Shadow Dancer
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Dir: James Marsh
With: Andrea Riseborough, Clive Owen
BRITISH director James Marsh is a good friend of the Edinburgh International Film Festival. He brought the Oscar-winning documentary Man on Wire here, then Project Nim, and now he comes bearing this taut and thoughtful thriller set during the Troubles. Andrea Riseborough is outstanding as the Belfast woman who finds herself locked into one side of the struggle, while the ever watchable Clive Owen is the British agent on the other. Adapted from Tom Bradby's novel, this is a classic British thriller along the lines of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy. Shot in the same sludgy tones and drenched in fag smoke, it has a note-perfect feel for the grisly political times in which it is set. While not without the odd flaw (at one point the story seems to jump the rails entirely), Marsh keeps the tension as tight as two coats of paint.
Tonight, 20.15; tomorrow, 19.30, Filmhouse
Berberian Sound Studio
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Dir: Peter Strickland
With: Toby Jones, Antonio Mancino
THERE were high hopes for this drama set in the world of Italian horror movies of the Seventies. Though stylishly done, and featuring the usual commanding turn from Toby Jones (Frost/Nixon, Infamous), Berberian Sound Studio ultimately proves mostly show with very little punch. Jones plays a British sound engineer persuaded to come to Italy to lend his talents to a home-grown horror movie. Out of his depth both in the genre and the culture, Gilderoy (Jones) finds his heart sinking as the film progresses. The story proves to be under a similar strain, coming on strong at the beginning only to become increasingly unhinged and baffling. Strickland (Katalin Varga) puts on a handsome show while it lasts, and slides in a few clever jokes about early Italian horror movies – screaming women, "dangerously aroused goblins" and all – while he is at it.
Tonight, 18.00, Sunday, 18.45, Filmhouse
Brave
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Dir: Mark Andrews
Voices: Kelly Macdonald, Billy Connolly
THE film festival bows out with the UK premiere of Brave, another dazzling demonstration of animation by those computer-clever folks at Pixar. Set in the mists of time in a very bonnie Scotland, this is the tale of tomboyish Merida who rebels against tradition. She has the courage of her convictions but will she have what it takes to face the consequences? Kelly Macdonald is the voice of feisty Merida, with Billy Connolly as her dad, Emma Thompson as her mum and the rest of Scotland's A-list actors in other parts. With jewel-bright colours and luxurious detail in everything from Merida's red lava locks to the hair of her Clydesdale horse, Brave looks utterly gorgeous. Though the story is very simple by Pixar standards – don't expect a Wall.E – Mark Andrews's film looks wonderful, it's funny and it's bright, and this being a film from the makers of Toy Story and Up, you can look forward to a wee greet too.
Tomorrow, 20.15, Sunday, 10.00, Festival Theatre
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