RexJune06A5Mag - The Rex Berkhamsted · Some of the girls and boys you see at the Box Office and...

THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

APRIL 2014...“possibly�Britain’s�most�beautiful�cinema...”�(BBC)

Britain’s�Best�Cinema�-�Guardian�Film�Awards�2014

01442 877759APRIL 2014 Issue 109www.therexberkhamsted.com

M A G A Z I N E

Mon-Sat 10.30-6.30pm Sun 4.30-5.30pm

“Unhesitatingly�The�Rex�is�the�best�cinema�I�have�ever…”�� (STimes�Culture)

Some of the girls and boys you see at the Box Office and Bar:

Ushers:Amy, Amy P, Annabel, Becca, Cameron, Ellen W,Ellie, Freya, Hannah, James, Katie, Lizzie, Luke,Meg, Patrick, Sophie, Zoe

Sally Rowbotham In chargeAlun Rees Chief projectionist (ret’d)Jon Waugh ProjectionistAnna Shepherd Projectionist & writerMartin Coffill ProjectionistJacquie Rose Chief AdminOliver Hicks Best Boy (ret’d)Simon Messenger WriterJack Whiting WriterJane Clucas & Lynn Hendry PR/Sales/FoH

Andrew Dixon Resident ArtistDarren Flindall MaintenancePaul Fullagar, Alan Clooney Advisors and InvestorsEd Mauger GeniusDemiurge Design Magazine Design 01296 668739Lynn Hendry Advertising 01442 877999

James Hannaway ceo 01442 877999Betty Patterson Company Secretary and THE ORIGINALVISIONARY of The Rex.

The RexHigh Street (Three Close Lane) Berkhamsted HP4 2FGwww.therexberkhamsted.com

SEAT PRICES (+ REX DONATION £1.00)Circle £8.00+1 Concessions £6.50+1At Table £10.00+1 Concessions £8.50+1Royal Box (seats 6) £12.00+1 or for the Box £66.00+1All matinees £5, £6.50, £10 (box) +1

BOX OFFICE: 01442 877759Mon to Sat 10.30 – 6.00Sun 4.30 – 6.30

Disabled and flat access: through the gateon High Street (right of apartments)

Dayna ArcherAlly CliftonKitty ClucasNicola DarvellAshley DavisRomy DavisKarina GaleOllie GowerElizabeth HannawayBillie Hendry-HughesNatalie JonesAbigail KellettAmelia KellettLydia KellettTatjana LeBoffEmily Main

Ellen MannersLiam ParkerAmberly RoseGeorgia RoseSid SagarAlex SmithAlex StephensonLiam StephensonJordan TurnerBethanné WallmanJames WallmanJack WhitingOlivia WilsonRoz WilsonKeymea YazdanianYalda Yazdanian

April Films at a glance 25

April Evenings 11Gallery 4-5

Coming Soon 25

April Matinees 27Dear Mrs Trellis... 42-44

BEST IN APRIL

Tim’s VermeerA complete treasure. Artist’s impression

of being wrong. Mon 7th 7.30

20 Feet From Stardom1000 miles from the money. Fabulous,anonymous and immortal. Tue 29th 7.30

Monuments MenFab cast, critics hated it, so come.Wed 2nd / Thu 3rd / Fri 4th 7.30pm

FILMS OF THE MONTH

The PastFrench tale of love. Gorgeous faces, no acting, perfect. Mon 28th 7.30

4 Box Office: 01442 877759 GALLERY

WE WON A STATUETTE...

Hi Team Rex, This MUST be kept underwraps until March 7, BUT, you

have been voted as Best Cinema in theGuardian's first event Film Awards.We would love to see you there andare offering you 2 x tickets to thecelebration evening this Thursday 6March in London. Please see

invitation and let me know the namesand contact details of the 2 peoplewho can attend the party and pick upthe award.Congratulations! Looking forward to seeing you there.Best, Amanda

By email – 1st March 2014

“

“

GALLERY www.therexberkhamsted.com 5

Yes, on the 6th March 2014, wewon a prize. In the Guardian’sfirst film awards, they gave us a

fabulous wooden statuette for being thebest cinema in the whole Country.It was a party in some gorgeous post-modern club-palace on the South Bank.The ceremony was perfectlyunderstated with Peter Bradshawreading out the winners from a balcony,

while their pictures came up onoverhead screens. Our trophy nestledon a back shelf among those belongingto Judi Dench, Cate Blanchett and TheGreat Beauty. Here are a few picturesfrom the evening with Anna S, Ed M,James & Elizabeth H, swanning aboutwith Peter Bradshaw. Thank you to allthose who voted for us. Here’s toanother ten years.

A P R I L E V E N I N G S

12 Box Office: 01442 877759 APRIL EVENINGS

Monuments MenWed 2 7.30, Thu 3 7.30, Fri 4 7.30

A far cry from the bullet riddled

battlefields of Saving Private Ryan;

Monuments Men is a well mannered

but ultimately dull account of the men

who set out to save Private Rodin

from the Nazis.

George Clooney is the decent curator incharge of a seven-man mission. Hissecond in command (Matt Damon) isalso decent. Next comes Lt Jeffries (HughBonneville), very decent, but likes a sip.Then there’s grouchy Sgt Bill Murray.Plus the even-grouchier Private BobBalaban. Then there’s the gloriouslysarcastic John Goodman, and the veryFrench Frenchman (Jean Dujardin).Based on a book by Robert M. Edsel,Monuments Men explains how, towardsthe end of WWII, roughly 350 experts,from 13 countries (mostly middle-agedart historians and museum personnel,not this lot) were sent by Roosevelt toprotect and secure paintings andmonuments plundered by the Nazis. It’s co-written and directed by Clooney,and it shows. Everything aboutMonuments Men is polite. What mighthave been a riveting, heist thriller isinstead a plodding, caper that can’t quitesettle upon Ocean’s Eleven tomfooleryor sentimental camaraderie.“The Monuments Men also discovered aNazi stash of gold bullion. The gold gotall the press. It still does. Look at themovie business. But don’t look here. Not in this proudly untrendy, uncynicalmovie.” (Rolling Stone) (research Jack

Whiting). “untrendy, uncynical”… Sounds great.

Matthew McConaughey has been

having somewhat of a winning streak

of late, and now he’s hit the jackpot in

Dallas Buyers Club with a moving,

unforgettable and Oscar skinny

performance.

With a deadly virus in his body and redtape around his throat, Ron Woodroof isfighting back. This is a drama ofentrepreneurial self-help from theReaganite 1980s. It is based on a truestory about a heterosexual good ol’ DallasTexan boy with a previously unknownand yet to be invented, sex addiction. Ron is told in 1986 that he has Aids andonly 30 days to live, but defies the odds,gives the finger to the complacentdoctors and the AZT merchants of BigPharmaceuticals. Like Erin Brockovich ina later era, knuckles down to someresearch, finding alternative drugtherapies in foreign countries; a no meanfeat in the pre-Google era. Soon, Ron hasset up a buyers’ club, niftily sidesteppingUS Food and Drug Administration (FDA)laws about drugs selling by gettingHIV/Aids patients to pay for‘membership’ in which importedmedicines are notionally free. “Dallas Buyers Club fits the ‘BreakingBad’ moment well, offering a difficulthero whose personal code takes on anintriguing coherence.” (Time Out)Definitely worth seeing, as much forJennifer Garner as the tale. She’s the coolone playing the straight man toMcConaughey’s star turn.

