The University of Warwick Students’ Union Film Society

Summer Season 2004

www.accenture.com/ukgraduates In Order of Appearance... Welcome back! "Why is the Student Cinema showing films during an exam term?" you may ask. Well, we are because films are a part of everyone’s life, whether the pressure of Introduction Week 26 exams is there or not. Everybody loves to watch movies, and we’re not stopping Contents 2 American Splendor 21 for exams - we hope you don’t either. Welcome Back 3 The Dreamers 22 General Information 5 School of Rock 23 So what do we have we in store for you this term? The Oscars have come and gone Getting Involved 6 and Lord Of The Rings has swept all of the awards away like the tidal wave in the How To Find Us 7 Week 27 The Fighting Temptations 24 trailer for the upcoming disaster flick The Day After Tomorrow - but there are other Week 21 The Human Stain 25 films that were nominated and won awards that deserve your attention. Cold Thirteen 8 Big Fish 26 Mountain and The Last Samurai, wartime epics with very different settings; Lost In Translation, a very understated film which is worthy of your time; 21 Grams Week 22 Week 28 Cold Mountain 9 Elephant 27 and House Of Sand And Fog, both with fantastic ensemble acting. Then we’ve got Osama 10 Infernal Affairs 28 something to make you laugh, which is healthy during an exam term, with Scary Runaway Jury 11 The Missing 29 Movie 3 and School Of Rock; Osama and In This World, films set in Central Asia that should interest everyone whose knowledge of this region came only from Week 23 Week 29 recent media coverage; Infernal Affairs, a phenomenally popular Hong Kong Touching the Void 12 House of Sand and Fog 30 Dogville 13 My Life Without Me 31 movie about gangster and cops; the list goes on - we really do have something for The Last Samurai 14 21 Grams 32 every taste!

Week 24 Week 30 We do hope you all turn up for some of these films. Perhaps you’ve just studied for Lost in Translation 15 Along Came Polly 33 6 hours straight, or you’ve just completed that really difficult module you’ve been In This World 16 Something’s Gotta Give 34 S.W.A.T. 17 Dead End 35 afraid of. You have a few options: you could go to the bar and talk about it with friends, you could dance your troubles away - or you could come to a Student Week 25 Vote For Next Term’s Films 37 Cinema screening and be entertained, be inspired, lose yourself in a different In America 18 End Credits 40 world, and for a couple of hours live a life different from yours. That’s what films Intermission 19 are good at doing. Scary Movie 3 20 For those of you at Warwick next year, don’t forget we’ll be back in the Autumn Term with a full schedule including a selection of the best recent blockbusters; arthouse and foreign films you might not have had the chance to see at the cinema on their initial release; and classic movies that belong on the big screen where you can be impressed and dazzled by them.

Finally, we’d like to wish everyone who has them good luck in their exams.

Best wishes for the future,

The WSC Exec.

2 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 3 General Information Warwick Student Cinema Membership proudly presents Academic year 2003-2004 £2.50

A ‘Publicity Team’ Production Tickets Single Member £1.80 ‘Summer Season 2004’ Single Guest £2.80 (only one guest per member per show) Featuring The Exec Five-Film Ticket £7.00 (valid for 2003-2004 Academic Year) President PHILIP LURIE Treasurer JACOB WOOD Societies Federation Films and Administration Officer SEBASTIAN NG Please note that you need to become a member of Societies Federation before Chief Projectionist TIMOTHY DAVIDSON Technical Officer NICHOLAS MARCH you can join Warwick Student Cinema. Rates for Societies Federation membership for students are as follows: Chief Duty Manager RICHARD WINSKILL Equal Ops and Socials Officers JONATHAN DOWNING & ROSANNA WILSON 1 Year 2 Years 3 Years 4 Years IT Officer KISHAN POPAT £8 £12 £15 £17 Publicity Officer ANDREW MADDISON Discounts are available to Erasmus Students taking a year off. Societies Federation rates for Union/University staff and non-University members are available on request. Prices correct at time of going to press and are subject to alteration. Where To Buy Memberships, Tickets and Societies Federation Memberships are available on the Science Concourse before any Student Cinema showing (subject to availability) - we can only accept cash or cheques: we cannot take credit/debit cards. You can also buy your Student Cinema and Societies Federation membership online at the Union’s web portal (www.sunion.warwick.ac.uk) with credit/debit cards, or in person at Union North Reception during stated hours.

Please note: All films screened by WSC may contain visual or audio elements which those with impaired senses may find difficult to understand. All efforts are taken by WSC to advertise films which may cause a problem, however due to delivery constraints this is not always possible. Please contact WSC with any queries regarding specific films.

4 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 5 GET Stewarding How to Find Us INVOLVED In return for WITH Can you smile and give helping out at just change from a tenner? Can one film a fortnight WSC you spare a little of your time before watching a film you and a friend AND SEE for free? If so then can see WSC films stewarding is for you. FILMS FOR for Free FREE!

Projecting DM-ing Projecting is at the core of the Social Evening society and is probably the and General most rewarding job. You will be shown the principles of film Meeting Duty Managers are projection and how all the responsible for the equipment works. Your admission and safety of the training consists of projecting Tuesday of every audience at each show. a public show every fortnight, Even Week They organise the under close supervision until stewards, check ticket sales you qualify to project on your starting at 7.15pm and bank the takings after own. in L3 the show.

For more information on these and other areas of WSC with which you can become involved, Warwick Student Cinema is situated off the science concourse just come along to a General Meeting! over the bridge from the library Visit the WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA website: www.filmsoc.warwick.ac.uk

• News • Reviews of the term’s films • Suggest a film for next term • • Technical Information • Links to other Student Cinemas • and much more!

6 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 7 WEEK 21 Director: Catherine Hardwicke harmless experimentation into something Director: Anthony Minghella counterbalances him as the woman he loves, EK22 WEEK Starring: Evan Rachel Wood darker, with more serious consequences, Starring: Jude Law left to fend for herself in a world that has Holly Hunter Melanie finds her daughter change under the Nicole Kidman suddenly turned on its head. As her man begins Nikki Reed pressures of a new friend. However, she is too Renée Zellweger his odyssey home from the front lines, Deborah Ungers involved in the rest of her life to act Kidman’s Penelope is forced to grow from girl preventatively, and their close relationship starts Find The Strength. Find The Courage. No to woman, and in the process protect herself It’s Happening So Fast to strain. Matter What It Takes... Find The Way Home and those around her from the lawless lawman who has taken control of the sleepy Cold Tracy (Wood) is an innocent 13-year old LA Debut director Catherine Hardwicke shows off Cold Mountain is one of those films that comes Mountain. schoolgirl who hangs out with a couple of her experience as a production designer with an simply oozing pedigree: from the director of unpopular girls from her neighbourhood but accomplished piece of film-making. Reed’s The English Patient, starring last year’s Best Cold Mountain is a film ripe with incident and desperately wants to be part of the cool group. semi-autobiographical screenplay was written Actress, and based both on a Pulitzer Prize character, flowing seamlessly from one When she notices that the most popular and whilst she was having difficulty with Hardwicke winning novel AND one of the greatest works of encounter to the next, giving equal import to beautiful girl is Evie (Reed), she sets out to try dating her father, and is a mature, and at times, classical poetry. Surely then, it can be little more Law’s roaming soldier and Kidman’s to get to know and impress her. She soon wins cutting, piece of writing. Her acting is also than a blatant awards-grabber, another Miramax struggling farm girl. And each encounter Evie over with the theft of a woman’s purse, impressive, convincing as the bad girl Evie - in Trojan Horse sent into our midst to overwhelm layers the story with meaning, interlinking the and the two become inseparable. Soon, Evie contrast to her real-life role of Tracy. Both her us with its worthiness and intelligence? two lovers inextricably and exposing the leads Tracy down a path of shoplifting, drink, supporting actresses put in polished hypocrisies, brutalities and drugs, piercings, and sex. perfomances; Wood is excellent as the innocent everyday magic of existence, girl who self-destructs into an angst- factors that are as relevant now as ridden teen, whilst Hunter portrays her they were during the Civil War. character with gritty realism. You can’t help but feel her pain as she seems Anthony Minghella directs the film unable to control Tracy and looks set to as you would expect from an lose her. English teacher - this is a beautiful, heavily symbolic and deeply Thirteen is a tough and brutally honest, intelligent work, one that bristles if at times disturbing, look at some of with hidden meanings and visual the things that are happening to coding. That’s not to say that it’s teenagers today. Not an easy film to some kind of pretentious puzzle for watch but one that hits the mark with pedants, but rather that Cold tremendous force, quite literally, from Mountain is a film that has almost everything the start. Actually, Cold Mountain might well overwhelm a true cinephile could hope for. And, for action Tracy lives in a sprawling house with her you, but not with its worthiness, but rather with fans, it has one hell of an explosion… former alcoholic and divorced mother, its exemplary narrative structure, its layered Melanie (Hunter). Melanie runs a beauty Alex Coe storytelling, gorgeous photography and some Greg Taylor salon in her kitchen, and her house seems to be stunning performances from its high-profile a drop zone for friends, cast. Jude Law, in the least showy acquaintances, their children and but most important role, plays a Fri Sat 99 min Sun Tue 152 min their needs. As her daughter’s 23 24 USA/UK soldier sent to fight in the American 25 27 USA friendship with Evie develops from April April 2003 Civil War, while Nicole Kidman April April 2003 7·30pm 7·30pm 7·30pm 7·30pm

