MOVIOLA SPRING-SUMMER FILMS MENU 2018
MAY-JUNE-JULY-AUGUST
CLOSING DATE: 15th April
(If we do not receive your choice for May by this date we will not be able to process your booking)
Below are 28 film titles including 10 Cinematheque specials for you to consider for the May-August season.
Please take a moment to read through the introductory notes before jumping into the menu.
Even if you are a seasoned Moviola partner, please follow the booking instructions on the next page. This will help us to process your requests quickly and accurately.
The Autumn 2018 season starts on Sep 1 and ends on Dec 31. A new menu for that season will be sent to you at the beginning of November. Do not book films for Sep 1 and after from this menu.
Many Thanks
Toby Walkley
Programme Director Moviola, March 2018
SPRING/SUMMER MENU 2018 - MAY 1- AUGUST 31
Contained in this menu are 18 mainstream titles for your selection, as well as 10 BFI sponsored titles as part of the extended Cinematheque menu.
Popular titles for this season fall in line with the recent Oscars ceremony, with The Post, The Shape of Water and Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri top of the list. There are also some uniquely British titles this season, with Finding Your Feet, Walk Like a Panther and Edie showing us three different perspectives of older age in Britain. For something totally different, there’s also Hostiles, an intense and violent look at life in the last days of the American West.
It’s a strong selection of titles with a powerful female presence this year from the likes of Frances McDormand and Meryl Streep, but with Gary Oldman representing the gents, there’s something for everyone!
We have 290 venues across the country, showing a huge range of films. Every venue and audience is different and we have therefore tried to include the broadest possible range of films from around the world. There really is something for everyone, and we hope you enjoy choosing your films.
Should you have any queries regarding the menu, or would like to discuss your choices further, please do not hesitate to contact me, via email at [email protected] or by phone at 03330 118764.
Further information on all the films, including synopses, pictures and reviews, can be found at www.imdb.com.
Further/alternative trailers for all the films are available at www.youtube.com.
Minimum Guarantees -
So long as a film on the regular menu gets at least 10+ bookings across the Moviola network, we can generally offer it with no minimum guarantee attached. But if it turns out that you are the only venue showing a particular film, then you would be subject to the distributor’s minimum of around £100 for film hire. If this were to be the case we would of course notify you of the change, and you would have the option to pick a different title.
Release Dates -
While we always try provide the most accurate release dates for titles on the Moviola Menu, these are open to change, often at very short notice. Unfortunately there’s not much we can do if this happens, and we may have to ask you to change a title or reschedule a date. We will of course always give the maximum notice we can should a change be necessary.
Booking a BFI Cinematheque Title -
As more diverse and independent tiles, the films contained on the Cinematheque menu would normally carry minimum guarantees of at least £100 so you would pay this or 35% of your box office, whichever greater. We’re very pleased to announce that thanks to BFI sponsorship, any title booked from this menu will receive a discount of £50, halving the minimum guarantee and allowing you to try some more adventurous film choices without as great a risk of losing money on them.
These Cinematheque titles are intended as a supplement to your mainstream titles, so why not put in an extra show and treat your audience to something a bit different!
HOW TO BOOK YOUR FILMS
1. Send an email to [email protected] as soon as possible, and not later than April 15 (for associates) and April 1 (for partners, to allow time for preparation of publicity materials). Please send it as a separate email - NOT by hitting reply, which can lead to messages going astray.
2. If you are an associate, state if it is a GOLD or SILVER booking. If you are a partner, make sure you have booked your dates with Christina first, to ensure she can schedule a presenter for you.
3. State your venue name.
4. List the dates and films you would like for May, June, July and August. Give me at least TWO spare films in case your first choices are not available (I will always consult you on any substitutions that might be necessary).
IMPORTANT NOTES
Confirmations -
When you book your films from Moviola, I send you a Confirmation Form on which the level of charge for each film is clearly set out. You should read this carefully before replying to me that it is correct. BUT see the clause about minimum guarantees above.
The confirmation is our agreement to supply films for you for the season and we refer back to it in any case of a query on your invoice.
It is also your license to show the film and your proof for anyone who requests it that you have booked the film properly, so be sure to read it and keep it safe.
Children’s/Family Films -
Attracting a sufficient audience to make such films viable is extremely difficult. Young people want to see films immediately on release and at the lowest possible cost. Furthermore, these films are only available to us to show once they are on sale to the public. This demographic is also far more likely to download films from the Internet, or to buy them on Blu-Ray and DVD.