Director: George ClooneyStarring: Matt Damon, George Clooney, Bill

Murray, Cate BlanchettCertificate: 12ADuration: 118 mins Origin: USA 2014By: Twentieth Century Fox

Dallas Buyers ClubTue 1 7.30

Director: Jean-Marc Vallée Starring: Matthew McConaughey, Jennifer

Garner, Jared LetoCertificate: 15Duration: 117 mins Origin: USA 2014By: Entertainment One UK

APRIL EVENINGS www.therexberkhamsted.com 13

August: Osage CountySat 5 7.00

Director: John WellsStarring: Meryl Streep, Ewan McGregor,

Julia RobertsCertificate: 15Duration: 121 mins Origin: USA 2013By: Entertainment Film Distributors

Meryl Streep plays Violet Weston in

this film adaptation of Tracy Lett’s

award-winning Broadway stage play.

She is a cantankerous Oklahomamatriarch who, on becoming a widow,assembles her extended family for thefuneral weekend. Her daughters Barbara(Julia Roberts), Ivy (Julianne Nicholson)and Karen (Juliette Lewis) bring alongtheir various partners and children. Violet is suffering from mouth cancer andconstantly self-medicating and Barbara isfacing the end of her marriage, yet theymay be the least-suffering members ofthe Weston clan. There’s incest,attempted rape, familial abuse andhorrible home cooking to deal with, notto mention the general despair of living inthe Mid-Wesr in 2007.“Julia Roberts is the best she has been inyears as the daughter, terrified of turninginto her mother.” (Observer)“As for Chris Cooper, he threatens to stealthe film out from under everyone’s noseswith yet another quietly commandingperformance which suggests untappeddepths of anger and remorse.” (Guardian) “A vastly enjoyable theatrical banquet, ifperhaps not a profound one, is served upin a bit of a rush here, as if they can’t waitto get the next sitting in. But you certainlydon’t come away feeling hungry.”(Telegraph) It is a talkie from start tofinish, but with a brilliant script, andconsidering the cast, not too muchACTING to suffer. Don’t miss.


Tim’s Vermeer Mon 7 7.30

Tim Jenison, attempts to solve one of

the greatest mysteries in all art: How

did 17th century Dutch Master

Johannes Vermeer manage to paint so

photo-realistically 150 years before

the invention of photography?

Directed, produced and narrated byeccentric magicians Penn and Tellercomes a doc about their friend Tim,whose curious mind made him amillionaire inventor.The epic research project Tim embarksupon spans nearly a decade It takes himto Delft in Holland and on a pilgrimage tothe North coast of Yorkshire to meetartist David Hockney, and even toBuckingham Palace to see a Vermeermasterpiece in the Queen’s collection.Following a hunch he got in the bath, thestory covers the years it took Tim tocreate the circumstances in which to testhis theory. The ultimate proof is his ownrecreation of Vermeer’s The MusicLesson.“Here is an entertaining and entirelywatchable documentary that sets out toprove that any old brush-swingingamateur can paint as brilliantly as the17th-century Dutch master.” (Guardian)“Teller manages a careful enough balancebetween painstaking technique and alarger cultural context over 80 briskminutes to make even minor revelationsfeel like major moments.” (Film.com) A film for all art lovers. (Anna Shepherd)and those who love passionate, wellmade films about art, fishing, racing carsor anything under the sun.

Director: TellerCertificate: 12ADuration: 80 mins Origin: USA 2014By: Sony Pictures Releasing

Martin Scorsese and his muse

Leonard DiCaprio are having the time

of their lives with Wolf of Wall Street,

and the self-indulgence is

uninhibited.

DiCaprio plays the real-life no-mark,salesman, Jordan Belfort, anunscrupulous stock-market wizard who,in his early twenties, became a multi-millionaire by fleecing Americans out oftheir investments. Belfort, along with hisgoofy-toothed sidekick Donnie Azoff(Jonah Hill) lived high on the hog for thebest part of a decade, a constant roundrobin of booze, hookers and hard drugs.And it is very dull.In theory, Belfort represents the mostdestructive and obnoxious side of late-20th century American capitalism. Hisantics in the early 1990s helped to pavethe way for the financial collapse of2008. As his mentor, Mark Hanna(Matthew McConaughey in a piece ofone scene brilliance) tells him, “We don’tcreate shit, we don’t build anything, wesell nothing to any dumb-ass who’llbuy.” Belfort is pitiless, shameless andremorseless. An indulgent cliché of selfat any cost (other’s).In Belfort, Scorsese has created yetanother anti-hero? He can stand up tothe likes of Travis Bickle, Henry Hill,even Howard Hughes. (JackW) It could have been told in 20 minutes.Three hours of repetition andgrandstanding with some decent eightminute scenes.

The Wolf of WallStreet Sun 6 6.00

Director: Martin ScorseseStarring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew

McConaughey, Jonah HillCertificate: 18Duration: 180 mins Origin: USA 2014By: Universal Pictures (UK) Ltd


Director: Brian PercivalStarring: Geoffrey Rush, Sophie Nélisse,

Emily WatsonCertificate: 12ADuration: 131 mins Origin: Germany/USA 2014By: Twentieth Century Fox

The Book ThiefTue 8 7.30, Wed 9 7.30, Sun 13 6.00Based on the beloved internationalbestseller, The Book Thief tells thestory of an extraordinarily spiritedyoung girl, Liesel Meminger (SophieNelisse) sent to live with a fosterfamily, the Hubermanns, in a smallunremarkable German town. Lieselturns out to be illiterate and the kindlyHans Hubermann (Geoffrey Rush) and hiscranky heart-of-gold wife Rosa (EmilyWatson) not only teach her to read, butturn their basement walls into black-boards covered with words. As time passes and wartime privationsgrow worse, their domestic situationturns more dangerous with the arrival ofMax Vandenburg (Ben Schnetzer), thefugitive son of a Jewish comrade whosaved Hans’ life during WWI. Honour-bound to hide the young man from theauthorities, the family nurse him back tohealth from serious illness and Maxeventually bonds with the fascinatedLiesel. She’s sworn to tell no-one of hispresence, not even new best-friend Rudy(Nico Liersch)… The Book Thief is a heart-breaking re-telling of tales of Nazi Germany. LikeStalin’s USSR and every African conflict(every five minutes) – the Holocaust was atime of unimaginable horror, but evenduring the worst moments of man’sinhumanity, there were good people whorisked their lives to protect strays andshelter Jews in basements. (research Jane

Clucas) Apparently the book is brilliant. Hopefullythe film is too.


Cuban Fury Thu 10 7.30, Fri 11 7.30Who would’ve thought Nick Frost

could be so light on his feet? The

comedic writing/acting partner of

Simon Pegg flies (salsas) solo in this

sweet, throwaway rom-com.

