The eclectic programme of Derry's annual him festival kicks off next Saturday with Declan Lowney's Belfast-set comedy. Wild About Harry, Written by Colin Bateman and featuring Brendan Gleeson as an obnoxious celebrity TV chef notorious for his womanising and heavy drinking. His wife (Amanda Donoohue) is about to divorce him when he is attacked by four men goes into a Coma and loses his memory. The programme will also include new movies such as Michael Almereyda's transposition of Hamlet to present day New York City with Ethan Hawke in the title role: Gwyneth Paltrow playing a karaoke singer and directed by her father, Bruce, in Duets; Sally Potter's The Man Who Cried starring Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci and Cate Blanchett; Gerry Stembridge's Dublin-set romantic comedy, About Adam, featuring Stuart Townsend; and the closing film, Shadow of the Vampire, dealing with the making of the 1922 Nosferatu, with John Malkovich as director F.W. Murnau and Willem Dafoe as actor Max Schreck. In addition, there will be foreign-language features, classic movies, shorts, documentaries. workshops and masterclasses. For information, phone Derry 048-71373456.
WONDER BOYS 15
Directed by Curtis Hanson Starring Michael Douglas, Frances McDormand, Tobey Maguire, Robert Downey jr, Katie Holmes, Rip Torn
Curtis Hanson follows L.A. Confidential with an acerbic serious comedy incisively adapted by Steve Kloves from the novel by Michael Chabon. It details one crazy weekend in the life of a hard-living, middle-aged creative writingprofessor -played by the reliably adventurous Michael Douglas as he struggles to finish an epic, out-of-control novel, cope with the break-up of his marriage and the news that his married lover (Frances McDormand) is pregnant by him, and deal with a brilliant, suicide-obsessed student (Tobey Maguire). There is so much going on that a few narrative strands feel disposable, but Hanson juggles and interweaves the assorted subplots with consummate skill and his tine cast responds with impeccable timing. Selected cinemas
OTHER NEW RELEASES
LOSER 15
GREY OWL 12
RING Club
OPENING FRIDAY
THE YARDS 15
HARRY, HE'S HERE TO HELP
Club
CHUCK AND BUCK Club
BUTTERFLY'S TONGUE Club
PITCH BLACK 15
BEDAZZLED 12
CHERRY FALLS 18
DISNEY'S THE KID PG
mdwyer@irish-times.ie