MOLIÈRE IN AUGUST - The Rex Berkhamsted
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MOLIÈRE
IN AUGUST...
“possibly Britain’s most beautiful cinema...” (BBC)
AUGUST 2007 Issue 29
www.therexcinema.com
01442 877759
Mon-Sat 10.30-6pm Sun 4.30-6.30pm
To advertise email allisonnunn@yahoo.com INTRODUCTION
August Matinees 10-17
August Evenings 18-28
Gallery 5, 7
Coming Soon 29
August Films at a glance 29
Dear Mrs Trellis 33, 35
SEAT PRICES:
Circle £7.00
Members & Concessions £5.50
At Table £9.00
Members & Concessions £7.50
Royal Box (seats 6) £11.00
or for the Box £60.00
Box Office: 01442 877759
Mon to Sat 10.30am – 6.00pm
Sun 4.30pm – 6.30pm
(Credit/Debit card booking fee 50p)
Disabled and flat access: by gate on High
Street. Tel: 01442 877999
Some of the girls and boys you see at the Box
Office and Bar:
Rosie Abbott Eva Jaurena
Katie Anderson Jo Littlejohn
Emily Doyle Bethany McKay
Christine Linda Moss
Fressineau Louise Ormiston
Karina Gale Julian Paredes
Jemma Gask Amberly Rose
Holly Gilbert Charlotte Stephens
Rosa Gilbert Tina Thorpe
Olivia Glasser Alex Tucker
Beth Hannaway Beth Wallman
Oliver Hicks Olivia Wilson “Perhaps the chimneys stood too tall in this beautiful valley to stay there
Sarah Holloway Keymea Yazdanian
forever. For new-comers they were part of the scenery. For the born & breds
Sally Thorpe In charge under 50, they had always been there. Being ‘used-to’ has an inexplicable value
Alun Rees Chief projectionist (Original) of its own…”
Jon Waugh 1st assistant projectionist The ‘Mother’ chimney brought down at precisely 11am on a very cold
Martin Coffill Part-time assistant projectionist
Christmas Day 1999. You can see the freezing wind blowing the ashes towards
Jacquie Rose Chief Box Office & Bar
Greg Tomkins Film director the “ancient windmill”.
Jane Clucas & Lynn Hendry
PR/Marketing/FoH
Times Property Section ‘Bricks and Mortar’
Laurence Wiper Bar supervisor
Ian Muirhead Accountant
29 June 2007
Headed: “Hot Tip Of The Week”
Resident creative builders
Darren Flindall
“
Michael Glasheen In Pitstone, Buckinghamshire. The views are stunning, with rolling
Artists hills, woodland and wide open spaces. You could be somewhere in
Andrew Dixon Switzerland, but in reality you are on the edge of the Chiltern Hills…
Paul Rowbottom One of the larger villages around Tring, Pitstone is widely known for its ancient
Advisors and Investors windmill (pictured above) and the medieval church of St Mary Virgin, founded
Paul Fullagar in 1180. The surrounding area has much to offer – the Grand Union Canal, the
Alan Clooney
Ed Mauger Genius
Demiurge Design Designers 01582 791996
Allison Nunn Publisher 07786 540418
Head Restaurant at Ivinghoe. The market towns of Aylesbury, Tring and
Berkhamsted are alive with interesting shops.
The revamped Rex Cinema in Berkhamsted is arguably the finest
“
bluebell woods at their best in May, nearby Whipsnade Zoo, and the Kings
James Hannaway CEO 01442 independent cinema in the country…”
877999
Taken from the Times (Fri 29 June) ‘Bricks and Mortar’ p27.
Betty Patterson Company Secretary and
THE ORIGINAL VISIONARY of The Rex.
Thank you to the young couple who kept it for us.
The Rex High Street (Three Close Lane)
Berkhamsted HP4 2FG To risk sour grapes at the old lie: ‘any publicity is…’ - why are we always in
www.therexcinema.com the ‘property sections’?
GALLERY www.therexcinema.com 5
T
his is estate agent land. ‘Bricks It’s about as courageous as washing
and Mortar’ and all such Booking blurb and new things: behind your ears. (But thank you
‘Property’ pages are paid for by Romaine).
estate agents. They look like articles • Full houses: Try the raffle on the
door – a very high success rate.
W
but are bijou advertorials. ho knows what motivated
This one gushes all over with the • Midweek Matinees: If you have Castle Cement at
alpine Swissness of Pitstone! On a table tickets please come in Pitstone Cement Works,
clear day you can hear yodelling. through the downstairs doors. but for fifty years it employed
One cross-heading reads: “Why are We will be there to see you in. thousands locally. As part of the
people suddenly so excited about It will save all those stairs. landscape, five skinny chimneys
Pitstone?” Even for the million pound • It is probably another worse-than- were a three-dimensional compass
answer, the closest phone-a-friend - worst idea, but we’ve started point on the horizon. You could see
friend, would hang-up. afternoon teas. Mon to Thurs after them for miles. They orientated
It boasts: “Much of the rural setting the Matinees. you, a landmark of post-war rural
has been restored (with) 275 homes England re-building after the blitz.
built on the old cement works… evaporate on to DVD – never to be No doubt they supplied some of the
with a further 161 new dwellings seen on the big screen again. crappiest architecture with cement
scheduled…” We keep the best (and worst) titles for some of the most unforgivable
How do the words ‘rural setting’ and alive many weeks later, for an civic buildings and housing estates
‘restored’ go with 536 houses and a audience who queues to see them. in the 50s, 60s and 70s.
new road cut through green meadows We show films, great and small on a But it was only supplying the
to give access to the (essential, now big screen in a civilised, welcoming mortar for the bricks. Like ‘only
we’re living in the country, dahlink) and gorgeous setting. During a recent obeying orders’ I suppose?
1072 four-wheel drives? visit, Mainline Pictures chief (The The chimneys must be turning in
At the pleasure of repetition, The Rex Screen on the…), Romaine Hart, their cement slippers at the half-
was not lovingly restored to what may remarked that our “magical creation” timbered four-bedroomed breeze
well be the last remaining fully was “courageous” to screen a semis built on top of them,
working, single screen 1930’s cinema; different film most nights. We employ with walls so well insulated, shoe
possibly Britain’s most beautiful, to almost forty, pay all our bills and laces can be heard being tied a cul-
sweeten the sale of “three, four and aren’t out for huge profits. It is an de-sac away.
five bedroom houses…”. We restored extended family. It sounds idyllic but A snip at half a million.
it to show films for anyone and if you’re not greedy, it can work Favourite line… “…alive with
everybody in a place more magical anywhere. interesting shops”.
than the film itself.
With a little imagination you can find
more challenging aids to house prices
– like how nicely drained are the
craggy pavements and what an adven-
ture it is to get home in one piece.