So, a word of caution that across our network, venues have found audiences for these films hard to attract.
We have no specific children’s films on this new menu. If you would like to screen children’s films, send us a list of titles and we can check pricing/availability for you. Help Us Stamp Out Film Piracy -
All films shown to the public have to pay a licence fee whether or not any ticket price is charged. As a Moviola venue, you operate commercial film shows in exactly the same way as your local multiplex or full- time cinema. You advertise shows and sell tickets, and the London film distributors expect a proportion of your sales as film hire.
If you find or hear of any venue near you which claims to be operating in a different way - for example advertising free shows or telling you that they get their films cheaper - we would like to know. It is in our interests to ensure that shows are properly licensed. MAINSTREAM TITLES ALL THE MONEY IN THE WORLD
2017 True story/Crime/Drama
132 mins 15
Out on DVD May 14
Rome, 1973. Masked men kidnap a teenage boy named John Paul Getty III (Charlie Plummer). His grandfather, Jean Paul Getty (Christopher Plummer), is the richest man in the world, but he's notoriously miserly. His favorite grandson's abduction is not reason enough for him to part with any of his fortune. Paul's devoted, strong-willed mother Gail (Michelle Williams) attempts to sway Getty even as her son's mob captors become increasingly more determined, volatile and brutal. When Getty sends his enigmatic security man Fletcher Chace (Mark Wahlberg) to look after his interests, he and Gail become unlikely allies. Sony Pictures
“The film looks stunning through cinematographer Dariusz Wolski's lens and I like the use of hallowed, choral music in the money counting scene. But ultimately, the film belongs to Christopher Plummer, whose portrayal makes the hairs on the back of our neck bristle.” Urban Cinefile
“Plummer, who replaced Kevin Spacey after a number of allegations of sexual misconduct became public, is so brilliant that you completely forget that the scenes with him were re-shot in record time.” Eye for Film http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5294550/?ref_=nv_sr_1
BATTLE OF THE SEXES
2017 True story/Comedy/Drama
120 mins 12A
Out on DVD March 26
In the wake of the sexual revolution and the rise of the women's movement, the 1973 tennis match between women's world champion Billie Jean King (Emma Stone) and ex-men's-champ and serial hustler Bobby Riggs (Steve Carell) was billed as the BATTLE OF THE SEXES and became one of the most watched televised sports events of all time,. As the rivalry between King and Riggs kicked into high gear, off-court each was fighting more personal and complex battles. The fiercely private King was also struggling to come to terms with her own sexuality, as her friendship with Marilyn Barnett (Andrea Riseborough) developed. And Riggs, one of the first self-made media-age celebrities, wrestled with his gambling demons, at the expense of his family and wife Priscilla (Elisabeth Shue). Together, Billie and Bobby served up a cultural spectacle that resonated far beyond the tennis court.
“You don't have to be a tennis fan to warm to this highly entertaining story in which passion, determination and courage are the drivers. There's plenty to like in this vital and funny film and the dynamic between Stone and Carell hits the sweet spot.” Urban Cinefile
“Battle of the Sexes dazzles in its vigorous combination of the big and the small, the real and the symbolic” Eye for Film http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4622512/?ref_=nv_sr_1 DARKEST HOUR
2017 Drama/History
125 mins PG
Out on DVD June 4
Within days of becoming Prime Minister of Great Britain, Winston Churchill (Gary Oldman) must face one of his most turbulent and defining trials: exploring a negotiated peace treaty with Nazi Germany, or standing firm to fight for the ideals, liberty and freedom of a nation. As the unstoppable Nazi forces roll across Western Europe and the threat of invasion is imminent, and with an unprepared public, a skeptical King, and his own party plotting against him, Churchill must withstand his darkest hour, rally a nation, and attempt to change the course of world history. Focus Features
“If history is of any interest to you, this is one of three current films dealing with one of the most momentous events of WWII: Churchill's handling of the crisis that led to the historic evacuation of the entire British army from Dunkirk in May 1940 . . . In this the last of the three films (Andrew Dominik's Chrurchill [2017] and Christopher Nolan's Dunkirk [2017] being the others), Joe Wright wrangles yet another Churchill. The menu offered by these films is variations on a theme, but like a complex recipe, each results in something very different.” Urban Cinefile
2 OSCARS: BEST ACTOR FOR GARY OLDMAN, BEST MAKE-UP & HAIRDRESSING http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4555426/?ref_=nv_sr_1
DOWNSIZING
2017 Comedy/Drama/SciFi
135 mins 15
June tbc
A Norwegian lab has developed a process to shrink human beings (and any other life form) to a size of five inches, thus (in theory) solving the world’s overpopulation problem. Paul Safranek (Matt Damon), an occupational therapist who dropped out from med school to look after his sick mother and is still paying off his student loan, and his wife (Kristen Wiig) see it as an opportunity to fulfil their material ambitions: “small people” live in special communities, they do not pay taxes and, because everything is so tiny, they can afford a lifestyle they couldn’t even dream of before.
