THE AMERICAN (15)
FOLLOWING a bungled assassination attempt in Sweden, hit man Jack (George Clooney) decides to abandon the killing game once and for all. He telephones handler Pavel (Johan Leysen), who suggests that Jack should lay low in the Italian town of Castelvecchio. The hit man drives to the remote community and on the spur of the moment, he disobeys orders and sets up camp in nearby Castel Del Monte. By day, Jack keeps himself busy by constructing a custom-made weapon for mysterious client, Mathilde (Thekla Reuten). By night, he enjoys the carnal delights of local prostitute, Clara (Violante Placido). As Jack’s paranoia takes hold, he seeks counsel from local holy man, Father Benedetto (Paolo Bonacelli).
STAR RATING: ***
THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNETS’ NEST (15)
LISBETH Salander (Noomi Rapace) stands accused of multiple murders in the final chapter of the Millennium trilogy, based on the award-winning books by Stieg Larsson. The police, led by Inspector Jan Bublanski (Johan Kylen), are convinced that she is guilty but tenacious journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Michael Nyqvist) scents a cover-up. So he sets out to prove her innocence and expose the shocking truth on the pages of his magazine, Millennium. He races against time with editor Erika Berger (Lena Endre) to unearth incontrovertible proof of the hacker’s innocence. The stakes couldn’t be higher: If Lisbeth is found guilty, she will be sent back to a psychiatric ward under the care of abusive physician, Dr Teleborian (Anders Ahlbom Rosendahl).
STAR RATING: ****
HARRY POTTER AND THE DEATHLY HALLOWS: PART 1 (12A)
THIS follows on from the shocking events of Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince with Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) facing the renewed threat from Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and the Death Eaters. The nefarious Lord Voldemort and his followers continue to grow in power, threatening everything that Dumbledore (Michael Gambon) and his followers hold dear. With Hogwarts in disarray, Harry, Ron and Hermione embark on a perilous quest to track down the mysterious Horcruxes and stop the forces of darkness from taking a stranglehold over the wizarding world.
STAR RATING: ****
THE ILLUSIONIST (PG)
SYLVAIN Chornet brings Jacques Tati’s final script to beautifully rendered life in this gentle, almost silent animation. A French illusionist goes to Scotland to find work as the advent of rock ‘n’ roll is turning his world into a bygone age. A young girl from the outer isles sees his act and follows him to Edinburgh enchanted by both the magic of the illusionist’s tricks and the glamour of the city. Showing at Clwyd Theatr Cymru in Mold from December 7-8.
STAR RATING: ****
LONDON BOULEVARD (18)
COLIN Farrell stars as Mitchel, an ex-con who emerges from Pentonville Prison ready to make a fresh start. Lacking funds and a place to stay, it’s not long before Mitchel’s sucked back into London’s underbelly alongside his old mate, Billy (Ben Chaplin). Mitchel’s success on the streets soon catches the eye of ruthless crime boss Gant (Ray Winstone). Seeing Mitchel as a potentially valuable asset, Gant extends a lucrative job offer to him – only for it to be rebuffed in no uncertain terms. As Mitchel is soon to discover to his detriment, no one turns down Gant and the final third of the film becomes increasingly vicious in a deadly game of cat and mouse.
STAR RATING: ***
