FILM LIST
Edinburgh; Filmhouse
0 Subway (15) (Luc Besson, France, 1985) Christopher Lambert, Isabelle Adjani, Michel Galabru. 102 mins. A smooth, stylish thriller likened to Diva but With a drive, energy and exuberance of [its own.
Glasgow; OFF
0 The Times oi Harvey Milk (15) (Robert Epstein, US, 1984) 87 mins. This year’s Oscar winner for Best Documentary Feature utilises interviews and TV news excerpts to tell the story of Harvey Milk , a gay activist in San Francisco, who in 1977 was elected to the city’s Board of Supervisors.
Edinburgh; Filmhouse
e The Tin Drum (18) (Volker Schlondorff, W Germany, 1979) David Bennett, Mario Adorf, Charles Aznavour. 141 mins. Compelling screen version of the Giinter Grass novel about a young boy who ceases to grow physically as the Nazis rise to power in Germany. Glasgow; Grosvenor
O TootsIe (PG) (Sydney Pollack, US, 1982) Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Bill Murray. 116 mins. Perfectionist actor Hoffman dons female attire to secure much-needed employment in a TV soap. Bright,
David Robinson has called him ‘the most audacious, innovative and uncompromised director at present working in Britain...his lilms are among the most visually rich to emerge from British cinema. Scott Brown in The Times has talked oi ‘hls singular poetic gilt- a rare commodity in British cinema.'oerek .larman — Channel 4 viewers have recently had a chance to sample his work as part at the Robinson’s Choice season, but Edinburgh cinemagoers in January will have a iuiler opportunity to make up their minds up about his controversial lilms when the Filmhouse will be screening a lull retrospective put together by the BFI, which will include the ieatures Sebastiane (23 Jan), Jubilee (9 Jan), and The Tempest (29 Jan), as well as a selection of his work on Super-B (15, 25 Jan). The series of lilms will also include The Angelic Conversation (19, 20 Jan), his latest production, a visually ravishing interpretation oi Shakespeare’s sonnets.
Jarman’s lilms have always elicited strong reactions. Many were unhappy at the unprecedentediy forthright homo-eroticism oi Sebastiane, and outraged at its being chosen as the British selection ior the 1975 Locarno Film Festival. Doubts were expressed at the savagery ol Jubilee, and the playlul attitude taken by The Tempest towards The Bard. Populist critics iound dililculty in appreciating The Angelic Converstalon, but even Jannan admits that ‘lilm poetry is not everyone's cup at tea.’
To some however, it is an exquisite brew. Jarman’s work is often termed ‘palnterly', because his visual style owes much to Caravaggio and Carach as it does to any iiIm-malrers in its
breezy farce with a multitude of masterful comic performances. A tonic. Glasgow; GFT
0 Top Hat (U) (Mark Sandrich. US. 1935) Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers. Edward Everett Horton. 99 mins. Timeless terpsichorean treat as Fred ‘n’ Ginger trip the light fantastic to a host of Irving Berlin classics. Sensational. Edinburgh; Filmhouse 0 Top Secret ( 15) (Jim Abrahams. David and Jerry Zucker, US. 1984) Val Kilmer, Lucy Gutteridge. 90 mins. The people that brought you Airplane! attempt to do the same with a haphazard spoof crossing a bad war movie with an appalling rock ‘n' roll extravaganza. The result is ridiculously patchy, but e‘hlivened by some visual invention
Glasgow; GET
0 Tragedy oi a Ridiculous Man (15) (Bernardo Bertolucci, Italy, 1981) Ugo Tognazzi, Anouk Aimee. 116 mins. The dilemma of a middle-aged businessman, a sausage and cheese manufacturer, whose son is kidnapped by a group of leftists. Edinburgh; Filmhouse
o Watership Down (U) (Martin Rosen, UK, 1978) With the voices of John Hurt, Ralph Richardson. Zero Mostel. 92 mins. Stylish animated
| version ofthe Richard Adams
INDEPENDENT SPIRIT
1,3,“
exploration at light and shade and the iorm oi the male body. This season though, puts Jarman in the context of his cinematic influences- Pasolinl's Gospel According to St Matthew (5 Jan), Eisensteln’s Ivan the Terrible (12 Jan) and Kenneth Anger’s Eau D’Artliice (9 Jan, with Jubilee) - where the lack at British names serves to emphasize the sense oi otherness in his work Empared to the rest ol our
(“The List l3Dec-9Jan
bestseller about a family of rabbits seeking a safe place to live. Edinburgh: Filmhouse
0 Where the Bulian Roam (18) (Art Linson, US, 1980) Bill Murray, Peter Boyle. 99 mins. Scenes from the drug-crazed ramblings of Dr Hunter S. Thompson, justly celebrated for both his wonderfully idiosyncratic journalistic outpourings and his seemingly unquenchable appetite (and, it must be said. capacity) for all manner of artificial stimulants. Murray bears a startling physical resemblance, but the film as a whole strains for and fails to reach the tone of easygoing dementia ofthe original writing. A missed opportunity, and a case of trying too hard. Edinburgh; Filmhouse _
0 Witness (15) (Peter Weir, US, 1985) Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis, Alexander Godunov. 112 mins. A young Amish boy is a witness to a murder. The investigation leads a cop into a brush with another culture, a little romance and the expected police corruption.
