Far From The Madding Crowd (12A)
Thomas Vinterberg, 2015, UK/US) Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts, Michael Sheen, Tom Sturridge. 119 mins
The blows of Hardy’s 19th-century tale feel somehow softened in this version, which favours handsomeness over earthiness, romance over sexual politics, and the awkwardly wooden Schoenaerts over plenty of decent native English speakers. Still, Mulligan carries the show admirably as an independent Wessex woman whose partnership prospects are hampered by limited options and bad choices.
Unfriended (15)
(Leo Gabriadze, 2014, US) Shelley Hennig. 83 mins
Moving the found-footage genre on to a digital platform, this clever horror takes place solely on the screen of a teenager’s laptop, where a gruesome revenge plan unfolds in real time via Skype, Facebook, etc.
Samba (15)
(Olivier Nakache, Eric Toledano, 2014, Fra) Omar Sy, Charlotte Gainsbourg. 119 mins
The Untouchable team return with another French feelgood film mixing immigrant politics with cross-cultural romance. And again, the more formulaic elements are disguised by charismatic performers.
Monsters: Dark Continent (15)
(Tom Green, 2014, UK) Johnny Harris. 121 mins
This sci-fi sequel is a messier proposition, switching indie romance for pumped-up action as a US platoon is caught in a desert war story that barely engages with the actual monsters.
I Am Big Bird (12A)
(Dave LaMattina, Chad N Walker, 2014, US) 90 mins
Self-explanatory bio-doc throwing up amusing anecdotes and a few surprises, as puppeteer Caroll Spinney ambles down memory lane.
We Are Monster (15)
(Antony Petrou, 2014, UK) Leeshon Alexander. 85 mins
Ostensibly fact-based tale of a fatal encounter between a racist young offender and his Asian cellmate.
Elsa & Fred (12A)
(Michael Radford, 2014, US) Christopher Plummer, Shirley MacLaine. 95 mins
An opposites-attract seniors’ romcom offering few surprises but plenty of familiar faces.
Argerich (PG)
(Stéphanie Argerich, 2012, Fra/Swi) 100 mins
The daughter of a top concert pianist reflects on her family in this intimate documentary.
8 1/2 (15)
(Federico Fellini, 1963, Ita/Fra) Marcello Mastroianni, Amouk Aimée, Claudia Cardinale. 135 mins
A new digital restoration for Fellini’s masterpiece.
Falstaff: Chimes At Midnight (PG)
(Orson Welles, 1965, Fra/Spa/Swi) Orson Welles, Jeanne Moreau. 116 mins
50th-anniversary reissue for Welles’s neglected Shakespeare interpretation.
A Letter To Momo (PG)
(Hiroyuki Okiura, 2011, Jap) Karen Miyama. 121 mins
Miyazaki-esque anime mixing friendly spirits, rural bliss and children’s family troubles.
Anti-Social (15)
(Reg Traviss, 2015, Hun/UK) Gregg Sulkin. 116 mins
A graffiti artist gets involved in heist antics in a tedious “London” thriller that was actually shot in Budapest.
Two By Two (U)
(Toby Genkel, Sean McCormack, 2015, Ger/Bel/Lux/Ire) 87 mins
Kids’ animation following cute creatures who miss Noah’s ark.
Out from Friday
Heaven Adores You Documentary following the trail of singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. Out from Thu
Stray Dogs Tsai Ming-liang’s study of a family of outcasts.
Top Five Chris Rock turns getting serious into comedy.
Girlhood Female friendship to the fore in this Paris youth drama.
Rosewater Jon Stewart’s story of an Iranian hostage.
Spooks: The Greater Good The hit MI5 series goes big-screen, with Kit Harington.
The Age Of Adaline Blake Lively’s eternal youth drama.
Big Game Arctic survival adventure.
Phoenix German thriller.
A Funny Kind Of Love Sexual kink comedy.
Still Aidan Gillen plays a father hurting from the death of his son.
The Canal A murder leads to paranoid supernatural Irish scares.
Wyrmwood – Road Of The Dead Australian zombie apocalypse.
Futuro Beach Stylish Brazil to Berlin gay love story.
Honeytrap A Trinidad girl learns the ways of Brixton.
Coming soon
In two weeks... Back to the dystopian Oz future in Mad Max: Fury Road… Anna Kendrick tunes in once more for Pitch Perfect 2…
In three weeks... George Clooney takes to Tomorrowland… Sam Rockwell leads an update of Poltergeist…
In a month... Dwayne Johnson to the rescue after San Andreas… Al Pacino has a rockstar crisis as Danny Collins…
