Amsterdam Film Show | October 2018

Bradley Cooper’s directing debut, super-cute grey seals, classics galore and a new Lizbeth Salander … the October 2018 edition of the Amsterdam Film Show is here.

Watch the full show, read the blog notes or find links in our Pinterest board below. The AFS is also broadcast on TV and on our radio station.

SHOW NOTES

News! We’ve now started the Amsterdam Film Club, to go with the Amsterdam Film Show. Join up to see films together at a local cinema and join in the discussions.

Find us on Meetup: https://www.meetup.com/Amsterdam-Film-Club

Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1499148403561897/

 

FILM FESTIVALS & SPECIAL SCREENINGS

Cinema Nights @ Andaz Hotel | from 3 Oct | The start of a new, cosy monthly movie night at this quirky hotel near Amsterdam Centraal Station.

@CathyCentral says: “It’s a prettty pricey at €27.50 but your ticket includes a welcome drink, what they are calling an ‘artisan snack platter’ (is the platter a well-crafted olive wood plank or are the snacks prepared by ultra specialist bitterballen makers?), salted caramel popcorn, and the movie. They don’t like tardiness so they’ll press play dead on 20:15. I’m not loving the choice of films, but if they fixed that, I’d certainly think about it.”

• 3 October | Alice in Wonderland
• 7 November | Grand Budapest Hotel
• 1 December | Love Actually

Klassiekers @ Rialto |  throughout October (see www.rialtofilm.nl for dates)

A new ‘klassiekerseizoen’ brings three completely contrasting films on rotation in this independent cinema in de Pijp.

• A Fistful of Dollars (1964) | Dir: Sergio Leone
• Thelma & Louise (1991) | Dir: Ridley Scott * 
• Rosemary’s Baby (1968) | Dir: Roman Polanski

 

REVIEW

A Star Is Born | DRAMA | Dir: Bradley Cooper | with Bradley Cooper, Lady Gaga, Sam Elliott | FROM 4 OCT IN NL | A rockstar discovers a struggling singer and falls right head over heels in love. With his help she gets her big break and then stardom, but when he hits rock bottom the tables are turned. A remake of the 1976 Barbara Streisand film of the same name.

@DavidSwatling tells us what he thought (WATCH HIS REVIEW ABOVE).

REVIEW

McQueen | released late September | Documentary about the late fashion designer, Alexander McQueen

@CathyCentral went to see this with the Amsterdam Film Club. “I was a bit disappointed to be honest. Quite a lot of poor quality home video type footage, and I mean really bad. The directorial choices seemed odd at times, with extreme HD close ups for some interviews (skin pores and all) vs wide shots for the fashion types with fancy interiors. This was distracting. As was the fact that the late Isabella Blow reminded me so much of Theresa May. But on the plus side, it certainly made an effort to highlight mental health issues, and the unsustainable nature of the fashion industry, the relentless shows and the accompanying stress. I’d have liked to see much more of him at work as he really had a special gift, but, sure, there was plenty of behind the scenes stuff I had never seen before. Eugene says “I didn’t regret seeing it.” But perhaps just one for the fans. I give it 6/10.

NB We saw a Cinemore screening @ Cinecenter with a talk before the film from a fashion insider who had worked with McQueen, so adding something extra. It was one night before the general release of the film, and also a Wednesday night, but it was sold out. We had to queue for no-shows. Something to be aware of if you want to see one of their preview screenings: it might be wise to book.

 

NEW CINEMA RELEASES | some more highlights from the film releases in Amsterdam and NL this month.”

FROM 4 OCT

Venom | ACTION  FANTASY | The latest Marvelfest, staring Tom Hardy, Michelle Williams and Riz Ahmed.  

Wad, overleven op de grens van water en land | NATURE DOC | Dir: Ruben Smit (maker of De Nieuwe Wildernis) |  A filmic ode to the Wadden sea islands in the north of the Netherlands. There’s mudflats, grey seals, peregrine falcons and more.  @CathyCentral says “If you haven’t yet been up to this part of the country, this film might well inspire a visit because the footage is outstanding.”   

FROM 11 OCT

Bad Times at the El Royale | SUSPENSE | Dir-Screenwriter: Drew Goddard (of The Martian & The Cabin in the Woods) | with Chris Hemsworth (as you’ve never seen him, mooching around malevolently), Jeff Bridges, Jon Hamm and more | “Seven strangers, each with a secret to bury, meet at Lake Tahoe’s El Royale, a rundown hotel with a dark past. Over the course of one fateful night, everyone will have a last shot at redemption – before everything goes to hell.” IMDB | @CathyCentral says “billed as a suspense thriller, word is there’s some black comedy mixed in” (see Goddard’s other work). 

FROM 18 OCT

First Man | DRAMA / BIOPIC | Dir: Damien Chazelle | with Ryan Gosling, Claire Foy | Following the events leading up to and during Neil Armstrong and team’s attempts to land on the moon. @cathycentral says “I just get a big yawn when I think of this one. From the trailer it seems to take itself way too seriously. But I’m curious to see if Chazelle has slipped in any jazz sequences.”

FROM 25 OCT

The Girl in the Spider’s Web | CRIME THRILLER | Dir: Fede Alvarez | with Claire Foy, Lakeith Stanfield (yey!) | Based on characters from the Stieg Larsson bestselling milleninum trilogy, but also a new book in the series since Larsson died, by a new author. And also the first film in the series that has an English language adaptation before the Swedish version. As far as English language film productions of the story go, this is the follow up to The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (starring Daniel Craig). But they decided to bring in a completely new cast for The Girl in the Spider’s Web. @CathyCentral says” “Lisbeth Salander was by far the strongest character in the originals (books and films), with a troubled past but great intelligence, wit and a drive for revenge. So this could persuade me to revist the series. And Claire Foy is an interesting choice to play her, it’s a departure from previous roles but she looks totally convincing from the trailer.”  

The Sisters Brothers | WESTERN | Dir: Jacques Audiard | Jake Gyllenhaal, Joaquin Phoenix, John C. Reilly,  Riz Ahmed | Based on the best-selling novel | Two brothers have set up a successful business as hired killers but their new target, a gold prospector with a secret technique, may tempt them off track. @Cathycentral “I keep thinking of Reilly’s comedy turn in Step Brothers but it’s a good enough story to forget about that I reckon. But Phoenix certainly seems to play this role similarly to past roles, so it doesn’t come across as completely fresh. Riz Ahmed as the prospector looks the most interesting part of this, to me.”