www.list.co.uk/film
The Final Destination 2D (15) ●●●●● (David R Ellis, UK, 2009) Bobby Campo, Shantel VanSanten, Nick Zano. 81min. See Also Released, page 30. General release. The Final Destination 3D (15) ●●●●● (David R Ellis, UK, 2009) Bobby Campo, Shantel VanSanten, Nick Zano. 81min. See above. Selected release. Flows of Capital: Bodies & Borders (E) (Ursula Biemann/Jesper Nordahl, Various, Various) 90min. Screening of video essays by artists Biemann and Nordahl. The films examine the relationship between co-dependent aspects of capital in the neo-liberal economic model; the way in which it constitutes freedom of movement across borders for some, and fixes others to restricted localities. CCA, Glasgow. Fly Me to the Moon (U) ●●●●● (Ben Stassen, US, 2008) Buzz Aldrin, Adrienne Barbeau, Ed Begley Jr. 84min. A 3D film describing mankind’s first trip to the moon is a lively sounding prospect, and moments in Stassen’s animation provide a genuine wow-factor, but such moments of poetry are fleeting and the majority of this film insanely focuses on the uninteresting plight of three houseflies who stowaway onboard. IMAX Theatre, Glasgow. Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure (U) ●●●●● (Dominique Monfery, Canada/France, 2006) 75min. Animated children’s feature chronicling the adventures of Franklin the turtle. Glasgow Film Theatre.
✽✽ Frozen River (15) ●●●●● (Courtney Hunt, US, 2008) Melissa Leo,
Misty Upham, Charlie McDermott. 97min. Leo provides a strong central performance as a desperate American mother who becomes involved in a people-smuggling operation. Partnered by a Mohawk Native American woman, the duo drive across the frozen Saint Lawrence river, hiding illegal immigrants in their boot. Although stylistically lacking, Hunt’s no-frills approach successfully chimes
with the film’s bleak subject matter. Glasgow Film Theatre. Funny People (15) ●●●●● (Judd Apatow, US, 2009) Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Leslie Mann. 146min. See review, page 29. General release. G-Force 2D (PG) ●●●●● (Hoyt Yeatman, UK, 2009) Voices of Bill Nighy, Will Arnett, Kelli Garner. 90min. Jerry Bruckheimer-produced comedy adventure about a covertly trained group of guinea pig special agents who are charged with saving the world from disaster. Simple minded and likeable enough. General release. G-Force 3D (PG) ●●●●● (Hoyt Yeatman, UK, 2009) Voices of Bill Nighy, Will Arnett, Kelli Garner. 90min. See above. Selected release. Gamer (12A) ●●●●● (Mark Neveldine/Brian Taylor, US, 2009) Gerard Butler, Michael C Hall, Milo Ventimiglia. 95min. See Also Released, page 30. General release from Fri 4 Sep. GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra (12A) ●●●●● (Stephen Sommers, US, 2009) Dennis Quaid, Christopher Eccleston, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. 107min. Hasbro action toy in big budget feature. Could this be the beginning of a franchise? Decent enough for what it is, but this kind of thing really shouldn’t be encouraged. General release. Gladiator (15) ●●●●● (Ridley Scott, US, 2000) Russell Crowe, Richard Harris, Joaquin Phoenix. 150min. Just before dying, Caesar Aurelius (Harris) charges General Maximus (Crowe) with cleaning up his beloved, but politically corrupt Rome. Aurelius’ son, Commodus (Phoenix), doesn’t take kindly to this and has his rival executed. But Maximus survives and, as a gladiator, works his way back to Rome intent on revenge. Parallels must be drawn with Sparticus and Ben Hur; we’ve not seen a Roman epic in a long time. Scott’s is a handsome spectacle and exciting enough, but that’s all it is. Vue Ocean, Edinburgh. The Hangover (15) ●●●●● (Todd Phillips, US, 2009) Bradley Cooper, Ed
Index Film
Once Upon a Time in The West A chance to see Sergio Leone’s masterpiece on the big screen. The pacing, cinematography and a truly haunting score from Ennio Morricone, combined with stand out performances from Charles Bronson and Henry Fonda add up to 165 minutes of spaghetti western perfection. ■ Filmhouse, Edinburgh, until 30 Aug.
Helms, Heather Graham. 99min. Two days before his wedding, Doug (Bartha) heads to Vegas with his two best friends and future brother-in-law for a final bachelor blow out. Waking up the next morning, however, the trio has no recollection of what happened the night before or, more importantly, where they might have left Doug. This buddy movie really delivers with its riotous cocktail of memorable characters, outrageous situations and explicit humour. Selected release.
27 Aug–10 Sep 2009 THE LIST 33