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WORLD WAR Z Glasgow-shot zombie movie is as Hollywood as they come

production

E merging from a storm of troubled rumours comes Marc Forster’s zombie action movie, World War Z. Eschewing the multi-narrative structure and political commentary of Max Brooks’ book, it takes the zombie apocalypse story and presents it in the packaging of something a little more familiar.

Brad Pitt is our too-handsome-to-die hero Gerry Lane, a United Nations employee with a background in conflict zones and a skill-set that would put MacGyver to shame. This is not a film that hangs about, so when a zombie pandemic strikes at the film’s outset, Gerry is quickly coerced into the unenviable task of travelling the world to help find a cure for the crisis. In the main, World War Z is Hollywood business-as-usual, with bombastic action and scenes of panic familiar from countless end-of-

60 THE LIST 13 Jun–11 Jul 2013

the-world movies (look out for a few Glasgow landmarks, the city doubled up as Philadelphia). Pitt adds a touch of class, making as credible as possible a series of increasingly unbelievable, sometimes highly laughable scenarios. Frenetic editing gives the film a charge, though it often renders the action blindingly incoherent and the 3D rarely works in its favour. Because the zombies are often scrambling masses, tension takes a backseat until the final act, a taut medical lab sequence featuring our own Peter Capaldi which seems to have come from a different movie altogether. Thankfully, it’s solidly spectacular and one moment of astonishingly crass product placement aside far from a disaster. (Emma Simmonds)

General release from Fri 21 Jun. (15) 116min ●●●●●

HITLIST THE BEST FILM RELEASES & EVENTS

Edinburgh International Film Festival Dozens of films from every corner

of the world. Notable additions include Sofia Coppola’s The Bling Ring and Pixar’s Monsters University (pictured, above) plus a focus on films from Korea and Sweden. See feature, page 24 and Richard Fleisher preview, page 65. Various venues, Edinburgh, Wed 19–Sun 30 Jun.

I am Breathing Heart-wrenching documentary about Neil Platt, who is

diagnosed with Motor Neurone disease just as he becomes a father. Showing at EIFF, Filmhouse, Thu 20 Jun; Cineworld, Sun 23 Jun. Limited release from Fri 21 Jun.

Before Midnight The continuation of one of cinema’s greatest romances, from American indie director Richard Linklater. This time lovers Celine and Jesse find themselves in Greece. See interview, page 68, and review, page 64. Limited release from Fri 21 Jun.

Much Ado About Nothing Joss Whedon follows up his superhero-fest The Avengers with a thoroughly

enjoyable, lo-fi adaptation of Shakespeare’s romantic comedy. See feature, page 61 and review, page 62. Limited release from Fri 14 Jun.

Stories We Tell A doc from actor/

filmmaker Sarah Polley that trawls through family memories, in an attempt to build up a picture of her enigmatic mother. See review, page 63. Showing at EIFF, Cineworld, Fri 21 Jun; Filmhouse, Sat 22 Jun. Limited release from Fri 28 Jun.

Man of Steel One of this year’s most anticipated summer blockbusters.

Superman is back on the big screen, and it looks set to be a dark and brooding affair. Directed by Zack Snyder, with Henry Cavill, Russell Crowe, Amy Adams and Michael Shannon doing the acting honours. See review at list.co.uk. General release from Fri 14 Jun.