Isn’t there a page in The Times where
you might want to write about what we
do, besides what a great asset we are
to estate agents? Even the latest fears
of the industry are fun to read. Getting
us on the right page might sell even
more ‘properties’ for you?
Currently studio chiefs and distributors
of big-budget Block-Bs and the ever
growing independents are worried.
The Coens, Rodrigues, Tarantino and
Clooney, Europeans, South Americans
and Ken Loach in the UK, are more
and more concerned that their films
are only seen in “cesspits” (not quite
their word). Then, after the first two Toby Jones Sunday 8 July
big weeks on general release, they
GALLERY www.therexcinema.com 7
Toby, looking very pleased with
Sandra Bullock wrapped around
his neck. But even happier (left)
with family and friends by The Rex
‘garden’.
Infamous: Toby Jones, Adrian Scarborough, James Hannaway. (Sandra is just out of shot). A lovely man, brilliant on the
big screen and even better on stage. These star gigs are always apprehensive in preparation, but there seems to be no
need. From Dame Judi to Humph, they’ve all been been easy-going and gracious. Toby was particulaly gorgeous from
the minute he walked in, and great company. Lost his raybans in the foyer and almost missed his flight. It doesn’t get
much better… until we gush about the next one…
A U G U S T M A T I N E E S ALL MATINEES: Balcony £5.00 • Table seats £6.50 • Royal Box seats £10.00
AUGUST MATINEES www.therexcinema.com 11
Fantastic Four
Wed 1 2.00, Thu 2 2.00
Matinee Warning: May contain babies
Ocean’s Thirteen
Fri 3 2.00
Director: Tim Story
Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Soderbergh’s pacing is brisk, like
Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis he wants to get it all over as quickly
Certificate: PG as possible. You may hope so too?
Duration: 92 mins “Better than the awful Twelve but not
Origin: USA 2007 as fresh as Eleven”.
By: Twentieth Century Fox George, Brad, Matt and the rest are as
cool as ever. They know when their
“At last! A comic book blockbuster luck is in. It’s back to Vegas, where
that isn’t burdened by a self Al Pacino’s casino big-shot (apply
important subtext and a bum- named Willie Bank) upsets the gang
numbing running time. Unlike X- and pays for it…
men or Spiderman movies. The stars don’t have to try. They
This Fantastic Four: is a delicious hardly have to string more than two
lightweight sequel – a 92 minute dash sentences together. But then, it’s not
through some simplistic moral Shakespeare. There are some good
problems, emotional hiccups and one-liners but the action is better.
mildly, diverting PG-rated set-pieces. Dice are magnetised, card shufflers
Of course, it’s all deeply stupid stuff, are bribed, slot machines are rigged
and the movie knows it, even and an earthquake is faked with a
celebrates it.” (‘Knowledge’ Sat Times) giant drill!
At last a reviewer has got a BlockB “That’s only the half of it. I wouldn’t
right. So has 20th C Fox. Finally a want to spoil your guilty pleasure at
studio has decided to forget the story. this preposterous plotline.” (Standard)
Instead, turn on the action button It is complete spoofy nonsense.
with Mr-can’t-pass-a-mirror (with They all look like their having a great
silly, unpronouncible name) time and, unlike Brit comic-strips
Gruffodd; the gorgeous Alba – the actors, share it with the audience.
only one who shouldn’t be invisible; So come for this, George, the thrills,
some nondescript flame guy from the in-jokes and the obvious finale…
But more, for the gorgeously flawed Director: Steven Soderbergh
coolsville and an animated pooper
Ellen Barkin. Starring: Don Cheadle, George
unscooped.
Clooney, Brad Pitt, Al Pacino,
Forget the story. You already know…
Andy Garcia
there isn’t one.
Certificate: PG
So come for the black-hole whirlpool
Duration: 122 mins
in the middle of the Thames and the
Origin: USA 2007
most fantastical techno-visuals on our
By: Warner Brothers
huge screen… with all the usual
hospitality.
Here for the first few days of August
with one evening for grown-up kids…
12 Box Office: 01442 877759 AUGUST MATINEES
Hoodwinked The Incredibles La Vie En Rose
Sat 4 2.00 Mon 6 2.00 Tue 7 12.30, Wed 8 2.00
Matinee Warning: May contain babies
Director: Brad Bird
Starring: Holly Hunter, Brad Bird,
Jason Lee, Samuel L Jackson
Certificate: U
Duration: 120 mins
Origin: USA 2004
By: Buena Vista International
THE INCREDIBLES is a hilarious
action-packed animated adventure
The animators are getting better about superheroes. Bob Parr used to
and better. There are Pixar geeks be one of the world’s greatest
versus Disney stalwarts. There are superheroes (known to all as ‘Mr
conventions and daytrips. They’re Incredible’) saving lives and fighting
excited by all the new electro-toys evil on a daily basis. But now, 15
and clever enough to use them, which years later, Bob and his wife have
for us and our kids means an hour or LA VIE EN ROSE is elevated
adopted civilian identities and retired
so of unbridled spectacle, fantasy and above many other biopics by
to the suburbs to live normal lives
wow! Marion Cotillard. This little girl’s,
with their three kids.
This is an utterly irreverent and magnetism and instant presence lifts
Brad Bird, the man largely
hugely enjoyable mixture of classic the whole film into something above
responsible for the The Simpsons, as
fairytale and a hard-bitten cop yarn argument.
well as the 1999 animated feature -
with healthy doses of humour. From the slums of Paris to the
Ted Hughes’ The Iron Giant, has
HOODWINKED (the clue is in the limelight of New York, Piaf’s life was
created this little gem.
title!) is Little Red Riding Hood a constant battle to sing and survive,
You may have seen it before and got
turned on its side. This story begins to live and love. Piaf’s magical
it at home, but the big screen creates
where the famous Grimm’s tale ends. voice, and her passionate romances
a different world.
The Grandmother (bunny-blr, Close) and friendships with some of the
Besides they’re not making kids films
and the Woodcutter (Belushi) greatest names of the period, made
as quickly as we need to show them, so
confront the Big Bad Wolf (Chazz). her a star the world over. But in her
bring your grandparents out for a treat.
The Police (all known fairy faces) audacious attempt to tame her tragic
Luckily most new films for children
arrive blocking the entrances to the destiny, the ‘Little Sparrow’ flew so
are spiked with ‘grown-up’ gags.
house, and begin their investigation high it was inevitable that she would
So you don’t need a child. Come and
of the human inhabitants. Little Red burn her wings. Capturing the
elbow them out of the way.
Riding Hood (Hathaway) is the prime French icon’s bravado, brilliance and
suspect, with the Woodcutter and the self-destruction,
Grandmother also under suspicion. “Marion Cotillard expertly imperson-
A character-based animation with ates the legendary singer whose
wise-cracks, jokey in-jokes and a passionate vibrato, like a demented
procession of instantly familiar car-alarm, electrified the nation….
fairytale figures. Come for the a great performance” (PB Guardian)
cheeky brilliance, but bring your Don’t listen to them. Come for her
grandparents to keep you in the and a heartbreaking story, beautifully
frame… told. “Cotillard is little short of
genius”… absolument.
