APRIL 2018 MARY MAGDALENE “possibly Britain’s most beautiful cinema..” (BBC) Britain’s Best Cinema – Guardian Film Awards APRIL 2018 • ISSUE 157 www.therexberkhamsted.com 01442 877759 Mon-Sat 10.30-6.30pm Sun 4.30-5.30pm BEST IN APRIL CONTENTS Films At A Glance 16-17 Rants & Pants 26-27 BOX OFFICE: 01442 877759 Mon to Sat 10.30-6.30 Sun 4.30-5.30 All The President’s Men A fantastic thriller from desk to typewriter to phone… Cinematic tension is created from nothing. Ahead of its time. See page 19 SEAT PRICES Circle £9.50 FILMS OF THE MONTH 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 Disabled and flat access: through Three Billboards Sweet Country the gate on High Street (right of The end of it’s delicious run for a ..Is, of course, anything but, and apartments) while. Don’t miss one last nothing of the kind. A gripping tale chance before Mildred takes of slavery, injustice and dignity, the summer off. told with passion and nerve. Director: James Hannaway See page 11 See page 22 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 You Were Never Here Peter Rabbit EXCLUSIVE REX OFFER A tough tale well told. It’s brutality A non-Beatrix Potter take on the “ Unhesitatingly The Rex is only matched by its beauty. A tail. Animated live action romp of Receive a FREE consultation and 20% off your entire order. is the best cinema I have fragmented dream, thus a favourite furry heroes and human villains. ever..” (STimes Culture) at Cannes. See page 23 See page 23 [email protected] [email protected] WWW.THIRTEENID.COM 07912867901 OCTOBERAPRIL FILMS FILMS 8 THE REX - APRIL BOX OFFICE: 01442 877759 The Greatest Showman Finding Your Feet Hugh Jackman steps into the spotlight as 1800s Director Richard Loncraine and his all-star cast impresario P.T. Barnum in this all-singing-all- present what promises to be the breakaway hit dancing rags to riches extravaganza. of the year. Imelda Staunton recently claimed that 2012’s Les Mis was supposed to be the movie that ageing cinema audiences wished to watch films with showcased Jackman’s triple-treat talents as a singer, intelligent dialogue that deal with real people, subse- dancer and serious actor. Yet somehow it didn’t, quently trash-talking a stream of recent let-downs as it fell short. Here debut director Michael Gracey ‘terrible’ blockbusters which gave the impression that deservedly hands him a better chance and this time ‘millions’ were lavished on the special effects and around he smashes it out of the park. Born the son ‘£4.80 on the script’ (almost a matinee seat). No finer of a poor cobbler, Phineas Taylor Barnum longs to example then in this delightful comedy-drama. rise above this life and dazzle the world. Having Here she plays self-proclaimed ‘Lady’ Sandra Abbott conned his way into the money to start a ‘museum’, who, after forty years of married middle-England life, he assembles the unfortunates and the bizarre discovers her husband has been having an affair with of marginalised society, creating a showcase of her best friend. Ditching her plush Surrey home, she oddities to draw people in. traces her estranged, free-spirited older sister Bif A freak show, to break the ground for circus, (Imrie) to an inner-London council estate. Reluctantly sleight-of-hand and live derring-do. But despite his dragged along to a local community dance class, she flourishing success, he yearns to debunk his critics. is introduced to her sister’s friends Ted (David Hay- To garner the attention and loosen the purse strings man) Charlie (Timothy Spall) and Jackie (Joanna Lum- of high-art snob culture, Barnum risks it all, and his ley). Gradually, she comes to realise that retirement is family… Questions are raised over this sanitised in fact only a new beginning, and that her impending telling of a rags to riches tale, but showbiz is divorce might just give her a whole new lease to life showbiz and historical haziness aside, this is nothing and love. Unquestionable, undeniable, unmissable short of spectacle and splendour. (research Chris entertainment. (research Chris Coetsee) With this cast, Coetsee) Glorious big screen cinema, trickery and all. expect fun and much self-deprecating low key British Keep coming. (Carry On-esque) humour. Don’t ask, just come. Director: Michael Gracey Director: Richard Loncraine Cast: Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Cast: Joanna Lumley, Timothy Spall, David Rebecca Ferguson, Zac Efron Hayman, Imelda Staunton, Celia Imrie Duration: 105 mins Duration: 111 mins Origin: USA 2017 Origin: UK 2017 Certificate: PG