Visual arts pages 2010

This page is part of our Visual Arts section and covers films and cinemas in Leicester.

Cinemas in Leicester

19th August

By Adam Taylor

‘The girl who played with fire’ is a Swedish produced film, is the second in the ‘Millenium’ trilogy and is the sequel to ’The girl with the dragon tattoo’. It is the second film to be made from the original novels of Stieg Larsson.

It is based around Lisbeth Salander who is something of a loner, when we are first introduced to her. We know very little about Lisbeth until about half way through the film when we begin to understand a little about why she seems to be such an introvert.

We are initially introduced to Dag and Micke. Dag is a budding, enthusiastic free lance journalist who is looking for backing as he has built up a report on the illegal trade of trafficking young girls for prostitution.

He approaches Micke the chief editor of Millenium, one of Sweden’s top magazines and they agree to help him publish the shocking truth behind the scandal. Along the way the team discover that the corruption runs deep through the countries legal network and involves high powered individuals ranging from lawyers, solicitors, psychiatrists, district attorneys and even police officers.

We are quickly re-introduced to Lisbeth as the plot takes a sudden twist when several people begin to appear to be targeted for their part in the report. Lisbeth is traced to the scene of one murder in particular and she then becomes the sole target of the police force's efforts to track down a killer. Little do they know that the mystery surrounding the murders runs deeper than they could ever imagine.

As a result what ensues is one hell of a crime thriller, involving speedy car chases, legal corruption, emotional battles with past demons and one of, if not the best thrillers I have seen in the last few years.

Being a Swedish produced film it is entirely subtitled but this does not detract from the story on show. It is one of only a few subtitled films that I have personally watched and

I have to admit, I didn’t really know what to expect when sitting down to begin watching. What followed was honestly one of the best cinematic experiences I have ever had. Throughout the film I was on tenterhooks as I began to wonder where the film was going to end, and that’s not to say that I struggled to keep up with the story, more that the story was just so intriguing and kept me guessing all the way through. I really enjoyed seeing what ‘foreign’ cinema had to offer and the acting that was on show would show up many a mainstream actor.

The mere fact that Lisbeth, played by Noomi Rapace, has had no acting training whatsoever tells its own tale. She had a screen presence that can’t be taught or trained and really kept the viewers attention with her brilliant portrayal of an emotionally scarred young woman trying to find some kind sure footing in her life.

Alongside her, Michael Nyqvist proved just as brilliant as her friend and the magazines editor Micke, who tries to help uncover the awful truth regarding Lisbeth’s apparent misdemeanours.

Watching this film has given me a new respect for ‘foreign’ cinema and indeed makes me want to watch the prequel, ‘The girl with the dragon tattoo’. The film is scheduled for release on August 27th Nationwide and I would say that you will not see many better films this year. So if you have seen the prequel do not miss out on the second offering. Equally if your looking for a mind bending, excitement filled thriller with twists and turns that will make your jaw hit the floor, then get yourself down to the cinema and spend some worth while money on the second part of this instantly classic trilogy.

The girl who played with fire will be released nation-wide on August 27th.

Cinemas in leicester

Phoenix Square - Digital Media Centre

4 Midland Street
Leicester
LE1 1TG

Tel: 0116 242 2800

Phoenix Square web site

Located in Leicester's Cultural Quarter, Phoenix Square is a newly built complex housing an independent arts Cinema, digital gallery, flats, studios and a cafe bar.

The quiz proved to be a big hit last month, so book early to avoid disappointment. FILM The superbly constructed thriller, The Disappearance of Alice Creed cleverly involves just 3 actors and pretty much a single set - it's tough, absorbing and definitely for grown-ups! Shed Your Tears and Walk Away is set in Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire which, despite its idyllic facade, has one of the highest suicide rates in the country - this is a sympathetic portrait of reasoning.

