Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/286290
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 30 MARCH 2014 THIS WEEK 36 St James Cavalier Valletta Tel. 21 223200 Pietà (18) 20:45 Freebird (U) 15:00 Tunisiennes 18:30 Embassy Cinemas Valletta Tel. 21 227436, 21 245818 Captain America: Winter Solider 3D (12A) 10:10, 13:00, 15:45, 18:30, 21:15 Need for Speed (12A) 10:30, 14:30, 18:00, 20:50 Qlub Imwegggha (12A) 10:15 300: Rise of an Empire (15) 16:45, 19:00, 21:15 The LEGO Movie (U) 10:00, 12:15, 14:30, 16:10 The Monuments Men (12A) 16:00, 18:25, 20:50 Non-Stop (12A) 13:45, 18:20, 20:55 Endless Love (12A) 10:30, 13:45, 16:10, 18:35, 21:00 Eden Cinemas St Julian's Tel. 23 710400 The Book Thief (12A) 14:30, 18:10, 20:50, 23:30 Tinkerbell and the Pirate Fairy 3D (U) 14:20, 16:25, 18:40 12 Years a Slave (15) 20:50, 23:30 Mr. Peabody & Sherman (U) 14:15, 16:20, 18:40, 20:55, 23:00 300: Rise of an Empire (15) 14:20, 16:30, 18:30, 21:10, 23:15 Out Of The Furnace (15) 14:00, 16:25, 18:50, 21:15, 23:40 Need For Speed 3D (12A) 14:30, 18:10, 21:00, 23:50 Blue Jasmine (12A) 14:15, 20:55, 23:05 Marco Spada - Bolshoi – Live (PG) 17:00 The Monuments Men (12A) 14:00, 16:20, 18:45, 21:10, 23:40 Endless Love (12A) 14:10, 16:25, 18:40, 21:05, 23:25 The LEGO Movie (U) 14:00, 16:15, 18:30, 20:45, 22:55 That Awkward Moment (15) 14:20, 16:30, 18:40, 21:05, 23:15 Captain America: The Winter Soldier 3D (12A) 14:30, 18:00, 21:00, 23:50 Non-Stop (12A) 14:15, 16:30, 18:50, 21:15, 23:40 Empire Cinemas Bugibba Tel. 21 581787, 21 581909 300: Rise of an Empire (15+) 10:45, 13:30, 15:50, 18:15, 20:55, 23:10 Need for Speed 3D (12A) 10:30, 13:55, 18:00, 20:50, 23:30 Non-Stop (12A) 10:35, 13:35, 15:55, 18:10, 21:00, 23:15 Captain America: The Winter Soldier 3D (12A) 10:40, 13:45, 18:05, 21:10 The Book Thief (12A) 10:30, 13:50, 18:00, 20:45, 23:20 Philomena (12A) 10:45, 13:45, 16:10, 18:20, 20:50, 23:00 August: Osage County (15+) 10:50, 13:35, 16:05, 18:35, 21:05, 23:30 IF you were to look up the descrip- tor 'smooth operator' in the Oxford Dictionary… well, you most prob- ably won't find it. But in what I'm going to posit as a perfect world – or at least, a lexical utopia of some kind – I would say that you should be able to clock a picture of the American actor (and sometime di- rector) George Clooney just under that said entry. The sandy-haired star (and, in this case yes – director too) of the war- time art-heist drama Monuments Men appears to have 'aged grace- fully' down to an art form in and of itself, creating a signature on-screen poise and effortless charm that has often been compared to vintage Hollywood luminaries such as Cary Grant. It's a good job he still appears to be as smouldering and confident here, because anyone would need size- able cinematic cajones to marshal the kind of ensemble cast he has on Monuments Men (let's take a deep breath: Matt Damon, Bill Murray, John Goodman, Cate Blanchett, Jean Dujardin, Downton Abbey's own Hugh Bonneville, Bob Balaban and Dimitri Leonidas). Not to men- tion that the film itself – penned by Clooney and Grant Heslov – plays fast and loose with historical fact in its earnest and ultimately not neg- ligible effort to deliver a smoothly running tale of old-school derring- do. The year is 1943 and World War II is edging to a close. Perhaps feel- ing the pinch of encroaching defeat, the Nazis issue a decree that, in the event of Hitler's death, all art works in the Germans' possession are to be incinerated. Though the Al- lied higher-ups are initially scepti- cal about authorising a mission to safeguard art works – as opposed to fellow soldiers – then American president Franklin Roosevelt is ul- timately swayed by Frank Stokes (Clooney), and a task force of rag- tag art experts is formed to identify and hopefully rescue the priceless art works currently being held at ransom by the Nazis. With no real military training to their name, this unorthodox 'wild bunch' have their work cut out for them. The mixed reaction that the film has received from critics and audi- ences so far is not too hard to