FILM LIST
student attempting to raise consciousness about South Africa finds himselfbattling against his peers’ self-absorbed obsession with inter-sorority rivalries. The stylistic excesses of the unsuccessful musical sequences blunt the analytic edge ofthis thoughtful discussion. and the extraordinary final scene is as subtle as a brick in the face. but it‘s all evidence ofan incendiary talent at work. Glasgow: GF'T. I See No Evil, Hear No Evil ( 18) (Arthur Hiller. US. 1989) Richard Pryor. Gene Wilder. Joan Severance. 107 mins. Yet another wacky instalment of the Pryor-Wilder combo. It‘s the same old recipe of farce. sentimentality and arrogant self-righteousness. Yet again our two loveable heroes get caught up in the criminal underworld. through no fault of their own. This time Wally (Pryor) and Dave (Wilder) are respectively blind and deaf. as opposed to previous outings where the two have just been plain dumb. Having witnessed a murder outside their New York news-stand they proceed to outwit anyone who may have cause to chase them. However the script writers (including Wilder) are too concerned to make statements about handicaps and our patronising attitudes towards them. This somewhat laboured and undeveloped moral canvas is illuminated by a handful of dazzling moments. Glasgow: Cannon Clarkston Road. Cannon The Forge. Cannon Sauchiehall Street. Edinburgh: Cannon. Central: Allanpark. Caledonian. Cannon. Strathclyde: Cannon. Kelburne. Odeon Ayr.UClClydebank1().
I Sex, Lies and Videotape ( 15) (Steven Soderbergh. US. 1989) Andie McDowell. Laura San Giacomo. James Spader. Peter Gallagher. 101 mins. The sex: John (Gallagher) is conducting a steamy affair with his sister-in-law Cynthia (San Giacomo). The lies: they neglect to tell his wife. Anne (McDowell). The videotape: John's black-clad buddy. looking like an undertaker for the arts world. Graham (Spader) gets his kicks by videoing women's sexual confessions. Reduced to the bare bones. you may well wonder what all the fuss was about. Yet. 26 yearold hotshot Soderbergh's first feature and winner of the Palme d‘Or is a strikingly assured piece of work. establishing a rigorous tonal control on which he sets the film‘s urbane confrontation with the deeply personal aspects ofeach individual‘s sexuality. Though the final resolution is a little too pat. for the first hour at least the film doesn‘t put a foot wrong. Glasgow: Cannon Sauchiehall Street. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I Spaceballs (PG)(Me| Brooks. US. 1987) Mel Brooks. Rick Moranis.John Candy. 97 mins. Once upon a time in a cinema world far. far away. Mel Brooks used to make moderately amusing comic romps. In this fevered quest for laughs. madcap Mel takes a swipe at Star Trek. Plane! of the Apes and Lawrence of Arabia. Intergalactic garbage. Glasgow: Grosvenor.
MY LEFT FOOT
My Left Foot (15) (Jim Sheridan, Ireland, 1989) Daniel Day-Lewis, Ray McAnaIIy, Brenda Fricker. 90 mins. It would be stupid to criticise films like
thisfortheir lack of cinematic flair. In
total contrast to this year’s earlier Rain .
Man, My Left Foot is based on an autobiography, and comes from a working-class Dublin background. If is the story of Christy Brown, the Irish painter and writer born in the 19303 with cerebral palsy.
Look closely at these elements, and at a title which refers to Brown's means of communicating to the world from an otherwise handicapped body, and you will realise that this hero is more of a myth than anything Rain Man could deliver. The story is fairly told without much sentimentality, and only slips into lalse order for simplicity’s sake
Intercutting from the vantage point of later in his life to the ups and downs of earlier events, the film courageously
has little to hide of Christy's less attractive nature. One scene in particular instils us with sympathy for everyone but Christy, as a group of friends gathered to celebrate an exhibition of his work are subjected to his tantrums, but screenwriterShane Connaughton’s singular purpose is made all too plain. Christy Brown is there for us to worship: we ponder over paintings, wonder at his abilityto overcome his handicaps and rollick at the romantic interpretation of his drinking and womanising.
The fit however is not assembled in a mannerthat might pin-point the unnecessary mythologising of a real-life hero. Only the perfectly achieved portrait of Christy‘s relationship with his parents totally escapes this problem. Perhaps the simple framing device can also be seen as a flaw: not in itself, but because it tends to disassociate the child from the adult in our minds. As a result, all the figures and terms of Christy’s past drift into mythology. Even so My Left Foot carries the stamp of a labour of love, rather than the sense of contrived self-congratulation that undoubtedly taints Dustin Hoffman’s presence in Rain Man. (Douglas McCabe)
From Thurs 21: Glasgow: GFT From Sun 24: Edinburgh: Filmhouse
I Something Wild (18) (Jonathan Demme. US. 1986) Jeff Daniels. Melanie Griffith. Ray Liotta. 113 mins. Best ofthe burgeoning yuppie-in-peril genre as business executive Daniels is willingly led astray by the irresistible charms ofGriffith only to find himself involved with genuine love and the frightening possessiveness of a psychotic ex-beau. Kooky comedy and genuine thrills are artfully blended with a non-stop soundtrack of eclectic treats. Not to be missed. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I Talk Radio ( 15) xi? (Oliver Stone. US. 1988) Eric Bogosian. Ellen Greene. Leslie Hope. 1 10mins. See panel. Glasgow: Cannon The Forge. Odeon. Edinburgh: Odeon. Strathclyde: Odeon Ayr. Odeon Ilamilton.
