Movies in English: a Musical Love Story, Dance & a Thriller

The Odeon original language theatre is presenting the highly anticipated A Star Is Born for nine days in October.  This third remake of a Hollywood classic retells the story of heartbreak and fame in a totally contemporary way with the two leading characters a rock star and a struggling unknown chanteuse.  Bad Times at the El Royale takes the filmgoer “back to the 60s” with a mystery thriller set in a run down and eerie hotel.  The month winds up with a showing of Nureyev: All the World His Stage, a documentary about the iconic Russian dancer who defected in 1961 in Paris and became the director and choreographer of the Paris Opera Ballet.  All films are in English with Italian subtitles.

A STAR IS BORN: showings on October 13, 14, 19, 20 and 21 (4:15, 6:45 and 9:15 pm), Wednesday, October 17 (9 pm) and Thursday, October 18 (4 pm)

Bradley Cooper stars in, directs and produces this new take on a tragic love story.  Jackson Maine (Cooper) is a hard-drinking seasoned musician who meets a young waitress Ally (Lady Gaga) who occasionally sings at a drag bar.  After convincing her to come to his show that night, he drags her on stage to sing with him.  Over time they develop a relationship-fraught with problems due to his decline into alcoholism and her rise to stardom.  The original knock out soundtrack, sung by Cooper and Gaga, with the backup band of Lucas Nelson and Promise of the Real, is brilliant.  This superbly acted and believable film will surely be an Oscar contender.

BAD TIMES AT THE EL ROYALE:  showings on October 25, 26, 27 and 29 (4:15, 6:45 and 9:15 pm) Sunday October 28 (3:30 pm), Monday October 29 (4:15 and 6:45 pm) and Tuesday October 30 (9 pm).

Suspense and sin abound in this violent thriller filled with surprises.  Seven strangers, a priest (Jeff Bridges), a Southern gangster (Dakota Johnson), a charismatic cult leader (Chris Hemsworth), a vacuum salesman (Jon Hamm), a struggling singer (Cynthia Erivo), a cult follower and a concierge meet in a shady hotel straddling the California/Nevada border on Lake Tahoe.  Each of the seven is hiding a dark secret and the mystery plays out in the 1960s ambiance with a soundtrack to match.

NUREYEV: All the World His Stage:  showings on Monday October 29 (9 pm) and Tuesday October 30 (4:30 and 6:30 pm).

This documentary portrays the greatest male dance of all time, sexually provocative, aggressive and passionate, with some archival film previously unreleased.  The viewer sees Nureyev performing, choreographing and interacting with other dancers in rehearsals and actual performances.  Modern dance fans will enjoy the scenes with him working in conjunction with Martha Graham.  (rita kungel)