Film reviews: Berberian Sound Studio | Samsara | Yuma | [Rec] Genesis | A Few Best Men

Published on 26/08/2012 14:35

This week’s other films reviewed by Siobhan Synnot

Berberian Sound Studio (15)

* * *

Toby Jones stars as a mild-mannered sound-effects engineer whose work on an Italian horror movie loosens his grip on reality. Ingenious, inventive and very funny at times, it’s a technical treat for fanboys and Jones is astutely cast. If only it had focus as well, because in the end what some might regard as complexity is actually just incoherence.

Glasgow Film Theatre from Friday

Samsara (12A)

* * *

Twenty years ago, Ron Fricke made Baraka, a wordless confection of exquisite images and somnambulist grace. Part travelogue, part photography exhibition, Samsara offers more of the same – images shot over five years taken from all over the world, with a vague coverall theme about humanity and nature. Like the movie equivalent of a coffee table book, there’s a lot of stunning material, without actually compelling you to do anything. Ravishing, earnest, tedious.

Filmhouse, Edinburgh and Glasgow Film Theatre from Friday

Yuma (15)

* * *

It’s the 1980s and 20-year-old Zyga and his friends decide to brighten up life in their sleepy Iron Curtain Polish town by raiding German shops across the border in the manner of a Robin Hoodie. Fitfully entertaining.

Cineworld, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow from Friday

[Rec] Genesis (18)

* *

Spanish horror film Rec is back with a third instalment, this time taking a jokey look at the zombie-making virus when it breaks out at a family wedding. Okay if you relish watching a children’s entertainer fighting the undead dressed as Spongebob Squarepants: otherwise consider an exodus.

Cameo, Edinburgh, from Thursday

A Few Best Men (15)

*

Pure, communal silence can be a wonderful thing, and if you haven’t experienced any lately, I commend you to see Stephan Elliott’s excruciating comedy with Kris Marshall and Kevin Bishop. It’s especially sad to see Olivia Newton-John in something this old, borrowed and blue.

Cineworld, Glasgow