Carol (15)
(Todd Haynes, 2015, UK/US/Fra) Cate Blanchett, Rooney Mara, Kyle Chandler. 119 mins
As he did with 2002’s Far From Heaven, Haynes sweeps us away in illicit 1950s passion, conveying grand emotions with gorgeous visuals, intelligent observation and exquisite acting. At heart, it’s a simple love affair between a lonely wife and a young shop assistant. The prospect of a “happily ever after” is dim from the outset, but we’re with them every intoxicating step of the way.
The Good Dinosaur (PG)
(Peter Sohn, 2015, US) Raymond Ochoa, Jeffrey Wright, Frances McDormand. 101 mins
Dinosaurs are more highly evolved than humans in Pixar’s latest, which throws a timid young herbivore with a feral child together for an adventure in a parallel wild west. Evolution on the story front is harder to detect: it could be a prehistoric Finding Nemo, without as much wit or character. The almost photo-real landscape is remarkable, though.
Bridge Of Spies (12A)
(Steven Spielberg, 2015, US) Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Amy Ryan. 141 mins
Spielberg finds a spark of warmth in the cold war, as Hanks’ decent lawyer brokers a spy swap, and strikes up an almost-friendship with Rylance’s empathetic Russian spook.
Black Mass (15)
(Scott Cooper, 2015, US) Johnny Depp, Joel Edgerton, Benedict Cumberbatch. 123 mins
Depp’s prosthetics distract from his otherwise solid portrayal of Whitey Bulger, the psychopath who ruled Boston gangland. It’s meaty true-crime thriller material.
Radiator (15)
(Tom Browne , 2014, UK) Daniel Cerqueira, Richard Johnson, Gemma Jones. 94 mins
Everything rings true about this affecting drama, in which a son returns to his parents cottage to find them living in squalor, his father stubbornly resisting help. Children of ageing parents be warned.
All About Them (15)
(Jérôme Bonnell, 2015, Fra/Bel) Anaïs Demoustier, Félix Moati, Sophie Verbeeck. 85 mins
Demoustier’s lawyer is the bisexual seductress at the centre of a frisky modern menage a trois that’s often played for farcical laughs.
My Skinny Sister (15)
(Sanna Lenken, 2015, Swe/Ger) Rebecka Josephson, Amy Deasismont, Henrik Norlén. 93 mins
Issues of adolescence, body image and sexuality are expertly handled in this Swedish drama, revolving around two sisters, one of whom is concealing an eating disorder.
Unbranded (15)
(Phillip Baribeau, 2015, US) 105 mins
Keeping the romance of the wild west alive, young cowboys take a trans-American wild-horse trek here – a landscape doc fraught with equine peril.
Being AP (12A)
(Anthony Wonke, 2015, UK) 103 mins
The jump-jockey tackles injury and retirement in a sports doc that goes beyond hagiography.
Doctor Zhivago (PG)
(David Lean, 1965, US/UK/Ita) Omar Sharif, Julie Christie, Geraldine Chaplin. 191 mins
Lean’s grand romantic epic, set against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution, and only slightly shorter.
Out from Friday
Christmas With The Coopers Diane Keaton heads the get-together. Out from Tue
Attack On Titan Double feature-length sci-fi epic based on the Japanese manga. Out from Tue
Victor Frankenstein embodied by James McAvoy. Daniel Radcliffe leads an assistant’s view of the classic. Out from Thu
The Night Before Seth Rogen fronts a Christmas stoner buddy comedy.
Sunset Song Scottish rural epic, with Agyness Deyn and Peter Mullan.
Krampus Festive family horror.
ChemSex Doc on modern gay sexual hedonism.
Future Shock! The Story Of 2000AD Celebration of the British sci-fi comic.
The Lesson Study of a teacher mired in debt.
The Show Of Shows Sigur Rós-backed history of circus and vaudeville.
The Honourable Rebel Docudrama on wartime spy Elizabeth Montagu.
Don’t Crack Under Pressure 3D winter sports documentary.
Coming soon
In two weeks… Brad and Angelina together again for By The Sea… Bizarre cinephiliac head-trip The Forbidden Room...
In three weeks… A new Jedi generation in Star Wars: The Force Awakens… Amy Poehler and Tina Fey party on in Sisters...
In a month… Good grief, it’s The Peanuts Movie… Chris Hemsworth and Cillian Murphy are adrift In The Heart Of The Sea…
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