8 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 9 Director: Gary Fleder EK22 WEEK Starring: Gene Hackman Dustin Hoffman Rachel Weisz John Cusack WEEK 22 Director: Siddiq Barmak along, protected by her friend Espandi (Herati) Starring: Marina Golbahari but she’s always under the threat of discovery. Trials Are Too Important To Be Arif Herati Decided By Juries Zubaida Sahar The script and camerawork of Osama are clever and very skilful, giving us an intimate view of A bereaved widow hires lawyer To Save Her Family A Girl Must Become A the characters and situations, while disarmingly Wendell Rohr (Hoffman) to sue the Boy. Her Story Is True. Her Name Is Osama... natural performances make it feel almost like a gun company that made the weapon documentary. It’s a chilling examination of the used to kill her husband in an office Osama is the first full-length feature film made effective imprisonment of women under Taliban shooting where 11 people died. If in Afghanistan since the Taliban came to rule, not to mention being deprived of education this trial swings in her favour it and quiet consoler and this combination of power in 1996. It shouldn’t be mistaken for a and even basic freedoms. would be followed by thousands of other such film about the life and times of Osama bin personas ingeniously allows him to influence trials from the relatives of gun victims. Fearing his fellow jurors. The directing keeps the pace Laden, however. There’s a truth here that can’t be ignored - catch this, various gun companies club together to it on the cinema fast, withholding a lot of information at first, hire Rankin Fitch (Gene Hackman) who offers which maintains interest throughout. screen while you have to sell them a verdict by cleverly manipulating the chance! the jury. Nicholas Easter (Cusack) happens to The Grisham novel was originally about the play juror number 9, but isn’t all he first appears Percival Tucker tobacco industry but the story was altered for to be. Neither is his girlfriend Marlee (Weisz) this film because people started winning cases who is also trying to play the jury game and against tobacco companies quite regularly. offering to sell a verdict to both sides, but her This anti gun theme is probably the reason motives are ambiguous. why Runaway Jury was so heavily slated in the U.S. If you’re very pro-guns you might find Based on a John Grisham novel this film is a this film more a piece of Hollywood gripping story about three separate parties propaganda than a good story. Runaway Jury fighting for control over the opinions of some is a tense twisting film that can be highly everyday people. Not all of the parties are as This movie is the story of a fatherless 12-year- recommended for its acting alone, and the honest as they appear, and their methods differ story is pretty good too. old girl (Golbahari) who is forced to provide as much as their motives. food for her all-female family. The men of the Nicholas Grills family have all been killed in various wars, and The acting is probably the finest point of this under Taliban rule a woman is unable to travel film with its two Hollywood legends Hackman on her own, so her mother (Sahar) convinces and Hoffman fighting against each other. Weisz her to cut her hair and dress as a boy named is superb as a stealthy background Osama so they can go to work in their village. character whose role is intentionally Soon the Taliban come collecting boys for Wed 83 min Fri Sat 127 min Afg/Japan/Eire confusing at the beginning. Cusack USA religious education, and "Osama" is taken 28 30 1 April 2003 is a mixture of confident showman April May 2003 7·30pm 7·30pm 7·30pm

10 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 11 might’ve been coined specifically for their eventful descent. With one of them rendered almost immobile by a sharp fall, and with bad weather and bad navigation playing havoc with their minds, how could they possibly return home alive? Director: Lars von Trier first the arrangement works, but before long, Touching the Void places its cards squarely on Starring: Nicole Kidman as the human traits of lust, jealousy and hatred the table from the start by allowing the two Harriet Andersson begin to raise their ugly heads, the stakes begin climbers to narrate their story to the camera as Lauren Bacall to raise and suddenly Dogville becomes a very Director: Kevin MacDonald actors portray the events that almost destroyed threatening, dangerous place indeed, and

Starring: Nicholas Aaron their lives 18 years ago. This, however, takes A Quiet Little Town Not Far From Here events begin to move towards a tragic end. WEEK 23 Brendan Mackey nothing away from the sheer impossibility of the Joe Simpson situation that the two find themselves in as they Filmed entirely on a large stage, Dogville Simon Yates battle for their lives with little hope of victory. exudes smart confidence and dazzling insight. As the two friends give their accounts of the WEEK 23 Von Trier’s Brechtian revisioning of how The Closer You Are To Death, The More You horrors they faced on the mountain, we can but cinema can function, utilising novelistic Realise That You Are Alive wonder at the resilience of the human mind and flourishes such as chapter points and a wry body that allowed them to survive - it makes narrator reminiscent of George Eliot, makes It seems particularly getting through exam time look for typically thought-provoking cinema. And ironic that in a year of big like scaling a climbing frame. cinema it is, making fine use of the camera to budget horror movies and betray facial tics and expose the village’s high profile thrillers, the Kevin MacDonald avoids hypocrisy and corruption through expert most terrifying and anything even approaching Lars Von Trier is not a name one would readily framing and considered movements. exhilarating movie thus sentimentality, and similarly associate with easy cinema. The co-founder of far is a low budget docu- eschews bestowing any blame or the confrontational Dogme 95 manifesto, and With a film as inherently character based as drama about two blokes responsibility upon his feckless the director of the heartbreaking Dancer in the this, performances are key to success, and on a mountain. But, of subjects. Instead, he Dark and the divinely comic The Kingdom¸ Von Nicole Kidman, currently the most interesting course, it’s not just any concentrates on telling one hell Trier is not one to pull his punches, but also one A-List actress working, is exemplary as the mountain, and theirs is of a story, juxtaposing dizzying of the very few directors working today who tired, scared, tortured and ultimately not just any story - what spectacle with quiet moments of never refuses to deliver something resolutely, destructive Grace. Paul Bettany, cruising Touching the Void is is a introspection and self-valuation. breathtakingly different. And, praise be, towards Oscar glory, also shines as Grace’s masterpiece of subjective Touching the Void is action Dogville is yet another masterwork in the hopeful, ambitious suitor, while turns from documentation and the cinema on both a grand, and auteur’s oeuvre, a stunning, imaginative, and Lauren Bacall, Michael Gambon and Sonny depiction of human inherently tiny scale, and a film bleak sojourn into a very recognisable place Corleone himself add layers of talent and endurance, spread across that simply demands to be seen indeed. intertextual meanings to this deep and a canvas of intense dread on the biggest screen possible. powerful mix. Dogville is another masterpiece and implacable nature. Dogville is a village situated somewhere in the from a director who has yet to deliver an Greg Taylor American Rockies, a dying, insular skeleton of uninteresting film, one of those rare films that Simon Yates and Joe Simpson were two a habitation crawling slowly towards extinction. can make you rethink exactly what film can fanatic climbers back in 1985 when they One night gunshots are heard far off in the do. Thought-provoking, adult stuff. decided to attempt to scale the notoriously distance, and soon after a mysterious young unclimbable west face of the Siula Grande woman appears in the village, scared and Greg Taylor Mountain in the heart of the looking for shelter and sanctuary. After some perilous Andes. While their ascent deliberation, the denizens of Dogville agree to Sun Tue 106 min Wed 177 min was surprisingly unproblematic, it 2 4 UK take her in, but at a price - she must agree to 5 France seems that the term "Pete Tong" May May 2003 work for them all, just a little bit, every day. At May 2003 7·30pm 7·30pm 7·30pm

