01727 453088...TALE OF TALES PROGRAMME – JULY 2016 JULY 2016 • ISSUE 19 01727 453088 SEE PAGE 3...

TALE OF TALES

P R O G R A M M E – J U L Y 2 0 1 6

J U LY 2 0 1 6 • I S S U E 1 9 01727 453088SEE PAGE 3 FOR BOX OFFICE OPENING HOURS

www.odysseypictures.co.uk

C I N E M A S T A L B A N S

CONTENTS

Films At A Glance 14-15 BOX OFFICE: 01727 453088Mon to Sat 10.30am-6.30pm 8pm-9.30pmSun 2pm-5.30pm (with matinée) 6.30pm-7.30pmSun & Bank Holiday 3pm-5.30pm (no matinée) 6.30pm-7.30pm

TICKETS IN PERSONMon to Sat 10.30am-8pmSunday (with matinée) 12-7.30pmSun & Bank Holiday (no matinée) 3pm-7.30pm

ONLINE BOOKING• General release tickets go online on

the Monday following the Saturday General sale.

• There is a £1.50 booking fee (to cover costs of card transactions and the booking site).

www.odysseypictures.co.uk/listings

SEAT PRICES Full Price Concs

Upstairs £9.00 £7.50Upstairs Settee £20.00 £20.00 (Single or double occupancy)Downstairs Settee £22.00 £22.00 (Single or double occupancy)Downstairs (Tables) £11.00 £10.00 Downstairs Premium £13.00 £13.00 (Front row /Royal Box)Disabled £7.50 Carer £0Matinees from £5 no concessions

Management Team: Anna Shepherd, Jo Littlejohn, Holly HaymanHead Technician: Christian WillisAdvertising: Jill Tayior - [email protected]: Demiurge Design - 01296 668739Director: James Hannaway

The Odyssey 166 London Road, St. Albans, Herts AL1 1PQwww.odysseypictures.co.uk

BEST IN JULY

FILMS OF THE MONTH

When Marnie Was ThereLike a princess in a fairy tale, Marnie moves in stardust and traffics

in mystery. Page 13

Tale of TalesGloriously mad, rigorously

imagined, visually wonderful: erotic, hilarious and… Page 17

Elvis & NixonElvis at the White House. More

fabulous than crazy, great acting, great fun and true-ish. 3

MustangA beautifully balanced Oscar

nominated film where girls rebel against all odds. Page 12

Brand New TestamentA film with a big heart and an even

bigger imagination Page 22

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Soft Tissue TherapyAnatomy in Motion

Osteopathy Medical Acupuncture

Gait Analysis

01727 856 [email protected]

www.moveology.co.uk

Now at Parkbury House

St Peters StreetSt Albans

JULY FILMS

f o r

1 0 . 9 5

1 - 3 V E R U L A M R O A D , S T A L B A N S A L 3 4 D A

0 1 7 2 7 8 9 0 4 1 0 s t a l b a n s @ b r a s s e r i e b l a n c . c o m

b r a s s e r i e b l a n c . c o m

P R E - T H E A T R Es e t m e n u

M o n d a y - S a t u r d a y u n t i l 6 . 3 0 p m

T W O C O U R S E S O F F R E S H ,D E L I C I O U S , S E A S O N A L F L A V O U R S

When...Sun 3 1.00

www.odysseypictures.co.uk THE ODYSSEY - JULY 7

Florence Foster JenkinsFlorence Foster Jenkins was a wealthy grande dame and patron of the arts who notoriously deluded herself into believing she was a talented coloratura soprano. A sly and affecting biopic of an utterly tone deaf opera singer may evoke a sense of déjà vu for the Rex audience… The recent French art-house hit Marguerite was also inspired by the life of Jenkins. This Hollywood spin on the story, directed by Stephen Frears, is a good-humoured confection. Meryl Streep makes an ideal fit as Florence, with Hugh Grant putting forward a career-best performance as St. Clair Bayfield, her crafty husband and manager.It turns out that money sure can’t buy you talent, but it can at least buy you a sheltered illusion of it, as St. Clair tactfully selects and buys-off appreciative high-society audiences, including a handful of rapturous critics for good measure. Florence’s unique talents may well have remained a private embarrassment, until her catastrophic decision to give a public concert at Carnegie Hall. (research Emma Filippides)“Like Florence, Streep seems largely unaware of the film’s sickening sweetness… There is no escaping this is an extremely creepy story…” (CL ST Culture) OR “Hits all the right wrong notes” (Guardian) You decide.

Director: Stephen FrearsCast: Meryl Streep, Hugh GrantDuration: 110 minsOrigin: UK 2016Certificate: PG Company: Twentieth Century Fox

6 THE ODYSSEY - JULY BOX OFFICE: 01727 453088

The Jungle BookNow this is a revival I can get behind; allow for a good few decades to pass, and then use the latest technology to show Kipling’s classic in a dynamic new light. All the while retaining the magic of the original.After the murder of his father, Mowgli (newcomer Neel Sethi) is found in the jungles of India by the panther Bagheera (Ben Kingsley) and left in the safety, care and company of wolves to nurture. A water shortage has persuaded different species of animals to come together in peace and sharing. The truce is ruined by the hostile Shere Khan, a Bengal tiger (growled by Idris Elba) who is guaranteed to induce fear and trembling. Blinded in one eye by fire that the tiger blames on man, Shere Khan demands that the wolfpack turn over Mowgli to him… This Jungle Book is a natural response to the technological era we are in. Love it or loathe it, computer wizardry is here to stay, so why not see how far it can be pushed? Like Avatar, a magical and wholly convincing world has been created. (research Jack Whiting) Don’t miss. Come again and again.

