The Forbidden Room (12A)
(Guy Maddin, Evan Johnson, 2015, Can) Udo Kier, Geraldine Chaplin, Mathieu Amalric, Charlotte Rampling. 119 mins
Oxygen-rich flapjacks, squid theft, insurance defrauders in poisonous skeleton unitards, the dream of the moustache hairs of a slain butler – even by Guy Maddin’s standards, his latest is heroically eccentric. Threading through a maze of lovingly rendered retro-movie scenarios, it’s a dream-within-a–dream hall of mirrors. It’s easy to lose track of where you started, possibly even what year it is, but the execution is admirable.
Grandma (15)
(Paul Weitz, 2015, US) Lily Tomlin, Julia Garner, Marcia Gay Harden. 79 mins
Tomlin is perfectly cast as a defiantly cranky senior bohemian, dispensing old-school wisdom to her pregnant granddaughter as they seek funds for an abortion – and learning a few more life lessons of her own.
Sisters (15)
(Jason Moore, 2015, US) Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph. 118 mins
Poehler and Fey continue the quest for movie material to match the wit of their awards presentations. There’s raunchy, self-deprecating gags galore as their siblings’ farewell house party careers out of control.
By The Sea (15)
(Angelina Jolie Pitt, 2015, US/Fra) Angelina Jolie Pitt, Brad Pitt. Mélanie Laurent. 122 mins
Jolie’s homage to 1970s European arthouse is less ridiculous and more risk-taking (and risque) than advance reports suggested. A muted study of a marriage in meltdown, it strikes a melancholy pose.
Hector (15)
(Jake Gavin, 2015, UK) Peter Mullan, Keith Allen, Natalie Gavin. 87 mins
Mullan is extremely sympathetic as a wandering vagrant with past secrets but good hygiene. It’s a tender take on modern Britain, less concerned with wallowing in the gutter than conveying the warmth of humanity.
To Be Frank: Sinatra At 100 (12A)
(Simon Napier-Bell, 2015, UK) 81 mins
Celebs trade anecdotes for an extraneous bio-doc.
Ice And The Sky (U)
(Luc Jacquet, 2015, Fra) 89 mins
A sobering but scenic missive from a veteran Antarctic glaciologist, whose warnings about climate change carry real weight.
Peggy Guggenheim: Art Addict (15)
(Lisa Immordino Vreeland, 2015, US/Ita/UK) 96 mins
Bio-doc on a cultural figure whose passion for 20th-century art went far beyond merely buying the works.
Swung (18)
(Colin Kennedy, 2015, UK) Elena Anaya, Owen McDonnell, Elizabeth McGovern. 85 mins
Playful/serious sex drama tracking a Glasgow couple’s fateful foray into swinging.
Grazing The Sky (U)
(Horacio Alcalá, 2013, Spa/Mex/Por) 88 mins
Documentary honouring the difficult, dangerous job of being a Cirque Du Soleil-level acrobat.
Rise Of The Footsoldier Part II (18)
(Ricci Harnett, 2015, UK) Luke Mably, Steven Berkoff, Ricci Harnett. 109 mins
More Essex hard-nuttery with gangster Carlton Leach.
When Harry Met Sally… (15)
(Rob Reiner, 1989, US) Meg Ryan, Billy Crystal, Carrie Fisher. 92 mins
Reissue for the exemplary urban romcom.
Out from Friday
Star Wars: The Force Awakens The most anticipated movie event of the 21st century arrives, with Harrison Ford and co mentoring a new generation of Jedi devotees, onscreen and off. Out from Thu
Belle & Sebastian – The Adventure Continues A live-action reboot sequel for the much-loved French cartoon, in which a plucky boy and his big white dog do their bit for wartime recovery.
Sparks & Embers Low-key London romcom in which an Anglo-French couple have under an hour to save their relationship.
Sherpa Visually and politically striking documentary on the unsung heroes of Himalayan mountaineering, revealing some truly shocking working conditions in their fight for fairer pay.
Dilwale Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol lead a globetrotting Bollywood romantic action comedy.
Bajirao Mastani Deepika Padukone, Ranveer Singh and Priyanka Chopra in an Indian historical epic.
Coming soon
In two weeks… Good grief, it’s The Peanuts Movie… Chris Hemsworth is adrift In The Heart Of The Sea…
In three weeks… Jennifer Lawrence mops up as the boss in Joy… Eddie Redmayne crosses the gender line in The Danish Girl…
In a month… Saddle up for Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight… A Danish soldier’s experience of Afghanistan in A War…