12 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 13 Director: Edward Zwick demonstrations of fighting and the samurai Director: Sofia Coppola deceptively intricate direction to convey a Starring: Tom Cruise mentality. Koyuki as Taka sensitively portrays Starring: Scarlett Johansson sense of both alienation and affirmation, and as Ken Watanabe the widow of a samurai Algren kills who has to Bill Murray such there are three people who deserve credit. William Atherton fight the shame of having Algren living under Akiko Takeshita Bill Murray, playing Bill Murray perfectly, Shin Koyamada her roof and whose feelings eventually brings the perfect sardonic edge to his transform into tenderness and love towards him. Everyone Wants To Be Found portrayal of a past-his-prime actor who is just In The Face On An Enemy, In The Heart Of The cinematography is excellent, from the doing his thang for fortune and glory, while One Man, Lies The Soul Of A Warrior beautiful scenery to the majestic-like Coming away from its small-scale Oscar Scarlett Johannsonn is divine as the young presentation of the samurai, especially when triumph and the critical adoration heaped upon wife ignored by her photographer husband.

WEEK 23 Director Zwick takes audiences back into the they emerge from the mist in their ornate it by the press, it is But the true kudos must EK24 WEEK 19th century as he did in Legends of the Fall armour. The fight scenes are the most perhaps high time to go to the waif-like Miss and Glory with this fantastic action-adventure impressive element of the film, especially when consider exactly what Coppola, who has film. Cruise stars as Nathan Algren, a you realise the impossible task the samurai face. it is about Lost In crafted a film of such confederate soldier in emotional Translation that so melancholy beauty that turmoil after being forced to commit captivated audiences it makes the heart ache. atrocities against Native Americans and intellectuals alike - From her charming during the civil war. To earn himself a after all, it is just an vistas of Mount Fuji to small fortune he agrees to go to Japan extended version of the fragmented editing to train the army in modern warfare so Before Sunrise in the which conveys the they can combat the samurai; revolting Far East, isn’t it? loneliness of her ancient warriors who oppose the characters so perfectly, Industrial Revolution taking place. Well, in fact, no it isn’t - for one thing, Lost In she nary puts a foot wrong - something one However, when Algren himself is Translation is not a romance in any airport could barely say about her father post- captured by the samurai he is immersed paperback sense of the term. Rather, it’s a Godfather Part II. into their highly-disciplined culture of delicately drawn portrait of two very different spirituality and honour, and has to people who have somehow managed to lose So what is it about Lost In Translation that just make his choice of who he will stand themselves in their own lives, cast adrift in works so well? I suspect it’s the fact that it is a and fight for. This film is not perfect and at times it is in Japan and lonely in a way it is only possible to film that never condescends to the viewer, danger of falling into predictable sentimentality be in a throbbing, endlessly crowded never indulging in crass sentimentality or easy The creators of this film have certainly taken a but the strength of the acting and impressive metropolis. Blessedly these two lost souls meet answers to complex questions. And, in dealing poetic licence in combining legend and history fight scenes bring it through in fine form. Just and form a bond which is as transitory as it is with the most widespread and painful of but the result is a rich and exciting lesson in to see the samurai take on canons and machine powerful, and begin to discover together both human emotions, it cannot but strike a chord heritage. Those dubious about Cruise in the guns with their medieval weapons puts you on the incredible country in which they find with even the most automaton-like of viewers. lead role will be relieved to see he carries the the edge of your seat and really does have to be themselves, and the emotions that make them As a filmic experience, Lost In Translation is film well, but the real cast strength comes from seen on the big screen. human. moving: as a piece of art, it is astounding. the samurai. Watanabe as the imposing warrior leader, Katsumoto is fantastic; he Hannah Upton Lost In Translation, while following a fairly Greg Taylor really did deserve his Oscar conventional narrative coding, nomination. Koyamada’s film doesn’t offer easy answers and trite Fri Sat Sun Tue 153 min resolutions, but instead relies on 101 min debut as Katsumoto’s son is also 7 8 USA/NZ/Japan 9 11 USA/Japan impressive with his skilful May May 2003 pitch perfect performances and May May 2003 7·30pm 7·30pm 7·30pm 7·30pm

14 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 15 Director: Michael Winterbottom The smuggler puts them on what is known as Director: Clark Johnson fugitive. Alex offers a $100 million reward on Starring: Jamal Udin Torabi The Silk Road, a long, and at times harrowing, Starring: Samuel L. Jackson television to anyone who frees him, and the Enayatullah journey through Iran, Turkey, Italy and France. Colin Farrell cops assume there will be a lot of escape Imran Paracha Short on money, lacking proper papers, and Michelle Rodriguez masterminds hoping to collect the reward. It’s Hiddayatullah forced to travel in trucks, lorries, and shipping LL Cool J up to Hondo and his team to safely escort the Jamau containers, the two boys find themselves at the prisoner to jail. mercy of the people-smugglers who make their Even Cops Dial 911 The Journey To Freedom Has No Borders living out of others’ misery. Soon they find that That it does not go smoothly goes without their route is littered with stolen cash, broken Who do the police call when they’re in trouble? saying. However, in an era when so many We are living in a time when more and more dreams and dead bodies. Well they call S.W.A.T. of course, who else? action flicks are a mindless assaults on your EK24 WEEK people are shunning the rat race and opting for The movie begins with a hostage situation gone intelligence, it works as something vaguely a quieter life in the country. Living off hefty With this film, Michael Winterbottom has wrong. A S.W.A.T. team member (Brian plausible and yet still entertaining. salaries makes way for created a striking living off the land, and addition to his portfolio, The director remains WEEK 24 the phrase "bringing which includes the faithful to the conventions home the bacon" takes on excellent Bosnian war of the genre while a whole new meaning movie, Welcome to sneaking in the occasional with the reliance on Sarajevo. Shot with a surprise to keep us off animal husbandry. small digital camera, balance, which makes the However, it’s easy to this film is not a film better than many of its forget that there are those documentary, although kind, with performances who already live in such many of the scenes being mostly serious, with circumstances and can’t were apparently taken dashes of humour thrown wait to get away from it. without the knowledge in for good measure. One But what is it about our stress-filled lives that of the people in them and has a real sense of of the best action movies these people want? Whatever it is, it’s enough urgency. The cast of unknowns do well, with of 2003; see it where it to risk their lives for. And then we realize the the lead Jamal Udin Torabi revealing a real belongs - on the big screen. ignorant and arrogant lives we’ve been living; character. Also, most of the dialogue is the luxury of taking survival for granted. improvised, based on a script from interviews with others who made the journey. Gamble) disobeys orders, enters a bank and Percival Tucker In this World tells the real-life story of Jamal wounds a hostage. He and his partner Jim Street Udin Torabi (played by himself), a 16-year-old This film shows that the struggle for survival is (Farrell) are offered demotions. Street accepts; Afghan boy who lives with his family in the common in every part of the world; it simply his partner leaves the force. Street, a talented Shamshatoo refugee camp in Pakistan. His takes a different shape or form. A stark, officer and a great shot, is spotted by the cousin Enayatullah (Enayatullah) is sent to intelligent, and essential film to see. legendary veteran Hondo Harrelson (Jackson), London and because Jamal speaks English, he and chosen for his hand-picked elite S.W.A.T. is allowed to go along as a translator and Alex Coe team. companion. The two make a deal with a human-trafficker, betting their borrowings and A routine traffic stop leads to the Wed 89 min Fri Sat 117 min life savings on a one-way ticket to London, 12 UK unexpected arrest of Alex (Olivier 14 15 USA where another cousin is waiting for them. May 2002 Martinez), an internationally wanted May May 2003 7·30pm 7·30pm 7·30pm