Frost plays Bruce Garrett, a shy,overweight office worker whoabandoned his boyhood brilliance in theworld of salsa dancing in shame after hewas beaten up by bullies. But then, inearly middle age, he falls for hisgorgeous boss Julia (Rashida Jones) whohappens to be a huge salsa fan, andBruce sees a shot at redemption. “The truth is that Nick Frost clearly can’tdance at all well, and no amount ofsneaky framing and editing can concealthe fact that he looks like the celeb onStrictly Come Dancing who goes out inthe first round.” (Guardian) In true ‘nice guy gets girl’ fashion, Bruceworks his twinkle toes to win over theobject of his affections; going as far as toget help from an overly camp dancer(played with brilliant verve by FourLions’ Kayvan Novak).It’s Chris O’Dowd however, who standsout (as always) as smug rival Drew.Nothing against Frost but I couldn’t helpthinking what it could have been withO’Dowd as the leading man. Still, it’sfluffy, inoffensive stuff with a smatteringof giggles. (Jack Whiting) Friday salsa-class dancers will(should/may) love it. Sounds like fun.Come.

Director: James GriffithsStarring: Nick Frost, Rashida Jones,

Chris O'DowdCertificate: 15Duration: 98 mins Origin: UK 2014By: Studiocanal


Stranger By The LakeMon 14 7.30

Summertime in France. Alain

Guiraudie’s seductive thriller unfolds

on the shores of a lakeside cruising

spot for gay men.

Franck is an attractive young man whofalls for Michel; a striking (Tom Sellick‘tache kind of chap) extremely compellingbut lethally dangerous man.Whilst waiting for Michel to arrive eachday, Franck befriends Henri, a fat, lonelyand unhappy guy who sits by himself,away from the others. They share atender, platonic friendship, and shareobservations of their world and situation.But when a single, terrible event takeplace, the mood of the drama swings tothat of classic Hollywood, where abeautiful lake becomes the epicentre ofdanger.The film has picked up accolades fromfestivals around the world including BestDirector: Un Certain Regard at the 2013Cannes Film Festival.“Claire Mathon’s brilliant cinematographyfinds an appositely sinister glare in theshimmering water and sunny skies.”(Irish Times)“A gripping and superbly directed picturewith something to say about the nature ofinfatuation and obsession.” (ViewLondon)Stranger by the Lake is a stunningpsychological drama and tense thriller.(Anna Shepherd)Camilla Long adds. “This is a tale ofdanger and desires and extremely gaysportwear: possibly the Frenchest film Ihave ever seen” (ST Culture)

Director: Alain GuiraudieStarring: Pierre Deladonchamps, Christophe

Paou, Patrick d’AssumcaoCertificate: 18Duration: 100 mins Origin: France 2014By: Peccadillo Pictures

In Non-stop everyone, and I mean

everyone, is shifty. I suppose that’s

part of the fun in a who-done-it to

second guess the audience at every

turn. It helps then that theperformances are all equally (and wehope deliberately) B-movie awful.Liam Neeson, in true Hollywood style,plays Bill Marks; a divorced, alcoholic airmarshal with a fear of flying. He boardsa flight from New York to London whenhe begins to receive text threats sayingsomeone on the plane will die everytwenty minutes unless $150 million ishanded over. The passengers, includingJulianne Moore, Downton’s MichelleDockery and 12 yrs… Lupita Nyong’o,are never far from suspicion. Neesonthen proceeds to run up and down theaisle shouting and punching until hefinds the bugger 106 minutes later.There are already superior, airbornethrillers out there (Snakes on a Plane)but Non-Stop is not a patch. Perhaps ifhe kept his phone off during the flight(as you’re supposed to!) this infuriatinggame of guess-who might have turnedinto an exciting film about averagepassengers having an uneventful flight.Non-Stop is perfect in-flight, B-movieentertainment, but leave your brain withyour heavy luggage, you wont likeworking it out too early. (research Jack

Whiting)Fortunately, once discovered it was theonly in-flight entertainment on that ill-fated Malaysian plane, foul play will beruled out.

Non StopSat 12 7.00

Director: Jaume Collet-SerraStarring: Liam Neeson, Julianne Moore,

Michelle DockeryCertificate: 12ADuration: 106 mins Origin: France/USA 2014By: Studiocanal


Her Tue 15 7.30Winner of Best Original Screenplay at

this year’s Oscars. Spike Jonze’s self-

penned modern romance, starring

Joaquin Phoenix as Theodore Twombly;

a soulful writer who falls in love with

his computer’s Operating System,

voiced by Scarlett Johansson.

Set in Los Angeles (but also filmed inShanghai) in the near future andmarvellously lit with afternoon sunshinethroughout. Theodore is a successful writer. His job, atwhich he is extremely skilled, is writinglove letters for the tongue-tied atbeautifulhandwrittenletters.com.After finalising his divorce with childhoodsweetheart Catherine (Rooney Mara) hebecomes disenchanted with what he wantsfrom life and relationships. When he buys a new super-intuitivesoftware package, he becomes besottedwith it.“Samantha”, as the OS calls herself, is asperceptive about his own moods andfeelings as he is about the couples hewrites about.“Delightfully played by Phoenix. He bringsa lightness, humour and an unexpectedsensitivity to Theodore.” (Independent)“At once a brilliant conceptual gag and adeeply sincere romance, an unlikely yetcompletely plausible love story about aman, who sometimes resembles amachine, and an operating system, whovery much suggests a living woman.”(NewYorkTimes)A beautiful and touching love story. (Anna

Shepherd) Perhaps it is not so absurd afterall. If you come for that ‘afternoonsunshine throughout’ you should not bedisappointed.

Director: Spike JonzeStarring: Joaquin Phoenix, Scarlett

Johansson, Rooney Mara, AmyAdams

Certificate: 15Duration: 126 mins Origin: UK 2013By: Entertainment Film Distributors


RobocopThu 17 7.30

Comparisons to Paul Verhoeven’s

blood-soaked, modern masterpiece

are unavoidable. So let’s get it out of

the way – it’s not nearly as good.

However, there are bursts of fun to behad in this slick update.The framework is similar, albeit sorelymissing the darkly twisted humour of itsforebear. Alex Murphy (The Killing’s JoelKinnaman) is the unfortunate cop whosecorpse is reborn as the mechanical lawenforcer. The megacorporationresponsible for his creation, and itsmaniacal Raymond Sellars (MichaelKeaton) do their part in the war againstterror by supplying the US military withdrones and robotics. Sellars wants to seea friendly face on his best product. EnterMurphy’s newly acquired, alloy chassis! Lovingly bolted together by Gary Oldman,RoboCop does as he is told by followinghis programmed directives… at first. Ashis human brain begins to recall the lifeand family he left behind, he begins toquestion his loyalty to his shady masters.After removing the Regan-era corporate-poking satire, and the beautifully clunkymovements and uncompromisingviolence of (original tin-man) PeterWeller, what is left is a glossy, emptyshell. RoboCop now looks and moves likea shiny Power Ranger. Despite its failings,however, Oldman and Keaton shinetogether, and at least kids won’t have towait till they’re 18 to see it. [Tuesdaybabies will] (research Jack Whiting)

Director: José PadilhaStarring: Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman,

Abbie CornishCertificate: 12ADuration: 118 mins Origin: USA 2014By: Studiocanal

Longlisted for this year’s Best

Foreign-Language Oscar, this

charming drama centres on Ahlo

(Disamoe), a hapless boy from Laos

who is believed in his community to

be the bringer of bad luck.

