arts & entertainment
Batman’s big buzz for the underdeveloped “The Dark Knight Rises” (M) ONE shouldn’t expect high intellectual stimulation from Christopher Nolan’s film about a man wearing a funny hat and a big black cape as he goes about ridding the city of bad guys. Its theme of destroying the structure of modern government so the populace may do as it pleases earns few points for credibility. While the film’s action passages and hightech toys may delight older single-digit ages, the rest may be beyond their ken. Adolescents may get a buzz from its mindless violence dragged out to excite minds yet to be fully developed. Adults may recognise its references to the parlous condition of modern civilisation, but take scant satisfaction from the solutions it proposes. Realists who suspend their better judgement and see it anyway will likely come away wondering why. Its 164 minutes’ running time may well tire all ages. So what’s good about it? The editing may
Dougal Macdonald
“The Door” (M)
cinema
get a nomination at the next Oscars. Anne Hathaway is a shapely anti-heroine. Michael Caine as Batman’s major domo, Morgan Freeman as Bruce Wayne’s scientific adviser and Gary Oldman as Gotham City’s new police commissioner like his father before him, Tom Hardy as the biggest, nastiest villain wearing headgear reminiscent of Hannibal Lecter and Marion Cotillard as a lady who waits until the last reel to show her true colours, do their best within the parameters of the screenplay. Christian Bale as Batman does not thrill. Batman traditionally eschews the use of firearms. Praiseworthy. But a disadvantage when confronting foes who use guns and rockets a lot. And the old chestnut about the hidden nuclear bomb with a timer ticking away is a Hollywood cliché long past its use-by date. At all cinemas
Helen Mirren... portrayal of Emerenc offers a wonderful theatrical experience.
‘Ngapartji’ winners Winners of the double passes to see the hit play “Ngapartji Ngapartji one” at The Playhouse are: Bronwyn Gasking, of Civic; Barbara McCauley, Belconnen; Tim Laris, Lyneham and Debra Speldewinde, Holder.
IN 1987, Hungarian novelist Magda Szabo published a novel about the relationship between a novelist and her housekeeper. In 2009 director Istvan Szabo (no relation) made this film adaptation of that novel. It’s no blockbuster offering mindless escapism for the milling throng. But for intelligent observers of the human condition, the wait is worthwhile. In the early ‘60s, Magda (Martina Gedeck) and Tibor (Karoly Eperjes) have moved to a new apartment in a Budapest suburb so she can write her novel. Across the road, a middle-aged woman sweeps the dead leaves from the footpath. Magda asks her if she might come and clean their apartment. So begins an ongoing, sometimes frustrating, always rewarding for the film goer, relationship between two strong women of different outlook. The sweeper is Emerenc, who lives
alone and does not socialise beyond the courtyard of her apartment block. Her neighbours have never seen inside her flat. Her stocky body clad in drab clothing proclaims a woman who has survived Nazi and Communist regimes by force of will. Her family history has toughened her spirit. She accepts friendships on her terms alone. Helen Mirren’s portrayal of Emerenc offers a wonderful theatrical experience. Emerenc has suppressed inner compassion for reasons that slowly emerge as the story unfolds. The hardships of her life since childhood have shaped her view of humanity. For her, life’s purpose offers few consolations. And friendship is an emotion to be dispensed with caution. The film is in English so a dislike for subtitles is no ground for avoiding it. It deserves to be seen. At Greater Union
Looking for alternatives Helen Musa arts in the city
CRAFT ACT and Canberra Contemporary Art Space, are turning on a series of presentations and panel discussions by “industry leaders” (an appalling term when applied to the arts) and arts gurus on Fridays August 3 and 10. The idea is to look at funding alternatives, procedures, networking and luring in the media. “Come along to find out how, as an artist, you can make money and influence people,” the blurb reads. Gosh, I’m one of the speakers and I wish I knew the answers. Bookings essential, to 6262 9333 or michelle. symons@craftact.org.au FORMER Canberran Ed Wightman is in town directing Shelagh Stephenson’s play, “The Memory of Water”, for Canberra Repertory, August 3-18 at Theatre 3. Three sisters and their partners gather at their mother’s funeral. Wightman has assembled a star cast and production team, the latter headed up by set designer Quentin Mitchell. Bookings to 6257 1950. MELBOURNE printmaker Cat Poljski’s work reflects urban encounters. She’s currently showing “Imagined Cities” at FORM Studio and Gallery until July 29 at 1/30 Aurora Avenue, Queanbeyan. “MOTHERHOOD The Musical” is a kind of prequel to “Menopause the Musical”. This time we meet Barb, stressed-out mother of five, lawyer Brooke who barely sees her kids, single mum Trisha and very pregnant Amy. Comedy, pathos, songs, laughs. At The Q, Queanbeyan, August 14-19, bookings to 6285 6290 |or www.theq.net.au SLAM poet Miles Merrill, here for the Capital Jazz Project, sees a lot of inauthentic rapping and poetry at his touring workshops, but admired the kid from Wagga who described his home town as “such a big hole it echoes” – get it? Wagga Wagga! WESLEY Music Foundation and the Music Teachers’ Association of NSW are holding an afternoon with composer Ann Carr-Boyd at Wesley, 1pm-5pm, on Sunday, July 29, 1-5pm. Information at www. wesleycanberra.org.au/music 6254 6133 or 6254 9423. THEN on Wednesday, August 1, classical guitarist, 22 CityNews July 26-August 1
Cat Poljski’s “Block City Project”, showing at FORM Studio and Gallery. Matt Withers, will perform works by G. Regondi, J. S. Bach and S. Smith at Wesley Music Centre, 12.40 to 1.20pm, $2 or paper note entry. No bookings required. FRAMING Matters in Captain Cook Crescent, Griffith, is holding an exhibition of work by Michelle Day, Meelan Oh, Julie Sabur, Craig Shipton, Jo Shore and Sarah opening on August 2 to mark the 11th birthday of a business whose owners say every item they frame “has value, both emotional and heritage.”