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The University of Warwick Students’ Union Film Society

Autumn Season 2003

www.accenture.com/decision-support In Order of Appearance... Introduction Week 6 Contents 2 Bruce Almighty 35 Warwick Student Cinema How To Find Us 4 Mostly Martha 36 General Information 5 Antwone Fisher 37 proudly presents Welcome To Warwick 6 The Allnighter 38-39 Getting Involved 7 A ‘Publicity Team’ Production Technical Information 8-9 Week 7 Special Showings 10 Johnny English 40 Kaante 41 Week 1 Secretary 42 ‘Autumn Season 2003’ Ocean’s Eleven 12 Anger Management 43 Featuring The Exec Coyote Ugly 13 Saturday Night Fever 44 Stand By Me 14 President JAMES WICKENS Treasurer STEPHEN WILLIAMS About Schmidt 15 Week 8 Maid in Manhattan 16 Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle 45 Films and Administration Officer JULIE NGO Chief Projectionist AMANDA WINDOW Dark Water 46 Technical Officer SIMON JOHNSTONE Chief Duty Manager GREG TAYLOR Week 2 The Breakfast Club 47 Phone Booth 17 2 Fast 2 Furious 48 Equal Opps and Socials Officer PETER KIRWAN The Pianist 18 Alien 49 Publicity Officer ANDREW MADDISON Bowling for Columbine 19 20 Week 9 Legally Blonde 2: Week 3 Red, White & Blonde 50 Gangs of New York 21 Russian Ark 51 City of God 22 Identity 52 Narc 23 Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines 53 25th Hour 24 The Untouchables 25 Week 10 Lord of the Rings: Week 4 The Two Towers 54 How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days 26 The Rules of Attraction 55 Intacto 27 Dreamcatcher 56 Hope Springs 28 The Core 29 Vote For Next Term’s Films 57 End Credits 60 Week 5 X2 30 The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert 31 El Crimen del Padre Amaro 32 Darkness Falls 33 Knights 34

2 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 3 How to Find Us General Information

Membership Academic year 2003/04 £2.50

Tickets Single Member £1.80 Single Guest £2.80 (only one guest per member per show) Five-Film Ticket £7.00 (valid for Autumn 2003 Season only)

Memberships and tickets are available from the sales desk situated on the Science Concourse before any Warwick Student Cinema show. Memberships will also be available at the Trade Fair in Students’ Union South (27-28 September) and at the Societies’ Fayre (beginning of week 2). You can also buy your membership at Union North Reception.

Societies Federation Please note that you need to become a member of Societies Federation before you can join Warwick Student Cinema - you can join Societies Federation at Union North Reception, before any Student Cinema showing, or at Societies Fayre or the Trade Fair.

Rates for Societies Federation membership are as follows:

Year of Study 1 Year 2 Years 3 Years 4 Years 1st £8 £12 £15 £17 2nd £8 £12 £15 3rd + £8 £12 4th £8

There is a £5 discount for Erasmus students taking a year off.

Warwick Student Cinema is situated off the science concourse just Prices correct at time of going to press and are subject to alteration. over the bridge from the library

4 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 5 Welcome to Warwick! The Publicity Welcome back all University of Warwick veterans, and a warm welcome to Team all you enthusiastic Freshers, keen to throw away your first year watching The Publicity Team produces films (well, we did!). And, as Barry Norman might have said, why not? For this booklet three times a year all of you new to Warwick, the Autumn Term is our biggest season of all. along with the term planner Would You Like Can You Perform poster. For every film that we With over 40 films in this term’s schedule - from the biggest American in the Dark? show a review is written by a Some Hands on blockbusters to the quirkiest of Art films - you can be guaranteed there’s member of WSC. You will get Experience? something for everyone! to use the latest DTP packages and gain invaluable experience from helping to produce a Anyone who’s not yet a member should look out for our stalls in the booklet with a print run of Students’ Union Cholo Bar area at the beginning of term during the Trade 5,000. Fair and during Societies Fayre at the beginning of week 2. The stalls will be manned by some of the friendliest and most outgoing people on campus, Stewarding DM-ing helping you to reach into your parents’ wallets for the incredibly small fee GET of £2.50 for your Warwick Student Cinema membership (Societies INVOLVED Federation membership is a condition of joining WSC, see page 5). Only Can you smile and give Duty Managers are by joining will you be able to gain entry to the hallowed rows of L3 for the change from a tenner? Can WITH responsible for the ridiculously low price of £1.80 per film (or £7 for 5!). you spare a little of your WSC admission and safety of the time before watching a film audience at each show. Societies’ Fayre can be decidedly difficult, with so many clubs and societies for free? If so then AND SEE They organise the offering you the world in return for your £2.50 - so much so that it’s stewarding is for you. stewards, check ticket sales FILMS FOR and bank the takings after impossible for you to sign up to everything that interests you! With this in the show. mind, WSC is offering you not one but two FREE movies to help you along FREE! with your decision. On Sunday week 1 (28 September) we have the heist movie Ocean’s Eleven at 6.30pm and 9.30pm and on Projecting Monday (29 September) we have the babefest that is Coyote Ugly at Projecting is at the core of the Social Evening 7.30pm, so you can come and witness in wonderment the society that is In return for society and is probably the and General Warwick Student Cinema in all its Big Screen glory and find out why we’re most rewarding job. You will helping out at just be shown the principles of Meeting the biggest Society on campus by far! one film a fortnight film projection and how all the equipment works. Your So, from all of us at WSC, have a great first term! you and a friend training consists of projecting Tuesday of every can see WSC films a public show every fortnight, Even Week under close supervision until for Free you qualify to project on your starting at 7.15pm The WSC Exec. own. in L3

6 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 7 improve the quality network of computers, Sight & Sound further. We have several although invaluable, is How many times do you go to a cinema, sit film is carried on a large horizontal disc, thousand watts of a little antiquated. back, watch the film and wonder how the known as a platter, and fed to and from the amplification to drive this Are you interested in picture ends up on the screen? For most of projector over a series of rollers. WSC is little lot! becoming more you, the answer is probably never. Well, equipped to play films in this manor We project all of the films involved in the here at WSC we show exactly the same although we tend to show films in the old shown and also maintain projection or IT sides films using exactly the same kind of fashioned way using two projectors. We and improve the of the Society? Are equipment as all of the other commercial play each reel separately, swapping back projection and sound you interested to find cinemas that you will be familiar with. and forth between the two projectors using systems ourselves. For out more? If so, please visual cues which are printed on the film a those who are interested, feel free to grab one of Here at Warwick, we few seconds before the end of each reel. It training to show films the many WSC people have a pair of takes great skill to make the show seamless takes place both in who tend to hang Cinemeccanica Victoria (which is why it sometimes isn't!). 8 projectors which are organised sessions with around before and after capable of showing 35mm (the film you The other vital part of the film experience experienced projectionists shows or turn up to one see in multiplexes) and also 70mm film is the sound. We have a more extensive and also by showing of the General which is normally only shown at specially sound system than most of the commercial actual films (under Meetings held in L3 equipped venues such as Bradford's cinemas you will have been to elsewhere. supervision). The every fortnight National Museum of Photography, Film & Not only do we boast the traditional technical team are a (Tuesdays, 7.15pm of Television. The advantage of 70mm film analogue sound formats (Dolby A and SR, particularly sociable group even weeks). over 35mm is that it is magnified less to fill better known as "surround sound"), but we within the Society, often WSC Technical and the screen, so the scratches and dirt do not are also equipped to play all three of the going out for meals, IT Teams show up as much and the image is sharper. current digital sound formats - these being bowling, playing pool and of course (yes you The 70mm prints are also played less often Dolby Digital, DTS and SDDS. We can . than their 35mm counterparts and are also play both 4 and 6 track magnetic guessed) to see even more therefore generally in better condition. We sound and 70mm DTS. The sound system films! aim to show 2 to 3 films in 70mm each consists of 6 separate channels with Left, Running the actual films term. Centre and Right stage speakers (with three isn't the only technical sub woofers) and also 8 surround speakers activity that you can The film runs vertically through the split into two banks to give left and right become involved with at projectors at a rate of 24 frames per second, surround channels. This is all bi-amped to which for 35mm film means that 90 feet WSC. We also run our passes through the projectors every minute! own network. The web- Films are shipped as a number of separate site, membership data- reels each lasting up to 20 minutes. A bases and e-mail are all typical feature would have around 6 to 7 run on a suite of computers running Linux reels of film. which we maintain and develop ourselves. Significant development is taking place The commercial cinemas join all of those with the WSC IT infrastructure to redesign reels of film together and play them the web site and databases. through a single projector with the adverts and trailers attached at the beginning. The We are also intending to move to a more suitable hardware platform as the current

8 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 9 Special Showings This term WSC are proud to be showing at least 2 films in association with other Societies. Visit the WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA On Tuesday week 5, we will be showing website: The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert in association with Warwick Pride as part of their awareness week. www.filmsoc.warwick.ac.uk

• Reviews of the term’s films On Saturday week 7, we will be showing • Suggestions Page for next term’s films the disco-dancing classic Saturday Night Fever, starring , in association • Social Events Information with Warwick RAG.. • Photo Gallery • Technical Information Watch out for other publicity nearer the time regarding these showings! • Contact Details • Links to other Student Cinemas • News Archive • Rotas for Stewards and Duty Managers and Much More! As ever on Friday week 6, we will be holding our AllNighter event. This will be 6 films back-to-back starting at about 8pm and finishing sometime around 10 in the morning of Saturday! Watch out for more publicity regarding this event nearer the time - and you have an opportunity to vote for the films that are not decided on yet at www.filmsoc.warwick.ac.uk

10 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 11 EK1 WEEK

Director: Steven Soderbergh The main actors need little introduction.

WEEK 1 Starring: George Clooney Clooney delivers a performance just as charming and classy as always. Pitt demonstrates yet again that below his pretty-boy Julia Roberts looks, he has some real acting talent, portraying Andy Garcia Rusty Ryan with great style and precision. Roberts’ role is fairly small, but that doesn’t Three casinos. Eleven guys. $150 million. No prevent her from playing Ocean’s ex-wife to a Director: David McNally but Bruckheimer’s slick style rescues it. With a problem. tee. Starring: Piper Perabo fair bit of help from the eye candy. Eye candy Adam Garcia as far as the eye can see. Consider this: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Julia Director Steven Soderbergh is behind recent John Goodman Roberts, Matt Damon and Andy Garcia. In one box office hits such as Erin Brockovich and By now, the guys might be despairing of being movie. Need we say Traffic. Ocean’s Eleven Tonight, they’re calling the shots dragged off to a soppy romantic tale populated more? is perhaps not as with wholesome wannabes. Well, serious as these, but is Violet ‘Jersey’ Sandford (Perabo) is a shy, yes, there is the delectable Adam Garcia, but Ocean’s Eleven is a no less of a classic. retiring girl. Having moved to New York to did I mention the key feature that makes the remake of the 1960 Rat Soderbergh has pursue her dream of Coyote Ugly bar so Pack movie with the managed to avoid the becoming a popular? No? Would you be same name. Danny usual pitfalls of sex, songwriter, she is interested in a film that Ocean (Clooney), fresh violence and dull left with next to features women dancing out of prison, sets up a dialogue. The film nothing after a provocatively on bars and dream robbery: the could easily have burglary. She finds occasionally participating vaults of three Las hinged on its headlining work as a barmaid in a wet T-shirt contest? Vegas casinos, all in actors alone, but luckily at Coyote Ugly, the Instead of the usual token one night. To ensure his it doesn’t. Instead, it is city’s newest and Bruckheimer blonde, success, he enlists the filled with unexpected hottest bar, where there’s a whole film full of help of no less than ten plot twists and plenty of humour and romance. after a while she them! The film has more other criminals, including card magician Rusty Fast-paced and effortlessly cool, Ocean’s begins to come out energy than all its bar- Ryan (Pitt), infallible pickpocket Linus Eleven is a movie that is both memorable and of her shell. Can she dancing bunnies put Caldwell (Damon) and ingenious stylish, and most definitely worth watching. conquer her stage together, and an enormous pyrotechnician Basher Tarr (Don Cheadle). fright with the help of new-found friend Kevin dollop of catchy-cheesy tunes for them to The rules: no blood, steal only from those who Martin Aspeli (Garcia)? Can she weather her father’s bump and grind to. deserve it and act as if you have nothing to (Goodman) disapproval to win success? Can lose. you believe how formulaic this film sounds? Yes, Coyote Ugly is silly. Yes, it’s daft. Yes, it’s utterly engaging. And maybe somebody will The casinos are far from randomly chosen. Not Coyote Ugly sounds like it only narrowly be inspired to liven up the union bars. only do they hold large amounts of money just escaped straight-to-video death. The reason it waiting to be stolen during a much-anticipated did was because its producer is none other than Fletcher Reede boxing match, but they are all run by trash formula king Jerry Bruckheimer. the ruthless Terry Benedict (Garcia), Admittedly, Coyote Ugly’s romantic Sun 115 min Mon 100 min who also happens to have taken an 28 USA coming-of-age tale plot does force the 29 USA interest in Ocean’s beautiful ex-wife Sep 2001 film towards that ‘good bad’ category, Sep 2000 Tess. 6·30pm 7·30pm 9·30pm

