Film INDEX
Le Quai des Brumes (Port of Shadows) (PG) ●●●●● (Marcel Carné, France, 1938) Jean Gabin, Michel Simon, Michèle Morgan. 91min. In pre-WWII Le Havre, army deserter Jean (Gabin) tries to protect beautiful Nelly (Morgan) from a gang of small-time hoods. The great collaboration between director Carné and poet/screenwriter Prévert begins here; it’s dark, bitter, fatalistic and wonderful, and has been given a meticulous and well-deserved digital restoration. Filmhouse, Edinburgh; Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee. The Raid (18) ●●●●● (Gareth Evans, Indonesia/USA, 2011) Iko Uwais, Doni Alamsyah, Yayan Ruhain. 100min. An Indonesian SWAT team storms a Jakarta tower block intending to take down crime lord Tama (Sahetapy), but finds itself trapped. About as good a film as you can make about men repeatedly punching each other in the face; Evans’ low-budget, high- impact approach has enormous gusto and ingenuity. General release. Red Tails (12A) ●●●●● (Anthony Hemingway, US, 2012) Cuba Gooding Jr., Gerald McRaney, David Oyelowo. 125min. See review, page 87. General release from Wed 6 Jun. Robert Mugabe . . . What Happened? (12) (Simon Bright, UK/France/South Africa, 2011) 84min. This combination of archival footage and interviews sheds light on how a man who brought hope turned into a ruthless dictator. Followed by a Q&A with the film’s producer and special guests. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Rock of Ages (tbc) (Adam Shankman, US, 2012) Julianne Hough, Diego Boneta, Tom Cruise. A film version of the Broadway musical comedy featuring classic rock songs from the 80s. The story follows two young people who fall in love in Los Angeles in 1987, only to find their relationship on a rocky path when rock star Stacee Jaxx (Cruise) arrives on the scene. General release from Fri 15 Jun. Rowdy Rathore (12A) (Prabhu Deva, India, 2012) Akshay Kumar, Maryam Zakaria, Sonakshi Sinha. Bollywood action film in which small time conman Shiva is subject to a series of life-threatening attacks by a gang of deadly criminals while simultaneously trying to woo a lady and deal with a six-year-old who’s convinced he’s her father. Selected release from Fri 1 Jun. A Royal Affair (15) ●●●●● (Nikolaj Arcel, Denmark/Sweden/Czech Republic/Germany, 2012) Mads Mikkelsen, Mikkel Boe Folsgaard, Alicia Vikander. 137min. See review, page 87 and column, page 89. Cameo, Edinburgh; Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow. Royal Opera House: Tosca (PG) (Antonio Pappano, UK, 2011) Angela Gheorghiu, Jonas Kaufmann and Bryn Terfel. 125min. This production of Puccini’s classic, set in Rome at the turn of the 19th century, was conducted by Antonio Pappano. Cameo, Edinburgh. Safe (15) ●●●●● (Boaz Yakin, US, 2012) Jason Statham, Catherine Chan, Chris Sarandon. 94min. Luke Wright (Statham), suicidal ex-cop-turned-cage-fighter, is about to jump in front of a train when he befriends Mei (Chan), Chinese schoolgirl and math genius who knows how to access a fortune. Generic villains and excessive body count can’t tarnish Statham’s likable machismo and the unstoppable energy of the action scenes. A guilty pleasure. Selected release. Le Salaire de la Peur (The Wages of Fear) (PG) (Henri-Georges Clouzot, France, 1953) Yves Montand, Charles Vanel, Peter van Eyck. 131min. Tense thriller in which a perilous rivalry arises between four men hired to transport a shipment of highly dangerous nitroglycerine to the oil fields of South America. Institut Français d’Ecosse, Edinburgh. Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (12A) ●●●●● (Lasse Halström, UK, 2011) Ewan Mcgregor, Emily Blunt, Kristin Scott Thomas. 111min. A nerdish fisheries expert (McGregor) and a sophisticated legal aide (Blunt) are recruited by an angling-obsessed sheik (Waked) to realize the vision of the title. Selected release. 96 THE LIST 24 May–21 Jun 2012
