The Hateful Eight (18)
(Quentin Tarantino, 2015, US) Kurt Russell, Samuel L Jackson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Walton Goggins, Channing Tatum. 168 mins
There are epic, snowy vistas to admire, but at heart this is a one-room, almost three-hour chamber piece. It’s a storytelling test for any film-maker, one that Tarantino passes with flying colours (mostly red). As the title suggests, there are no discernible good guys – or gals – here; only eight vividly rendered shades of bad. They’re a gallery of old west archetypes: bounty hunters, civil war veterans, lawmen, “cowpunchers” and, almost stealing the show, Leigh’s demented murderer. Holed up together in an isolated cabin by a blizzard with a mystery to thrash out, they engage in a delectable game of lies, threats, interrogations, reveals, reverses and, of course, eloquent, Tarantino-spun yarns. It’s like some unholy fusion of Agatha Christie, Bonanza and Reservoir Dogs, with the escalating distrust and plentiful weaponry leading inevitably to a violent climax. There will be blood. There will be hate!
A War (15)
(Tobias Lindholm, 2015, Den) Pilou Asbæk, Tuva Novotny, Dar Salim. 115 mins
As with his previous film A Hijacking, Lindholm teases complex questions and credible drama out of a dangerous, potentially real-world scenario. In this case it’s the Afghanistan war, and one fateful decision taken in the heat of battle by a well-meaning Danish commander (Asbæk). That leads to complications back home in the second half, both with his wife and children and the military courts. Unfussy acting and documentary-like execution only add to the veracity. A powerful piece of work.
Partisan (15)
(Ariel Kleiman, 2015, Aus) Vincent Cassel, Jeremy Chabriel, Florence Mezzara. 94 mins
Cassel has the perfect combination of menace, charm and facial hair to play a cult leader, applying tough love to his sequestered harem of wives and creche-full of kids – he trains the latter to be underage killers – in an abandoned housing estate on the edge of some indeterminate desert town (it was shot in Australia). Just how tough he can get is discovered by one boy who rebels against his authoritarian regime, in a story that’s full of atmosphere but short on explanations – and, occasionally, conviction.
Bolshoi Babylon (PG)
(Nick Read, Mark Franchetti, 2015, UK) 87 mins
The 2013 acid attack on Bolshoi artistic director Sergei Filin was a big, screaming clue that all was not well at Russia’s prestigious ballet company. This documentary doesn’t quite spill the beans on what turns out to be an institution as secretive as the Kremlin, but it hints at the climate of corruption, politics, professional jealousy and pressure-cooker perfectionism that led to such offstage strife.
Sanam Teri Kasam (NC)
(Radhika Rao, Vinay Sapru, 2016, Ind) Harshvardhan Rane, Mawra Hocane, Vijay Raaz. 150 mins
Pakistani actor Hocane makes her Bollywood debut as an unlovable ugly duckling who finds her inner swan thanks to Harshvardhan Rane. It’s described as “a love story sealed with a curse”.
Out from Friday
Creed Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky character turns trainer to his former rival’s son (Michael B Jordan,) in this acclaimed boxing drama.
The Revenant It’s Leonardo DiCaprio v nature (including an unforgettable bear attack scene) in Birdman director Alejandro González Iñárritu’s icily immersive western.
Room Nothing remotely cheesy about Brie Larson’s performance in this story of a child raised with his mother in enforced isolation from the world.
Dragon Blade Romans v Chinese in a Chinese-made battle epic that’s been a local hit. A cast of thousands is led by Jackie Chan, John Cusack and Adrien Brody.
Ip Man 3 Between bouts of training Bruce Lee, Donnie Yen’s legendary kung fu master finds a fresh adversary: Mike Tyson.
Breakdown Craig Fairbrass plays a hitman with issues psychological, family and professional in this mid-range Brit action thriller.
Coming soon
In two weeks... Ravishing Chinese epic The Assassin… Christian Bale leads financial-crash drama The Big Short …
In three weeks... Journalists expose Catholic church abuse in Spotlight… Michael Caine and Harvey Keitel in Sorrentino’s Youth…
In a month... Jack Black in family fantasy Goosebumps… Bryan Cranston plays blacklisted screenwriter Trumbo…
