Jun 30th  
O.K. Connery  
aka: Operation Kid Brother; Operation Double 007; Secret Agent 00

Ita 1967. Produzione D.S. 104m. Techniscope

A plastic surgeon and hypnotist takes on the criminal Thanatos organisation.
Cheeky Italian imitation James Bond utilising his non-acting younger brother, who fits in as well as is necessary for a spy yarn as spoofish as this one, with the impudence to even use some of the actors' names for their characters (for copyright reasons presumably.) Of its time and for its time.

Written by: Paolo Levi, Frank Walker, Stanley Wright.
Producer: Dario Sabatella.
Director: Alberto De Martino.
Starring: Neil Connery, Daniela Bianchi, Adolfo Celi, Anthony Dawson, Bernard Lee, Lois Maxwell, Agata Flori, Yachuko Yama, Guido Lollobrigida.
Photography: Giovanni Bergamini.
Music: Ennio Morricone, Bruno Nicolai.
Art Direction: Franco Fontana.

This Italian rip-off even mimicked the poster for You Only Live Twice (the "Operation" moniker was considered box officein those days), but at best only an OK Connery.

Jun 26th  
L.A. Confidential**       

(US 1997)                    

In the 1950s detectives uncover corruption in high places after a mass murder in a Los Angeles restaurant.
Complex multi-character police thriller, resolving most of its plot twists through violent action and a disappointing shoot-out climax, but much of what has gone before is stylishly and atmospherically done, with strong elements of homage to Chinatown, with some emerging Australian actors also getting their first major showcase.

Written by: Brian Helgeland, Curtis Hanson, from the novel by James Ellroy.
Producers: Arnon Milchan, Curtis Hanson, Michael Nathanson.
Director: Curtis Hanson.
Starring: Guy Pearce, Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, James Cromwell, David Strathairn, Kim Basinger, Danny De Vito, Ron Rifkin, Graham Beckel.
Photography: Dante Spinotti.
Music: Jerry Goldsmith.

Jun 24th    
Belle** (12A)    
(Odeon Colchester)

(GB 2013)

In 1769 the beautiful illegitimate black daughter of Lord Mansfield's nephew is adopted by him , and influences his role as Lord Chief Justice as regards slavery.
Moving civil rights historical romance, fudging history in order to make it more accessible to modern sensibilities (together with some occasionally one-dimensional racist characters), but performances are generally excellent, and the production positively oozes period detail, although the actual history is possibly even more interesting than the way it is dramatised here.

Written by: Misan Sagay.
Producer: Damian Jones.
Director: Amma Asante.
Starring: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tom Wilkinson (as Lord Mansfield), Emily Watson, Sarah Gadon, Sam Reid, Penelope Wilton, Tom Felton, Miranda Richardson, Matthew Goode.
Photography: Ben Smithard.
Music: Rachel Portman.
Production Design: Simon Bowles.

BELLE. Black is beautiful.

Jun 20th  
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel**   (12A)
Sub-title: for the Elderly and Beautiful
(Manifest Theatre, Manningtree)  

(GB/US/UAE 2011)

Seven senior citizens leave behind their neglected lives in England for the lure of a fresh start in an exotic Jaipur hotel.
...which of course, is a ramshackle to begin with, in the manner of Carry On Abroad and others, with an excellent cast in an endearing travelogue, rather sentimentally resolved (for me, Enchanted April is more believable), and also giving a refreshingly mature and sympathetic portrayal from the Indian perspective.It began something of a trend in Senior movies, continuing with the likes of Quartet, Last Chance Harvey, The Love Punch and others.

Written by: Ol Parker, based on the novel "These Foolish Things" by Deborah Moggach.
Producers: Graham Broadbent, Peter Czernin.
Director: John Madden.
Starring: Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Penelope Wilton, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, Celia Imrie, Ronald Pickup, Dev Patel, Tena Desae, Diana Hardcastle, Lillete Dubey, Liza Tarbuck.
Photography: Ben Davis.
Music: Thomas Newman.
Editing: Chris Gill.

