MOVIOLA AUTUMN FILMS MENU 2016 SEPTEMBER OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER
CLOSING DATE : MONDAY AUGUST 15 IF YOU WISH TO HAVE A SEPTEMBER SHOW
Here are no less than 34 films for you to consider for the Autumn 2016 season.
Please take a minute to read through the Introductory comments before jumping into the films.
Even if you are a seasoned Moviola Partner, please follow the booking instructions on the next page. It will help us process your requests more quickly and accurately.
Our next season – Winter/Spring 2017 - starts on January Ist and ends on 30th April. A new menu for that season will be sent to you in the middle of November. Do not book films for after January 1st from this Menu.
Phill Walkley Programme Director Moviola, June 28th 2016
HOW TO BOOK YOUR FILMS
1. Send an email to [email protected] as soon as possible and by Monday August 15th 2. State if it is a GOLD or SILVER booking 3. Put your venue name 4. List the dates and films you would like for September, October, November & December 5. Give me at least TWO spare films in case your first choices are not available (I will always consult you on any substitutions)
NO NASTY SURPRISES (This is really important!)
When you book your films from Moviola, I send you a Confirmation Form on which the level of charge for each film is clearly set out. You should read this carefully before replying to me that it is correct.
The confirmation is our agreement to supply films for you for the season and we refer back to it in any case of a query on your invoice.
It is also your licence to show the film and your proof for anyone who requests it that you have booked the film properly
– so read it and keep it safe!
VERY IMPORTANT NOTES
Film Hire Charges Most films in this Menu have no minimum guarantee charge. This means you pay us 35% of your box office regardless of how many or how few tickets you sell. However, despite their quality certain films attract very few bookings across our network. We have to ensure that any minimum charges imposed upon us by film distributors are covered by the likely return from you and so these films do carry a small minimum charge. The 35% or £50 minimum both include VAT.
Also, please note that we may have to amend the pricing stated on your film confirmation in the light of the total number of requests we have in for a film at the close of the booking period. I will of course write to inform you of any changes to film hire price and you have the option to change your film if you do not wish to pay the new hire charge.
If you wish to book a film NOT on the Menu, this will be a special one-off booking for you and will be charged the minimum guarantee levied by the film distributor (usually in a range from £85 to £120) or 35%, whichever is the larger. VAT is charged on these special bookings.
Children’s/”Family” Films Attracting sufficient audience to make such films financially viable is very difficult. Young people want to see films immediately on release and at lowest possible cost. These films are also available to show only when they are on sale to the public. This audience is much more likely than our usual audience to download films from the internet and to buy them on DVD. So, a word of caution that across our Moviola network, venues have found audiences for ‘children’s and family films’ difficult to attract.
Help us stamp out Film piracy… All films shown to the public have to pay a licence fee whether or not any ticket price is charged. As a Moviola venue, you operate commercial film shows in exactly the same way as your local multiplex or full time cinema. You advertise shows and sell tickets and the London film distributors expect a proportion of your sales as film hire. If you find any venue near you which claims to be operating in a different way – for example advertising “free” shows or telling you that they get their films cheaper – we would like to know. It is in all our interests to ensure that shows are properly licenced.
PROGRAMMING GUIDE
This menu goes forward until the end of December. I have therefore included a number of new films which have not yet been released in the UK. As a result, release dates are bound to be approximate in some cases. They are based on our experience of release patterns over nearly 20 years of doing this work. Dates for film release can change almost on a daily basis and seemingly at the whim of London distributors. Therefore, when I book your films for you and put them on your confirmation, please accept that there may need to be changes because of decisions entirely out of our control. Of course, belonging to MOVIOLA means that we pass on to you the most up to date information we can – and if there have to be changes to the order of your films, then I will give you the maximum notice I can.
When I select films to recommend to you, I do so on the basis that every film has some merit or quality. I know how precious our film screening slots are so films always have to be worthy of inclusion. Try to form your own judgement about films and not be too coloured by comments from critics or on line comments by members of the public.
You should never choose the films YOU want to see but the ones that will appeal to your ‘customers’, taking the chance where you can to expand their experience and introduce them to the work of new film makers and films from around the world.
There are some pretty obvious ‘leaders’ this time in terms of popular appeal. However I would urge you to look at some of the other less well- known films because there are some absolute gems there. For example all the foreign language films: From the superb “Dheepan” to the moving Spanish drama “Ma Ma” (with the glorious Penelope Cruz), to the blasphemous hilarity of “The Brand New Testament” , to the sharp French humour of “The Student and Mister Henri” to the tour-de-force film-making of “Victoria”. There’s a fascinating (but unknown to us) true story in “Elvis and Nixon”, a definitive biography of one of the screen immortals Ingrid Bergman, and the moving story of a dancer determined to be himself despite the regime under which he was born in “Desert Dancer”. And on the big hitter list, do not miss the amazing story that is “The 33” , the story of Jesse Owens in “Race” and a wonderful chance to enjoy the talent of Slumdog Millionaire/Marigold Hotel’s Dev Patel in “The Man Who Knew Infinity”.
