APRIL 2020 RONNIE WOOD: SOMEBODY UP THERE LIKES ME “velveteen glamour and brilliant programming...” (The Guardian) “possibly Britain’s most beautiful cinema..” (BBC) APRIL 2020 • ISSUE 181 www.therexberkhamsted.com 01442 877759 Mon-Sat 10.30-6.30pm Sun 4.30-5.30pm BEST IN APRIL CONTENTS Films At A Glance 20-21 Rants & Pants 30-31, 33 BOX OFFICE: 01442 877759 Ronnie Wood: Somebody Up There Likes Me Mon to Sat 10.30-6.30 An off-the-wall documentary about a fabulous One-Off from the up-the- wall world of full-on (it’s only) rock’n roll but… Don’t dare miss. Sun 4.30-5.30 See page 16 SEAT PRICES FILMS OF THE MONTH Circle £9.50 Concessions/ABL £8.00 Back Row £8.00 Table £11.50 Concessions/ABL £10.00 Royal Box Seat (Seats 6) £13.00 Whole Royal Box £73.00 Matinees - Upstairs £5, Downstairs £6.50, Royal Box £10 Casino Royale Portrait of a Lady Disabled and flat access: through Daniel’s first and best 007 where he the gate on High Street (right of on Fire should have hung out his speedos, apartments) Gorgeous, sumptuous, beautiful - dropped his gun and greased those and all and none. Stunning, teasing, pecs - just this once…? diverting, riveting, mesmerising and Director: James Hannaway See page 10 unbearably French. See page 14 01442 877999 Advertising: Chloe Butler 01442 877999 Artwork: Demiurge Design 01296 668739 The Rex High Street (Three Close Lane) Berkhamsted, Herts HP4 2FG www.therexberkhamsted.com “ Unhesitatingly The Rex Ragtime The Truth is the best cinema I Coalhouse Walker Jnr from far “…is rarely plain and never simple” outside, runs with the posh NY (Oscar Fingal O’Flahertie etc…) have ever..” society of 1910 - and pays the An Irish poet, a Japanese auteur and (STimes Culture) price. Fantastic from the off. those two most fabulous French See page 23 women. Come See page 26 OCTOBERAPRIL FILMS FILMS 8 THE REX - APRIL BOX OFFICE: 01442 877759 Emma Parasite Austen’s classic is given a pastel-coloured refresh From the Palme d’Or to Best Picture, Parasite is a in Autumn de Wilde’s debut feature Not only masterpiece worthy of all the praise. exquisite in its stylistic flair, with luxurious locations The first foreign-language film to win Best Picture and expressive costume design, this new Emma at the Oscars, Bong Joon-ho beat his personal idols adaptation focuses on showcasing the timeless wit Tarantino and Scorsese to the grand prize (whilst of its source material. Emma Woodhouse (played by making history). Known for his slick social satires, rising star Anya Taylor-Joy) is a multi-layered young the South Korean director’s latest takes you on a adult: spoilt and egotistical, yet also vulnerable thrilling ride - the less you know going in, the better. and insecure. Living in Georgian- and Regency-era A brief introduction: when Ki-woo (Choi Woo-shik) England, she believes she is naturally gifted in is given the opportunity to tutor the daughter of romantic matchmaking (despite arguing that she the wealthy Park family, he bluffs his way into the herself will never marry). Focusing her efforts on her lucrative position with a forged university degree friend Harriet Smith (Mia Goth), Emma tries to set from his sister Ki-jung (Park So-dam). her up with the local vicar Mr Elton (Josh O’Connor), Realising his own family could fill the other disapproving when a lowly farmer proposes to positions in the grand modernist home, they form Harriet. Critiquing Emma’s meddlesome behaviour a plan to infiltrate the household (without the Park is her neighbour and friend, the gentleman Mr family knowing that they are related). On Parasite’s Knightley (Johnny Flynn), with whom she shares universality, Bong Joon-ho stated “it talks about two semi-flirtatious banter. As their chemistry develops, opposing families, about the rich versus the poor, Emma’s resolve to stay independent is threatened. and that is a universal theme, because we all live in Bill Nighy is a wonderful addition to the British the same country now: that of capitalism.” talent, offering a splendid portrayal of Emma’s Hilarious and humane, tense and thought- hypochondriac father (Mr Woodhouse). Whilst provoking; Parasite promises a sensational cinematic exploring the complexities of growing up, love and experience not to be missed. (Rachel Williams) redemption, Emma. is a visual feast to indulge in. (Rachel Williams) Director: Bong Joon Ho Cast: Song Kang Ho, Lee Sun Kyun, Cho Yeo Director: Autumn de Wilde Jeong, Choi Woo Shik, Park So Dam Cast: Anya Taylor-Joy, Gemma Whelan, Duration: 132 min Tanya Reynolds, Bill Nighy, Mia Goth Origin: South Korea 2019 (Subtitled) Duration: 125 min Certificate: 15 Origin: UK 2020 Company: StudioCanal