January
Fri 2 and Sat 3 Jan 7.45pm
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE RAIN (12A)
An ensemble drama rooted in the richly played, likeable
characters surrounding Agathe Villanova, a feminist author whose convictions
have persuaded to enter into politics. Agnès Jaoui writes, directs and acts in
a well received, wryly comic examination of human relationships.
France (subtitled), 2008, 98 mins
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Reviews: :: The Guardian :: The Times ::
Mon 5 Jan 7.45pm
THE LEFT HANDED GUN (PG)
Paul Newman (1925-2008) Westerns
Arthur Penn’s feature directorial debut sees Paul Newman as William Bonney AKA Billy the Kid, in a psychological, deconstructive western. The Left Handed Gun challenges romanticised perceptions of the west, unflatteringly portraying Billy as an illiterate, dislikeable gun slinger, fascinated by his own image and hellbent on vengeance.
USA, 1958, 98 mins
Free Admission
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Tue 6 Jan 7.45pm
ASHES OF TIME REDUX (15)
Never distributed in Britain in its original
incarnation, Wong Kar Wai has restored, re-edited and re-scored his 1994 wuxia
film. Inspired by characters from Louis Cha's novel The Legend Of The Condor
Heroes, the film is visually stunning, blending xiá philosophy, the redemption
of a Chinese knight errant and spectacular swordplay.
China (subtitled), 2008, 93 mins
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Reviews: :: The Guardian :: The Observer :: The Times ::
Thu 8 Jan 7.45pm
BADLANDS (15)
Terrence Malick's dramatisation of the
Starkweather-Fugate killing spree of the 1950's Dakota Badlands, with Martin
Sheen and Sissy Spacek as lovers on the run after her father's murder. 'Terrence
Malick's debut movie looks even more effortless and sublime 35 years on: an
unmissable, transcendentally beautiful classic', (Peter Bradshaw, 'The
Guardian')
USA, 1973, 94 mins
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Reviews: :: The Guardian :: The Observer :: The Times ::
Fri 9 and Sat 10 Jan 7.45pm
HUNGER (15)
The stunning début feature from Turner Prize
winning artist Steve McQueen. A hard hitting but sensitively handled
dramatisation of the emotive events surrounding the 1981 hunger strike inside
the notorious Belfast Maze Prison. Michael Fassbender is hypnotic as the
political protester Bobby Sand.
UK, 2008, 96 mins
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Reviews: :: The Guardian :: The Observer :: The Times ::
Mon 12 Jan 7.45pm
HOMBRE (PG)
Paul Newman (1925-2008) Westerns
Martin Ritt adapts Elmore Leonard’s novel in an important 1960’s western exploring social and moral themes. Paul Newman’s John ‘Hombre’ Russell is at first shunned by his fellow stagecoach passengers before being called upon as their saviour when they are set upon by outlaws.
USA, 1967, 106 mins
Free Admission
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Tue 13 Jan 7.45pm
THE BAADER MEINHOF COMPLEX (18)
Set in the political turmoil of 1970s Germany,
Uli Edel's evocative film documents the violent confrontations between the
German State and the Left-wing Red Army Faction. Edel's commitment to
authenticity is seen in his dispassionate portrayal of events, an approach which
has invited controversy and accusations of lionisation of the charismatic gang
members.
Germany (subtitled), 2008, 150 mins
Reviews: :: The Guardian :: The Observer :: The Times ::
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Thu 15 Jan 7.45pm
QUIET CHAOS (15)
A heartfelt Italian drama centred on TV executive
Pietro Paladini as he struggles to cope with day-to-day life following his
wife's death; he quits the rat race, preferring to spend his days on a bench in
front of his daughter's primary school, where a series of chance encounters help
to ease his pain. Please note that the film contains a controversial sex scene
which has attracted notoriety.