“What a spry, nuanced, winningly digressive movie this is. No sooner I had it pegged as a jaunty black comedy than it starts folding in elements of dystopian sci-fi, or compassionate human drama. A less polished director might have become lost and confused along the film’s lengthy running-time. But Payne’s handling is perfect. He never puts a foot wrong, rustling up a picture that is as bright as a button and as sharp as a tack.” The Guardian
“The writing is sharp and witty; Downsizing is a laugh-a-minute delight and easily one of the funniest films of the year.” The Hollywood News http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1389072/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1 EDIE
2017 Drama
102 mins tba
June 1 tbc
Edie (Sheila Hancock) has spent 30 years caring for her husband in a loveless marriage. Suddenly liberated by his demise, and filled with bitterness for her “wasted years”, she foils her daughter’s plan to put her in a care home and heads to Scotland to fulfil a long-held ambition to climb Mount Suilven. Once there she enlists the help of local guide Johnny (Kevin Guthrie), who only agrees because he doesn’t believe she will go through with the plan.
“At its best when emphasising the humans at its heart, this is a familiar story arc, lent considerable added weight by Hancock's intense performance and her onscreen chemistry with Guthrie.” Eye for Film
“Boasting two incredibly tender performances, Simon Hunter’s upbeat Scottish ramble not only showcases Scotland in all its vast rugged beauty, but does a wonderful job at challenging our social stereotypes of ageing and friendship within society.” Movie Review World https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3823098/?ref_=nv_sr_7
FINDING YOUR FEET
2017 Comedy/Drama/Romance
115 mins 12A
From May 5
On the eve of retirement a middle class, judgmental snob (Imelda Staunton) discovers her husband has been having an affair with her best friend. “Stunned, and needing somewhere to figure things out, she finds refuge with her estranged, bohemian older sister Bif (Celia Imrie), a woman who couldn't be more different from Sandra if she tried. But could the change in scenery and dynamic be just what Sandra needs? Especially when she joins a community dance class and potential new romance with Charlie (Timothy Spall)? THAT WOULD BE A BIG SPOILER BUT PROBABLY.” Empire Also starring Joanna Lumley.
“In this heart-warming modern comedy, a colourful group of defiant and energetic 'baby boomers' show Sandra that retirement is only the beginning, and that divorce might just give her a whole new lease of life - and love.” Comedy.co.uk
“Bitter sweet, with a pedigree English cast, Finding Your Feet may be predictable fare, but it has a heart of solid gold.” Urban Cinefile https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4538916/?ref_=nv_sr_1 THE GREATEST SHOWMAN
2018 True story/Drama/Musical
105 mins PG
Out on DVD May 14
Inspired by the ambition and imagination of P.T. Barnum (Hugh Jackman), The Greatest Showman tells the story of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a mesmerizing spectacle that became a worldwide sensation. With Michelle Williams, Zac Efron and Rebecca Ferguson as Jenny Lind.
“A sizzling explosion of colour, music and joie de vivre, The Greatest Showman is a toe-tapping, life enforcing celebration, reinforcing that 'a man's station is limited only by his imagination'. . .It's a feel-good Hollywood fantasy that whisks us away to a world filled with song and dance, beneath which bubbles an undercurrent of discrimination and longing for acceptance. Admittedly there is little substance beneath the gloss, but nonetheless the film is a crowd pleaser.” Urban Cinefile
“What it is in essence is a joyously uplifting potpourri of visual resplendence, stylish choreography and solid gold magic, one engineered to approximate the lavish spectacle the movie musical once offered – a winning combination that won’t fail to resonate with every admirer of the all-singing, all- dancing art form.” Radio Times http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1485796/?ref_=nv_sr_1
HOSTILES
2017 Adventure/Drama/Western
134 mins 15
Out on DVD April 30
In 1892, after nearly two decades of fighting the Cheyenne, the Apache, and the Comanche natives, US Cavalry Captain and war hero Joseph Blocker (Christian Bale), is ordered to escort the ailing Cheyenne chief, Yellow Hawk - his most despised enemy - to his ancestral home in Montana's Valley of the Bears. Joseph's unwelcome final assignment in the savage American landscape is further complicated when the widowed settler, Rosalee Quaid (Rosamond Pike), is taken in by the band of soldiers.
