Film
Films screening this fortnight are listed below with certificate, star rating, credits, brief review and venue details. Film index compiled by Paul Dale
The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lava Girl (1') 0. (Robert Rodriguez. LS. 2005) Taylor Lautner. Taylor Dooley. (‘ayden Boyd. (ieorge Lopez. 93min. A boy's imaginary superhero friends come to life and joins him on a series of adventures. Bland pint-Spy Kids kiddie fiick from Rodriguez. Vue Edinburgh Ocean. Edinburgh.
The Adventures of Arsene Lupin
( 15) 0.. (Jean-Paul Salotne. I-‘rance/ Italy/Spain/Britain. 2004) Romain Duris. Kristin Scott Thomas. Pascal (ireggory. Iiva (ireen. 125mm. This dark. sexy. violent and loopy high budget romp is a welcome alternative to the generic comic book Hollywood action films. A womanising French gentletnan jewel thief (Duris) and master of disguise teams up with lemme fatale Josephine (Thomas) in an improbably ornate fantastical drama which mixes stolen crucifixes atid tnagical powers. Glasgow I‘ilrn 'I‘heatre. Glasgow.
Amones Perros (Love’s a Bitch)
( 18) O... (Alejandro (ion/ale! lrritu. Mexico. 2001 ) limilio iichevarria. (iael (iarcia Bernal. (ioy‘a Toledo. 153mm. Inarritu's debut feature is billed as ‘thc Mexican Pulp I'ierion‘. a description which sells it short. The 'I'arantino comparison is a useful starting point: the film tells three overlapping stories a teenager drawn into the world of illegal dog-fighting. the infidelity of a middle-aged media executive and an elderly homeless man by using shifting time-frames. tangentially linked characters and jagged verbal rhythms. Fierce humanity underpins Inarritu's beautiful. grainy visuals and Guillermo Arriaga Jordan's multi-layered script. Gilmore/tillG/J. Glasgow.
The Art of Breaking Up (Un fil a la patte) (15) .0. (Michel l)eville. France. 2005) Iimanuelle Bean. ('harles Berling. Dominique Blanc. Julie l)epardieu. 78min. The big screen adaptation of (ieorge Feydeau‘s 1894 farce retains its wit. Against the backdrop of Parisian high society. Boris d'linghein (Berling) attempts to confess his impending wedding to his mistress. only to be thwarted at every turn. Part of Mini French Film Festival. Glasgow I‘ilrn Theatre. Glasgow.
Batman Begins ( tZA) COO ((‘hristopher Nolan. IS. 2005) ('hristian Bale. Michael (‘aine. Liam Neeson. Morgan Freeman. (iary ()ldman. Katie Holmes. 139mm. Flawed but satisfyingly dark and realistic adaptation of both Bob Kane‘s original strips and Frank Miller's Batman: Year One. Glasgow I-ilrn Theatre. Glasgow.
TheMack
46 THE LIST 3‘ 17 Nov 2005
Battle in Heaven (Batalla en El Cielo) t 18) O... ((‘arlos Reygadas. France/Belgium/Mexico. 2005) Marcos Hernandel. Anapola Mushkadiz. Bena Ruiz. 97min. Reygadas's follow-up to Ja/ion is this compelling metaphysical drama which unfolds in a morally bankrupt contemporary Mexico (‘ityx An austere and visceral work. which is steeped in mystery and longing. Glasgow l’i/rn Theatre. Glasgow; (inner). Edinburgh.
* The Beat That my Heart Skipped (de battre mon coeur s’est arrete) ( 15).... (Jacqtte Audiard. France. 2004) Romain Duris. Niels Arestrup. Linh-Datn Phatn. Iimmanuclle l)evos. 106mm. See res iew. page 44. Selected release.
Beautiful Boxer (tbc) (likachai l7ekrongtham. Thailand. 2003) See (Say. page 57. Part of (ilasgay? (’( )1. Glasgow. Bed and Breakfast (Bienvenue au Gite) t 15) t('1aude Duty. France. 2003) Philllipe Harel. Bu1|e()gier. Julie Depardieu. Marina Fois. 107mm. (‘laude Duty's comedy follows the trials of a thirtysomething Parisian couple attempting to live out their dream of owning a bed and breakfast it) the country side. only to discover that reality can be cruel. Part of Mini French Film Festival. Glasgow I’ilrn 'I'heatre. Glasgow.
Blade Runner: The Director’s Cut (15) O... (Ridley Scott. (S. 1982) Harrison Ford. Sean Young. Rutger Hauer.
1 10min. ()ut go the pseudo-noir narration and the tacked-on happy ending: in comes a more defined sense that l)eckat'd himself may be a replicant. The look and feel remain as powerful. and the acting is superb. A flawed masterpiece is now a restored masterpiece. I'illnltottse. Edinburgh. Blueprint ( 15) (Roll Schubel. (iermany. 2003) Franka Potente. t'lrich 'I‘homsen.
