At Cinemas: Left in the shade by Mr Anderson

Feb 12, 2015

This week there are only two English-language films on general release vying for your attention. The first is the one you will probably be seeing and the second is the one you probably should be seeing. So why not hedge your bets?

50 Shades Of Grey is the not-so-long awaited (in fact, rocketed into production) adaptation of EL James’s sexytime novel, which has proved to be a giant hit with curious teenagers and horny housewives alike, despite widely missing the mark with certain feminist groups.

Directed by the talented Sam Taylor Wood, with ropey dialogue by the questionably skilled author herself, this could go either way. With mixed reviews so far and a 4.3 rating on IMDB (suspicious, since the film has yet to be released), it could be the comedy of the decade.

Otherwise there’s a new PT Anderson (Boogie Nights, Punch Drunk Love) film, Inherent Vice, a west-coast pulp noir that is definitely not the comedy you’re expecting. It is reviewed this week.

Cinemateket is also embracing the pleasures of the flesh, albeit of a different genre, with a season dedicated to the British master of psychosexual body horror: the author, filmmaker and painter Clive Barker.

‘Barker’s sexual universe’ is the title of a discussion about the Liverpudlian’s work that will precede a screening of his classic feature debut Hellraiser this Saturday at 19.00.

There’s also a screening on Sunday (at 15.00) of the much mooted director’s cut of Nightbreed, Barker’s monster epic from 1990 – a widely misunderstood and underloved film (and a personal favourite of mine). For full Cinemateket listings, see dfi.dk/Filmhuset.

Over at Huset, you can refresh yourself on the world’s greatest ever TV series in preparation for Twin Peaks’ return to the small screen next year.

Functioning as a prequel and part-sequel to the series, the feature length Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me was reviled by critics but later embraced as a cult favourite and essential part of the phenomenon. The screening is in honour of Henrik Møll, the film editor, jazz musician and DJ who died last year. See huset-kbh.dk.