Thursday, July 17, 2014

Bangkok Cinema Scene: Movies opening July 17-23, 2014

Words and Pictures


Juliette Binoche did her own paintings in Words and Pictures. She's an art teacher at a prep school who is challenged by an English teacher (Clive Owen) to a popularity contest about what is more powerful – literature or art. Binoche's character, an abstract painter forced to take up teaching by her disability, suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, so she comes up with innovative ways to practise her art. Critical reception is mixed. It's at Apex Siam Square, House, CentralWorld, Paragon and Esplanade Ratchada. Rated 15+



Also opening



Step Up: All In – The fifth installment in the street-dance franchise rounds up an all-star cast and heads to Las Vegas for yet another grand showdown. Briana Evigan and Ryan Guzman star. Critical reception is ... well, who cares? It's in actual 3D in some cinemas. Rated 15+




Also showing


House 10-Year Anniversary – Sucks that Grand Budapest Hotel isn't getting a proper theatrical release in Thailand. It's going to straight to DVD. Maybe it's because of the varying aspect ratios Wes Anderson show his movie in? Oh well, House will show it on the big screen just once, for free, tonight, as part its 10th-anniversary celebration. Tomorrow, it's a "House Phenomenon" – the erotically charged World War II spy yarn from China, Lust, Caution by Ang Lee. On Saturday, it's a full day of free programming from the Japan Foundation, and on Sunday, enjoy the Food Festival, featuring the documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi and other surprise selections. On Monday, it's a dysfunctional family in Tokyo Sonata. And Tuesday, check out another "House Phenomenon", Blue is the Warmest Color. Wednesday is the taut Iranian drama The Song of Sparrows. Check the Facebook schedule for the full line-up and check the Facebook page for showtimes.


The Friese-Greene Club – Tonight, head into the slums of Rio for the coming-of-age crime drama City of God. Bryan Singer is in a heap of trouble right now, but that doesn't stop The Usual Suspects from being a great film. It screens tomorrow. Saturday, it's another charming Australian film with Muriel's Wedding, and Sunday has Fred Astaire teaming up with Judy Garland in Easter Parade. Next Wednesday is the weird monk mystery, The Name of the Rose, starring Sean Connery and Christian Slater. Shows are at 8pm. The FGC is down an alley next to the Queen's Park Imperial Hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 22. There's just nine seats, so book them. Also, check the Facebook page for updates and program changes.


Cinema Diverse: Director's Choice – For the Bangkok Art and Culture Center's bi-monthly screening series, producer-director Jira Maligool (Mekhong Full Moon Party, The Tin Mine) has chosen a 2001 comedy by Czech great Vladimir Michalek, Autumn Spring. It's about an elderly prankster (Vlastimil Brodsky) who wants to keep honing his craft as an actor, even if his family members wish he'd just grow up already. For a talk afterward, Jira will be joined by young filmmaker Witthaya Thongyuyong. The show's at 5.30pm on Saturday, with registration open at 4.30.


Alliance Française – "On a Journey" is this month's theme, and next week's offering heads to the Italian Riviera with Pauline Détective, about a young blonde woman in a bikini investigating a murder. It's in French with English subtitles at 7pm on Wednesday, July 23.



Sneak preview



The Fault in Our Stars – A teenage cancer sufferer is sent to a support group where she falls in love. Shailene Woodley (Divergent) stars. Critical reception is generally positive. It's in nightly sneak previews before opening wider next week, as is the E.T.-found-footage children's story Earth to Echo.

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