HEAVENLY CREATURES (Peter Jackson, 1994)
- Monday, November 6
Before he rose to epic heights with blockbusters like King Kong and The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, Kiwi director Jackson demonstrated some major cinematic flair with this true-crime story from his homeland. Focusing on the obsessive, at times fantastical friendship between two teenage girls from very different backgrounds (played by the excellent Melanie Lynskey and Kate Winslet, in her feature-film debut), this is a gripping, unique and assured gem.
ELEPHANT (Alan Clarke, 1989)
- Monday November 13
The original inspiration for Gus Van Sant’s film of the same name – an hypnotic, relentless short depicting a cyclical wave of tit-for-tat sectarian murders, set during The Troubles in Northern Ireland. Highly experimental and almost completely devoid of dialogue, this is a rare chance to view a little-known masterpiece from director Clarke. NOTE: We will screen this 37-minute film TWICE on the night; the second screening will run with a very illuminating commentary by producer Danny Boyle.
DOUBLE INDEMNITY (Billy Wilder, 1944)
- Monday, November 20
A superb, definitive film noir from uber-cynic Wilder. Raymond Chandler co-wrote the adaptation of fellow hard-boiled scribe James M. Cain’s seamy, steamy tale of insurance fraud, deadly duplicity and sexual obsession. Features remarkable performances from Fred MacMurray, Barbara Stanwyck and Edward G. Robinson, highly inventive use of voice-over narration and more venetian blind shadows than you can poke a stick at!
HEARTS & MINDS (Peter Davis, 1974)
- Monday, November 27
An extraordinarily emotional, Oscar-winning documentary examining the fall-out of America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. Shocking images of destruction and grief are crosscut with alternately chilling and remorseful interviews with physically/psychologically scarred veterans and zealous policy-makers. More relevant than ever in light of the recent, increasingly controversial US exploits in the Middle East, this is essential viewing.
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