un- derstand. The trailers and promo- tional material all hinted that this will be a resolutely old-school expe- rience, and it all hinged on whether this ends up being a positive or a negative – whether the film will turn out to be inconsequential fluff or a rollicking wartime adventure laced with an uplifting paean to the importance of preserving art and culture from oblivion and/or appro- priation by 'the bad guys'. While competently directed and sumptuously shot, Clooney's film is also poorly paced and kind of shal- low, almost fatally maimed by the 'too many characters' syndrome. Most viewers will probably forgive its broad-brush approach towards national stereotypes and easy re- course to all-too-familiar male ca- maraderie. This is because Cloon- ey's natural charisma appears to stretch even to the way he handles his actors and film narrative: if there are any stuttering seams between the large cast's chemistry, you won't notice them on a first viewing. Its 'good intentions' are clearly ev- ident in every single frame. There's an innate earnestness in its mes- sage: you never have any doubt that Clooney and co. believe in the mis- sion of the 'Monuments Men' (full name: 'Monuments, Fine Arts, and Archives program'), and the film is infectious in its desire to transmit this importance to the viewer. One particular scene – all but assur- ing us that a portrait by Raphael is lost for good – will make art lovers wince in pain, and the pursuit of the 'Madonna of Bruges' lends Bon- neville's Donald Jeffries a poignant story arc. There are good ingredients here. Which makes the film's uneven, episodic structure all the more disappointing. It's similar to Ben Affleck's Oscar winner Argo in a lot of ways. The comparison is of course easy pickings for film trivia nuts: both Argo and Monuments Men star and are directed by Hol- lywood darlings, both feature John Goodman and involve Grant Hes- lov (he co-writes here, acts in Argo) and more fundamentally, both take a comedy-drama approach to a quirky historical episode. But more importantly, they both suffer from the same structural flaw. By insisting on keeping things light, humorous and breezy throughout, any real urgency feels tacked on; attached as if it's a panicked after- thought. Given that he's getting on in years – gracefully or otherwise – perhaps it's time for Clooney to learn that charm can only get you so far. FILM IN CINEMAS TODAY By Teodor Reljic Heritage warriors, unite! ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ MONUMENTAL ★ ★ ★ ★ CONSEQUENTIAL ★ ★ ★ FUNDAMENTAL ★ ★ INCIDENTAL ★ KENNEL This week's picks ACTION C APTAIN AMERIC A: THE WINTER SOLDIER Af ter the cataclysmic event s in New York with The Avengers, Mar vel's 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' finds Steve Rogers, a.k.a. Captain America, living quietly in Washington, D.C. and tr ying to adjust to the modern world. But when a S.H.I.E.L.D. colleague comes under at tack, Steve becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue that threatens to put the world at risk. Starring: Chris Evans, Samuel L. Jack son, Scarlet t Johansson and Rober t Redford. DRAMA BLUE JASMINE Af ter ever y thing in her life falls to pieces, including her marriage to wealthy businessman Hal, elegant New York socialite Jasmine moves into her sister Ginger's modest apar tment in San Francisco to tr y to pull herself back together again. Starring: Cate Blanchet t, Alec Baldwin and Sally Hawkins. ANIMATION MR PE ABOY AND SHERMAN Mr. Peabody, the most accomplished dog in the world, and his mischievous boy Sherman, use their time machine – the Wabac – to go on the most outrageous adventures known to man or dog. But when Sherman takes the Wabac out for a joyride to impress his friend Penny, they accidently rip a hole in the universe, wreaking havoc on the most impor tant event s in world histor y. Featuring the voices of: Ty Burrell and Max Charles. THE MONUMENTS MEN (12) ★ ★ ★ Men at art: Dimitri Leonidas, John Goodman, George Clooney, Matt Damon and Bob Balaban YOUR FIRST CLICK OF THE DAY www.maltatoday.com.mt