16 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 17 Director: Michael Winterbottom Although many people have argued that nothing Director: John Crowley look like they’re having a ball and this shows Starring: Samantha Morton actually happens in this film, I would argue that Starring: Colin Farrell through the energy they possess and give Paddy Considine it is precisely scenes such as these which make Cillian Murphy throughout the film. Djimon Hounsou it well worth seeing. It is a film very much true Kelly Macdonald to life, the beauty of which lies in every In America, one of Empire’s Top 25 Films of moment, and doesn’t require an action-packed Life Is What Happens In Between 2003, is the heart-warming tale of an Irish story line to make it work. All of the cast’s couple and their two daughters who illegally performances are exemplary, and it is no wonder When the desperately insecure and emotionally emigrate to New York City in search of a better than Morton and Hounsou were both nominated inarticulate John (Murphy, 28 Days Later) life. However, before they can fully embrace at this year’s Academy Awards for their roles. breaks up with Deirdre (Macdonald) to ‘give her the challenges and wonders of their a little test,’ his plan backfires leaving her new home, they must cope with and broken-hearted and him alone and miserable. triumph over the emotional wounds of Through chance and coincidence, their break-up a past sorrow that haunts each of them triggers a roller coaster ride of interweaving

- the death of son, Frankie. escapades in the lives of everyone around them. With eleven plotlines, each worthy of its own 25 WEEK Intermission presents a slice of life, the passage film, the audience is never lost, instead, Whilst the father, Johnny (Considine), between breaking up and making up, exploring craving more. While films, such as Love auditions for theatre roles and mother, how our lives intersect, and the power we all Actually, did some heavy lifting to connect its

WEEK 25 Sarah (Morton), works in a local diner possess to affect the lives of those around us wide-ranging plotlines, InterMission brings its to make ends meet, the two young many characters together with seeming girls, Christy and Ariel, befriend effortlessness and no shortage of delightful, terminally-ill, temperamental artist, often rude, quintessentially Irish throwaway Mateo (Hounsou). Much of this humour. Even a seemingly insignificant funny poignant movie is seen through the detail like John’s addiction to brown sauce in eyes of the two girls, one of whom his coffee plays a key role in the story. through her camcorder, keeps a video diary of Writer and director, Jim Sheridan, famous for sorts. It is through this camcorder that films such as My Left Foot and In the Name of The film successfully portrays violence, audiences are charmed by the transformation the Father, has once again surpassed himself in humour, and touching little moments about of Mateo from an angry, bitter man dying of this loosely autobiographical story of memory, love and the lengths people will go to get it. AIDS, to a man of hope, who realizes that secrets, love, loss and starting over. In America Gritty ensemble movies with interlocking Although the film was successful in America, there is still some good in the world. is one of the nicest films I have seen in a very stories have become commonplace in recent it did not get the release or promotion it long time. years, and most of them have been at best rightfully deserved in Britain. Nevertheless, A particularly brilliant scene is one near the tolerable. But the Irish Pulp Fiction, if you will, this sleeper is proof that a small budget doesn’t beginning of the film, where the family Ricky Anthony Wyatt succeeds the majority for its believable matter when you’ve got a terrific script and venture out into the city funfair. Johnny portrayal of urban life, through its script, great acting to bring it to life. intends to win a cuddly toy for his daughters, direction and superb cast. As usual, Farrell is but before he knows it, is sucked into the magnetic as ever in a thoroughly disreputable Phil Lurie game, with the scene climaxing in him part (including a real shock in his first few gambling with the family’s entire savings. minutes of screen time). He even manages to Sun 105 min Tue 105 min 16 Eire/UK pull off an inspired rendition of ‘I Fought the 18 Eire/UK May 2002 Law’ during the end credits. The rest of the cast May 2003 7·30pm 7·30pm

18 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 19 Director: David Zucker only to humiliate the performers, Zucker goes Starring: Pamela Anderson for a lighter, sillier method of attack and uses Jenny McCarthy every comic style in his arsenal in order to score Marny Eng laughs. Yes, there are gross-out gags but he also Charlie Sheen mixes things up with stupid jokes, elaborate Simon Rex parodies and genuinely sophisticated wordplay.

You’ll Die To See These Rings Another reason why Scary Movie 3 works is that they have finally chosen the right films to Scary Movie 3 is a surprisingly amusing film: parody. Instead of simply concentrating on one one of the funniest of the last year. Sure, it’s film, Scary Movie 3 comes up with a story (to silly, tasteless, infantile, disgusting, and all but use the term loosely) that manages to inexplicable to anyone who isn’t familiar with incorporate elements from The Ring, The American schlock-horror and thrillers. Of Others, Signs, The Matrix Reloaded and 8 Mile. course, it’s filled with barf jokes, boob jokes, These are actually good selections because they sex jokes, cheap shots, were films that were slapstick and puns so genuinely enjoyed by a awful that you laugh at large audience and they

WEEK 25 them not because they were filled with just are funny but because enough self-seriousness someone actually had so as to be ripe for the nerve to say satire. something so stupid out loud. In a film like All Scary Movie 3 Scary Movie 3, though, wants to do is make you such descriptions are laugh by any means less complaints than necessary and, on the badges of honour and this film wears every whole, it succeeds. You have plenty of single one of them proudly. opportunities in the current Student Cinema season to watch profound films about the human There are several reasons why this film works condition. Those are all well and good but there in ways that the other episodes simply didn’t. are times when you would simply prefer dumb The main change this time around is that the laughs to the self-seriousness other offerings. Wayans have been replaced by David Zucker, Scary Movie 3 more than fits that particular bill. whose experience in the film parody genre can be demonstrated by such classics as Airplane! Percival Tucker and The Naked Gun series. The immediate difference is one of approach; while the jokes in the previous Fri Sat 84 min films tended to focus on disgusting 21 22 USA sight gags seemingly designed May May 2003 7·30pm 7·30pm

20 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 SSUMMERUMMER TTERMERM 20042004 FFILMILM SSEASONEASON WWW. FILMSOC. W ARWICK. AC. UK

SUNDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 7·30PM 7·30PM 7·30PM 7·30PM 7·30PM WEEK

21 Thirteen

22 Cold Mountain Osama Runaway Jury

23 Touching the Void Dogville The Last Samurai

24 Lost in Translation In This World S.W.A.T.

25 In America Intermission Scary Movie 3

26 American Splendor The Dreamers School of Rock

The Fighting The Human Stain Big Fish 27 Temptations

28 Elephant Infernal Affairs The Missing

29 House of Sand and Fog My Life Without Me 21 Grams

30 Along Came Polly Something’s Gotta Give Dead End Programme subject to change without notice

www.accenture.com/ukgraduates Directors: Shari Springer Berman his unremarkable working-class Cleveland Robert Pulcini life, a warts-and-all self-portrait. First Starring: Paul Giamatti published in 1976, the comic which Harvey Pekar relentlessly documents the ghastly realities of Hope Davis day-to-day life, earnt Pekar cult fame Judah Friedlander throughout the 1980s, culminating in his appearance on The David Letterman Show. Ordinary Life Is Pretty Complex Stuff Filmed in the grainy, washed-out hues of a American Splendor charts the rise and fall of typical 70’s American movie, it is anchored by Harvey Pekar (Giamatti & a brilliant performance from Pekar), a neurotic, jazz- Giamatti. The know-the-face- loving, serial divorcee who not-the-name character actor has would give Woody Allen a long deserved a leading role, and run for his money. manages to capture a unique, unusual character without being Pekar is a local hospital patronising or sentimental. file clerk, where his

interactions with his co- Sweet, funny and a bit leftfield, 26 WEEK workers offer some relief American Splendor blurs the from the monotony; their boundaries between documentary discussions encompass and drama, creating something everything from music to striking and original. Part of this the decline of American is down to how Pekar is portrayed culture to new flavours of on screen - in three dimensions: jellybeans and life itself. by an actor (Giamatti); as At home, he fills his days cartoon/comic book caricatures; with reading, writing and and by himself - looking on at the listening to jazz. His apartment is filled with fictionalised recreation of his life and thousands of books and records, and he providing the movie’s voiceovers whilst regularly scours Cleveland’s thrift stores and answering personal questions. garage sales for more, savouring the rare joy of a cheap find. It is at one of these junk sales that A wonderful examination of the complexities he meets Robert Crumb, a greeting card artist of ordinary life, told by a complex and and fellow music enthusiast. ordinary man, Harvey Pekar.

When, years later, Crumb finds international Alex Coe success for his underground comics, the idea that comic books can be a valid art form for Sun 101 min adults inspires Pekar to write his own brand of 23 USA comic book - a truthful, unsentimental record of May 2003 7·30pm

WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 21 Director: Bernardo Bertolucci them as obsessed, insular and self-destructive Director: Richard Linklater Starring: Michael Pitt individuals whose socially stunted existence is Starring: Jack Black Eva Green desperately at odds with the wave of change Joan Cusack Louis Garrel permeating the zeitgeist of the time. Though Mike White thankfully the film is not obsessed with Sarah Silverman Together Anything Is Possible. Together negativity - for all their failings the characters Nothing Is Forbidden are resolutely interesting people, and portray For Those About To Rock... I Salute You well the gleeful and painful truths of teen love, Over thirty years ago, director Bernardo lust and growth. Dewey Finn (Black - best known for his scene- Bertolucci shocked the world with stealing role as sweaty music-snob Barry in On paper this has the predictable formula of the help of Don Corleone, Maria High Fidelity) is self-anointed rock and roll god, every other Mighty Ducks-esque film where a Schneider and a knob of Utterly but when his band fire him for his OTT stage group of misfit kids come good under the Butterly. With The Dreamers, the antics all hopes of winning a regional Battle of guidance of an adult who believes in them. dirty old man is up to his old tricks the Bands contest go out the window. That is However, this is a lot better than expected and again, releasing a film that until he takes a phone call for substitute-teacher is full of laugh out loud moments, including whipped up a furore across the flatmate Ned and decides to impersonate him to Dewey handing out AC/DC, Led Zeppelin and pond and was tagged with the earn some cash. In his position at the elite prep The Who CDs for homework. Jack Black as dreaded, commercially suicidal school Dewey realises he can’t fob the class off the lead is utterly convincing and as real-life

NC-17 rating for "Explicit Sexual with day-long recess but when he learns a rocker in Tenacious D, all Dewey’s passion is 26 WEEK Content". Student ears the world handful of them are talented musicians he clearly shared by the actor. The rest of the cast over pricked up… embarks on a mission to teach them how to are on fine form, especially the kids with rock. Coming up against the stressed-out school whom Black has a natural rapport. Joan And, true to say, The Dreamers Cusack as the Principal is also funny but WEEK 26 isn’t averse to lingering over the essentially the cast are eclipsed by Black’s bodies of its three young stars, enormous presence. playing a trio of students who go to ground in Explicit though The Dreamers undoubtedly is, it Paris in the late 1960s and experience an is also a beautifully crafted, genuinely This film is essentially a Jack Black showcase insular, borderline-perverse sexual awakening intelligent film that, despite its credentials, for his talent and infectious passion for old that threatens to shut out the revolution that is should have appeal outside of the art-house school rock. A natural performer he is totally taking place in the streets around them. market. Its heady mixture of joyful exuberance at ease in the spotlight and it is a joy to sit back Michael Pitt, playing the film buff American and melancholy remembrance of time past and watch. The plot may be far-fetched and who is unceremoniously integrated into the cumulates in a moment of transcendent sadness, the thought of a man getting into a classroom playful, possibly incestuous world of brother and leaves us aware that the more things change, under a false identity is, well, you know. and sister Isabelle and Theo, brings just the the more they stay the same. A powerful, erotic principal (Cusack), his flatmates -personality- However, this is harmless fun for young and right edge of youthful lust and wide-eyed and uncompromising work. devoid Ned and his uber-bitch girlfriend, and old and the soundtrack is amazing; a must see. wonder to a role which is both demanding and eventually a mob of angry parents who believed revealing. Greg Taylor their kids are being abused, Dewey conducts a Hannah Upton covert operation of entering the kids Full of references that will thrill the film buff, Tue in the Battle of the Bands Fri Sat The Dreamers uses its references as a way of 114 min 109 min 25 UK/Fra/Ita/USA competition for the $25,000 prize. 28 29 USA/Germany demythologising its own characters, exposing May 2003 May May 2003 7·30pm 7·30pm 7·30pm

