This week on Rialto Channel catch Martin Scorsese’s tribute to the ‘Quiet Beatle’ George Harrison in George Harrison: Living in the Material World. Over the last month, Rialto Documentary has been screening films about some of the world’s greatest bands and musicians from The Rise and Fall of the Clash to The Stone Roses: Made of Stone. If like me you love music and film, then keep an eye out for the limited repeat screenings of these documentaries – there are plenty of good stories to enjoy.
Here are my highlights for the week.
This week on Rialto Channel catch Martin Scorsese’s tribute to the ‘Quiet Beatle’ George Harrison in George Harrison: Living in the Material World. Over the last month, Rialto Documentary has been screening films about some of the world’s greatest bands and musicians from The Rise and Fall of the Clash to The Stone Roses: Made of Stone. If like me you love music and film, then keep an eye out for the limited repeat screenings of these documentaries – there are plenty of good stories to enjoy.
Here are my highlights for the week.
The Intouchables (2011)
Starring: François Cluzet, Omar Sy & Anne Le Ny
Directed by: Olivier Nakache & Eric Toledano
Screening: Rialto World, Monday 28th July, 8.30pm
If you’re keen to ease yourself into the week, then you can’t go wrong with this enjoyable and uplifting French comedy. Filled with humour and heart The Intouchables is the ultimate crowd pleaser that’s busted box office records around the world. It’s now the third highest grossing film of all time in France and the highest grossing French film in Germany, and has made over US$365 million at the worldwide box office. The Intouchables, staring François Cluzet as a wealthy quadriplegic and Omar Sy as his live–in–carer, doesn’t fully delve into the issues it raises of race, class and disabilities, but it does manage this material with dignity and sensitivity. Strong performances from Cluzet and Sy also make this comedic drama worth your time.
George Harrison: Living in the Material World (2011)
Starring: Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Terry Gilliam & Ringo Starr
Directed by: Martin Scorsese
Screening: Rialto Documentary, Thursday 31st July, 8.30pm
At 208 minutes long, this Primetime Emmy winning documentary could be described as a ‘thorough’ telling of the George Harrison story. With George's faithful second wife, Olivia, as his co-producer, Martin Scorsese has assembled an impressive collection of talking heads and archival material to tell George’s story from his childhood through to his death from cancer in 2001. Much like he’s done previously with the Bob Dylan epic No Direction Home and the brilliant The Last Waltz celebrating the music of The Band, Scorsese’s done his research and presented a handsome film that lightly covers everything you expect from Beatles mania and the band’s dynamic to drug use, spiritualty and Harrison’s love of gardening.
The Wipers Times (2013)
Starring: Ben Chaplin, Steve Oram and Michael Palin
Directed by: Andy De Emmony
Screening: Rialto British, Sunday 19th July, 8.30pm
The Wipers Times is a cheap and cheerful and quite lovely British television movie that takes a look at the group of men who set up a satirical magazine during the First World War called The Wipers Times. Based on a true story it’s a great angle for a war story as it adds a sense of humour to the normal harrowing war story themes that also feature here. Captain Fred Roberts (Chaplin) and his regiment discover a printing press in the ruins of Ypres (nicknamed Wipers by the British) in 1916 and decide to print a magazine to entertain the troops. Initially The Wipers Times is a touch too farcical and clichéd, but it soon settles down into an enjoyable mix of poignant drama, black comedy and satirical irreverence.