ALLAN HUNTER at the Movies FIFTY YEARS ago this month, the Cuban Revolution reached its climax as Batista fled the country and Fidel Castro was swept to power. There couldn’t be a more timely moment to release Che, the first part of Steven Soderbergh’s epic portrait of Castro’s comrade in arms Ernesto  ‘Che’ Guevara. and his […]

ALLAN HUNTER at the Movies YOU Cannot fault Australia on the grounds of ambition. Baz Luhrmann has attempted to make a sweeping romantic epic in the great tradition of Gone With The Wind that also acknowledges the guilty legacy of his country’s treatment of the native Aboriginal population. He fills the screen with gorgeous scenery, […]

ALLAN HUNTER at the Movies CHRISTMAS is a time when cinemas have a captive family audience. There should be an abundance of suitable Festive fare but the pickings are fairly lean this year. Despite all its imperfections, animated feature The Tale of Despereaux could still be the best bet. Based on the award-winning children’s novel […]

ALLAN HUNTER at the Movies DEAN SPANLEY may be the ultimate shaggy dog story. The plot is eccentric and the tone is decidedly whimsical, but if you can suspend your disbelief it blossoms into an incredibly touching tale of loss, grief and reconciliation. It is beautifully written by Scot Alan (Rob Roy) Sharp and features […]

Cromarty & Black Isle, 5-7 December 2008

ALLAN HUNTER at the Movies TILDA SWINTON has just enjoyed one of the best years of her long career. An Oscar for Michael Clayton was followed by another plum role opposite George Clooney in Burn After Reading. Festival triumphs in Nairn and Inverness were capped by the news that she will preside over the Jury […]

ALLAN HUNTER at the Movies FORTY YEARS ago when Clint Eastwood was the king of the spaghetti westerns, nobody could have predicted that he would become one of America’s most important film directors. An Eastwood film has almost become a mark of quality in itself. He brings a typically understated style to Changeling, a true […]

Eden Court Theatre, 19-23 November 2008

ALLAN HUNTER at the Movies ANIMATION has easily outgrown its reputation as the stuff of kid’s stories and family fare. Recent features like the violent Sin City and the thought-provoking Persepolis have led the way in showing how animation can address adult themes. The award-winning Waltz With Bashir confronts the nightmare of armed conflict using […]

Sabhal Mor Ostaig, Sleat, Isle of Skye, 17 November 2008