Director: Jon FavreauCast: Neel SethiVoices: Idris Elba, Christopher Walken,

Scarlett Johansson, Ben KingsleyDuration: 106 minsOrigin: USA 2016Certificate: PG Company: Walt Disney International

X-Men: ApocalypseIt’s the end of days for Charles Xavier and his team of mutants in this last instalment of the sleek, younger X-Men trilogy. Ten years have passed since Days Of Future Past, and the story has caught up to the 1980s, mostly rendered via poofy hairstyles and boom boxes. When CIA agent Moira MacTaggert (Rose Byrne) investigates an Egyptian cult, she accidently awakens The Apocalypse: villain (Oscar Isaac, somewhere under a blue rubber suit) who decides to raze the world so only the strongest will survive. He gathers mutants to serve as his apocalyptic horsemen. When he reaches out to Magneto (Michael Fassbender in a very bad hat) to join him, Xavier (James McAvoy) et al are pulled into the conflict.Forgoing the human/mutant politics that added weight and consequence (??) to the previous outings, Apocalypse instead settles for a good versus evil standoff; relying on spectacle and CGI bedazzlement. There is so much squeezed in, it is hard to tell what’s going on (let alone care). Despite this, it knows to keep its watchable leads, Fassbender and McAvoy, front and centre. Just a little less doom and gloom next time guys. (research Jack Whiting) Please Jack, no more ‘next time’.

Director: Bryan SingerCast: Michael Fassbender, Oscar Isaac,

James McAvoy, Jennifer LawrenceDuration: 144 minsOrigin: USA 2016Certificate: 12A Company: Twentieth Century Fox

When...Sat 2 2.00Tue 26 12.30Wed 27 2.00

When...Fri 1 7.30Sat 2 7.00

Eye In The SkyHelen Mirren is at her controlled bossiest, long-anxious-looks school of acting in Gavin Hood’s drone warfare thriller, starring Barkhad Abdi (who won oblivion after being the star of Oscar winner ‘Captain Phillips’).Colonel Katherine Powell, a military officer in command of a classified drone operation to apprehend a terrorist cell in Kenya, is put through her paces when surveillance discovers suicide preparations. As the mission escalates from ‘observe’ to ‘capture’ to ‘kill’, a nine-year old girl enters the target zone, forcing a heated international debate between US and British government officials, raising the usual political and dull moral issues of modern warfare. (oh dear) Big cast, there is much on display here, notably the power-presence of Alan Rickman, in what has become his final screen role.“A provocatively tense thriller negotiates the moral minefields of its thorny subject in crowd-pleasing fashion.” (Observer)“There is plenty to admire, not least the mighty Mirren, who manages, aged 70, to be entirely convincing as a tough old soldier (Jagger’s 71 and Keith, nobody knows in human years). And it’s nice, if sad, to see Rickman (69 and dead) one last time.” (Daily Mail sycophancy ‘nice’ dept) (research Chris Coetsee) Very popular. Don’t miss.

Director: Gavin HoodCast: Alan Rickman, Helen MirrenDuration: 102 minsOrigin: UK 2015Certificate: 15 Company: Entertainment One UK

When...Sun 3 5.00

When...Wed 6 2.00, 7.30

When...Thu 7 2.00Thu 7 7.30

Sun 10 1.00Wed 27 7.30Fri 29 2.00


Love & FriendshipBased on an early, little-known novella called Lady Susan, Love & Friendship is a reminder that Jane Austen was not short on exceptional wit and skit. A narrative of desire and fortune-hunting is propelled by the charming, scheming, and less than grief-stricken widow Lady Susan Vernon (Kate Beckinsale). With a radiant smile and murky motives, she leaves a trail of wreckage and confusion in her wake as, penniless, she looks for a pair of husbands, one for her daughter Frederica (Morfydd Clark) the other for herself. As with any good Austen adaptation, the action shuttles between London and various country houses. Visitors are received, letters are opened, gossip is exchanged across grand dining tables, and long strolls are taken on manicured lawns. The lavish costumes and lovely Country estates are offset by a giddy mood of spirited preposterousness. Stillman proves an intuitive fit for Austen, giving her social satire an extra sprinkling of modern-day cheekiness without breaking the spell.“Breathlessly funny, Kate Beckinsale doesn’t miss a beat” (Telegraph)“A rapier sharp comedy… the wittiest Austen adaptation to grace the screen” (Times)(research Emma Filippides) and Kate is finally doing something to match her near-flawless beauty.

Director: Whit StillmanCast: Kate Beckinsale, Chloë SevignyDuration: 92 minsOrigin: Ireland/Netherlands/France/USA 2016Certificate: U Company: CurzonArtificialEye

RaceA squeaky clean, uplifting biopic; Race is a committee developed film. While it might not set pulses racing, it tells a fantastic real story, well.Jesse Owens was an Alabama-born athlete from Ohio State University, who went on to win four gold medals in track and field at the 1936 Nazi Berlin Olympics. His triumph left Hitler to suck it up and watch a black man shatter his cuckoo notion of an Aryan master race. The film, starring a fine, fully-committed Stephan James (Selma) as Owens, follows the athlete’s progress from aged 19 to his Olympic victory two years later. While banalities litter the script, with the cooperation of Owens’ family, we are spared biopic clichés. Jesse died of lung cancer in 1980.What humanises Race though, is Owens’s relationship with Larry Snyder (Jason Sudeikis) who, denied Olympic coach accreditation, is ironically, forced to travel steerage on the liner carrying black American athletes across the Atlantic. The story of Snyder’s own thwarted athletic ambitions gives their bond a special poignancy. In a sense, Snyder is living through Owens, and Sudeikis’s tough, heartfelt performance conveys this intensity. (research Jack Whiting) Don’t miss. Apologies for timetabling next to Eddie the Eagle. (JH)

Director: Stephen HopkinsCast: Stephan James, Jason Sudeikis,

Eli GoreeDuration: 135 minsOrigin: France/Germany/Canada 2016Certificate: PG Company: Altitude Film Distribution


