She's Funny That Way (12A)
three stars
Dir: Peter Bogdanovich
With: Imogen Poots, Owen Wilson
Runtime: 92 minutes
PETER Bogdanovich makes a hit, miss, but still entertaining attempt to revive the screwball comedies of old with this multi-star vehicle. Imogen Poots plays Isabelle, one of those unbelievably happy hookers who would rather like to get into acting. When she meets successful director Arnold (Owen Wilson) he offers to change her life, no strings attached. Cue a stream of farcical entanglements as Arnold's wife appears, his Broadway show begins, and many another complication ensues. It's all very silly but nicely brought together by Bogdanovich, and good to see his muse of old, Cybill Shepherd, on duty. The one who steals the picture, though, is Jennifer Aniston playing a misanthropic therapist. Between this and her turn as a painkiller addict in the comedy drama Cake, the former Friends star just gets better and better.
The Long Good Friday (18)
four stars
Dir: John Mackenzie
With: Bob Hoskins, Helen Mirren
Runtime: 111 minutes
BOB Hoskins played an absolute blinder as gang boss Harold Shand in this British crime classic, now being reissued in a bright new print. Directed by Edinburgh's John Mackenzie, who cut his teeth on such Plays for Today as Just a Boys' Game, The Long Good Friday was first released in 1980 and was so on the money about how Docklands, London, and the UK, was changing one would think Barrie Keeffe had employed a fortune teller to help him with the story. Ferociously violent in parts - remember the meathooks - intensely political but never in an obvious way, with a cracking tale of gang warfare at its core, The Long Good Friday was to be much imitated but it is doubtful if it was ever bettered as a British gangster picture. If you need any more persuading to see it again on the big screen, Helen Mirren is Hoskins' screen equal as his luvverly wife Victoria.
Glasgow Film Theatre, June 28 and 30.
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