1/7
The Witches of Eastwick
John Updike is often cited as the chronicler of the cliché that is infidelity in Protestant Middle America. His novels all have their own unique style and humor, but The Witches of Eastwick enters a whole new dimension as its entire premise is centred on the presence of the Lord of Darkness himself. The story begins when the Devil appears in a small, sleepy, but by no means chaste town in the form of a wealthy, charming, magical man, played by Jack Nicholson at his prime. Director George Miller follows the delicate borders drawn by the author as he strikes a masterful balance between small-town realism and horror parodies. The viewer is caught off guard, feels uncertain and confused; what dimension of reality does black magic actually belong to? Does the power of witchcraft come from the devil, or do the alluring witches have the power to enchant even Satan himself? The Witches of Eastwick is a true comedy and a perfect reminder of how a sublime palette is indispensable in the creation of black humor.
Where to watch:
January 18, 7pm at MüPa – Palace Of Arts. Original audio (English), Hungarian subtitles.
2/7
Youth
Paolo Sorrentino’s second English-language feature (after This Must Be The Place) is as visually stylish as ever, but apart from being real eye candy, it forges immense visual richness, musical intensity, actorly precision, and pop-star cameos into something that is easily one of the most outstanding films of the past year. It is about two friends, the acclaimed composer and conductor Fred (Michael Caine), and the renowned filmmaker Mick (Harvey Keitel). While Mick scrambles to finish the screenplay for what he imagines will be his last important film, Fred has no intention of resuming his musical career. The two men reflect on their past, each finding that some of the most important experiences can come later in life. Watching Youth, you might think that Fellini has risen from his grave to direct a new 8½, but it’s more than a simple copycat – this is a fascinating lament on aging, aspirations, and life’s sprawling possibilities.
Where to watch:
Original audio (English), Hungarian subtitles at the following cinemas: Allee and Mammut. For screening times go to Port or Cinema City.
3/7
The Hateful 8
Quentin Tarantino is back with another round of his signature blend of action, humor, and over-the-top violence – and for his die-hard fans, The Hateful 8 is damn fine. Again, his film is both breathtakingly stylish and clever, intimate yet somehow very colossal, with dialogue that you’ll start to quote as soon as the credits start to roll. The setting is the Old West after the Civil War: bounty hunter John Ruth (Kurt Russell) and his captive fugitive, Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh), race toward the town of Red Rock. Along the road, they encounter two strangers: Major Marquis Warren (Samuel L. Jackson), a black former Union soldier turned infamous bounty hunter, and Chris Mannix (Walton Goggins), a southern renegade who claims to be the town’s new Sheriff. When they lose their trail in a blizzard, they seek refuge at a stagecoach stopover on a mountain pass, where they are greeted by four unfamiliar faces. As the storm overtakes the mountainside stopover, our eight travelers come to learn they may not make it to Red Rock after all… A superior piece of entertainment that not only marks Tarantino’s most mature outing since Jackie Brown, but also his most bitter and dystopian comment on the so-called American Dream.
Where to watch:
Original audio (English) with Hungarian subtitles at the following cinemas: Allee, Aréna, Westend, MOM Park, Campona and Mammut. For screening times go to Port or Cinema City.
4/7
Joy
David O. Russell’s latest film stars Jennifer Lawrence as the real-life inventor and single mother Joy Mangano, who got rich in the 1990s selling her revolutionary self-wringing mop on the QVC home shopping channel, and at times Joy is an extremely enjoyable feel-good film. It’s a giddy, confounding, touching fairy tale of self-empowerment, fueled by the redemptive magic of the movies. Lawrence brings such a strong performance to the table that even when the film starts to sag, her performance saves it. Although other main characters are impersonated by Bradley Cooper, Robert De Niro, Isabella Rossellini and Diane Ladd, Lawrence steals the show from all of them, and we are all right with that.
Where to watch:
Original audio (English) with Hungarian subtitles at the following cinemas: Allee, Aréna, Westend, MOM Park, Campona and Mammut. For screening times go to Port or Cinema City.
5/7
Mon Roi (My King)
Tony (Emmanuelle Bercot) is admitted to a rehabilitation center after a serious ski accident. Dependent on the medical staff and pain relievers, she takes time to look back on a turbulent relationship that she experienced with Georgio (Vincent Cassell). Why did they love each other? Who is this man that she loved so deeply? How did she allow herself to submit to this suffocating and destructive passion? For Tony, a difficult process of healing is in front of her, physical work which may finally set her free… French actress and director Maïwenn has her film unfold in a kind of perpetual, caffeinated close-up: we can experience every aspect of a relationship just like we are part of it. An energized romantic drama overflowing with humor and passion.
Where to watch:
Original audio (French), Hungarian subtitles at the following cinemas: Allee and Mammut. For screening times go to Port or Cinema City.
6/7
Marguerite
Marguerite Dumont (Catherine Frot), a wealthy woman, loves to sing for her friends even though she’s not a good singer. Both her friends and her husband have maintained her fantasy, but a problem begins when she decides to perform in front of a real audience. Luckily, director Xavier Giannoli approaches the main character with sympathy and is able to bring out the character’s human side – which results in a sensitive, pitch-perfect comedy of manners.
Where to watch:
Original audio (French), Hungarian subtitles at the following cinemas: Allee and Mammut. For screening times go to Port or Cinema City.
7/7
Predestination
Predestination is based on Robert A. Heinlein's short story ''—All You Zombies—''. The title refers to the so-called predestination paradox or causal loop. A time-traveling agent is sent back to 1970 on his last assignment to catch the Fizzle Bomber and prevent another detonation that would claim several victims. Working incognito as a barkeep, he encounters a young man writing confession stories under the pseudonym The Unmarried Mother. The latter's intimate knowledge of the female experience prompts the agent to involve him in his mission with the prospect of handing the job over to him indefinitely. However, due to 'fate' and an error in the agent’s time-traveling device, events take an unexpected turn that affects the lives of both.
Where to watch:
January 20, 7pm at MÜSZI (Művelődési Szint). Original audio (English).