1 13min. When Siri Sellin (Potente) finds out that she is a tnere clone of her tnother Iris. she runs away to (‘anada where she meets a man and starts to build a life of her own. Part of the Iithics of ('loning Film Festival. Film/rouse. Edinburgh.
Boys from Brazil ( its) 000
(Franklin J Schnaffer. t'K/tTS. 1978) (iregory Peck. Laurence Olivier. James Mason. Lilli Palmer. I‘ta Hagen. 125mm. This pacy thriller sees Na/i War criminal Josef Mengele attempt to clone Hitler and produce legions of genetically identical young men. ()livier's Lieberman. based loosely on the accounts of the late Na/i— hunter Simon Wiesenthal. battles his plot. Part of the Iithics of (‘loning festival. Part of the Iithics of (‘loning Film Festival. I'ilnthouse. Edinburgh.
* Broken Flowers ( 15) oooo (Jim Jartnuscli. ITS. 2005) Bill Murray. Sharon Stone. Jessica Lange. Jeffrey Wright. Tilda Swinton. Julie l)elpy. 88min. Don (Murray) receives an anonymous letter from one of his fortner girlfriends claiming that the son he
Psychotronic Cinema, a rather wonderful season of magnificently weird movies (put together by the same people who brought you the Cult! and Wild Japan festivals) kicks off with this fantastic blaxploitation flick about the rise and fall of an urban hustler in the drug-fuelled insanity of the black ghetto of 1973 New York. Pimp your ride, baby! I Fi/mhouse. Edinburgh (Thu 70 Nov only).
never knew he had has left home and may be heading his way. He sets off on fiy and drive adventure across the country to visit each of his five exes to discover the truth behind the scarlet missive. A tender. perplexing joy. General release.
* The Brothers Grimm (12A) 0.” (Terry (iilliam. (‘zech Republic/ LS. 2005) Matt Damon. Heath Ledger. Mackenzie (‘rook. Peter Stormare. Jonathan Price. I 18min.See interview and review. page 43. General release.
By the Pricking of my Thumbs (Mon petit doigt m’a dit) (15)
“O (Pascal Thomas. France. 2005) (‘atherine Frot. Andre Dussolier. 106mm. A wannabee sleuth looks into the criminal influence of a recently inherited painting. linjoyable French Agatha (‘hristie adaptation. Part of Mini French Film Festival l.'K. Glasgow Eilrn Theatre. Glasgow.
Christ Stopped at Eboli (PG)
“0. (Francesco Rosi. France/Italy. 1979) (iian Maria Volonte. Paolo Bonacelli. Alain (‘unyy Lea Massari. Irene Papas. 155mm. Based on the true story of anti- fascist intellectual. ('arlo Levi. a painter trained as a doctor who. in the fascist Italy of 1935. was exiled to a remote region near liboli. Rarely shown theatrically. this huge underrated portrait of Fascist Italy is well worth checking out. Part of Rosi season. Edinburgh I"ilrn Guild. Edinburgh. Cloning the First Human (12A) (th. 2001) 50min. (’lassic BBC Horizon programme looking at the pros and cons of cloning. Part of the lithics of (‘Ioning Film Festival. Film/rouse. Edinburgh.
* The Constant Gardener( t5) 0.. (Fernando Meirelles. ITS/t'K. 2005) Ralph Fiennes. Rachel Weisr. Hubert Kounde. Danny Huston. 128mm. See profile in listings and review. page 43. General release.
Corpse Bride (PU) oooo (Tim Burton/Mike Johnson. ITK. 3005) Voices of Johnny l)epp. Helena Bonham ('arter. limily Watson. Tracey l'llman. 77min. 1)) a gloomy Victorian town. fallen aristocrats the liverglots are getting ready to marry their daughter Victoria (Watson) off to the son of nouveau riche fish tycoons the Van Dons. The trouble is that the Van Dorts' sensitive son V'ictor (l)epp) has gone and got himself hitched to another lady (Carter) and the contract looks like it's binding. Iinormously enjoyable gothic stop motion animation frotn the same team who brought you A Nightmare lie/ore ('hristrnas. General release.
Cowboys and Angels (15) (David (ileeson. 1re1and/(iermany/IIK. 2003) Michael Legge. Allen Leech. Amy Shiels. David Murray. 89min. See (iay. page 57. Part of (iiasgay? Glasgow I-ilrn 'Iheatre. Glasgow.
The D WON! (tbe) (Noelle Brower/Maggie Burkle. LS. 2005) Jessica Horsttnan. Tony Arnaud. Michele Balan. Juliet Varica Brown. Marga Gomez. ()1 min. See (iay'. page 57. Part of (ilasgay‘? (TA. Glasgow.
Domino ( 15) 0 (Tony Scott. France/LS. 2005) Keira Knightley. Mickey Rourke. Iidgar Ramirez. Lucy Liu. 120mm. Thriller based on the life and times of a real model turned bounty hunter. Absolute rubbish. Selei‘led release.
Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story (I) C. (John (iatins. LS. 2005) Kurt Rtissell. Dakota Fanning. Kris Kristofferson. 1ilisabeth Shue. l02min. Drearily nice film about a trainer (Russell) and his daughter (Fanning) who nurse an injured horse back to health. hoping to one day race her in the Breeders‘ (’up. Nausea-inducing. General release.
Dropstitch (t') (Josie ('Iyde. t'K. 2004) 55min. Documentary celebrating the funky moves of sotne of the world's greatest female snowboarders. The filtn was shot over a year in Iceland. New Xealand. the l.'S and the Iiuropean Alps. Hang ten. sister. Glasgow I"ilrn Theatre. Glasgow.
The Elephant Man (15).”.
(David Lynch. LS. 1980) John Ilurt. Anthony Hopkins. Anne Bancroft. 125min. Moving story of real-life Victorian freak John Merrick. brilliantly played by Ilurt under a grotesque make-up job. and his
appalling mistreatment by society before he finally received the medical attention he deserved. Fascinating period detail and rich monochrome cinematography make this a real treat from a slightly unexpected filmmaker. GilrnorehillG/Z. Glasgow. Elizabethtown ( 12A) 0..
(Cameron (‘rowe. US. 2005) Orlando Bloom. Kirsten Dunst. Susan Sarandon. Alec Baldwin. I23min.See review. page 44. General release.
Every Day‘s a Holiday (PU) see
(A Iidward Sutherland. US. 1937) Mae West. lidmund Lowe. ('harles Butterworth. ('harles Winniger. 80min. In her final Paramount picture. Mae West impersonates brunette French singer Fifi and exposes some crooked cops. Lively and farcical. this is a fun and witty film which should have revived her career. Part of West season. Eilrnhouse. Edinburgh.
The First Human Clone: Conception (12A) (tJK. 2003) 50min. The first part of (‘hannel 4's interesting documentary about the real life possibilities of cloning. Showing with 1999 current affairs programme Front/me Scotland: (‘loning and Parkinson 's Disease. Part of the Iithics of (‘loning Film Festival. Eilrnhouse. Edinburgh.
49th Parallel (l?) C” (Michael Powell. L'K. 1941) Leslie Howard. Laurence Olivier. Raymond Massey. Anton Wallbrtmk. 123mm. Six Nazis attempt to make their way across (‘anada to the neutral United States in this wartime thriller. (‘onceived as an attempt to persuade the Americans to come to the aid of the allies. the film was also a huge commercial success but is rarely screened today. Part of Powell restrospective. l-‘ilrnhouse. Edinburgh. Four Brothers ( 15) 00 (John Singleton. IS. 2005) Mark Wahlberg. Tyrese (iibson. Andre Benjamin. (iarrett Hedlund. 108mm. Revamped version Henry Hathaway's 1965 Western The Sons of Katie Elder into an urban setting. leading to barely credible shoot-em-ups that belong in a video game. When a kind and gentle foster tnum is gunned down in a quUor store. her grown-up charges. Bobby (Wahlberg). Angel ((iibson). Andre (Benjamin) and Jack (Hedlund) go outside of the law to get the killers. Dull urban western. Selected release.
Funny Kinda Guy (the) (Travis Reeves. 17K. 2004) 90min. See (iay. page 57. Part of (ilasgay? (TA. Glasgow.
Garam Masala (tbe) (Priyadarshan. India. 2005) Akshay Kumar. John Abraham. Paresh Rawal. Rajpal YadavI-Injoyable romantic comedy set in the glamoroUs world of gossip magazine fashion photography. ()deon A! The Quay. Glasgow. Glasgow; (.'('I Edinburgh. Edinburgh.
Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (15) “O (Mamoru ()shii. Japan. 2004) 99min. Sporadically tncsmerising follow-up to 1995 anittte. Selected release.
Goal! (12A) .0 (Danny Canon. LS. 2004) Kuno Becker. Alessandro Nivola. Marcel lures. Anna Friel. 1 18min. Tired. pedestrian and uninspired sports melodrama. .S'howease ('inerna. ('oatbridge. Glasgow: .S'howease ('inerna. Paisley". l’aislev.
The Grudge ( 15) oo (Takashi Shimizu. Japan/LS. 2004) Sarah Michelle (iellar. Jason Behr. William Mapother. (‘lea [)uVall. 96min. Sam Raitni loved the Japanese ghost story so much he persuaded the original director on board to direct this American remake. Unfortunately this is just as pointless as the original. Glasgow Eilrn Theatre. Glasgow.
A History of Violence ( 18) .000. (David (‘ronenberg. IVS. 2005) Viggo Mortensen. Maria Bello. William Hurt. lid Harris. 95min. Tom Stall (Mortesen) owns a cafe and has an idyllic life with his lawyer wife (Bello) and their two chiIdren in the small town of MillBrook. That life changes the day Tom kills two criminals who are causing trouble in his restaurant. A masterpiece of sorts. Selected release.
Hot Rod ( 15) 0.. (Michael Morrow, ('anada. 2004) 77min. Bizarrely enjoyable documentary which follows a bunch of rednecks through a Demolition Derby competition. Glasgow I-i/m Theatre. Glasgow: