Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes (12A)
(Matt Reeves, 2014, US) Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Toby Kebbell. 130 mins
One branch higher up the evolutionary tree than its summer rivals, this sequel combines spectacular, sophisticated visuals with a story that takes a post-apocalyptic face-off with genetically enhanced primates as seriously as it possibly could. More than just two tribes going to war, it’s a pensive, almost Shakespearean tragedy – Serkis’s ape chief Caesar would certainly sympathise with his Roman namesake.
Norte, The End Of History
(15)
(Lav Diaz, 2013, Phi) Sid Lucero, Archie Alemania, Angeli Bayani. 250 mins
A powerful, captivating epic, or the moment slow cinema ground to a halt? The running time alone will probably settle it for most punters, but Diaz’s loose transposition of Dostoyevsky’s Crime And Punishment to modern-day Philippines is resonant and challenging.
Grand Central (15)
(Rebecca Zlotowski, 2013, Austria/Fra) Tahar Rahim, Léa Seydoux, Denis Ménochet. 95 mins
Drama centred on a French nuclear power station, where newcomer Rahim is exposed to workplace contamination and the charms of his colleague’s girlfriend (Seydoux). Both have their fallout.
Jealousy (12A)
(Philippe Garrel, 2013, Fra) Louis Garrel, Anna Mouglalis, Rebecca Convenant. 76 mins
An agreeably relaxed – if stereotypically French – study of complicated Parisian lives, focused on Garrel’s out-of-work actor, his family and his current and previous relationships.
I Am Divine
(15)
(Jeffrey Schwarz, 2013, US) 90 mins
Affectionate documentary portrait of the transgressive drag terrorist who shot to infamy as John Waters’ outrageous muse and cinema’s least likely diva – but paid the price for a life lived shockingly.
Supermensch: The Legend Of Shep Gordon (15)
(Beth Aala, Mike Myers, 2013, US) 85 mins
Myers collects anecdotes from and about the well-connected, apparently universally liked manager, whose contacts range from Alice Cooper to the Dalai Lama, and whose view of fame is surprisingly philosophical.
Pudsey The Dog: The Movie (U)
(Nick Moore, 2014, UK) David Walliams, Olivia Colman, Jessica Hynes. 87 mins
Options as to how to monetise Britain’s Got Talent’s dancing mutt were so limited, nobody found one. But they made this anyway – a disjointed, cliche-heavy adventure best suited to kids who consider Lassie too arthouse.
Some Like It Hot (U)
(Billy Wilder, 1959, US) Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Marilyn Monroe. 121 mins
Yet another rerelease for the perennial cross-dressing comedy.
Out from Friday
Hercules Swords and sandals epic with Dwayne Johnson.
Believe Matt Busby takes on a young footy prodigy.
Joe Nicolas Cage plays a reluctant father figure.
Northwest A Danish youth climbs the criminal career ladder, painfully.
Earth To Echo Kids help a stranded alien robot go home in this ET-like tale.
Branded To Kill Reissue for the bizarre 60s oddity.
The House Of Magic Animation involving a cute cat and an elderly magician.
Kick Salman Khan plays an amnesiac thief.
Smart Ass French students apply business strategy to dating.
The Purge: Anarchy The dystopian criminal free-for-all is back for another night.
Who Is Dayani Cristal? Gael García Bernal looks at US immigration.
Galapagos Affair: Satan Came To Eden Doc on an ill-fated group of settlers.
The Lady From Shanghai Reissue for the 1948 Orson Welles/Rita Hayworth noir.
Coming soon
In two weeks... Marvel’s space oddity, Guardians Of The Galaxy… Audrey Tautou in Mood Indigo…
In three weeks... An Oz adventure beckons in The Inbetweeners 2… Depardieu channels Strauss-Khan in Welcome To New York…
In a month... Still raging against retirement: The Expendables 3… Robin Wright leads sci-fi head-trip The Congress…