“As in Cooper's previous films, the acting is excellent across the board. Its period and plot line mandate that the nature and consequences of prolonged violence is one of "Hostiles'" strongest themes. The key question it poses is not one of responsibility, however ("We're all guilty of something," one character says), but whether we have to continue to be prisoners of what we've done in the past.” Los Angeles Times
“Hostiles shares with The Outlaw Josey Wales themes of reconciliation and redemption, and builds to a powerful climax with a coda that both echoes and challenges the iconic final scene from John Ford's 1956 masterpiece, The Searchers.” Radio Times Warning: Extreme violence http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5478478/?ref_=nv_sr_2 I, TONYA
2017 Biography/Drama/Comedy
120 mins 15
Available 25 June (DVD) – pre-release June 1 tbc
Though Tonya Harding was the first American woman to complete a triple axel in competition, her legacy was forever defined by her association with an infamous, ill-conceived, and even more poorly executed attack on fellow Olympic competitor Nancy Kerrigan. Featuring an iconic turn by Margot Robbie as the fiery Harding, a mustachioed Sebastian Stan as her impetuous ex-husband Jeff Gillooly, a tour-de-force performance from Allison Janney as her acid-tongued mother, LaVona Golden, and an original screenplay by Steven Rogers, I,Tonya is an absurd, irreverent, and piercing portrayal of Harding’s life and career in all of its unchecked - and checkered -glory. From the official website
“The real revelation is Margot Robbie. Better known as the Aussie stunna who has appeared too often as a leading man's squeeze, she breaks cover now and goes down market with extraordinary effect. Forget the glam. This is acting from the inside out.” Eye for Film
“I, Tonya celebrates Harding’s talent and admires her rebellious spirit but hides behind its humour as her hard-knock life becomes an irreverent, entertaining patchwork. For a film that draws on what it describes as the “irony-free” recollections of its subjects, it is steeped in arch comedy and gimmicks from the outset: from the talking-head interviews that give it a faux-documentary feel, to the fourth-wall breaking asides (including one mid-coitus). Gillespie oversees a lively and amusing blend that’s easy to enjoy if not always well-judged.” Radio Times http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5580036/?ref_=nv_sr_1
LADY BIRD
2017 Comedy/Drama
94 mins 15
June tbc
Christine "Lady Bird" MacPherson (Saoirse Ronan) is a high school senior from the "wrong side of the tracks." She longs for adventure, sophistication, and opportunity, but finds none of that in her Sacramento Catholic high school. Lady Bird charts her senior year in high school, including her first romance, her participation in the school play, and most importantly, her applying for college.
“In her first solo writing and directing effort, the hard-working indie film actress Greta Gerwig proves that she is her own muse. She takes the well-worn coming-of-age-dramedy format and fashions something fresh, funny, and artful from its familiar tropes.” Austin Chronicle
“Scripted by Gerwig with a deft balance of laudable wit and authentic angst, the film brilliantly depicts the adolescent tendency to rail against everything and anything, and it’s remarkable how heartfelt each and every moment feels, without the film once descending into sentimentality. Both that and Gerwig’s refusal to tie things up in a neat movie bow are a satisfying nod to its true-life origins. This is a loveable, colourful and largely convention-defying portrait of an endearing eccentric who, despite her protestations, holds her hometown dearer than she realises.” Radio Times http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4925292/?ref_=nv_sr_1 PADDINGTON 2
2017 Animation/Adventure/Comedy
104 mins PG
Out on DVD March 12
Paddington, now happily settled with the Brown family and a popular member of the local community, picks up a series of odd jobs to buy the perfect present for his Aunt Lucy's 100th birthday, only for the gift to be stolen.