Eddie The EagleWitness the extraordinary tale of Great Britain’s most unlikely of heroes in Dexter Fletcher’s feel-good dramedy. The story of Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards is one of British folklore. It’s 1988. Take one failed downhill skier, a never-say-die attitude and an impending Winter Olympics, throw them together and you have the first ever British competitor in the ski jump. Taron Edgerton who excelled in 2015’s Kingsman plays the loveable underdog whose implausible appearance at Calgary captured the hearts and minds of a nation and beyond.“I was ready to lift Eddie up on my shoulders and parade him through the streets myself. There’s a reason mainstream film-makers stick to this formula: it works.” (Guardian)“Eddie The Eagle turns a long-running joke of British sport into a crowd-pleasing story of inspiration. It’s a solid gold winner.” (Empire) Yes, it all sounds very Cool Runnings, but even with a significant amount of gloss and embelishment, the truth of the story retains its importance, making for a memorable if slightly zany tribute to one of sport’s most unexpected legends. (Research Chris Coetsee) As heart lifting as crash landings get. Heroic indeed. Apologies for timetabling next to Race. (JH)

Director: Dexter FletcherCast: Taron Egerton, Hugh Jackman, Keith

Allen, Christopher WalkenDuration: 106 minsOrigin: UK/USA 2016Certificate: PG Company: Lionsgate Films UK

Easy RiderEasy Rider was of its time but not ahead of its time. It felt dated the minute it hit the screen in 1969. For many of us then flirting with the notion of hippydom, Woodstock was a mere noise promoting unreliable love and peace. The Beatles had found the Maharishi two years before and started to disappear from touch. Scott Mackenzie’s trite, 1967 one-hit San Fransisco was anthemed only by fashion hippies. We found Dylan real and A Space Odyssey and even Butch Cassidy more revolutionary than Easy Rider (films made in the same year).That aside, Hopper and Fonda’s social bandits odyssey had a real impact. Heading for the Mardi Gras in search of the American Dream, these two cool dope-dealing cats run from rednecks and pick up various waifs and strays, most notably Jack Nicholson and Karen Black, in their (Nicholson and Black) first of many films together.This, Hopper’s chaotic low-budget movie at the time of Vietnam is said to have caught an alienated Hollywood, napping. Not for long. ‘Keep the motor running…’ and come for the first screen presence of a young Jack.

Directors: Dennis Hopper, Charles KiselyakCast: Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper, Jack

Nicholson, Karen BlackDuration: 92 minsOrigin: USA 1969Certificate: 18 Company: Park Circus Films

When...Tue 5 12.30, 7.30

When...Mon 4 2.00, 7.30


Money MonsterYet another capitalist caper, this one goes down the action thriller route. I bet money on Clooney having fun with this one. It’s ‘Dog Day Afternoon’ for dough-brains as disgruntled truck driver Kyle (Jack O’Connell) storms a TV news studio where charismatic, maverick stocks reporter Lee (George Clooney) is doing his wacky thing with the help of long-suffering producer Patty (Julia Roberts). Kyle’s gripe? Lee recently banged the drum on TV for a financial stock that crashed, so losing Kyle sixty thousand dollars. Yet it’s soon clear that the real bad guy is on a private jet somewhere: Walt Camby (Dominic West) an hilarious cartoon version of a fat-cat CEO.If you couldn’t quite keep up with Margin Call or The Big Short, or found the characters of Wolf of Wall Street too repugnant, then Jodie Foster’s silly, yet glossy hostage thriller will give you a pretty brief, and easy to digest summary. You miss the lingering after-sting of catharsis that was a regular signature of someone like Sydney Lumet, but in the heat of the moment, Money Monster’s bluster and nerve keeps you hooked. (research Jack Whiting) George enjoys a bit of mid-life overacting, while Julia plays it tough.

Director: Jodie FosterCast: George Clooney, Julia Roberts, Jack

O’ConnellDuration: 99 minsOrigin: USA 2015Certificate: 15 Company: Sony Pictures Releasing

When...Fri 8 7.30Sat 9 7.00Mon 11 12.30


Alice Through The Looking GlassMia Wasikowska returns as the young, spunky heroine Alice Kingsleigh in this sequel to Tim Burton’s 2010 picture, Alice in Wonderland. This time around, whilst Burton is still on board as the producer, the film is directed by James Bobin his feature film directorial debut being The Muppets. After some years spent adventuring on the high seas, Alice returns to gloriously nonsensical world of Wonderland via a giant looking glass. Alice is on a mission to save her dear friend the Mad Hatter (Johnny Depp) who has fallen into a deep depression, haunted by the mysterious disappearance of his family whom he believes were killed by the Jabberwocky. Helena Bonham-Carter, Anne Hathaway and Stephen Fry return alongside franchise newcomer Sacha Baron Cohen as the half-clockwork, half-human personification of time. Although Alice through the Looking Glass has been criticised for its deviation from Lewis Carroll’s original story (outside of using the same title and character names) it certainly makes for a visually impressive fantasy spectacle. (review Heather Graves)The critics have the rare right to be sniffy about Americans playing with classic pieces of English literature. However, it does look fabulous on the big screen. So think of it as a cinematic wonder with a stolen title.

When...Sat 9 2.00Sun 10 5.00

Director: James BobinCast: Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp,

Helena Bonham CarterDuration: 113 minsOrigin: USA 2015Certificate: PG Company: Walt Disney International


When Marnie Was ThereLeading Japanese animation legend Studio Ghibli, once again lives up to its reputation as one of the World’s most outstanding storytellers. Original, moving and exquisitely detailed stories told with sensitivity and passion. 12 year old orphan and tomboy Anna is sent to live with relatives by the coast. With the vulnerable curiosity and surliness of a typical pre-teen, she discovers a seemingly empty mansion in the middle of a marsh. Inside lives the beautiful, ethereal Marnie. Her stillness and warmth are the antithesis of Anna. So unfolds a tale of curiosity and friendship between these two unlikely souls. Marnie’s tendency to disappear causes Anna to question whether she really exists, or if she and this new bonding is a fragmented figment of Anna’s own imagination. Nothing more than a side effect of mental isolation. Nevertheless, the film follows a blossoming relationship between two girls from different worlds, at a time when they feel they have no one else. “Like a princess in a fairy tale, Marnie moves in stardust and traffics in mystery” (NY Times) (research Grace Atkins) The retirement of two of Ghibli’s chief directors means this might be their last film for a while, so don’t miss their beautiful story.

