American Women's Club of Hamburg Currents Magazine November/December 2013 | Page 25

AR TS & ENTER TAINMENT
(D’Leo) marks his turf at school with fists and cash. Their
daughter Belle (Agron) gets in the swing  by backhanding an
aggressive classmate who thought she was easy game. Not exactly
the low profile that Agent Stansfield wants them to keep. A rather
tongue in cheek humorous “family” film where the simple story
line is kept taut by the genius of De Niro who is well supported
by the rest of the family. (Mary W.)

Only Lovers Left Alive ****
USA 2013
Starts December 19, 2013
Directed by: Jim Jarmusch

Writing credits: Jim Jarmusch
Cast: Tom Hiddleston, Tilda Swinton, Anton Yelchin, Jeffrey
Wright, John Hurt, Mia Wasikowska, Slimane Dazi, Carter
Logan
Length: 123 minutes
Writer/director Jim Jarmusch keeps the storyline simple: two
Vampires’ centuries long love is threatened. Different by nature
and living on different continents poses challenges, but the
opening parallel shots establish they are soul mates. Contrary
to Jarmusch’s existential The Limits of Control (2009), the lucid
treatment here opens a whole new perspective on the vampire
persona.

Adore (Tage am Strand) ****
Starts November 28 2013
In Adore, Roz (Robin Wright) falls in love with Ian (Xavier
Samuel), Lil’s son, and Lil (Naomi Watts) with Tom (James
Frecheville), Roz’s son. Roz and Lil raised both boys as if they
were brothers. So what do we call the phenomenon of a mother
falling in love with her almost child? Adore offers much room
for labels, the “Oedipal Complex” being the most obvious one.
I liked the fact that this movie leaves room for interpretation
and forced me to reevaluate my own beliefs. Also, the scenery
was beautiful and the acting of the four main characters sensual.
(Katia T.)

The Way Way Back ****
Starts December 5
Sitting in the way way back (the bench seat facing backward) of
a ‘70s classic automobile, driving toward a small seaside town in
Cape Cod, 14-year old Duncan (Liam James) endures belittling
comments made to him from his soon-to-be stepfather, Trent
(Steve Carell). Duncan’s Mom, Pam (Toni Collette) and Trent’s
snotty daughter Steph (Zoe Levin) sleep through the encounter.
A disappointing welcome to Duncan’s summer vacation at the
beach house. Duncan’s awkward adolescence phase does not
allow him to communicate his feelings: rejection by his father,
the abandonment by his mother as she lives for the next drink
or joint with the neighbors, observing Trent cheating on his
mother, and the frustration of not fitting in with his peers.
Duncan finds escape from his new make-shift family by exploring
the town on a pink Stingray bike. He stops for a bite to eat at
the local fast food place and meets Owen (Sam Rockwell)
playing pac-man. Owen offers him a summer job at his family
run business--the town’s famous water park. Duncan joins the
Water Wizz rag-tag team and finds his summer happy place until
his vacation is rudely cut short. Duncan calls Trent out on his
selfish behavior toward his mother. Trent’s ego is deflated. He can
not handle the challenge by the 14 year old. On the long drive
home, Pam chooses to get in the way, way back to commune
with Duncan who has made her very proud. (Karen P.)
Currents November/December 2013

Self-obsessed Adam’s (Hiddleston) “wilderness” is Detroit,
Michigan, USA, whereas “ruthless” survivor Eve’s (Swinton)
at home in Tangier, Morocco, Africa. Time: present-future.
With sources so contaminated both procure pure blood from
hospitals: Adam as Dr. Faust from Dr. Watson (Wright), and Eve
through dear friend Christopher Marlowe (Hurt). A musician/
composer extraordinaire, after centuries of anonymity Adam
is despondent, although zombie Ian (Yelchin) continuously
supplies him with vintage instruments, and whatnot. Eve hates
traveling, but recognizing Adam’s quandary flies to Detroit via
Paris. Their rejuvenating reunion becomes discombobulated
when Eve’s younger sister—
blood sister—Ava (a compelling
Wasikowska) shows up. Ava’s
affinity for discord has not
abated since their last gettogether 87 years earlier, and her
appetite is unquenchable. The
resultant push comes to shove:
“We really don’t have a choice,
do we”.
The film, with the gracefulness
of a vinyl record’s rotation,
has the Jarmusch cadence of
sensual pleasure. Sumptuous
visual detailing coalesces with
leitmotifs (Jozef van Wissem’s original music) that transport
us between continents, encapsulated through Yorick Le Saux’s
cinematography. Pet thespians Swinton and Hurt’s measured
performances add depth that Hiddleston easily matches.
Intelligent dialogues comprise visual and spoken references to
historic luminaries and issues: Shelly, Byron and Shakespeare—
that “philistine zombie”, Galileo, Darwin and Einstein,
musicians, nature, ecology, political sideswipes, and delectably
humorous zingers. Culminating with a fitting finale, when we
glimpse Adam and Eve anticipating Eden: “Excusez-moi…”.
(Marinell H.)

Only Lovers Left Alive ***
Starts Dec 19
Despite being besotted with each other, married couple Adam
and Eve are living in different countries. Adam has fashioned
a nest for himself in a dilapidated Victorian house in present
day Detroit. Eve lives in the ancient and exotic town of Tangier.
25