A Dangerous Method (15)

HHH

Dir: David Cronenberg

With: Keira Knightley, Michael Fassbender, Viggo Mortensen

Running time: 99 minutes

SINCE turning away from body horror, David Cronenberg has had his share of hits (A History of Violence) and near misses (Eastern Promises). A Dangerous Method finds him exploring the birth of psychoanalysis, the relationship between Freud and Jung, and spanking. A strange mix that should be combustible but this is Cronenberg on cool, studious form, keen to do justice to Christopher Hampton's elegant play.

Fassbender and Mortensen convince as the competing shrinks, while Knightley initially gets the sticky end of the acting lollipop as a patient. Requires patience but rewards it too.

Casablanca R/I (U) HHHHH

Dir: Michael Curtiz

With: Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman

Running time: 98 minutes

PLAY it Sam, in honour of the 70th birthday of one of the greatest romantic dramas ever made. Michael Curtiz's picture picked up three Oscars – best director, picture, and screenplay – and it's still the perfect movie for a certain day that falls next Tuesday.

Jack and Jill (PG) HH

Dir: Dennis Dugan

With: Adam Sandler, Katie Holmes

Running time: 90 minutes

WHAT is it with Adam Sandler? There you are, watching his latest offering, in this case a comedy about identical twins, both played by himself, and thinking this isn't so bad. The guy is funny, if slightly scary, and he can set up a story.

Then it happens, a Sandler gross out moment that turns you off the entire film. In this case it's a diarrhoea scene, closely followed by Al Pacino's cameo as a shouty actor on the verge of a nervous breakdown. After more than an hour in Sadler's increasingly unfunny company you'll be feeling likewise.