Scorching story of big corruption in the Big Apple
Precinct Seven Five (15)
**** Dir: Tiller Russell
Runtime: 104 minutes
TILLER Russell’s scorcher of a documentary tells the story of the titular New York Precinct that became a by-word for corruption in the 1980s. At the epicentre of the story is Michael Dowd, a cop who went from enforcing drug laws to stealing and dealing drugs, raking in thousands a week as he went. Dowd, who could talk for America, is documentary gold, but Russell is careful to show all sides of the story, including the view of the officers who eventually brought the rogue cop to justice. A gripping watch, even after the sometimes boastful accounts of Dowd and company start to pall.
Theeb (15)
***
Dir: Naji Abu Nowar With: Jacir Eid AlHwietat, Hussein Salameh Al-Sweilhlyeen Runtime: 100 minutes THE Ottoman Empire, 1916. A Bedouin boy, Theeb, and his brother have been enlisted to act as a guide for an English officer, and as they trek through the hot sun from well to well many adventures, some thrilling, others terrifying, await. A hit at the Glasgow Film Festival in February, Naji Abu Nowar’s drama is a ripping yarn done with arthouse sensibilities. Glasgow Film Theatre, August 14-20
Paper Towns (12A)
*** Dir: Jake Schreier With: Cara Delevingne, Nat Wolff Runtime: 116 minutes THIS adaptation of the novel by John Green pitches itself full square at the teen market – delightful for fans of the book if elbow-gnawingly tiresome for anyone over shaving age. It’s a coming of age tale centring on Q (Nat Wolff) and his neighbour, the ultra cool Margo (Cara Delevingne). When Margo goes missing, Q and his pals unleash their inner Columbos to find her, discovering a few things about life as they do so. Perfectly pleasant in a Scooby-Doo way, with Woolff, who also starred in the teen drama The Fault in Our Stars, impressive and Delevingne showing she can act as well as model. Opens Monday, August 17