Contagion (12A)
The prolific Steven Soderbergh turns his hand to the medical disaster genre in this tale about a viral pandemic. Among those caught up in the search for a vaccine (and exhibiting varying levels of hysteria) are Matt Damon, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kate Winslet and – because this is a global pandemic – French actress Marion Cotillard.
The Conformist (15)
Italian director Bernardo Bertolucci was only 29 in 1970 when he made this heavily stylised political allegory, set in 1938 and adapted from Alberto Moravia's novel. Jean-Louis Trintignant stars as a young fascist charged with assassinating his old philosophy professor, now a political exile. The film is visually stunning thanks to cinematography by Vittorio Storaro, who would go on to shoot Last Tango In Paris and Apocalypse Now. Extras include an excellent audio commentary by critic David Forgacs.
The Ides Of March (15)
Black-as-pitch drama about an apparently honest presidential candidate (George Clooney, who also directs) and the backroom team tasked with getting him elected, headed by a fast-rising strategist (Ryan Gosling). There are thrilleresque touches, but Clooney's film is essentially a study in political cynicism and a good one, too. Among a superb supporting cast are Philip Seymour Hoffman, Paul Giamatti and Evan Rachel Wood.
Jack Goes Boating (15)
Philip Seymour Hoffman (him again) stars in and directs this screen adaptation of Bob Glaudini's off-Broadway hit. Hoffman is the titular Jack, a reggae-loving New Yorker whose faltering love affair with shy Connie (Amy Ryan) is set against the disintegrating relationship of his friends Clyde (John Ortiz) and Lucy (Daphne Rubin-Vega). An actor's film, and all the better for it. The music's great too: the score is by Grizzly Bear and there's a starring role for The Melodians' rocksteady classic Rivers Of Babylon.
Barry Didcock
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