When...Wed 13 7.30 Subtitled

Sun 17 1.00 Dubbed

Director: Hiromasa YonebayashiDuration: 103 minsOrigin: Japan 2014Certificate: U Company: Studiocanal


When...Mon 11 7.30 Subtitled

When...Tue 12 12.30Tue 12 17.30

Wed 13 2.00Tue 19 12.30Tue 19 7.30

Me Before YouDirector Thea Sharrock makes her filmmaking debut, fresh from the theatre. Based on the bestselling novel, Me Before You, tells the story of an unconventional romance between a devastated paraplegic, Will (Sam Claflin), and his unexpected carer, Lou Clark (Emilia Clarke) to whom he refers as Clark(e) throughout. When Will’s perfect life is torn apart by a tragic accident, his stoic mother hires inexperienced Lou to nurse him away from his sullen (6th form acting) despair. Predictably horrified by his determined, last Swiss roll, Clark(e), eyebrows a flailing, goes for the gobs of marzipan route. Sharrock wades deep into complicated issues of disability and euthanasia (??) carefully tiptoeing around the realities. Yet it certainly maintains an air of sweetness throughout, several scenes even throbbing with unexpected resonance.“A cynical tearjerker with winning performances from both leads.” (The Guardian)“A bubbly, broody love triangle in which death is the third party.” (Hollywood Reporter)“The film deals with complicated issues and themes in a beautifully poetic way.” (Variety) (research Elly Dinnadge)Again, critics are gushing when they should be vomiting. As for “throbbing with unexpected resonance”. There is not the merest hint of a swelling, drip or throb. Unless it’s that new estate agents.

Director: Thea SharrockCast: EmiliaClarke,SamClaflinDuration: 110 minsOrigin: USA 2016Certificate: 12A Company: Warner Brothers

MustangMustang is the stunning debut feature of French-Turkish director Deniz Gamze Erguven. It tells the story of five sisters growing up in rural Turkey “a thousand kilometres from Istanbul but a century away from any notion of the girls’ right to grow up naturally.” (Guardian)With their parents dead, the girls are raised by their grandmother, aunt and barbaric uncle who places them under house arrest after they are caught innocently frolicking in the sea with some boys. In the eyes of their uncle, and their patriarchal society, the girls have caused a scandal and may no longer be considered desirable wife material. As their home turns into a “wife factory” and their access to the outside world becomes increasingly restricted, we witness the girls heroically fighting for their freedom.“Oscar nominated for Best Foreign Film Mustang, whilst thematic and political, is a warm and tender portrait of courage and determination that honours the bonds of womanhood and their sisterly support, without taking them for granted.” (The Atlantic) (research Heather Graves)A much talked about and beautifully balanced Oscar nominated film is one not to miss. So come and don’t…

Director: Deniz Gamze ErgüvenCast: Günes Sensoy, Tugba Sunguroglu,

Elit IscanDuration: 97 minsOrigin: France/Germany/Turkey/Qatar 2015Certificate: 15 Company: CurzonArtificialEye


JULY FILM TIME PAGE

1 FRI X-MEN:APOCALYPSE 7.30 62 SAT THEJUNGLEBOOK 2.00 62 SAT X-MEN:APOCALYPSE 7.00 63 SUN FLORENCEFOSTERJENKINS 1.00 73 SUN EYEINTHESKY 5.00 74 MON EASYRIDER 2.00,7.30 85 TUE EDDIETHEEAGLE 12.30,7.30 86 WED RACE 2.00,7.30 97 THU LOVE&FRIENDSHIP 2.00,7.30 98 FRI MONEYMONSTER 7.30 109 SAT ALICETHROUGHTHELOOKINGGLASS 2.00 119 SAT MONEYMONSTER 7.00 1010 SUN LOVE&FRIENDSHIP 1.00 910 SUN ALICETHROUGHTHELOOKING 5.00 1111 MON MONEYMONSTER 12.30 1011 MON MUSTANG S 7.30 1212 TUE MEBEFOREYOU 12.30,7.30 1213 WED MEBEFOREYOU 2.00 1213 WED WHENMARNIEWASTHERE S 7.30 1314 THU THENICEGUYS 2.00 1414 THU TALEOFTALES 7.30 1515 FRI THENICEGUYS 7.30 1416 SAT TEENAGEMUTANTNINJATURTLES– OUTOFTHESHADOWS 2.00 1516 SAT THENICEGUYS 7.00 1417 SUN WHENMARNIEWASTHERE–DUBBED 1.00 1317 SUN ROCKYHORRORPICTURESHOW 5.00 1818 MON GOLDENYEARS 12.30,7.30 1819 TUE MEBEFOREYOU 12.30,7.30 1220 WED TOKILLAMOCKINGBIRD 2.00 1920 WED THEBOSS 7.30 2021 THU LEARNINGTODRIVE 2.00,7.30 2022 FRI THECONJURING2 7.30 2123 SAT TOPCATBEGINS 2.00 2123 SAT THECONJURING2 7.00 2124 SUN SINGSTREET 1.00 2224 SUN THENICEGUYS 5.00 1425 MON THEBRANDNEWTESTAMENT S 7.30 2226 TUE THEJUNGLEBOOK 12.30 626 TUE TOKILLAMOCKINGBIRD 7.30 1927 WED THEJUNGLEBOOK 2.00 627 WED LOVE&FRIENDSHIP 7.30 928 THU ELVIS&NIXON 2.00 2328 THU WHERETOINVADENEXT 7.30 2329 FRI LOVE&FRIENDSHIP 2.00 929 FRI ELVIS&NIXON 7.30 2330 SAT THESECRETLIFEOFPETS 2.00 2430 SAT INDEPENDENCEDAY:RESURGENCE 7.00 2431 SUN THESECRETLIFEOFPETS 1.00 2431 SUN INDEPENDENCEDAY:RESURGENCE 5.00 24S Subtitled