Director: Cory Edwards, Todd
Edwards Director: Olivier Dahan
Starring: Glenn Close, Anne Starring: Sylvie Testud, Marion
Hathaway, James Belushi, Chazz Cotillard, Pascal Greggory
Palminteri Certificate: 12A
Certificate: U Duration: 140 mins
Duration: 81 mins Origin: Czech Republic, France, UK
Origin: USA 2006 2007
By: Momentum By: Icon Film Distribution Ltd
AUGUST MATINEES www.therexcinema.com 13
Madagascar Fly Away Home Ladies in Lavender
Thu 9 2.00 Sat 11 2.00 Mon 13 2.00
Directors: Eric Darnell & Tom Director: Charles Dance
McGrath Starring: Dame Judi Dench, Maggie
Voices of: Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Smith, Miriam Margoyles, Natascha
David Schwimmer, Jada Pinkett Smith. Mcelhone, Daniel Bruhl
Certificate: U Certificate: 12A
Duration: 86 mins Duration: 103 mins
Origin: USA 2005 Origin: UK 2004
By: UIP By: Entertainment Film Distribution
“Someone’s got a zoo loose…” the This ran and ran when we first
clue is in the title! opened and introduced us to the
Four residents, best friends and fiercest and most feared of
“stars” of the Central Park Zoo in audiences. Charles Dance was one of
New York City: Alex the lion (Stiller), our first guest directors, whom later
Marty the zebra (Rock), Melman the and unforgettably, brought Judi
giraffe (Schwimmer) and a pregnant Dench to chat to him on our stage.
From the director of The Black He came across this short story while
hippo - Gloria (Jada). When one of Stallion comes the story of a family
them goes missing, the other three waiting to shoot a scene in a library.
who adopt a flock of geese after its After many ups and downs, it
break out to look for him. They are front flyer dies. Ultimately they help
captured but instead of returning to eventually became this small,
the flock migrate south by piloting an beautifully shot, independent film.
the zoo they are shipped back to their ultra-light plane.
roots: Africa, only to find that the It cleverly transcends the sentimental
This film is based on the real-life through its warm sketches of genuine
escapees are too soft city-slick for exploits of Bill Lishman whose story
their wild origins. Pixar may have people. In exquisitely judged
was featured on a “20/20” news performances, Dame Judy tries to
raised crayon of perfection, but segment in 1993. The news item
Dreamworks is going keyboard-to- suppress carnal desires and Dame
inspired this film. Maggie tuts. The sister’s world is
keyboard when it comes to popular Featured among the ensemble cast
appeal. “So sophisticated is digital simple and uncomplicated. Their
are Jeff Daniels, Dana Delany and words are measured, manners perfect
animation nowadays, the makers are Academy-Award-winning actress
forced to study the old masters Chuck and repression absolute. The sun
Anna (The Piano) Paquin. shines and waves pound. It is about a
Jones, Tex Avery and Hanna-Barbara Preliminary scenes are said to show
to create an authentic retro-cartoon time long lost, where smokey pubs
the hatching eggs of real geese: were the domain of ruddy faced old
look” (Mail on Sunday). Watch out “The newborn geese ‘imprint’ onto
for Ali G as a singing lemur, but its men and policemen doffed their caps,
the first living thing they see and clipped cheeky young’uns around the
the renegade penguins who steal it for then follow it”. That could be
me. ear and got away with ‘Now bugger
tricky… What if its Gary Glitter? off or I’ll be round to see yer father’.
(Warning: “PG for mild language,
crude humour and some thematic Once more we look forward (with a
elements”) Thematic elements - how little trepidation) to the patter of
awful). sensible shoes.
Directors: Carroll Ballard
Starring: Anna Delany, Terry Kinney,
Jeff Daniels, Anna Paquin
Certificate: U
Duration: 107 mins
Origin: USA 1996
By: Sony Pictures Releasing
14 Box Office: 01442 877759 AUGUST MATINEES
Winged Migration Miss Potter Millions
Tue 14 12.30 Wed 15 2.00 Thu 16 2.00
Matinee Warning: May contain babies
Director: Chris Noonan
Starring: Renee Zellweger, Ewan
McGregor, Bill Paterson, Emily
Watson
Certificate: PG
Duration: 93 mins
Origin: UK 2006
By: Momentum Pictures
Unerringly beautifully from first
frame to last, this magical tale
An Oscar nominee, it is visually follows Beatrix Potter’s rise to being Danny Boyle, has brought his
ravishing and an amazing feat of the most successful children’s author unique style to a story about two
camera work. Startling close-ups of all time. Despite delighting gener- young boys (aged seven and ten)
and beautiful long tracking aerial ations of children with her books, she who have recently lost their mother
shots follow these birds south for the kept her own story carefully locked and whose lives are dramatically
winter. It tells us that over hundreds away. The film reveals how she devel- changed even more when the
and thousands of air miles are oped storytelling from a young age and younger one chances upon a huge
navigated by the stars, the sun, the rebelled against draconian convention bag of cash – “fallen from heaven”
earth’s gravitational field and best of by refusing to marry. Her first book, only days before the UK is to adopt
all - familiar landmarks! Apparently, Tales of Peter Rabbit, was a publishing the Euro! The boy is obsessed with
225 feet of film were exposed for phenomenon and led to a forbidden saints and martyrs, many of whom he
every foot used on the screen! romance with her publisher Norman talks to throughout the film.
“Some birds were raised to be the Warne (a most irritating Ewan Mc). He feels obliged to disperse the
stars of the film; they were exposed “MISS POTTER wrenches the heart… money amongst the needy.
to the sounds of aeroplanes and Sure it’s shamelessly sentimental, but Only days before the UK is to adopt
movie cameras while still in the shell, strangely moving” (Channel 4) the euro, his older brother, fully aware
and upon hatching, were greeted by Or… the money is a stray bag from a heist
crew members!” (how terrifying for “…barely scratches the Dickensian of an enormous load of incinerator-
the newborns ). surface of true female repression. bound cash, is determined to spend it
Shots were taken from microlights, Zellweger tries to make up for this with while they’ve still got the chance.
hot air balloons and gliders. coy mannerisms, squinty-eyed gri- Millions is a delightful child’s-eye-
Happily the film lets the pictures tell maces and precision in studied ‘period’ view of the world which delivers on
the story. The light narration does not gestures.” (Hollywood Reporter) all fronts. Danny Boyle draws
distract from the breathtaking visuals. Most comments on leaving refer to inspired performances from his
Apart from passing predators this it is Renee as Brigid Jones - in costume. youthful cast and creates a wondrous
a beautiful flight. I think she’s great, but to remove the vision of the impossible.
clutter of ‘stardom’ and let the story It is charming, funny and surprising
breathe, they should have used all at once. For everyone.
unknowns. All agree on its unaffected
enchantment and charm.
