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| the directory cinema and film |
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 I did have films listed within the media section, the trouble was there was no where to list good cinemas (movie houses). Hence this cinema section. Of course if you're based outside the UK or the USA and would like to submit some reviews I'd love to hear from you. When I was growing up my ambition was to run my own cinema. I was obsessed, I had a little slide projector and I'd make little cinemas from cardboard crisp boxes. I love it just as much today, but I have to admit the crisp boxes have gone! |
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| cinemas in the UK | |
| Curzon
Soho 99 Shaftesbury Avenue London W1D 5DY |
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Now here is a strange thing, I am a huge fan of the Curzon Soho and we go there a lot, but the Curzon Mayfair, I've never set foot in place! Now why is that? Anyway, the Curzon Soho - great, great films, lots of special screenings and Q & A's. There's a bar a cafe - they have it a  ll. Get on their mailing list, it'll tell you all about it.
You do get the Mayfair listings as well just-in-case, but I don't see you using them! |
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| Filmhouse 88 Lothian Road, Edinburgh EH3 9BZ |
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 The Filmhouse is part of the same group of Europa Cinemas as our old favourite The Watershed in Bristol and they are remarkably similar both offering excellent independent films, good food and a welcoming atmosphere. The Filmhouse is also home to the Edinburgh International Film Festival. Thoroughly recommended. |
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| The
Watershed F 1 Canon's Road, Harbourside, Bristol BS15TX |
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 The Watershed has a great cafe bar with a really good atmosphere that serves excellent food (several veggie selections) and fairtrade coffee. In addition to the food & drink there are three cinemas, though two are currently being refurbished (February 05). They also host a large number of courses in all aspects of film making, photography, animation, they have conference facilities, I can't recommend it enough. Really worth a look. |
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| cinemas outside the UK | |
| Kriterion cinema Roetersstraat 170, 1018 WE Amsterdam. Tel: 020-6231708 |
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It seems most of Dutch cinemas show foreign films in their native language with Dutch subtitles, which great for us 'out-of-our-depth' English speakers. The Kriterion is across the road from Amsterdam University and so is heavily frequented by the student population. In the front of the building is a no-frills bar whose trendy patrons look as they might break in to a discussion about theories of Satre at any moment. There are two screens showing a mixture of modern 'art-house' and classic films. If you find yourself in Amsterdam I would recommend a visit. |
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| films from the UK | |
| I'm sure there are more good independent British films out there and I'd love to give them space. Please send me an email. |
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| A Convenient Truth | |
No it's not a spelling mistake but maybe an answer. British film-maker Jack Guest asserts we already have the answers to climate change and we just need to implement them, regular readers of this blog will know I agree with him. The film, A Convenient Truth, was shot at the end of 2006 where Jack and a film crew went to Sweden to investigate their attempt to break their oil dependency by 2020. In Sweden they meet politicians, campaigners and people living the 'low carbon' life. From there the crew head off across the Atlantic by boat. You can watch the trailer, above, also on YouTube and two longer previews on the website. (You need to register to watch the previews, but it doesn't take a second.) As they say "With a light hearted tone A Convenient Truth’s positive message is that things can get better and that change does not have to mean sacrifice." Let's hope he's right. The film is due for release in early 2008. One to look out for - Wildberry |
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| Baked Alaska | |
 Review to follow, but you can watch this film and two others, free of charge, on the Spanner films website. Do you want write a review of this film or another not listed? Just email it to nigel@wildberrys.org.uk. |
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| Drowned Out | |
 "Shot over three years by Director Franny Armstrong (McLibel), Drowned Out tells the true story of one family's inspired stand against the destruction of their land, homes and culture. The 75 minute no-budget, no-electricity, no-Hindi documentary has been seen by more than 14 million people." Again review to follow. You can watch this film and two others, free of charge, on the Spanner films site. |
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| McLibel: Two worlds collide | |