After a hydroelectric project leaves theirvillage uninhabitable, he and his familyset out on a calamity-prone journey insearch of a new home. Determined toprove he is not the source of all disaster,Ahlo decides to compete in a dangerouscompetition to build a giant rocket. Shotthrough with vibrant colour, and with aflair for highlighting mischief and funagainst even the most traumatic ofbackdrops, The Rocket is a real treatfrom half way round the world, recallingthe likes of Whale Rider (2002) and lastyear’s Wadjda in its celebration of achild’s victory over ‘grown-up’ rules.It is stunning and gorgeous andbeautiful… Don’t miss. ps please forgive the badly wordedsynopsis. Last minute, nearly missed italtogether.

The RocketWed 16 7.30

Director: Kim MordauntStarring: Sitthiphon Disamoe, Loungnam

KaosainamCertificate: 12ADuration: 96 mins Origin: Australia/Laos/Thailand 2013By: Eureka Ent.


Director: Wes AndersonStarring: Ralph Fiennes, Saoirse Ronan,

Jude LawCertificate: 15Duration: 100 mins Origin: USA 2014By: Twentieth Century Fox

The Grand BudapestHotel Fri 18 7.30, Sat 19 7.00, Sun 20 6.00,Mon 21 7.30, Wed 23 7.30Ralph Fiennes expertly plays eccentrichotel concierge Monsieur Gustave H.accompanied by Zero (touchingnewcomer Tony Revolori) the newlobby boy at the famous Europeanhotel.Perched on top of a mountain, in thefictional Republic of Zubrowka, andreached only by an old-fashionedfunicular railway. The story begins when ayoung writer (Jude Law) meets animpressive old man, the hotel’s owner, MrZero Moustafa (F. Murray Abraham).The young writer hears the tales oflegendary concierge M.Gustave H, who inthe pre-war period ran the hotel withimpeccable control, style and suavity. Gustave’s attentiveness to the rich, old,insecure, vain and needy patrons of thehotel extends to rather more personalservices. As he bids farewell to 84-year-old fright Madame D (Tilda Swinton) hershocking murder sets in motion the crazyclockwork of the plot, Wes Anderson style.“Even on a second viewing, you hardlyhave time enough to take in all its intricatedetailing and sumptuousfurnishing.”(Standard)“Beneath all the jokiness there’s a sense ofloss, a nostalgia for an age that neither thefilmmakers nor all but a few of theiraudience can ever have known”. (S&S)Bewilderingly star-studded, come andindulge in this grand film in The GrandRex Cinema over the grand Easterweekend. (Anna Shepherd)


Directors: Phil Lord, Chris MillerStarring: Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Will

Arnett, Chris PrattCertificate: UDuration: 100 mins Origin: USA 2014By: Warner Brothers

The Lego MovieTue 22 7.30, Sat 26 7.00The most unfulfilling toy since Blow-

football, yet somebody very clever

convinced (emphasis on ‘con’) kids

and hapless parents it was fun to

spend hours constructing something

that looked square no matter what

you did with it, and there was always

that missing piece.

This is a movie about LEGO made withdigital LEGO with round pieces and acamera or two – that’s cheating.Everybody appears to be raving about it.So, not only has it sucked you in again,but has made you buy a ticket to seewhat LEGO can do at the movies…! Got my own back at last. Rave on.


Starred Up Fri 25 7.30

We sure like our prison dramas? The

Brits are known for ballsy productions

set in cells. Be warned, Starred Up is no

farkin different…

New flavour, Jack O’Connell plays Eric, anauthority-baiting teen psychopath. Hisfirst week in grown-ups prison after beingprematurely transferred (or ‘starred up’)from a young offenders’ institute is a busyone. He fashions a knife from atoothbrush, batters an inmate half todeath, almost eviscerates one guard witha radio aerial, bites another in anextremely intimate area and predictably,gets banged up in solitary.But Eric has a bigger problem beyond hisown destructive nature. His estrangeddad, Neville (fantastic Australian actorBen Mendelsohn, with an (unfortunately)unreliable ‘cockernee’ accent) is on thesame wing, and he’s an even nastier pieceof work than junior. “Director David Mackenzie isn’tattempting to craft a larger-than-lifeantihero here, but delving into thesociology of this hellish subculture, whereprisoners and staff alike coexist in thisdehumanizing environment. WriterJonathan Asser brings more than justrealism, however, crafting the centralfather-son relationship on the foundationof classical Greek tragedy.” (Variety) (ohyeah..?)Too often hard-hitting, it lacks anythingresembling the finesse of A Prophet;opting for blunt force trauma to get itsmessage across. (research Jack Whiting) Is it yet another predictable BFI,Emperor’s support-tights for grittysledge-hammer English subtlety?

After being catapulted to

international stardom at just 21, this

luxurious biography traces the life of

the pioneering fashion designer

through his most turbulent decades.

Yves (Pierre Niney) goes from beingChristian Dior’s assistant, to taking overas Head Designer when he dies, tosetting up his own eponymous couturehouse.Travelling through the decades inglamorous locations such as: Paris, NewYork and Morocco, the film follows SaintLaurent’s troubles with addiction anddepression, his creative inspirations forhis iconic looks and his relationship withhis lover and business partner, PierreBerge (Guillaume Gallienne).“An engrossing story of a man with asingular vision and the price he paid forhis many achievements, as well as afascinating portrait of an industry forwhom decadence and indulgence are inthe job spec” (Curzon)“It’s clear that Niney, did not take hisperformance lightly: reports state thatthe actor learned to sew, draw, anddesign, and researched the YSL archivesin order to fully embody his character.”(Elle)For all of you hooked on this or anyyear's red carpet fashions, or true styleon any carpet, this is a must see!(research Anna Shepherd)

Director: David MackenzieStarring: Jack O'ConnellCertificate: 18Duration: 106 mins Origin: UK 2013By: Twentieth Century Fox

Director: Jalil LespertStarring: Pierre Niney, Laura SmetCertificate: 15Duration: 106 mins Origin: France 2014By: Entertainment One UK

Yves Saint LaurentThu 24 7.30, Sun 27 6.00


20 Feet FromStardom Tue 29 7.30

Noted music documentarian Morgan

Neville’s film lovingly salutes those

unacknowledged but certainly not

unsung heroines of the music

business, the backing singers.