Atmospheric. impeccably acted and beautifully constructed. One of the year's best films. Edinburgh:
1 Dominion.
native cinema, sadly lacking in such sensitive visual stylists.
Allin all, a laudable exercise which should whip up interest as we await the release ol Jarman's Caravaggio, a long cherished and ambitious project, his lirst 35mm feature, which has been financed by the BFI and Channel 4. Success or iailure, it will be one of the most important British lilms 011986. (Trevor Johnston).
LISTINGS
This section gives details of programmes showing at cinemas in central Scotland over the next fortnight. Readers are advised that many cinemas in the Strathclyde and Lothian regions are unable to provide The List with details of their programming for both weeks covered by each issue. as these may not be available at the time ofgoing to press. These listings therefore provide an accurate guide to programmes for one week only. unless further dates are specified. Readers are advised that programmes may be subject to late change at any time. Cinemas operating a family discount scheme allow an adult accompanying a child to ‘U‘ and ‘PG‘ certificate programmes to gain admission for the same price as the child up to 6pm. All programme times are pm unless otherwise stated.
EDINBURGH
0 ABC Lothian Road. 229 3030. Bar: Ham—2.30pm, 5—10pm (Mon—Thurs). Ham—11pm (Fri/Sat), 5—10pm (Sun). [D] cinemas 2 & 3 prior notification advisable. £2.70. £2.30 Child £1.40. £1.30 OAP£1 (before 6pm). Family discount scheme operates.
1. Back to the Future (PG) 2.20. 5.20. 8.20. Sun 5.15. 8.15.
2. The Goonies (PG) 2.30. 5.30, 8.25. Sun 5.20, 8. 15.
3. Letterto Brezhnev ( 15) 2.55. 5.55, 8.50. Sun 5.55, 8.40.
Cinema closed 25 & 31 Dec and 1 Jan. 0 CLASSIC Nicolson Street 667 1839. [D] Cinema closed Sunday. £2, OAP £1.
Until 19 Dec The Best Bit of Crumpet in Denmark(18) 12.25, 4.35. 8.45 and White Flesh is Weak ( 18) 3.05. 7. 15 and Body Lust ( 18) 1.45, 6.
From 20 Dec Tiliany (18) and Christina (18)
Cinema closed 24, 25, 26. 31 Dec and 1,2Jan.
See also LATES section.
0 DOMINION Newbattle Terrace, 447 2660. Rest 10am—2pm & 6—11pm (Mon-Fri), 10am—1 1pm (Sat). Bar 12—2.30pm, 6—10pm (Mon—Sat). Cinema closed Sun. £2.50, £2.20. Child £1.20 OAP £1 UB40/Students £1 .20. (all perfs except evng perfs in cinema 3). -
1. Peter Pan (U)2. 15. 5. 15, 8. 15. From 27 Dec The Goonies (PG) From 3 Jan Back to the Future (PG)
2. Cocoon(PG)2.1(), 5.10, 8.10. From 27 Dec Peter Pan (U) From 6 Jan Purple Bose at Cairo (PG) (tentative)
3. Witness(15) 2, 5, 8.
Cinema closed 24, 25, 26, 31 Dec and 1Jan.
O FILMHDUSE Lothian Road, 228 2688. Bar (Mon—Sat. noon—1 1pm, Sun 6.30—11pm) Rest (Mon—Sat, noon-9pm). [E]
Matinees £1.20, (Concessions 50p). Early evgs £1 .80(concs £1.20). Main evenings & Double Bills £2.20. No