Fading Gigolo - Fioravante (John Turturro) decides to become a professional Don Juan as a way of making money to help his cash-strapped friend, Murray (Woody Allen). With Murray acting as his "manager", the duo quickly finds themselves caught up in the crosscurrents of love and money.
52 Tuesdays - Sixteen year old Billie has always enjoyed a healthy relationship with her mother. Upon learning that the woman who raised her now plans to become a man, Billie does her best to be understanding as she is sent to live with her father for a full year. During that time, Billie and her mother agree to meet once a week. Meanwhile, Billie secretly begins to explore her own budding sexuality with a pair of older classmates. It is a shame this compassionate film runs out of steam towards the end because this moving drama tackles unusual subject matter and observes dual stories of significant personal development with sincerity, honesty and authenticity. A young woman grapples with her own burgeoning sexuality and independence as her mother undergoes a gender transition, restricting their relationship to a single weekly meeting. Conceptually bold - actually filmed on a skimpy budget with a skeleton crew on Tuesdays over the course of twelve months, I believe - 52 Tuesdays benefits from clever editing and some very impressive performances. ★★★1/2
Young and Beautiful - Acclaimed director François Ozon (Swimming Pool, 8 Women) helms this erotic tale of sexual awakening. After losing her virginity, 17-year-old budding beauty Isabelle (Marine Vacth) takes up a secret life as a call girl, meeting her older gentlemen clients for sleazy hotel room trysts. Throughout, she remains curiously aloof, showing little interest in the encounters themselves or the money she makes, while Ozon slyly refrains from offering easy answers. As the enigmatic Isabelle, Marine Vacth is magnetic, delivering a star-making breakout performance in this sleek and sexy coming-of-age drama. Review by Courtney Howard, Very Aware.
Beyond the Edge - Sir Edmund Hillary's incredible achievement - becoming the first man to stand atop of Mt Everest - remains one of the greatest adventure stories of all time; the epic journey of a man from modest beginnings who overcame adversity to reach the highest point on Earth. Both a classic triumph of the underdog story and a gripping, cinematic experience, Beyond the Edge is a tale of human endurance, tenacity and courage in the face of overwhelming odds. With the support of the Hillary family, Sir Edmund's story will be brought to life on the big screen, 'relived' using both original color footage and photographs and dramatised recreations of the assault in stunning 3D.
Weekly Recommendation: The best film in cinemas, Only Lovers Left Alive, still hasn't been seen by enough people. If you haven't experienced the new Jarmusch I give it the highest endorsement. I can also recommend 52 Tuesdays, an impressive first feature from Sophie Hyde. Young and Beautiful premiered at Cannes last year, which immediately makes it worth considering. I intend to check it out this week. I imagine Beyond the Edge will also be stunning.