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C I N E M A S T A L B A N S

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JULY FILM TIME

1 FRI EYEINTHESKY 7.302 SAT THEJUNGLEBOOK 2.00,7.003 SUN SPECIALEVENT:KATHYLETTE 6.004 MON THEBRANDNEWTESTAMENT S 2.00,7.305 TUES LOVE&FRIENDSHIP 2.00,7.306 WED LOVE&FRIENDSHIP 2.00,7.307 THU EYEINTHESKY 2.007 THU THEMEASUREOFAMAN S 7.308 FRI THENICEGUYS 7.309 SAT ALICETHROUGHTHELOOKINGGLASS 2.009 SAT THENICEGUYS 7.0010 SUN THENICEGUYS 6.0011 MON THENICEGUYS 2.0011 MON WHENMARNIEWASTHERE S 7.3012 TUES LEARNINGTODRIVE 2.00,7.3013 WED MEBEFOREYOU 2.00,7.3014 THU MEBEFOREYOU 2.00,7.3015 FRI MONEYMONSTER 7.3016 SAT X-MEN:APOCALYPSE 2.00,7.0017 SUN MEBEFOREYOU 6.0018 MON ELVIS&NIXON 2.0018 MON VERSUS:THELIFE&FILMSOFKENLOACH 7.3019 TUES THENICEGUYS 2.0019 TUES ELVIS&NIXON 7.3020 WED GOLDENYEARS 2.0020 WED LOVE&FRIENDSHIP 7.3021 THU ELVIS&NIXON 2.0021 THU RACE 7.3022 FRI SINGSTREET 7.3023 SAT ALICETHROUGHTHELOOKINGGLASS 2.0023 SAT X-MEN:APOCALYPSE 7.0024 SUN ALICETHROUGHTHELOOKINGGLASS 6.0025 MON THEJUNGLEBOOK 2.0025 MON WEINER 7.3026 TUES ONLYYESTERDAY 2.0026 TUES FLORENCEFOSTERJENKINS 7.3027 WED ALICETHROUGHTHELOOKINGGLASS 2.0027 WED TALEOFTALES 7.3028 THU TOPCATBEGINS 2.0028 THU WHERETOINVADENEXT 7.3029 FRI INDEPENDENCEDAY:RESURGENCE 7.3030 SAT THESECRETLIFEOFPETS 2.0030 SAT INDEPENDENCEDAY:RESURGENCE 7.0031 SUN INDEPENDENCEDAY:RESURGENCE 6.00

S Subtitled

J U LY F I L M S :

01442 877759

B E R K H A M S T E D

BACK BY DEMANDINDEPENDENCEDAY

THENICEGUYSMEBEFOREYOU

LOVE&FRIENDSHIP

NEW RELEASES JASONBOURNE

ABFABTHEBFG

STARTREKFINDINGDORY

LEGENDOFTARZAN

COMING SOONTO THE ODYSSEY

JASON BOURNE

THE BFG

STAR TREK BEYOND

ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS

When...Thu 14 7.30

When...Sat 16 2.00


Tale Of TalesFrom the Baroque to the bizarre in Matteo Garrone’s lavish intertwining of Neapolitan fairytales. At the centre of the film lies a dark trilogy lifted from the Pentamerone, a 17th century collection of stories by Italian poet Giambattista Basile. Three neighbouring kingdoms play host to a quartet of crazed monarchs, each with their own terrible tale to tell; a King and Queen maniacally desperate for children, a corrupt and sex-addicted monarch and the unhinged King of Altomonte who abandons all care and reason for his own daughter when he shifts focus from his kingdom to nurturing a flea. Boasting a principal cast of Salma Hayek, Vincent Cassel and Toby Jones, Tale of Tales gets plenty right in the acting department and with such beautiful cinematography from Peter Suschitzky, the architecture of Sicily, Apulia and Lazio has never looked so evocative, providing the perfect setting for this bold and outlandish array of characters. “It is gloriously mad, rigorously imagined, visually wonderful: erotic, hilarious and internally consistent.” (Guardian)“The sheer, obstinate oddness of ‘Tale of Tales’ sends crowd-pleasers like ‘Game of Thrones’ and ‘The Hobbit’ scuttling into the shadows.” (Time Out) (research Chris Coetsee) Fantastic. Cancel that dragon heart’s supper. Come.

Director: Matteo GarroneCast: Salma Hayek, John C. Reilly,

Toby Jones, Vincent CasselDuration: 134 minsOrigin: Italy/France/UK 2015Certificate: 15 Company: CurzonArtificialEye

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out Of The ShadowsThe heroes in a half-shell are back, and just as creepy looking as before, to save New York from an inter-dimensional alien brain.The turtles’ old nemesis, Shredder, bumps into Krang (aforementioned brain overlord) whilst meddling with teleportation a mad scientist invents. With having the intent of invading our world via a wormhole, Krang uses Shredder as his puppet to keep Leonardo (the leader), Donatello (the techie), Raphael (grumpy), and Michelangelo (annoying) well out of the way.Eastman and Laird’s comic strip creation is still living on after thirty years, albeit as an unrecognisable, ugly mesh of cartoon goofiness. The tone is all over the place: whilst for the most part it rattles along as a stretched out Saturday sugar rush for the very young, and there’s a crassness clearly aimed at teenage boys and/or middle-aged men: Megan Fox in a school girl outfit, which may or may not rock your boat.There’s a fleeting theme about the turtles wanting to fit into society and the moment where Mikey joins a Halloween parade is poignant for all of five seconds, but soon brushed aside in favour of more explosions. Michael Bay’s shadow looms large. (research Jack Whiting)

Director: Dave GreenCast: Megan Fox, Stephen Amell, Will ArnettDuration: 112 minsOrigin: USA 2016Certificate: 12A Company: Paramount