Scotland by Train: Programme 2 (U) (Various, UK) 87min. This collection of short films celebrates Scotland’s railways in conjunction with the National Museum of Scotland’s exhibition of Scottish railway posters. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Sea Rex 3D: Journey to a Prehistoric World (U) (Ronan Chapalain, Pascal Vuong, UK/France, 2010) Guillaume Denaiffe, Norbert Ferrer, Chloe Hollings. 41min. Documentary about the huge creatures that ruled the seas before the time of the dinosaurs. IMAX Theatre, Glasgow. The Seven Year Itch (PG) ●●●●● (Billy Wilder, US, 1955) Marilyn Monroe, Tom Ewell, Evelyn Keys, Sonny Tufts. 105min. Disappointingly flat version (by director Wilder’s standards) of George Axelrod’s farcical stage play about one man’s mid-life crisis. Grosvenor Cinema, Glasgow. Silent Running (U) (Douglas Trumbull, US, 1971) Bruce Dern, Cliff Potts, Ron Rifkin. 89min. Pioneering effects boffin Trumbull came up trumps with this warmly affecting debut sci-fi feature. Dern stars as the scientist in charge of a spacecraft experiment that’s literally another Garden of Eden and is apparently intended to renourish old mother Earth after the ravages of nuclear war. Cameo, Edinburgh. ✽✽ Sing Your Song (12A) ●●●●● (Susanne Rostock, USA, 2011) 104min. See review, page 88. Filmhouse, Edinburgh; Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee. Sleeper (15) ●●●●● (Woody Allen, US, 1973) Woody Allen, Diane Keaton, John Beck, Mary Gregory. 88min. Vintage early Allen, as our paranoiac hero finds himself 200 years in the future, challenging the evil machinations of a totalitarian regime in his accustomed manner. Cameo, Edinburgh. Snow White and the Huntsman (12A) (Rupert Sanders, US, 2012) Kristen Stewart, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron. 127min. As in the traditional tale, the jealous Queen sends a huntsman to kill Snow White after discovering her to be the fairest in the land. But in this modern adaptation the Huntsman becomes Snow White’s mentor, training her as a warrior to be able to challenge the reign of the evil Queen. General release from Wed 30 May. The Source (La Source des Femmes) (15) ●●●●● (Radu Mihaileanu, Belguim/Italy/France, 2011) Leila Bekhti, Hafisa Herzi, Biyouna. 124min. In a drought- ridden village somewhere between Africa and the Middle East, the men do little while the women are expected to fetch the water in sweltering heat; eventually, Leila (Bekhti) organises a revolt. What could have been a one-dimensional tale deepens into something more considered, told with engaging warmth. Cameo, Edinburgh; Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee; Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow. Steel Magnolias (PG) ●●●●● (Herbert Ross, US, 1989) Shirley MacLaine, Dolly Parton, Sally Field, Olympia Dukakis, Julia Roberts. The downhome tale of a bevy of southern belles who support each other through weepy tragedy by means of hugs and wisecracks. Loads of local colour and tragedy but you can’t help feeling that you’ve been emotionally manipulated by a bunch of Sindy dolls. Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee. Stevenson College (PG) (Various, UK) 120min. Entertaining programme from the talented students of Stevenson College Edinburgh. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Strength in Numbers (PG) (Various, 2012) 100min. From Canada, Switzerland and Nepal to Scotland and beyond, this cycling odyssey features some of the world’s greatest mountain bikers, including Scotland’s Danny MacAskill. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow. Superbad (15) ●●●●● (Greg Mottola, US, 2007) Jonah Hill, Michael Cera, Martha MacIsaac. 112min. Cracking autobiographical teen fantasy (written by Seth Rogen) that harks back to the glory days of Risky Business and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. It’s outrageously rude and crude, yet somehow remains both sophisticated and compassionate in its consideration of what makes teenagers tick. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow. Superman (PG) (Richard Donner, UK, 1978) Marlon Brando, Christopher Reeve, Margot Kidder, Gene Hackman. 143min. Enjoyable but now very dated first outing for Reeve as Superman. This franchise did get better before it got worse but this is still great fun. Scotsman Screening Room, Edinburgh. Tales of the Night (Les Contes de la Nuit) (U) ●●●●● (Michel Ocelot, France, 2011) Voices of Julien Beramis, Marine Griset, Michel Elias. 