“This is exactly what a sequel should be, respectful, goose bumpy and warm hearted . . . To find a sequel that embraces the best from its predecessor and then improves upon it is as rare as Tinker's bell. Magical.” Eye for Film
“Like its predecessor, this Paddington redux touches on societal themes in subtle-smart fashion. While Paddington gently grappled with the very real-world fear of immigrants to British shores, this film addresses the currently lacking imperatives of civility, and the small kindnesses that are the bulwark against our baser natures. Mainly, though, Paddington 2 is a comic triumph chock-full of slapstick, heart, and hope. Well done, Mr. Paddington Brown, well done.” Austin Chronicle http://www.imdb.com/title/tt4468740/?ref_=nv_sr_1
PHANTOM THREAD
2017 Drama/Romance
130 mins 15
June tbc
In 1950s post-war London, renowned dressmaker Reynolds Woodcock (Daniel Day-Lewis) and his sister Cyril (Lesley Manville) are at the centre of British fashion, dressing royalty, movie stars, heiresses, socialites, debutantes, and dames with the distinct style of The House of Woodcock. Women come and go through Woodcock's life, providing the confirmed bachelor with inspiration and companionship, until he comes across a young, strong-willed woman, Alma (Vicky Krieps), who soon becomes a fixture in his life as his muse and lover. Once controlled and planned, he finds his carefully tailored life disrupted by love. Focus Features
“Just as a beautiful gown is created from unique design and exquisite fabric, so too is this bewitching film about secrets, obsession and elegance. Paul Thomas Anderson's screenplay is the design; his direction the fabric in a tale that rises and falls like a magnificent, if tempestuous wave on a stormy day. It leaves us breathless.” Eye for Film
“What kind of love story is Phantom Thread? The wrenching tale of a woman’s love for a man and a man’s love for his work. A dry, comic study of the asymmetries and conflicts at the heart of a marriage. A refined gothic nightmare in the manner of Henry James. A perverse psychological fable of unchecked ego and unhinged desire. That’s a partial catalog, and one that can’t quite capture how bizarre this movie is. Or how bizarrely true to life - to art, to love, to itself - it feels.” New York Times http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5776858/?ref_=nv_sr_1 THE POST
2017 Drama/History
116 mins 12A
Out on DVD May 21
Oscar winners Steven Spielberg, Meryl Streep, and Tom Hanks team up for the first time in this thrilling film based on a true story. Determined to uphold the nation’s civil liberties, Katharine Graham (Streep), publisher of The Washington Post, and hard-nosed editor Ben Bradlee (Hanks) join forces to expose a decades-long cover-up. But the two must risk their careers - and their freedom - to bring truth to light in this powerful film with a celebrated cast. From the official website
“Stories that explore moral choices in this more complex way are still rare in Hollywood and certainly in Spielberg's oeuvre. The Post is superbly handled throughout, intelligent and involving. It's a timely reminder of why good, independent journalism matters.” Eye for Film
“Depicting a world when newsprint still mattered, despite the dominance of TV, this period piece is predicated on a collective nostalgia for the good old days. But that’s not to say it doesn’t have a contemporary resonance. Distinctly Trumpian in its themes, The Post addresses our concerns about the current administration by framing it around an equally controversial previous incumbent.” Radio Times http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6294822/?ref_=nv_sr_1
THE SHAPE OF WATER
2017 Drama/Fantasy
123 mins 15
June tbc
From master storyteller Guillermo del Toro (Pan’s Labyrinth) comes The Shape of Water, an otherworldly fable set against the backdrop of Cold War era America circa 1962. In the hidden high- security government laboratory where she works, lonely Elisa (Sally Hawkins) is trapped in a life of isolation. Elisa's life is changed forever when she and co-worker Zelda (Octavia Spencer) discover a secret classified experiment. From the official website
“This is a fairy tale in the old sense and pulls no punches. There are scenes of real brutality and intense eroticism, as well as a scene with an animal which is likely to horrify many viewers regardless of their age or their usual viewing proclivities. Of course, it's all wrapped up with sumptuous set design, evocative cinematography and superb editing, as Del Toro fans have come to expect. The pacing isn't quite as tight as in some of his films and it drags a little in the middle, but this is a minor problem with an otherwise compelling piece of work. For open minded viewers who don't have delicate stomachs or overly hardened hearts, there is much to admire here. It's a film with which some will fall in love.” Eye for Film
4 OSCARS: BEST PICTURE, BEST DIRECTOR, BEST PRODUCTION DESIGN, BEST SCORE http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5580390/?ref_=nv_sr_1
SUBURBICON
2017 Crime/Drama/Comedy
105 mins 15
Out on DVD April 23
Directed by George Clooney and scripted by the Coen Brothers, the comedy here is of the black variety. "Suburbicon" is a peaceful, idyllic suburban community with affordable homes and manicured lawns... the perfect place to raise a family, and in the summer of 1959, the Lodge family is doing just that. But the tranquil surface masks a disturbing reality, as husband and father Gardner Lodge (Matt Damon) must navigate the town's dark underbelly of betrayal, deceit, and violence. This is a tale of very flawed people making very bad choices.