I don’t know how you are going to begin to distil such cinematic wonders into (maybe at best) your four choices for the autumn. The obvious answer is to show more films and give your loyal audience a chance to stretch their wings – and enjoy even more. I think you would be very surprised at the response if you did!
I do hope you approve of the Menu and enjoy reading the notes and watching the accompanying DVD.
NEW FILMS – THE BIG HITTERS This is our selection of films which are likely to have a wide appeal.
ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS – THE MOVIE (12A tbc)
100 mins tbc Comedy Cinema release 1 July Public sale likely 7 November Possible to book from 15th November
25 Years on, so a lot older and fatter. No reviews to go on yet but from the trailer it seems to be some of the best gags from of old with some new celebrity names such as Kate Moss and Stella McCartney. May be nice to see the “old” faces again – but a lot of the attraction will depend on how much you loved the original.
CAFÉ SOCIETY (12A tbc)
94 mins Comedy/Light Drama Cinema release 2 September Public sale likely January 2017 Possible to book from 5th December
Woody Allen’s latest which was selected to open this year’s Cannes Film Festival.
A gentle and thoughtful examination of love. Jesse Eisenberg, best known for his portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network, plays Bobby, a young New Yorker who heads out to Hollywood in search of an exciting future. He falls for Vonnie (Kristin Stewart of Twilight fame), the secretary of his Uncle Phil (Steve Carell), a successful producer, and is soon confronted with the fact that she has a mysterious lover. The resulting confusion is worthy of Allen's mentor, Anton Chekhov. Set in the 1930s, with much excellent period detail, the film is being hailed as Allen’s most enjoyable for years.
EDDIE THE EAGLE (PG) 102 mins Comedy Cinema release 1 April Public sale 8th August Possible to book from 1st September
“A feel-good, crowd-pleasing triumph that deserves to find the widest possible audience, this terrific underdog tale based on the astonishing sporting exploits of Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards has that touch of The Full Monty/Billy Elliot Brit-crafted magic, with dashes of Ealing comedy thrown in.
Combined with a star-making turn from Taron Egerton, as the Cheltenham plasterer’s son, and adroit direction by Dexter Fletcher, the undeniable power and emotional richness of the entire endeavour makes for a captivating success.”
Based on the 1980s real life story of Britain’s hopeless but courageous ski-jumper and with a superb performance from Taron Egerton in the lead.
FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS (PG) 108 mins Comedy/Light Drama Cinema release 6 May Public sale likely mid September Possible to book from 1st September
A significant patron of the arts in New York during the Second World War, Florence Foster Jenkins provided musical instruments for underprivileged children and set up The Verdi Club where she produced, directed and starred in tacky shows for select members of high society. But she always wanted to sing opera, despite her tone-deafness and distinct lack of talent.
Now Stephen Frears brings the story to the big screen with three central performances of quality: Simon Helberg as FFJ’s exasperated accompanist, Hugh Grant as her attentive husband and of course the wonderful Meryl Streep in the title role. “In Streep’s inspired hands, Florence never becomes the expected figure of fun, but a diva-in-waiting whose unattainable aspirations you fully understand. And one can only imagine how much coaching the Mamma Mia! star needed to be able to sing badly! Streep’s purity in the face of Florence’s vocal limitations and her complete lack of cynicism towards the character are utterly relatable and totally charming. She gives poignancy to how the real Florence summed up her life: “People may say I can’t sing, but no one can say I didn't sing”. “
Fabulous!
GOLDEN YEARS (12A) 92 mins Comedy Cinema release 29 April Public sale 29th August Possible to book from 1st September
A gentle Ealing like comedy with a serious undertone – and a lovely cast of British acting talent: Bernard Hill, Simon Callow, Virginia McKenna, Una Stubbs and Phil Davies. Hill's opportunistic OAP is furious with the bank for frittering away his pension. However, when his wife (Virginia McKenna) needs expensive medical treatment and the local bowls club is threatened with closure, Hill becomes a regular Robin Hood, robbing banks! His gang includes the old stalwarts listed above – with an increasingly frustrated police inspector (Alan Armstrong) on their tale.
Made in Bristol, with West Country locations.
LEARNING TO DRIVE (15) 88 mins Light Drama Cinema release 10 June Public sale likely mid September Possible to book from 1st September
Made two years ago and thus a long time coming to the UK, this is a well acted, absorbing story of an unusual partnership. Patricia Clarkson plays a clever Manhattan critic looking for a new centre for her life. Ben Kingsley is a Sikh driving instructor, himself looking for meaning in life – and about to engage in an arranged marriage with a much younger girl from India.