I Torch Song Trilogy ( 15) (Paul Bogart. US. 1988). Harvey Fierstein. Anne Bancroft. Matthew Broderick. 119 mins. The story of Arnold. a New York drag queen‘s search for acceptance of his sexual orientation from his mother (Anne Bancroft) and a steady relationship with his lover (Matthew Broderick). Adapted
from the hit stage show with writer Fierstein taking the lead role. it‘s theatrical roots lead to a sucession ofsharp one liners and knock ‘em dead musical numbers. The result is a heady mixture of laughter and tears. Glasgow: Grosvenor. I Three Fugitives ( 15) (Francis Veber. US. 1989) Nick Nolte. Martin Short. Sarah Rowland Doroff. 96 mins. Yet another chucklefcst with the word ‘Three‘ in the title. this time following the fortunesof ex-con Nolte. inept bank robber Short and cutsey 5 year-old Doroff as they escape from the authorities who are somehow convinced that the the three have pulled a heist together. So it's two men and a poppet really. This time the people at Touchstone have actually brought the French director over to remake the French film in Hollywood as opposed to simply redoing it themselves. The result is some eyecatching slapstick (albeit sub-Tati) and of course sentimentality in abundance. Reasonably entertaining though it may be. this is a particularly cynical act of commerce. Glasgow: Cannon The Forge. Odeon. Edinburgh: Odeon. Central:
Regal. Strathclyde: UCI Clydebank 10. I The 12 Tasks ol Asterix (U) (France. 1975) 82 mins. Further animated adventures ofthe plucky little Gallic warrior. aided. as always. by Getafix‘s magic potions. Central: MacRobert Arts Centre.
I The Untouchables (PG) (Brian DePalma. US. 1987) Kevin Costner. Sean Connery. Robert de Niro. Charles Martin Smith. Patricia Clarkson. 119 mins. David Mamet‘s highly entertaining update ofthe old TV series. Eliot Ness learns the hard way how to deal with underworld crime and police corruption in Chicago during the Prohibition years. An Oscar winning performance from Connery as a seasoned Irish Cop with a Scots accent. de Niro also turns in a grandiose Capone. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I What Have I Done To Deserve This? (Pedro Almodovar. Spain. 1984) Carmen Maura. Luis llostalot. 100 mins. Fromthe camera that brought you Women On The Verge. . .. an earlier. more surrealvision of desperation. sex and bizarre familial interactions in middle-class Spain. The central role is again played by a distracted Maura. this time as a housewife coping with her depression and her ghastly family by taking a wee snort of cleaning fluid with her prescribed amphetamines. Another gem. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I Withnail And I ( 15) (Bruce Robinson. UK. 1987) Paul McGann. Richard E. Grant. Richard Griffiths. 1(17 mins.1969. Two out of work actors surviving through London giro squalor take a break in a picturesque Lake District cottage. where one of them suffers the attentions ofthe ageing homosexual owner. Reasonably entertaining British comedy with a tendency to rely on the all-too-casy targets of drug-taking and gay stereotyping for much of its humour. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I Working Girl( 15) (Mike Nichols. US. 1988) Melanie Griffith. Harrison Ford. Sigourney Weaver. Joan Cusack. 114 mins. Bitchy boss (Weaver) teaches her secretary (Griffith) the art of self-confidence so much so that when the exec gets laid up the working girl takes her place. tackles the financial world head-on and romances Harrison Ford into the bargain. Supremely entertaining escapist fluff that takes the old Frank Capra routine and gives it a contemporary sheen. The cast have a tremendous time notably Miss Griffith. who even gets away with lines like ‘1‘ve got a head for business and a bod for sin'. Glasgow: Cannon Clarkston Road.
I The Year My Voice Broke ( 15) (John Duigan. Australia. 1987) Noah Taylor. Loene Carmen. Ben Mendelsohn. 105 mins. Small town boy in 1962 New South Wales grows up to understand his soulless environment through typical teenage disillusionment. But Duigan‘s great strength here is the dark. unpredictable irony which offsets the cliches inherent in adolescence movies. Glasgow: GFT.
John Pilger's previous work includes HEREOS AND OUTSIDERS
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18 The List 15 — 28 September 1989