Certificate: 12A Company: 20th Century Fox Film Co. Ltd Company: Entertainment One UK Ltd When... Wed 11 2.00 When... Sun 1 6.00 Wed 18 7.30 Mon 2 7.30 Tue 17 2.00 Tue 3 2.00 Tue 24 2.00 Sun 8 6.00 Wed 25 2.00 www.therexberkhamsted.com THE REX - APRIL 9 Darkest Hour Hop Gary Oldman finds himself at the front of the First we get James Corden voicing Peter Rabbit, Oscar pack in Joe Wright’s patriotic Second World now another British ‘love him or hate him’ War epic. With continental Europe falling to Hitler celebrity - Russel Brand - lends his sardonic tones and Britain’s army stranded on the French coast, to this little tearaway hare. England’s faith in their Prime Minister Neville A slightly less rambunctious bunny than Peter Chamberlain is at an all time low. 65 year-old Rabbit, Hop nevertheless is a sarcastic romp. Winston Churchill is voted in with Tories backed The story starts out with two families thoroughly into a corner by a Labour Party who would accept no dissatisfied with their sons. These would be the other. Churchill’s heavy drinking and judgement are O’Hare Family that is wearying of the lay-about called into question by his own party and the King, propensities of 21 year old slacker son Fred (played but with the weight of the nation on his shoulders, by 37 year old James Marsden) and the Easter Bunny the man many consider a warmonger must lead them through their Darkest Hour. Intriguing (Hugh Laurie) whose son E.B. (Brand) wants to be a backstabbing sub-plot. drummer rather than the Easter Bunny. Oldman is in fine form as he takes this larger-than- And not just any drummer but the best rabbit life portrayal to dizzying heights, perfectly capturing drummer in the world; a goal he has a more than a man forever haunted by his fateful part in the a decent shot of achieving. So faster than you can Battle of Gallipoli as he weighs up the possibility of wiggle a cottontail, E.B. runs away from his destiny, leading more troops to the slaughter. plunges down a rabbit hole and lands in Hollywood A masterclass in character study and a rousing looking for a record contract. period piece, Darkest Hour may stand as the best of Connoisseurs of the school of cinema in which fuzzy this year’s movies about Churchill and Dunkirk. animated creatures interact with hard-working, “This isn’t an uncritical celebration of British bulldog slightly desperate-looking human actors may find spirit but a nuanced portrait.” (Independent) (research themselves, if not exactly delighted, then at least Chris Coetsee) A remarkable, unrecognisable Gary pleasantly tickled. (Jack Whiting) So come and be Oldman as the jowly old Premier. tickled too. Director: Joe Wright Director: Tim Hill Cast: Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Cast: Russell Brand (voice), Kaley Cuoco, Lily James, Ben Mendelsohn Hugh Laurie (voice), James Marsden, Duration: 125 mins David Hasselhoff, Gary Cole Origin: UK 2018 Duration: 95 mins Certificate: PG Origin: USA 2011 Company: Universal Pictures Int (UK) Certificate: PG Company: Universal Pictures (UK) Ltd When... Thu 19 2.00 When... Tue 3 7.30 Wed 25 7.30 Wed 4 2.00 10 THE REX - APRIL BOX OFFICE: 01442 877759 Lady Bird Paddington 2 Greta Gerwig’s offbeat sensibility is usually left Windsor Gardens’ most famous resident returns in to her on-screen personas via indie ‘dramedies’. roaring fashion in this delightful (even better than With Lady Bird, we witness her full potential as a the first!!) sequel. filmmaker with a voice. Paddington is now living happily as a member of the This coming-of-age story takes the broad details Brown Family and is adored by nearly everyone in of Gerwig’s own upbringing and uses them to the community. With his dear Aunt’s 100th birthday create moments full of spiky humour, all the while fast approaching, he decides to get her something sketching a family set-up loaded with struggle. extra special: a unique pop-up book of London. Saoirse Ronan’s characterisation of 17-year-old Unfortunately, he is not the only one looking to get Christine “Lady Bird” McPherson has the forceful their sticky paws on the valuable book and when momentum of a natural disaster. it is mysteriously stolen, Paddington innocently Unlike the rich kids at her Catholic School, falls afoul of a dastardly scheme and is framed for Christine’s family is scraping by on mum’s nurse’s the theft. Accused of a crime he didn’t commit and salary. She has no interest in being defined by facing jail, the unwaveringly optimistic bear must her socioeconomic bracket and clashes with her clear his name.