Italy (subtitled), 2008 (Subtitled), 112 mins
Reviews: :: The Guardian :: The Observer :: The Times ::
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Fri 16 and Sat 17 Jan 7.45pm
BLINDNESS (18) 
Blindness is an apocalyptic nightmare, adapted
from the Nobel laureate José Saramango's novel by City Of God director Fernando
Meirelles. Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffallo and Danny Glover are amongst the
inhabitants of an unnamed city whose inhabitants are suddenly plagued by 'white
blindness'. 'Blindness is a drum-tight drama, with superb, hallucinatory, images
of urban collapse. It has a real coil of horror at its centre, yet is lightened
with gentleness and humour. It reminded me of George A Romero's Night Of The
Living Dead, and Peter Shaffer's absurdist stage-play Black Comedy. This is
bold, masterly, film-making.', (Peter Bradshaw, 'The Guardian')
Canada, 2008, 121 mins
Reviews: :: The Guardian :: The Observer :: The Times ::
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Mon 19 Jan 7.45pm
BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID (PG)
Paul Newman (1925-2008) Westerns
Paul Newman and Robert Redford form an unforgettable partnership as the leaders of the Hole In The Wall Gang, in one of the most popular westerns of all time. Concluding that the west is becoming all together too civilised and robbing one train too many, Butch, ever the ideas man, comes up with the solution, ‘Let’s go to Bolivia’.
USA, 1969, 105mins
Free Admission
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Tue 20 Jan 7.45pm
THE SILENCE OF LORNA (15)
The latest addition to the much admired Dardenne
brothers' cannon of intensely naturalistic Belgian cinema. Lorna, a young
Albanian woman living in Belgium, uses less than reputable means in her attempts
to become the owner of a snack bar with her boyfriend; ultimately finding
herself at the crux of a crisis of conscience.
Belgium (subtitled), 2008, 105 mins
Reviews: :: The Guardian :: The Observer :: The Times ::
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Thu 22 Jan 7.45pm
THE ROMANCE OF ASTRÉA AND CÉLADON (12A)
One of Eric Rohmer's most surprising works yet,
an adaptation of the seventeenth century French classic novel, L'Astrée; a
comedy set in 5th century Gaul, where the eponymous couple endure the
tribulations visited upon them by nymphs and druids in the manner of
Shakespeare's pastoral comedies. 'A work of great charm and intelligence',
(Geoff Andrews, 'Time Out')
France (subtitled), 2008, 109 mins
Reviews: :: The Guardian :: The Observer :: The Times ::
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Fri 23 and Sat 24 Jan 7.45pm
W. (15)
Oliver Stone's unexpectedly even-handed and
restrained examination of George Bush's psyche, tracing his life from the age of
21 to the Invasion of Iraq. Josh Brolin offers a convincing interpretation of
George W Bush in an entertaining portrait of the intrigues and mindsets at the
heart of American political life.
USA, 2008, 129 mins
Reviews: :: The Guardian :: The Times ::
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Tue 27 Jan 7.45pm
GOMORRAH (15)
Based Robert Saviano's book, Gomorra is a
contemporary mob drama which focuses on Naples' Camorra criminal underworld.
Deftly weaving five stories of people drawn into the mob's influence. This
hard-hitting film has forced the writer into hiding following threats from the
criminals it is based on. 'Great films change the way we think about cinema. A
masterpiece can alter our perception of life. Matteo Garrone's startling film,
Gomorrah, about the criminal underworld in Naples, is one of these rare movies.'
(James Christopher, 'The Times')
Italy (subtitled), 2008,136 mins
Reviews: :: The Guardian :: The Observer :: The Times ::
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Thu 29 Jan 7.45pm
OSS-117 CAIRO, NEST OF SPIES (12A)
A spy comedy fondly mocking the popular French
spy films of the 1950s and '60s. Jean Dujardin is endearingly gauche as the
eponymous spy sent to Cairo when a fellow agent disappears, quickly finding
himself ensnared in a web of intrigue.
France (subtitled), 2008 , 99 mins
Reviews: :: The Guardian :: The Observer :: The Times ::
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Fri 30 and Sat 31 Jan 7.45pm
DEAN SPANLEY (U)
Is the mysterious Dean Spanley really the
reincarnation of Wag, the beloved childhood dog of misanthropic Horatio Fisk?
Edwardian England's fascination with the transmogrification of souls and the
supernatural, frames a heartwarming comedic costume drama, lead by Peter O'Toole
and Sam Neill as one man and his dog. 'This is a delightful, oddly moving film,
immaculately acted, carefully skirting whimsy, and nicely located in its
period.' (Phillip French, 'The Observer').
UK, 2008, 100 mins
Reviews: :: The Guardian :: The Times ::
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