Hard To Be A God (18)
(Aleksei German, 2013, Rus) Leonid Yarmolnik, Aleksandr Chutko. 177 mins
They don’t make long, profound, challenging Russian arthouse like they used to, and with German’s death in 2013 (after 13 years making this) they might never again. This is set on an Earth-like planet some 800 years behind our own: a civilisation mired in filth, squalor, depravity and pre-Renaissance anti-intellectualism. Echoes of Tarkovsky in the lucid black-and-white imagery and sci-fi-ish setting, but the bewildering, admirably sustained execution is unique.
Fantastic Four (12A)
(Josh Trank, 2015, US) Miles Teller, Kate Mara. 100 mins
Marvel’s franchise didn’t exactly catch fire in 2005, and rumours of a troubled production have dogged this reboot, which ups the talent and budget levels in the hope that fans have room for yet another CGI-heavy superhero origins story.
The Diary Of A Teenage Girl (18)
(Marielle Heller, 2015, US) Bel Powley, Alexander Skarsgård, Kristen Wiig. 102 mins
The title suggests a tweeny summer feelgood, which couldn’t be further from the reality: a story so vibrantly, refreshingly frank, teens the same age as its protagonist can’t even see it. Powley is terrific as a 17-year-old discovering her sexual powers in 70s San Francisco.
Manglehorn (12A)
(David Gordon Green, 2014, US) Al Pacino, Holly Hunter, Harmony Korine. 97 mins
Pacino shines by not shining, playing a weary, embittered locksmith who’s determined not to open up to anyone. Green builds a resonant character study around him, full of surprising touches.
Marshland (15)
(Alberto Rodríguez, 2014, Spa) Javier Gutiérrez, Raúl Arévalo, María Varod. 104 mins
Familiar ingredients gel into a superior detective thriller, making great use of Andalucía’s atmospheric landscape, where two detectives follow a winding trail of clues.
The Gift (15)
(Joel Edgerton, 2015, Aus/US) Jason Bateman, Joel Edgerton. 108 mins
Bateman’s reacquaintance with a long-lost schoolmate soon turns sinister, as he takes to bestowing gifts. Conventional stuff, maybe, but skilfully handled.
52 Tuesdays (15)
(Sophie Hyde, 2013, Aus) Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Del Herbert-Jane. 114 mins
The relationship between a teenage girl and her transitioning transgender mother is tracked in real time: the movie was shot once a week for a year – a gimmick that pays off.
Max (12A)
(Boaz Yakin, 2015, US) Thomas Haden Church, Josh Wiggins, Luke Kleintank. 111 mins
It’s hard to think of a premise more calculatingly patriotic: traumatised army dog Max is passed on to his dead handler’s wayward kid brother – where an absurdly unlikely crime story unfolds.
Death Of A Gentleman (12A)
(Johnny Blank, Sam Collins, Jarrod Kimber, 2015, UK) 99 mins
Two British journalists discover Fifa-like venality behind the demise of Test cricket in this documentary.
War Book (15)
(Tom Harper, 2015, UK) Adeel Akhtar, Ben Chaplin, Sophie Okonedo. 92 mins
A civil service nuclear-attack scenario goes beyond simulation in this tense, clever meeting-room thriller.
Out from Friday
Pixels Can Adam Sandler and co thwart an arcade game-inspired alien invasion? Out from Wed
Unity Celebrity-narrated documentary pondering the nature of human conflict. Out from Wed
Trainwreck A star-making turn for Amy Schumer in Judd Apatow’s commitment-phobe comedy.
The Man From UNCLE Guy Ritchie’s retro reboot.
Mistress America Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig with another New York character study.
Absolutely Anything Simon Pegg in Terry Jones’s Pythonesque comedy.
Theeb Acclaimed Arabian desert thriller.
Captain Webb Warren Brown plays the first man to swim the Channel.
Precinct Seven Five Eighties New York’s most corrupt cop fesses up.
The Confessions Of Thomas Quick Documentary on a Swedish serial killer.
Pleasure Island Thriller following an ex-army man.
Brothers Bollywood remake of martial arts saga Warrior.
Coming soon
In two weeks… Gemma Arterton as Posy Simmonds’s Gemma Bovery… Cara Delevingne breaks out in Paper Towns…
In three weeks… The legend of NWA in Straight Outta Compton… Jesse Eisenberg turns stoner agent in American Ultra…
In a month… Sundance-winning teen tale Me And Earl And The Dying Girl… Meryl Streep rocks in Ricki And The Flash…
