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The Rest Of February's Theatrical Releases
The big movies out this month include Big Hero 6, The Turning, Inherent Vice, Son Of A Gun, Love Is Strange, Selma, The Interview, Mortdecai, Jupiter Ascending and Coherence. But here we review a selection of the other new releases. Remember to keep an eye out because we'll be adding more each week.
SHAUN THE SHEEP MOVIE
Not a (comprehensible) word is uttered in Aardmans latest, a fast-paced vehicle for its hero (essentially an ovine Gromit) that depends on visual humour to get us giggling. The entertaining result is a woolpack of witty sight gags, as Shaun heads to the Big City after his owner goes AWOL. Finding fun in everything from sheepish backpacks to The Silence Of The Lambs, writer/ directors Mark Burton and Richard Starzack also include a rocket horse, a villainous animal protection officer and a baa-baa shop quartet for good measure. Profound it isnt, but its what youd call shear entertainment. Director: Richard Starzak, Mark Burton Starring: Justin Fletcher, John Sparkes, Omid Djalili, Richard Webber Theatrical release: 6 February 2015 Neil Smith
AMOUR FOU
Five years since Jessica Hausners last film (Lourdes), the Austrian director returns with this exquisitely composed chamber piece that makes the frames of Wes Anderson look messy. Set in Romantic-era Berlin, it centres on poet Heinrich von Kleist (Christian Friedel), a deranged soul who starts petitioning ladies of leisure to die with him in a suicide pact. When he finds a willing accomplice, Henriette (Birte Schnoeink), Hausner treats what follows with an absurdist comedic touch. Dont expect big laughs, though; at best, youll feel a wry smile creasing your upper lip. Director: Jessica Hausner Starring: Christian Friedel, Birte Schnoeink, Stephen Grossman Theatrical release: 6 February 2015 James Mottram
THE RENDLESHAM UFO INCIDENT
Known as Britains Roswell, Rendlesham forest in Suffolk became infamous in 1980 after dozens of Air Force pilots reported weird lights in the sky. Thirty-five years later, director Daniel Simpson is bringing the infamy back with a found-footage horror that feels like a particularly low-rent Blair Witch Project. The usual genre sticking points seem stickier than ever but the actors do a decent enough job of looking scared/confused. Not surprising: Simpson dumped them in the woods without a script a similar experience to watching the film. Director: Daniel Simpson Starring: Danny Shayler, Abbie Salt, Robert Curtis Theatrical release: 6 February 2015 Paul Bradshaw
STILL LIFE
Eddie Marsan gets a rare and much-deserved lead in this quiet British indie from writer/director Uberto Pasolini (best known as producer of The Full Monty). Marsan, an actor whose versatility has seen him in everything from Mission: Impossible III to Mike Leighs Happy-Go-Lucky, plays John May, a council worker who makes funeral arrangements for those who die alone until hes given the boot by the suits. No, he doesnt go on a roaring rampage of revenge; the film is too subtle for that. As John undertakes his last case, Marsan offers up a typically nuanced character study of a man as lonely as those he buries. Its stodgy in places but theres heart and soul here too. Director: Uberto Pasolini Starring: Eddie Marsan, Joanne Froggatt Theatrical release: 6 February 2015 James Mottram
DOWN DOG
Anyone who remembers the 90s will feel ancient watching Andres Dussans debut, a lad-com more dated than Loaded. Writer Simon Nye (Men Behaving Badly) labours the knob gags in the tale of feckless sex-toy salesman Frank (Jason Durr), who re-assesses life when his put-upon ex-wife persuades his doctor to tell him hes dying. Tough trick to swallow? Its tougher still to care about moronic Frank, despite Durrs efforts, or to buy Nyes sketches of endlessly patient womanhood. Dylan Llewellyn makes winning work of Franks teenage son: shame so much else here creaks with age. Director: Andres Dusan Starring: Jason Durr, Nick Moran, Tom Goodman-Hill Theatrical release: 13 February 2015 Kevin Harley
DANCING IN JAFFA
Ex-ballroom champ Pierre Dulaine has a dream: to bring together Jewish and Palestinian children through dance! If Hilla Medalias documentary sounds like a spoof, it isnt helped by the flamboyant Dulaine. Yet the tough reality of childhood in Israel anchors events into something more interesting and rather lovely. Dulaines passion collides with segregated communities for whom simply touching is a cultural taboo. As a result, the crowd-pleasing transformation of wary, closed children into enthusiastic, empathetic partners is thoroughly deserved. Director: Hilla Medalia Starring: Pierre Dulaine Theatrical release: 13 February 2015 Simon Kinnear
TWO NIGHT STAND