84min. Animated feature in which an elderly writer and a young actress dream up and perform six stories about a young hero's attempts to win the hand of a princess. Filmhouse, Edinburgh; Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee. Teatro alla Scala: Peter Grimes (E) (Richard Jones, Italy, 2012) John Graham- Hall, Susan Gritton, Christopher Purves, Felicity Palmer, Malin Christensson. 175min. Broadcast of English director Richard Jones’ production of Benjamin Britten’s opera, performed at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan. Selected screenings on Thu 24 May. The Terminator (18) ●●●●● (James Cameron, US, 1984) Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn, Linda Hamilton. 107min. In 2029 machines have all but conquered the planet but a saviour is at hand in the form of a new human leader. The machines respond by sending Schwarzenegger’s cyborg back in time to 1984 on a mission to kill the future leader’s mother. Sloans, Glasgow. This Must be the Place (15) ●●●●● (Paolo Sorrentino, USA, 2011) Sean Penn, Frances McDormand, Judd Hirsch. 118min. Reclusive rock star Cheyenne (Penn) goes in search of the SS officer who humiliated his father at Auschwitz. A weird and sometimes wonderful mixture of road movie and revenge drama. macrobert, Stirling. A Thousand Kisses Deep (15) (Dana Lustig, UK/USA, 2011) Dougray Scott, Emelia Fox, David Warner. 84min. A thriller in which a young woman, Mia, sees an old woman leap from a window and finds shredded photographs of herself scattered around the body. After finding that the contents of the woman’s flat are hers, Mia must revisit her past and see the events in her life that define her future. Selected release from Fri 15 Jun. Tibet in Song (12) (Ngawang Choephel, US, 2009) 86min. This documentary focuses on the music of traditional Tibetan culture. Director Choephel was incarcerated for his efforts, released after seven years of campaigning. Featuring a discussion about the issues raised. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. To Shoot an Elephant (15) (Alberto Arce/Mohammad Rujailah, Spain, 2009) 112min. This risk-taking documentary follows the lives of Palestinians under attack on the Gaza Strip. Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee. Top Cat (U) (Alberto Mar, Mexico/Argentina, 2011) Jason Harris, Chris Edgerly, Ben Diskin, Melissa Disney, Bill Lobely. 90min. Mexican-made feature-length version of the adventures of Hanna-Barbera’s feline trickster and his pals. General release from Fri 1 Jun. Top Gun (PG) ●●●●● (Tony Scott, US, 1986) Tom Cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmer. 110min. This emotionless formula adventure about men being grandly upstaged by very fast, very expensive and very dangerous aircraft, with the splendid Ms McGillis thrown for love interest, made a fortune, especially in the US. It had to be those planes, or maybe the rampant ‘America the strong’ ethos of the film, because it doesn’t have much more to offer. Sloans, Glasgow. Touchez Pas au Grisbi (15) (Jacques Becker, France/Italy, 1954) Jean Gabin, René Dary, Dora Doll. 94min. Gabin’s career was resurrected post-war by this turn as an underworld godfather pushed into doing one last job. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. ✽✽ Town of Runners (PG) ●●●●● (Jerry Rothwell, Ethiopia/UK, 2012) 88min. A pretty and thoughtful documentary about the tiny town of Bekoji in Ethiopia, which has produced an astonishing number of champion long-distance runners. Part of Let the Games Begin season. Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
Toy Story 3 (U) ●●●●● (Lee Unkrich, USA, 2010) Voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack. 108min. Andy has grown up and is on the way to college, so everyone’s favourite toys are packed off to Sunnyside day-care centre. After a whirlwind of close-cut situations, the film manages to retain its good humour and pathos long enough to bring all the characters safely to a satisfying resolution. macrobert, Stirling.