The Nice GuysFists and bullets fly in Shane Black’s triumphant crime comedy. Crowe and Gosling are Jackson Healy and Holland March, a pair of somewhat delusional detectives who unwittingly discover a sinister and far-reaching conspiracy when investigating the whereabouts of activist Amelia (newcomer Margaret Qually). Bombarding their way through the grime and sleaze of 1977 Los Angeles, the duo must navigate a strew of stumbling blocks as they look to solve the case and ultimately save the day. A refreshing shake-up of the buddy-cop formula, this more than succeeds, not least due to the truly unanticipated on-screen chemistry between the two leads whose hate-at-first-sight partnership propels the film to hilariously entertaining heights. “As buddy movies go, it has enough irreverence and originality of its own. Not a cynical rehash of ‘that’ film made countless times before.” (Independent)“It enjoys all the politically incorrect pleasures of the Seventies with a knowing chuckle.” (Times)“Quick on its wits and fast with its fists, this is Black firmly back doing what he does best. Nobody out there does it better.” (Empire) (research Chris Coetsee)This is Black’s best thing since the fab Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (Rex 2004/5). Forgive the Crowe lump. Come.

Director: Shane BlackCast: Ryan Gosling, Russell Crowe, Kim

BasingerDuration: 116 minsOrigin: UK/USA 2016Certificate: 15 Company: Icon Film Distribution

When...

Thu 14 2.00Fri 15 7.30

Sat 16 7.00Sun 24 5.00


To Kill A Mocking BirdAdapted from Harper Lee’s timeless and priceless Pullitzer Prize-winning novel, Robert Mulligan’s Oscar-winning classic remains as captivating and entrancing as ever.Chronicling events taking place over a long and hot summer in America’s deep south, temperatures run high, literally and metaphorically, as lawyer Atticus Finch (Gregory Peck) defends a black man against fabricated rape charges.Striving to uphold the true spirit of the law, Finch must also fight to protect the innocence of his children Scout (Mary Badham) and Jem as the events surrounding the trial ultimately expose them to the realities of racism and white trash prejudices of the era. Themes of justice, fairness and tolerance are explored with depth and sensitivity, bolstered by one of the all-time great performances in the lowest of keys by the magnificent Gregory Peck.“As Mulligan so deftly demonstrates, Lee’s story is in the characters, their failings and fragility, their heroism and nobility of spirit.” (Telegraph)“A classic adaptation of an American classic. Storytelling doesn’t get much better than this.” (Empire) Russell Harlan’s black & white camerawork is exquisite from the opening shot, and watch out for Boo Radley.

When...Wed 20 2.00Tue 26 7.30

Director: Robert MulliganCast: Gregory Peck, Mary Badham, John

Megna, Frank OvertonDuration: 129 minsOrigin: USA 1962Certificate: PG Company: Universal Pictures (UK) Ltd


Golden Years“Banks, Bowls, Bingo”. The film’s tagline aptly summarises the unlikely lifestyle combination of Crime and Retirement that is the focal point of this British heist film. Two senior citizens decide to compensate for their pension reductions in the form of a crime spree. However this plan doesn’t go as smoothly as you might expect from a group of haphazard OAP’s and the fact that the lack of robbery finesse has the police chasing their tails only contributes to the farce. The screenplay, co-written by Nick Knowles is packed with jokes you’ve heard before but still make you chuckle. It might not be the typical sophisticated afternoon at the Rex, however the average age of 71 doesn’t slow down this light-hearted cast. Their pleasure in playing it for all it’s worth is sure to raise a huge smile. “The film’s jokes are older than the cast” (Guardian)“The film’s theme of defiant seniors standing up against an arrogant younger generation has potentially universal appeal across national and cultural borders.” (Hollywood Reporter) (research Grace Atkins) Come, have fun. Don’t miss the old gags and silly plot.

Director: John MillerCast: Bernard Hill, Virginia McKenna, Lily

Travers, Philip Davis, Sue Johnstone, Simon Callow

Duration: 96 minsOrigin: UK 2016Certificate: 15 Company: Miracle Communications

Rocky Horror Picture ShowRocky Horror was Ziggy Stardust meets Danny La Rue, meets Vincent Price …. It has no currency. Richard O’Brien meant it to be vacuous, a real tongue-in-cheek spoof on the whole pappy West End musical and the Hammer Horror films of the time, and audiences fell for it in their millions. It is a kind of Bollywood production with corny dance routines and trannies. Just when you think it is safe to try a grip on the empty story, someone/everyone breaks in to flaccidly energetic song and dance with much face pulling.As for the audience - let ‘em dress up. It would be nice to think they were parodying the parody created by a very canny O’Brien in 1972, but alas...

Director: Jim SharmanCast: Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry

Bostwick, Richard O’BrienDuration: 95 minsOrigin: UK 1975Certificate: 12A Company: 20th Century Fox

When...Mon 18 12.30, 7.30

When...Sun 17 5.00

When...Sat 23 2.00


Top Cat BeginsTop Cat, the indisputable leader of the gang, slinks onto the big screen.Top Cat Begins is exactly what it says it is, an origin story explaining how TC, Choo-Choo, Benny and the gang first came to the alley to plague the life of long-suffering Officer Dibble. Laden with in-jokes and nods not only to the original series but a whole host of cultural references, there is a somewhat blink-and-you-miss it feel to the whole thing (beady eyes are needed from time to time). Embrace it and it allows for some nostalgic charm.Following 2011’s dismal release Top Cat: The Movie, it would be safe to say Ánima, the studio responsible, has a fair bit to answer for? Thankfully 2016’s prequel has a lot more right than wrong than it’s predecessor and certainly juggles the ingredients needed to bring a smile to the face of both old and new.“Parents will at least recognise their old favourites in Top Cat Begins - with it replicating the kind of silly, simple knockabout routines that should be right up the alley of the cat’s original fans.” (The List) (research Chris Coetsee) Fantastic. Don’t miss.

