MOVIE REVIEWS
WOMEN IN LOVE
Movie Reviews - September 14 to 27
THE BOURNE LEGACY
Not a traditional sequel, this fourth instalment of the Bourne franchise introduces a new character and a new storyline different from Robert Ludlum's, although the Matt Damon original hovers in the background. Generally considered not a meaningful addition, but the absence of Matt Damon is made up for by the presence of Jeremy Renner. ‘Complex, unexpected and dazzling, alternating relentless tension with resonant emotional moments, this is an exemplary espionage thriller that has a strong sense of what it wants to accomplish and how best to get there' (Los Angeles Times). ‘The Bourne series ended with the last installment, and now comes a 135-minute death rattle called The Bourne Legacy. It's a peculiar movie, both over-plotted and under-plotted, encumbered by layers of detail and yet with no details invested in or developed' (San Francisco Chronicle).
Odeon
Piazza Strozzi, 2
tel. 055/295051
www.cinehall.it, www.odeon.intoscana.it
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES
Christopher Nolan's final salute to the Batman. A new villain, arch-terrorist Bane, entices Batman out of retirement as Gotham City is once again cleansed and made safe. But for how long? Long but riveting, with all of Nolan's skill resplendently on show. Hans Zimmer's pounding score makes the experience verge on sensory overload, compensated for by Bane's occasional incoherence. ‘Potent, persuasive and hypnotic, The Dark Knight Rises has us at its mercy. A disturbing experience we live through as much as a film we watch, this dazzling conclusion to director Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy is more than an exceptional superhero movie, it is masterful filmmaking by any standard' (Los Angeles Times
). ‘The Dark Knight Rises is a shallow repository of ideas, but as a work of sheer sensation, it has something to recommend' (Village Voice).
Odeon
Piazza Strozzi, 2
tel. 055/295051
www.cinehall.it, www.odeon.intoscana.it
WOODY ALLEN: A DOCUMENTARY
A rare opportunity to go behind the scenes of the famous filmmaker's life and work. Over 18 months, Curb Your Enthusiasm director Robert Weide tracks Allen at work and narrates with family and friends the story of his life. ‘A must-see for any Allen aficionado and just about anyone who craves an insight into the publicity-shy man's glorious career' (Empire). ‘I watched this engaging film with a great big smile on my face. I don't think anyone with any love for Allen, or the cinema, could fail to do anything else... This documentary is a pleasure, though we don't get too far beneath the surface' (The Guardian). (Weide sidesteps the great 1992 Soon-Yi scandal).
Odeon
Piazza Strozzi, 2
tel. 055/295051
www.cinehall.it, www.odeon.intoscana.it
BRAVE
Set in Scotland in a rugged and mythical time, Brave features Merida, an aspiring archer and impetuous royal. Merida makes a reckless choice that unleashes unintended peril and forces her to spring into action to set things right. The latest Disney-Pixar is slightly underwhelming emotionally though its visuals are satisfyingly brilliant. ‘A rousing, gorgeously animated good time' (Rolling Stone). ‘No less lovely than former films, in many ways lovelier, but Brave is boutique Pixar: less ambitious, more succinct, excellence at a lower ebb' (Empire). ‘Pixar's latest ultimately offers nothing more than a caricature of a well-worn conceit' (Slant Magazine).
For showtimes, see the events listing.
Odeon
Piazza Strozzi, 2
tel. 055/295051
www.cinehall.it, www.odeon.intoscana.it
PROMETHEUS
From Ridley Scott, the director of Alien and Blade Runner, this science fiction extravaganza stars Guy Pearce and Charlize Theron. Set in the late 21st century, a team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind and embark on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe, discovering civilisations that threaten to destroy the human race. ‘A slime-splattered, blood-spurting science-fiction adventure... Prometheus is a pick'n'mix bag of religious and mythological titbits, and it's an undeniably muddled project. Yet while it lacks Alien's ferocious simplicity and focus, Scott's determination to see his often loopy ideas through gives his film a single-minded vigour rarely found in pictures of this scale.' (The Telegraph)
Fulgor
via Maso Finiguerra
tel. 055/2381881
A new series of Talking Pictures focuses on the film work of the controversial, maverick British director Ken Russell who died last year, auteur of some of the most outrageous films in cinema. Prepare to be shocked, disgusted, horrified and amazed!
WOMEN IN LOVE
Wed, Sept 19, 8pm
Russell's famous adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's novel established him as a filmmaker of note, and was a commercial success. Lawrence's tale of sex and sexuality in the English Midlands in the 1920s is powerfully brought to life by the excellent ensemble cast, winning a Best Actress Oscar for Glenda Jackson as the free-spirited protofeminist Gudrun. Alan Bates' and Oliver Reed's firelit nude wrestling scene has always been a talking point. ‘Despite a growing portentousness towards the end, and moments of silliness ... scattered throughout, a surprisingly restrained, even respectful adaptation.' (Time Out). ‘The delirious romanticism is not nullified, in Russell's usual way, by a sour awareness of its absurdity, which may account for the film's persistent popularity' (Chicago Reader).
The British Institute
Lungarno Guicciardini 9
tel. 055/267781
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