FOTV – Saturday 0505 to Friday 1105

[sw12expat]

Just a few films you may find of interest (rated * to ****)

Saturday 0505
***½ MARCH OF THE PENGUINS / La Marche De L'Empereur (US/French 2005)
C10, 1405-1550; Documentary narrated by Morgan Freeman.
***½ SIN CITY (US 2005) C7, 2200-2400; Bruce Willis, Jessica Alba,
Mickey Rourke, Clive Owen, Rosario Dawson, Carla Gugino, Brittany
Murphy, Michael Madsen; The one comic that DID translate to film
successfully, this is an indulgent, involving mass (of colour and
monochrome background graphics) on which the large star cast are moved
around like Monopoly pieces, as they try to protect girls from the
violence endemic to their lives as dancers and prostitutes. Apparently
Quentin Tarantino directed 1 scene.
*** HERO (Chinese/Hong Kong 2002) C15, 0135-0335; Jet Li, Tony Leung
Chiu Wai, Maggie Cheung Man-Yuk, Zhang Ziyi.
*** BADLANDS (US 1973) C2ES, 0055-0225; C2W, 0110-0240; Martin Sheen,
Sissy Spacek, Warren Oates.

Sunday 0605
** BEYOND THE POLE (UK 2009) C19, 0120-0245; Stephen Mangan, Rhys
Thomas, Rosie Cavaliero, Mark Benton; Mock-documentary about
activists SM and RT aiming to be the first carbon-neutral, vegetarian,
organic pair to reach the North Pole.
*** HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS (Chinese/Hong Kong 2004) C15, 0135-0350;
Zhang Ziyi, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Andy Lau, Song Dandan, Zheng Lu.

Monday 0705
**½ THE FLYING SCOTSMAN (UK 2006) C2EWS, 2330-0105; Jonny Lee Miller,
Billy Boyd, Laura Fraser, Brian Cox; One of those Brit 'festival
films' which is hard to knock for acting, direction, screenplay, or
commitment. But it's even harder to praise! In 1993 Glasgow, amateur
cyclist JLM devises a new cycling position and intends breaking world
records using it.

Wednesday 0905
*** BREAKING AND ENTERING (UK/US 2006) C1EWS, 2335-0135; Jude Law,
Juliette Binoche, Robin Wright Penn, Martin Freeman, Ray Winstone,
Vera Farmiga, Poppy Rogers; In the Kings Cross area of London,
architects working on a regeneration scheme are burgled twice by the
son of a Bosnian refugee(JB). But writer-director Anthony Mingella's
film ISN'T a racist tract advocating another yuppie gentrification of
a mosaic area of the capital, it's an attempt to knit confusing people
together.

Thursday 1005
**½ OFFSIDE (Iranian 2006) C15, 1100-1250; Sima Mobarak Shahi,
Shayesteh Irani, Ida Sadeghi.
***½ SIDEWAYS (US 2004) C15, 0130-0355; Paul Giamatti, Thomas Haden
Church, Virginia Madsen, Sandra Oh; Wonderful story of 2 less-than-
perfect (but endearing) middle-aged men who take a tour of
California's vineyards prior to one (THC) getting married.

Friday 1105
***½ SIN CITY (US 2005) C7, 2400-0155; see above.
**½ CRIMINAL (US 2004) C3, 0240-0415 (C33, 0340-0515 i.e. Saturday);
John C. Reilly, Diego Luna, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Peter Mullan; U.S.
remake of the Argentinian "Nueve Reinas"/"Nine Queens".

[Wing Stand]

I enjoyed Sin City the first time around but the second time I thought it was a bit of a misogynistic mess. I don't think it helped the second time I was watching the director's cut, which played out all the stories consecutively rather than interleaved, and I had Kirby all disapproving on the couch next to me.

Loved Sideways, though.  The book is recommended, too.

[sw12expat]

I haven't seen the "director's cut" - but I certainly enjoyed the
other version. Yes, partly I suppose because of the parade of gorgeous
women, but for many other reasons too.