“Patricia Clarkson is perfectly cast as Wendy, the wife who, despite having her own successful writing career, suffers a sense of loss when her husband leaves for a younger woman. The cliché is not allowed to burden the film too much, and it provides propulsion for the drama. Ben Kingsley carries himself with sturdy formality as the proud Sikh, Darwan, who has the opportunity to teach Wendy about driving a car ... as if living life. They work well together. Grace Gummer is lovely as Wendy's daughter Tasha, as is Sarita Choudhury as Darwan's arranged wife, although she doesn't quite manage to look as uneducated and unsophisticated as the screenplay make out. Spanish director Isabel Coixet handles Sarah Kernochan's screenplay with a deft touch, avoiding potential potholes of goo or contrivance. She crafts an edge to the seemingly soft material, enough to make the film a universal story with a variety of elements, including clash of cultures and racial / ethnic identity.” (Andrew Urban)
LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP (U) 90 mins Period comedy Cinema release 27 May Public sale 26th September Possible to book from 26th September
A big hit in cinemas as these notes are written, this film should do very well for us. Skilfully adapted by American Whit Stillman from Jane Austen’s novella “Lady Susan”, the film is dominated by a mesmerising performance from Kate Beckinsale as the notorious Lady Susan Vernon. Recently widowed and leaving a trail of scandal behind her, "diabolical genius" and legendary flirt Lady Susan Vernon arrives to stay with her estranged in-laws in the country, where she torments a young admirer (Xavier Samuel) and plots to marry off her meek daughter (Morfydd Clark) to a wealthy fool (a hilarious, scene- snatching Tom Bennett). Excellent cast, delicious, witty – simply great fun. “Channelling and embellishing the source material's subversion, Stillman toys with the traditional trappings of period drama, throwing out the stuffiness in favour of something terrifically fresh and oh-so wonderfully wicked.” (Emma Simmonds)
OUR KIND OF TRAITOR (15) 105 mins Thriller Cinema release 13 May Public sale likely mid September Possible to book from 26th September
Thriller from the 2010 novel by John Le Carre – moving from the era of Cold War spying to the equally dark world of money laundering. Imagine the following scenario: You are on holiday with your partner, and the two of you are befriended by a wealthy man who keeps inviting you to glamorous parties. After a few days, the man reveals that he is involved with the Russian mafia. He explains that his family are in danger, and he asks you for help. What do you do? In Our Kind of Traitor, this dilemma is presented to Perry (Ewan McGregor), a poetry professor from London. At the start of the film, Perry and his girlfriend, Gail (Naomie Harris), are in Marrakesh when they become involved accidentally with a Russian (Stellan Skarsgard). Perry brings the intel to a dogged MI6 agent named Hector (Damian Lewis), and the stage is set for a gripping spy drama.
RACE (PG) 128 mins Biographical Drama Cinema release 3 June Public sale likely October Possible to book from 1st September
This true-life drama of race and races tells the story of Jesse Owens, the athlete who exposed Adolf Hitler's misguided belief in Aryan supremacy as codswallop at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Owens, who was not only American but black as well, won four gold medals, much to Hitler's annoyance. It's a great story.
Stephan James (Selma) stars as Owens, Jason Sudeikis plays his coach and Carice van Houten (from Game of Thrones) is Leni Riefenstahl, the German documentary-maker whose official film of the Games Olympiad would ironically immortalise both Owens's triumph and Hitler's humiliation. All are fine. Some of the track scenes were filmed at Berlin's old Olympic stadium, The film of course also shows the racial prejudice that Owens encounters not only in Nazi Germany, but also back home in segregated Ohio. Race is good-looking and watchable.
SING STREET (12A) 104 mins Music Drama Cinema release 20 May Public sale likely mid September Possible to book from 1st September
Sing Street is quite simply one of the nicest films you'll see in ages. It's written and directed by Irish director John Carney, who made the equally impressive Once. Like that 2007 Oscar winner, Sing Street is a film about emotions and music. This time, though, the setting isn't contemporary Dublin, but Dublin in 1985. And the leads aren't two adult buskers, but a lovestruck 15-year-old schoolboy and the slightly older girl he woos with his "futurist" pop band and the opportunity to appear in a music video.
Carney draws terrific performances from his musically talented young cast, and adds welcome shades of darkness to the film's innate fantasy-happiness via hints of church-school cruelty and sexual abuse, domestic unrest and teen ambitions to quit "dull" Dublin for the perceived bright lights of London. The songs, all written specially for the film, are pretty good, too.