“By itself, the Double Indemnity-style plot would make Suburbicon an entertaining but minor work, but the escalating racial tension that simmers in the background gives it bite and topicality, reflecting white America's sinister obsession with maintaining its own privilege.” Radio Times http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0491175/?ref_=nv_sr_1
THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI
2017 Crime/Drama
115 mins 15
Out on DVD May 21
Frances McDormand plays Mildred, who in order to stop herself drowning in grief after the brutal murder of her daughter, decides to fight back when the case remains unsolved, purchasing the titular billboards and plastering them with details of the crime and the question: "How come Chief Willoughby?"
“McDormand is a force with which to be reckoned as the grieving mother desperate for the law to take its course. Fearless and lacking in vanity, she grabs this gift of a role and delivers an unforgettable performance. We feel her pain, angst, frustration and impotence. 'Looks like we got a war on our hands' Woody Harrelson's police chief Willoughby mutters, as the town prickles at the confrontation.” Urban Cinefile “The ability to balance extreme violence, emotional substance to chew on and black comedy has been evident in McDonagh's work since In Bruges. There, he struggled to completely marry them together, but here he finds a way to keep things on track. No moment, it seems, is too horrific for humour, a stance that particularly suits Rockwell's ability to shift from comedy to danger and on to tragedy in the space of a few lines of dialogue.” Eye for Film http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5027774/?ref_=nv_sr_1 WALK LIKE A PANTHER
2018 Comedy
108 mins 12A
July tbc
A group of 1980s wrestlers are forced to don the lycra once last time when their beloved local pub is threatened with closure. The Half Nelson, run by Mark Bolton (Stephen Graham), son of Bulldog (Dave Johns – I, Daniel Blake), who always wanted to be up there in the ring with the rest of them but didn't consider himself good enough, is the Panthers' watering hole. When the manager of the local brewery (Stephen Tompkinson) declares "Time" the old boys, including a Jamaican transvestite, known as Zulu (Robbie Gee), agree to put on a show that will go viral in social media and be covered by BT Sport, or whoever, and make enough dosh to pay off the developers. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6962204/?ref_=nv_sr_1
WONDER
2017 Drama
113 mins PG
Out on DVD March 26
Based on the New York Times bestseller, Wonder tells the incredibly inspiring and heartwarming story of August Pullman. Born with facial differences that, up until now, have prevented him from going to a mainstream school, Auggie becomes the most unlikely of heroes when he enters the local fifth grade. As his family, his new classmates, and the larger community all struggle to discover their compassion and acceptance, Auggie's extraordinary journey will unite them all and prove you can't blend in when you were born to stand out. Lionsgate
“Impressive in the kidnap study Room, gifted young actor Jacob Tremblay shines again here, cutting a touching but rarely self-pitying figure behind the prosthetics, and he's ably supported by Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson as doting but careworn parents. . . An uncommonly engrossing and subtle affair for much of the way, Chbosky's film eventually tugs a little too vigorously at the heart strings. Still, there's enough empathy and insight here to forgive its understandable desire to play to the gallery.” Radio Times http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2543472/?ref_=nv_sr_1 CINEMATHEQUE TITLES
BOMBSHELL: THE HEDY LAMARR STORY
2017 Documentary/Biography
88 mins 12
Available July tbc
A documentary on the life of Hollywood Golden Age star Hedy Lamarr. Born in Vienna, she emigrated to the US after the failure of her first marriage, where she married five more times and invented a mainstay of modern communication.