12 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 13 EK1 WEEK

Director: Rob Reiner This is a film about when lives are supposed to Director: Alexander Payne for communication of his emotions, as he WEEK 1 Starring: Wil Wheaton be simpler, when you’re young and are Starring: confides in his young beneficiary thoughts that River Phoenix supposed to have no worries. While the adults Hope Davis the audience would never otherwise Cory Feldman in the film are battling their personal demons, Dermot Mulroney determine. His naïve ignorance of the boy’s Jerry O’Connell the kids are left to rely on each other. Kathy Bates circumstances and the self obsessed nature of June Squibb his letters provide many of the film’s lighter Stand By Me is the story of four 12 year old OK, this is beginning to sound a bit soppy but moments. boys, Gordie Lachance (Wheaton), Chris think again. It’s based on a Stephen King book Schmidt Happens Chambers (Phoenix), Teddy Duchamp “The Body” (taken from the same collection of On first inspection, Nicholson, as the central (Feldman) and Vern Tessio (O’Connell), who tales as The Shawshank Redemption, probably Warren Schmidt (Nicholson) has spent his entire actor, does very little. Like his character he is go on an adventure to find the body of another one of the best films of all time). This is the working life with the same company as an understated, repressed (and depressed), boy about their age. They set out to become definitive coming-of-age road movie. It’s a actuary (think accountancy without the showing little emotion. It is difficult to think of heroes, in their town of classic, right in there with excitement), before retiring to be hen pecked by another actor who could have turned in such a Castle Rock they are Labyrinth, The Goonies his wife who has a near obsessive desire to subtle, understated performance, and yet regarded as losers, but on and Ferris Bueller. It’s one travel the states in their brand new mobile home. totally steal the show from such a capable the way discover the true of those films you’ve Faced with trying to dissuade his daughter from supporting cast. value of their friendships. probably only ever seen on marriage to a waterbed salesman (hilariously Along the railway they TV, now’s the time to see it played by Dermot Mulroney), he begins to There is plenty of humour, both from Schmidt encounter many on the big screen. reflect on his own life and is not entirely and the other characters, some of it farcical, adventures and trials, comfortable with what he finds. much of it at Schmidt’s expense. Yet, although including a run-in with the It has some of the finest you openly laugh at local gang of bullies who acting you will see in any Schmidt’s pathetic but all are determined to claim film, regardless of the fact too human response to his the glory for themselves. that the main stars are all barely scraping into problems, you end up their teens. It’s incredibly well directed and feeling empathetic, and The film establishes the importance of their regardless of any of that, it’s a brilliant story guilty at your earlier quest by presenting it in a flashback narrated which shows that King is not just a horror amusement. It’s not a feel by the grown-up Gordie reacting to the news writer, and just before you wonder about the good film, but neither is it that Chris, a local attorney, was killed trying certificate, it’s almost entirely for bad language ultimately depressing, in to prevent a robbery at a fast food joint (sadly and kids smoking, it’s not going to make you fact it’s difficult to sum it up mirroring the early death of River Phoenix). scream but it will make you think. at all. It’s real. The older Gordie’s memories of the adventure focus attention on its importance in shaping Ben Goddard Stuart Jarvis the direction their two lives would take. For Gordie, what happens with his friends on their trip, and especially its outcome, jolted him into maturity. And for his best friend Chris, what the four confront and overcome gives him the Schmidt ‘adopts’ a young African boy courage to get out of the dead-end rut after seeing a television appeal and sends everybody in Castle Rock is pushing Wed 88 min him regular money and letters detailing Thu 125 min him into. 1 USA his life. This becomes a useful channel 2 USA Oct 1986 Oct 2002 7·30pm 7·30pm

14 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 15 convince the police that he is the victim and not the killer.

It must have been an interesting meeting when this film was pitched to the producers, and Director: Wayne Wang Christopher Marshall (Fiennes), who just Director: strange as the plot sounds, it does carry some

WEEK 1 Starring: Jennifer Lopez happens to be making the hotel his temporary Starring: Colin Farrell degree of believability. The scenario Stu finds campaign headquarters. Kiefer Sutherland himself in is not completely unimaginable in 2 WEEK Tyler Garcia Posey America, what with the various school Natasha Richardson Prince Charming sees her trying on a guest’s shootings around the time this movie was designer outfit, and in true Cinderella style, falls originally to go on cinematic release, and more Love checks in for her, oblivious to her true identity - believing recently the two Washington serial snipers. instead that she is a rich socialite. Of course one Your life is on the line Whilst this might not make you want to see word from Marisa at any moment could resolve this film, the performances of Farrell and this case of mistaken identity - she realises that Colin Farrell stars as fast-talking Broadway Sutherland definitely will. she cannot keep deceiving him - but she dreads agent Stuart “Stu” telling him the truth, fearing that a Shepard, in this Farrell is full of energy and Republican candidate would never wonderful thriller about intensity, proving that he is knowingly date a Puerto-Rican a man trapped by a more than just a pretty face. chambermaid. Inevitably, the truth sniper whilst using the He displays a wide range of comes out, and it becomes clear that last phone booth in emotions through this their lives could not be any more Manhattan to call his relatively short film, much of disparate. Will the star-crossed lovers mistress, Pamela which has the camera in close. be able to overcome their differences? McFadden (Holmes) in Kiefer Sutherland is solid as order to avoid the mysterious and twisted Lopez and Fiennes make a stunning, if questioning when he caller, his voice dominating the unlikely, couple, and are assisted in has his mobile phone film with its gravelly, twisted their fairytale by a blend of charismatic bill scrutinised by his urgency. To make viewers sit personalities that make up a strong wife, Kelly (Mitchell). up and listen takes presence, supporting cast. The movie attempts at which Sutherland clearly times to address class and race barriers, but The action starts demonstrates, despite being works best when sticking to the trusty rom- innocently enough, physically off screen for most com formula. This movie doesn’t stimulate with Stu picking up the of the film. intellectually or deliver any plot twists and is phone ringing in the rather predictable; by the time it’s over, no-one booth, but what he Filmed in 10 days, on a single in the audience would have been surprised - didn’t envisage was set, Phonebooth shows that it is Jennifer Lopez sets out to prove that she really fairytales inevitably end ‘happily ever after’ - being held hostage by possible for Hollywood to is just ‘Jenny from the block’ in this cute and but there is absolutely nothing wrong with this. the caller. First he make good films without engaging romantic-comedy that is essentially a This is a sweet movie that’ll have you hooked dismisses the threats, believing it to be a prank, throwing money at computer wizardry, instead modern day Cinderella story. Lopez plays from the opening credits. but reality quickly sets in when the caller starts relying on good ol’ fashined plot twists and Marisa Ventura, a single mother from the to reveal some of Stu’s personal secrets, as well excellent performances. Bronx, who works as a maid in a swanky Julie Ngo as shooting an innocent bystander. All this Manhattan hotel. Through her young son’s drama alerts the police, and soon Stu finds Alex Coe precocious interest in American politics himself trying to keep the and a simple twist of fate, Marisa’s life caller from pulling the Fri 105 min Sun Mon 81 min becomes entangled with that of 3 USA trigger on him, whilst 5 6 USA charming senatorial candidate Oct 2002 trying desperately to Oct Oct 2002 6·30pm 6·30pm 7·30pm 9·30pm 9·30pm

16 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 17 EK2 WEEK

Director: Roman Polanski his family and friends destroyed by the evil that Starring: pervades the streets, while the supporting cast Director: Michael Moore firearm given to new customers as WEEK 2 Thomas Kretschmann convey admirably the unbearable truth that their Starring: Michael Moore a joining incentive. The guns are Frank Finlay occupiers have the power of life and death over Charlton Heston issued in the bank by the bank Maureen Lipman them, and are not afraid to use it. Perhaps the Marilyn Manson from a rack on the wall. It’s a fully licensed gun shop. Music was his passion. Survival was One Nation Under The Gun his masterpiece. Sometimes you may feel Moore goes This film’s title comes from too far, as characterised in his pursuit of Roman Polanski’s recent Oscar the Columbine High Charlton Heston. A tragic figure since his triumph appears to suggest that the School massacre in affliction with Alzheimer’s disease, he has American film industry is prepared which a group of pupils long been heavily involved with the pro-gun to accept the enfant terrible back pursued their fellow National Rifle Association. As such, Moore into its sweltering bosom. However, students through the sees him as a fair target to take the blame for if he continues to make films as school buildings, all the shootings, a viewpoint that seems to powerful, insightful and impressive shooting them have more foundation in some kind of personal outside of the studio system, then indiscriminately. distaste than in the facts. Generally though, what reason can he have for returning to those greatest talent here though, is behind the Earlier that day they had Moore seems to recognise the old adage that it who shunned him? camera. Polanski experienced first-hand the turned up as usual to the is people - not guns - that kill people; he notes treatment of the Jews in Poland as a child, and school bowling session, a similar level of gun ownership but much The Pianist is the true story of a Jewish pianist his film reflects admirably the brutality of the apparently unwilling to lower murder rate in neighbouring Canada. who lived through the Nazi occupation of regime while never succumbing to cheap miss this before killing Warsaw, charting his struggle for survival first sentimentalism. There are no heroes in this film, themselves and many This is no balanced debate but a satirical attack in the ghetto, and then on the run, as he flees just ordinary men and women facing of their peers. on modern America, more Brass Eye than for his life under threat of extermination. extraordinary situations. Panorama, and just as controversial. You’ll Ostensibly this is a film about a single man, This forms the focus of Michael Moore’s laugh, to the point of physical pain, but this is but Polanski’s subtle direction and disturbing The Pianist is an outstanding film made by an documentary exploring what he sees as a no comedy. Moore’s great triumph is that transient images make this, for the first hour at outstanding director about an outstanding time uniquely American obsession with gun through his humour he makes you hear and he least, the story of a people, united in fear and in history. It is at once deeply disturbing, ownership, and its consequences. The film makes you see; sooner or later he even forces death. Only as the numbers of Jews in Warsaw heartbreaking, and uplifting, and once again follows Moore as he travels the US asking and you to think. And after that you’ll realise it’s lessen dramatically and the Final Solution proves to an ambivalent world that there is no forming opinions (from Charlton Heston and really not very funny at all. begins, do we focus on the titular pianist, who horror but that history can show us worse. Marilyn Manson amongst others), and visiting becomes a symbol of hope for his brethren the sites of numerous shootings. Stuart Jarvis who have forgotten how to believe in God. Greg Taylor But this is no dry documentary. In a Adrian Brody delivers the performance scene that is an incredible as it is Wed 148 min hilarious, Moore goes to a bank to open Thu 120 min of his career (thus far, of course) as the UK/Fr/Ger/Neth/Pol Can/US/Ger 8 an account - so that he can claim the free 9 principled musician who must watch Oct 2003 Oct 2002 7·30pm 7·30pm