Director: Andrés CouturierVoices: Jason Harris, Ben Diskin, Chris EdgerlyDuration: 90 minsOrigin: Mexico 2016Certificate: U Company: Warner Brothers


The Conjuring 2Tired of stagnant jump scares? Bored of endless amounts of gore? Remember when horror used to be well, fun? The Conjuring 2 is.The sequel, which brings the nightmare to our shores, continues these tropes. The plot? It’s the same old blather about things that go bump in the night. Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga are back as real-life paranormal investigators Ed Warren and his clairvoyant wife, Lorraine. This time they’re working the British equivalent of the Amityville horror case that made global headlines in 1970. Seven years later, single mom Peggy Hodgson (Frances O’Connor) and her four kids, especially 11-year-old Janet (a terrific Madison Wolfe) find their ramshackle North London home bedeviled by demons. (The one that looks like a cadaverous nun with hollowed-out eyes is particularly endearing).2013’s The Conjuring was a surprisingly old-school ghost story that relished in slow-build and mounting dread (we screened it here, and the audience went nuts). Director James Wan could have cashed in his chips with a cheap follow-up, but he kept his cool. The Conjuring 2 has the power of Wan to compel you to scream your bloody head off. (research Jack Whiting) You scream, ice cream, we all scream.

Director: James WanCast: Vera Farmiga, Patrick Wilson,

Frances O’ConnorDuration: 134 minsOrigin: USA 2016Certificate: 15 Company: Warner Brothers

Learning To DriveLearning to Drive is a gentle-natured allegory about trust, communication and intercultural understanding that tracks the deepening, and unlikely, friendship between Wendy Shields (Patricia Clarkson) and Darwan Singh Tur (Ben Kingsley) Wendy is an upper-middle-class Manhattan literary critic with a highbrow reputation and Darwan a Punjabi Sikh driving instructor and part-time cabbie seeking asylum in the United States. After 21 years of marriage Wendy’s husband professes that he’s leaving her for another woman and it is Darwan’s taxi that takes her home. With a daughter living on a farm in faraway Vermont, no driving license and now no husband, Wendy must learn to drive if she is to visit her daughter (Grace Gummer). The gently philosophical Darwan takes on the role of her instructor and teaches her far more than just the rules of the road. He is a warm and vulnerable character and, much like Geoffrey Rush in The King’s Speech, one of those inspiring teachers you always wished you had. (research Heather Graves).It’s SIR Ghandi with a beard and cab licence and, by the sound of it, ‘The Knowledge’… Come and see.

Director: Isabel CoixetCast: Patricia Clarkson, Ben KingsleyDuration: 90 minsOrigin: USA 2014Certificate: 15 Company: Vertigo Films

When...Fri 22 7.30Sat 23 7.00

When...Thu 21 2.00, 7.30

When...Wed 20 7.30

The BossAfter a difficult childhood, self-made billionaire Michelle Darnell (Melissa McCarthy) is convinced the best way to achieve great things is alone. With a huge fortune and the independence to live how she wants, she feels like she has it all. Until, out of the blue, she is arrested for Insider Trading and jailed. Upon her return, and after being stripped of her wealth, home and assets, she is forced to seek help from her previously put-upon PA Clair (Kristen Bell). Living in Clair’s cramped apartment with her Girl Scout daughter, Rachel (Ella Anderson) Michelle has to adapt to living outside her comforts. Acting in a sort of self-redemption, and of course to get her back on her feet, she comes up with a business plan: selling Claire’s delicious homemade chocolate brownies, using a bunch of Rachel’s school friends as salesgirls. Enter local competition… naturally leading to loud slapstick and carnage. “Melissa McCarthy makes a lot of individual moments” (Telegraph) (but better in support)“McCarthy is a force of nature a good comic actress, and Bell makes for an appealing foil” (Express) (research Grace Atkins) Pity about the tedious language. Should and could have been a fun family film.

Director: Ben FalconeCast: Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Bell, Peter

DinklageDuration: 99 minsOrigin: USA 2016Certificate: 15 Company: Universal Pictures (UK) Ltd

When...Thu 28 7.30


Where To Invade NextSix years in the making, and compared to Michael Moore’s earlier, angrier documentaries, this is a playful affair. In this didactic travelogue, Moore brandishes himself in stars and stripes, visiting a series of countries in Europe and North Africa, selecting social and political ideas he’d like to see introduced on US soil. He explores Italy’s bounteous paid holidays, concluding the resulting increase in happiness aids productivity. In France, students accustomed to gastronomic four-course school dinners grimace at the American counterpart and ‘Slovenia is a magical fairyland’ he tells us, discovering that college education is free; even to foreign students! Wow. The film’s final phase parades Iceland’s testosterone-free, female-led political system. We are left wondering whether this is a subtle virtual campaign ad for Hilary Clinton’s White House bid. You can’t help but notice his travels don’t take him to the UK. (Clearly we don’t have much to offer him here?)“It makes consistently entertaining viewing and again demonstrates Moore’s knack of dealing with complex issues in a folksy and populist style.” (Independent)“… An expansive, rib-tickling and subversive comedy…” (Rotten Toms) (research Elly Dinnadge) Reminder: MM’s face is thirty feet across on the big screen. The whole time.

Director: Michael MooreCast: Michael Moore, Tim WalkerDuration: 120 minsOrigin: USA 2016Certificate: 15 Company: Dogwoof


The Brand New TestamentLively and imaginative dark comedy from Belgian director Jaco van Dormael. In this hilariously blasphemous fantasy world we find that God does exist, and living in Brussels. Confined to a dingy office stacked with endless filing cabinets, he is embittered and disgruntled, whittling away his time wreaking sadistic havoc upon the world. His odd sense of fun comes to an abrupt halt however when mischievous and rebellious daughter Ea throws a spanner into the unholy works. She hacks into His computer, and releases the time of death to every living soul…! Now on the run from her enraged Father, Ea begins her search for six apostles with whom she intends to write her ‘brand new testament’.Nominated for a Golden Globe, this cheeky and audacious satire certainly delivers the laughs in what ultimately becomes a surprisingly uplifting and heartfelt treasure of a film.“Van Dormael and Thomas Gunzig’s screenplay is uniquely, irreverently unhinged” (Observer)“Van D’s film is touching, wise, winningly surreal and very funny.” (Independent)“A wild feat of visual imagination.” (Times)“A film with a big heart and an even bigger imagination.” (Time Out) (reseach Chris Coetsee)Fabulous in the extreme, so unless your time is up, don’t miss.