“Cornily heart-warming, it's an absolute delight and a welcome relief from the shock and bore of the typical multiplex blockbuster” (Radio Times)
THE 33 (12A tbc) 122 mins Real life Drama Cinema release January On sale now Possible to book from 1st September
In 2010, over a billion people followed the 69-day operation to rescue 33 Chilean miners trapped in a collapsed mine. This is the story behind the headlines. Antonio Banderas plays Mario Sepulveda, dubbed "Super Mario" by the media, and he bounces off the walls in a way that certainly evokes the Nintendo character! He keeps hope alive in a small cave 700m beneath the surface while butting heads with Lou Diamond Phillips as the doom-mongering foreman, Don Lucho. Above ground, Rodrigo Santoro's government minister and Gabriel Byrne's chief engineer guide us through the technical business of drilling down. "The 33" is exceptional. Based on the book "Deep Down Dark" by Héctor Tobar, the film version takes few liberties with the facts and fashions a very compelling narrative. The screenplay succinctly but effectively sets the stage and develops its characters – both above and below ground. We feel the desperation of both the miners and their families. As the miners' story unfolds, concurrently with that of their families and those attempting to rescue them, Patricia Riggens directs with great pace (which is helped by nearly perfect editing). She also gets great performances from her cast and blends the talents and experience of well-known and little-known actors wonderfully.” (Audience member comment)
THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY (12A) 105 mins Drama Cinema release 8 April Public sale likely August Possible to book from 1st September
Growing up poor in the Madras of colonial India in the early 1900s, self-taught maths genius, Srinivasa Ramanujan Iyengar (Dev Patel) earns admittance to Cambridge University during WWI, where he becomes a pioneer in mathematical theories with the guidance of his eccentric professor, G.H. Hardy (Jeremy Irons). Patel is a brilliant choice, especially playing opposite Jeremy Irons as his mentor at Cambridge, Professor Hardy, a man his total opposite emotionally and spiritually. Where Ramanujan is deeply religious and believes his remarkable solutions to mathematical mysteries come from his god, Hardy is an atheist. Where Ramanujan is quite an emotional and impulsive character, Hardy is measured, reticent and meticulous. Yet they grow to be the closest of friends. It is in the development of this friendship that the film excels and makes us care for them both, giving the biography depth and texture. We are moved. These central performances (together with contributions from Toby Jones, Jeremy Notham and Stephen Fry) elevate the film to something of lasting value. (Andrew Urban)
OTHER RECOMMENDED ENGLISH LANGUAGE FILMS A selection of films which will add variety to your programme.
A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING (12A) 95 mins Surreal Drama Cinema release 20 May Public sale likely October Possible to book from 10th October
An adaptation of Dave Eggers’s bestselling novel from writer/director Tom Tykwer (Cloud Atlas). Saudi Arabia is the setting and in some ways the villain of the piece. Tom Hanks is American businessman Alan Clay, whose marriage is over and whose career as a salesman is on the skids. After an hilarious opening sequence fills us in on everything that's gone wrong in Alan Clay's (Tom Hanks) life- he's lost his house, his fancy car, his wife- he's sent to Saudi Arabia to sell the king on a costly holographic teleconferencing system for a new city being built in the desert - a business "contact" that always seems to be out of town, indefinite delays, and the innumerable laws and customs of a foreign land. These Kafkaesque elements and director Tom Tykwer's touches of magical realism seem at first to shape A Hologram for the King into a surreal black comedy, the sort of story where the failed businessman is battered down by the inhumanity of capitalism and decides to kill himself rather than face the pathetic reality of his life. But Clay's Middle Eastern odyssey becomes strangely uplifting as he alternately battles and bumbles his way through all his woes. Hologram is never as single-faceted as the moral fable, financial drama, or culture-clash comedy it could have been; instead, it is a subtly heartfelt and frequently hilarious film that shows us that the human experience may not be as hopeless as most other "serious" movies would have you believe.
BEING AP (12) 100 mins Documentary Cinema release Nov 2015 On sale now Possible to book from 1st September
Being AP is a interesting insight to the life of twenty time Champion Jockey AP McCoy. The narrative is mostly driven by McCoy himself, his wife Chanelle and his agent Dave Roberts. Shot over his final season, the film looks at whether he was driven by a desire to be successful, or a fear of failure. There is enough in this to appeal to a broad audience. The film certainly feels cinematic and is visually interesting. Slow motion cameras, helmet cameras and overhead shots are used to show the races. This gives them more detail than the standard television coverage. Overall it is an enjoyable cinema experience. .
