Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Sep 27th
The Fisher King**
US 1991. Tri-Star. 137m.

A New York shock jockey unwittingly incites a murder spree but tries to redeem himself when he meets a man whose wife was killed and now dreams of finding the Holy Grail.
After overblown epics such as Brazil and The Adventures of Baron Munchausen(qv), Terry Gilliam restrains himself with more humdrum material, a fantasy drama about dysfunctional people coming to terms with their broken lives in the Big Apple. The Gilliam touches when they come (especially the commuters dance in Grand Central) are magical and a trifle indulgent, but there are longeurs in between.

Written by: Richard LaGravenese.
Producers: Debra Hill, Lynda Obst.
Director: Terry Gilliam.
Starring: Jeff Bridges, Robin Williams, Mercedes Ruehl, Amanda Plummer, Michael Jeter, David Hyde-Pierce, Harry Shearer.
Photography: Roger Pratt.
Music: George Fenton.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Sep 20th
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy** (15)
Cineworld Ipswich

Fine emulation of the 1979 TV series based on John Le Carre's novel, every bit as absorbing and indecipherable as the original, and packed with 1970's Retro and an equally good cast, despite the inevitable (but not fatal) absence of Alec Guinness.

d: Tomas Alfredsons: Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt, Toby Jones, Mark Strong, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ciaran Hinds, Kathy Burke, Simon McBurney, Roger Lloyd-Pack, David Dencik

+ John Le Carre himself pops up as a Christmas party guest

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