They just never got paid anything likethey were/are worth. Neville combinesextensive interviews with the starswhose careers wouldn’t have succeededwithout them, with profiles of some ofthe greatest, most enduring backingvocalists, including Mary Clayton, DarleneLove and Claudia Lennear. 20 Feet From Stardom’s finest momentsspring from the archives: studio andconcert performances of the present toPhil Spector’s nasty beginnings. TheCrystals were in reality, Darlene Love andthe Blossoms. Fabulous archive footage ofa world which should fallen flat on itsstarry, boney arse. Without thesewarbling treasures in tune and keepingtime, off to the side in the deepbackground, every Sting, Springsteen,Lennox, Bowie and Jagger, would still beselling shoelaces at gigs on the way out.“Essentially, an underdog story ofincredibly talented people whose hugecontributions to our general wellbeinghave gone unnoticed.“ (Telegraph)“This spirited, thoughtful look atunheralded but ubiquitous artists givessupreme credit (too late and no extracash) where credit is due.” (New Yorker).

Asghar Farhadi follows up Oscar

success, A Separation; with a gripping

exploration of the secrets exposed by

a collapsing relationship.

Bérénice Bejo - best remembered as theshow-stealing flapper dancer from TheArtist plays a flaky suburban motherMarie, living on the outskirts of Paris. When her estranged husband, Ahmadarrives from Iran to finalise theirdivorce, he is surprised to find her in arelationship with Samir (Tahar Rahimfrom the unforgettable A Prophet). From here Farhadi weaves a complex,intelligent drama, aided in no small partby the note-perfect casting.Like A Separation, The Past presentswhat seems at first to be an easilyreadable situation, but as the storyreveals the history leading up to it, thereality shifts. Populated by notions ofduty, parental and filial obligation, thememory of passions long since dwindledand the heavy burden of guilt.“A mesmerically assured piece offilmmaking, crammed withperformances as raw as the emotionalnerves they expose.” (Telegraph)“The real star is the script, a masterworkof restraint that drip-feeds one explosiverevelation after another” (BFI) A gripping, emotional detective story.Don’t let this tour de force pass you by.(Anna Shepherd) [No. The real stars are these perfectfaces reading that ‘masterwork ofrestraint’ so beautifully, to us.]

Director: Morgan NevilleStarring: Bruce Springsteen, Darlene Love,

Merry Clayton, Mick JaggerCertificate: 12ADuration: 91 mins Origin: USA 2014By: Altitude Film Distribution

Director: Asghar FarhadiStarring: Bérénice Bejo, Tahar RahimCertificate: 12ADuration: 130 mins Origin: France, Italy 2013By: Curzon Film World

Le Passé (The Past)Mon 28 7.30


Under The SkinWed 30 7.30Scarlett Johansson is quietly brilliant as

the girl who fell to earth; an alien in

human form, on a journey through

Scotland.

Visually and aurally audacious and asmysterious as its central character,Jonathan Glazer’s Scottish-set sci-fi aboutan alien creature who stalks down humanprey is a brilliant amalgam of fantasy andreality.Driving around Glasgow and thesurrounding landscape she goes on theprowl in her large white van, effortlesslyprocuring not-so gullible lads frombackstreets and local highways and luringthem into an unimaginable void.Shot on location in Scotland, thefilmmaking recalls the realism of KenLoach as much as the surrealism of DavidLynch. Vividly heightened by Mica Levi’sdiscordant string and synth score andDaniel Landin’s starkly haunting andbeautiful cinematography.“If you crave certainty in your cinema thenyou are unlikely to enjoy this. Allowyourself to settle beside ScarlettJohansson’s malleable lead, though, andask questions with her, and its likely to bean invigorating experience.” (Empire)“A genuinely unique, full-on sensoryexperience that treads its own pathbetween narrative clarity and pure visualexpression.” (The List)A genuinely unique piece of cinema. (Anna

Shepherd) Beware the impro conceit asking you tobelieve genuine Glaswegian kids don’tknow it’s Scarlett Johansson in a black wig.

Director: Jonathan GlazerStarring: Scarlett JohanssonCertificate: 15Duration: 108 mins Origin: UK 2013By: Studiocanal

APRIL LISTINGS AND COMING SOON 25

1 TUE MONUMENTS MEN 12.301 TUE DALLAS BUYERS CLUB 7.302 WED MONUMENTS MEN 2.00, 7.303 THU AUGUST OSAGE COUNTY 2.003 THU MONUMENTS MEN 7.304 FRI MONUMENTS MEN 7.305 SAT TINKERBELL & THE PIRATE FAIRY 2.005 SAT AUGUST OSAGE COUNTY 7.006 SUN WOLF OF WALL STREET 6.007 MON TINKERBELL & THE PIRATE FAIRY 2.007 MON TIM’S VERMEER 7.308 TUE THE BOOK THIEF 12.30, 7.309 WED THE BOOK THIEF 2.00, 7.3010 THU MR PEABODY & SHERMAN 2.0010 THU CUBAN FURY 7.3011 FRI CUBAN FURY 7.3012 SAT ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTH 2.0012 SAT NON-STOP 7.0013 SUN THE BOOK THIEF 6.0014 MON ESCAPE FROM PLANET EARTH 2.0014 MON STRANGER BY THE LAKE 7.3015 TUE FROZEN (SING-A-LONG) 12.3015 TUE HER 7.3016 WED FROZEN (SING-A-LONG) 2.0016 WED THE ROCKET 7.3017 THU CHARLIE AND THE

CHOCOLATE FACTORY 2.0017 THU ROBOCOP 7.3018 FRI THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL 7.3019 SAT MATILDA 2.0019 SAT THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL 7.0020 SUN THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL 6.0021 MON THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL 7.3022 TUE THE LEGO MOVIE 12.30, 7.3023 WED THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL 2.00, 7.3024 THU YVES SAINT LAURENT 2.00, 7.3025 FRI STARRED UP 7.3026 SAT THE LEGO MOVIE 2.00, 7.0027 SUN YVES SAINT LAURENT 6.0028 MON YVES SAINT LAURENT 2.0028 MON THE PAST 7.3029 TUE THE LEGO MOVIE 12.3029 TUE 20 FEET FROM STARDOM 7.3030 WED KISS THE WATER 2.0030 WED UNDER THE SKIN 7.30

APRIL FILMS AT A GLANCEPlease check times carefully and watch out for early shows.

