FILM LIST
INDEX
o This section aims to provide a review of every film to be seen in central Scotland over the next fortnight. For programme times see individual cinema listings.
U - Universal, suitable for all ages.
PG - Parental Guidance suggested as some scenes may be unsuitable for younger children.
15 - llo-one underthe age of 15 admitted.
18 - llo-one under the age of 18 admitted. O L’Addition ( 18) (Denis Amar. France. 1984) Richard Berry. Richard Bohringer. Victoria Abril. 87 mins. A catalogue ofdisasters befall an actor when he comes to the aid ofa pretty shoplifter in a supermarket. Awaiting trial he becomes innocently involved in a prison break and receives a two year sentence during which he faces the machinations ofa brutal psychopathic warder. Improbable but well-made French thriller. Glasgow: GET
0 All of Me (15) (Carl Reiner. 1984, US) Steve Martin, Lily Tomlin, Victoria Tennant. 91 mins. Eccentric heiress Lily Tomlin decides to make amends for a life blighted by illness when she arranges for the transmigration of her soul into the sickenineg healthy (and willing) frame of Victoria Tennant. Enter humble attorney Steve Martin to legalise the deal and everything goes awry with Tomlin’s soul, settling into the right hand of Martin‘s body and turning him into a one-man skirmish in the battle of the sexes.
All of Me is a frequently hilarious and engagingly silly madcap farce with a performance of dexterous physicality from Martin that combines elements of Cary Grant, John Cleese and Jerry Lewis. Uneven, but spirited fun. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
0 Amadeus (PG) (Milos Forman. US, 1984) F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce. Roy Dotrice. 160 mins. Genius and mediocrity clash head on in this fanciful story of the jealous rivalry between vulgar, decadent Wolfgang A. Mozart and Salieri. a God-fearing, respectable man but a composer ofmore mundane talents. Multi Oscar-winning melodrama consistently risible but the sumptuous orchestrations are a compensation. Edinburgh;
Filmhouse
0 Back to the Future (PG) (Robert Zemeckis. US. 1985) Michael J. Fox. Christopher Lloyd. Lea Thompson. Crispin Glover. 116 mins. 1985 teenager. with the help of mad inventor. travels back in time to 1955, before he had even been born.
to meet his future parents. Problems 1
arise when his mother gets the hots for him rather than his wimpy father-to-be. and he then has to instruct the weakling in the art of winning her heart. The action never stops in this terrific piece of
entertainment, filled with engaging details comparing the two eras and top-notch performances all round. The popular film of the year. Edinburgh; ABC. Glasgow; ABC (Clarkston Road), ABC (Sauchiehall Street), Cinema, Rio,
Lothian; ABC. Regal. Strathclyde; ABC (Greenock). ABC (Kilmarnock), Kelburne, Odeon (Hamilton), La Scala.
0 La Balance (18) (Bob Swaim. France. 1982) Nathalie Baye. Philippe Léotard. Richard Berry.
102 mins. An elite force of Parisian cops combat crime with brutal and questionable methods. To nab a
local racketeer they force an ex-member of his gang to turn informer with unforseen results of betrayal and death. Hard-edged policier from American expatriate Swaim. Glasgow: GET
0 La Belle et la Béte (PG) (Jean Cocteau. France. 1946) Jean Mantis.- Josette Day. Marcel Andre. 93 mins.) Hauntineg beautiful version ofthe classic fable. Comparisons with Ridley Scott‘s Legend point up the enduring poetic brilliance of Cocteau‘s cinema fantasy.
THE BLACK CAULDRON
The Black Cauldron (U) (Ted Berman, Richard Rich, US 1985) With the voices of John Huston, John Hurt, Nigel Hawthorne. 80 mins. Once upon a time in the land of Prydain a young pig-assistant named Taran dreams of the day when he might show his prowess as a mighty warrior. Opportunity knocks when the evil Horned King scours the land in search of the oracular pig Henwen whose clairvoyant powers he hopes to exploit in a guest to obtain the whereabouts of the all-powerful Black Cauldron. Taran is entrusted with the safe-keeping of Henwen and they are both despatched to the sanctuary of a hidden cottage on the outskirts of the forbidden forest. When Henwen is captured Taran is led into a lile-or-death adventure involving a beautiful princess, three witches and a magical sword.