BLACK MOUNTAIN POETS (15) 84 mins Comedy/Drama Cinema release 21 March On sale now Possible to book from 1st September Comically skewering creative pretensions, BLACK MOUNTAIN POETS is sharply observed and very funny. Alice Lowe and Dolly Wells are endearingly haphazard sisters Claire and Lisa, first seen here in an unexplained and failed attempt to steal a JCB. On the run from the police, they opportunistically ‘borrow’ an unlocked car belonging to the Wilding Sisters, acclaimed experimental performance poets, who are on their way to be guests at a poetry retreat. Finding the invitation in the car, on impulse, the sisters decide to go there and pass themselves off as the Wildings. The retreat, in Wales’ damp Black Mountains – beautifully shot in autumnal russets and greens– turns out to be a handful of enthusiasts under a tiny gazebo outside a remote and isolated cottage. Day two of the retreat is a hike and a night spent by the group camping up the mountain to seek poetic inspiration from nature, and it’s as uncomfortable, embarrassing and basic as camping in Britain is usually portrayed. Claire and Lisa continually have to avoid writing or performing poety otherwise they would blow their cover as the Wilding Sisters. A comic high spot as a result is Alice Lowe impressing the group by reciting a Tesco’s receipt as if it was experimental poetry. Shot with a minimal budget in five days, the handheld cameras and natural light give it a naturalistic documentary feel, but with all the quirks and subtle absurdities heightened. Though pretensions are ridiculed, it’s all done warmly and affectionately.
DESERT DANCER (15) 102 mins Drama Cinema release 15 April On sale now Possible to book from 1st September
Based on the true story of dancer Afshin Ghaffarian, the film follows a group of (very brave) young people risking their lives to express themselves and follow their dreams in a country where dance is forbidden (Iran). They form an underground dance company where, through hacking into YouTube, they learn from the very best - and quite a variety Michael Jackson, Pina Bausch, Gene Kelly and Rudolf Nureyev! They resolve to put on a performance deep in the desert, away from the watchful eyes of the military police. An absorbing story, well told and well acted – reminiscent of the wonderful “Mao’s Last Dancer” which we premiered some years ago.
ELVIS AND NIXON (15) 85 mins Real life Drama Cinema release 24 June Public sale likely November Possible to book from 7th November
The untold true story behind the meeting between the King of Rock ‘n Roll and President Nixon, resulting in the revealing, yet humorous moment immortalized in the most requested photograph in the U.S. National Archives. Michael Shannon and Kevin Spacey’s off-kilter portrayals of two icons, who have essentially become caricatures in our nation’s consciousness, spark off each other perfectly. You forget that neither actor resembles their icon and let the absurdity take you for a ride. Although the most remarkable absurdity is that the events we see did actually happen and that Nixon could be persuaded that his poll ratings could be improved by such an encounter. While there are many laughs, a sadness develops towards the end of the film. These are both – in their different ways- broken people. This film may easily be ignored by the public, while it is certainly deserving of much more. You can only hope for cult status for it and a long life ahead..
INGRID BERGMAN – IN HER OWN WORDS (12A tbc) 112 mins Biography Cinema release 10 June Public sale likely September Possible to book from 1st September
Using home movie footage, diaries and letters, director Stig Björkman gives the audience an intimate look at the life of Academy Award-winning actress Ingrid Bergman. From her youth in Sweden to her rise in Hollywood and how she handled what was then considered scandal, we get a very different look at Bergman’s life away from the cameras. An almost obsessive collector of memories and personal items, Bergman recorded much of her home life with her children and family as she moved around the world. She kept letters and old diaries, along with pictures and home movies that give us this intimate look at her life. What nobody would even blink about now was an event that pushed her out of the acting world. Calling a divorce a scandal seems ridiculous now, but that’s exactly what happened to Bergman.
The overall picture we get of Bergman as a person is a bit contradictory. She was madly in love with her children, but actually rarely lived with them—at one point they didn’t even live with their mother or their father. In hindsight, nobody is really hurt by these moments, as all her children speak about their mother with only respect and love. A fascinating film about one of the 20th Century’s legendary actors.
MONEY MONSTER (15) 96 mins Thriller Cinema release 25 May Public sale likely October Possible to book from 17th October
Big name thriller directed by Jodie Foster with George Clooney as a TV financial show host whose programme is hijacked by a gunman protesting about the corruption of the financial markets. Julia Roberts plays the producer whose job is to keep everyone calm and prevent catastrophe. An action thriller which attempts to make some serious points about the money markets.
“Jodie Foster's direction is faultless, squeezing the most out of the solid story as well as all the characters, not just the leads. She understands the importance of detail without making the film fussy.
The studio scenes are riveting and the final sequence that delivers the climax is filled with tension and a satisfying payoff.” (Andrew Urban)
SILENT STORM (15) 100 mins Drama Cinema release 18 May Public sale likely mid September Possible to book from 12th October
Powerful drama set on a remote Scottish island (actually Mull). Essentially a three-hander which revolves around its three main characters. Damien Lewis plays a Scottish priest struggling with the loss of his flock. His parishioners are moving to the mainland due to a lack of work, but he stubbornly refuses to leave his remote island home. It's a decision that leaves him alone with slave-like wife Andrea Riseborough (and her own secrets) and things look truly bleak until the unexpected arrival of a city lad (Ross Anderson) forced into a church-sponsored rehab programme. For him the boy is simply a sinner to be shown the light, for her he could be far more.