It is, as her tales, a perfect escape.
So come for this.
Director: Danny Boyle
Starring: Alexander Etel, Lewis
Director: Jacques Cluzaud, Michel McGibbon, James Nesbitt, Daisy
Debats Donovan
Certificate: U Certificate: 12A
Duration: 89 mins Duration: 98 mins
Origin: France 2002 Origin: UK 2005
By: Sony Pictures Releasing By: Pathe Distribution
AUGUST MATINEES www.therexcinema.com 15
Stormbreaker Mrs Henderson Deep Blue
Sat 18 2.00 Presents Tue 21 12.30
Mon 20 2.00
Director: Geoffrey Sax Directors: Andy Byatt, Alastair
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Alex Fothergill
Pettyfer, Mickey Rourke, Bill Nighy Certificate: PG
Certificate: PG Duration: 90 mins
Duration: 93 mins Origin: UK 2004
Origin: USA 2006 By: Optimum Releasing
By: Entertainment
Now, for the first time ever, it is
“Being only fourteen, he’s not possible to explore a world few have
licensed to speak until spoken to, ever seen.
let alone kill. Inhabiting a role she was born to From the familiar to the unknown,
Luckily, there’s more to this caper play, Judi Dench is the certifiably the film reveals the sea and its
than Pettyfer’s pretty face. eccentric, tart-tongued Laura communities at their most enchant-
The humorous spirit of Horowitz’s Henderson, a woman of ing, alluring and fierce.
books has, in the main, transferred considerable wealth and social Deep Blue is a film about the Earth’s
nicely to the screen”. (Time Out) standing who refuses to go gently Oceans. The orchestral score is
Stormbreaker introduces this reluctant into widowhood. Bored with drab gorgeous. Narration by Michael
teenage super-spy to the big screen. 1930’s Britain, she buys a rundown, Gambon is not a travelogue.
Alex Rider is a 14-year-old orphan Soho theatre – The Windmill. Twenty specialist camera teams shot
who has been nurtured throughout In response to failing audiences and 7,000 hours of footage in more than
childood by, his MI6 agent, uncle to in an effort to shake up the staid 200 locations around the world for
learn the spying game. When the British establishment (and for one more than five years, descending
uncle (McGregor) is killed, the new good reason she saves for a rousing almost five miles below the surface.
boy is pressed into daring-do on/in and moving speech towards the end), We know more about the surface of
grand (Manx, as Cornish) landscapes she introduces nudity into her ever the moon than we do about the deep
and London’s famous landmarks. increasingly risqué shows. oceans! Imagine it, take it in, be
It’s teenage James Bond – with gadgets, Consistently brilliant Stephen Frears, terrified at the thought - but come
gizmos, villains and spikey hair. effortlessly turns pitch-perfect and see for yourself, this vital two
“It’s strange to see a new film that performances into a feast of witty thirds of our planet on our big screen.
hasn’t one original idea. (Strange? and quotable acerbic dialogue. The real star is the water and the life
There are hundreds released every The stage routines are daring and in it and around it. Even then you
week). But Bill Nighy lifts it into the stunning. Bob Hoskins plays posh will hardly grasp the infinity of it all.
extrordinay as always, and Andy (somebody should have told him), But you might marvel at the
Serkis, still not given his whole body Judi is flawless and Kelly Reilly is miniscule significance and gross
to play. Here he’s a mute with a knife stunning, gorgeous and brilliant. stupidity of the human race.
‘accident’ for a smile. It has already sold out here umpteen (Filmed by the BBC Natural History
Fabulous action for all the family and times, but is a must for these new Unit: makers of “The Blue Planet”).
some glorious shots of London. rainy day matinees. Judi as Mrs
Non-stop from beginning to end. Henderson, or anybody, especially
herself, is lavender for all seasons.
Watch out for Aylesbury Vale from
Coombe Hill in the opening shot.
Director: Stephen Frears
Starring: Dame Judi Dench, Bob
Hoskins, Christopher Guest
Certificate: 12A
Duration: 102 mins
Origin: UK 2005
By: Pathe Distribution16 Box Office: 01442 877759 AUGUST MATINEES
Molière
Wed 22 2.00
Shrek The Third
Thu 23 2.00, Sat 25 2.00
Matinee Warning: May contain babies
In 1645, the French playwright
Director: Laurent Tirard
Molière mysteriously disappeared.
Starring: Fabrice Luchini, Laura
It was only weeks. This comedy-
Morante, Romain Duris, Ludivine
drama is inspired by his disappearance
Sagnier
and imagines all manner of possible
Certificate: 12A
scenarios to colour what might have The recipe hasn’t changed much,
Duration: 120 mins
happened to him – and what mischief even if the cooking is underdone.
Origin: France 2007
he might make? At the time, Molière They’re all here - Donkey (Eddie
By: Pathe Distribution
(Duris) was touring the French Murphy) Puss in Boots (Antonio
countryside with his theatre company. Banderas) John Cleese’s dying King
He was yet to be recognised as a great Harold, nasty Prince Charming
author or make any money. (Rupert Everett) Shrek’s pregnant
He is recruited by Jourdain (Luchini), wife Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz)
a wealthy man who has fallen in love Queen Lillian (Julie Andrews).
with a widow, Célimène (Sagnier), What a bunch? Sounds like fun for
despite having a beautiful wife and a jogger.
two daughters already! “There are, of course, a few
He needs someone to help with his genuinely funny moments and a
acting and to polish his self-indulgent, sprinkling of decent one-liners.
terrible play, designed to seduce But the rest is poorly written and
Célimène. “Brilliantly written and dully characterised. Even the cast
directed, MOLIÈRE is witty and seem less bouncy than before…”
handsomely played, and is “Despite a number of protracted
representative of French cinema at its moments, a few scenes are truly
very finest…” It is totally speculative, inspired: the dying-frog sequence for
hence a great story, told with certain one, and Shrek’s “Exorcist”- inspired
knowledge of Molière - but no idea nightmare about parenthood for
where he went or what happened another. Some jokes sail close to
during his absence. It is the “knowing innuendo, but in the main they’re
him” which creates this likely tale. balanced enough to appeal to all ages.
Come and be wooed by inspired The CG animation, too, is as refined
fantasy, Duris’ presence and Laura as we’ve come to expect. Just a
Morante’s face. shame it lacks the smart sassiness of
its predecessors. Time to call
time???”