The long-awaited costly Black Cauldron is the first 70mm, wide screen Disney animated feature since Sleeping Beauty over quarter of a century ago. Whilst offering straightforward storytelling matched 'with a visual splendour, excitement
and fun there is a certain redundancy to the proceedings as if the makers have backed themnselves into a corner and lack the invention or innovation to
move on. Times and tastes change and the Disney organistion now face the challenge of attracting an audience increasingly raised on the fantasy
world of Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. Thus The Black Cauldron is a simple tale of good versus evil with
Star Wars-like weaponry and special effects allied to a traditional Disney strength of characterisations, both cute and comical. The sense of uneasy compromise between old and new pervades the film which has a comer cutting narrative amidst scenes of ; erratically enchanting animation. Kids should love it, and generations of ' Disney buffs will find much that gives 1 pleasure, but the film lacks the sense ' of awe and wonderment of the studio’s best work. Ultimately, The Black Cauldron proves to be an impressive sword and sorcery cartoon by anyone’s 7 standards but Disney’s own. (Allan
Hunter). I 1
Edinburgh; Filmhouse T O Birdy (15) (Alan Parker, US. 1985) Matthew Modine. Nicholas Cage.
120 mins. Two friends grow up together in the back streets of Philadelphia; one an Italian stud. the other shy, introverted and completely obsessed with birds and the desire to fly. Both are
‘hospitalized after being injured in
action in Vietnam. and A1 tries to get through to Birdy who has retreated into brooding silence and the delusion that he is a bird. Modine
and Cage are outstanding in Alan Parker's downright peculiar but curiously endearing drama, which manages to avoid ridiculousness in
its glowing portrayal of male friendship. Edinburgh; Filmhouse
o The Black Cauldron (U) (Ted Berman. Richard Rich. US. 1985) With the voicesofJohn Huston.
John Hurt. Nigel Hawthorne. 80 mins. See caption review.
Edinburgh; Odeon. Glasgow;
Odeon _
o The Blues Brothers (15) (John Landis, US. 1979) Dan Aykroyd. John Belushi. Ray Charles. Aretha Franklin. 133 mins. Paroled from prison. they‘re on a mission from
God to raise money for an
orphanage. The Bluesmobile has a full tank ofgas. and not even a lady with a machine gun. the American Nazi Party, and half the state police force are going to stop them. Legendary Belushi and Aykroyd vehicle is a grotesque procession of loopy humour and wanton destruction, with some great music thrown in for good measure. The
final car chase is unbelievable, I shameful. but great fun. Edinburgh; . Filmhouse 3 0 Body Heal ( 18) (Lawrence Kasdan. US, 1981) Kathleen Turner. William Hurt, Mickey Rourke. 113 mins. Moody film noir in which a lawyer l and a beautiful femme fatale ‘ conspire to bump off her husband. A sizzling Double Indemnity for the 1980s with scorching performances
to match. Edinburgh; Filmhouse
o The Breakfast Club ( 15) (John Hughes, US. 1984) Anthony
Michael Hall. Judd Nelson. Ally Sheedy. Emilio Estevez. Molly Ringwald. 97 mins. Consigned to a day's detention, during which time they must complete a 1.000 word essay on who they think they are,
five high school students discover that despite widely differing backgrounds they all share the same problems and frustrations. Forget
the usual tits ‘n‘ ass teen tat. forget the comatose St Elmo‘s Fire. this is the best youth movie this year. Blessed by quite remarkable performances from all five protagonists, and a director with an assured grip on his material. here we . have (at last) an affectionate and perceptive study of adolescent trials and tribulations. Edinburgh; Filmhouse ? o The Care Bears Movie(U)(Arna i Selznick,US,l985)Mickey Rooney, ; Jackie Burroughs, Harry Dean Stanton. 76 mins. A full-length adventure of the cuddly bears from the land of Care-a-lot whose aim is to foster friendship throughout the
The List 13 Dec—9Jan 29