18 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 19 Director: ability have certainly ensured his meteoric rise Director: Martin Scorsese meticulously recreated at the famous Cinecita Starring: to fame - a far cry from his days in the TV series Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio studios in Rome - rebuilds New York in such a Colin Farrell Ballykissangel. Some are even touting him to Daniel Day-Lewis way as to genuinely create awe. Leonardo be the next James Bond... Cameron Diaz DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz may run the risk Gabriel Macht Jim Broadbent of seeming decidedly anachronistic (and You’d be forgiven for thinking that it would be

WEEK 2 anybody with an aversion to bad Irish accents

Trust. Betrayal. Deception. In the C.I.A. tough to find someone to work effectively America Was Born In The Streets would do well to prepare themselves before 3 WEEK nothing is what it seems alongside such exciting new talent, but the making the trip to L3), but Daniel Day-Lewis’s experienced Al Pacino is a real scene-stealer, his In 1846, Priest Vallon (Liam Neeson) of the performance is worth the price of admission Colin Farrell stars as James Clayton, an M.I.T on-screen presence heightened by the rough and Dead Rabbits immigrant gang in the New York alone. Effortlessly stealing every scene he is in Whiz-kid who refuses a big job offer in tough exterior of his character, Burke. His usual slum known as Five Points prepares to do battle - both the exaggerated and the subtle - his computing in order to accept the offer of style of forcefulness and anger works well for against the “natives” - the ‘true’ Americans in metamorphosis into Bill Cutting is astounding becoming a C.I.A agent from senior instructor the guise of a senior instructor, and it’s obvious the city, led by Bill ‘The Butcher’ Cutting in its removal from his off-screen persona, and and recruiter Walter Burke (Pacino). that he relishes these opportunities to have some (Daniel Day-Lewis) - and loses. Sixteen years is a mark of just how accomplished an actor he fun. later, Vallon’s son, Amsterdam (Leonardo is. Clayton finds himself taken to “The Farm”, a DiCaprio), is released rustic Central Intelligence Agency training The Recruit finds itself in the unfortunate from a reform school A labour of love for facility in the middle of nowhere. Here, he position of being in a market saturated with and sets out to exact director Martin Scorsese joins a group of other prospects, including the spy/agent films catering for all ages. Children revenge on the man - and unashamedly so - lovely Layla (Moynahan) and former Miami have Agent Cody Banks and the Spy Kids, who killed his father Gangs of New York is by cop, Zack (Macht). They are taught agent whilst comedy-lovers have the types of Austin by infiltrating Bill’s no means easy to watch skills through a series of lectures and tests, Powers, Charlie’s Angels, and Johnny English closest circle of and is as challenging as ranging from the psychological to the physical. to tickle their fancy. All this leaves The Recruit friends - though it is rewarding. This is a Throughout, Burke plays the role of mentor to facing the like of Ethan Hunt matters are motion picture which Clayton, giving him encouragement and (Mission:Impossible), Jack Ryan (The Sum Of complicated slightly was thirty years in the advice along the way, but what is he shaping All Fears), Jason Bourne (The Bourne Identity), when he meets making and is almost as him up to be? Xander Cage (xXx) and last but by no means pickpocket Jenny epic in its intentions and least, James Bond. With all these do-gooders, (Cameron Diaz), whose past threatens to thwart as violent in its execution as perhaps the very After his punishing training, Clayton is given a surely every possible threat to world peace has his plan. In addition, alongside the physical material from which it takes its inspiration. real mission - to help oust a mole within C.I.A. been eliminated by now? Nonetheless, it is a battles being fought in the city (culminating in Films with this amount of ambition and Headquarters. The plot continues where the really good and remarkably watchable film. the 1863 Civil War Draft Riots), Scorsese grandeur don’t often come out of Hollywood, training ends - twisting and turning between highlights the political battles of the day, so although the violence quotient will not be to what is real and not, and who is really on Alex Coe intertwining the personal and the political to everyone’s taste, Gangs of New York is well whose side. create a film that is part highbrow exposé and worth checking out. part brutal truth. Colin Farrell is a talented actor, and is Laura Watson certainly tinsel town’s favourite flavour at the While perhaps not as artistically beautiful as moment with this film coming shortly after his that of Raging Bull, the cinematography in successes with Minority Report and Gangs of New York Phone Booth (which is also being conveys the epic quality shown at WSC this term). His rugged Fri 115 min Sun Mon 167 min 10 USA of the story, and the set 12 13 US/Ger/It/UK/Neth good looks, on-screen charm and acting Oct 2003 design and backdrop - Oct Oct 2002 6·30pm 6·30pm 7·30pm 9·30pm 9·30pm

20 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 21 Directors: Kátia Lund Ned, a man of honour and principle who gets Fernando Meirelles dragged into the sorry spiral of violence that the Starring: Alexandre Rodrigues City offers its residents. And of course there’s Leandro Firmino da Hora the story of Rocket, a story of the hope of Phellipe Haagensen transcending one’s boundaries and living a good Douglas Silva life. And around these people, a whole world of Director: Joe Carnahan ferocious intensity by Ray Liotta, an other stories occurs – the legion of lives that Starring: Jason Patric uncompromising hard-boiled borderline Fight and you’ll never survive..... Run and make up the single story of the City of God. Ray Liotta psycho who may have had more to do with the you’ll never escape Multiple demons in one, decaying body. Dan Leis murder than he suggests. The gruesome twosome patrol the gloomy, dilapidated streets About every six months, a foreign-language Although this is a film that can without doubt Narc is a tough film, with tough scenes, tough of Detroit (this is a much grittier presentation film pops along that proves to the philistine stand up on its own, if you were looking for

acting, and tough direction. It’s a film about of the city than in the lacklustre 8 Mile), doling 3 WEEK masses that Hollywood is the centre of the comparisons then it mixes the precision pacing men, men who commit crimes, and the men who out their own brand of brutal justice in an creative universe. We’ve had Amelie from and gangster mentality of Goodfellas with the are committed to bringing them to justice. Narc attempt to get to the bottom of the mystery. France, and we’ve had Y Tu Mama Tambien blistering immediacy of Do The Right Thing is also a tender film, with emotional scenes and

WEEK 3 from Mexico and now we’ve got the mighty and the indie cool and structural imagination of a surprising focus on family connections and the Narc starts off with a dizzying chase scene Brazilian City of God, a film of astounding Pulp Fiction. None of these comparisons, effects of violence. It’s a film about women and filmed on handheld camera, resulting in the technical flair and emotional depth. however, do justice to what is one of the most about children, and about the men without shooting of an unarmed pregnant woman. And powerful and impressive films to be released in whom the family unit would be incomplete. it gets harsher as it goes on. This isn’t the easy- The titular city is a shantytown outside Rio, the UK for some time. It gives us an insight into Narc is, in my opinion, something not far short going world of The Bill, where endings are where the destitute and the criminally inclined a world that we never knew existed, and does so of a masterpiece, one of the most quietly happy and criminals brought to justice – this is are removed from the eye of the tourists. Of with a passionate, kinetic verve that makes it compelling, utterly convincing and thematically a world where the police are as dangerous as course, the place becomes a hive of scum and both deeply enjoyable and deeply disturbing. wide-ranging cop films to have been released in the criminals, confessions are gained with a villainy, and we are invited to observe the rise City of God is an absolute must see for anyone many a moon. gun, and little is as straight forward as it and fall of a number of individuals who live who claims that they love the cinema, and a appears. Aided by powerful turns from within the frantic framework of the City of masterpiece in the gangster film genre. Liotta and Patric, Narc is everything the God. flabby and hysterical Training Day wanted Greg Taylor to be, but couldn’t. Our narrator is Rocket, a young boy who grows watching the violence and crime that Narc is one of the most powerful police dramas you are ever likely to see, and one that was under-advertised by its wary distributor. Now, thankfully, you have a chance to see one of the best films of 2003 on a big screen very near you.

Greg Taylor

Jason Patric stars as a cop who is brought back from forced retirement and saddled with the permeates the environs. There’s the responsibility of trying to discover the story of L’il Ze, the child with the plans events leading up to the death of a and the bloodlust who grows up to run Wed 129 min Thu 105 min Bra/Fr/US 129 min respected colleague. Helping him is the US/Can 105 min the city. There’s the story of Knockout 15 16 Oct 2003 dead man’s ex-partner, played with Oct 2002 7·30pm 7·30pm

22 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 23 created by the events of September 11th, and Monty’s father owns a bar that was frequented by firemen lost during the tragedy - and while the film is often beautifully shot, it is at times terrifyingly brutal. Director: Brian De Palma Stone (Garcia) and accountant Oscar Wallace The performances are outstanding, and Lee’s Starring: Kevin Costner (Martin Smith). decision to dedicate significant amounts of Sean Connery screen time to the supporting characters is a Charles Martin Smith One of the most memorable scenes sees the testament to the work of the ensemble cast, who Andy Garcia group on the Canadian border waiting to arrest only serve to heighten the intensity of the film’s one of Capone’s men. They have one of the Director: Spike Lee main storyline. Norton is, as always, brilliantly villains in a log cabin and are trying to extract 3 WEEK Starring: convincing in his role, and Hoffman is as Al Capone. He ruled Chicago with absolute information from him. Mallone goes out of the Rosario Dawson elegant as ever, portraying Jacob with particular power. No one could touch him. No one could cabin, grabbing the body of an already dead sympathy. Rosario Dawson is simultaneously stop him. Until Eliot Ness and a small force of man, and threatening to shoot him if he won’t

WEEK 3 Barry Pepper strong and vulnerable, while Barry Pepper is men swore they’d bring him down. talk, so needless to say he shoots the guy, surprisingly effective, and the ubiquitous Brian having the desired effect. Can you change your whole life in a day? Cox lends an air of gravitas to a film that, given its cast and director, could have threatened to be This film looks spectacular in 70mm, Monty Brogan (Norton) is a drug dealer who nothing more than an achingly hip New York benefiting from the improved picture has finally been caught out by the authorities. travelogue. and sound quality, along with the He has one last day of freedom before he is to unforgettable score from Ennino begin a seven-year jail sentence, and he needs This is by no means an easy film to watch, and Morricone complementing the to make a choice. Should he go to jail as certain sequences - such as Monty’s verbal cinematography, and superb acting dictated by the courts, or should he seize his attack on every section of New York society and from the main character and supporting last day of freedom, and use it to make a new the final favour he asks of his friend Frank - are roles. life for himself? particularly harrowing in their own ways. But it is a brave, interesting, and ultimately rewarding Kirsty Stokes Helping him come to terms with his fate - as film. much as is possible - are his two childhood best friends, Frank (Barry Laura Watson Pepper) and Jacob (Philip Seymour Hoffman), his girlfriend Naturelle (Rosario Dawson), and his father (), all of whom are struggling just as much as Monty to This is a classic film, which won Sean Connery deal with the realities of a much-deserved Supporting actor Oscar. It is his situation. the tale of the eventual capture of Al Capone on the charge of tax evasion, by a group of men Director Spike Lee has headed by Eliot Ness (Costner): The crafted a film full of Untouchables. Connery plays Jim Mallone, an sorrow and loss that resonates old Irish world-weary cop who Ness particularly with real life events - cajoles into helping him catch and Fri 134 min Sat 119 min Frank, a financial trader, lives in an 17 USA imprison Capone. The other members of 18 USA apartment overlooking the wreckage Oct 2002 the group are newly qualified cop George Oct 1987 6·30pm 6·30pm 9·30pm

