The European Eye is a theme for this week’s fascinating range of films at Daylesford’s Phoenix Cinema. A highly regarded police inspector kills his mistress, then plants clues at the crime scene. Unfortunately, his colleagues ignore or fail to recognise his tampering. But there is a twist in the extremely highly regarded 1970 work, “The Investigation of a Citizen Above Suspicion” (15 and 17 August, 2pm). The killer also tests the competence and integrity of Italian law enforcement.
Difficult as it is to type the words “The Invite” when basic grammar calls for “invitation” there are still two sessions left of this popular four-hander. A married pair facing a relationship crisis invite their confident upstairs neighbours (Edward Norton and Penélope Cruz) to a dinner party that becomes wildly unexpected, brutally honest and chaotic. (14 and 16 August, 2pm)
In “Tuner” a skilled piano tuner develops a well-paid art, that of cracking safes. Crisp humour, critics say, plus vivid characterisations. (14 and 16 August 7pm).
“Moana” continues itssuccessful run as superhero Moana embarks on a mission to save her Oceanic people. Praised for both promoting diversity and rejecting the trappings of romance, it conveys a useful message for young girls at a time of fixation with body image and glamour. It screens at 11am on15-16 August and 4.30 on 17 August.
Some commentators say a better title for “Klute” would be Bree, given Jane Fonda’s brilliance in her Oscar-winning role. A small-town detective (Donald Sutherland) becomes immersed in seedy New York, ultimately finding it pathetic. Alan Pakula’s direction marks him as an all-time great. (Sunday, 16 August, 4.30pm.)
“Backrooms” (17 August at 7 pm) is a new American psychological horror film based on a web series. A furniture shop owner and his therapist find a dimension of apparently endless spaces by way of his shop’s basement. It’s said to bend the spaces that have long haunted the internet.
Next Thursday sees the opening at 4.30pm of the unforgettable “Deliverance” from 1972. Four suburban types embark on a canoe trip in bush about to be destroyed by a new dam. Wildly different in character, the quartet encounter ugly assaults. To survive they must kill. The film includes an amazing scene when one adventurer plays duelling banjos with a withered man-child. Ultimately all are haunted by their venture into the heart of darkness. It also screens at 2pm on 22 August and 4.30pm on 24 August.
“Anyone But You” features slick direction and enormously watchable stars (Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell) in a dizzy dose of sun, sand and beautiful people. Romantic comedy is back (7pm, August 20).
Tickets from Phoenix Cinema.