22 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 23 Director: Jonathan Lynn Director: Robert Benton contrived life came unravelled. The story Starring: Cuba Gooding Jr Starring: Anthony Hopkins unfolds through carefully orchestrated and Beyoncé Knowles Nicole Kidman well developed recollections. They reveal Faith Evans Ed Harris what led the young Coleman to choose the Gary Sinise path he has, one of denial of self. Don’t Fight The Feeling How Far Would You Go To Escape The Past? The Human Stain is an emotional drama, About to land a big account, a featuring powerful performances, as expected, top advertising executive The Human Stain is a version of the final novel from the all-star cast. Anthony Hopkins and (Gooding) is fired for lying and in the Philip Roth trilogy that began with Nicole Kidman are brilliant as the key players, finds himself in debt. On the run, American Pastoral and continued with I with good support from Gary Sinise and Ed his grandmother dies and so he Married a Communist, featuring Roth’s novelist Harris. But what strikes you first are the returns to his southern town alter-ego, Nathan Zuckerman. It follows the voices drawing you in. Hopkins’ recognisable roots where he learns that, if he story of Coleman Silk (Hopkins), a tone is as seductive as ever, but it is Kidman becomes the choir director and distinguished Jewish classics professor at a with a weary huskiness that is most surprising. enters the Gospel Explosion in Atlanta, he will should be given praise as a credible actress and prestigious New England college. His life takes Sinise’s narration, as Zuckerman, is inherit $150,000. Unfortunately the choir soulful songstress. Her performance of ‘Fever’ a turn for the worse when he inadvertently straightforward, reflecting his character’s open leaves a lot to be desired and he has to start is scorching and the tensions between her ‘R&B racially slurs a couple of his students, who conversations with Silk. recruiting. Among the new recruits are three sex music’ and the old fashioned choir members demand an apology. With no support from his prisoners, a barbershop quartet, and, more allow for some fantastic one-liners. If you’re not academic colleagues against the claims, he Alex Coe importantly, a sinner (Knowles) from the local a fan of her and her bootylicious ways, you will resigns, an event which brings night club. Will she win over the community soon be converted. Hallelujah! on the death of his wife. with her voice? Will the choir win the contest? Where’s Whoopi Goldberg when you need The plot is formulaic, love blooms between the Following the death of his 27 WEEK her? leads, but this is only used as a platform in spouse, widower Silk embarks between the musical routines, which will have on a passionate affair with OK, so the links to Sister Act are quite obvious you rocking in the aisles… or at least tapping Faunia Farely (Kidman), a

WEEK 27 from the start: city big-shot on the run escapes your feet. You may not believe that gospel middle-aged cleaning lady at the to a small community, builds up a choir from music saves the soul of a greedy advertising college, who has a grim past and scratch and teaches (and learns) a thing or two executive, but it certainly makes this movie one violent ex-husband. When his about how much fun life can really be. And to watch. scandalous affair is uncovered, plenty of morals are thrown in for good the secret Silk had harboured measure. Yes, it may be predictable but this is Can I get an Amen with that! from his wife, his children and equally a feel-good film; perfect for the exam colleague, writer Zuckerman season. Phil Lurie (Sinise) for fifty years, explodes in a conflagration of devastating Cuba Gooding is back on track after a long line consequences. It is Zuckerman who stumbles of flops since his Oscar win for Jerry Maguire, upon Silk’s secret, and sets out to reconstruct the and the rest of the cast provide strong musical unknown biography of this eminent, upright Sun 123 min Tue 104 min and comic talent. However, Beyoncé stands 30 USA man, esteemed as an educator for nearly all his 1 USA/Ger/Fra out from the crowd, or should I say choir, and May 2003 life, and to understand how this ingeniously June 2003 7·30pm 7·30pm

24 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 25 Director: Tim Burton returns to his father’s deathbed to try and finally Director: Gus Van Sant slimming, the students at this school seem Starring: Ewan McGregor piece together the truth of his life. But, of Starring: Alex Frost perfectly normal, except for two boys, Alex Albert Finney course, the truth is a notoriously subjective and Eric Deulen (Frost) and Eric (Deulen). Acting without any Danny DeVito slippery thing, and fact and fiction seems to blur John Robinson remorse, rage, bitterness or obvious emotion of Jessica Lange. as we see Ed’s past life through his own eyes, Elias McConnell any kind, they arrive at school with suspicious- taking in tales of giants, murderous trees, the looking bags. An Adventure As Big As Life Itself saddest town in the world, parachute raids on An Ordinary High School Day. Except That It’s Vietnam, deep and abiding friendship, and most Not In flashbacks that are virtually Tim Burton is one of the few visionary auteurs importantly, true love. indistinguishable from the present, we see this who is still thriving within the parameters of There is a school of thought which says that the pair of outsiders prepare for their massacre. the Hollywood studio system, no doubt due to And it is this love that pushes Big Fish into a rise in increasingly violent What to others will seem the fact that his unique world vision usually league of its own - Burton’s love for gorgeous human behaviour is heavily like random slaughter is to means big bucks for the man behind the desk. visuals, the characters’ love for one another, and influenced by increasingly them a meticulously planned Happily, though, with Big Fish, Burton has our love for a story that makes us remember the violent action-films, but is it military exercise. resisted the pandering displayed in his beautiful things in life. As Will’s voyage of as clear cut as this and could it underrated, though distinctly below-par Planet discovery moves towards its emotional and be a case of the chicken vs the Van Sant himself admits to of the Apes remake, and has fashioned a uplifting end, it’s impossible not to be moved as egg? Certainly, this film not knowing why the two beautiful, lyrical and deeply moving tale of everything harmonises in a unique and tearful portrays an incident not killers acted like they did, love, loss, family and the great human art of symphony - the music, the imagery, the acting dissimilar as that which and this film provoked lots story-telling, and as such has perhaps created (Ewan McGregor is perfect), the gentle, happened at Columbine High, of debate upon its original his greatest cinematic triumph - something unobtrusive direction and the sense that this Littleton, Colorado, USA. release. Even more so when truly Burtonesque. really is a one-of-a-kind movie. The only violence in this film this film picked up the is that many innocent people Palme d’Or and the best Big Fish is absolutely one of those are shot dead; it isn’t violent director award at Cannes. It films that has to be seen on the big in the way it presents those offers no explanation for the screen - its scope as wide reaching deaths. tragedy, no insights into the as a man’s dreams. As close to psyches of the killers, no WEEK 27 flawless as a big budget The title is taken from Alan theories about teenagers or 28 WEEK Hollywood film can be, it would Clarke’s Elephant, a BBC TV society or guns or be tantamount to a crime to refuse film that presented, without psychopathic behaviour. to be seduced by one of the most any commentary, a succession beautiful films to grace the of killings in Northern Ireland and this is the This is an excellent example of storytelling - a screens in some time. Don’t let it only indication of what might happen. The film you should not miss! get away… unassuming nature of this film starts with the tracking of various students and staff as they Alex Coe Greg Taylor arrive at the school and go about their daily routines, and continues with long tracking shots; Will Bloom is tired of the the film simply watches the day’s events unfold. ridiculous stories told by his Fri Sat 124 min Sun 81 min ageing father, and after cutting off 4 5 USA From the bespectacled librarian girl to the trio of 6 USA direct contact for several years he June June 2003 popular girls obsessed with friendship and June 2003 7·30pm 7·30pm 7·30pm

