Mia Madre (15)
(Nanni Moretti, 2015, Ita) Margherita Buy, John Turturro, Nanni Moretti. 107 mins
Moretti’s study of movie-making, Italian-style, is almost the polar opposite of Fellini’s 8 1/2: understated, low-key and painfully real. But this director is still plagued by complications and anxieties, on-set and off, including her dying mother, teenage daughter, and her uncontrollable American star (an exuberant John Turturro). It’s short on story, but intimate, heartfelt and impeccably acted.
99 Homes (15)
(Ramin Bahrani, 2014, US) Andrew Garfield, Michael Shannon, Laura Dern. 112 mins
America’s recent recession and consequent property foreclosures are fertile territory for a muscular morality play, as struggling dad Garfield takes a job with his corrupt evictor.
Life (15)
(Anton Corbijn, 2015, US) Dane DeHaan, Robert Pattinson. 111 mins
The myth of James Dean is refracted through the lens of his star-making photographer.
McFarland, USA (PG)
(Niki Caro, 2015, US) Kevin Costner, Maria Bello. 129 mins
A formulaic feelgood with its heart in the right place. Costner’s coach spots athletic potential in a group of agricultural workers.
Miss You Already (12A)
(Catherine Hardwicke, 2015, UK) Drew Barrymore, Toni Collette. 112 mins
Collette and Barrymore’s BFF bond is threatened by cancer and motherhood. Cue joy, pain, chemo and sisterhood singalongs.
Captive (12A)
(Jerry Jameson, 2015, US) Kate Mara, David Oyelowo, Mimi Rogers. 97 mins
Decent actors lift an “inspirational” hostage thriller, based on the true story of an escaped convict who holed up with a single mother.
Just Jim (15)
(Craig Roberts, 2015, UK) Craig Roberts, Emile Hirsch, Aneirin Hughes. 84 mins
The Submarine star does his own offbeat, deadpan, Welsh coming-of-age comedy.
Lessons In Love (15)
(Tom Vaughan, 2014, US) Pierce Brosnan, Salma Hayek, Jessica Alba. 95 mins
Tone-deaf male-chauvinist romcom giving Brosnan’s womanising professor a second shot at love with his ex-wife’s sister.
Narcopolis (15)
(Justin Trefgarne, 2014, UK) Elliot Cowan. 92 mins
A low-budget sci-fi that punches above its weight in terms of looks at least, with a story involving time travel, tough cops and a dystopia of legalised highs.
Solace (15)
(Afonso Poyart, 2015, US) Anthony Hopkins, Colin Farrell. 101 mins
It’s psychic investigator v psychic serial killer in this wannabe Fincher-esque thriller, which takes its absurd premise into surprisingly deep waters.
Orion: The Man Who Would Be King (12A)
(Jeanie Finlay, 2015, UK/US) 86 mins
The strange, true, ultimately sad story of a masked Elvis soundalike so good he fuelled the urban myth that the King was still alive.
Arcade Fire: The Reflektor Tapes (PG)
(Kahlil Joseph, 2015, UK) 88 mins
Doc following the Canadian band’s “creative journey”.
Palio (12A)
(Cosima Spender, 2015, UK) 91 mins
Documentary finding corruption behind the scenes of Siena’s famous horse race.
Out from Friday
The Martian Ridley Scott strands Matt Damon on the Red Planet. Out from Wed.
Macbeth Michael Fassbender leads bracing interpretation.
The Walk Man On Wire, the movie.
The Intern Robert De Niro is the new (old) recruit.
3 1/2 Minutes, Ten Bullets Timely inquiry into a racially motivated shooting.
By Our Selves Retracing the steps of poet John Clare.
Convenience Two British robbers fail to hold up a convenience store.
Fidelio: Alice’s Journey French drama following a engineer on a container ship.
The Death And Resurrection Show Killing Joke look back.
Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection F Movie-length instalment of the TV anime.
Dressed As A Girl Tour of the East End’s drag scene.
Letters To Max Oblique angle on the state of Abkhazia.
Made You Look Doc on handmade creativity.
Singh Is Bling The Punjabi action clown returns.
Coming soon
In two weeks... Emily Blunt leads cartel thriller Sicario… Sleep paralysis goes under the spotlight in The Nightmare…
In three weeks... Carey Mulligan joins the feminist fight in Suffragette… Joe Wright’s lavish reinterpretation of (Peter) Pan…
In a month... Vin Diesel is the Last Witch Hunter… Ryan Reynolds and Ben Mendelsohn try their luck in Mississippi Grind…