Premiered at last autumn’s London Film Festival and given four star rating by Kate Muir in “The Times”.
DON’T FORGET THAT IF YOU HAVE A SEPTEMBER SHOW, I NEED TO RECEIVE YOUR FILM BOOKINGS AT LATEST BY AUGUST 15TH IN ORDER TO PREPARE YOUR CONFIRMATION & SHORT FILMS – AND FOR YOU TO PUBLICISE THE SHOW.
OUTSTANDING FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILMS All these films have English sub-titles. These films have a minimum film hire charge of £50. DHEEPAN (15) 113 mins Drama Cinema release 2 April Public sale 8th August Possible to book from 1st September
Jesuthasan Antonythasan plays the title character, a Sri Lankan fighter who escapes the horrors of the civil war by teaming up with a woman (Srinivasan) and child and adopting the identities - and passports - of a real family. After being smuggled into France, Dheepan takes a job as a caretaker at a Paris housing project where he finds yet more troubles, spoiling his ideas about life in a civilised country. Winner of the Palme D’Or at Cannes, this is a compelling film, owing much to the fantastic acting talent of its two main characters. “There are great scenes throughout between Antonythasan and Srinivasan: the characters submit to their pretence uneasily, take care of their new charge, argue, soften towards one another. Their scenes have a fresh intensity, with sudden soft moments, like Yalini telling Dheepan that he needs to develop a sense of humour. It's as though they are handcuffed to each other and have to try, at least, to get along. "Dheepan" is finely-drawn, beautifully shot and acted, featuring complex characters doing their best in no-win situations. “ (Sheila O Malley)
MA MA (12A) 109 mins Drama Cinema release 24 June Public sale likely October Possible to book from 1st September
Almost impossible ever to resist a film starring the luminous Penelope Cruz. She has grown to be Spain’s finest screen presence. Magda (Penélope Cruz) has been suffering a terrible series of hard knocks lately; her husband, a university professor has recently left her and their son Dani. She no longer has a job teaching. And, thanks to putting off a visit to Dr. Julián (Asier Etxeandia), the small, unassuming lump in her breast is actually stage 3 breast cancer. On the same day she learns the devastating news, she meets someone else going through an equally difficult time –Arturo (Luis Tosar), whose young daughter has died. Through the grieving and healing process, the pair’s bond develops into a romance. An immensely moving film from master director Julio Medem.
OUR LITTLE SISTER (PG) 124 mins Light Drama Cinema release 15 April Public sale 13th June Possible to book from 1st September
A gentle, fascinating story from Japan of three grown up sisters who go to their father’s funeral (he having deserted them years before) and meet their ‘little’ sister by his second marriage – who turns out to be a delight and who moves in with them. A lovely film , beautifully acted and photographed which gives us a taste of living in Japan.
“This movie is 128 minutes long and at the end I was hoping it could go on for two more hours. For me it is the essence of what cinema should be and how bad most Hollywood blockbusters really are… like comparing a Michelin star cook to Mc Donald's…. One you eat because you're hungry (bored) and one because it tastes great. This movie is art because it touches you in a special way ... not you ego but your humanity “ (Audience member Germany)
RAMS (12A) 91 mins Comedy-Drama Cinema release 5 February On sale now Possible to book from 1st September
“The highlands of Iceland aren’t for the faint of heart: bleak, barren save for light outcroppings of vegetation suitable for raising sheep and not much else, rocky, cloistered and often inhospitable. Not much survives, and those who do often reflect the landscape. Two such woolly-bearded figures are estranged shepherd brothers Gummi (Sigurður Sigurjónsson) and Kiddi (Theodór Júlíusson). Although bound together by blood and profession, the next door neighbours had a falling out that led to them refusing to speak to each other for the past forty years. But when Gummi—both accidentally and out of spite—discovers one of Kiddi’s prized sheep has scrapie (a highly contagious form of Mad Cow Disease that’s deadly to all flocks), he’s forced with confronting the demons of the past in order to protect both of their futures. It’s unique, poignant, dryly comedic, and dramatically subtle” (Toronto Film Festival) – also stunningly beautiful and an unexpected big hit in cinemas here last winter.
RAN (12A) 158 mins Classic Spectacular Cinema release 1 April On sale now Possible to book from 1st September
Akirawa Kuraswa’s masterly retelling of ‘King Lear’ in the setting of medieval Japan. A stunning film – simply one of the great world classics originally released in 1985 – here presented in a new digital restoration.