(crits: Eve Standard, Time Out)
Directors: Raman Hui, Chris Miller
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Cameron
Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Mike Myers
Certificate: U
Duration: 93 mins
Origin: USA 2007
By: Paramount International PicturesAUGUST MATINEES www.therexcinema.com 17
Lives of Others The Painted Veil Singing in the Rain
Tue 28 12.30 Wed 29 2.00 Thu 30 2.00
Matinee Warning: May contain babies
Director: Florian Henckel von Director: Gene Kelly
Donnersmarck Starring: Debbie Reynolds, Donald
Starring: Martina Gedeck, Ulrich O'Connor, Gene Kelly
Mühe, Sebastian Koch Certificate: U
Certificate: 15 Duration: 102 mins
Duration: 138 mins Origin: USA 1952
Origin: Germany 2007 By: British Film Institute
By: Lionsgate Films UK
Its 1927, Don Lockwood and Lina
This remarkably heartbreaking Lamont are the darlings of the
and uplifting film has left silent silver screen.
audiences in absolute consent. Off screen, Don, aided by his happy-
“Sometimes the greatest journey is
It is literally stunning. Set mainly in go-lucky friend and piano
the distance between two people…”
East Berlin during the mid 1980s, the accompanist, Cosmo Brown (the
W.Somerset Maugham’s Painted Veil
film chronicles the consequences of brilliant Donald O’), has to dodge
is set in 1925. Dr Walter Fane
the Minister of Culture’s decision to Lina’s romantic overtures, especially
(Norton) falls in love with and
investigate the lives of a successful when he falls for chorus girl Kathy
marries Kitty (Watt), the beautiful,
playwright and his actress wife. Selden (sacchrine Debbie Reynolds).
frivolous daughter of a wealthy
Unfortunately she has the fat, With the advent of sound in motion
family. He knows she doesn’t love
gargoyle politician slobbering after pictures, Don and Lina’s new film
him, but hopes… They move to
her. His power ensures he gets his will be turned into a ‘talkie’ and a
Shanghai, where he takes up a
way. Questioning the ethics of his musical at that! The only problem is
practice and she takes a lover.
work, the Stasi officer in charge of Lina’s voice could scrape
It was bound to happen, but she
the spying, ends up as profoundly blackboards. Thus, Kathy is brought
picked the wrong man to cuckold.
affected by the bugging as the couple. in to dub her speaking and singing in
Impulsively, he takes a commission to
The Lives Of Others succeeds both as secret. Don is as pleased as punched,
a Chinese village, deep in the heart of
a convincing historical recreation and over the moon, on top of the world…
nowhere – and stricken with a
a compelling tale of individuals But then Lina finds out...
cholera! He takes her with him.
trapped in the dying years of evil Come for her (she’s the best in it)
The daily trials of living in appalling
institutional mistrust. and of course Gene’s big dance (they
conditions have a striking impact
A great cast of perfect faces. The had to mix milk with the rain so the
upon them both…
film has caused an extraordinary stir. cameras could pick it up) but most
“A rare, perfect masterpiece…
It is back by overwhelming demand, of all, Donald O’Connor’s
Powerful and exhilarating” (Horizons)
and will be here again and again unsuppassed show-biz masterpiece –
“A timeless love story… Let it sweep
Again, cancel everything. ‘Make ‘em Laugh’.
you away” (Rolling Stone)
“Gripping. Not to be missed” (Daily
Mail - So it must be true)
Forget all that. Just come. It works on
every level, especially the faces, most
of the words and his immaculate
shirts… A beautiful journey from
beginning to end.
Director: John Curran
Starring: Naomi Watts, Liev
Schreiber, Edward Norton, Toby Jones
Certificate: 12A
Duration: 125 mins
Origin: China, USA 2006
By: Momentum PicturesA U G U S T E V E N I N G S
AUGUST EVENINGS www.therexcinema.com 19
Fantastic Four
Wed 1 7.30 Ocean’s Thirteen
Thu 2 7.30, Fri 3 7.30,
Director: Tim Story
Starring: Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica
Sat 4 7.00
Alba, Chris Evans, Michael Chiklis
Certificate: PG Soderbergh’s pacing is brisk, like
Duration: 92 mins he wants to get it all over as quickly
Origin: USA 2007 as possible. You may hope so too?
By: Twentieth Century Fox “Better than the awful Twelve but not
as fresh as Eleven”.
“At last! A comic book blockbuster George, Brad, Matt and the rest are as
that isn’t burdened by a self cool as ever. They know when their
important subtext and a bum- luck is in. It’s back to Vegas, where
numbing running time. Unlike X- Al Pacino’s casino big-shot (apply
men or Spiderman movies. named Willie Bank) upsets the gang
This Fantastic Four: is a delicious and pays for it…
lightweight sequel – a 92 minute dash The stars don’t have to try. They
through some simplistic moral hardly have to string more than two
problems, emotional hiccups and sentences together. But then, it’s not
mildly, diverting PG-rated set-pieces. Shakespeare. There are some good
Of course, it’s all deeply stupid stuff, one-liners but the action is better.
and the movie knows it, even Dice are magnetised, card shufflers
celebrates it.” (‘Knowledge’ Sat Times) are bribed, slot machines are rigged
At last a reviewer has got a BlockB and an earthquake is faked with a
right. So has 20th C Fox. Finally a giant drill!
studio has decided to forget the story. “That’s only the half of it. I wouldn’t
Instead, turn on the action button want to spoil your guilty pleasure at
with Mr-can’t-pass-a-mirror (with this preposterous plotline.” (Standard)
silly, unpronouncible name) It is complete spoofy nonsense.
Gruffodd; the gorgeous Alba – the They all look like their having a great
only one who shouldn’t be invisible; time and, unlike Brit comic-strips
some nondescript flame guy from actors, share it with the audience.
Director: Steven Soderbergh
coolsville and an animated pooper So come for this, George, the thrills,
Starring: Don Cheadle, George
unscooped. the in-jokes and the obvious finale…
Clooney, Brad Pitt, Al Pacino,
Forget the story. You already know… But more, for the gorgeously flawed
Andy Garcia
there isn’t one. Ellen Barkin.
Certificate: PG
So come for the black-hole whirlpool
Duration: 122 mins
in the middle of the Thames and the
Origin: USA 2007
most fantastical techno-visuals on our
By: Warner Brothers
huge screen… with all the usual
hospitality.
Here for the first few days of August
with one evening for grown-up kids…20 Box Office: 01442 877759 AUGUST EVENINGS
Buena Vista Social Tell No One La Vie En Rose
Club Mon 6 7.30 Tues 7, Wed 8, Thu 9
Sun 5 6.00 7.30
LA VIE EN ROSE is elevated
Director: Wim Wenders above many other biopics by
Starring: Ry Cooder, Joaquim Marion Cotillard.
Cooder, Ibrahim Ferrer, Ruben This little girl’s, magnetism and
Gonzalis, Eliades Ochoa, Omara instant presence lifts the whole film
Portuondo, Compay Segundo into something above argument.
