January
Tue 3 & Thu 5 Jan 7.45pm
THE AWAKENING (15)
Florence Cathcart is a sceptical author, dedicated to exposing séances as
exploitative shams, whose investigation into the mysterious death at a boarding
school leads to an encounter beyond science and logic. Scary and atmospheric,
The Awakening is a sophisticated 1920s set supernatural thriller with a
wonderful lead performance from Rebecca Hall, who is ably supported by great
performances from Dominic West and Imelda Staunton.
UK, 2011, 106 mins
Reviews: :: The Observer :: The Guardian :: The Independent ::
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Fri 6 & Sat 7 Jan 7.45pm
JACK GOES BOATING (15)
The highly anticipated directorial debut of Philip Seymour Hoffman is an
offbeat comedy about romance, friendship and betrayal, set in working-class New
York City. Hoffman casts himself as Jack, a lovelorn limo chauffeur obsessed
with reggae, who is in need of assistance with his romance with Connie, a
neurotic fellow New Yorker played by Amy Ryan.
USA , 2011, 90 mins
Reviews: :: The Observer :: The Guardian :: The Independent ::
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Mon 9 Jan 7.45pm
SCOTT OF THE ANTARCTIC (U)
Jack Cardiff Season
The story of the British explorer Robert Falcon Scott and his ill-fated
expedition to be the first man to the South Pole. John Mills plays Scott in an
adventure drama from Ealing Studios, with a supporting cast including James
Robertson Justice, Kenneth More and Christopher Lee.
UK, 1948, 105 mins
Free Admission
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Tue 10 & Thu 12 Jan 7.45pm
WE HAVE A POPE (PG)
A gentle satire set in the Vatican from Nanni Moretti in which veteran French
actor Michel Piccoli plays the newly elected pontiff whose attack of nerves
leaves him unable and unwilling to take up his new post. The reluctant Pope is
tended by a renowned psychiatrist (played by Moretti himself) as his anxious
cardinals await news from the Vatican.
Italy/France (subtitled), 2011, 102 mins
Reviews: :: The Observer :: The Guardian :: The Independent ::
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Fri 13 & Sat 14 Jan 7.45pm
WUTHERING HEIGHTS (15)
Andrea Arnold's distinctive adaptation of Emily Brontë's dark tale of
passion and thwarted love, sibling rivalry and revenge. In Arnold's reinvention
Heathcliff is a black runaway plucked off the streets, to live with the
Earnshaws in the bleak, beautifully filmed Yorkshire Moors. James Howson and
Kaya Scodelario give excellent performances as the ill-fated Cathy and
Heathcliff, in an adaptation which reinforces the stark power of the original
text.
UK, 2011, 128 mins
Reviews: :: The Observer :: The Guardian :: The Independent ::
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Mon 16 Jan 7.45pm
CAMERAMAN: THE LIFE AND WORK OF JACK CARDIFF (PG)
Jack Cardiff Season
Interviewed just before his death in 2009, Jack Cardiff discusses his 80 year
career in compelling detail. This documentary illuminates the groundbreaking
vision and technical wizardry of Britain's greatest cinematographer, and
includes scenes from classic films, and insights and anecdotes from Hollywood's
great and good.
UK, 2010, 82 mins
Free Admission
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Tue 17 Jan 7.45pm
SURVIVING LIFE (15)
Jan Svankmajer's wry, surreal animation about a man leading a double life.
Eugene is married to Milada, but dreaming of the beautiful Evgenia. Seeking to
perpetuate his dream life, he goes to see a psychiatrist, who attempts to
provide an ongoing interpretation of his experiences. Meanwhile on the
psychiatrist’s wall portraits of Freud and Jung become animated, alternately
applauding, disapproving or fighting over her interpretations.
Czech Republic/Slovakia (subtitled), 2011, 105 mins
Reviews: :: The Observer :: The Guardian ::
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Thu 19 Jan 7.45pm
MISS BALA (15)
23-year-old Laura is an ordinary girl, whose dreams of becoming a beauty
queen melt away, when she finds herself in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Caught up in the thick of the ruthless and horrifying world of Mexican gang
violence, Laura desperately, yet courageously, struggles to break free. Miss
Bala is gripping and bold thriller with virtuoso set pieces, as well as an
indictment of drug culture and corruption in Mexico.
