Anyone
who has gone through the trauma of a break-up will relate
to the character of Peter Bretter in this fun and engaging
new romantic comedy, Forgetting Sarah Marshall (15), which
is driven by the performance of leading man and scriptwriter
Jason Segal.
After splitting from his girlfriend, Peter heads to Hawaii
for a fun holiday to try to get over his heartbreak. Unfortunately
for him, his ex, Sarah Marshall, played by Kristin Bell, is
staying at the same luxurious hotel as he is — and she
is with her eccentric English rock star boyfriend Aldous Snow,
played by Russell Brand. His madcap real-life antics can annoy
people, but in this film he is quite toned down, delivering
deadpan lines with great finesse. Mila Kunis plays hotel receptionist
Rachel, who is a beautiful and complicated girl who might steal
Peter’s heart away from Sarah.
One of the most refreshing things about Forgetting Sarah Marshall
is that all the characters are very well rounded. It would
have been easy to make Sarah into a mean-spirited and cruel
ex-girlfriend, but she is a person with flaws as well as a
kind heart. I found myself caring about each of the characters
and hoping everything worked out well for them in the end.
The film explores people’s relationships with real understanding
as well as comedy. The humour can be bawdy at times, and there
is some full frontal male nudity.
I really enjoyed the film and think it would certainly cheer
anyone up, especially if they are feeling heart-broken.
Sophie
Alderson.
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| Road
movie with a difference |
Remember
the story about the man who travelled 500 miles on a lawnmower?
It had to make a good
film, and sure enough, here it is, and it’s coming
to the Regal for a one-night only showing.
The team that brought you the sell-out Picturehouses Tour
of the live soundtrack to Belleville Rendez-vous returns
to our
screens with its take on David Lynch’s entrancing tale
The Straight Story.
Based on real occurrences, this is the story of Alvin Straight
who travelled 500 miles on his lawnmower to visit his stroke-afflicted
brother. When not rolling along at five miles an hour, Alvin
encounters a number of strangers, from a teenage runaway to
a fellow World War II veteran, and has a profound impact on
the characters that colour his pilgrimage.
Menaced by enormous, rumbling 18-wheelers, lapped by bicycle
marathoners and sheltered by abandoned barns, Alvin proceeds
steadfastly along on the shoulders of snaking roads toward
a hopeful and long-deferred reunion with a brother whose
fate he doesn’t know.
Not unlike fellow quirky-road-trip movie Little Miss Sunshine,
there is a simplicity and honesty to Straight Story that
goes straight for the heart without resorting to sentimentality.
Don’t miss this chance to see this critically acclaimed
film with a brand new soundtrack by Big Chill Festival
favourites ANIMAT.
The film has received rave reviews:
‘
Settle back for one of the most unusual road trips ever committed
to celluloid’ — Empire magazine.****
‘
The Straight Story is a beautiful-looking movie, given the
textures of an Andrew Wyeth painting by the great 82-year-old
British cinematographer Freddie Francis. This is a road movie
that adjusts us to the gentle pace of the chosen vehicle, a
spiritual pilgrimage, and odyssey across America at four miles
and hour’. — The Observer
“
The Straight Story is a simple, moving hymn to ordinary human
decency, to the tenacity of innocence and civic values. It
has a marvelous simplicity and candour, blessed with a wonderful
performance from Richard Farnsworth: a thoroughly satisfying
and affecting piece of work.” — The Guardian
The special showing of Straight Story is on Sunday May 11th
at 7.45 p.m. For tickets call the box office on 0871 704 2064.
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