24 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 25 Director: Donald Petrie Starring: Kate Hudson Matthew McConaughey Kathryn Hahn Annie Parisse Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo protect himself, he often sits in a closed room One of them is lying. So is the other. Starring: Leonardo Sbaraglia with a hood over his face. He has a young man Eusebio Poncela named Federico (Poncela) as his accomplice; Kate Hudson plays Andie Anderson, a Mónica López who also has good luck, and searches for columnist for a women’s magazine who wants Antonio Dechent others who have his gift. When Sam steals his to break political stories, but is instead Max von Sydow luck, Federico spends seven years looking for compelled to report on make-up and shopping. someone to cultivate as an instrument of She is promised the chance to write about the All bets are on revenge. Some of his candidates are luckless, stories she cares about if only she can nail as their gruesome deaths attest. His saviour “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days” - an article Intacto believes that luck is a commodity that literally falls out of the sky: Tomas, a bank- about the things women do to alienate the men movie. They have an amazing chemistry and as can be given and received, won or lost, or sold. robbing fugitive who is the sole survivor of the they love and drive them crazy. To research they begin to really like each other, there are Most people have ordinary luck, some have aforementioned plane crash. 4 WEEK for her piece, she must find a guy and using some engagingly sweet and romantic scenes. very good or bad luck, and then there is a person ‘classic’ relationship faux pas, get him to dump Hudson twinkles as the delightful heroine of this like Tomas (Sbaraglia), who is the only survivor Intacto is ingenious in its construction and her in a mere 10 days. film - she is beautiful and yet impish, while of an aeroplane crash, beating the odds of 237

WEEK 4 keeps a certain distance between its story and McConaughey easily charms completely as the million to 1. popular entertainment. It’s a Hollywood idea, Her subject is Benjamin Barry handsome leading man, playing the kind of guy shot in the world of the art film. The same (McConaughey), an advertising executive that most women would love to date. concept could be remade into who, in an attempt to land a prestigious straightforward entertainment movie, and account at his firm, makes a bet (unknown to The fact that this movie cleaned up at the box- maybe it already has been. her) that he can make Andie fall in love with office proves its appeal - it succeeds where most him in 10 days. Will he be able to make Andie rom-coms fail, managing to be incredibly funny In fact the film has apparently been fall head over heels? Or will she be able to without being too cheesy, as well as being spine- snapped up for a stateside reinterpretation. scare him away? Ben tries to hold on to Andie tinglingly romantic. If you’re only going to Don’t wait for the cover version; this one while she does everything in her power to watch one this year, make offers transportation to a weird other annoy him. You will find yourself laughing sure that it is this one. world that will be almost impossible to out loud at some of the cringe-making things duplicate. she does to the poor guy. She is clingy and Julie Ngo moves way too fast. She invades his weekly When you see a film like this, you may poker game with his buddies, tricks him into learn something you wouldn’t have taking her to a Celine Dion concert and The film involves a man named Sam (von learned in an entertainment movie. Intacto amongst other highly amusing things, digitally Sydow), who survived the Holocaust and now may be adding the layer of style just for fun, superimposes their faces to make a family runs a casino at which wealthy patrons bet but somewhere within that style there’s a photo album, complete with fantasy children. against his luck, usually losing. So confident is thriller waiting to get out. It’s fair to say that in real life, most men would he in his luck that he will remove one bullet have run a mile as a result of Andie’s efforts from a chamber holding six and then bet that he Percival Tucker after the first day, but given the goofy set-up, will not die. His being alive speaks for itself Ben is unrealistically understanding. (think Fight Club meets Unbreakable).

Hudson and Sam believes that he will lose his luck if McConaughey are well Sun Mon Wed USA 133 min the wrong person looks him in the face at Spain 108 min cast as the leads in this 19 20 22 Oct Oct 2003 the wrong time, or takes his photo. To Oct 2001 6·30pm 6·30pm 7·30pm 9·30pm 9·30pm

26 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 27 fiancée, Vera (Driver) turns up, explains the invitation was simply a joke to spur him into finally marrying her and says “I’m not going back until you agree to come back with me.”

Oh dear. As Joanie says to her daffy husband, “Even you must have noticed that Anglo- attacking people for no reason (in a nice little American relations are reaching an all-time high homage to Mr Hitchcock), while elsewhere a up there in room 11.” The physical Colin and group of people randomly collapses in the Mandy are very much in love. Vera won’t take street dead – all they have in common is that Director: Jon Amiel no for an answer though, and there the trouble they all wear pacemakers. It takes the Starring: Hilary Swank starts. obligatory boffins little time to determine that Director: Mark Herman Aaron Eckhart very bad things are happening beneath the Starring: It’s the romantic comedy staple that the path of Stanley Tucci Earth’s surface – in fact, the Earth has stopped Minnie Driver true love will be interrupted by lies and spinning, and it has to be kick-started again Earth Has A Deadline Chad Faust misunderstandings. Sometimes you just want to before everyone dies. So a group of disparate

Heather Graham scream at the screen as the loving couple fail to individuals is brought together to tunnel 4 WEEK Disaster films are nearly always fun. Watching a communicate and the romantic perfection through the various strata of the planet and set selection of clichéd Hollywood stock characters British artist Colin Ware (Firth) has received a collapses. The plot settles into a fairly off explosions that will make the core rock and getting burned / drowned / crushed / pummelled wedding invite from his entertaining three-way roll once again. Of course they encounter

WEEK 4 to death is always a joy. Of course, the miracles fiancée inviting him to problem as the wonderfully numerous problems (usually fiery) along the of modern film technique have made the her marriage to another bitchy Vera attempts to way, and their number decreases as sacrifices pyrotechnic events even more important than man. Understandably bully Colin, and anyone else have to be made to ensure the salvation of the the characterisations, something that distraught, he runs she meets and is particularly world. particularly crippled Michael Bay’s away. Ware ends up in annoyed by the fact she extraordinarily brash Armageddon. Thankfully, Hope, attracted by the seems unable to have a The plot is, naturally enough, a veritable Jon Amiel’s exciting, suspenseful and flashy name of this tiny cigarette in peace; it’s a hokey-pokey, but this doesn’t detract from the epic manages to redress the balance, finding Vermont town. Staying running joke: “Sorry this is pure, unadulterated entertainment that this film impressive drama both in the visual splendour in a hotel run by the a non-smoking area.” brings. It starts off with a selection of arresting eccentric Joanie and her “What, America?”). set-pieces, then gives its characters room to husband, Fisher, he develop, before sending them hurtling into the suddenly finds himself There are no revelations unknown and letting loose the fantastic special on the receiving end of here, and the tone of the film effects. The phallic rocket penetrating the the affections of Mandy sits somewhere between Earth’s surface may provoke titters, and the (Graham), a local nurse. stock US romantic comedy human self-sacrifice may provoke sobs, while In a bizarre scene, she and the more wry UK the effects may well provoke awe – witness the gets drunk, takes off her equivalent, but it’s decimation of Rome – but whatever, it’s clothes and throws endearing and generally unlikely you’ll be disappointed by this herself at him. Suddenly gentle. wonderfully compelling, genuinely exciting they’re going out roller-coaster ride to The Core. together. Percival Tucker Greg Taylor Out of his lovesick of the effects and, most crucially, in the period, Colin hurls himself into relationships and idiosyncrasies of the drawing portraits of locals and characters. arranging an exhibition. It’s a Thu Fri UK/USA 92 min USA/UK 135 min seemingly idyllic lifestyle until his ex- 23 Across the world, many very bad things 24 Oct 2003 are happening to many people. Birds are Oct 2003 7·30pm 6·30pm 9·30pm

28 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 29 The villains are comically two- dimensional - we are given cursory motives for their evil, but basically they are just bad people. You can boo and hiss every time they appear if you like (although the rest of the audience won’t appreciate it – Ed). The good guys are easily identified too. Even when they seem to be involved with evil you know that it’s Director: just weaknesses in their character showing Starring: through, weaknesses that make them real Halle Berry enough to care about and involve you in the Ian McKellen story. Rebecca Romijn-Stamos Patrick Stewart

The time has come for those who are different to stand united

“X-Men 2 is an intellectual study into the competing doctrines of evolutionist and creationist views of human history”. Not bad for a comic book movie. The reviewer was, I WEEK 5 assume, having a laugh. The scriptwriters are also willing to kill. Not a X2 sees the return of the friendly (and not so positive attribute in the world in general, but in friendly) mutants from the first instalment, action cinema essential to keep you interested. once again facing persecution from the world’s When a character is faced with a life threatening human population. An evil government situation there is some real tension: while an scientist (aren’t they all?) initiates a mutant improbable escape is still the odds-on favourite, assassination attempt on the US president in a much more probable death is at least a the hope of provoking a crushing military possibility. campaign to wipe out the mutants once and for all. The chief assassin is a painted Alan Unusually, X-Men 2 is better than its prequel, Cumming; so yes, ok, it’s daft. with more laughs (Hugh Jackman’s facial expressions and one liners are truly great), a Two things set the X-Men films apart from more involving plot and better special effects other comic book franchises. One is good (well, they had a lot more money this time). acting (just take a look at the cast list). The Entertainment? X2. other is simply not taking itself too seriously. A film based on a comic is not going to be an Stuart Jarvis “intellectual study” and the X-Men franchise wisely doesn’t try. Instead it focuses on Sun Mon 133 min entertainment. 26 27 USA Oct Oct 2003 6·30pm 7·30pm 9·30pm

30 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 AAUTUMNUTUMN TTERMERM 20032003 FFILMILM SSEASONEASON

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 6·30PM & 9·30PM 7·30PM 7·30PM 7·30PM 7·30PM 6·30PM & 9·30PM 6·30PM WEEK

1 Ocean’s Eleven Coyote Ugly Stand By Me About Schmidt Maid in Manhattan

Bowling for Phone Booth The Pianist The Recruit 2 Columbine

3 Gangs of New York City of God Narc 25th Hour The Untouchables

4 How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days Intacto Hope Springs The Core

Priscilla, Queen of El Crimen del X2 Darkness Falls Shanghai Knights 5 the Desert Padre Amaro

6 Bruce Almighty Mostly Martha Antwone Fisher The AllNighter

Saturday Night Johnny English Kaante Secretary Anger Management 7 Fever

8 Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle Dark Water The Breakfast Club 2 Fast 2 Furious Alien

Legally Blonde 2: Terminator 3: Rise Russian Ark Identity 9 Red, White and Blonde of the Machines

Lord of the Rings: The Rules of Dreamcatcher 10 The Two Towers Attraction

www.accenture.com/decision-support Director: Stephan Elliott transvestite variety). Instead, we get to know Starring: Terence Stamp them as humans, for whom drag is a natural Hugo Weaving expression of who they are. The three central performances are all excellent, especially Terence Stamp as the world weary Bernadette. Finally, a comedy that will change the way you However, Anthony is the emotional centre of think, the way you feel, and most importantly... the film and it is his journey of self discovery; the way you dress as he learns to accept and love himself (and it's possibly the only chance you'll get to see Priscilla is the story of Anthony Belrose Agent Smith in a dress, unless the Wachowskis (Weaving), a drag performer in under have something very strange in store for The the name Mitzi Del Bra. One day, he gets a Matrix Revolutions). phone call from an old friend and lands a gig at

a large casino/nightclub in Alice Springs. He All in all it's one of the funniest and most 5 WEEK recruits fellow performers Adam Whitely successful Australian films of all time, well (Pearce), aka Felicia Jollygoodfellow, and worth coming to see on the big screen. Bernadette Bassenger (Stamp) a postoperative transsexual who recently lost her lover. They Percival Tucker decide to drive to their destination and Adam produces a bus, which he immediately christens 'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert'. In the tradition of all good road movies, the trip does not go exactly as planned with off road detours involving groups of Aborigines, a small town mechanic with a rather special mail-order bride, and a bunch of drunken miners, to name but a few.

