FEBRUARY 2020 THE PERSONAL HISTORY OF DAVID COPPERFIELD “velveteen glamour and brilliant programming...” (The Guardian) “possibly Britain’s most beautiful cinema..” (BBC) FEBRUARY 2020 • ISSUE 179 www.therexberkhamsted.com 01442 877759 Mon-Sat 10.30-6.30pm Sun 4.30-5.30pm BEST IN FEBRUARY CONTENTS Films At A Glance 18-19 Rants & Pants 25-27 BOX OFFICE: 01442 877759 1917 Mon to Sat 10.30-6.30 Golden Globe winner Sam Mendes moving and personal tale of two young soldiers’ seemingly imposssioble mission in World War 1. Sun 4.30-5.30 See page 12 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 Jojo Rabbit Seberg Disabled and flat access: through Farce, fantasy and drama in a Portrait of early 1960s French icon the gate on High Street (right of Nazi-era coming-of-age story. Jean Seberg targeted by the FBI apartments) Diviiding the critics. You decide. for her political and romantic See page 14 involvement with civil rights activist Director: James Hannaway Hakim Jama. See page 16 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 Hustlers The Personal History of Jennifer Lopez and Constance Wu is the best cinema I David Copperfield steal the show as pole-dancing have ever..” Armando Iannucci turns his con women in Lorene Scafaria’s sharp comic eye to this inspired (STimes Culture) retelling of a real-life strip club adaptation of a literary classic, with heist. See page 20 fabulous casting. See page 21 FEBRUARYOCTOBER FILMSFILMS 8 THE REX - FEBRUARY BOX OFFICE: 01442 877759 Cats Knives Out You can’t talk about Cats, the movie, without A glorious blockbuster of chemistry and cinematic mentioning that widely ridiculed trailer. The one wit. Following a lavish 85th birthday party in his where the slinky felines are first revealed to be a honour, wealthy and successful mystery novelist nightmarish merging of human faces and CGI furball. Harlan Thrombey is found dead with his throat slit. Well, the bad news is they still resemble one of Dr For the police this is an open and shut case of suicide, Moreau’s failed experiments. The good news? It sort until master sleuth and debonair detective Benoit of doesn’t matter in the end; the spirit of Andrew Blanc arrives on the scene. Hired by an unknown Lloyd Webber’s creation is clearly on full display. benefactor, Blanc soon turns his attention to a Cluedo The story is set over the course of a single night; a board of suspects; the entire Thrombey clan. Inspired tribe of cats called the Jellicles make what is known by the plethora of Agatha Christie novels, writer and as “the Jellicle choice” and decide which cat will director Rian Johnson knows how to stage a murder ascend to the Heaviside Layer and come back to a mystery. Murder on the Orient Express this is not. His new life. Much singing and dancing ensues. knotty, deliriously deceptive screenplay plays like an The lavish visuals and beautifully crafted set design unreliable narrator’s recollection of a drunken story is a sight to behold, even if the cats themselves they heard secondhand. Daniel Craig is a storm as (featuring Taylor Swift, Judy Dench and newcomer the ridiculously southern Blanc. Shannon, Curtis and Francesca Hayward) take a little (more like a lot) of Collette bring malice, spite and greed into each full- time to get fully accustomed to. It won’t do anything frame close-up they get while Chris Evans smarms for the uninitiated, but fans of the 1981 musical will it up as the rude, spoiled grandson. If you have half as much fun watching Knives Out as it looks like eat it up like catnip. (research Jack Whiting) But no, it the cast did making it, you are guaranteed a good seems they want to clear this film out with the litter. time. What a reminder that mainstream movies don’t How can it be worse than that endless show..!? need explosions or superpowers to be deliriously entertaining. (Research Chris Coetsee) Come, you’ll be Director: Tom Hooper glad you did. Cast: Idris Elba, Taylor Swift, Ian McKellen, Francesca Hayward, Rebel Wilson, Judi Director: Rian Johnson Dench Cast: Christopher Plummer, Ana de Armas, Duration: 111 min Daniel Craig, Toni Collette, Jamie Lee Origin: UK USA 2019 Curtis Certificate: U Duration: 137 min Company: Universal Pictures Origin: USA 2019 Certificate: 12A Company: Lionsgate When... When... Wed 5 2.00 Sat 1 2.00 Mon 3 2.00 Sat 1 7.00 Wed 5 7.30 www.therexberkhamsted.com THE REX - FEBRUARY 9 Little Women Bringing together a strong cast, Greta Gerwig creates a refreshing and heartwarming take on the coming-of-age classic novel. Following up Lady Bird, actress-turned-director, Gerwig