September films at the Phoenix

Contact: 0116 242 2842

Wed 1 S1 The Girl Who Played With Fire (15) 4pm, 7pm S2 The Illusionist (PG) 4.15pm, 6.15pm S2 Gay Sex in the 70s (18) 8.15pm S2 Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (3D) (PG) 1pm

Thu 2 S1 The Girl Who Played With Fire (15) 4pm, 7pm S2 The Illusionist (PG) 4.15pm S2 Gay Sex in the 70s (18) 7.15pm S2 Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore (3D) (PG) 1.15pm

Fri 3 S1 The Girl Who Played With Fire (15) 2pm, 7.15pm S1 The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (PG) 4.30pm S1 Cinema Bambino: The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (PG) 11am S2 White Material (15) 2.30pm, 6.45pm S2 And Then Came Lola (15) 5pm S2 Gay Sex in the 70s (18) 9pm

Sat 4 S1 The Girl Who Played With Fire (15) 3pm, 8.15pm S1 The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (PG) 12.30pm, 5.45pm S2 White Material (15) 1pm, 5.30pm S2 And Then Came Lola (15) 3.30pm, 8pm

Sun 5 S1 The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (PG) 12pm S1 The Girl Who Played With Fire (15) 6pm, 8.45pm S1 Raavan (12A) 3pm S2 Victim (PG) 12.15pm, 6.15pm S2 White Material (15) 3.15pm, 8.30pm

Mon 6 S1 The Girl Who Played With Fire (15) 3.15pm, 8.45pm S1 The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (PG) 6.15pm S2 I Am Love (15) 1pm, 6.05pm S2 White Material (15) 3.30pm, 8.30pm

Tue 7 S1 The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (PG) 4.15pm S1 The Girl Who Played With Fire (15) 6.30pm S2 I Am Love (15) 4.30pm S2 Mother (15) 1.30pm

Wed 8 S1 The Girl Who Played With Fire (15) 4.30pm S1 The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (PG) 7pm S2 Mother (15) 4.45pm S2 Children of God (15) 7.30pm

Thu 9 S1 The Girl Who Played With Fire (15) 7pm S1 The Sorcerer’s Apprentice (PG) 4.30pm S2 Children of God (15) 4.45pm S2 Mother (15) 7.15pm

Fri 10 S1 Tamara Drewe (15) 1pm, 3.30pm, 6.10pm, 8.30pm S2 Avatar: Special Edition (12A) 2.30pm, 6.05pm S2 The Human Centipede (18) 9.15pm S2 Cinema Bambino: Avatar: Special Edition (12A) 11am

Sat 11 S1 Tamara Drewe (15) 12.30pm, 3pm, 5.30pm, 8pm S2 Avatar: Special Edition (12A) 1pm, 4.45pm S2 The Human Centipede (18) 8.15pm

Sun 12 S1 Tamara Drewe (15) 12pm, 2.30pm, 5pm, 7.30pm S2 Avatar: Special Edition (15) 12.30pm, 7pm S2 The Human Centipede (18) 4pm

Mon 13 S1 Tamara Drewe (15) 1pm, 3.30pm, 6.05pm, 8.15pm S2 Avatar: Special Edition (12A) 2.15pm, 7.45pm S2 The Fish Child (15) 5.30pm S3 The Human Centipede (18) 8pm

Tue 14 S1 Tamara Drewe (15) 6.15pm, 8.30pm S2 The Fish Child (15) 6.05pm S2 Avatar: Special Edition (12A) 8.15pm S3 The Human Centipede (18) 8pm

Wed 15 S1 Tamara Drewe (15) 6.10pm, 8.30pm S2 Mid-August Lunch (U) 6.05pm S2 Avatar: Special Edition (12A) 8pm

Thu 16 S1 Tamara Drewe (15) 4.30pm, 7pm S2 Avatar: Special Edition (12A) 5pm S2 Mid-August Lunch (U) 8.30pm

Fri 17 S1 Certified Copy (12A) 1pm, 6.15pm S1 The Secret in their Eyes (18) 3.15pm, 8.30pm S2 SoulBoy (15) 1.30pm, 6.05pm S2 Tamara Drewe (15) 3.30pm, 8pm S2 Cinema Bambino: Ladies & Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones (PG) 11am S3 Ladies & Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones (PG) 3pm, 6.30pm, 8pm

