New in cinema
The film releases of the week
Oversized robot figures line up in Times Square to promote the ‘Transformers’ movie. photo
© Vanessa Carvalho/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
The action franchise “Transformers” is back, in “Nostalgia” a man is looking for his childhood friend in Naples, and Jean-Luc-Godard’s classic “Contempt” is back in cinemas.
The battle of the machines goes into the next round: With “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts” the seventh part of the action-packed franchise from producer Michael Bay comes to the screen. “Creed II” director Steven Caple Jr. takes the audience to New York in the 90s and brings his own style to the film series. There the popular Autobots around Optimus Prime meet a new species of Transformers and have to defend the earth from a new threat from space. Grammy winners Anthony Ramos (“Hamilton”, “In The Hights”) and Dominique Fishback (“Judas And The Black Messiah”) stand by the machines. With Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh (“Everything Everywhere All At Once”), Golden Globe winner Peter Dinklage (“Game of Thrones”), Pete Davidson (“Saturday Night Live”, “The King of Staten Island”) and MJ Rodriguez (“Pose”), the voices of the Transformers are also top-class.
Transformers, USA 2023, 128 min., FSK 12+, by Steven Caple Jr., with Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback
“Nostalgia” – drama about returning home to Naples
After 40 years, Felice (Pierfrancesco Favino) returns to his hometown of Naples to see his elderly mother once more. Back in his old neighborhood, the past catches up with him. He reminisces and would like to meet his good friend Oreste from his youth, who is now a brutal clan boss. His homeland has changed, but Felice doesn’t want to admit it. The Mario Martone film was screened in competition at the Cannes Film Festival last year.
Nostalgia, Italy 2022, 118 minutes, FSK 12+, by Mario Martone, with Pierfrancesco Favino, Sofia Essaïdi
Back in the cinema: “The Contempt” by Godard
“The Contempt” is one of the most famous films by the French cult director Jean-Luc Godard. The work from 1963 is now digitally restored back to the cinema. In it, the filmmaker tells of the end of a love affair. Author Paul Javal (Michel Piccoli) is married to Camille (Brigitte Bardot) and is hired for a special screenwriting job. Homer’s “Odyssey” is to be directed by Fritz Lang, who plays himself. The film’s producer courts Camille, which her husband does nothing about. In “The Contempt” Godard breaks with formal conventions. The film is full of references to the film industry and history.
Contempt, France/Italy 1963, 99 minutes, FSK from 6, by Jean-Luc Godard, with Brigitte Bardot, Jack Palance, Michel Piccoli, Giorgia Moll, Fritz Lang