Film October.qxp_Layout 1 30/09/2020 16:45 Page 3
Film highlights released in October... The Courier CERT tbc (111 mins) Starring Benedict Cumberbatch, Merab Ninidze, Rachel Brosnahan Directed by Dominic Cooke (UK)
This autumn is certainly a bonanza season for spy-movie fans. Not only is there Jimmy Bond’s return (see opposite page) and A Call To Spy (see elsewhere on this page), there’s also this fascinating and true story of British businessman Greville Wynne (Benedict Cumberbatch). Along with his Russian source - Soviet spy Oleg Penkovsky - Wynne provided MI6 with crucial information that helped defuse the Cuban Missile Crisis back in 1962. The film made its bow, under the title Ironbark, at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, where it was warmly received. Released Fri 30 October
The War With Grandpa CERT PG
Starring Robert De Niro, Uma Thurman, Christopher Walken, Jane Seymour Directed by Tim Hill (USA)
Expect rude humour and pranks aplenty in this star-studded romp from the admittedly not always reliable shared pen of Tom J Astle and Matt Ember, whose previous writing credits include the execrable rom-com, Failure To Launch. Tim Hill’s the man at the helm, so if you’ve loved his previous work - including Muppets From Space, Alvin And The Chipmunks, The
SpongeBob SquarePants Movie and Garfield: A Tail Of Two Kitties - a right royal laughter fest may well be on the cards for you. The storyline’s a straightforward one. Sixthgrader and all-round-average kid Peter (Oakes Fegley) is none too pleased when his recently widowed grandfather, Ed (De Niro), not only moves into the family home but is also given his bedroom. What’s an ousted boy to do but try his very best to get the uberannoying pensioner to sling his elderly hook... Problem is, it turns out Ed isn’t interested in going anywhere without a fight.. Released Fri 16 October
Cordelia CERT tbc (88 mins)
A Call To Spy CERT tbc (123 mins)
Starring Michael Gambon, Johnny Flynn, Catherine McCormack, Alun Armstrong Directed by Adrian Shergold (USA)
Starring Sarah Megan Thomas, Stana Katic, Radhika Apte, Linus Roache Directed by Lydia Dean Pilcher (USA)
Haunted by past events, a young woman starts to unravel when she’s left alone in her apartment... “I wanted to explore one weekend in this character’s life, where everything starts to implode for her,” explains the film’s director, Adrian Shergold. “Did this happen? Is this weekend real? Or is it a figment of Cordelia’s imagination?”
What do you get if you bring together a female British intelligence officer, an American woman with a wooden leg and a female Indian Muslim pacifist?... A brand spanking new Nazi-fighting spy unit, that’s what! Inspired by true stories, A Call To Spy follows the adventures of three ‘plucky gals’ as they play a key role in undermining the Nazi regime in France during World War Two. The movie has done outstandingly well at numerous film festivals - including Canada’s annual Whistler event, at which 97% of people chose it as their favourite movie.
Released Fri 23 October
Released Fri 23 October 26 whatsonlive.co.uk
Relic CERT PG (89 mins) Starring Emily Mortimer, Robyn Nevin, Bella Heathcote, Jeremy Stanford Directed by Natalie Erika James (UK)
When the elderly Edna goes missing, daughter Kay and granddaughter Sam travel to her creaky old house in the mist-shrouded forest and end up experiencing more than they bargained for... Australian director Natalie Erika James’ feature debut is a sinister nail-biter that received a massive thumbs-up when it premiered at Sundance early this year. Released Fri 30 October