“With interviews (including Mel Brooks, Peter Bogdanovich, Jeanine Basinger, Robert Osborne, Michael Tilson Thomas, and her family), expertly edited (by Dean, Penelope Falk and Lindy Jankur) the film is assembled with care. Her life story plays out like an adventure novel overflowing with intrigue.” Eye for Film
“Alexandra Dean relates Hedy Lamarr’s ventures, those onscreen and off, with savvy and narrative snap, fluidly marshaling a mix of original interviews and archival material.” New York Times http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6752848/?ref_=nv_sr_1 CALL ME BY YOUR NAME
2017 Drama/Romance
132 mins 15
Already out on DVD
It's 1983, and Elio Perlman (Timothée Chalamet), a precocious 17-year-old, is spending the summer in his family's villa in northern Italy. Elio enjoys a close relationship with his professor father (Michael Stuhlbarg) and his translator mother Annella (Amira Casar). Adult in some respects, there is much that yet remains innocent and unformed about him, particularly about matters of the heart. One day, Oliver (Armie Hammer), a 24-year-old American doctoral student, arrives as the annual summer intern tasked with helping Elio's father. Amid the sun-drenched splendor of the setting, romance blossoms between Elio and Oliver.
“For all the confidence of the film-making, the thing that really elevates this picture to one of the very best of the year is the exceptional quality of the performances.” Wendy Ide
“It’s an incomparably lovely period romance, as warm and therapeutic as the sunlight that suffuses every frame.” The Telegraph https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5726616/?ref_=nv_sr_1
DARK RIVER
2017 Drama
89 mins 15
Available May 1
Following the death of her father, Alice (Ruth Wilson) returns to her home village for the first time in 15 years, to claim the tenancy to the family farm she believes is rightfully hers. Her brother Joe (Mark Stanley), who has been looking after their father (Sean Bean), has let the farm go to rack and ruin.
“Earthy, elemental, authentic and fitted with an emotional hair trigger, writer/director Clio Barnard's third feature is a welcome addition to the "farm noir" subgenre.” Radio Times
Christina says: With many similarities to last season’s The Levelling, this is no cosy picture of farming life. Emotions run high, dark secrets are confronted and (squeamish alert!) we see a rabbit being gutted and skinned. But the Yorkshire countryside is magnificent and the acting is superb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5700176/?ref_=nv_sr_1 A FANTASTIC WOMAN
2017 Drama
104 mins 15
Out on DVD May 21
A groundbreaking, captivating and deeply humane story about a trans woman’s fight for acceptance. Anchored by a powerhouse central performance from rising star Daniela Vega, this Oscar-nominated film is an urgent call for compassion towards a community that faces bigotry and hostility on a daily basis. Vega plays Marina Vidal, a young singer whose life is thrown into turmoil following the sudden death of her partner, Orlando. Met with suspicion from the police and contempt from her lover’s relatives, Marina finds herself placed under intense scrutiny, with no regard for her privacy, or her grief. As tensions rise between Marina and Orlando’s family, she is evicted from their shared home and banned from attending his funeral. But faced with the threat of losing everything, Marina finds the strength to fight back.
In Spanish with subtitles
“This is a film that lingers. It aches with sensitivity, bristles with pain and reassures by the strength and determination of the human spirit. Superb cinema.” Urban Cinefile https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5639354/?ref_=nv_sr_1
I AM NOT A WITCH
2017 Drama
93 mins 12
Already out on DVD
When eight-year-old Shula (Maggie Mulubwa) turns up alone and unannounced in a rural Zambian village, the locals are suspicious. A minor incident escalates to a full-blown witch trial, where she is found guilty and sentenced to life on a state-run witch camp. There, she is tethered to a long white ribbon and told that if she ever tries to run away, she will be transformed into a goat. As the days pass, Shula begins to settle into her new community, but a threat looms on the horizon. Soon she is forced to make a difficult decision – whether to resign herself to life on the camp, or take a risk for freedom.
In English and Nyanja
“Welsh-Zambian Rungano Nyoni blends fact, with just a smattering of magic realist fable to take a satirical sideswipe at the country of her birth - and sexual politics more widely. The result is not only laugh out loud funny, it also carries an emotional kick in the gut.” Eye for Film
“Behind the droll satire is a sombre denunciation of the superstition, ignorance and prejudice that enables the corrupt elite in so many African countries to intimidate the lower classes and oppress women. Drawing on her observations in a Ghanaian witch camp, Nyoni opts for an elliptical approach that occasionally confuses, but Mulubwa's exceptional impassivity and David Gallego's unsettlingly striking imagery help keep this focused and fascinating.” Radio Times http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6213284/?ref_=nv_sr_1 I GOT LIFE (Aurore)
2017 Comedy/Drama
89 mins 15
Out on DVD July 2
Separated from her husband, Aurore (Agnès Jaoui) also loses her job and to top it off, she learns that she will soon be a grandmother. She suddenly realizes that society is pushing her gently on a sideline, but when she unexpectedly encounters her youthful love, Aurore decides to rebel by refusing the fate that seems to await her. What if a new life was about to be offered to her?