Certificate: U From the slums of Paris to the
Duration: 105 mins limelight of New York, Piaf ’s life
Origin: Cuba, Germany 1999 was a constant battle to sing and
By: Pathe Distribution survive, to live and love. Piaf ’s
Another gem the French have magical voice, and her passionate
A group of ageing, legendary ‘stolen’ from the yanks and romances and friendships with some
Cuban musicians, some in their showing how to make a thriller a of the greatest names of the period,
nineties, whose talents had been million times more thrilling, told in made her a star the world over. But
virtually forgotten during Castro’s French! Remember “The Beat that in her audacious attempt to tame her
reign, are brought out of retirement My Heart Skipped”? Though Cluzet tragic destiny, the ‘Little Sparrow’
to play a few last gigs. The legend is no Romain Duris, this is an edge of flew so high it was inevitable that
has it, Ry Cooder with his son the seat thriller to beat them all. she would burn her wings.
Joachim, where in Havana to record An anonymous email. When he clicks Capturing the French icon’s bravado,
with a group of players from across on the link he sees Margot’s face brilliance and self-destruction,
the world. They didn’t make it. standing in a crowd and being filmed “Marion Cotillard expertly imperson-
So he asked around about the in real time. Is she still alive? ates the legendary singer whose
legendary Buena Vista Social Club. And why does she instruct him to tell passionate vibrato, like a demented
The result: a triumphant celebration no one? car-alarm, electrified the nation….
of hundreds of lost years between “Relentless suspense and a tense, a great performance” (PB Guardian)
them, without grudge. multilayered plot combine to Don’t listen to them. Come for her
It is not only for musos but for superlative effect in this pulsating and a heartbreaking story, beautifully
everyone who cherishes the ideal that French thriller adapted from Harlan told. “Cotillard is little short of
being lost is not forgotten… Coben’s bestseller of the same name” genius”… absolument.
Come for the optimism, the grace, (CS). So don’t drink, or wear a nappy,
the low key ease of their unhurried but don’t leave your seat for a
music. The way they walk, talk and second… That’s all you need to know.
are. Come for them. Above all, come Don’t ask, just come.
for their beautiful faces in close-up. Already selling out in August, even
Especially Omara Portuondo’s before its first screening in July…
teardrop lovingly smudged away in Vive la French thrillers.
an instant by Ibrahim Ferrer’s “big
flat black thumb” and right at the
end, his long, bewildered gaze into a
Carnegie Hall on its feet in rapture
and in tears. Heartbreaking and
uplifting in every word, gesture and
note.
Directors: Guillaume Canet, André
Dussolier
Starring: Kristin Scott Thomas,
Francois Cluzet, Marie-Josee Croze
Certificate: 15
Duration: 131 mins
Origin: France 2006
By: Revolver FilmAUGUST EVENINGS www.therexcinema.com 21
Director: Olivier Dahan Vacancy Goldfinger
Starring: Sylvie Testud, Marion
Cotillard, Pascal Greggory
Fri 10 7.30 Sat 11 7.00
Certificate: 12A
Duration: 140 mins
Director: Guy Hamilton
Origin: Czech Republic, France, UK
Starring: Sean Connery, Honor
2007
Blackman, Gert Frobe, Harold Sakata
By: Icon Film Distribution Ltd
Certificate: PG
Duration: 112 mins
Origin: UK 1964
By: Park Circus Films
The first Bond to hit home. It was
the third, so had to become iconic
When David and Amy’s car breaks or lose its grip on that part of the
down in the middle of nowhere, vital mid-sixties. With Sean just
they are forced to spend the night coming into his own and making
at the grubby, and only motel Bond unmistakably his (until Daniel
around. Trying to be cheerful, C), it hit iconic with such force, it is
pretending that everything is fine, still running. It created a hit song that
they discover the low-budget slasher even now, 42 years later, won’t lie
movies they’re watching were all down and die.
filmed in the their room! Oddjob is immortalised through his
With hidden cameras now aimed at lethal, frisbee bowler, Gert Frobe had
them and filming their every move, only to deliver one line properly:
they are trapped wherever they run or “No Mr Bond, I expect you die”.
crawl. Will they get out alive before Shirley Eaton died naked in gold and
cameraman can finish his tea? Who the gorgeous Honor Blackman will
cares. be forever ‘Poosy’.
“There may not be much edification A finest hour all round. Now we have
in American horror’s fixation torture a brand new print to show on our big
porn, but at least Vacancy spares us screen without a crackle or a blemish.
objectionable teenage victims in Come now.
favour of a bickering married couple, Next time, after it’s done the rounds,
(Wilson and Beckinsale)… Intense it might be full of holes.
and nerve-racking for the best part of
an hour, eventually runs out of
options and wimps out at the climax.
But it is a notch above average all the
same”. (The Knowledge) It’s
complete tripe. Can’t think why I
booked it. Oh yes, Kate Beckinsale.
Could be a perfect Friday night
horror flick? Only come if you take
the cliches – Short cut, car breaks
down, lonely motel… Makes suicide
bombing sound attractive.
Director: Nimród Antal
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Luke
Wilson
Certificate: 15
Duration: 85 mins
Origin: USA 2007
By: Sony Pictures Releasing22 Box Office: 01442 877759 AUGUST EVENINGS
A Very Long Brothers Water
Engagement Mon 13 7.30 Tue 14 7.30
Sun 12 6.00
Director: Susanne Bier
Starring: Connie Nielsen, Nikolaj Lie
Kaas, Bent Mejding, Ulrich Thomsen
Certificate: 15
Duration: 117 mins
Origin: Denmark 2005
By: Soda Pictures
Made two years before After The
Wedding and shown here in June
2005, Bier’s delicate approach, draws
deep and tender performances from
First shown in March 2005 and a beautifully balanced cast.
again in July last year. You must see Brothers Michael (Thomsen) and This final eloquent part of Deepa
it now. Wide eyed Audrey Tautou is Jannick (Lie Kaas) couldn’t be more Mehta’s Elemental Trilogy is set in
unrecognisable in this heart-breaking poles apart. Jannick, a waster, is the holy city of Varanasi in 1938,
tale of love, desperation and released from prison. Michael, an army when widows, some of them
honour… and one piece of very officer and loving husband and father, children, were incarcerated in
satisfying revenge. is called up by the UN to help rebuild impoverished ashrams (temples).