Throughout the trip, the guys appear in wilder and wilder drag outfits, much to the consternation of the residents of the outback with whom they come in contact. By the time our heroes stand, as queens, on the edge of Kings Canyon, there's nothing to do but laugh with shear delight at each new eye popping costume.

The film avoids the trap of making the Tue 103 min trio freaks (as often happens in movies 28 Aus about gay men, especially the Oct 1994 7·30pm

WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 31 Director: Carlos Carrera Crime in no way suggests that any or all of its Director: Jonathon Liebesman Darkness Falls is the latest in a long line of Starring: Gael García Bernal priests are inherently evil - only human. I think Starring: Chaney Kley “teen-friendly” American horror flicks, there’s Sancho Gracia people might be getting worked up over seeing Emma Caulfield precious little in the way of blood and gore – Ana Claudia Talancón some of the other potentially blasphemous Lee Cormie this is more of a roller coaster than a blood Damián Alcázar images in Crime, like the crazy old lady feeding bath. her cat the body of Christ, or the mentally Evil Rises… ...lead us not into temptation.... retarded girl who carefully listens to the grunts Darkness Falls is a fun, fast moving and funky and groans of Amaro and Amelia defrocking When it comes to the crunch, the Tooth Fairy little horror film that makes for a superb Go on, admit it. When you see the title The each other in the next room. shouldn’t really be the scariest of creatures – a evening’s viewing, and is the perfect build-up Crime of Father Amaro, you automatically kindly little flying creature who exchanges to any Hallowe’en festivities you might have assume it's a film about a priest interfering This film is another chance to catch Bernal, shiny pennies for filthy little teeth. A tad on the planned. If you’re after a movie that will make with young boys, don't you? Not carjacking, whose first couple of films (Amores Perros and crazy side, certainly, but not scary. However, you jump, scream (just a little) and give you arson, or even trafficking. We first see the Y Tu Mamá También) turned out to be two of Darkness Falls attempts to attack our childish plenty of chills for your money, then this is the recently ordained Father Amaro (Bernal) as he Mexico's biggest hits ever, while his third preconceptions, and does so with enough half- perfect ticket. And it’s an absolute must for rides a filthy bus to his first priestly (Crime) finds him in his second Oscar- crazed vitality and bombastic pomposity to couples…

assignment in the tiny Mexican town of Los nominated feature. make it one of the most purely enjoyable horror 5 WEEK Reyes. It is immediately established that the films to have popped out of the birth canal of the Greg Taylor 24-year-old is a good guy when, after the bus Yes, some of the material might be shocking to American mainstream in some time. is hijacked and robbed, Amaro gives all of his the more religiously inclined, but we show this

WEEK 5 remaining pesos to a seatmate, who had film so you can make up your own minds about Many years ago, so we are told, Old Granny previously been talking about a lifelong dream it, and because it has a great story to tell. Tooth (or something like that) was burned to a of starting his own business. However, even frazzle by reactionary small-town folk who the most jaded man of the cloth would be Percival Tucker believed her to be responsible for some kiddie shocked upon arrival in Los Reyes. killing. Rightly miffed by the Joan of Arc treatment, she refused to rest in peace, and Amaro's retiring boss, Father Benito (Gracia), haunts the town of Darkness Falls, ensuring is not only helping drug dealers launder money death to all those who see her as she comes to in exchange for a healthy collection plate, he's collect teeth in the dead of night. So, in the also sleeping with a local restaurateur named present day, a race against time begins to Augustina (Angélica Aragón) and trying to prevent a batch of new murders as the Tooth blackmail another area padre (Alcázar) for Fairy takes her revenge upon the town that aiding guerilla fighters in their war against the destroyed her. powerful drug lords (all with the Bishop's blessing, mind you). Not to be outdone, Basically, then, Darkness Falls is a Amaro quickly develops feelings for amalgamation of ghost story and slasher film, as Augustina's 16-year-old daughter Amelia the Tooth Fairy takes her victims in the dark, (Talancón), who fantasizes about Jesus when spreading death and tartar everywhere. Wisely, she fingers herself in her bedroom. Oh, and Liebesman opts to keep his ghoul hidden (for Amelia might be Benito's daughter, too. the most part) in the shadows that permeate the film’s settings, bringing a While it's debatable whether or not the Wed 118 min sense of unease in the unknown that is Thud 91 min 29 Mex/Sp/Arg/Fr 30 USA/Aus Church is portrayed in a negative light, Oct 2002 often lacking in modern horror. And, as Oct 2003 7·30pm 7·30pm

32 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 33 Director: David Dobkin The script may be daft but, combined with the Director: Tom Shadyac Fine so far, but, as with most films these days, Starring: Jackie Chan casting, it works. The characters and actors Starring: there’s a side-line plot of love in the shape of Owen Wilson match so well it’s as if these were the roles that Bruce’s girlfriend, Grace (Aniston). Having Donnie Yen Chan and Wilson were born to perform. Your supported Bruce as he tried to make it to the Aidan Gillen brain may tell you that events on screen are Steven Carrell top in his career, she finally snaps when she beyond the ludicrous, but the leads look so at realises there’s no future for the two of them. A Royal Kick In The Arse home that it’s almost possible to believe that He’s Got The Power Bruce is left with a dilemma which he cannot Owen Wilson does indeed spend his spare time solve with God’s powers, as The history of Jack the Ripper, the naming of dangling Jackie Chan from oversized clock Humorous news he cannot interfere with Sherlock Holmes, a beginner’s guide to pillow faces. reporter Bruce Nolan free-will, and so Bruce has fighting with a group of prostitutes: just a few (Carrey) is chasing the to do some soul-searching of the things this film has to offer. anchorman job at his to get the love of his life local television station back. Shanghai Knights sees the reunion of Roy in small-town Buffalo, O’Bannon (Wilson) and Chon Wang (Chan) Colorado. But when Morgan Freeman, in a following on from their successful more and more things genius piece of casting as collaboration in the original Shanghai Noon. in his life don’t seem to God, is excellent, showing They are reunited when Chon’s father, keeper go his selfish way, he off his ability with some of the seal of the Emperor of China, is begins to suspect God excellent comic timing and WEEK 5 murdered, resulting in their chasing the culprit has something against exchanges with Carrey’s EK6 WEEK as he flees to England. The script probably him and believes he Nolan. Jennifer Aniston described the rest of the plot simply as ‘divers can do better. So, continues to impress from alarums’. when God decides to her performance in The take a vacation, Bruce Good Girl, showing real And diverse they certainly are. This is, after is left in charge. emotion at being left behind all, a Jackie Chan film so it’s no great surprise Shanghai Knights is an all action comedy with by Bruce as he finds fame when his path through London seems to be fantastically overblown choreographed fight Although apprehensive and his anchorman job. But crossed at every turn with all manner of scenes, but also moments of great subtlety. It’s at first, Bruce soon this film is really about Jim unexpected dangers leading to his trademark not ground breaking, but who cares? If you’ve starts to relish his Carrey, who makes a ludicrous but highly entertaining fight scenes. seen Jackie Chan or Owen Wilson in their powers, using them for his own gain. Having welcome return to what he does best in this comedy roles before then you’ve really just lost the anchorman post to his rival Evan Baxter film - playing the goofy madcap. His energetic And so on to Owen Wilson. A quick look at his wasted your time reading this review: you know (Carrell), Bruce ensures through the foul use of performances have not weakened over the CV shows a certain flair for playing characters exactly what the film’s going to be like and you his new powers that he is soon the king of years, and can still raise a laugh. B.E.A.utiful! that are just a little eccentric, especially in his know it’s going to be good. reporting. As Bruce is now able to make the numerous comedy roles. But while Jackie news, he develops an uncanny knack of being at Alex Coe Chan’s humour is all action, Wilson’s Al Ellis the right place at the right time, thus ensuring he possesses a more subtle tone and it is his gets exclusive coverage. Bruce finds himself skilful use of irony, both visually and verbally, rising to fame and ultimately lands the post of that complements Chan so effectively studio anchorman at the and makes the Shanghai series such an expense of Baxter, albeit Fri 114 min Sun Mon 101 min enthralling place to visit. 31 US/UK/Cz with a little persuasion. 2 3 USA Oct 2003 Nov Nov 2003 6·30pm 6·30pm 7·30pm 9·30pm 9·30pm

34 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 35 Director: Alfonso Arau chef and a little girl. To deal with these threats, Starring: Marco Leonardi Martha has to bend a little and focus on Director: more about his past. You also want him to sort Lumi Cavazos something more personal than the food she is Starring: Derek Luke himself out but there is always the sense that Regina Torné used to. Malcolm David Kelley he will do something that will put his future in Mario Iván Martínez Cory Hodges jeopardy. Besides finding Antwone's roots, the This film carries the label of romantic comedy, Denzel Washington film shows him coping with his girlfriend, and A feast for the senses! and why not? It has some romance, and fine in-turn his therapy also helps Davenport come comedy. The comedy mostly originates from Fight fear. Face truth. Embrace life. to terms with his own strained marital Distributors must hate getting films like Martha's subtle brutality with people. That poor relationship. Mostly Martha. They can't just say "This is therapist. Those poor customers. The same edge Denzel Washington's directorial debut starts really good, you should watch it." They have powers the tragedy, where Martha pushes away with young Navy man Antwone Fisher (Luke) For a film about psychiatric and emotional to sell it somehow. If you take Leon and turn intimacy through her awkwardness in her awaking from a strange dream. The hectic matters there is, thankfully, no psychobabble. him into a neurotic chef, you're getting close. personal life. activity of the sailors washing and joking is in The only time any theory is put forward is The truth is, this film hops out sharp contrast to his dream of being a child in when Antwone reads a book, given to him by of any pigeon hole you might the countryside surrounded by his family. One Davenport, that says that black people can force it into. Best to just sit back of the men makes a remark to Antwone and they often be abusive to each other because they are and enjoy Mostly Martha for its get into a fight. As punishment Antwone is copying the master-slave relationship of the unique spark of cinematic restricted to his ship and ordered to see a Navy old plantation days. Although this helps warmth. psychiatrist. explain why Antwone's foster mother tortured him and called him 'nigger' he does not forgive EK6 WEEK The story is firmly centred on At first Antwone refuses to cooperate with Dr her. Martha. She shouldn't deserve Davenport the psychiatrist (Washington), but he our warm regards, this joyless does gradually open-up to him. Through the For a film shot mainly indoors with lots of workaholic who rules her guidance of the psychiatrist the film movingly WEEK 6 dialogue it never gets stagey or ponderous. kitchen with a thin temper and shows Antwone recalling the murder of his Wahington as actor and director believes in an iron will. Those who annoy father, his abandonment by his mother, and the this story and uses all his skills to make us feel her are likely to have their food abusive treatment at his foster home. The every bump in Antwone's journey of self- dumped in their laps rather than worrying side-effect of this is that Antwone discovery. If you missed this one at the recooked. She is focused, brilliant, and Mostly Martha is sophisticated without being starts to regard the Davenport and his wife as cinema, it's the perfect opportunity to catch up obsessive about food. highbrow. It rewards the effort you put into surrogate parents. Davenport confronts him on one of the most moving stories of the year. understanding the characters and represents about this and tells him that the only way he can The owner of the restaurant makes her gourmet cinema. really resolve all his pent-up fear and hatred is Percival Tucker attending therapy a condition of continued to find his mother. employment. She dutifully attends sessions, Bon appetit! where she prepares meals for her therapist. Through the help of his girlfriend he does When he asks why she is in therapy, she Percival Tucker eventually find himself surrounded by his professes ignorance and discusses the finer family in a fashion similar to the opening dream. points of gourmet cooking. This 'dream' framework is odd considering this film is based on a true story. However, Martha's sense of order is about to be the flashbacks recounted by Antwone Wed Thu disrupted. Two unlikely newcomers 106 min interweave neatly with the present-day 119 min 5 It/Ger/Aut/Swi 6 USA enter the temple of her kitchen: another Nov 2001 events and you quickly want to know Nov 2002 7·30pm 7·30pm

