NEW RELEASES
HEAVEN ADORES YOU (12A)
Directed by: Nickolas Dylan Rossi
The title of this documentary tribute to Elliott Smith (below) is somewhat indicative of the too-delicate-for-this-world narrative fans have adopted to counter the singer-songwriter’s horribly violent (and somewhat mysterious) demise in October 2003. Best known to the wider public for Miss Misery, his haunting, Oscar-nominated song for Good Will Hunting, Smith emerged from the postnirvana hardcore scene of the Pacific Northwest as a writer of painfully raw folksongs that dealt with heartache and loss. But like Kurt Cobain before him, he was unprepared for the success and attention his music brought him. Boasting a wealth of archival footage as well as new interviews with friends, family members and colleagues, the film deals comprehensively with his development as an artist, but when it comes to the many dark times in his life, recollections are couched in euphemisms that acknowledge his drug use and suicidal tendencies, without divulging many details. That’s perhaps understandable for a film determined to transcend the tabloid salaciousness of his death from two stab wounds – perhaps self-inflicted, perhaps not – to his heart. But even for fans, it can feel frustratingly incomplete. Still there’s no denying the power of his music, which has a rare ability to feel intensely personal to both singer and listener alike and in the end, that’s why the film succeeds: by functioning – to quote one of Smith’s final songs – as a fond farewell to a friend.
ELSA & FRED (12A)
Directed by: Michael Radford Starring: Shirley Maclaine, Christopher Plummer, Marcia Gay Harding
Though a small notch above The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and its ilk, the joys of seeing Shirley Maclaine and Christopher Plummer spark off each other as opposites-attract pensioners in this romantic drama are quickly diminished by Il Postino director Michael Radford’s unwillingness to define their characters beyond their surface quirks. These basically amount to Maclaine functioning as a sort of manic pixie dream granny whose lust for life coaxes Plummer’s irascible widower out of his apartment after he moves in next door. Easily guessable revelations duly follow.
SAMBA (15)
Directed by: Olivier Nakache, Eric Toledano Starring: Omar Sy, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Tahar Rahim
French directors Olivier Nakache and Eric Toledano follow up their smash-hit odd-couple comedy Untouchable with another movie that tries to highlight the plight of immigrants within a slick commercial framework. Omar Sy takes the title role as an illegal Senegalese immigrant who falls foul of the law and winds up in a detention centre, whereupon he meets a hapless volunteer (Charlotte Gainsbourg) recovering from career burnout. Unfortunately, the cross-racial relationship that subsequently flourishes feels trite, and some illjudged comedy flourishes (mostly involving Tahar Rahim as Samba’s fellow immigrant) jar with the serious points the film is trying to make.
MONSTERS: DARK CONTINENT (15)
Directed by: Tom Green Starring: Johnny Harris, Joe Dempsie, Sam Keeley
A needless sequel to Godzilla director Gareth Edwards’ sci-fi debut from 2010, Monsters: Dark Continent feels like someone had an unproduced script for a war movie lying around and decided to stick aliens in the background to milk the dubious franchise potential of an innovative indie hit. Despite being more visibly present, the aliens feel more incidental this time, with debut writer/director Tom Green using their existence in an unspecified Middle Eastern warzone to comment on the nature of US foreign policy. It’s tedious in the extreme. ALISTAIR HARKNESS