film by Keiron Self
NEW MOON *** 2012 ***
Dir: Chris Weitz (12A, 100 mins) Dir: Roland Emmerich (12A, 125 mins)
The Twilight juggernaut fangs on, continuing to set many hearts a-flutter with its Disaster on an epic scale? Various national landmarks destroyed by tidal waves?
teen beefcakes and romance – oh, and the vampire stuff too. After the phenomenal A few character actors struggling with cheesy dialogue? It can only mean one
success of both the film Twilight and its continuing saga in Stephanie Meyer’s thing, Roland Emmerich, the director behind Independence Day, The Day After
blockbuster novels, a sequel was inevitable. It’s an emo Harry Potter. Robert Tomorrow and, um, 10,000 BC is back with the ultimate world’s end movie. The
Pattinson, the subject of much swooning following his turn as vampire Edward Mayan calendar predicts that the world will end on 21 December 2012, and it
Cullen, takes less of a part in the follow-up, leaving his love Bella (Kristen Stewart) turns out in this film that they were right. Naturally we see the catastrophes play
when the sight of her blood proves too much for his family to bear at a birthday out mostly through everyman John Cusack and his daughter, as they race to find
party. With her love gone, Bella pines, takes up extreme sports and gets closer to some sort of safety as tectonic plates shift all over the earth, creating tidal waves,
Jacob Black, played by a torso called Taylor Lautner. But hey, wouldn’t you know volcanoes, earthquakes and general gobsmacking CGI devastation. Can humanity
it: he’s a werewolf. She sure can pick ’em. Chris Weitz takes over the directing survive? Can we take anymore onscreen destruction? The Vatican gets totalled and
duties following Catherine Hardwicke’s departure in a more boy-friendly sequel the White House is obliterated by an aircraft carrier and a jumbo tidal wave. 2012
with lots of fighting. Kristen Stewart is a likeable tortured teen, lots of werewolf is all about horrific spectacle. It’s The Towering Inferno writ large – particularly
boys have their tops off and Michael Sheen adds a touch of gravitas. The effects as 1970s disaster films are an admitted influence on Emmerich. The script is often
are occasionally dubious, but unrequited love still reigns and fans of the books and clunky and, despite the best efforts of its impressive cast, the gleeful destruction
the first film will lap this instalment up, especially when Pattinson makes heart takes centre stage, with the deaths of millions making this queasily uncomfortable
rending acts of self-sacrifice, and has his top off. Opens Nov 20 but also cheesily enjoyable. Opens Nov 13
NINE *** HARRY BROWN *** A SERIOUS MAN ****
Dir: Rob Marshall (12A, 120 mins) Dir: Daniel Barber (18, 97 mins) Dir: Ethan Coen (15, 100 mins)
A Broadway smash back in the 1980s, Nine is a musical Sir Michael Caine is still most definitely the Guvnor. 38 The Coen Brothers return after Burn After Reading with
take on Fellini’s Italian arthouse opus Eight And A Half, years after Get Carter he makes another successful foray a low-key, no-star black comedy. Set in 1967, Michael
adapted for the screen by the late Anthony Minghella. into hardnut territory. He plays an ex-serviceman who Stuhlbarg plays Larry, a Jewish physics lecturer whose
Daniel Day-Lewis heads a spectacularly classy cast as takes the law into his own hands following the death of life is crumbling around him. His wife is about to leave
Guido Contini, an Italian film director going through an his best friend at the hands of some local thugs. It’s a him with his best friend, his kids are rebelling, his neigh-
epic mid-life crisis. His creative and personal lives are geriatric Death Wish given resonance purely by Caine; bours scare him, and he could well be cursed. Our central
in the mire, due to his voracious appetite for women and without him this would be by-the-numbers schlock. He character battles on, however, in an inimitable Jewish
chronic self-indulgence, and as he mopes he encounters goes on a one-man campaign to sort out the perpetra- style, no matter what travails are thrown at him. Clearly
each of the women in his life: the whore from his youth tors of his friend’s murder, attracting the attention of a personal film, it appears that the Oscar success of No
played by strangefaced Fergie from the BlackEyed Peas, policewoman Emily Mortimer who suspects there is more Country For Old Men has allowed the Coens to go back
his film star muse Nicole Kidman, fashion journalist Kate to this old man than meets the eye. Writer Gary Young and to their biographical roots. A Serious Man is a wince-
Hudson, agent Judi Dench, mother Sophia Loren, wife director Daniel Barber have taken several cues from pre- making comedy with a very likeable central character try-
Marion Cotillard and mistress Penelope Cruz. As I said, a vious entries in the genre, the script balances character ing to make sense of it all. It’s not as coolly cynical as a
classy cast. The musical numbers look to be impressively study with violence and its hoodie-bashing is bait to the lot of their previous films, but it is very Jewish and funny
staged if the tunes are not recognisable, while Cruz and Daily Mail readership. Nevertheless, the elder Cockney – far funnier and more substantial than their remake of
co are saucily suspendered and flexible, but will this arty statesman rises above all and makes this low-key revenge The Ladykillers. Opens Nov 20
musical have box office clout and crossover appeal? Hmm. thriller all the more rewarding. Opens Nov 13
Opens Nov 25
ALSO RELEASED: BRIGHT STAR (12A) It’s been years since Australian director Jane Campion’s last film, but this lyrical tale of Romantic poet John Keats’ love life was a critical hit at Cannes, and has the director
back on Piano form. TAKING WOODSTOCK (15) Ang Lee’s so-so comedy drama revolving around the classic 60s music festival. AMELIA (12A) Prestige biopic with Hilary Swank donning the flying goggles to
bring female flier Amelia Earhart to the screen. COLD SOULS (12A) Paul Giamatti stars as himself in this Being John Malkovich-esque existential comedy about soul trafficking. Quirkily fun. GLORIOUS 39 (12A)
NOVEMBER 2009.indd 30 28/10/09 10:43:29
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