Deals with the devil never really pan out, do they? When old Nick comes claiming his dues from old Dr Parnassus, the doc must enlist his travelling burlesque show for a race against time through a series of fantasy dreamscapes to get out of the mess. This film will no doubt be remembered for a posthumous performance by the late Heath Ledger, whose loss is made up by the trio of Hollywood hunks Johnny Depp, Jude Law and Colin Farrell. But this is also a return to form by crackpot director Terry Gilliam. The former Monty Python animator conjures up some stunning visuals, even if his sense of drama and human relationships once again proves somewhat less acute

Attention Man United fans: you’ve got yourselves a movie. The new piece by Ken Loach centres around Eric Bishop, a depression-prone postman, who, being a football fanatic, seeks help for his remorse-ridden life from his greatest idol, Eric Cantona. As Eric struggles with his two rebellious step-sons and longs for his teenage love, Cantona’s undying aphorisms and highlight-reel goals build up his confidence. Not the strongest of stories, and at moments lost between genres, but with plenty of warmth and buddy humour the movie shows how a life can be turned around.

VMP
PREMIERE 13 NOV.

The issue of illegal immigrants in the USA has been tackled in countless movies, but few depictions have shed light on the perilous path people take to get there. American cinematographer-turned-director Cary Fukunaga’s feature debut is a harrowing story of immigrants making their way from Honduras through Mexico to the US. The road is fraught with dangers, police raids, brutal Mexican gangs and border guards. Sidestepping typical melodramatic landmines but still maintaining a compelling grip, the story leaves an ashen taste in your mouth. It’s beautiful in a grim, low-key way, and altogether an important film.