Jun 19th  
The Conformist**    

(Ita/Fra 1970)                

In 1930s Paris a fascist hitman on the hunt for dissenters also tries to come to terms with his own identity.
Atmospheric and stylish 30s European melodrama, a world away from most other product of the 70s (apart from the permissiveness) with this director as usual making very beautiful pictures (literally at times) that only occasionally have relevance to the story, but certainly convey Paris in a hauntingly beautiful mixture of colourful light and shade.

Written and Directed by Bernardo Bertolucci, from the novel by Alberto Moravia.
Producer: Giovanni Bertolucci.
Starring: Jean-Louis Trintignant, Stefania Sandrelli, Dominique Sanda, Gastone Munchin, Enzo Taroscio, Pierre Clementi.
Photography: Vittorio Storaro,
Music: Georges Delerue.

Jun 17th  
Madhouse*   

(GB 1974)          

A veteran horror film star is suspected of carrying out murders in the style of his on-screen character Dr. Death.
Semi-parodic Amicus screamer, over-emphasizing the obvious twists and red herrings, and lacking the comparative finesse of either Theatre of Blood or Targets - which also featured a horror veteran intercut with his films - but the star (over)plays his part to the hilt, with an enjoyably outlandish climax.

Written by: Greg Morrison, based on the story "Devilday" by Angus Hall.
Producers: Max Rosenberg, Milton Subotsky.
Director: Jim Clark.
Starring: Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Robert Quarry, Natasha Pyne, Adrienne Corri, Linda Hayden, Barry Dennen, Michael Parkinson.
Photography: Ray Parslow.
Music: Douglas Gamley.

Preceded by:
Sleeping Policemen
(GB 2014. 3m.; w: Ashleigh Butler; d: Katie Liddell; s: Scott Sophos, Andy Ibros, Paul Reed.)

Jun 17th
Oculus* (15)
(Odeon Colchester)                      

10 years on, a reunited brother and sister try to avenge the murder of their parents caused by a haunted mirror.
A familiar subject for horror (such as in Dead of Night and others) is nonetheless given a fresh perspective, and while keeping within the familiar mechanics of the genre (together with irritating cross-cuts between past and present), still contains some startling moments and a surprise resolution.

d: Mike Flanagan, based on his short film "Oculus: The Man with the Plan"
s: Karen Gillan, Brenton Thwaites, Ray Cochrane, Katee Sackhoff, Annalise Basso, Garrett Ryan, James Lafferty, Miguel Sandoval.


           

Jun 14th     
All the President's Men***       

(US 1976)              

Two Washington journalists investigate and gradually uncover the truth behind the Watergate Hotel break-in.
Quietly riveting political expose, leaping straight off the headlines and happily into Hollywood's lap. Happily also, it is largely devoid of movie glamour and allows the real-life drama to speak for itself. A sinister paranoia journalistic thriller which suited the mood of the 70s to a tee, and a gift for this kind of talent to put together.

Written by: William Goldman, from the book by Carl Bernstein, Bob Woodward.
Producers: Robert Redford, Walter Coblenz.
Director: Alan J. Pakula.
Starring: Robert Redford, Dustin Hoffman, Jason Robards, Jack Warden, Martin Balsam, Hal Holbrook (as "Deep Throat"), Jane Alexander, Ned Beatty, Stephen Collins, F. Murray Abraham.
Photography: Gordon Willis.
Music: David Shire.
Production Design: George Jenkins.

Jun 13th  
Gandhi My Father**   

(India 2007)        

Movingly played if slightly depressing variation on Richard Attenborough’s 1982 film (qv), where Mahatma Gandhi is father of the nation more than he is a father to his actual eldest son. It mimics Attenborough’s original in style (bar some brief Bollywood flourishes early on) with rather more character introspection than spectacle, and likewise is beautiful to look at, and also languid in its later stages.

Written and Directed by: Feroz Abbas Khan, based on books by Chandulal Dalal, Neelamben Parikh.
Producer: Anil Kapoor.
Starring: Akshaye Khanna (as Harilal Gandhi), Darshan Jariwala (as Gandhi), Shefali Shetty, Bhoomika Cawla, Daniel Janks.
Photography: David McDonald.
Music: Piyush Kanojia.

Jun 12th    
Seven Streets, Two Markets and a Wedding** (U)  
(Ipswich Film Theatre)

(GB 2014)

Atmospheric collection of documentary footage shot by sometimes adventurous cameramen, and others just functional but with the historical interest nowadays of capturing incidentals, with each short film preceded by a static present day shot of the London location today.