THE BRAND NEW TESTAMENT (15) 115 mins Surreal comedy Cinema release 15 April Public sale likely 8th August Possible to book from 1st September
God is alive an living in Brussels – and is a quite horrid misanthropic figure who enjoys tormenting people - for example inventing so called ‘laws’ that drive them mad (for example the one about the other queue always moving faster). His daughter (yes!) becomes so fed up with him that she breaks into his database and sends everyone (by text of course) the date and time of their death. The very good trailer gives you a sense of the very black comedy at the centre of this Belgian film. How on earth did the director persuade megastar Catherine Deneuve to have an affair with a gorilla? Irreverent but entirely fresh and often hilarious - and so very, very un-English!
THE STUDENT AND MISTER HENRI (12A tbc) 95 mins Light Drama/Comedy Cinema release 26 June Public sale likely October Possible to book from 17th October
An elderly curmudgeon lets out a room in his large apartment rent-free to a young student - on condition that she does everything in her power to ruin his son's marriage. An adaptation by the director of his hit stage play “On the face of it, the story has nothing original, but the plot throws a few curve balls and the obvious chemistry between Claude Brasseur and the young Swiss actress Noémie Schmidt raises the film to another level making it funny and moving in equal measure. Add a cast of excellent secondary characters including Guillaume de Tonquédec as Monsieur Henri’s hapless son Paul and Frédérique Bel almost unrecognisable as Paul’s mousey wife Valérie and the stage is set for nearly two hours of pure, if admittedly old-fashioned, entertainment.” (French film review)
TRUMAN (15) 105 mins Drama Cinema release 11 May Public sale likely September Possible to book from 1st October
Julian (the excellent Argentinian actor Ricardo Darin) is an actor who has cancer but has decided to enjoy his final days without further treatment. His main worry is what will happen to his dog Truman after his death. An unexpected visit from his best friend who has been living in Canada for some years (a superb performance from Javier Camara) gives the two some final time together and the chance to resolve issues – not the least that dog! Superbly acted and directed (Catalunya here – Barcelona – and very much having a Catalan mindset), the film is unemotional, often very funny and , like all of this foreign selection – utterly HUMAN. There will not be a dry eye in the house at the end – but the tears will come not for the two men but for the dog. Fabulous!
VICTORIA (15) 134 mins Thriller Cinema release 1 April On sale now Possible to book from 1st September
A tour-de-force of film making, One night in Berlin with a thriller subject- but made in just one continuous take. “A night of clubbing in Berlin has unexpected consequences for expat Spanish girl Victoria (Laia Costa). First off, there's this boy she fancies (amiable Frederick Lau), but a frisson develops between them. He and his mates have a job to do - a bank job, that is - and inexorably the heroine finds herself drawn in. For all the seeming gimmickry of the edit-free camerawork, which really comes into its own when screeching tyres and flying bullets enter the fray, it's actually the spontaneity of the two lead performances that draw you into director Sebastian Schipper's daringly ambitious thriller. Palpable chemistry has us caring about their fate rather than trying to work out how the film-makers did it, creating a film that doesn't plumb any great depths but offers a unique blend of modern digital technique with the gung-ho spirit of cinema's early pioneers. A captivating ride.” (Radio Times)
PLEASE SEND YOUR BOOKINGS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND BY AUGUST 15TH AT THE LATEST
FILMS FOR FAMILY OR YOUNGER AUDIENCES See the note in the introduction about the financial risks of programming films for children. Here is a selection of box office hit films which may have an appeal to the older audience too. These films have a minimum film hire charge of £60.
FINDING DORY (U tbc) 101 mins Cinema release 29 July Public sale likely December Possible to book from 24 October
Big budget Pixar-Disney animation – a follow up to the hugely successful ‘Finding Nemo’.
“Highlights include the sequences involving Dory and Hank (Ed O'Neill), a gregarious orange octopus with chameleon qualities, allowing him to hilariously blend with his environment. He morphs into unlikely things like a tabby cat, a prickly plant and a yellow handrail. Watching Hank carrying a bucket of water housing Dory is precarious and unpredictable while the scene in which Hank drives a truck is highly imaginative. I chuckled at the two sea lions that are territorial about their rock in the Marine facility and Becky, the eccentric black and white bird with bright red eyes and a slightly disturbed personality, generates some laughs. Other characters include Destiny, the near-sighted whale shark and of course Dory's friends, Nemo (Haden Rolence) and Marlin (Albert Brooks), who help her to try to remember specific things from the past that will help find her parents. All this, before a madcap chase and a fun finale”.
