Other films

Dir: Pascal Chaumeil

With: Pierce Brosnan, Toni Collette

Runtime: 96 minutes

NICK Hornby's novel receives a genial adaptation, with Pierce Brosnan leading the pack of despairing souls as a disgraced TV presenter, Toni Collette as a desperate mum, Breaking Bad's Aaron Paul as a forlorn rocker and Imogen Poots as a poor little rich girl. Like the book, should not succeed in being uplifting, but courtesy of likeable performances it gets there in the end.

Back to Front, Peter Gabriel (PG)

Dir: Hamish Hamilton

Runtime: 98 minutes

HAMISH Hamilton's documentary was made to mark 25 years since the release of So, Gabriel's most audience pleasing album, and the crowd seen here at a live concert certainly enjoy themselves. Whether you feel the same depends on the level of fandom, but Gabriel, interviewed here with his band, shows he has lost nothing as a showman.

Tonight, 8pm, Cineworlds Renfrew Street, Glasgow; Queens Links, Aberdeen; Edinburgh

About Last Night (15)

Dir: Steve Pink

With: Kevin Hart, Regina Hall

Runtime: 100 minutes

THE Rob Lowe and Demi Moore comedy of the 1980s was hardly When Harry Met Sally, so one wonders why anyone thinks a remake is a good idea - especially one as bad as this. Michael Ely and Joy Bryant are the adorable couple who fall in love too quickly while their pals cannot stop bickering. Charmless and irritating, not even the addition of a puppy can save this date with disaster.

The Robber (15)

Dir: Benjamin Heisenberg

With: Andreas Lust, Florian Wotruba

Runtime: 101 minutes

JOHANN is just about to get out of prison for bank robbery. Far from hoping to land gainful employment, he cannot wait to pull another job. Benjamin Heisenberg's Vienna set crime drama is bleak but blistering and the story is, incredibly, based on a true tale.

Filmhouse, Edinburgh, March 21-26; Glasgow Film Theatre, April 1-3

Svengali (15)

Dir: John Hardwick

With: Jonny Owen, Alan McGee

Runtime: 93 minutes

ALAN McGee - yes, that Alan McGee of Oasis fame - tries his hand at acting in this cheap and cheerful Brit comedy about a lad from Wales who wants to manage a rock and roll band. Somebody has some good pals, as the likes of Martin Freeman and Maxine Peake also turn out. As for McGee's acting, maybe not give up the day job as a living legend just yet, mate.

Limited release and video on demand

Yves Saint Laurent (15)

Dir: Jalil Lespert

With: Pierre Niney, Charlotte Le Bon

Runtime: 106 minutes

THIS canter through the life of the famous fashion designer has style to burn. There is plenty in St Laurent's life to run down the catwalk, from his early years as a nervous young man trying to rewrite the fashion rules, to the later period of excess all areas, but director Jalil Lespert

conveys it all in such a plodding fashion the tale hangs limply.

Wake in Fright (18)

Dir: Ted Kotcheff

With: Gary Bond, Donald Pleasance

Runtime: 108 minutes

TED Kotcheff's shocking 1971 drama about a teacher's descent into depravity was once lost but then found by Martin Scorsese, who brought it back to Cannes where it first had its debut. A tough watch - the kangaroo hunt scenes are horrific - but rightly regarded as a landmark in Aussie cinema alongside Walkabout.

Cameo, Edinburgh, March 25 only

Bafta Shorts 2014 (15)

Dirs: Various

Runtime: 124 minutes

THE joy of shorts is that if you get bored, it is not too long till they are over. With this selection of Bafta finalists for 2014 there is no chance of falling asleep. The winners of the animation and drama categories are here in Sleeping with the Fishes and Room 8. Both are outstanding but the rest are well worth a look too.

Glasgow Film Theatre, March 23; Eden Court, Inverness, April 3-4

Salvo (12A)

Dirs: Fabio Grassadonia, Antonio Piazza

With: Saleh Bakri, Luigi Lo Cascio

Runtime: 110 minutes

SHOWING compassion is not in the job description of a Mafia hitman, and the titular Salvo (Saleh Bakri) is as professional as they come. Until, that is, he acquires a witness to one of his murders. Fabio Grassandonioa and Antonio Piazzas' Palermo-set thriller is a slow burn but ultra stylish and nicely moody affair.

Glasgow Film Theatre and Filmhouse, Edinburgh, March 21-27; Cameo, Edinburgh, April 29

The Machine (15)

Dir: Caradog James

With: Toby Stephens, Denis Lawson

Runtime: 89 minutes

All concerned try their best to be convincing in the tale of a researcher (Toby Stephens) searching for a robot that can function as a human, but silliness and a patchy script eventually fuse the circuitry.

Limited release and video on demand

Labor Day (12A)

Dir: Jason Reitman

With: Kate Winslet, Josh Brolin

Runtime: 111 minutes

FROM the director of Juno and Up in the Air comes something different. Adapted from Joyce Maynard's novel, Josh Brolin and Kate Winslet are the odd couple thrown together by circumstance over a steamy summer. The two turn in watchable performances, the Mills & Boon mood is laid on laughably thick at times.