Director: Jaco Van DormaelCast: Pili Groyne, Catherine DeneuveDuration: 112 minsOrigin: France 2016Certificate: 15 Company: Metrodome

Sing StreetNostalgic charm abound in John Carney’s delightful story of high school life in 1980’s Dublin. When his family are struck by money troubles, 14 year old Conor (Ferdia Walsh-Peelo) is moved from his expensive private school to the local and notoriously rough comprehensive. His attentions soon turn to the beautiful and mysterious Raphina (Lucy Boynton) and in an attempt impress her, he and his new friends form a band.Immersing themselves in the pop trends of the decade, the newly-born ‘Cosmo’ and co pour their hearts and souls into writing their next (first – if that) big hit. Entering a world of thrill and excitement, the young gang experiences a new take on existence and ultimately an escape from the mundane slog of their everyday lives.“Just as with Once and Begin Again, Sing Street will make you laugh, cry and leave you humming its songs for days.” (Empire)“Built out of crowd-pleasing elements as durable as a lacquered, sky-high ‘80s hairdo, writer-director John Carney’s coming-of-age musical is a synth-drenched joy: a tuneful, deeply personal ode to the impulse that forges a high school rock band.” (Time Out) It’s alive, cheeky and sharp in places, above all, fun. Don’t miss.

Director: John CarneyCast: Ferdia Walsh-Peelo, Aiden Gillen,

Maria Doyle KennedDuration: 106 minsOrigin: Ireland/UK/USA 2016Certificate: 12A Company: Lionsgate Films UK

When...Mon 25 7.30 Subtitled

When...Sun 24 1.00


Elvis & NixonThe week or so before Christmas 1970, Elvis Presley decides to fly to Washington! On his way he scribbled a note to President Nixon on American Airlines stationery, which he later hand-delivered to White House security. After four pages of incoherent rambling, it ended. “I would love to meet you just to say hello if you’re not too busy.” On December 21st, 1970, Elvis got his chance. The meeting ran as long as 30 minutes, and frankly, it is thought not much happened…? Nobody apart from Elvis and Nixon were privy to the conversation behind the Oval Office’ closed doors.Directed by Liza Johnson, Elvis & Nixon is a fictionalised and comedic fantasy of that encounter.Michael Shannon, his Mississippi-cum-Tennessee drawl aside, is an improbable Elvis, but he has captured a version of the man that is all his own. Kevin Spacey takes his ‘Tricky-Dicky’ for a fantastical free ride, with this deft caricature of the crabby old Nixon. The support plays bewilderment and awe for all its worth, but the interplay between Shannon and Spacey is giant. You’re in for some extraordinary, exceptional, exciting screen-time.“Stranger-than-fiction political satire” (Variety) (research Emma Filippides)A fabulous whimsical fancy. Don’t dare miss.

Director: Liza JohnsonCast: Kevin Spacey, Michael ShannonDuration: 86minsOrigin: USA 2016Certificate: 15 Company: Entertainment One UK

When...Thu 28 2.00 Fri 29 7.30


Independence Day: ResurgenceWe always knew they would come back... (Didn’t we?) Resurgence is the long-awaited sequel to Independence Day, the 1996 genre-defining sci-fi disaster epic. Two decades since the last devastating alien attack that marred the globe, Earth is once again faced with an extra-Solar threat. In the meantime, the nations of the world have collaborated on an immense defense programme. Earthlings have harvested many pieces of technology the aliens left behind in the crossfire. So have created an incredible arsenal of weaponry to fend off future attack. When an extraterrestrial distress call is sent out by a downed UFO, it receives an unwelcome response. It doesn’t take much to imagine what happens next.With original director Roland Emmerich still here, many from the 1996 blockbuster reappears for the sequel. Bill Pullman and Jeff Goldblum reprise their roles as the now-old pros who have seen it all before. A notably absent, Will Smith, is present in the form of his character’s son, played by Jesse Usher.Resurgence no doubt promises to be powerful and thunderous, all guns a-blaze. The route may be unsurprising, but the ride itself will have you on the edge of your seat. (research Emma Filippides) The Star Spangled edge indeed…

Director: Roland EmmerichCast: JeffGoldblum,LiamHemsworth,

Charlotte GainsbourgDuration: 144 minsOrigin: USA 2016Certificate: 12A Company: Twentieth Century Fox

The Secret Life Of PetsEver wondered what your pets get up to when you’re away? Chances are not much. But in The Secret Life of Pets, a whole world of trouble opens up.Inside of a Manhattan apartment building, a terrier named Max (Louis C.K.) starts to get neglected as a favorite pet when his owner Katie (Ellie Kemper) presents a sloppy mongrel named Duke (Eric Stonestreet) chosen from a dog pound. Which, surprise surprise, results in rivalry and top-dogmanship. But they have to put their quarrels to one side when a seemingly adorable white rabbit named Snowball (Kevin Hart) and his army of abandoned pets, launch a criminal conspiracy to exact retaliation on all happily-owned pets and their owners. Meanwhile an American Eskimo dog named Gidget (Jenny Slate) assembles her own ragtag group of pets to track Max and Duke down.The fun is in the various animal traits given human dimensions, and they nail them to a twitch. It may lack the wonder and warmth of Zootropolis, but parents and adults alike will find much to love and howl at. (research Jack Whiting) Come and see.

Directors: Chris Renaud, Yarrow CheneyVoices: Louis C. K., Kevin Hart, Lake BellDuration: 94 minsOrigin: USA 2016Certificate: U Company: Universal Pictures (UK) Ltd

When...Sat 30 7.00Sun 31 5.00

When...Sat 30 2.00Sun 31 1.00

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