Sat 18 S1 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (U) 12pm S1 Certified Copy (12A) 6.15pm S1 The Secret in their Eyes (18) 3pm, 8.30pm S2 SoulBoy (15) 3.15pm, 8.15pm S2 Tamara Drewe (15) 12.30pm, 5.45pm S3 Ladies & Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones (PG) 3pm, 6.05pm, 8pm

Sun 19 S1 Certified Copy (12A) 12pm, 5pm S1 The Secret in their Eyes (18) 2.15pm, 7.30pm S2 Tamara Drewe (15) 12.30pm, 5.15pm S2 Bread and Tulips (12A) 3pm S2 SoulBoy (15) 7.45pm S3 Ladies & Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones (PG) 6pm, 8pm

Mon 20 S1 Certified Copy (12A) 3.45pm, 8.45pm S1 The Secret in their Eyes (18) 1pm, 6.05pm S2 Tamara Drewe (15) 1.30pm, 6.15pm S2 SoulBoy (15) 4pm, 8.30pm S3 Ladies & Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones (PG) 3pm, 6.30pm, 8pm

Tue 21 S1 The Secret in their Eyes (18) 8.30pm S1 Certified Copy (12A) 3.45pm S2 Tamara Drewe (15) 8.15pm S2 SoulBoy (15) 6.15pm S3 Ladies & Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones (PG) 6.30pm

Wed 22 S1 Certified Copy (12A) 6.05pm S1 The Secret in their Eyes (18) 8.20pm S2 SoulBoy (15) 8.30pm S2 Tamara Drewe (15) 6.15pm S3 Ladies & Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones (PG) 4.45pm

Thu 23 S1 The Secret in their Eyes (18) 3.30pm S1 Certified Copy (12A) 8.30pm S2 Tamara Drewe (15) 4pm S2 Welcome to the Sticks (12A) 6.30pm S2 Eyes Wide Open (12) 8.45pm S3 Ladies & Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones (PG) 6.45pm

Fri 24 S1 The Wildest Dream: The Conquest of Everest (PG) 2pm, 4.30pm S1 Cinema Bambino The Wildest Dream (PG) 11am S1 The Leopard (PG) 6.30pm S2 The Runaways (15) 2.15pm, 7pm S2 Plan B (15) 4.45pm

Sat 25 S1 The Wildest Dream: The Conquest of Everest (PG) 1.15pm, 3.45pm S2 The Golem (PG) 7.30pm S2 Plan B (15) 1.45pm, 7pm (S1) S2 The Runaways (15) 4pm

Sun 26 S1 The Leopard(PG) 1.30pm S1 The Wildest Dream: The Conquest of Everest (PG) 5.15pm S1 Pianomania (PG) 7.30pm S2 The Runaways(15) 12pm, 4.30pm, 7pm

Mon 27 S1 The Leopard (PG) 6.30pm S1 The Wildest Dream: The Conquest of Everest (PG) 1.30pm, 3.45pm S2 Villa Amalia (PG) 1pm, 6.10pm S2 The Runaways (15) 3.30pm, 8.15pm

Tue 28 S1 The Leopard (PG) 7.30pm S1 The Wildest Dream: The Conquest of Everest (PG) 3pm S2 The Runaways(15) 6.15pm S2 Villa Amalia(PG) 8.30pm

Wed 29 S1 The Wildest Dream: The Conquest of Everest (PG) 3pm S1 Cinema Paradiso (PG) 7.30pm S2 The Runaways (15) 4.30pm S2 Women Without Men (15) 7.15pm

Thu 30 S1 The Wildest Dream: The Conquest of Everest (PG) 6.05pm S1 Cinema Paradiso (PG) 8.15pm S2 The Runaways (15) 6.15pm S2 Women Without Men (15) 8.30pm

To see other films showing this month visit the Phoenix web site films page.