK, 2013) 79min. Scottish islanders take on the government, big industry and the Bank of America to fight against the Skye Bridge tolls. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Sun 26 Jan.
Brief Encounter (PG) ●●●●● (David Lean, UK, 1945) Celia Johnson, Trevor Howard, Stanley Holloway. 86min. Classic British stiff upper lipped romantic drama. Cameo Cinema, Edinburgh, Sun 26 Jan. British Animation Awards Programme Screenings of animated films made in Britain over the past two years. The audience gets to vote for the winners in three categories, via forms issued at each screening. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Fri 31 Jan–Sun 2 Feb, britishanimationawards.com. Caravaggio (tbc) (Derek Jarman, UK, 1986) Sean Bean, Tilda Swinton, Robbie Coltrane. 93min. Derek Jarman’s acclaimed retelling of the life of the 17th century painter. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Wed 19 Feb. Casablanca (PG) ●●●●● (Michael Curtiz, US, 1942) Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Dooley Wilson. 102min. Arguably the best ever screenplay and one of the greatest films ever made. Cameo Cinema, Edinburgh, Sun 16 Feb. Child’s Pose (15) (Calin Peter Netzer, Romania, 2013) Luminita Gheorghiu, Bogdan Dumitrache, Natasa Raab. 112min. A critique of corruption in Romania following an architect’s son who kills a child in a traffic accident. Cameo Cinema, Edinburgh, Tue 28 Jan. Closely Observed Trains (15) (Jirí Menzel, Czechoslovakia, 1966) Václav Neckár, Josef Somr, Vlastimil Brodský. 93min. An apprentice train dispatcher at a village station seeks his first sexual encounter. Filmhouse, Edinburgh, Wed 5 Feb. Concrete Night (Betoniyö) (tbc) (Pirjo Honkasalo, Finland/Sweden/ Denmark, 2013) Johannes Brotherus, Jari Virman, Anneli Karppinen. 96min. A 14-year-old boy in a stifling Helsinki slum takes some unwise life lessons from his soon-to-be-incarcerated older brother. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Mon 10 Feb. Part of Glasgow Youth Film Festival. Creative Futures Institute at UWS: How Capital Moves & The Myth of the Many in the One (tbc) Irish artists Kennedy Browne present two films that showcase their fascination with the artificial, politics and kitsch. CCA, Glasgow, Sat 1 Feb. Crystal Fairy & the Magical Cactus (18) (Sebastián Silva, Chile, 2013) Michael Cera, Gaby Hoffmann, Juan Andrés Silva. 98min. As Jamie travels in Chile, he invites an eccentric woman to join his group’s quest to score a fabled hallucinogen. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Thu 23 Jan. Cult Movie Mondays (tbc) Weekly screenings of movies that people go mad for. Sofi’s, Edinburgh, Mon 27 Jan. Dark Visions A season of films exploring representations of witchcraft and gothic horror in cinema. Part of the BFI season Gothic: The Dark Heart of Film, and curated in collaboration with the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art’s exhibition Witches & Wicked Bodies. Including Faust, Morgiana and The Night of the Hunter. Filmhouse, Edinburgh, until Thu 6 Feb. Despicable Me 2 (U) ●●●●● (Pierre Coffin/Chris Renaud, US, 2013) Voices of Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Steve Coogan. 98min. Exuberantly animated and spectacularly silly comedy. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Sat 15 Feb. The Dirties (tbc) (Matt Johnson , Canada, 2013) Matt Johnson, Owen Williams, Krista Madison. 80min. Two best friends film a comedy about getting revenge on the bullies at their high school. But one of them isn’t joking. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow, Sat 8 Feb. Part of Glasgow Youth Film Festival. Dr Strangelove (or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb) (PG) ●●●●● (Stanley Kubrick, UK, 1963) Peter Sellers, George C Scott, Sterling Hayden. 93min. Classic Kubrick satire on the futility of war. Cameo Cinema, Edinburgh, Sun 2 Feb.