My cinema highlight for April was watching Good Fellas in the cinema. Twice. It was listed as a ‘re-release’ and I hardly saw any publicity promoting it. It complimented my viewing of The Sopranos, I watched all six seasons this month, a few episodes per night. I didn't know so many cast members from the film were also in The Sopranos.

Two other releases, however, were over publicised. Michael and The Devil Wears Prada 2. I liked one more than the other.

April favourites:

Good Fellas (Martin Scorsese, 1990)
VOX Cinemas - Mall of the Emirates, Dubai
VOX Cinemas - Festival City, Dubai

“To me, being a gangster was better than being President of the United States.“

I Swear (Kirk Jones)
Reel Cinemas, Dubai Mall

“The problem is not Tourette, the problem is that people don't know enough about Tourette.”

This film moved me more than I anticipated, thanks to the great performances and directing that avoided sentimentality and cliches. It was rated 18+ in our cinemas. All the swear words were transliterated instead of translated for the Arabic subtitles, which amused me a lot.

Bershama (Khaled Diab)
VOX Cinemas, Midrif City Centre

“داه تحت العبايه حكايه”

A hilarious Egyptian film set in a small village over a day in a classroom, about mostly adult students from underprivileged backgrounds trying to take a school exam for better work prospects and salaries. The comedy is sharp and the lines are delivered with perfection by a wonderful ensemble cast. A commentary on the education system, school facilities, patriarchy, poor economy and the struggles for a better life.

Someone did a decent job with the English subtitles, translating the jokes without losing their essence in the original language is no small feat. Only spotted one error for a line about a the painting in the film Titanic. There were a couple of other hilarious nods to American films - Weekend at Bernie’s and Shawshank Redemption.

The film trailer and poster don’t do it justice.

Also liked:

The Devil Wears Prada 2 (David Frankel)
VOX Cinemas, Festival City, Dubai

“May the bridges I burn light my way.”

Egybest (Marwan Abdelmoniem)
VOX Cinemas, Festival City, Dubai

About two friends who created EgyBest, a popular website for pirated films in the Arab world that got shut down in 2019. More of a drama about their lives and relations and lack of finance, and less about their love of films and their conviction to make films more accessible. A couple of references were made that cinema going is for the "shopping mall" crowd and no longer affordable for the less affluent population, and I wish more of this was addressed in the film.

They Will Kill You (Kirill Sokolov)
VOX Cinemas, Festival City, Dubai

I went to this without knowing anything about it and was happy to see Patricia Arquette. Heather Graham and Myha'la are in it.

Wanted to like:

Lee Cronin’s The Mummy (Lee Cronin)
Reel Cinemas, Dolby, Dubai Mall

Too many split diopter shots. None looked good. Also, no Egyptian police officer or any Arab for that matter would refer to themselves by their surname.

Michael (Antoine Fuqua)
VOX Cinemas, IMAX, Festival City, Dubai