26 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 27 Directors: Andy Lau Living secretive lives, each man endures his Director: Ron Howard finding it impossible to make a bad film, is Alan Mak own personal hell. Yan yearns to regain his Starring Cate Blanchett brilliant as always, showing much dynamism Starring: Andy Lau normal, moral life, while the once-scandalous Tommy Lee Jones and accuracy in her portrayal of the strong- Tony Leung Ming aches to relinquish this now forced role of Aaron Eckhart willed Maggie. Eric Tsang informant and become a true police officer. Anthony Wong How Far Would You Go, How Much Would You What is particularly brilliant about The Hong Kong cinema has come a long way since Sacrifice To Get Back What You Have Lost? Missing is its combination of genres. Sub-plots There have been some excellent cops and the low-on-plot, high-on-action fightfests from such as Maggie’s quiet grievance for her robbers match-ups in the crime thriller genre in Bruce Lee, and the low-on-feasible plot, high- The Missing is an action-packed drama set in murdered lover and frustration with her recent years, from Al Pacino and Robert De on-slapstick-action fightfests from Jackie Chan. 19th century New Mexico. Samuel (Jones) previously-absent father combine with scenes Niro (in Michael Mann’s Heat) to John Infernal Affairs is a gripping and thoroughly returns to his home town where he hopes to of fast-paced action and even witchcraft. As Travlota and Nicolas entertaining thriller, daring reconcile with his now adult daughter, Maggie, aforementioned, Blanchett and Jones’ acting is Cage (in John Woo’s to challenge the creativity (Blanchett) for leaving many years ago. At first, sublime throughout, but no action film is Face/Off). Now it’s the and slick production values Maggie wants none of it, but when her partner complete without its fearsome enemy. The turn of Andy Lau and of the US. (Eckhart) is killed and one of her daughters is kidnappers, attempting to escape over the Tony Leung. Almost kidnapped by a group of savage Apaches, she is border into Mexico to sell the girls that they unknown outside of Infernal Affairs was forced to work with him to remain hot on the have captured, are led by a hideous Apache, their native Hong Kong, originally censored by the kidnappers’ tracks. capable of casting spells, one of which delays they are the equivalents Chinese authorities, who Maggie’s pursuit. of Brad Pitt and were unhappy with the Leonardo DiCaprio in emotionally powerful Despite missing out on this year’s Academy terms of their stature and ending, but this has did not Awards nominations, arguably because it was recognition in the Hong Kong film industry. deter the producers from making two follow-up released at the same time as films such as films. This film has also made noises in the US, Lost in Translation and Master and Infernal Affairs follows the story of Yan where Brad Pitt has bought the English- Commander, Ron Howard’s The Missing (Leung) and Ming (Lau); fellow cadets in the language remake rights, and is expected to star, really is nothing short of amazing. At last, Hong Kong police force. But this is not your having lined up Martin Scorsese to direct. cinema goers get the sort of action film they

usual good-cop, bad-cop routine. Yan is Hopefully though, Hollywood will stick to the have been impatiently waiting for. This really 28 WEEK thrown out of training college in disgrace but original plot and not carry out an act of celluloid is not to be missed. offered a reprise as an undercover mole by crime like they did with The Ring. Superintendent Wong (Wong), to infiltrate the Ricky Anthony Wyatt triad gang led by Sam (Tsang). Ming, on the One of the most popular and successful films in WEEK 28 other hand, was placed into the police training recent Hong Kong cinema history finally makes programme as an undercover mole by Sam, to its way to the UK and to Warwick Student help sabotage the missions on his cocaine Cinema - do not miss this excellent film! In my opinion, this film sees Tommy Lee Jones dealings. Both rise through the ranks, and regain his status as one of Hollywood’s finest when the police suspect a mole in their midst, Alex Coe actors of today. He goes far beyond his acting it is Ming who is allocated into the Internal duties, even learning the native Affairs bureau to find the culprit, and who language to make his role all the Tue 100 min Fri Sat 136 min subsequently carries out a character 8 Hong Kong more convincing. Cate Blanchett, an 11 12 USA assassination on Superintendent Wong. June 2002 actress possessing the rare gift of June June 2003 7·30pm 7·30pm 7·30pm

28 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 29 California shore. She neglects warnings from the county, the house is put up for auction, and it is purchased by Massoud (Kingsley), an Iranian immigrant who was a colonel in the Shah’s air force but now works two jobs to support his family, and dreams that this house is the first step in rebuilding the lives of his wife Director: Isabel Coixet performances. As an audience, we are so and son. Starring: Sarah Polley accustomed to lacquered perfection in screen Scott Speedman actresses that Polley’s own beauty, striking Into the lives of these two people comes a third, Mark Ruffalo whilst unconventional, seems fresh and Director: Vadim Perelman Lester Burdon (Eldard), the deputy sheriff who endearing. The integrity to her looks and her Starring: Jennifer Connelly evicts Kathy but is touched by her grief, then Ann, 23 years old, lives a modest life with her acting allows for an unspoken pact she Ben Kingsley stirred by her beauty. If we are keeping score, two kids and husband in a trailer in her mother’s establishes with the viewer. Ron Eldard then it’s his fault for what eventually happens. It garden. Her life takes a dramatic turn, is fair enough to fight for your home and family, when her doctor tells her that she has Some Dreams Can’t Be Shared but not fair to misuse your uniform - not even if uterine cancer and only two months to your excuse is love. live. Realising that her life will never It’s rare to find a film that doesn’t take sides. be the same she embarks alone on the Conflict is said to be the basis of popular To admire a story you must be willing to listen journey to the end, determined to fully fiction, and yet here is a film that seizes us to the people and observe them, and at the end live the time she has left, tie up any with its first scene and never lets go, and we of House of Sand and Fog, we have seen good loose ends in her own life, and hope to feel sympathy all the way through for people with good intentions who have their lives make preparations to enable everyone everyone in it. They sometimes do bad things, destroyed because they had the bad luck to else’s life to go on without her. Her but the movie understands them and their come across a weak person with shabby desires. list of things to do before she dies flaws. House of Sand and Fog sees into the And finally there is a kind of love and loyalty, includes falling in love with a lonely hearts of its characters, and loves and pities however strange to us, that reveals itself in man she once met in a laundrette. them. Massoud’s marriage, and must be respected. Burdened with her secret but liberated by her Both written and directed by Coixet, and co- It’s rare for a film to generate such new sense of control, Ann’s emotional journey produced by Almodovar, the theme of death is strong conflicting emotions as this leads her to unexpected places and gives her life a complex subject to explore, yet is handled one does, and the actors’ talents are new meaning: the tender moments, the volatile maturely. Additionally, the paradox that death largely responsible. You will come emotions she must keep inside, the recognition affects us all yet we know so little about it only away in awe; well worth a trip to that she has the power to understand and contributes to its intricacy. Given this, My Life the cinema. appreciate her own life. Without Me demonstrates stunningly how such a tragic event can have positive ramifications. Percival Tucker The premise screams out ’sad and poignant’, yet it succeeds in being a tale of hope. The film Phil Lurie doesn’t focus on her plight from a medical perspective or one of suffering, but as one of a 29 WEEK person coming to grips with the inevitable fact of human existence - death. But the film also serves as a reminder that if we don’t open our The story is simply told. Kathy (Connelly), a WEEK 29 eyes and look around we may miss life. recovering alcoholic, has been living alone since her husband walked out on her eight Polley (Go!) is impressive in her role as Ann, months ago. She’s fallen behind with the taxes Sun 124 min Tue 105 min USA bringing depth and powerful emotion to the Canada/Spain for her modest home that has a view of the 13 15 June 2003 character, backed up by excellent supporting June 2003 7·30pm 7·30pm

