The Choir (PG)
three stars
Dir: Francois Girard
With: Dustin Hoffman, Garrett Wareing
Runtime: 103 minutes
THE inspirational teacher tale has been so done to death you may feel a yawn coming on at the thought of yet another one. But how about Dustin Hoffman playing the Mr Chips in question? And some sublime music to go with his performance? Garrett Wareing plays Stet, a troubled boy who ends up at an elite boarding school run by Hoffman's Master Carvelle. Singing is the school's speciality, and Stet has the voice for it, but whether the other boys will accept him is another matter. Nothing original here, but a well played piece all round.
Feature: page 28
Station to Station (12A)
three stars
Dir: Doug Aitken
Runtime: 70 minutes
OVER 24 days a train ran from New York to San Francisco, taking on board artists and other creatives who would stop every now and then to stage "happenings" ranging from a marching band performance to laser shows. Sounds very Sixties, but as Doug Aitken's engaging documentary shows, the creative chaos turned out to be a neat way of portraying contemporary America. If only the journey from Glasgow Central to London Euston could be like this.
Glasgow Film Theatre, tonight; DCA, Dundee, July 10-16
Dear White People (15)
three stars
Dirs: Justin Simien, Adriano Serrano
With: Tyler James Williams, Tessa Thompson
Runtime: 106 minutes
ON an American campus an electoral fight is taking place between smooth operator Troy and radical feminist Sam (Tessa Thompson). Who best speaks for black students is the core of this comedy drama with added political bite. Gleefully taking no prisoners when it comes to race in America, Dear White People has more than a touch of the teen soap opera about it at times, but there is a lot of talent at work here, Thompson especially.
This is Spinal Tap (15)
four stars
Dir: Rob Reiner
With: Christopher Guest, Harry Shearer
Runtime: 79 minutes
OKAY, it is 31 years old, you have seen it countless times, but I defy anyone not to find themselves turning the laughter dial up to 11 when Rob Reiner's comedy classic shows on the big screen again next week.
Glasgow Film Theatre, July 15, 18.20
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