COMING SOON

NEW RELEASESCalvaryOnly Lovers Left AliveNymphomaniac 1SuzanneFunny Face

BACK BY DEMANDThe Grand Budapest HotelThe Lego MoviePhilomena

Funny Face

Only Lovers Left Alive

Suzanne

Calvary

A P R I L M A T I N E E SALL MATINEES: Balcony £5.00 • Table seats £6.50 • Royal Box seats £10.00

Matinee�Warning:�May�contain�babies

28 Box Office: 01442 877759 APRIL MATINEES

Director: George ClooneyStarring: Matt Damon, George Clooney, Bill

Murray, Cate BlanchettCertificate: 12ADuration: 118 mins Origin: USA 2014By: Twentieth Century Fox

Monuments MenTue 1 12.30, Wed 2 2.00A far cry from the bullet riddledbattlefields of Saving Private Ryan;Monuments Men is a well manneredbut ultimately dull account of the menwho set out to save Private Rodin fromthe Nazis.George Clooney is the decent curator incharge of a seven-man mission. Hissecond in command (Matt Damon) is alsodecent. Next comes Lt Jeffries (HughBonneville), very decent, but likes a sip.Then there’s grouchy Sgt Bill Murray.Plus the even-grouchier Private BobBalaban. Then there’s the gloriouslysarcastic John Goodman, and the veryFrench Frenchman (Jean Dujardin).Based on a book by Robert M. Edsel,Monuments Men explains how, towardsthe end of WWII, roughly 350 experts,from 13 countries (mostly middle-agedart historians and museum personnel,not this lot) were sent by Roosevelt toprotect and secure paintings andmonuments plundered by the Nazis. It’s co-written and directed by Clooney,and it shows. Everything aboutMonuments Men is polite. What mighthave been a riveting, heist thriller isinstead a plodding, caper that can’t quitesettle upon Ocean’s Eleven tomfoolery orsentimental camaraderie.“The Monuments Men also discovered aNazi stash of gold bullion. The gold got allthe press. It still does. Look at the moviebusiness. But don’t look here. Not in this proudly untrendy, uncynicalmovie.” (Rolling Stone) (research Jack

Whiting). “untrendy, uncynical”… Sounds great.

APRIL MATINEES www.therexberkhamsted.com 29

Director: John WellsStarring: Meryl Streep, Ewan McGregor,

Julia RobertsCertificate: 15Duration: 121 mins Origin: USA 2013By: Entertainment Film Distributors

August: Osage CountyThu 3 2.00

Tinkerbell and ThePirate Fairy Sat 5 2.00, Mon 7 2.00

Director: Peggy HolmesStarring: Mae Whitman, Tom Hiddleston,

Christina HendricksCertificate: UDuration: 78 mins Origin: USA 2014By: Walt Disney Int'l

Meryl Streep plays Violet Weston in

this film adaptation of Tracy Lett’s

award-winning Broadway stage play.

She is a cantankerous Oklahomamatriarch who, on becoming a widow,assembles her extended family for thefuneral weekend. Her daughters Barbara(Julia Roberts), Ivy (Julianne Nicholson)and Karen (Juliette Lewis) bring alongtheir various partners and children. Violet is suffering from mouth cancer andconstantly self-medicating and Barbara isfacing the end of her marriage, yet theymay be the least-suffering members ofthe Weston clan. There’s incest,attempted rape, familial abuse andhorrible home cooking to deal with, notto mention the general despair of living inthe Mid-Wesr in 2007.“Julia Roberts is the best she has been inyears as the daughter, terrified of turninginto her mother.” (Observer)“As for Chris Cooper, he threatens to stealthe film out from under everyone’s noseswith yet another quietly commandingperformance which suggests untappeddepths of anger and remorse.” (Guardian) “A vastly enjoyable theatrical banquet, ifperhaps not a profound one, is served upin a bit of a rush here, as if they can’t waitto get the next sitting in. But you certainlydon’t come away feeling hungry.”(Telegraph) It is a talkie from start tofinish, but with a brilliant script, andconsidering the cast, not too muchACTING to suffer. Don’t miss.

Peter Pan’s faithful fairy gets another

(now on the fifth!) solo adventure,

courtesy of Disney, in this cutesy,

swashbuckling mash up that’ll charm

tiny children and likely to send adults

into Neverland.

“This time around ‘Mad Men’ starChristina Hendricks is the voice ofrebellious Zarina, a fairy with a TinaTurner haircut who steals the gang’spixie dust and runs away to join thepirates. Tom Hiddleston gives it somewelly as the voice of young James Hook,not yet a captain and still in possessionof both hands. For a kids’ film, this hasan unnecessarily twisty plot thatChristopher Nolan would be proud of(expect a lot of ‘Who’s that?’ and ‘Why isshe up there?’ from five-year-olds).”(Time Out)“Tom Hiddleston has silver-tongued funas a young Captain Hook, but the resultsare as unmemorable as they areinnocuous.” (Guardian)“And, because Hiddleston is a genius andthe scriptwriters obviously adore him,the ocean-bound scenes are less tediousthan non-fans of the genre mightexpect.” (Standard)What is essentially a straight-to-DVDfeature stretched thinly onto the bigscreen, Pirate Fairy nevertheless willdelight the very young. (Jack Whiting)Parents beware, this one is definitely forlittle ones. Bring some knitting.


Director: Brian PercivalStarring: Geoffrey Rush, Sophie Nélisse,

Emily WatsonCertificate: 12ADuration: 131 mins Origin: Germany/USA 2014By: Twentieth Century Fox

The Book ThiefTue 8 12.30, Wed 9 2.00Based on the beloved internationalbestseller, The Book Thief tells thestory of an extraordinarily spiritedyoung girl, Liesel Meminger (SophieNelisse) sent to live with a fosterfamily, the Hubermanns, in a smallunremarkable German town. Lieselturns out to be illiterate and the kindlyHans Hubermann (Geoffrey Rush) and hiscranky heart-of-gold wife Rosa (EmilyWatson) not only teach her to read, butturn their basement walls into black-boards covered with words. As time passes and wartime privationsgrow worse, their domestic situationturns more dangerous with the arrival ofMax Vandenburg (Ben Schnetzer), thefugitive son of a Jewish comrade whosaved Hans’ life during WWI. Honour-bound to hide the young man from theauthorities, the family nurse him back tohealth from serious illness and Maxeventually bonds with the fascinatedLiesel. She’s sworn to tell no-one of hispresence, not even new best-friend Rudy(Nico Liersch)… The Book Thief is a heart-breaking re-telling of tales of Nazi Germany. LikeStalin’s USSR and every African conflict(every five minutes) – the Holocaust was atime of unimaginable horror, but evenduring the worst moments of man’sinhumanity, there were good people whorisked their lives to protect strays andshelter Jews in basements. (research Jane

Clucas) Apparently the book is brilliant. Hopefullythe film is too.


Director: Rob MinkoffCertificate: UDuration: 92 mins Origin: USA 2014By: Twentieth Century Fox

Mr Peabody &Sherman Thu 10 2.00

Escape From PlanetEarth Sat 12 2.00, Mon 14 2.00

Director: Cal BrunkerfStarring: Sarah Parker, Jessica Alba,

Brendan FraserCertificate: UDuration: 84 mins Origin: USA 2014By: Twentieth Century Fox

Much like Bill and Ted’s Excellent

Adventure, or that Family Guy

episode; Peabody and Sherman is an

enjoyably silly romp through time.

Derived from a recurring segment of theold 1960s US TV show Rocky andBullwinkle this animation follows MrPeabody, a super-intelligent beagleresident in a spectacular New Yorkapartment who has been granted theright to adopt a human boy: this isseven-year-old Sherman (voiced by MaxCharles). Mr Peabody is finicky and precise but avery caring foster parent, with a slightresemblance to Dr Niles Crane in the 90sTV show Frasier. He wants to completeyoung Sherman’s historical educationwith a time-machine he has invented,allowing them both to visit variousimportant eras.The vehicle literally driving the plot isPeabody’s time-travel machine theWABAC (pronounced ‘way back’), whichspirits him and Sherman off to theFrench Revolution, ancient Egypt, theRenaissance and the Trojan wars.In each era, there’s a light sprinkling ofhistorical fact within the context ofcomedic nonsense. “We learn why MonaLisa’s smile might have been so discreet,what was going on inside the Trojanhorse, and the importance of cake in theFrance of 1789.” (Telegraph)Perhaps more fun than your averagehistory lesson? (TV research JW)

A soulless, sci-fi animation that’ll no

doubt kill some time until the superior

Lego movie rears its blocky head.

