The Longest Ride (12A)
two stars
Dir: George Tillman Jr
With: Scott Eastwood, Britt Robertson
Runtime: 128 minutes
SUMMERTIME, so it must be time for another Nicholas Sparks hearts, flowers and schmaltz-fest. The lovers here are cowboy Luke (Scott "son of Clint" Eastwood) and artsy type Sophia (Britt Robertson). Opposites attracted to each other, so can their relationship last like the marriage of their friend Ira (Alan Alda)? You can doubtless guess, but that is just the way fans of Sparks's romances like it, with director George Tillman Jr also keeping to a tried and tested formula that includes a sun dappled southern setting and jaw-dropping plot twists.
The Burning (15)
three stars
Dir: Pablo Fendrik
With: Gael Garcia Bernal, Alice Braga
Runtime: 98 minutes
A JAGUAR roams the Argentine forest, but far more dangerous to the local populace are the bandits there to get hold of the land by hook, crook, or kidnap. When Vania's family becomes a victim, only the mysterious Kai (Gael Garcia Bernal) seems in a position to help. Pablo Fendrik's drama adds a dash of mysticism to a plot straight out of an old school western, and while the dawdling pace is at odds with the tumultuous events depicted, the tale eventually catches fire.
Glasgow Film Theatre, June 19-25
The Saragossa Manuscript (15)
four stars
Dir: Wojciech J Has
With: Zbigniew Cybulski, Elzbieta Czyzewska
Runtime: 175 minutes
THE Martin Scorsese Presents selection of Polish cinema classics continues, this time at the Glasgow Film Theatre, with Wojciech J Has's fantasy drama - a true collector's item in world cinema. It is the Peninsular War and captain Alfonse Van Worden (Zbigniew Cybulski) has been left stranded and forced to cross the Sierra Morena mountains - home, legend has it, to evil spirits. As the captain continues his journey the astonishing sights and strangers he meets are either manifestations of his heat-crazed state, or the doomsayers were right. At five minutes short of three hours, this uncut version of The Saragossa Manuscript requires a heavy investment of your time, but the surreal visuals and Cybulski's performance in the lead rarely make one regret it setting out on the trek.
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