 The case, that became to be known as the 'McLibel' trial, turned into the longest trial in British legal history. In an article on their website BBC news say, 'The Strasbourg court's verdict is the end of a subsequent courtroom fight in which the activists accused the UK Government of breaching their human rights. It ruled they did not receive a fair trial as guaranteed under the Human Rights Convention, to which the UK is a signatory, and that their freedom of expression was violated by the 1997 judgment. The pair had argued the UK's libel laws, which did not allow them legal aid, denied them freedom of speech.' Helen Steel and David Morris were accused by McDonalds of libel for handing out leaflets attacking McDonalds outside a McDonalds in North London. What's interesting is that the judge in the original trial agreed with many of the statements in the leaflet. If you go to the McSpotlight site you can get much more information about the trial, you can down load copies of the updated 'What's wrong with McDonalds' leaflet to distribute outside your local McDonalds. You can watch this film and two others, free of charge, on the Spanner films site. |
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| films from the USA | |
| An Inconvenient Truth | |
 I'm sure if most people pitched to a film company that they were going to stand up and give a two hour Powerpoint presentation on climate change they'd have been thrown out. But Al Gore pulls-it-off and powerfully so. To be honest it isn't just a lecture it's inter-cut with clips of film of Al in Greenland, Al in Antarctica and Al down-on-the-farm, but through all that he makes probably the most powerful argument I've ever seen of the effects of climate change and the way it's changing our planet. Not the way it's going to change it, the way it's changing it now! My reaction on leaving the cinema was how can I get everyone I ever meet to see this film. Please see this film a guarantee you won't be unmoved take your husband, wife, girlfriend, boss, babysitter, whoever, anyone you can get along - it couldn't be more important! |
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| Bowling for Columbine | |
 Bowling for Columbine can at times be harrowing, but it also inspires. The moment where Michael Moore shows the representative of K-Mart the bullet scars on the back of the teenage survivors of the Columbine High School shooting, is gripping. We're all so used to corporate slipperiness we sit waiting for 'we're so sorry, but what can we do? We didn't fire the gun' statement. But it doesn't come, instead we get an amazing reverse of policy by K-Mart. This film is moving, inspiring and well made. It reminds you that we can all make a difference in our own way. |
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| Fahrenheit 9/11 | |
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Just email it to nigel@wildberrys.org.uk. |
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| Michael Moore | |
 Whether you love him or you hate him, there's no denying that Michael Moore as single-handedly reinvigorated the world of documentary cinema and that can only be for the good. But maybe that depends if you sit on his side of the political fence - which generally I do! What's really amazing Michael Moore has nearly as many 'hate' sites as George Bush. I suppose at least he has their attention. |
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| Super Size Me | |
 'Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock hit the road and interviewed experts in 20 U.S. cities, including Houston, the "Fattest City" in America. From Surgeon Generals to gym teachers, cooks to kids, lawmakers to legislators, these authorities shared their research, opinions and "gut feelings" on our ever-expanding girth. During the journey, Spurlock also put his own body on the line, living on nothing but McDonald's for an entire month.' |
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| the corporation | |
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Do you want write a review of this film or another not listed? Just email it to nigel@wildberrys.org.uk. |
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| WalMart the high cost of low price | |
 I'm afraid I haven't have the opportunity to see this film, if you have I love you to email me a review. The makers say... "WAL-MART: THE HIGH COST OF LOW PRICE is a feature length documentary that uncovers a retail giant's assault on families and American values. The film dives into the deeply personal stories and everyday lives of families and communities struggling to fight a goliath. A working mother is forced to turn to public assistance to provide healthcare for her two small children. A family loses its business in Missouri after Wal-Mart is given over two million dollars to open its doors down the road. A mayor struggles to equip his first responders after Wal-Mart pulls out and relocates just outside of city limits. A community unites, takes on the giant and wins! Producer/director Robert Greenwald and Brave New Films take you on an extraordinary journey that will change the way you think, feel -- and shop." |
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