The year is drawing to a close and many a mind is turning to Christmas, however there is still plenty to enjoy down at the Broadway this month with a host of great films being released between now and the end of 2013.
To kick off the month will be NEBRASKA, the latest release from Sideways director Alexander Payne, the movie tells the tale of a booze addled father who takes his estranged son on a trip from Montana to Nebraska to claim the mega Sweepstakes jackpot he is convinced he has won. Features a stunning performance from veteran actor Bruce Dern who won the Best Actor award at Cannes for his performance. You can catch Nebraska at Broadway from Friday 6 December.
Also released that week is the debut movie from John Krokidas. KILL YOUR DARLINGS is the story of a young Allen Ginsberg as he navigates through his freshman year at Columbia in 1944. Harry Potter star Daniel Ratcliffe shines as the young poet as we delve into his burgeoning relationships with characters such as Jack Kerouac and William Burroughs.
The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug
Friday 13 is a huge night for fantasy fans with the release of THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG, the second part in Peter Jackson’s three part adaptation of J.R.R Tolkein’s novel. Following on from the end of last year’s An Unexpected Journey, the Desolation of Smaug carries on the tale of Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf and the Dwarves and their bid to reclaim the Lonely Mountain, encountering the skin-changer Boern, giant spiders and even the odd familiar face along the way before ultimately coming up against their biggest and most dangerous foe: the dragon Smaug.
Also screening from 13 is FILTH, the latest adaptation of the works of Trainspotting author Irvine Walsh. A dark yet humourous tale featuring a fine lead performance from James McAvoy.
On Monday 16 you will able to be catch a true horror classic in the 1922 Dracula flick NOSFERATU: A SYMPHONY OF HORROR, newly restored Max Shreck’s classic, which Bram Stoker tried to have destroyed, has never looked scarier.
You can get in the Christmas spirit from Thursday 19 with classic 40’s flick THE BISHOP’S WIFE, starring Loretta Young, Carey Grant and David Niven. Christmas joy is in the air but it’s not being felt by Bishop Henry Brougham. Struggling to raise funds for a new cathedral the preoccupied young clergyman has been neglecting his poor wife, now only divine intervention from an angel called Dudley can save his marriage.
Back by popular demand on Friday 20 is Formula 1 biopic RUSH, the film, which follows the heated rivalry of racing legends James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl) is a wonderful look at a golden age for the speedy sport and well worth it’s big screen return.
Also released on 20 is Disney’s latest animated flick FROZEN in which a trio; fearless optimist Anna, rugged mountain man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven go in search of Anna’s sister Elsa, who’s icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arandelle in eternal winter.
Plus, also released that week is true Christmas classic A WONDERFUL LIFE and also, back by popular demand, the Jim Broadbent starring LE WEEK-END.
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
However if you’re anything like me the film you’ll well and truly be looking forward to on 20 December is the hugely anticipated sequel to one of the funniest movies of all time. That’s right the legend that is Ron Burgandy returns to the newsdesk in ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES if the trailers are anything to go by this promises to be a cracker.
Friday 27 sees Robert Redford star in survival epic ALL IS LOST in which he plays a lone sailor who finds his yacht sinking after a collision with a discarded shipping container in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
Also released on 27 is THE EPIC OF EVEREST, taken from the BFI National Archive, this is the film record of the third attempt to climb Everest, a climb that resulted in the deaths of George Mallory and Andrew Irvine and sparked an on-going debate as to whether the duo ever reached the summit of the world’s highest mountain.
Plus you can also catch a brace of movies from French director Daniel Auteuil – who also stars – in MARIUS and FANNY.
Senior citizens can enjoy free tea/coffee and biscuits along with a screening of specially selected movies as part of the SILVER SCREEN programme – for which tickets are just £4.50 – with the chance to catch Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson in SAVING MR BANKS, the story of how Walt Disney bought author P.L Travers legendary creation Mary Poppins to the big screen, on December 5. On December 12 will be a screening of the Bruce Dern starring NEBRASKA while Carey Grant starring 40’s movie THE BISHOP’S WIFE is the choice on December 19.
