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Helen M Jerome brings you
London Film Festival 2008 Preview…
Okay, its that time of year again. Invest in a family-size bucket of popcorn, get out your highlighter pen, put some extra dosh on your Oystercard, and maybe even take some time off work. At first glance the London Film Festival programme seems just a tad predictable, but I beseech you, seek and ye shall find.
There are some mainstream, multiplex-destined crowd-pleasers and some almost-too-good-to-be-true treats in store for the eagle-eyed festival-goer in 2008. And well mark your card for you subjectively, of course. Check out Helen M Jeromes hearty recommendations, add in some of your own detective work, and the result should be two weeks of big screen bliss.
Tip 1: Big Hitters
They will be all over your local cinemas like a rash pretty soon, but this time round it looks like the opening and closing films might just live up to the considerable hype. Curtain-raiser Frost/Nixon, directed by Ron Howard and starring our chameleon-like Michael Sheen as David Frost and Frank Langella as Tricky Dicky, should follow in the footsteps of the smash hit play that spawned it.
And closing the entire festival is Danny Boyles Mumbai-set Slumdog Millionaire, which may take the director out of his comfort zone, but proves that hes still a great storyteller. If you can prise your eyes away from the current presidential election run-up, its worth looking to see how Oliver Stone and Josh Brolin cope with directing and acting in W, the unlikely tale of Stones contemporary, George W Bush.
As a longtime Woody Allen fan, this critic finds it hard to get excited about his current work. Indeed, my heart sinks at how disappointing his latest fare has been, but I would love it (Kevin Keegan style), if Vicky Cristina Barcelona proves me wrong. Quantum of Solace, the new Bond flick, will get the crowds in to see Daniel Craig versus Mathieu Amalric.
Steven Soderberghs marathon-length Che biopic, starring Benicio del Toro, looks promising as does the last-minute festival addition from Spike Lee, Miracle of St Anna. And theres a big West End premiere for the family film The Secret of Moonacre, from the director who brought us The Road to Terabitha.
Tip 2: Flexibility
Chances are that if the film youd walk over broken glass to see is sold out in the evening, there will be a daytime screening coming along in a day or two. Double-check the listings and even if you find the film is sold out, there may be standby tickets if you queue up and are patient.
And it can work out cheaper in the daytime if you invest in a bundle of weekday matinee vouchers five cost £35 and ten just £65. Just pop into the Leicester Square ticket booth or one of the festival box offices.
Tip 3: Take a chance.
Theres nothing as satisfying as discovering a new talent or seeing it flower. Or simply stumbling across a movie that knocks your socks off. And imagine how smug youll feel when you recommend a film that your friends wont be able to see for another few months, or even a year. Im going out on a limb here and so should you. You should on no account miss The Baader Meinhof Complex, a subtle, involving epic from Uli Edel that deals with the terrorist cell that became a force in Germany in the 1970s and was glossed over in Spielbergs Munich. It features remarkable performances all round, but especially from the charismatic Moritz Bleibtreu as Andreas Baader and Martina Gedeck (from The Lives of Others) as Ulrike Meinhof.
Almost in the same league, but perhaps just a teeny bit too much in love with its style and itself, is Paolo Sorrentinos follow-up to Family Friend and Consequences of Love: Il Divo. Another epic focusing on political machinations that might have passed us by in Britain, this examines the fallout when the paths of the Italian government and the mafia cross during Andreottis seven terms as Prime Minister. Toni Servillo is impeccable as Andreotti, and Sorrentino is clearly becoming one of Europes most distinctive filmmakers.
European, and particularly French cinema seems to be entering another rich renaissance right now, epitomised by Agnes Jaouis grown-up tale Lets Talk About The Rain, Arnaud Desplechins A Christmas Tale (starring Catherine Deneuve and the ubiquitous Mathieu Amalric), Laurent Cantets Palm dOr winner, The Class and as an outside bet, the debut feature, 57000km Between Us (Amalric again!).
Italy delivers with Quiet Chaos, Black Sea and A Perfect Day; and Belgium with the brilliant new Dardennes brothers film The Silence of Lorna. Then theres Slovakias Blind Loves; Denmarks Flame & Citron, and The Candidate; Icelands darkly funny Country Wedding; Austrias Revanche; and from the Czechs, Of Parents and Children, and The Karamazovs.
What about the Brits? Hunger, by artist Steve McQueen is meant to be strong stuff, covering Bobby Sands hunger strike in the Maze Prison. Michael Winterbottoms Genova and Richard Eyres The Other Man should prove that we can do grown-up almost as well as the French.
Terence Davies short but heartfelt tribute to his hometown, Of Time And The City is a must-see, and the likes of Telstar, 1234, Helen, Incendiary and I Know You Know look very promising.
Further afield, North America brings classy and indie goodies in equal measure. Check out Atom Egoyans Adoration, broad Steve Coogan satire Hamlet 2, documentaries Religulous and American Teen, the delightful Nick and Norahs Infinite Playlist, and Charlie Kaufmans Synecdoche, New York.
Mexico is always ripe with new talents in directing and acting so make a beeline for The Desert Within and Parque Via. Theres also some promising stuff coming out of China, like The Warlords, plus Koreas latest sensation, The Good, The Bad, The Weird. And Egypts Hassan and Morcos, and the Lebanese thriller Beirut Open City are both worth investigating.
Tip 4:
There arent many movies where I would say wait for the DVD to come out, or perhaps even hold off until its on telly, but Tyson isnt really a must-see unless youre obsessed with the rise and fall of the once-great boxer in his own words. Similarly, Gonzo, about Hunter S Thompson, could also disappoint those outside the maverick journalists core fan-base.
Check it all out on: bfi.org.uk/lff, or call 020 7928 3232.
Review copyright © Helen M Jerome 2008.
Reviewer of movies, videogames and music since 1994. Aortic valve operation survivor from the same year. Running DVDfever.co.uk since 2000. Nobel Peace Prize winner 2021.