Apr 29th  

Iron Sky     
(Fin/Ger/Australia/Pol 2012)                    

In 2018 a refuge Nazi colony stationed on the dark side of the Moon plans to reconquer the Earth from space.
Fast-moving comic book fantasy, trashy post-adolescent nonsense, although getting slightly carried away with Sarah Palin satire down on Earth – leaving one to wonder by the end of all the mayhem who the bad guys really are.

Written by: Michael Kalesniko, Tino Vuorensola, from an original story idea by Johanna Sinisalo, Jarmo Puskala.
Producers: Mark Overett, Cathy Overett, Olivier Damian, Samuli Torssonen, Tero Kaukomaa.
Staring: Götz Otto, Julia Dietze, Christopher Kirby, Udo Kier, Peta Sargeant, Stephanie Paul (as the President), Tilo Prückner.

Photography: Mika Orasmaa.

Music: Laibach.

Visual Effects: Samuli Torssonen.

Production Design: Ulrika von Vegesack.

IRON SKY. A poster slogan with allusions to Mars Attacks!, which it partly emulates.

Apr 26th
The Love Punch* (12A)
(Odeon Gerrards Cross)

(Fra 2013)

A separated couple rekindle their relationship when they have to steal a diamond from a slimy French financier who has embezzled all their pension funds.
A romantic caper movie with the emphasis on comedy more than crime. Veterans loosen up in mostly childish manner (lacking the verisimilitude of the same director's Last Chance Harvey), but provide occasional funny moments that please.

Written and Directed by: Joel Hopkins.
Producers: Tim Perell, Jean-Charles Levy, Clement Miserez.
Starring: Emma Thompson, Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Spal, Celia Imrie, Louise Bourgoin, Laurent Lafitte, Marisa Berenson.
Photography: Jerome Almeras.
Music: Jean-Michel Bernard.

Apr 24th
Easter Parade***     

(US 1948)                    

A renowned dance loses his star partner to the Ziegfeld Follies, but finds a better one in a New York bar.
Sparkling musical in vivid style which barely pauses for breath in between its many highlights, in spite of its mechanical plot.

Written by: Sidney Sheldon, Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett.
Producer: Arthur Freed.
Director: Charles Walters.
Starring: Fred Astaire (replacing Gene Kelly), Judy Garland, Ann Miller, Peter Lawford, Clinton Sundberg, Jules Munshin, Jeni le Gon.
Photography: Harry Stradling.
Music/Lyrics: Irving Berlin.

Preceded by:
Tom & Jerry in
Cat Fishin'***
(US 1946. 7m.; w, d: William Hanna, Joseph Barbera; p: Fred Quimby.)

Apr 20th
Mean Streets**     

(US 1973)                                  

Four racketeering friends in New York's Little Italy get themselves into trouble over money and disorder.
Scorsese's first major work, a typically well made (and presumably semi-autobiographical) story about unpleasant characters, in a style similar to the later Goodfellas, although heavily influenced at the time by Cassavetes, with semi-improvised and often incoherent dialogue.

Written by: Mardik Martin, Martin Scorsese.
Producer: Jonathan T. Taplin.
Director: Martin Scorsese.
Starring: Harvey Keitel, Robert De Niro, David Proval, Richard Romanus, Amy Robinson, David Carradine, Robert Carradine, Martin Scorsese.
Photography: Kent Wakeford.
Music: Various.
Editing: Sidney Levin.

Apr 18th
Ray Harryhausen: Special Effects Titan*    

(Fra 2012)      

Affectionate, slavishly covered film-by-film celebration of Harryhausen's work, the great uncle of modern film fantasy (although due credit is briefly given to Willis O'Brien and even Georges Melies), making the generous boast that the likes of Lucas, Jackson, Spielberg, Cameron, etc. would not have made their films without him. The number of illustrious admirers interviewed certainly testifies to that, in what is a long but pleasant troll through some occasionally very enjoyable and always watchable fantasies.

Written and Directed by: Gilles Penso.
Producer/Music: Alexandre Poncet.
Contributions by: Ray Harryhausen, Tony Dalton, Peter Jackson, Colin Arthur, Ray Bradbury, Tim Burton, James Cameron, Joe Dante, Guillermo Del Toro, Terry Gilliam, Vanessa Harryhausen, John Landis, John Lasseter, Nick Park, Steven Spielberg, Phil Tippett, and others.

Apr 15th
The Valley of Gwangi     

(US 1969)                    

In turn of the 20th century Mexico, a lost valley of living dinosaurs wreaks its vengeance on the locals after they have tried to steal its secrets.
Unlikely but entertaining Western dinosaur yarn, with enough plot weaknesses to drive a spear at, but better than usual inregration of live and animated action in the familiar Harryhausen style.

Written by: William E. Bast.
Producer: Charles H. Schneer.
Director: James O'Connelly.
Starring: James Franciscus, Gila Golan, Richard Carlson, Laurence Naismith, Freda Jackson, Curtis Arden.
Photography: Erwin Hillier.
Music: Jerome Moross.
Special Effects: Ray Harryhausen.

Apr 12th
Under the Skin* (15)        
Ipswich Film Theatre                

(GB 2013)

A presumed alien in a woman's body stalks Glasgow luring lonely men to their deaths, but gradually has to come to terms with her own human identity.
Intriguing sci-fi/horror documentary shorn of most of the clichés of the genre, vague in its plot (such as there is) with minimal dialogue, and heavy on atmosphere, a jarring soundtrack and long enigmatic static camera shots. A more unusual film you will not see this year.

Written by: Walter Campbell, Jonathan Glazer, based on the novel by Michel Faber.
Producers: Nick Wechsler, James Wilson.
Director: Jonathan Glazer.
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy McWilliams, and others.
Photography: Daniel Landin.
Music: Mica Levi.

Apr 10th
The Matrix**      

(US/Australia 1999)                        

The world as we know it is controlled by an artificial intelligence system known as the Matrix, with the remaining conscious humans battling the machines to get back their identity.
High concept sci-fi thriller with some trendy action for its "real" scenes, becoming quite a cult with its various pretensions to semi-spiritual technological overtones, to become the sleeper hit of its year.

Written and Directed by: Andy Wachowski, Larry Wachowski.
Producers: Joel Silver, Dan Cracchiolo.
Starring: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne, Joe Pantoliano, Hugo Weaving, Gloria Foster, Marcus Chong.
Photography: Bill Pope.
Music: Don Davis.
Visual Effects Supervision: John Gaeta.

Apr 1st  
Swimming with Sharks*                         

(US 1994)

A film school graduate takes his revenge on the bullying producer he has been working under to try and climb the Hollywood ladder.
Dirtier variation on The Player combined with Wall Street megalomania, but covering the even crazier business of making movies. 90 minutes of Kevin Spacey barking quickly becomes repetitive however.

Written and Directed: George Huang.
Producers: Steve Alexander, Joanne Moore.
Starring: Frank Whaley, Kevin Spacey, Michelle Forbes, Benicio Del Toro, T.E. Russell, Roy Dotrice.
Photography: Steven Finestone.
Music: Tom Hiel.
Editing: Ed Marx.