Making the most of its simple but effective premise an awkward one-night stand is extended after a blizzard snows the couple in Two Night Stand is pretty much a two-hander, resting on the chemistry between megastar-in-the-making Miles Teller (Whiplash) and Analeigh Tipton (Crazy, Stupid, Love). At its best in the confines of the apartment, its only when the snow lets up that first-time director Max (son of Mike) Nichols falters. A little more honest about modern dating than your average romcom-by-numbers, its fun while it lasts. Director: Max Nichols Starring: Miles Teller, Analeigh Tipton, Jessica Szhor Theatrical release: 13 February 2015 Matt Maytum
THE PHILADELPHIA STORY
George Cukors 1940 classic is romantic comedy at its sophisticated finest. Katharine Hepburns society divorcee is about to get re-married to a dullard when ex Cary Grant shows up. And in his wake, tabloid reporter Jimmy Stewart, hot for a juicy story and pretty soon, hot for Hepburn too. All three principals are on flawless form as is the ever-wonderful Roland Young as Kates randy uncle. The dialogue glitters, Cukor directs with a sublime touch and Hepburns drunk scene (with Stewart singing Over The Rainbow gloriously off-key) is pure gold. Director: George Cukor Starring: Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, James Stewart Theatrical release: 13 February 2015 Philip Kemp
Snow In Paradise
Inspired by co-scripter/actor Martin Askew, who rejected his criminal past and found Islam, editor-turned-director Andrew Hulmes East End drama blends Mockneys and Muslims with surprising results. Hoxton resident Dave (Frederick Schmidt) works for drug lord Uncle Jimmy (Askew), but when he gets light-fingered with a kilo of coke, things go awry ultimately leading him to a local mosque. His rapid conversion may lack credibility, but its heartening to see Islam depicted positively. For Hulme, its a promising if not entirely fulfilling debut. Director: Andrew Hulme Starring: Frederick Schmidt, Martin Askew, David Spinx Theatrical release: 13 February 2015 James Mottram
FAIRYTALE: STORY OF THE SEVEN DWARVES
Harald Siepermanns German-made mash-up of Snow White and Sleeping Beauty shows the inherent foolishness of trying to refresh the classics. There is little here that Shrek, never mind Disney, didnt achieve first with more wit or style. Characters are so interchangeable they are literally upstaged by a piece of wood (an enchanted signpost, since you ask). Amid awkward pacing, indifferent animation and lacklustre songs, the most glaring mark of the films diminished ambition is the outdated bullet time homage. Director: Boris Aljinovic, Harald Siepermann Starring: Joshua Graham, Matt Gilbert, Al Parrish Theatrical release: 13 February 2015 Simon Kinnear
LOVE IS ALL
Like a match made in heaven, Kim Longinottos winning montage-movie of 100 years of romantic film footage finds the perfect partner in Sheffield singer Richard Hawleys lush love songs. Just as Hawleys croon is a thing of timeless beauty, so Longinotto shows how love crosses divides: multi-use metaphors (trains, fireworks, kettles boiling) cuddle up with snapshots of yearning factory workers, sticky fumbles, gay love, judo practice and more. With wit and warmth, Longinotto dances lightly over depths and times the music/image clinch to perfection. Lovely. Director: Kim Longinotto Theatrical release: 13 February 2015 Kevin Harley
KUNG FU KILLER
Everybodys kung fu fighting in this enjoyable if disposable vehicle for Donnie Yen (Ip Man), here cast as a former martial arts instructor serving a jail term for manslaughter who is sprung by the cops, 48 Hrs-style, to help them hunt down a psycho. Turns out the nutjob in question (Wang Baoqiang) wants to be chop-socky top dog by defeating every martial arts supremo in Hong Kong, something Don cant let stand as long as he has the fists to stop it. After a talky first hour, Kung Fu Killer eventually gets its act together and delivers the bruising, kick-ass set-pieces expected. Director: Teddy Chan Starring: Donnie Yen, Wang Baoqiang, Michelle Bai Theatrical release: 20 February 2015 Neil Smith
KUMIKO, THE TREASURE HUNTER
One pair of filmmaking siblings pays homage to another in a bewitchingly strange quasi-fable that riffs on that old (and subsequently debunked) true story that a young Japanese woman froze to death in 2001 looking for the buried loot in Fargo. Here the woman is Rinko Kikuchi (Babel), who heads for Minnesotas wintry wastes after watching the Coens 1996 Oscar winner. Director David Zellner milks this absurd scenario for both laughs and chills while quietly advancing the notion that all quests, even doomed ones, merit our respect. Directors: David Zellner, Nathan Zellner Starring: Rinko Kikuchi, Nobuyuki Katsube, Shirley Venard, David Zellner, Nathan Zellner Theatrical release: 20 February 2015 Neil Smith
MAIDAN