36 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 37 EK6 WEEK WEEK 6

Mystery Film Fri 7 What will it be? Nov doors 8pm

38 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 39 Director: Peter Howitt Miller is good as side-kick Bough, but his role Director: Sanjay Gupta made his breakthrough for both script and Starring: Rowan Atkinson has been relegated since the adverts. Where he Starring: Amitabh Bachchan direction. However, being inspired is not a Ben Miller used to save Atkinson's character from various Sanjay Dutt crime. Tarantino himself was inspired by a Natalie Imbruglia sticky situations, he now has to play second Sunil Shetty film out of, and about, Hong Kong. Unlike John Malkovich fiddle as Johnny English develops some sort of Mahesh Manjrekar Reservoir Dogs, there is that inevitable ability to save the day. component of a Hindi film: songs. Just when He Knows No Fear. He Knows No Danger. He 6 perfect strangers, 1 perfect crime. Now, all the planning has been completed and tension is Knows Nothing. And what would a secret agent film be without they have to fear is each other... beginning to build, the six break into a musical a leading-female love interest? James Bond has number. At first it seems odd that the "The name's English. Johnny English". OK, recently had the kind of Denise Richards and Six men, all Indians, find themselves at the characters should do this, but the songs tend to so it doesn't quite have the same ring as it does Halle Berry, Austin Powers had Elizabeth receiving end of a phenomenon that applies to move the storyline along in a different way to for the famous, suave and sophisticated secret Hurley, Heather Graham and Beyonce Knowles. police forces anywhere in the world. Whenever the usual Hollywood fare we are used to agent James Bond, but then Johnny English is Johnny English gets Natalie Imbruglia, who something goes wrong, the police tend to home seeing. not that kind of secret agent. leaves a lot to be desired. Instead of bringing a in on people with past records of related crime - tongue-in-cheek sauciness to her role, the the concept that perhaps someone who once For those of you not used to the Bollywood When all of MI7's agents are accidentally songstress attempts a display of serious acting. committed a crime may be trying to go straight genre, Kaante could be seen as a good killed off, Johnny English (Atkinson) is is alien to police mentality. crossover picture - neither being totally ordered to recover the stolen crown jewels Bollywood nor totally Hollywood - a good from evil egomaniac Pascal Sauvage From this predicament - and the knowledge that introduction to mainstream Indian cinema. (Malkovich with a thick French accent), who they can never lead straight lives - comes one is forcing his way to becoming king. final, desperate plan. Pull off one gigantic heist, Percival Tucker Unfortunately, everything English touches they think, make loads of money, and use it to goes pear-shaped - much to the bemusement of change the rest of their lives. They identify the long-suffering assistant Bough (Miller). target - the Service Bank, where the LA police

bank and which, by virtue of the fact that police 7 WEEK Armed with a highly-customised car, the themselves are customers, is less well guarded ultimate in secret intelligence weapons and than others. I mean, who would want to stir a gadgetry, and aided in their mission by fellow hornet's nest by stealing from the cops

WEEK 7 spy Lorna Campbell (Imbruglia), the trio set themselves, right? out to stop Sauvage's dastardly plan. While never quite as funny as it thinks it is, So they plan and carry out the heist - and Rubber-faced Rowan Atkinson does an Johnny English still contains a good number of without warning, their plot falls apart. Six men excellent job reprising his role of the bumbling well-worked comic set-pieces and is worth with one common characteristic, that they can fool from the hugely successful credit card seeing. never bring themselves to trust someone, realise adverts for this feature-length caper. He turns that one of them is a traitor, an informant. Who? out a steady performance, relying on his Alex Coe Why? And what do the other five do about it? personal brand of physical slapstick and That is as much of the story of Kaante as can be incompetency to generate laughs. This is what given here without spoiling it for those of you he does best, as seen by coming to see it. the success of his TV Sun Mon 87 min Wed 151 min and film alter-ego, Mr 9 10 UK The film is inspired by Reservoir Dogs, 12 India Bean. Nov Nov 2003 the edgy thriller with which Tarantino Nov 2002 6·30pm 7·30pm 7·30pm 9·30pm

40 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 41 Director: Steven Shainberg safe in. To this end, she starts to see Peter Director: Peter Segal It’s him again!” actor du jour, John C. Reilly, Starring: James Spader (Davies), and Grey realises that he may soon Starring: pops up for a glorious, albeit all too brief Maggie Gyllenhaal lose his agreeable secretary... Jack Nicholson moment. If that wasn’t enough, the celeb- Jeremy Davies Marisa Tomei spotting continues with an appearance by Casting for this Sundance Festival winner is Luis Guzmán and an uncredited cameo Assume The Position excellent - James Spader and Maggie from Heather Graham, both of which add to Gyllenhaal both play their characters with Feel The Love the madcap fun. Domination, masocism and sado-masochism extreme conviction, making you really believe are the topics being tackled in this quirky indie in them. Spader has already Dave Buznik (Sandler) is stuck in a sex drama based on a short story carved out a niche for himself, job where he is completely by Mary Gaitskill and starring acting in quirky sex films, whilst unappreciated. His life seems to be Maggie Gyllenhaal as Lee newcomer Gyllenhaal oozes getting him down, and he’s not doing Holloway, a self-harming alumnus appeal and impresses in a role anything to stop it. After a thoroughly of a psychiatric institution. Upon which could quite easily have confusing bout of air rage, Dave is her release, she returns to her become secondary to Spader’s ordered by a judge to take part in one neurotic family, whiles away the Grey, but she is instead forceful of Buddy Rydell’s (Nicholson) anger days in the pool and lovingly looks and establishes herself as a management classes. But after taking at her instruments of pain. necessary element in the film. one look at Dave, and after yet more “anger” issues raise more problems, All of this changes when she takes Don’t come to see this film Buddy decides that one session is typing lessons and finds herself a expecting laughs-a-plenty - it’s nowhere near enough, and advises job as a secretary for an eccentric dark, quirky, twisted and can be Dave to subject himself to a more intensive All in all, Anger Management might not be the lawyer, Edward Grey (Spader). disturbing at times, but all in a form of treatment. And so, Buddy invites most intellectual of films you’ll see this term, Whilst Holloway is submissive good way. Steven Shainberg himself to move into Dave’s apartment, and you may very well spot the ending a mile and lacks self-esteem, Grey is dominant, extracts humour by closely observing the intruding on both Dave’s professional life, and off, but a number of set pieces and Nicholson’s 7 WEEK obsessive and a perfectionist. So, when behaviours and interactions of the two main his relationship with his girlfriend, Linda quality ensure that the film is fun, frothy, and Holloway falls short of his standards, Grey characters, allowing the viewer to become part (Tomei). The question is, does Buddy’s full of some truly funny moments. punishes her. Their relationship blooms, with of their world. If you liked films such as In The unorthodox style of treatment have a point, or is WEEK 7 Grey discovering Holloway’s self-harm and Company Of Men and Happiness, you will love the man just terrifying? Laura Watson thus devising a range of bizarre games, this exploration of office sexual politics. situations and role-plays so that she need never Essentially, Anger Management is the ultimate harm herself again. Soon, their two From the moment you see the permanent sign showcase for both Jack Nicholson and Adam contrasting personalities become dependent on for a secretary outside Grey’s office, you know Sandler, each of whom seems to delight in the each other, just like their roles as lawyer and you’re heading into a world where something company of the other, and each of whom is secretary. isn’t quite right, but this film, somehow, is just given ample screen time to display their talents. right. Sandler does what he does fairly well, but is Holloway craves attention and turns to ultimately overwhelmed by Nicholson, who deliberately making typing mistakes so that Alex Coe effectively gives a comic acting master class. she may be punished, but when Grey The supporting cast is outstanding, starts to lose interest, she starts to plot particularly Luis Guzmán and John Thu 111 min Fri 105 min her way back into the way of office life 13 USA Turturro as two of Buddy’s anger 14 USA she had become accustomed to and felt Nov 2002 management patients, and “Ooh look! Nov 2003 7·30pm 6·30pm 9·30pm

42 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 43 Director: McG actually pretty good. Put your brain on hold, Starring: Cameron Diaz because this is non-stop in the truest sense of Lucy Liu the word. McG sometimes seems to be Director: John Badham The movie is essentially about dead ends, and directing a music video, so tight is the Starring: John Travolta whether or not you can turn around and escape choreography, music and editing. A disc Karen Lynn Gorney them. John Travolta’s Tony Manero is the containing the identities of people on the Barry Miller picture of a loser, still living with his parents This Season, The Angels Are Back witness-protection scheme has been stolen and and working in a paint store. The end of the film its contents are being used for a murder spree, Where Do You Go When The Record Is Over... offers some hope for him - maybe - but for some The first time you see the three leads together in so the Angels are brought in to save the day. of the other characters, things don’t work out so this film, they are moving Natalie (Diaz) into They cross paths with Demi Moore, as a Start at the beginning: that shot of Tony’s feet, well. Take, for example, the surprisingly her new house. They are in the living room. former Angel gone bad, and all kinds of walking down a Brooklyn street in a poignant subplot about Bobby C and his Suddenly, they snap into line and start dancing chases, rooftop battles and warehouse supremely confident, super-cool strut while pregnant girlfriend. Most of the time he’s on to MC Hammer’s ‘U Can’t Touch This’. This confrontations ensue. the Bee Gees squeak away over a can’t-help- screen he’s asking for advice, but nobody is pretty much sums up the angle the film takes: but-dance disco backing. The opening might listening. Or Tony’s traditionally dysfunctional The film doesn’t pretend well sum up the movie for most people. Most family, with his unemployed father and to take itself seriously, and people who haven’t seen the whole film, that permanently harassed mother. the comedy is almost as is. important as the action. Despite the downbeat setting, there’s a lot of is sadly Saturday Night Fever is always grossly mis- humour too. Best is Tony’s vanity, his hurt, missed, but the remembered, locked into soft-focus, rose- indignant yelp of “He hit my hair! Ya know, I replacement Bosley tinted parentally sanctioned nostalgia. Anyone spend a lot of time on my hair, and then ya hit (Bernie Mac) is a perfect who claims to have been there (done that, it...” And, of course, there are the dance substitute, and there are thought the t-shirt wasn’t tacky enough) sequences - fantastical, almost dreamlike, great turns from John probably wasn’t, and would like to deny that visions of Tony, less cheesy and far cooler than Cleese, Matt Le Blanc, there was anything half as dangerous as a you might imagine. In a way, they stand for the Luke Wilson, Carrie (disco) fever. Disco combined everything non- whole film: a moment of escapism from the real Fisher, Pink and even white, and therefore everything most world. Bruce Willis in an WEEK 7 uncredited cameo. threatening - it developed out of the ends of 8 WEEK Motown and soul, becoming popular in New Katherine Shaw York’s gay clubs before crossing over to the Apply here for an evening mainstream. Thus, Saturday Night Fever is not the three girls are on-screen for about 90% of of simple fun, a damned good soundtrack and a nice, sweet movie about a guy who likes to the time, and they dance, fight, flirt, pose and one of those rare films where everyone dance and who falls in love with a nice girl get through (and out of) a frankly scary amount involved looks like they’re really enjoying because she’s a good dancer too. Instead, it’s of costumes. If you are averse to seeing a lot of themselves. As will you. an edgy, black movie about a vain, shallow Mlles. Diaz, Liu and Barrymore, this might not guy whose life is going nowhere who realises be for you. Pete Kirwan that there might be more to relationships than ten minutes in the back seat of a car. Luckily, for those willing There is swearing, there is violence, and to put up with their Sat 118 min Sun Mon 105 min there are drugs. 15 USA cavorting (put down your 16 17 USA Nov 1977 FHMs, gents), the film is Nov Nov 2003 6·30pm 6·30pm 7·30pm 9·30pm