Escape from Planet Earth nevertheless

has its share of satirical, quirky

moments.

When his wantonly heroic brother ScorchSupernova is stranded on ‘the DarkPlanet’, it’s left to nerdy sibling Gary toboldly go from Baab (pronounced ‘bob’) toEarth, winding up a prisoner of Area 51,wherein enslaved aliens are forced towork on new-fangled inventions such asthe internet, the mobile phone, and (morerecently) an exterminating death ray.“With Stephen Fry providing “additionalwriting” and Ricky Gervais as the voice ofthe on-board computer, you’d expect wryhumour and cine-literate pop-culturereferences aplenty...” (Mark Kermode)Unfortunately the reality is that PlanetEarth is a slapstick riddled, glossy cartoonthat doesn’t add anything new to thealready crowded kids market. “A few gags land brilliantly, however, suchas the moment when our hero’s wife pullson her anti-gravity boots to join themission, insisting ‘It’s not rocket science’only to be met with an exquisitely timed‘That’s exactly what it is!’” (Guardian)William Shatner’s voice inclusion alonegarners enough nerd points to be worth amatinée punt. (research Jack Whiting)Well done Jack (and The Guardian) forgiving away the only funny line.


Directors: Chris Buck, Jennifer LeeCertificate: PGDuration: 108 mins Origin: USA 2013By: Walt Disney Int'l

Frozen Sing-A-LongTue 15 12.30, Wed 16 2.00

Charlie & TheChocolate FactoryThu 17 2.00

Director: Tim BurtonStarring: Helena Bonham Carter, Freddie

Highmore, Johnny DeppCertificate: PGDuration: 114 mins Origin: USA 2005By: Warner Brothers

Disney’s Frozen, an animated fairy

tale musical inspired by Hans

Christian Andersen’s Snow Queen

takes place in the kingdom of

Arendelle, where the young princess

Elsa was born with the ability to

magically create ice and snow using

her bare hands. When Elsa slips up andnearly kills her sister Ana, by accident. Fearing Elsa might cause serious harm,the panicking king and queen decide toisolate both daughters from the outsideworld! (Weird) ]Several years later, following sometragic events, grown-up Elsa (IdinaMenzel) and Ana (Kristen Bee) no longershare the close bond they once had.However, upon Elsa’s coronation day,people from all over the kingdom flock tomeet the new queen and Ana meets andfalls for the handsomely goofy PrinceHans (Santino Fontana). Unfortunately,Elsa’s mounting emotions start to breakfree, as she terrifies the locals with herpowers and inadvertently starts aneternal winter upon fleeing the kingdom.‘Cheesy critical metaphors are hard toavoid: with such warmth within its icylandscape, this is a celluloidbaked Alaska.It is glorious family entertainment’.(Guardian)‘This is terrifically enjoyable; romantic,subversive, engaging and enthralling’.(Observer)“Frozen is the best Disney since Aladdin,a glittering, sparkling cartoon epic…”(ST Culture). One not to miss, plus thechance to singalong (to unsingabletunes?)

Gene Wilder said of Johnny Depp’s re-

make “there was no need” (para),

implying perfection could not be

improved upon. Roald Dahl saw noreason for Gene Wilder’s version at all. Infact he hated it, music and all. So much sohe refused to allow it to be called Charlieand the Choc… Thus Willy Wonka and the Choc…Ironically, it is the 19 year olds here wholoved the first one and missed all thesongs absent from the second. Happilythe young know nothing but regetfullywant to share it with everyone. They areremembering happy childhood days ofChristmas around the telly, not thequality of the film.I’m with Mr Dahl, but then I am bound toside with miserable old devils.All this aside, you know the story and arebound to be able to whistle the tunes.Look out for the faces in crowd at thegates: one is Berkhamsted’s the lateDavid Woollacott. Don’t blink.


Director: Danny De VitoStarring: Danny De Vito, Mara Wilson, Rhea

Perlamn, Pam FerrisCertificate: PGDuration: 93 mins Origin: USA 1996By: Sony Pictures Releasing

Matilda Sat 19 2.00 The Lego Movie Tue 22 12.30, Sat 26 2.00,Tue 29 12.30

Directors: Phil Lord, Chris MillerStarring: Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Will

Arnett, Chris PrattCertificate: UDuration: 100 mins Origin: USA 2014By: Warner Brothers

Adapted from children’s-favourite

Roald Dahl’s fantastical book of the

same name, Matilda is a bright little

girl who discovers she has magical

powers.

With the film version taking place inAmerica, Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlmanplay Matilda’s unpleasant parents, whoare contemptuous of their daughter’sprodigious talent.When Matilda is 4, her only enjoyment inlife is the local library, she walks thereeveryday to read while her parents are atwork and her older brother, Michael, is atschool.Eventually, her insensitive parents sendher to Crunchem Hall, a school run byMiss Trunchbull. She is a cruelauthoritarian who loathes children.Fortunately, Matilda’s teacher, MissJennifer Honey, is a kind woman whoadores her pupils and takes an immediateliking to her. Warming to Miss Honey’s kindness,Matilda begins to realise she can use herpowers to do something about hersufferings and help her friends as well.“With her sweet-sad face, Mara Wilson is aperfect Matilda.” (USA Today)“Magical. Would watch it again and again”(Natalie Jones)A heart-warming and faithful adaptationof Roald Dahl’s classic.(research Anna Shepherd) don’t miss thison Easter Saturday afternoon.

The most unfulfilling toy since Blow-

football, yet somebody very clever

convinced (emphasis on ‘con’) kids

and hapless parents it was fun to

spend hours constructing something

that looked square no matter what

you did with it, and there was always

that missing piece.

This is a movie about LEGO made withdigital LEGO with round pieces and acamera or two – that’s cheating.Everybody appears to be raving about it.So, not only has it sucked you in again,but has made you buy a ticket to seewhat LEGO can do at the movies…! Got my own back at last. Rave on.


Director: Wes AndersonStarring: Ralph Fiennes, Saoirse Ronan,

Jude LawCertificate: 15Duration: 100 mins Origin: USA 2014By: Twentieth Century Fox

The GrandBudapest HotelWed 23 2.00 Ralph Fiennes expertly plays eccentric

hotel concierge Monsieur Gustave H.

accompanied by Zero (touching

newcomer Tony Revolori) the new

lobby boy at the famous European

hotel.

