CINEMA
‘Funny Cow’s’ painfully unfunny face of comedy “Funny Cow” (MA) THE theme of the clown who lives by making people laugh but whose own life is filled with personal grief is well enough known – think “Pagliacci”. Adrian Shergold’s film offers a 20th century view of a clown who defies the mould. We never know the registered name of the waif from a working-class Leeds neighbourhood. In childhood, she must learn to fend for herself. As an adult, she suffers outrageous fortune’s slings and arrows not always without complaint, understanding that a life full of nothing to rejoice about can only get better, but there are no guarantees. “Funny Cow” the movie, written by Tony Pitts, offers a tour de force performance from Maxine Peake. To Australian audiences, her long filmography may be mainly TV series and short films. She has played in films written by Shakespeare, from “Hamlet” to “Titania”. She’s perhaps best known here as Martha Costello QC in the BBC’s excellent legal series “Silk”. Her command of nuances that need a camera’s closeness to exploit to best advantage is profound. The men in Funny Cow’s life don’t come out all that well – an abusive father, a domineering, selfish husband, even Angus whose educated cultural preferences are beyond her comprehension. Stand-up comedian Lenny (Alun Armstrong), whose understanding of life’s realities is a burden hard to bear, lacks the inner strength to survive in the harsh craft of amusing a pub
In 1789, the framers of the US Constitution could never have imagined the court’s influence on daily life today in a country where the rule of law encompasses modern attitudes and procedures. RBG, as she is affectionately known, is a physically diminutive legal powerhouse. The film examines several of the landmark cases on which she sat. She has championed the rights of minorities unable to speak for themselves. Her judgements come directly to the point of the cases before the court. Directed by Julie Cohen and Betsy West, “RBG” delivers a family portrait and professional CV of an unexpected pop culture icon, documenting her life and achievements with care, affection and forthright energy. It’s entertaining at every step, often amusing, always respectful not merely for the judicial office she occupies. She is not a woman to mess about with.
full of working-class men with jokes that are less than funny. In final analysis, “Funny Cow” is a film about comedy that’s not funny. It has moments that bring gales of laughter but it delves into its heroine’s psyche hoping eventually to find emotional comfort that its social environment cannot provide. It’s a great film. At Capitol 6, Palace Electric and Dendy
At all cinemas
“RBG” (PG)
“The Breaker Upperers” (M)
THIS acronymic title announces Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the second woman to become an associate justice in the US Supreme Court. A dry subject for a movie? It depends on your point of view of the rights of the common man and woman.
IN recent years, NZ filmmakers have made some great comedies. Belonging among them only for the accents of its characters, “The Breaker Upperers” written by, directed
Y K N I T S ents Circus Trick Tease pres
E R A N E R D L I H C
…IMPRESSED, AMAZED, CAPTIVATED!
Fresh from a smash hit, Award winning, 5 star, SELL OUT season at the Edinburgh Fringe, Children are Stinky is a show to be seen! It’s packed with lots of fun, lightning fast Hula Hooping, dare devil balances, astounding strength, incredible acrobatics and loads of comedy
20 CityNews August 2-8, 2018
At Palace Electric and Dendy
Maxine Peake in “Funny Cow”... her command of nuances that need a camera’s closeness to exploit to best advantage is profound.
by and featuring Madeleine Sami and Jackie van Beek is not one of them. It purports to tell a story about two women providing a service to couples of whom one is fed up with the relationship and wishes to break the union. There could be worse themes for a comedy. But theme alone cannot cut it in the real world. This one certainly doesn’t. Leaving the cinema, my eye caught a big lobby sheet proclaiming its benefits on which the word “Hilarious” stood out, six times. Methinks, I thought, those ladies protest too much. A couple of rows behind me, one bloke had roared with laughter several times. The rest was silence. Hilarious needs more audience response than that. I left “The Breaker Upperers” wishing I’d selected the actioner “Beirut” starring delectable Rosamund Pike to be the third and final film of my day watching movies. You can’t win ‘em all!
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Stunning acrobatics & explosive charisma leave both parents and children awestruck. Non-stop interactive fun! 5/5 Fringe Biscuit Children are Stinky holds the whole tent spellbound, with a mixture of lively humour and truly amazing acrobatics. Fringe Review
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WED 5 SEP 10:30 AM FRI 7 SEP 10.30 AM WED 5 SEP 1:00 PM FRI 7 SEP 1.00 PM ENQUIRE ABOUT SPECIAL PRICE FOR SCHOOLS
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