opted for an adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s novel, taking a familiar story and restructuring it to revitalise the narrative. Little Women explores the lives of the four March sisters: Jo (Saoirse Ronan) Meg (Emma Watson) Beth (Eliza Scanlen) and Amy (Florence Pugh). The family drama follows the coming of age of Director: Greta Gerwig the sisters and their mother, ‘Marmee’ (Laura Dern) Cast: Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Laura in genteel poverty of 1860s New England. Having Dern, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen lost all their money, the March sisters must adjust to a new lifestyle, standing by each other despite Duration: 135 min different ideals and trials. It begins with Jo as a young Origin: USA 2019 committed writer and narrator, waiting outside a New Certificate: U York publishing house. The classic tale traces the Company: Sony Pictures Releasing sisters’ experiences as adults and teenagers through a series of flashbacks, exploring how their various ambitions develop. The camaraderie and jealousy When... Thu 6 7.30 in the all-female household is expertly drawn, with exceptional performances by Timothée Chalamet, Sun 2 6.00 Wed 12 2.00 as heartthrob Laurie, and Meryl Streep playing the Tue 4 2.00 Wed 12 7.30 haughty Aunt March adding to the infectious energy of the ensemble. A beautiful film full of warmth and Tue 4 7.30 Fri 14 2.00 insight. (research Rachel Williams) Indeed. Don’t miss. Thu 6 2.00 Sun 23 6.00 10 THE REX - FEBRUARY BOX OFFICE: 01442 877759 Amanda Uncut Gems A low-key family drama with a shattering If you told me Adam Sandler would one day make tragedy at its heart, Amanda is a quietly moving a comeback worthy of a Best Actor gong, I’d say celebration of human resilience. get outta town. Yet here we are, in 2020, with his The devastation and loss caused by terrorist attacks career best. in Paris, Nice and elsewhere form the starting Sandler is Howard Ratner (all puns intended) a point for this determinedly gentle French film jewelry-store owner in 2012’s New York’s Diamond from director and co-writer Mikhaël Hers, about a District who runs his business like a gambling junkie, fictionalised violent incident. thriving on the rush and hot for a new score that Amanda is a seven-year-old, played by newcomer might lose him everything. Juggling debt collectors, Isaure Multrier, who is being brought up in Paris by crazily complicated sports bets, a mistress (Julia Fox) teacher and single mum Sandrine (Ophélia Kolb). and a wife, (Idina Menzel) turn Howard’s life into a Her twentysomething and mostly hopeless, kid series of high-stakes gambles, the most crucial of brother David (Vincent Lacoste) has to do his bit by which centres on a rare black opal, obtained, like minding her a couple of days a week. Things start almost everything in Howard’s life, in a way that is looking up when a beautiful tenant, Léna (Stacy not entirely above board. Martin) moves in and seems to take an interest in Guiding Sandler through this urban nightmare are him. Then, one day, David, Sandrine and Léna agree Josh and Benny Safdie, two young NY filmmakers to meet up in the park. David is late... Suddenly this who portray their city as an anxiety inducing ride. hopeless man-boy must step up to a new and to be Uncut Gems is the most exhilarating movie expe- learned selfless responsibility. rience in recent times. It’s a film that is impossible Despite the bloody events at its centre, Amanda is to sit back and watch passively; a clenched-muscle a pleasingly emphatic, and well-intentioned drama. collision of overstimulation. Not to be missed. (research Jack Whiting) Faint praise indeed Jack, (research Jack Whiting) Come, take a posh seat, and for such a beautiful character led, and huge tender “rattle your jewelry”. story of love, loss and care... Do not miss. Director: Benny Safdie, Josh Safdie Director: Mikhaël Hers Cast: Adam Sandler, Kevin Garnett, Idina Cast: Vincent Lacoste, Isaure Multrier, Stacy Menzel, Lakeith Stanfield, Noa Fisher Martin, Ophélia Kolb, Marianne Basler, Duration: 135 min Jonathan Cohen Origin: USA 2020 Duration: 107 mins Certificate: 15 Origin: France 2019 (Subtitled) Company: Netflix Certificate: 15 Company: Artificial Eye Film Co. Ltd When... When... Mon 3 7.30 Fri 7 2.00, 7.30 www.therexberkhamsted.com THE REX - FEBRUARY 11 Spies In Disguise Star Wars: The Rise Of Inspired by Lucas Martell’s charming 2009 Skywalker short Pigeon: Impossible, this Bond-meets-bird Lightsabers to the ready one last time as the adventure is goofy fun.