A hauntingly tragic story, beautifully the war-ravaged Afghan infrastructure. The beautiful, headstrong Kalyani
told of loyalty and hope, where there When he is reported ‘missing in (Ray) is unwilling to accept the harsh
is none. action, presumed dead’ Jannik wakes restrictions imposed by Indian society
As World War One comes to an end, a up and takes on the responsibility of on widows. Her relationship with a
young French woman’s greatest fight is his brother’s family. Grief and man from a lower caste, a follower of
about to begin. Mathilde receives word necessity draw Sarah (Nielsen) and the Mahatma, doesn’t help.
of Manech, her childhood children closer to Jannick. Inevitibly “These dramas about the experiences
sweetheart… That’s all… But there are Sarah and Jannick become very close. of women at various points in Indian
four other soldiers. Follow her, However, Michael is not dead but held history, Fire (1997) and Earth (1998)
following each one. Jeunet’s squalid in a squalid desert, rebel camp have now been joined by this tale of a
trench life and terrible decisions made struggling for his survival, and that of girl (simply credited as Sarala) who,
in haste by incompetents, are only the his terrified cellmate. This is all you after an arranged marriage is left a
spokes in the puzzle. More, in no time, need to know. widow at the age of eight! Ghandi is
he somehow creates whole biographies Bier carefully balances scenes of preaching freedom, but Hindu dogma
of four ordinary men and one boy, tenderness and disturbing cruelty. demands that the child spends her life
caught in hell. It is linked more by the She builds the story and lets the in a joyless ashram. Although too
French countryside than the war, and characters find their way through it, melodramatic to be moving, the film
Mathilde’s determination to find much as she does with After The carries you…” (Landesman & Porter)
Manech through listening very Wedding. Only this time she deals with Filming was interrupted for four
carefully. Above all, it is a beautifully the unthinkable, unseen and beyond years following huge protests from
executed ‘detective’ story, with some imagination hence ‘forgotten’ in the Hindu fundamentalists. Throughout it
startling twists and fantastic Gallic business of everyday life in a cold, safe maintains a profound sense of
faces… It is the most compelling and climate on the other side of the world. humanism. The ensemble cast of
moving thing you are ever likely to see. Cancel holidays. women and children brings an
Cancel everything on Sunday 12th extraordinary honesty to the screen.
August.
Director: Jean-Pierre Jeunet Director: Deepa Mehta
Starring: Audrey Tautou, Starring: Lisa Ray, John Abraham,
Dominique Pinon, Gaspard Ulliel Sarala, Seema Biswas
Certificate: 15 Certificate: 12A
Duration: 134 mins Duration: 114 mins
Origin: France 2005 Origin: Canada, India 2005
By: Warner Brothers By: Metrodome DistributorsAUGUST EVENINGS www.therexcinema.com 23
Taking Liberties
Wed 15 7.30 Golden Door
Thu 16 7.30
Director: Chris Atkins
Certificate: 12A We never see the skyline of a
Duration: 106 mins nascent New York City. We are
Origin: UK 2007 detained on-deck from the moment
By: Revolver Film Distribution a packed and creaking ship slides
away from the quay at Palermo
“This purports to show the until we reach a stern Ellis Island –
shocking truth behind the erosion actually re-created in an old
of our fundamental civil liberties Buenos Aires hotel.
by Tony Blair’s government. Crialese’s second film, after his
It argues that the five pillars of much-praised Respiro, is set at the
liberty – the right to liberty/freedom, turn of the century when thousands of
to privacy, to a fair trial and to free immigrants left Europe for America.
speech, and the absolute outlawing of Our focus is a family of simple
torture - have been systematically peasants from the Sicilian countryside
destroyed by New Labour in a who embark on the dangerous
climate of fear generated by its journey across the sea to a hoped-for
government and the media.” Garden of Eden where fruits grow
Our hard-won (over 600 years) huge and money falls from trees.
longstanding freedoms, withdrawn in Clearly a small budget film, Golden
just ten years, are so ridiculous you Door uses fantasy to express their
will laugh. Then you’ll be very scared. hopes but realism to show their
Chris Atkins makes little mention of poverty at home, the awful journey,
those who might be happy to see us and finally the tests they are put
dead. Nor does he ask whose name through by the American authorities
gave the orders which the police to determine whether they are fit
obeyed so bone-headedly. enough physically and mentally to
“This lack of investigative reporting become American citizens. What the
weakens the diatribe. But at least it film explores particularly effectively
holds attention and tries to amuse as is the fact that the journey the
much as instruct (oh dear). You don’t Sicilians take is not just geographical.
have to agree with it to reckon Salvatore and his family are leaving
something may be wrong”. (Thanks an arcane world of superstition and
Chris, we hadn’t noticed). ritual and arriving in the bureaucratic
“Defiantly hostile… It’s definitely and unforgiving 20th century.
partial, and lacks investigation. But Golden Door is touching, beautiful
its awful warning strikes home”. and imaginative in its minimalism.
(DM Standard) Superbly choreographed, Crialese
Pity protesters still look like shite. shows a deft ability to flit between
Should have listened to Magritte. the ensemble and the personal.
Dress like them. Then they won’t know He creates something very beautiful
who you are… If you mean it, try it. with great dignity, never losing sight
of the experience of an entire
generation of refugees. Don’t miss.
Director: Emanuele Crialese
Starring: Aurora Quattrocchi,
Charlotte Gainsbourg, Vincenzo
Amato, Francesco Casisa
Certificate: PG
Duration: 118 mins
Origin: France, Germany, Italy 2006
By: Optimum Releasing24 Box Office: 01442 877759 AUGUST EVENINGS
The Flying The Painted Veil Y Tu Mama
Scotsman Sat 18 7.00 Tambien
Fri 17 7.30 Sun 19 6.00
Director: Douglas Mackinnon Director: Alfonso Cuarón
Starring: Brian Cox, Laura Fraser, Starring: Maribel Verdu, Gael Garcia
Billy Boyd, Jonny Lee Miller Certificate: 18
Certificate: 15 Duration: 105 mins
Duration: 103 mins Origin: Mexico 2001
Origin: Germany, UK 2006 By: Icon Film Distribution Ltd
By: Verve
“A charming, immensely likeable
“True stories accurately told are “Sometimes the greatest journey is road movie and coming-of-age
rare in the movies, and TV man, the distance between two people…” drama, the film charts the quest of
Douglas Mackinnon’s first feature W.Somerset Maugham’s Painted Veil two highly excitable but inexperi-
about the remarkable Graeme is set in 1925. Dr Walter Fane enced friends on a journey to a
Obree suffers from what it leaves (Norton) falls in love with and mythical sun-kissed paradise”.
out”. (DM Standard) marries Kitty (Watt), the beautiful, Have we been watching different
Nicknamed The Flying Scotsman, frivolous daughter of a wealthy films? It is moving, intense and
Obree was the eccentric cyclist and family. He knows she doesn’t love totally absorbing, not charming or
Ayrshire’s national hero who won the him, but hopes… They move to likeable. Who pays these guys? The
World Pursuit Championship twice on Shanghai, where he takes up a opening scene is extraordinary, and
a bike he built himself (using washing practice and she takes a lover. the ending made me stop breathing.