Mexico (subtitled), 2011, 112 mins
Reviews: :: The Observer :: The Guardian :: The Independent ::
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Fri 20 & Sat 21 Jan 7.45pm
THE DEEP BLUE SEA (12A)
Hester Collyer leads a privileged life in 1950s London, as the beautiful wife
of high court judge Sir William Collyer (Simon Russell Beale). To the shock of
those around her, she walks out of her marriage to move in with young ex-RAF
pilot, Freddie Page (Tom Hiddleston), with whom she has fallen passionately in
love; however her obsessive ardour isn't quite returned. Terence Davies' superb,
adaptation of Terence Rattigan's acclaimed play is a deeply moving tale of
forbidden love and suppressed desire, with a remarkable central performance from
Rachel Weisz.
USA/UK, 2011, 98 mins
Reviews: :: The Observer :: The Guardian :: The Independent ::
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Mon 23 Jan 7.45pm
THE PRINCE AND THE SHOWGIRL (PG)
Jack Cardiff Season
An American showgirl captures the monocled eye of the Prince Regent of
Carpathia, in a romantic comedy starring Laurence Olivier and Marilyn Monroe.
Cinematography by Jack Cardiff frames Terence Rattigan's adaptation from his own
play, The Sleeping Prince. A new drama, My Week With Marilyn, compliments this
film and will be presented at the Film Theatre on the 27th and 28th of January.
My Week With Marilyn is an adaptation of the diaries of Colin Clarke, and
focuses on his friendship with Marilyn, and her strained relationship with Sir
Laurence Olivier during the film's production.
UK/USA, 1957, 115 mins
Free Admission
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Tue 24 Jan 7.45pm
LAS ACACIAS (12A)
Ruben is a truck driver who seems suited to his lonely day-to-day life
transporting lumber from Paraguay to Argentina. To earn a little extra cash he
agrees to accept a passenger on one of his regular trips to Buenos Aires, but is
unprepared when Jacinta brings along her baby daughter. Winner of the Caméra d’Or
award at Cannes Film Festival 2011, Las Acacias is a sensitive road movie noted
for subtlety of its story and pitch perfect performances.
Argentina/Spain (subtitled), 2011, 86 mins
Reviews: :: The Observer :: The Guardian :: The Independent ::
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Thu 26 Jan 7.45pm
THE RUM DIARY (15)
The Rum Diary is an affectionate adaptation of Hunter S Thompson's
unpublished autobiographical novel. The film also marks the return of Withnail
and I director Bruce Robinson's return to the cinema screen. Johnny Depp plays
Paul Kemp, a hard drinking reporter on a mission to expose exploitative US
corporations in 1960s Puerto Rico, whose integrity is tested by a shady property
developer and his attractive fiancée.
USA, 2011, 119 mins
Reviews: :: The Observer :: The Guardian :: The Independent ::
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Fri 27 & Sat 28 Jan 7.45pm
MY WEEK WITH MARILYN (15)
A superb, layered performance from Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe, sits
at the heart of a dramatisation of the diaries of Colin Clarke. Clarke was an
underling on the set of 'The Prince and the Showgirl', and formed a friendship
with her while acting as her assistant during that film's production. Kenneth
Brannagh plays Sir Laurence Olivier, in a strong ensemble cast including Judy
Dench, Zoë Wanamaker, Emma Watson, and Eddie Redmayne as Colin. NB: The Prince
and the Showgirl is included in this season's free Monday season screenings.
UK/USA , 2011, 96 mins
Reviews: :: The Observer :: The Guardian :: The Independent ::
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Mon 30 Jan 7.45pm
THE GREAT McGINTY (U)
Preston Sturges Season
A tramp’s aptitude for vote fraud leads to a meteoric political career in Preston Sturges' directorial debut. Brian Donlevy plays Dan McGinty, who seems the ideal mayoral candidate for the machinations of the big boss, until integrity unexpectedly raises it head.
USA, 1940, 78 mins, Curtains close at approximately 9.30pm
Free Admission
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Tue 31 Jan 7.45pm
TAKE SHELTER (15)
Take
Shelter is an atmospheric portrait of Curtis LaForche, a man haunted by the
schizophrenia he saw take over his mother’s life, during his childhood. A
superb performance from Jessica Chastain accompanies Michael Shannon's touching
portrayal of the vulnerable Curtis, who risks alienating his family and friends
as his visions and apocalyptic nightmares intensify and his behaviour becomes
more erratic.
USA, 2011, 120 mins
Reviews: :: The Observer :: The Guardian :: The Independent ::
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