44 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 45 Director: John Hughes would do if he ever got a bad grade. Claire Starring: Emilio Estevez (Ringwald) had problems with her parents, Paul Gleason they're thinking of divorcing, and Allison's Anthony Michael Hall (Sheedy) reason for being there is unique. Director: Hideo Nakata details emerge, and the presence that haunts the Judd Nelson She's a lonely person, one of those who spend Starring: Hitomi Karolin building begins to take a very keen interest in Molly Ringwald their break time alone without talking to Rio Kanno Yoshimi and her daughter. Ally Sheedy anyone. Mirei Oguchi As with Ring, the fear that permeates Dark They only met once, but it changed their lives They were very different kinds of people, and Hideo Nakata is at it Water is, for the most part, imbued forever. they know it. Andy and Claire were part of the again, doing what he does in the unsettling ambience and 'cool' group, but Brian is a geek, so they won't best -scaring the bejeezus vague feeling of oppressive dread Seeing this film so many years after it was made even say hello to him on a normal school day. out of people with his throughout. Nakata is a master of doesn't detract from the social message it has. It But this day becomes really long and boring finely crafted, genuinely unsettling his audience while makes you wonder what happened to the 80s (unlike the film!), so each one starts talking terrifying horror movies. keeping his cards close to his chest. Brat Pack who star in so many of these John about their own problems while the others First he gave us the Of course, he also delights in Hughes films, though… listen, and they end up being friends. phenomenon that was the paying off his viewers with one hell Ring cycle, and now he’s of a final shock, and in Dark Water Five pupils get in trouble and are made to attend Every single member of the rather small cast is given us Dark Water, he delivers admirably. You a Saturday detention. They all go, and the amazing. The story can be quite shocking for another exploration of the remember the ghost in the lift in the teacher (Gleason) tells them to write an essay some people because you can identify with the familiar themes of loss, Eye? Well trust me; you ain’t seen about what they did to get there. Each of them characters. It's also quite realistic about how death, sacrifice, the plight nothing yet… already has personal problems and things to deal the different kinds of teenagers treat each of the abandoned child. with. other. And the essay they have to write is very Oh yes, and don’t forget In this age of substandard revealing, Michael describing the ghost. And the scenes Hollywood tripe like The Haunting them all as "an athlete, a of pant-wetting horror and Ghost Ship, it’s an absolute criminal, a basket case, a brain that punctuate this eerie tale. This isn’t one for pleasure to still be able to go to the cinema and and a princess". the weak of heart… be scared witless. And the fact that Nakata has the skill and compassion to add moving subtext I can heartily recommend this Yoshimi is a newly single mother, whose first to his terror film is testament to the man’s film to anyone who wants to 8 WEEK step into the world is to set herself up in an position as one of the foremost international recapture lost youth, and to apartment with her cute little daughter, in an purveyors of horror cinema. Dark Water is a watch a cinematic classic up attempt to rebuild her life. But all is most superlative ghost story, an outstanding character

WEEK 8 on the big screen where it certainly not well within the ramshackle, study, and one of the best films to have been belongs. decaying tenement block. There’s the fleeting released this year. A must see. Andrew (Estevez) is in the school's wrestling visions caught in the elevator security camera, team and his dad wants him to be the best. John Percival Tucker and the red bag that keeps popping up in Greg Taylor Bender (Nelson) is the kind of guy who doesn't unusual places. And there’s the matter of the give a shit about anything; he always gets in perpetually leaking ceiling, and exactly trouble for disrespecting the teachers. where the water is coming from, given Brian Johnson (Hall) is the class nerd Wed 101 min Thu 97 min that the room above is both deserted 19 Can who always gets the best grade in all of 20 USA and dry as a bone. Slowly the terrifying Nov 2001 his classes, and doesn't know what he Nov 1985 7·30pm 7·30pm

46 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 47 Director: Starring: Tom Skerritt Director: John Singleton cars and frenetic action sequences is 2 much for Sigourney Weaver Starring: Paul Walker people 2 avoid. And there are certainly plenty of Veronica Cartwright Tyrese both in this amusing caper movie - the opening Harry Dean Stanton drag race through the streets of Miami has more John Hurt camera-shaking, colourful, illegal thrills than a 2 Cool dozen Tomb Raiders. In space no one can hear you scream

One of the first sequels out of the pits in 2003's As the all time classic Sci-Fi horror movie, feelings of fear and helplessness beautifully. ridiculous summer of sequels, not much was Alien makes a long overdue return to Warwick. The movie is made by its moments: Ripley expected of this sequel 2 the 2001 sleeper hit Flight Lieutenant Ripley fights it out alone in risking everything to save the ship’s cat to which, deprived of its Diesel power, looked set the dark with one of the ugliest and meanest name just one. 2 crash and burn. Miraculously, however, 2 monsters ever to hit the big screen, in one of the Fast 2 Furious has exactly the right amount of most chilling suspense thrillers of all time. Alien is a movie by which all others in the overblown racing action, scantily clad ladies genre are judged - and as yet I don’t reckon and hip-hop street cred 2 make it a ride well The story: a battered commercial starship any have even come close. You have no excuse worth taking. Although hardly a thinking faraway in space and time on its way back to to miss this. man's , it has enough bravado and Earth. Seven tired astronauts, deep in kinetic action 2 warrant a viewing, especially hypersleep waiting to be woken as they Alex Craig if you appreciate the dizzying spectacles of approach their destination. The sleepers are such classics as Top Gun or Point Break. reluctantly aroused to answer a distress call - Sceptical though you may be, it's worth giving 2 and begin a horrific adventure their worst Paul Walker is back as disgraced ex-LAPD Fast 2 Furious a test drive, although the cliché of nightmares cannot even approach. For (as I’m officer Brian O'Connor, who is brought back turning your brain off and enjoying the sure all will know by now) they become the from banishment 2 work undercover in experience was perhaps never more pertinent. prey of an Alien whose sole purpose for attempting 2 bring the obligatory smarmy, big- But if you fancy a film that's exciting, funny and existence is to kill, and we follow their wig crime boss 2 order. As his driving partner, more than a little over-the-top, then you could desperate attempts to combat the beast and he chooses his childhood buddy Roman do a lot worse than coming 2 see this. return to Earth. Pearce, who is still holding a grudge over a bust that cost him three years in jail. Soon they Greg Taylor As usual Ridley Scott produces a film that just are bantering, fighting, race driving and oozes tension, atmosphere, and class. You 8 WEEK generally causing havoc all over Miami as the become hooked right from the haunting and Bad Guy (Cole Hauser - they lost one Pitch sinister title sequence, all the way through to the end! Even now, 24 years since its first release, WEEK 8 Black alumnus, so they brought in another) sets them tasks which may be the death of Alien fails to appear dated, the effects and sets them. effortlessly transporting you far into the future and the lives of the crew of the Nostromo. 2 Fast 2 Furious is not going 2 win any awards for director John Singleton (Boyz In The One can hardly write an Alien review without Hood) but he will be pleased to know mentioning Ripley (Weaver). She takes that his film comfortably outperformed on a role normally labelled –‘Men Only’ Fri 107 min Sat 146 min both the original film and XXX at the 21 US/Ger and produces an outstanding 22 UK box-office, proving that the lure of fast Nov 2003 performance. Weaver portrays Ripley’s Nov 1979 6·30pm 6·30pm 9·30pm

48 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 49 Director: Charles Herman-Wurmfield Starring: Reese Witherspoon Sally Field Regina King Jennifer Coolidge

Bigger. Bolder. Blonder. Director: Alexander Sokurov dynasty to the desperation of World War Two Starring: Sergei Dontsov to the culturally aware moment of the present The first Legally Blonde was a surprise smash. Mariya Kuznetsova day. As they move through the building, they Despite looking like it was going to be the Maksim Sergeyev encounter various individuals, from Tsars to stupidest film since The Wedding Planner coffin makers to art students, each of whom (shudder), it turned out to be a highly amusing Russia. Home of vodka, bears, snowy becomes a vital piece in an unending Russian feel-good movie, with satire to keep the cynics wastelands and Bond villains, right? Wrong, jigsaw. As the past thrusts ceaselessly into the happy and bubblegum to cheer up all us sappy according to director Alexander Sokurov, the present, the narrator, and through him the souls who just wanted to go “aaaaah”. director of the haunting and utterly magnificent viewer, begins to comprehend the awesome Russian Ark. Taking the awe-inspiring presence, and power, of history. So, a sequel. Our Elle (Witherspoon), having Hermitage Museum as his base (the Russian graduated with flying colours from law school, equivalent of the Louvre, but even more One of the most important things (and there is a working lawyer, albeit one with a real impressive) he interweaves over three hundred are many) about Russian Ark, is that it was sense of what the most stylish lawyers are years of Russian history with alacrity and a filmed in one continuous take. No sneaky wearing this season! She looks like a blonde staggering depth of vision that leaves the viewer Hitchcock-like breaks – it’s all one shot, which airhead with no clue of how the world works, is an incredible achievement considering the but so far her simple, honest methods have amount of work and rehearsal that must have worked well and earned her a lot of respect. gone into getting it exactly right. The camera snakes through the halls, moving on an almost However, while trying to track down her dog’s sorority gals and the ‘revelations’ about her ethereal plane, adding to the elegance of the real mother (don’t ask), she discovers the dog’s sexuality! scenery and people with a respectful, horrors of animal testing in cosmetic inquisitive and melancholy personality of its companies (spot the social issue for the day), Everyone needs a bit of saccharine, and anyone own. As a result, there is nothing in the film and so determines to change American law to who enjoyed the first film is bound to love this that is superfluous – from the meditations on make testing illegal and have her dog’s mum one as well. Just don’t go and watch it with a art, religion and history to the images of released from the lab. She heads to Congress politics student. splendid obligation and sumptuous partying. with her new bill (pink, with a touch of glitter) Everything here matters, everything in this and begins her campaign. Pete Kirwan film has a bearing on the Russia that stands breathless. And, in his exploration of the now in the 21st Century, and Russian Ark is a It’s a fun hour and a half, with plenty of jokes Russian zeitgeist, Sokurov uncovers a living, simply essential movie to see. Heart, brains at the expense of ‘Capital Barbie’ as Elle turns breathing past of heart-breaking decadence and and spectacle are a combination not often up to work wearing pink and introduces a destructive desires that may well change your successfully realised on film. Russian Ark has snaps box into an office full of starchy clichéd ideas of Russia and its people. them in spades… 9 WEEK lawyers. Watching her naïve niceness rubbing off on the serious politicians of Washington is Two accidental time travellers, the unseen Greg Taylor particularly funny, and Witherspoon has so narrator and the opinionated, garrulous Sergei

WEEK 9 much charm that it’s impossible not to root for Dreiden, find themselves wandering through the her. Some moments are halls of the lavish Hermitage museum, priceless too, being endlessly transported through time particularly the invasion Sun Mon Wed USA 95 min as they continue from room to room – Rus/Ger 99 min of the capital by Elle’s 23 24 from the great balls of the Romanov 26 Nov Nov 2003 Nov 2002 6·30pm 7·30pm 7·30pm 9·30pm