Certificate: U Company: Universal Pictures When... When... Wed 1 7.30 Thu 2 2.00, 7.30 Wed 1 2.00 Wed 29 2.00 Fri 10 7.30 www.therexberkhamsted.com THE REX - APRIL 9 Le Mans ‘66 True History Of The James Mangold directs this star studded biography Kelly Gang of the revved-up rivalry between two automotive The 19th-century Australian outlaw Ned Kelly titans, Ford v Ferrari. is given a punk-rock update in Justin Kurzel’s Unlike 2013’s Rush, which covered the personal bruising historical drama. Based on Peter Carey’s rivalry between Formula One drivers James Hunt 2001 novel, The film is carved into three sections, and Nikki Lauda, this film sides racers against titled “Boy”, “Man” and “Monitor”, each of which corporate suits. At its centre are two eminently takes in a key period of Kelly’s brief but seismic reliable actors. Matt Damon, as race-car-champion- existence. In the first, young Ned watches his turned-car designer Carroll Shelby, and Christian mother Ellen (Essie Davis) ply a swaggering British Bale, as the hot-headed former tank commander sergeant (Charlie Hunnam) with sexual favours, Ken Miles. When Shelby is hired by Ford to create possibly from necessity. Then at 14, foul-mouthed the Ford GT that will defeat Ferrari at the Le Mans highwayman Harry Power (Russell Crowe) takes on 24 Hour ordeal, it becomes apparent that the only the boy as an apprentice, which all but locks in his person who can drive it is Miles. Together, they form fate. Many have played Kelly in the past (including a tetchy partnership that sees them take on the Mick Jagger & Heath Ledger) but George MacKay giants of racing, and the Ford Motor Company itself. confidently stands above them all with a blistering, For a sports movie to work for more than just the Mad Max-like performance as adult Kelly. Intense fans, it has to have drama off the pitch, track or field, and vulnerable in both but perhaps even topping with characters to root for, personal demons and a his leading role in 1917. Both so different. Kurzel good underdog. Le Mans ‘66 duly obliges. Rarely displayed both beauty and intensity with his take on does such muscular studio entertainment kick into Macbeth earlier, and this, his latest gets under your higher, faster and more surprising gears than this. nails; images linger for weeks in the memory and, for (Research Chris Coetsee) A truly exciting ride in however much the film deals with myth and history, dialogue and speed. Well cast too. Running out of it feels incredibly immediate. (research Jack Whiting) road here, so don’t miss it now. Another end to end Aussie cracker not to be missed. Director: James Mangold Director: Justin Kurzel Cast: Matt Damon, Christian Bale, Caitriona Cast: George MacKay, Essie Davis, Nicholas Balfe, Jon Bernthal Hoult, Orlando Schwerdt Duration: 152 mins Duration: 125 min Origin: USA/France 2019 Origin: UK/France/Australia 2019 Certificate: 12A Certificate: 18 Company: Walt Disney Studios Company: Picturehouse Entertainment When... When... Fri 3 2.00 Sat 4 7.00 Fri 3 7.30 Fri 17 7.30 10 THE REX - APRIL BOX OFFICE: 01442 877759 Dolittle Casino Royale Robert Downey Jr’s first post-Avengers role With No Time to Die out of time, Bond may have sees him embody Hugh Lofting’s classic literary met his greatest foe in a nasty bout of flu, but character that has been around for a century. here’s the Fleming original 007 yarn (and best) and Dropping the ‘Dr’ from the title – because overly Craig’s first (and best) outing. simplifying titles seems to be the ‘in’ thing – John Still the pinnacle of his time (nope, not Skyfall or Dolittle (Downey Jr, valiantly attempting something the rest. I’ll fight you!! JW) Casino Royale is perhaps close to a Welsh accent) is a veterinarian who can the best Bond reboot to surface. Self-assured and talk to animals; having rejected his fellow humans oozing with swagger, it spat in the faces of those after a tragic family death, the good doctor relies on who doubted Craig could deliver. But as easily as his menagerie of animal companions. he slipped into a dinner jacket or a gym-strained- He is summoned to the bedside of Queen Victoria six-pack into one-size-fits-all speedos, he fitted the (Jessie Buckley), who is gravely ill. Dolittle decrees part. Unsung director Martin Campbell, also directed that the cure comes from the fruit of the Eden tree Brosnan’s debut in Golden Eye. He guides Casino on a remote island and so must voyage there with well. Mads Mikkelson is the evil-eyed Le Chiffre, the his animal pals in a Pirates-of the-Caribbean-y way poker-faced villain who weeps blood and all but and then voyage back, hoping that he is not too late.