(Béla Tarr, Ágnes Hranitzky, ✽✽ The Turin Horse (15) ●●●●● Hungary/France, 2011) János Derzsi, Erika Bók, Mihály Kormos. 154min. A father and daughter scrabble for a living in a remote farm, but their livelihood is threatened when their ageing horse starts to sicken. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. 2 Days in New York (15) ●●●●● (Julie Delpy, US, 2011) Julie Delpy, Chris Rock, Albert Delpy, Alexia Landeau, Alex Nahon. 95min. Marion (Delpy) lives with Mingus (Rock) and their children from previous relationships, and copes with her widowed father (Delpy’s own father), cross- cultural misunderstandings and grief for her late mother. This sequel to 2007’s 2 Days in Paris is often very funny: Delpy Sr is a joy and Rock is winningly bemused. Selected release. Two Years at Sea (tbc) ●●●●● (Ben Rivers, UK, 2011) 88min. Documentary about Jake Williams, a man living an isolated existence in northern Scotland. Rivers’ debut feature has no voiceover or dialogue – there are no interviews with Williams – but with breathtaking images and a bewitching soundtrack, it’s a handsome and meditative film, ultimately honest and uplifting. Filmhouse, Edinburgh. Victim (tbc) (Alex Pillai, UK, 2011) Ashley Chin, Ashley Madekwe, Jason Maza. 98min. Action drama about a young man’s attempts to move away from a life of violent crime, with the help of a wholesome country girl who comes to stay with his friend in the city. Selected release from Fri 8 Jun. Videoclub and Film London Artists’ Moving Image Network: Selected (18) (Various, UK, 2011) A touring film programme curated by the 2011 nominees for the Jarman Award. With introductions and Q&As with some of the artists. CCA, Glasgow. Wagner’s Dream (E) (Susan Froemke, US, 2012) 113min. Documentary looking at New York’s Metropolitan Opera’s production of Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle. Cameo, Edinburgh; Dundee Contemporary Arts, Dundee. War Horse (12A) ●●●●● (Steven Spielberg, US, 2011) Jeremy Irvine, Emily Watson, David Thewlis. 146min. Alcoholic farmer Ted buys a spirited horse, Joey, in an England unwittingly on the brink of World War I; his teenage son (Irvine) tames Joey, but war soon separates them. Spielberg promises and delivers large-canvas, unashamedly romanticised, old-fashioned storytelling. Brunton Theatre, Edinburgh. Wendy and Lucy (15) ●●●●● (Kelly Reichardt, US, 2008) Michelle Williams, Will Patton, Will Oldham. 80min. Twenty- something Wendy (Williams) and her dog Lucy embark on a cross-country road trip from Indiana to find temporary work in a fishing cannery in Alaska. A moving tale from the front line of the zero income demographic. Part of Man and Beast season. Glasgow Film Theatre, Glasgow. What to Expect When You’re Expecting (12A) (Kirk Jones, US, 2012) Cameron Diaz, Matthew Morrison, Dennis Quaid. 109min. Based on the best seller of the same name, this comedy focuses on five couples about to have children. Celebrity couple Jules and Evan, author Wendy and her husband Gary and potential adopters Holly and Alex are among the pairs whose lives intertwine on the road to parenthood. General release. Woody Allen: A Documentary (tbc) (Robert B Weide, US, 2012) 113min. Best known for his work on Curb Your Enthusiasm, Weide turns his attention to the notoriously publicity-shy Woody Allen. Filmed over a year and a half, this film biography captures Allen’s life and creative process. Cameo, Edinburgh.