In French with subtitles
No English language reviews available at time of going to press. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5628792/?ref_=nv_sr_4
ISMAEL’S GHOSTS (Les fantômes d'Ismaël)
2017 Drama/Romance/Thriller
114 mins 15 tbc
Available May tbc
Mathieu Amalric plays a film director from the filmmaker’s home town Roubaix. He is planning a new feature film while conducting a relationship with Sylvie (Charlotte Gainsbourg). Just to throw us off the scent, the film opens with Louis Garrel as Ivan Dedalus, who is summoned to the Quai d’Orsay to be recruited for the Foreign Ministry. There are tales within tales … but don’t expect easy explanations. Marion Cotillard plays Carlotta, who was Ismael’s first love before disappearing without trace, later pronounced dead. Suddenly she returns to his beachside house completely out of the blue and starts to compare notes with the startled Sylvie.
In French with subtitles
“The twists and turns in the dense screenplay are often too much to assimilate. Desplechin’s characters never turn out to be who they seem on the surface. Desplechin described the film to a friend this way: “I think I’ve invented a pile of plates of fiction that I will break against the screen. When they are all broken, the film will be finished." Doubtless he had a smashing time - and for the rest of us there are compensations in the pleasure of the playing and his joy of the conundrums of life.” Eye for Film http://www.imdb.com/title/tt5687040/?ref_=nv_sr_1 MENASHE
2017 Drama
82 mins U
Available May tbc
Within Brooklyn's ultra-orthodox Jewish community, a widower battles for custody of his son. A tender drama performed entirely in Yiddish, the film intimately explores the nature of faith and the price of parenthood.
“Joshua Z Weinstein, who has a raft of documentary filmmaking already under his belt, takes a refreshingly clear-eyed approach to this story and, rather than hand-hold his audience through the ins and outs of day-to-day life in the ultra-Orthdox community in Brooklyn, he shows what is happening without getting bogged down in explanation.” Eye for Film
“Menashe is a quiet triumph, pulling back when other films would go too far, delivering an engaging drama of intimate detail and considerable humanity.” The Guardian http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6333086/?ref_=nv_sr_1
THE OLD DARK HOUSE
1932 Comedy/Horror
72 mins
Available May tbc
Directed by James Whale from the novel by J B Priestley. Seeking shelter from a pounding rainstorm in a remote region of Wales, several travellers are admitted to a gloomy, foreboding mansion belonging to the extremely strange Femm family. Trying to make the best of it, the guests must deal with their sepulchral host, Horace Femm and his obsessive, malevolent sister Rebecca. Things get worse as the brutish manservant Morgan gets drunk, runs amuck and releases the long pent-up brother Saul, a psychotic pyromaniac who gleefully tries to destroy the residence by setting it on fire. Starring Boris Karloff, Melvyn Douglas and Charles Laughton.
“This flamboyant, bizarre and blackly comic story works on screen perfectly, just like a really weird dream.” Derek Winnert http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0023293/?ref_=nv_sr_2 SWEET COUNTRY
2017 Adventure/Crime/Drama
113 mins 15
Available July tbc
Australian western set on the Northern Territory frontier in the 1920s, where justice itself is put on trial when an aged Aboriginal farmhand shoots a white man in self defense and goes on the run as posse gathers to hunt him down.
“Artfully conceived and executed, Warwick Thornton's period outback western mixes potent themes and striking imagery. It's hard-hitting and tough to watch as harsh cruelty takes centre stage in the guise of murder, rape and discrimination. The themes are slavery and lawlessness; the imagery (through Thornton's lens) includes expansive red skies, desolate vistas and silent rusty red rock faces. The narrative weaves its way through the imagery, offering a glimpse of life in the late 20s when Aboriginals are treated as 'black stock' and local lawmen believe they are the law. It's a haunting film that involves from the outset and most importantly we are able to understand the characters - albeit stereotypical - and as unlikeable as they mostly are.” Urban Cinefile http://www.imdb.com/title/tt6958212/?ref_=nv_sr_1