Slow West (15)
(John Maclean, 2015, UK/NZ) Michael Fassbender, Kodi Smit-McPhee. 84 mins
It’s not the most galvanising title, but it sums up this relaxed, sardonic neo-western, traversing a lawless wild west populated by eccentrics, immigrants and bandits. Not dissimilar to Jim Jarmusch’s Dead Man, you could say, though this is more whimsical and less consistent. Still, Fassbender and Smit-McPhee are good company as a grizzled old hand and the naive young romantic he’s saddled with, trotting towards a surprisingly action-packed finale.
The Overnight (15)
(Patrick Brice, 2015, US) Adam Scott. 79 mins
Two LA couples’ meet-the-neighbours night gets more drunken and challengingly sexual than one half anticipated, in an enjoyably modern sex comedy conducted in a mumblecore-ish key.
Minions (U)
(Kyle Balda, Pierre Coffin, 2015, US) Sandra Bullock. 91 mins
Like the Madagascar penguins, Despicable Me’s support cast get their own animated spin-off, revolving around baddie Bullock, the Crown Jewels and a lot of slapstick.
Going Clear: Scientology And The Prison Of Belief (NC)
(Alex Gibney, 2015, US) 119 mins
Informed by key defectors, Gibney’s solid, dirt-dishing doc leaves no doubt as to Scientology’s all-round dodginess.
Hippocrates (15)
(Thomas Lilti, 2014, Fra) Vincent Lacoste. 100 mins
Well-informed dramatic account of a junior Parisian doctor’s initiation.
She’s Funny That Way (12A)
(Peter Bogdanovich, 2014, US) Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston. 94 mins
Imogen Poots’s sex worker/actor is at the centre of a merrily tangled, if insubstantial, stage farce which feels like late-period Woody Allen.
Knock Knock (18)
(Eli Roth, 2015, US) Keanu Reeves. 99 mins
Reeves plays host to a gender-reversed home-invasion when two unexpected young female visitors come knocking. Almost played for laughs, it’s less gore-happy than Roth’s usual fare.
That Sugar Film (12A)
(Damon Gameau, 2014, Aus) 102 mins
Gameau plays sweet-toothed guinea pig, Super Size Me-style, in a doc illustrating sugar’s health effects, and its infiltration of the supermarket shelves.
Everly (18)
(Joe Lynch, 2014, US) Salma Hayek, Hiroyuki Watanabe. 92 mins
A minimally clad Hayek secures her freedom in an exploitative actioner mixing “empowerment” with misogyny.
Station To Station (12A)
(Doug Aitken, 2015, US) 70 mins
Speedy trans-American train travelogue stopping for myriad encounters with diverse artists, including Beck, Ed Ruscha, Giorgio Moroder and William Eggleston.
Everyone’s Going To Die (15)
(Jones, 2013, UK) Nora Tschirner. 87 mins
Offbeat two-hander, with a young woman and a middle-aged hitman brought together by life’s ironies.
Concrete Clouds (15)
(Lee Chatametikool, 2013, Thai/HK) Ananda Everingham, Janesuda Parnto. 99 mins
The economic downturn and a father’s death have repercussions for grown-up brothers in 1990s Bangkok.
Hustlers Convention (15)
(Mike Todd, 2015, UK/US/Fra) 96 mins. The Wrecking Crew (NC) (Denny Tedesco, 2008, US) 101 mins
Two niche-but-worthwhile docs on neglected chapters of music history, respectively: former Last Poet Jalal Nuriddin’s proto-rap album; and the west coast backing band to countless 60s hits.
The Third Man (PG)
(Carol Reed, 1949, UK) Joseph Cotten, Trevor Howard, Orson Welles. 104 mins
The superb postwar British noir gets a 4K digital restoration.
The Terminator (15)
(James Cameron, 1984, US) Arnold Schwarzenegger, Linda Hamilton, Michael Biehn. 107 mins
The original lean, mean prototype is back ahead of the franchise’s imminent return.
Out from Friday
Fabergé: A Life Of Its Own Doc on the luxury egg purveyors. Out from Mon
Fare Thee Well The Grateful Dead’s final gig, broadcast from Chicago. Mon only
Blood Cells Striking British indie with a feel for the modern rural landscape. Out from Tue
Lauda: The Untold Story Bio-doc on the Formula One champ. Thu only
Amy The acclaimed Winehouse doc.
Magician: The Astonishing Life And Work Of Orson Welles New biography of the firebrand film-maker.
Terminator Genisys Schwarzenegger returns to generate a new spin on the cyborg franchise.
Magic Mike XXL Channing Tatum buffs up again for more adventures in stripping.
Still The Water Japanese family tale.
All American High Revisited Class reunion for a seminal 1980s school documentary.
Comet Justin Long and Emmy Rossum in structurally bold indie romance.
The First Film British doc seeking to establish Leeds as the birthplace of cinema.
Housebound New Zealand horror centred on a house-arrested teen offender.
La Grande Bouffe Reissue for the 1970s over-consumption satire.
Coming soon
In two weeks… Beach Boys to men in Brian Wilson biopic Love & Mercy… A crash-course in racial satire from Dear White People…
In three weeks… Paul Rudd packs a tiny punch as Ant-Man… Ryan Reynolds and Ben Kingsley fight over one body in sci-fi Self/less…
In a month… Emotional animation in Inside Out… Jake Gyllenhaal is a buff contender in Southpaw…
