entertainment film by KEIRON SELF May’s big cinema releases


Oppenheimer Dir: Christopher Nolan


(12A) (180 mins)


Elemental Dir: Peter Sohn


(PG) (103 mins)


The Dark Knight and Inception director has hopefully abandoned the headscratchy plot- ting of Tenet for a story about the man who developed the atomic bomb, Robert Oppen- heimer. Cillian Murphy stars as the man who has ‘become Death’ amidst a starry cast that includes Robert Downey Jnr, Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Brendan Fraser and many more. In cinemas Fri 21 July


Barbie


Dir: Greta Gerwig (12A) (100 mins)


The latest from Pixar has the elements of Fire, Water, Earth and Air, all coexisting but never allowed to mix – inevitably leading to an outburst of sincerity regarding how you should be with who you want, and an im- migration story with some resonance. Why can’t the fiery Lumen be with the wet Rip- ple? Expect top-drawer animation, and per- haps a familiar thematic concoction. In cinemas Fri 7 July


Mission Impossible: Dead


Reckoning Part 1 Dir: Christopher McQuarrie (12A) (163 mins)


Welsh release


The Incredible Story Of Private Morgan


Dutch writer Bas Steman has always had an interest in the supernatural, and since 2004 has investigat- ed this phenomenon to write a book on the subject, undergoing regression therapy for research. What happened as a result, though, defies explanation.


One of the most eagerly awaited blockbust- ers of the summer, this doll-related movie tie-in should be far more than a cash-in. A cast led by Margot Robbie’s Barbie and Ryan Gosling’s Ken give life to a whole range of Barbie and Kens as the perfect doll realises there may be life outside Barbie-land and has an existential crisis. Promises satirical yuks and product placement alike. In cinemas Fri 21 July


Smoking Causes Coughing Dir: Quentin Dupieux


(15) (77 mins)


Tom Cruise and his daredevilry are back: another outing for his superspy Ethan Hunt in this increasingly enjoyable franchise. Ru- moured to be the first part of his swansong doing impossible missions, this offers globe- trotting stunts with the core cast from pre- vious adventures and added Hayley Attwell. In cinemas Tue 11 July


Talk To Me


Dir: Danny & Michael Phillippou (15) (94 mins)


“During this regression I had ‘memories’ of World War II. I was hanging on a parachute, surrounded by hundreds of men like me. I ‘knew’ immediately where it was, when it was… September 1944, Gin- kel Heath by Arnhem. I experienced the last two days of a paratrooper. I could describe details from his life, the town he lived, his house, his hobbies His name was Morgan and he lived in Pontardawe.”


Oscillating between scepticism and belief in his experience, when Steman visited Wales in 2006 he confirmed that Morgan had indeed existed. His sis- ter Glenys was still alive, too: Steman met her and related his story, causing yet more moments to click into place.


Steman went on to write a novel based on his expe- riences: Morgan, My Love, published in 2018 and a Dutch bestseller. He and film director partner Ari- ane Greep documented his writing process, includ- ing trips to Pontardawe and the Airborne Cemetery in Oosterbeek, accompanied by Glenys; Steman has stayed in contact with her family, too.


A bizarre Power Rangers-esque squad go on a teambuilding exercise at the behest of their rat boss in this off-the-wall comedy from the maker of the equally odd Deerskin. Plenty of gore, strange character choices and an an- ti-smoking team named ‘the tobacco force’: it’s going to be a wild ride. In cinemas Fri 7 July


A group of friends discover they can conjure spirits by holding a disembodied, embalmed hand. As their daring builds, so do the rami- fications, as the barrier between the real and the spirit world blurs. A sleek, horrifying thriller that’s been conjuring up nightmares with critics: leave some lights on. In cinemas Fri 28 July


Insidious: The Red Door Dir: Patrick Wilson


(15) (98 mins)


More spooky goings-on with the Lambert family in this new instalment to the horror franchise with the scary redfaced man. With their son about to go to college, all manner of hell starts to become un- locked as repressed demonic memories spill over into the real world. Actor Patrick Wilson takes the helm in his directorial debut, as well as starring again alongside screen wife Rose Byrne. Expect jump scares and weird face paints. In cinemas Fri 7 July


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Since writing Morgan, My Love, similar tales to Steman’s have come to light. Santa Montefiore’s Wait For Me, published this month, is a novel based on the accounts of someone who had regressed into the body of another paratrooper from the same bat- talion. “It’s spooky, hey? Two men, two books, one story…”


The Incredible Story Of Private Morgan is screened in Pontardawe Arts Centre on Wed 12 July; also features a Q&A with Bas Steman and Ariane Greep.


KEIRON SELF


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