Perched on top of a mountain, in thefictional Republic of Zubrowka, andreached only by an old-fashionedfunicular railway. The story begins when ayoung writer (Jude Law) meets animpressive old man, the hotel’s owner, MrZero Moustafa (F. Murray Abraham).The young writer hears the tales oflegendary concierge M.Gustave H, who inthe pre-war period ran the hotel withimpeccable control, style and suavity. Gustave’s attentiveness to the rich, old,insecure, vain and needy patrons of thehotel extends to rather more personalservices. As he bids farewell to 84-year-old fright Madame D (Tilda Swinton) hershocking murder sets in motion the crazyclockwork of the plot, Wes Anderson style.“Even on a second viewing, you hardlyhave time enough to take in all its intricatedetailing and sumptuousfurnishing.”(Standard)“Beneath all the jokiness there’s a sense ofloss, a nostalgia for an age that neither thefilmmakers nor all but a few of theiraudience can ever have known”. (S&S)Bewilderingly star-studded, come andindulge in this grand film in The GrandRex Cinema over the grand Easterweekend. (Anna Shepherd)


Director: Jalil LespertStarring: Pierre Niney, Laura SmetCertificate: 15Duration: 106 mins Origin: France 2014By: Entertainment One UK

Yves Saint LarentThu 24 2.00, Mon 28 2.00After being catapulted to

international stardom at just 21, this

luxurious biography traces the life of

the pioneering fashion designer

through his most turbulent decades.

Yves (Pierre Niney) goes from beingChristian Dior’s assistant, to taking overas Head Designer when he dies, tosetting up his own eponymous couturehouse.Travelling through the decades inglamorous locations such as: Paris, NewYork and Morocco, the film follows SaintLaurent’s troubles with addiction anddepression, his creative inspirations forhis iconic looks and his relationship withhis lover and business partner, PierreBerge (Guillaume Gallienne).“An engrossing story of a man with asingular vision and the price he paid forhis many achievements, as well as afascinating portrait of an industry forwhom decadence and indulgence are inthe job spec” (Curzon)“It’s clear that Niney, did not take hisperformance lightly: reports state thatthe actor learned to sew, draw, anddesign, and researched the YSL archivesin order to fully embody his character.”(Elle)For all of you hooked on this or anyyear's red carpet fashions, or true styleon any carpet, this is a must see!(research Anna Shepherd)


Director: Eric SteelCertificate: PGDuration: 79 mins Origin: USA 2013By: Independent Cinema Office

Kiss The WaterWed 30 2.00What seems at first an impossibly

flimsy and meagre documentary

subject slowly reveals itself as a

beautiful piece of cine-miniaturism

with great charm. Eric Steel, whodirected The Bridge, a film about suicidesoff San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge,was inspired by a New York Timesobituary of Megan Boyd. Boyd had lived ina tumbledown cottage in remote northernScotland and had been awarded theBritish Empire medal for creating fishingflies with passionate dedication and craft.Fishing aficionados and connoisseursvalued her work and jealously guardedtheir relationship. Anglers came fromaround the world to buy the flies hand-spun from exotic bird feathers, tinsel andsilk and even The Prince of Wales was aregular customer who went on to becamea life-long friend. Steel talks to Boyd’sfriends, neighbours and customers andbuilds up an intriguing portrait of a realeccentric: a woman who dressedmannishly, drove outrageously, dancedvigorously and played bridge withabandon.“She looked like a man in a skirt, we aretold. Disconcertingly, one intervieweetells us that the ‘Hairy Mary’ (one of herflies) was rumoured to have been firstmade in 1961 with the pubic hair of abarmaid from Inverness.” (Independent)“Make sure this strange little film isn’t oneyou let get away.” (Guardian) Back by request and not for the last time.

42 Rants & Pants DEAR MRS TRELLIS...42 Rants & Pants DEAR MRS TRELLIS...

The Odyssey restoration isrunning at full steam. Thepredicted Spring opening has

now moved predictably to a laterfanfare. But a fanfare there will be. So keep an eye on dates this year. Inevitable delays and chasing that lasthalf million hasn’t stopped us gettingon with the precious restoration andrebuilding.Here you can see the proscenium archat full tilt being constructed by hand,

and from scratch, by our Rex artistsunder the leadership of Andrew Dixon.There were no design features acrossthe arch at all. This artwork is alloriginal to the Odyssey, and it is huge!What fantastic props: primitive, simpleand ingenious. Our artists’ uniquedesign is influenced by the originalwindow, which can still be seen abovethe entrance. As you can see, theconstruction and brushwork of thisoriginal artwork is being painstakingly

UNIQUE ARTWORK IN ST ALBANS...

DEAR MRS TRELLIS... Rants & Pants 43

finished despite the ever-pressing raceagainst time to dismantle the‘birdcage’ scaffolding from the ceiling.It is these spectacular finishing toucheson such a huge scale throughout thebuilding that will make The Odyssey inSt Albans a unique work of art all of itsown. One that happens to show filmsfrom across the world, on possibly thebiggest and last single screen to berebuilt in the UK.Our last fundraising push from nowuntil we open will have no prizes orgimmicks.

We are asking you to sponsorand name the last 200 seatsfor £1000 & £1500 OR give

us a tenner! For your £10 you will get alimited edition, personally signedcertificate. For your £1000 & £1500you get your name (or loved one orcompany) proudly on a big red velvetseat. Each item is for life and youronly prize is the same: Possibly thelast and most beautiful cinema inEurope (or just this side ofBerkhamsted) to be restored entirelyby hand, over four short years.

44 Rants & Pants DEAR MRS TRELLIS...

This began as a rant about

babies on Tuesdays, their

mothers, their nappies left

on the carpet, their absurd

military prams and some whose

distinct snottiness, has turned

them into the first mothers on

earth! Now it has turned into amuch better one (rant) about theabsurdity of rules and snitching,and the curious pleasure individualsget from either or both.On Thursday afternoon 13th March,a man appeared at the Rex boxoffice to serve notice upon uspreventing us from showingCertificate 15 rated films atmothers’ and baby matinees. Whilst the mess mothers’ oftenleave is Cert 18 and their attitudetowards our bending overbackwards Rex staff, is X-rated, thisis not covered by licensing laws.Hence, between mothers and thelicensing authority and those (in thebalcony) who snitched us up(presumably to put a stop to babiesand baby noises at baby matinees)you have done a very good job.

Perhaps there is something incommon here.They each believe they’re right,some more than others. Hence thefirst step towards hell in a crowdedroom. Therefore the outcome issimple. Babies’ matinees will beeither stopped or monitored by theauthorities. Nothing above 12A willbe allowed in the same room asbabies (which rules out all thisyear’s Oscar nominees and winnersand many of the best films in thecoming year). So along with attitudeand nappies etc, the mothers forwhom it was designed seven yearsago (to see the best of the Rexprogramme, and escape for a fewhours) lose most of all. Thelicensing man will have to findsome stapling to do. As for thesnitches, you lose a Tuesdaymatinee. So well done, andcongratulations to you all.Everybody loses.

[During May there will be no moreTuesday matinees. This will give ustime to think about what to do next]

BABY BLUES...

RexJune06A5Mag - The Rex Berkhamsted · Some of the girls and boys you see at the Box Office and...

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Transcript of RexJune06A5Mag - The Rex Berkhamsted · Some of the girls and boys you see at the Box Office and...