In early 2014, thousands of Ukrainian protestors occupied Kievs Independence Square and braved snipers bullets during the Euromaidan uprising, which ultimately brought down the corrupt President Yanukovych. Sergei Loznitsas film documents the massing, the singing, the milling about and as unimpeachably noble as its intentions are (people died here), its also a bit of a slog. Shot with an almost entirely static camera, this must be one of the least kinetic depictions of revolution ever, though its assuredly a testament to courage, resilience and people power. Director: Sergei Loznitsa Theatrical release: 20 February 2015 Ali Catterall
PROJECT ALMANAC
When a high-school gang get excited by the discovery of a time machine in a family basement, they play with it without considering the consequences. Similarly, Dean Israelites fast, fizzy found-footage debut struggles with emotional pay-offs but engages fully with its ideas. If some of those come from Primer and Chronicle, the sparky script, pace and cast compensate. Big hiccups include main man Davids (Jonny Weston) fudged grief issues and Sofia Black-DElias leered-at bum (producer: Michael Bay), but the tone darkens smartly for the teasing climax: as a nifty twist keeps time travels tangles in focus, Israelite's promise holds up well. Director: Dean Israelite Starring: Jonny Weston, Sofia Black-D'Elia, Sam Lerner, Allen Evangelista, Ginny Gardner Theatrical release: 20 February 2015 Kevin Harley
BACKSTREET BOYS: SHOW EM WHAT YOURE MADE OF
Regrouping to play football, drink tea and admire AJs sweet Drive jacket, Backstreet Boys (average age: 39) document their triumphant 20th-anniversary comeback as a manband with a refreshing absence of vanity. Howie admits they watched porn with Ponzi-scheming manager Lou Pearlman, Kevin recalls the handy German for Will you give me a blowjob? and Nick bitches in the boardroom. And thats just the start of a no-holds-barred honesty, making for a compelling, therapeutic retrospective. Director: Stephen Kijak Starring: Nick Carter, Howie Dorough, Brian Littrell, AJ Mclean, Kevin Richardson Theatrical release: 26 February 2015 Emma Morgan
THE BOY NEXT DOOR
Connoisseurs of big stars in bad movies are the only imaginable audience for this dismal 90s-style stalker flick. Jennifer Lopez is a single mum who is seduced by Ryan Guzman, the handsome 19-year-old boy (ahem) next door. Afterwards she spurns him, and he goes nuts. He wheedles his way into the high school class she teaches and begins to dismantle her life. Why? No idea. Then again, why is a 19-yearold still at school? Why is a 27-year-old actor playing a 19-year-old? Why is this thoroughly chaste movie being pitched as an erotic thriller? In the words of Gigli, its turkey time. Director: Rob Cohen Starring: Jennifer Lopez, Ryan Guzman, John Corbett, Ian Nelson, Kristin Chenoweth Theatrical release: 27 February 2015 Ken McIntyre
HINTERLAND
Mainly filmed from inside an old Volvo, this micro-budget two-hander sees childhood friends Harvey (debut writer/director/producer Harry Macqueen) and Lola (Lori Campbell) reunite for a weekend away at his parents place in Cornwall. It opens with a series of still-life shots before switching to a long, non-linear drive around central London, setting the tone for the absence of action to follow: lots of reminiscing rather than experiencing. Newcomer Campbell is charming, but Macqueens flat acting makes for a movie thats more atmospheric than engrossing. Director: Harry MacQueen Starring: Harry MacQueen, Lori Campbell Theatrical release: 27 February 2015 Emma Morgan
THE TALES OF HOFFMANN
This 1951 adap of Offenbachs grandest opera finds Powell and Pressburger at their most lavishly OTT baroque. Its a glorious splurge of music, sumptuous production design, costumes and Technicolor, with choreography oh yes, theres dancing too by the great Frederick Ashton. Sensitive poet Hoffmann (superbly sung by tenor Robert Rounseville) falls repeatedly in love, but always with the most ill-advised, doom-laden choices. (Well, this is romantic opera, after all.) And in this 4K restoration it looks just stunning. Sit back and let it wash over all your senses. Director: Michael Powell, Emeric Pressburger Starring: Moira Shearer, Robert Rounseville, Ludmilla Tcherina Theatrical release: 27 February 2015 Philip Kemp
A DARK REFLECTION
Make films about what you know goes the adage advice BA captain turned writer/director Tristan Loraine has taken to heart, exposing aviation malpractice in worthy documentaries such as Welcome Aboard Toxic Airlines (2007). Though the subject remains the same, here he turns his hand to drama, with the tale of Georgina Sutcliffes crusading writer uncovering corruption in the airfields of West Sussex. Theres no denying Loraines commitment, but the TV trappings and small-screen cameos keep things just a little too parochial. Director: Tristan Loraine Starring: Georgina Sutclliffe, Rita Ramnani, Nicholas Day, Mark Dymond, Stephen Tompkinson, Marina Sirtis Theatrical release: 27 February 2015 Matt Glasby