For those wanting to make a family trip to the cinema without breaking the bank the FAMILY MATINEE is the perfect choice, tickets are just £3.50 and a specially selected programme has been put together with younger viewers in mind. Ryan Reynolds, Snoop Dog and Samuel L Jackson are among the stars putting their voices to use in the snail racing animated flick TURBO, which is showing on 7th. It’s the turn of Peter Jackson’s second hobbit flick THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG on 21 and finally Disney flick FROZEN is the choice on 27.
Turbo
BRINGING UP THE BABY meanwhile’s offers the chance for mums or dads to take their tiny one along to the cinema without any worry of upsetting other viewers, tickets are just £4.50 – baby goes free – and this month you can check out SAVING MR BANKS on Tuesday 10 December.
Also this month the acclaimed CAMBRIDGE FILM FESTIVAL TOUR will stop off at Broadway, funded by the BFI the festival will feature a series of foreign filmed movies, all with English subtitles. Up first is AS IF WE WERE CATCHING A COBRA, on Monday 2, from Syrian filmmaker Haia Alabdalla, this movie about the freedom of expression and opression in the region is more poignant than ever given the current events devastating the country.
On Tuesday 3 you can catch the feature debut from Iranian director Kiarash Asadizadeh, ACRID, which interweaves the stories of a number of characters in relationships, exploring their connections, secrets and the feelings that bind them.
Wednesday’s pick is the multi-award winning HOUSE WITH A TURRET, by Ukranian director Eva Neymann, following the story of an eight year old boy travelling with his mother to visit his grandfather. When the mother dies of typhus the boy is determined to go on and battles through snow covered country to reach his destination, all set to the backdrop of a Second World War era Soviet Union and beautifully shot in black and white.
Finally, on Thursday 5, is THE YEAR OF THE TIGER from Chilean director Sebastian Lelio. Filmed in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Chile in 2010. Manuel is a prisoner who is both feared and respected by other inmates, however when an earthquake frees him from his jail he heads into hiding, unsure if the police will try to track him down. Avoiding human contact and unable to find his wife or daughter, Manuel’s only form of contact is a caged and exhausted tiger and the two embark on a journey to discover what it means to be so brutally free.
As always there will be a host of special screenings during December. On Friday 6 Mimm present ALL EARS a documentary about LA’s heavy hitting instrumental beat scene – this is a free screening with tickets available on the day of screening only.
Sunday 8 see’s THE BEST OF THE KENDAL MOUNTAIN FILM FESTIVAL which focuses on high octane films featuring sports such as skiing, climbing, kayaking, BASE jumping, snowboarding and mountain biking.
On Tuesday 17 Professor Roger Bromley, Emeritus Professor of Cultural Studies at the University of Nottingham, will introduce DIRTY WARS in which Jeremy Scahill, National Security Correspondent for ‘The Nation‘ turns his investigative gaze on exposing America’s officially sanctioned black-ops assassination squad.
If you missed it last moth there will be two more screenings of the ROYAL SHAKESPEARE COMPANY’s RICHARD II, an encore of the live performance from Stratford-upon-Avon, starring David Tennant, plus The MET OPERA present FALSTAFF conducted by James Levine.
Die Hard
Add to that plenty of goings on in the Cafebar during the month including a screening of one of the greatest Christmas movies of all time, that’s right we’re talking about DIE HARD, head on down on Friday 20 to catch vest wearing, ass kicking, yippee-ki-yaying, NYPD cop John McClane – aka Bruce Willis – as he takes on Alan Rickman and his band of mercenaries in the movie that defined the action flick.
As you can see there is plenty going on at Broadway as ever so make sure you head on over to their official website for more information, and to book tickets, and see out the year in style.