50 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 51 Director: James Mangold and Lou (William Lee Scott), who give him a Director: Joel Schumacher T3 is the first of the franchise not to be helmed Starring: John Cusack ride. Also affected by the flood is cop Rhodes Starring: Arnold Schwarzzeneger by the great , and the film is Ray Liotta (Liotta), who is transfering prisoner Maine Nick Stahl noticeably different from its predecessors. The Amanda Peet (Jake Busey)... Clare Danes mood is much lighter, with in-jokes for the John Hawkes Kristanna Loken fans (check out Arnie’s first set of shades!) and And so it comes to pass that on one dark and big action scenes for the adrenaline junkies The secret lies within stormy night in Nevada, a group of strangers The Machines Will Rise (the crane, coooool). The effects and find themselves seeking refuge at a run-down explosions are everything you’d expect from a Identity opens with a nod to Quentin motel, staffed by the weird manager Larry So, Arnie’s running for Governor of California, franchise that has always pushed technology to Tarantino’s style in Pulp Fiction, with each of (Hawkes). No sooner has everyone has been evidently hoping to work good deeds and be its limits. There are even some more touching the main characters’ situations played out in a allocated a room, and they try to settle in for the remembered as something more than a leather- moments, particularly the T-101’s inner battle criss-cross fashion. But this soon all fades night, than one-by-one, the guests die... clad, firearm wielding, ass-kicking, part-metal when the T-X reprograms him to kill Connor. away into a thrilling whodunit horror murder killing machine. Good luck to him, because to Arnie may have a few more wrinkles, but you mystery. Cusack and Liotta do well to shine from a most of us he will always be The Terminator. soon stop caring as soon as you see his quality ensemble cast. Everybody gives their response to “Talk to the hand”! During a storm, a family of three is stopped by character a story that is not only believable, but Terminator 3 sees everyone’s favourite T-101 a burst tyre caused by a stray stiletto which also enough to make you suspect that they once more being sent back in time to protect the You’re not going to come and see this to blew out of the luggage of a hooker, Paris carried out the murders. Add to this the future leader of the human resistance, John appreciate the art, the high (Peet), on her way to Florida to start a new life. claustrophobic space of a creepy motel dialogue or the moral message. surrounded by storm and flood, and a manager You’re seeing it for big guns, creepier than Norman Bates from Psycho, and non-stop action and possibly the you know you’re going to be in for a thrilling last chance to see journey! Schwarzzeneger in the role that made him. And the 9·30 Alex Coe screening? Oh, you’ll be back…

Pete Kirwan

Whilst the father George (John C McGinley) tries to change it, his wife Alice (Leila Kenzle) plays with their son Timmy (Bret Loehr) and is

consequently hit by a limousine driven by Connor (Stahl), now a drug-using renegade 9 WEEK former cop Ed (Cusack), carrying Prima living outside the system. Not only must they Donna movie star Caroline (Rebecca avoid the attentions of the new T-X, a female DeMornay). Much to Caroline’s disgust, Ed cyborg with serious anti-social behavioural WEEK 9 insists on dropping her off and seeking help for problems, but Judgement Day is now also upon Alice, but with the surrounding area them, and (the evil computer completely flooded, there’s no way out. system that tries to exterminate the Thu 90 min Fri 109 min Having stranded his car, he finds 27 USA human race) is about to be switched on… 28 USA/Ger newlywed couple Ginny (Clea DuVall) Nov 2003 Nov 2003 7·30pm 6·30pm 9·30pm

52 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 53 Director: Roger Avery who’s just returned from Europe and can’t wait Starring: James Van Der Beek to tell everyone about the fun he had there… Director: Peter Jackson read the books. In this film he was free to Shannyn Sossamon Starring: Elijah Wood assume that the viewer knew the basic premise Rules of Attraction is not a film with a definite Ian McKellen of the story - to destroy a powerful ring to Eric Stoltz narrative form. Instead, director Roger Avery Viggo Mortensen prevent it being used for evil. The result is a delights in depicting the turbulent, brutal and Andy Serkis slicker, more urgent film with some truly There Are No Rules… at times heart breaking lives of a group of awesome scenes. It also gives the computer individuals who have definite social issues. A new power is rising generated Gollum (voiced by Andy Serkis) a From the sick bastards who brought you Pulp And he does it with such breathless, audacious real chance to shine, exhibiting all the elements Fiction and American Psycho (the hard-as-nails style that you can’t help wishing that it was he The Two Towers (referring to the Saruman’s of vindictiveness, deceit and above all fragility book, not the anodyne movie), Rules of who directed Pulp Fiction, not his cohort Isengard and Sauron’s Mordor - Tolkien’s axis that Tolkien so successfully wove into his Attraction is the absolute zenith of Generation X Quentin. Fast forwards, split screens, montage, of evil), follows on from the dissolution of the character. movie experiences. A delirious, tricksy, CGI – Avery uses all the tricks at his disposal Fellowship of the Ring at the end of the first shocking, endless inventive symphony of to ensure that Rules of Attraction is a film that film. Frodo and Sam set off to Mordor, soon to Tolkien purists have perversions, drug taking, suicide and teen really hammers its way into your be accompanied by Gollum. Aragorn, Gimli been unimpressed, antipathy, this is one movie that isn’t easy to consciousness. and Legolas defend Helms Deep from the orc and the film isn’t forget. It’s also one of the most armies of Saruman while Merry and Pippin perfect. Aragorn’s subversively hilarious films of One of the most impressively continue their misadventures before eventually protracted dream the year, although it might constructed films of the year, playing their part in the counterattack on sequence with well make you want to have a Rules of Attraction takes Isengard. But then, you must know this Arwen (Liv Tyler) after Jackson inexplicably long shower afterwards. Bret Easton Ellis’s already? has him thrown off a cliff serves no purpose controversial novel and runs other than to irritate the viewer. This clumsy The movie charts the with it, creating an Peter Jackson faced a number of problems in addition to Tolkien’s story presumably exists to misadventures of a succession inherently cinematic directing this trilogy. Firstly, the three books justify hiring a star such as Tyler for such a tiny of youths at a liberal American experience which is one of do not divide neatly into three films: they may role; it has no apparent narrative worth. But college, who alternately screw, the most vibrant, disturbing look the same size but the third printed surely one mistake can be permitted in a nine shoot-up, argue, rape, vomit and stimulating films of the volume, The Return of the King, is packed full hour trilogy? and screw some more. In the year. The easily offended, of appendices at the end. midst of this whirlwind of however, might do well to Secondly, Tolkien was All in all this is a satisfying filling in the LOTR depravity stands Sean stay clear – the Americans meticulous in his description of sandwich: your viewing experience is more Bateman (Van Der Beek on saw fit to cut down the most Middle Earth. This attention to likely to be spoiled by Tolkien obsessives career-best form), the campus uncomfortable sequences as detail means that the story is muttering angrily at the back of the cinema than drug dealer, serial sex fiend a favour to the public. We’re utterly consistent - unlike most by Jackson’s limited meddling. and all round bad egg. showing the full, uncut complex fictions - but also Seriously, this guy makes his version… means that, in places, the books Stuart Jarvis brother Patrick seem like a are just plain dull. guy you’d like to have dinner with. Greg Taylor Jackson therefore has had to rearrange the While Bateman is doing his thing, Lauren

content, and cut out the tedious bits. He did 10 WEEK (Sossamon – excellent) is watching in the this pretty well in the wings, wondering if she’s in love, while first film, while leaving Paul is coming to terms with his in enough scene-setting Sun Mon 179 min Wed 110 min 30 1 USA/NZ wavering sexuality. Oh, and there’s Vic, 3 USA/Ger for those who hadn’t Nov Dec 2002 Dec 2002 WEEK 10 6·30pm 7·30pm 7·30pm 9·30pm

54 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 55 Director: Lawrence Kasdan him to try to make him look meaner. The Starring: Morgan Freeman remaining characters are well cast. Jason Lee in Thomas Jane particular steals a number of scenes as the foul Jason Lee mouthed Beaver. Damian Lewis This movie is not for everyone. If you're a fan of Evil Slips Through Stephen King, you'll probably enjoy Dreamcatcher. I say "probably" because Dreamcatcher is one of those films that is although there are classic King elements in the exceedingly tough to review without giving story, it goes in some directions we do not something away. This is a movie that is best normally expect from him. seen when you know absolutely nothing about it. The movie has some very original and unusual elements. The film is enjoyable, and it is very worthy of being seen on the big screen. The movie almost goes a bit too far at points; some of the things you're going to see are really, umm, different. To vote for the films you want to see But if you're in the mood for something truly different and enjoy horror and thrillers, go and see it. And if it wasn't next term, visit the pushing the boundaries in some way, it wouldn't be a true Stephen King experience, would it? Warwick Student Cinema website

Percival Tucker

Based on a Stephen King novel, the plot www.filmsoc.warwick.ac.uk revolves around 4 lifelong friends who share some unusual gifts. The four of them take a hunting trip and are hit by a blizzard, but the snow turns out to be the least of their problems out in the woods. This doesn't really do the or email story justice, but that's really all you want to know going into the movie. Trust me on this one.

Morgan Freeman is the biggest star in Dreamcatcher. It's a bit tough to accept [email protected] Thu 133 min him in the role he plays even with the 4 USA/Can humongous eyebrow toupee they put on Dec 2003 WEEK 10 7·30pm

56 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 57 Radio Warwick

The Best Student Radio Station in the U.K • Engineering Work with industry standard equipment. • Broadcasting to the whole of campus 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. • I.T. One of the two student administered networks on campus. • Winner of three Student Radio awards, including Best Show. • Web Team Maintain the web site with the most hits in the Union. • Over 30 years of broadcasting experience, industry standard equipment, two studios and digital editing equipment as well as the • Marketing Help plan the biggest student marketing budget on colossal record library at your disposal. campus. • You could be a DJ at RaW - a superb chance to enter into the world of media, be heard all over campus and, twice a year on • Production A chance to produce the sound of Warwick. FM, be heard in Coventry, Kenilworth and beyond. • Features Review the latest in arts and entertainment for free. • A huge variety of shows - from specialist music to comedy sketches, and a huge variety of music styles. • Music Review the latest in releases before anyone else. • Music policy = Whatever you want, whenever you want. • Sport Report live for free from Midland matches.

How can you become a part of this? • News Report the latest campus stories, first. • At any time for just £2.50 • New members will be trained on a one-to-one basis, and can have • Drive Time Ease the afternoon into the evening with our flag-ship a show by week 5. show.

Tune in now on 1251 AM/MW and hear for yourself. www.radio.warwick.ac.uk Freecall Internal *73077 RaW - the sound of Warwick RaW - more than just music

.

58 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA AUTUMN 2003 59 END CREDITS Programming The Programming Committee

Reviewers & Contributors Rich Clark, Martin Aspeli, Fletcher Reede, Ben Goddard, Stuart Jarvis, Julie Ngo, Alex Coe, Greg Taylor, Laura Watson, Kirsty Stokes, Percival Tucker, Al Ellis, Katherine Shaw, Pete Kirwan, Alex Craig

Research Sources Empire, Total Film, Flicks, Inside Film, The Internet Movie Database (www..com), Image Net, PA Picselect

Cover Design Alex Craig

Graphics Andrew Maddison, Simon Johnstone, Jon Corfe

Editor Andrew Maddison

Thank you to all the stewards, DMs and projectionists and to the Publicity Team and Technical Team for making WSC possible The soundtracks heard before films are available from HMV, Hertford Street, Coventry A personal thank you to Jay and Simon at Troy films for their continued support and efficiency An enormous thank you to all at Accenture for their continued support and a personal thank you to Emmersons

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Warwick Student Cinema Programme may be subject to change without notice Autumn Season 2003 booklet Copyright © 2003 Warwick Student Cinema, all rights reserved