Cumberbatch, Paddington, Gabriel and Turner via Leigh cause a London ruckus on the Civic screen this week.

We have finally cracked the code with the distributor of Imitation Game (Rated PG) to secure a pre-Oscar run opening on Feb. 6th. Nominated for 8 Oscars, the much anticipated Cumberbatch vehicle is based on the real life story of legendary cryptanalyst Alan Turing. The film portrays the nail-biting race against time by Turing and his brilliant team of code-breakers at Britain’s top-secret Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, during the darkest days of World War II. We will be doing a special Babes in Arms early matinee screening at 11am on Wed. Feb. 11 for parents of young children. People without children always welcome.

And on the split, that precocious puffy little bear Paddington (Rated G), gets up to his mischief over matinee screenings on Sat. Feb 7th to Family Day (Mon. Feb. 9th). A young Peruvian bear travels to London in search of a home. Finding himself lost and alone at Paddington Station, he meets the kindly Brown family, who offer him a temporary haven. From the producers of Harry Potter and starring Hugh Bonneville and Nicole Kidman.

Because you can’t have too many English Rock Bands playing the Civic stage er…screen, as a follow up to our insanely popular Bohemian Rhapsody: Queen Live in Budapest classic concert on screen, we are pleased to announce that the new Peter Gabriel film entitled Back to Front will be coming to The Civic, Wed. Feb. 11 as part of our Performance on Screen series. Directed by BAFTA award winner Hamish Hamilton at London’s O2 October, 2013, the film not only captures the stunning live show but also gives a deeper insight into Peter Gabriel the artist. Back to Front utilises the latest 4K Ultra High Definition technology and a 5.1 surround sound mix to deliver an unmissable cinema event. As Peter says: ”I feel they have really caught what was unique about the Back to Front tour, both visually and emotionally”.

And to finish up the week with spectacular style, our Thursday film, Mr. Turner (Rated PG), finds Mike Leigh (Naked, Secrets and Lies, Vera Drake)  working again with Timothy Spall to bring to screen an exploration of the last quarter century of the great, if eccentric, British painter J.M.W. Turner’s life.

I’ll see you up on Solsbury Hill!

Cheerio,
Jason.