Taken from East Lane Bridge**
(1932. 5m. bw. silent; Near North Wembley station.)
These Can Be Yours* (excerpt)
(1949. Wembley Road Safety Council. 10m. bw; Curious mixture of comedy documentary and public information film.)
Wedding of Frances Burgess and Charles Holmes of St. Andrew's Church, Kingsbury on 8 July 1944**
(5m. bw. silent.)
All on a Winter's Day* (excerpt)
(1952. 11m. silent. bw; ph: A.E. Reneson Coucher.)
Green Islands* (excerpt)
(1954. 5m.; d: Cecil Musk.)
Various Views: Hackney Housing
(circa 1950. 7m. silent.)
Lambeth Walk
(circa 1960s. 5m. silent; ph: Frederick Meiklejohn.)
Walworth Road
(1960. 3m. silent; ph: Patricia David, Stanley David.)
SE18: Impressions of a London Suburb* (excerpt)
(1964. 10m. bw; d: Alan G. Bell.)
Tower Hamlets Carnival (excerpt)
(1979. 6m. silent; d: R. Taylor.)

Jun 9th  
Terminator 2: Judgment Day**  

(US 1991)      

A duplicate of the killer android who tried to prevent the birth of the future revolutionary John Connor, is now ordered by him to destroy an even more ruthless killer robot called the T-1000.
Our futuristic trilogy of sorts concludes with this landmark special effects sequel; mechanical in the best sense of the word, following on from the same basic formula as the original, with added elements of female empowerment, occasionally thoughtful characterisation and quirky robotic humour, all swept along in the general juggernaut of a narrative.

Written by: James Cameron, William Wisher.
Producer/Director: James Cameron.
Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Edward Furlong, Robert Patrick (as T-1000), Earl Boen, Joe Morton, Jenette Goldstein, Xander Berkeley, Michael Biehn (in Special Edition dream sequence).
Photography: Adam Greenberg.
Music: Brad Fiedel.
Visual Effects Supevision: Dennis Muren.

Preceded by:
Tom & Jerry in
Heavenly Puss**
(US 1948. 8m.; w,d: William Hanna, Joseph Barbera; p: Fred Quimby.)

HEAVENLY PUSS. Hanna and Barbera's tribute to Powell and Pressburger.

Jun 3rd   
Rollerball**   

(US 1975)              

In an ultra violent sport of the corporate future, its star player becomes too powerful for his bosses' liking.
Forceful futuristic sports drama reflecting more - like A Clockwork Orange - on the social conditions of the 1970s at the time, in rather more palatably entertaining style. The sports action is vividly captured, and contrasts well with the softer decadent atmosphere away from the track, but the film lacks a definite focus or background about the society it creates.

Written by: William Harrison, from his short story.
Producer/Director: Norman Jewison.
Starring: James Caan, John Houseman, John Beck, Moses Gunn, Maud Adams, Ralph Richardson, Pamela Hensley, Barbara Trentham, Shane Rimmer.
Photography: Douglas Slocombe.
Music: Various classical.
Musical Direction: Andre Previn.
Production Design: John Box.

+ HOUSTON TEAM EXECUTIVE (Shane Rimmer): "Game? This wasn't meant to be a game!"

May 30th
Edge of Tomorrow (12A)        
(Odeon Colchester)          

(US 2014)

In a world war against invading intelligent aliens, an American PR officer dies several times until he can learn how to overcome the enemy.
Po-faced Groundhog Day combined with Starship Troopers, Saving Private Ryan and a few other war film cliches. Intriguing in concept but tedious in execution, with incoherent action no matter how many times it's repeated.

Written by: Christopher McQuarrie, Jez Butterworth, John-Henry Butterworth, based on the comic "All You Need is Kill" by Hiroshi Sakurazaka.
Producers: Jeffrey Silver, Erwin Stoff, Jason Hoffs, Ggregory Jacobs.
Director: Doug Liman.
Starring: Tom Cruise, Emily Blunt, Brendan Gleeson, Bill Paxton, Noah Taylor.
Photography: Dion Beebe.
Music: Christophe Beck.
Production Design: Oliver Scholl.
Editing: James Herbert, Laura Jennings.