When experiments go wrong…
Film
SPLICE
Cert: 15
Rhys Griffiths
A CONTEMPORARY morality tale, this horror thriller pushes topical science controversies – stem cell tinkering, genetic cloning – to nightmarish extremes.
Clive (Adrien Brody) and Elsa (Sarah Polley) are superstar genetic engineers. Endowed with great scientific talent but seriously lacking in common sense, the pair cross ethical boundaries like they don’t exist to create an artificial life form by splicing human and animal genes. The result is “Dren”, a disturbing creature of uncommon intelligence who grows at an alarming rate. Inevitably things get out of hand, to an increasingly alarming and freakish degree, and Clive and Elsa are forced to deal with the nightmare they’ve created. It’s a thrilling worst-case scenario.
Though the film doesn’t quite hold its nerve throughout its entirety, descending into a Jeepers Creepers-esque horror shambles towards the end, it’s successful enough in creating the sort of uncomfortable but incredibly watchable viewing experience that David Cronenberg pioneered. There’s a dark, foreboding atmosphere throughout, and a script that’s intelligent enough to raise questions beyond the most obvious ones. Importantly though, like Cronenberg, Splice is often delivered with a subtle humour which eases the intensity of the nightmare. Splice is a weird, sinister and rather enjoyable thriller.
THE REBOUND
Cert: 15
Timothy Barber
Catherine Zeta Jones sheds what has become her rather cold image in this rom com which, while lightweight, has just about enough bright humour to get over its generic flimsiness.
Zeta Jones plays Sandy, a suburban mom who discovers that her husband, Frank, is having an affair. With her two young kids in tow, she moves into an apartment in Manhattan and lands herself a job with a TV company (ah, if only life was so simple). Downstairs there’s a coffee shop where nice-guy Aram (Justin Bartha) – who’s just found out that his new French wife was only after a green card, duh – works. He becomes part-time babysitter for Sandy’s kids while she throws herself into her job after a disastrous dating attempt. What do you think happens?
There’s nothing here that will surprise anyone, but then there’s not meant to be. The obstacle to their relationship is age – she’s 40, he’s 25. Her sophisticated (ie bitchy) New York friends think she’s nuts, and the fact that he lives with his eccentric (ie Jewish) parents, played by Joanna Gleason and Art Garfunkel, hardly helps. Once they fall for each other, you can pretty much set a timer to the jokes about the kids discovering mom making out with the baby sitter.
It’s formulaic, sitcom-level stuff, with desultory supporting characters, some badly shoehorned gross-out humour (surrounding Sandy’s date with a flatulent chiropractor) inserted for the chaps and the worst ever fast-forward-five-years montage in movie history.
But The Rebound is helped by appealing performances from its leads, the odd genuinely funny line and a hazy sense of good will that should make it a date night winner.
six of the best
ART The Serpentine This summer’s pavilion at the Kensington Gardens gallery is a striking red construction by architect Jean Nouvel, and includes red ping pong tables. The current exhibition is by acclaimed artist and photographer Wolfgang Tillmans.
THEATRE The Railway Children A marvellous adaptation of the family favourite, making inspired use of the old Eurostar terminal at Waterloo Station.
FILM Leaving A beautifully-pitched French drama, with Kristin Scott Thomas on terrific form.
theatre Sweet Charity Another success to have originated at the Menier Chocolate Factory in Southwark, this swinging musical boasts a stand-out performance from Tamzin Outhwaite in the title role.
FILM Heartbreaker A charming and very funny French rom-com in the Hollywood mould, starring Romain Duris and Vanessa Paradis as the mismatched couple in love.
ART Fra Angelico to Leonardo:?Italian Renaissance Drawings You’ve got until Sunday to catch this superb examination of the draughtsmanship of many of the Renaissance greats, full of beautiful, fascinating works.