30 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 31 the viewer of every emotion. No single actor stands out as performances are equally as exceptional as each other, but credit should go to Watts, nominated for an Oscar, who seems to be getting better and better in every film. Secondly, and I believe what separates the film from other dramas, is Inarritu’s decision to Director: John Hamburg unsophisticated gross-out level that the other present scenes in no chronological order. Much Starring: Ben Stiller two used so well, and this is clearly Stiller’s like Memento, this can be argued as a piece of Jennifer Aniston forte. There is great chemistry between the interactive cinema which challenges its Hank Azaria leads and credit should be given to Aniston as audience to work out what is happening and to Phillip Seymour Hoffman she finally escapes the typecasting she has keep up with the plot. This allows the viewer to been trapped within up till now. Azaria shines feel involved; there is no sitting back and For The Most Cautious Man On Earth, Life Is (or rather, moons) as the nudist Frenchman, Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu relaxing to be had, which only makes the events About To Get Interesting but the star bringing the most laughs is Polly’s Starring: Sean Penn on screen more harrowing as they must also be visually-impaired ferret. Naomi Watts experienced by the watcher. Some would say that life is all about taking Benicio Del Toro chances. Not Reuben Feffer (Stiller); a man who The romance may be quite predictable, but Clea Duvall calculates risks for a living and is consumed with a few twists and turns on the way, you’ll with fears about his own safety every minute of be shocked, entertained and delightfully How Much Does Life Weigh? every day. Somehow he finds someone willing appalled at the lengths the cast go to for to marry him. Unfortunately, laughs. The supporting Paul Rivers (Penn) is desperately on the first day of the cast of weird and waiting for a heart transplant, honeymoon, his new bride wonderful personas add to Christina Peck (Watts) is a reformed cheats on him with a horny the film; especially junkie with a loving husband and two scuba instructor (Azaria). Reuben’s best friend girls, and Jack Jordan (Del Toro), is an Feffer cannot believe that (Hoffman) as an ego- ex-convict who has found in his someone whose world is centric once famous ‘star’ Christian faith the strength to raise a about getting things right believing himself to be family. These three characters are manages to get something so capable of playing both brought together by a terrible accident wrong. But, who would’ve leads in the production of that will change their lives. By the final frame, As smart as it is observant, 21 Grams will stick thought, along comes Polly! A Jesus Christ Superstar. none of them will be the same as they learn in your mind for days after, and it will only former schoolmate turned free harsh truths about love, faith, courage, desire leave when you accept that a simple event can spirit, she allows Feffer to If you want a good and guilt, and how chance can change our affect so many people’s lives. have a chance at living life all comedy, Along Came Polly worlds irretrievably, forever. over again. Over several will make you laugh the Twenty-one grams. The weight of a stack of five dates, Polly (Aniston) teaches whole way through. It Nominated for several Oscars, Inarritu has nickels. The weight of a chocolate bar. The him how to have fun, and seems a Stiller movie is created a masterpiece which outweighs weight of a hummingbird. If this is the weight jokes based around toilets and Stiller good way to spend Amores Perros, and this is no mean feat. Many we lose at death, how much is gained in life? spanking ensue. When an evening. themes can be drawn from this film but it Feffer’s wife returns, he has to appears that the notion of reformation, which Phil Lurie make the hardest decision of Phil Lurie all three characters face at some point in the his life: return to her or risk everything for Polly. film, is questioned most of all. WEEK 29 EK30 WEEK Stiller once again has teamed up with the The film succeeds on two levels. creators of the comedy hits There’s Something Firstly, the script and the acting are Fri Sat Sun USA 124 min about Mary and Meet the Parents, and this USA 90 min superb. Powerful scenes will drain 18 19 20 June June 2003 movie is no exception. The humour is still at the June 2004 7·30pm 7·30pm 7·30pm

32 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 33 building her way up to Hollywood stardom; although at the moment she’s best known as Bruce Willis’ daughter who dated Ross in Friends.

Clocking in at a brisk 83 minutes, Dead End Director: Nancy Meyers no exception. Although it has to be said that has no superfluous scenes. It’s a taut suspense Starring: Jack Nicholson some of the love triangles in the film do seem thriller from beginning to end, employing all manner of gimmicks and tricks to scare the Diane Keaton somewhat unlikely! Romance between the, Director: Jean-Baptiste Andrea Keanu Reeves ahem, more mature is not often made the subject audience. Half scary movie and half comedy, Starring: Ray Wise the movie will make you laugh and jump at the Frances McDormand of a romantic comedy and many of the laughs Alexandra Holden Amanda Peet are generated as a result of this casting. same time. Although the film isn’t operating Lin Shaye on a big budget, the visuals are nevertheless impressive. Taking place entirely in one lonely Jack Nicholson stars as Harry, a For the past 20 years, Frank Harrington has night on a single stretch of asphalt highway womanising 63 year old who never grudgingly driven his family to celebrate flanked by a sea of trees, the film thrives from dates women over 30. At the opening Christmas with his mother-in-law. This year, he a tight script that knows where it wants to go of the film he is enjoying a weekend takes a shortcut and the nightmare begins. A and how to get there. Where it really differs away with his young girlfriend at her mysterious woman in white lurches out of the and overshadows other horror films is its mother’s beach house in the shadows and sends the Harringtons spinning canny exploration of Hamptons. Their romantic plans into a dark vortex family dynamics. Perhaps begin to go awry when her divorced from which there Andrea is trying to playwright mother Erica (Keaton) and seems to be no comment that the aunt also arrive on the scene. Erica is escape. Signposts complex nature of family understandably unimpressed that her point to a town that is far scarier than any daughter is dating a renowned never materialises, monster ever could be. bachelor more than twice her age frustration turns to leading to some awkward moments. panic, and every time Dead End may not be Things become even worse when they stop, a hearse Harry suffers a heart attack... So, it may be predictable and formulaic but what outstandingly original, or appears and whisks much different from other did you expect from a romantic comedy? one of them away. To He finds himself being cared for by Erica and Having said that, there are enough twists and films in its genre. make matters worse, Nevertheless, it holds the local doctor Julian (Reeves). Unable to travel turns to keep things interesting and there are the already strained until he recovers, Harry is left living alone some truly hilarious moments. The film boasts a same shock factor, dry relationships between wit and twists that fans of with Erica. This is a situation that pleases very strong cast and doesn’t disappoint, husband and wife, neither of them! Obviously they hate one although some of the minor characters do seem scary movies live for. brother and sister, and Dead ends may be a nuisance for the another initially but, despite their differences, a little under used. Diane Keaton and Jack boyfriend and girlfriend are stretched to they are drawn together as time passes. Nicholson provide particularly good Harrington family, but for the audience, breaking point. The survivors succumb to panic, watching them get there is the fun part. performances in the lead roles. to madness; deeply buried secrets burst to the Harry’s relationship with Erica’s daughter is an surface. We’ve known it all along, and this film Phil Lurie initial obstacle to their blossoming romance. If you’re looking for a fun, feel good movie then only helps to prove, that Christmas with the Things are further complicated by Erica’s you can’t go too far wrong with this one. family can turn into a living hell. relationship with Harry’s handsome, young

doctor who is a big fan of her work and is Paul Morris For a horror film, the acting is surprisingly 30 WEEK instantly attracted to her. excellent. Ray Wise has a beleaguered, slightly Tue 128 min creepy family man act down to near perfect. It Wed 83 min Writer and director Nancy Meyers knows how 22 USA seems as if Holden, very good in this, is 23 France/USA to make crowd pleasing movies and this film is June 2003 June 2003 WEEK 30 WEEK 7·30pm 7·30pm

34 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 35 YOUR MESSAGE HERE If you can read this, then so can your To vote for the films you want to see members! next term, visit the Advertise your club or society events with the Student Cinema and reach a Warwick Student Cinema website potential audience of thousands! For some of the most competitive www.filmsoc.warwick.ac.uk rates on campus, contact us. Email [email protected] or email for more information. [email protected]

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36 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SPRING 2004 37 Radio Warwick

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38 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 WARWICK STUDENT CINEMA SUMMER 2004 39 END CREDITS Programming The Programming Committee Reviewers & Contributors Alex Coe, Greg Taylor, Percival Tucker, Nicholas Grills, Hannah Upton, Ricky Anthony Wyatt, Phil Lurie, Paul Morris Research Sources Empire, Total Film, Flicks, Inside Film, The Internet Movie Database (www.imdb.com), Image Net, PA Picselect Cover Design Alex Craig Graphics Andrew Maddison, Matthew Knight, 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 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 very big thank you to Emmersons for continually achieving the seemingly impossible!

The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Warwick Student Cinema Programme may be subject to change without notice Summer Season 2004 booklet Copyright © 2004 Warwick Student Cinema, all rights reserved