machine parts). He developed the It was bound to happen, but she Along for the ride is the
“Superman” crouch position, which picked the wrong man to cuckold. unequivocally dirty wife of an older
allowed him to shave seconds off Impulsively, he takes a commission Spanish relative who takes it upon
Francesco Moser’s world record. to a Chinese village, deep in the herself to teach her young charges a
All without sponsorship and despite heart of nowhere – and stricken with thing or two about…this and that.
frequent opposition from the world a cholera! He takes her with him. It boasts sumptuous photography
governing body (which kept on The daily trials of living in appalling from Emmanuel Lubezki, and a
changing the rules, often banning him conditions have a striking impact startling performance from the then
from competing at the last moment), upon them both… rapidly rising star Gael García
on 17 July 1993 he broke that first “A rare, perfect masterpiece… Bernal, now fully risen. But it is
world record. Miller performs well, as Powerful and exhilarating” Maribel who steals every inch of the
the determined but depressive-cum- (Horizons) screen. She oozes that kind of instant
suicidal cyclist, whose on-track speed “A timeless love story… Let it sweep allure which leaves you hopeless.
battles with Chris Boardman are you away” (Rolling Stone) She can’t move, speak or be still,
legendary in Lycra circles. Yet his “Gripping. Not to be missed” (Daily without spilling it. And when she
private demons would prove to be a Mail - So it must be true) starts, you know she’s not playing!
tougher battle. Forget all that. Just come. It works on This is Mexican film-making.
“Too many of the film’s climaxes rely every level, especially the faces, most They don’t mess with fifteen takes or
on lengthy sequences of Miller of the words and his immaculate stand-ins. Everything is instant and so
sweatily pounding around a velodrome shirts… A beautiful journey from beautifully observed, it hurts.
against a rival or duller still, against the beginning to end. Come for this exquisite pain.
clock…”(Wendy Ide Times,
Knowledge) Tuck into socks or leave
your clips at the door.
Director: John Curran
Starring: Naomi Watts, Liev
Schreiber, Edward Norton, Toby Jones
Certificate: 12A
Duration: 125 mins
Origin: China, USA 2006
By: Momentum PicturesAUGUST EVENINGS www.therexcinema.com 25
Ten Canoes
Mon 20 7.30 Molière Director: Laurent Tirard
Starring: Fabrice Luchini, Laura
Morante, Romain Duris, Ludivine
Sagnier
Tue 21, Wed 22, Certificate: 12A
Duration: 120 mins
Thu 23 7.30 Origin: France 2007
In 1645, the French playwright By: Pathe Distribution
Molière mysteriously disappeared.
It was only weeks. This comedy-
drama is inspired by his disappearance
and imagines all manner of possible
scenarios to colour what might have
Set a thousand years ago in happened to him – and what mischief
Australia’s far northern Arnhem he might make? At the time, Molière
Land, this beautifully shot and (Duris) was touring the French
acted tale with an all-native cast, is countryside with his theatre company.
a remarkable study of aborigine He was yet to be recognised as a great
folklore. author or make any money.
Narrated with style and humour by He is recruited by Jourdain (Luchini),
David Gulpilil, it is a fairly a wealthy man who has fallen in love
straightforward story of forbidden with a widow, Célimène (Sagnier),
love, but its relative simplicity is despite having a beautiful wife and
fleshed out with tales cutting back two daughters already!
and forth across time in timeless He needs someone to help with his
examination of coming-of-age. acting and to polish his self-indulgent,
“A hit at Cannes and Venice, the film terrible play, designed to seduce
is a beguiling and sumptuously Célimène. “Brilliantly written and
photographed, examination of an directed, MOLIÈRE is witty and
ancient culture… the first about handsomely played, and is
Australia’s indigenous people told as representative of French cinema at its
their story and wholly owned by very finest…” It is totally speculative,
them. de Heer (Oz director) hence a great story, told with certain
collaborated at length with the knowledge of Molière - but no idea
indigenous (non-starry) community where he went or what happened
who went on to star in the film” during his absence. It is the “knowing
(Times) him” which creates this likely tale.
“… an informal study of storytelling Come and be wooed by inspired
and its social functions. Hence, it fantasy, Duris’ presence and Laura
wouldn’t have hurt for the film’s own Morante’s face.
tales to be better told… Beguiling all
the same, this is not a dry,
ethnographic treatise, but a good
natured, beautifully photographed
movie”. (Cosmo L)
The opening line will set you up for
the surprises to come. Don’t miss.
Director: Rolf Heer
Starring: Richard Birrinbirrin, Jamie
Gulpilil, David Gulpilil, Johnny
Buniyira
Certificate: 15
Duration: 92 mins
Origin: Australia 2006
By: The Works UK Distribution26 Box Office: 01442 877759 AUGUST EVENINGS
Die Hard 4 Shrek The Third
Sun 26 6.00
Directors: Raman Hui, Chris Miller
Starring: Eddie Murphy, Cameron
Fri 24 7.30, Sat 25 7.00 Diaz, Antonio Banderas, Mike Myers
An old-fashioned cop emerges to Certificate: U
foil a hi-tech attack on the United Duration: 93 mins
States’ computer infrastructure in Origin: USA 2007
the latest instalment of one of the By: Paramount International Pictures
biggest action franchises in screen
history. The recipe hasn’t changed much,
It’s been over a decade since even if the cooking is underdone.
audiences last followed a mission They’re all here - Donkey (Eddie
undertaken by New York cop John Murphy) Puss in Boots (Antonio
McClane (Willis). Banderas) John Cleese’s dying King
Now, as the world’s greatest criminal Harold, nasty Prince Charming
mastermind (Olyphant) attempts to (Rupert Everett) Shrek’s pregnant
cripple an entire country with an wife Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz)
innovative act of technological Queen Lillian (Julie Andrews).
terrorism, only one cop can ensure What a bunch? Sounds like fun for
that the system stays intact. a jogger.
It’s nonsense but fantastic spectacle “There are, of course, a few
with a nice touch of parody. genuinely funny moments and a
He’s older, balder (caused a big sprinkling of decent one-liners.
Hollywood debate) but not allowed But the rest is poorly written and
his vest… They decided a bald, old dully characterised. Even the cast
geezer might just be able to save the seem less bouncy than before…”
world… but not in a vest. “Despite a number of protracted
moments, a few scenes are truly
inspired: the dying-frog sequence for
one, and Shrek’s “Exorcist”- inspired
nightmare about parenthood for
Director: Len Wiseman another. Some jokes sail close to
Starring: Bruce Willis, Timothy innuendo, but in the main they’re
Olyphant, Jeffrey Wright, Maggie Q balanced enough to appeal to all
Certificate: 15 ages. The CG animation, too, is as
Duration: 129 mins refined as we’ve come to expect. Just
Origin: USA 2007 a shame it lacks the smart sassiness
By: Twentieth Century Fox of its predecessors. Time to call
time???”
(crits: Eve Standard, Time Out)You can also read