THE ANGRY BIRDS (U) 95 mins Cinema release 11 May Public sale likely mid September Possible to book from 1st October
“In this animated adventure based on the popular smartphone game, we have an irritable bird named Red, the only angry bird on an island of happy flightless creatures, who has to call on all his reserves of rage to save his home. The game wasn't what you'd call complex, so it's understandable that the movie iteration doesn't concern itself with too much plot. There's a basic "invasion of the pigs" storyline, but most of the action is slapstick. It's unabashedly silly throughout, but the lack of pretension proves quite charming as the colourful characters bend over backwards to get laughs. Whether it's the ill-fated anger management sessions or Peter Dinklage's delusional, disco-dancing eagle, there's something in there that will raise a chuckle. While it's maybe more fun for spring chickens, The Angry Birds Movie does a lot with a flimsy premise.” (Radio Times)
THE BFG (PG tbc) 113 mins Cinema release 22 July Public sale likely December Possible to book from 5th December
Steven Spielberg’s version of Roald Dahl’s possibly most famous book has been long awaited, years in preparation and made with all the care and money that one might expect from a Spielberg film. We have no certainty that the film will be available to us this season- and it will be out on DVD to buy by the time we get it – December at the earliest. But it should prove a big hit for adult audiences as well as the young, not least because of the cast. Recent Oscar winner Mark Rylance (for Spielberg’s Bridge Of Spies), with more than a little help from the design departments and special effects, makes an appealing creation with his grey hair and protruding ears and colourful language of made-up words, in a role originally destined for Robin Williams. The wide-eyed young girl Sophie, who possesses a wisdom and bravura beyond her years, is beautifully caught by newcomer Ruby Barnhill…The pace picks up a treat when the action moves to Buckingham Palace when Sophie goes to seek Royal help to rid the world of the evil giants. Penelope Wilton (from Downton Abbey) is in her element as the Monarch, taking it all in her stride and helpfully putting a call through to Nancy and Ronnie in the White House to ask for assistance (giving a precise clue to the timeframe of the 1980s). There is much hilarity to be had from flatulence caused by the BFG’s favourite green coloured tipple with bubbles that go down rather than up, afflicting not only the Queen but her corgis, footman and the heads of the armed forces….
THE JUNGLE BOOK (PG) 103 mins Cinema release 15 April Public sale likely mid September Possible to book from 1st September
Director Jon Favreau faces an arduous task, remaking a film that all of us know and love. Make it too similar, and there's no point in doing it at all; but make it too different and you lose the reason people liked it in the first place. Happily, Favreau toes that line and creates an incredible looking film that brings something new to an old story. Unfolding as more of an adventure film than the all-singing, all-dancing original, the sense of magic and wonder nevertheless remains. Every animal that our young hero comes across looks extraordinary. It’s at times hard to believe that most of what we are seeing is computer animated. Equally, the world that's created around them is astounding. From the dim, sinister heart of the jungle where Mowgli runs into Scarlett Johansson's hypnotic Kaa, to the opulent lair of King Louie (Christopher Walken), the detail is extraordinary and helps evoke the film we all know. Filled with enthusiasm and fearlessness, newcomer Neel Sethi is a great choice as Mowgli. Just as well chosen, if not more so, are the voice cast, who bring their own twist on familiar characters. Kingsley's softly spoken Bagheera provides the heart of the film, while Bill Murray's perfectly chosen Baloo adds fun. While it's certainly a different take on the Rudyard Kipling story than its predecessor (there are only two songs, and, yes, The Bare Necessities is one of them), this is one of those rare moments when a remake can be called a complete success..
ZOOTROPOLIS (PG) 105 mins Cinema release 25th March Public sale 25th July Possible to book from 1st September
Five star review from Radio Times: “All the best family movies can be unpeeled, layer after onion layer, stripping off the mass entertainment to reveal complex and sophisticated ideas within. And Zootropolis, is no exception. Ostensibly, a comedy set in a world of talking animals that have risen above their base instincts to coexist in harmony, this perceptive and elegantly structured film is also a commentary on cultural sensitivity and political correctness. Heavy subjects are handled with the lightest of touches. Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin), is the city's first bunny police officer, and the film's endearing central character. Dismissed as a piece of box-ticking by the Mayor's animal inclusion program, Judy finds herself relegated to traffic patrol. But with a spate of missing animal cases, Judy is forced to team up with her natural enemy, a wily fox called Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman). The animation is packed with deft sight gags; the play of light on fur is rendered in a way that brings these creatures to life. But the real vitality is in the smart and funny writing.”
I HOPE YOU LIKE THIS SELECTION OF FILMS.
PLEASE FOLLOW THE BOOKING INSTRUCTIONS ON PAGE 2 OF THIS MENU AND EMAIL BOOKINGS TO ME AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, AND BY AUGUST 15TH IF YOU ARE PLANNING A SEPTEMBER SHOW
Good Viewing!
Phill Walkley
Programme Director Moviola 28th June 2016