FILM LIST
I INTERNAL AFFAIRS (18) Conducting an internal enquiry for the LA County Police. detective Andy Garcia becomes convinced that Richard Gore's teltow. much-respected street cop Is up to his ears in corrupt activities. See review. Cannons Glasgow and Edinburgh from Fri 4 May.
I JOHNNY HANDSDME (15) Walter HiII's unlikely thick-ear melodrama follows a badly deformed gangland figure as a plastic surgeon's knife moulds his features into (on err. Missus) Mickey Rourke. His shady past, in the shape of evil Ellen Darkin and Lance Henriksen won't, however, let him go quite so easily. Glasgow Cannons Sauchiehalt Street and Parkhead. UCIs from Fri 11 May.
I MOUNTAINS OF THE MOON (15) Bob Halelson's lavish and intelligent Alrican drama casts Irishman Patrick Dergin as the 19th century scholar and explorer Richard Burton, and award-winning Scot Iain Glen as his associate John Hannlng Speke. inthe true story of their arduous search for the source ofthe Nile. See review. Ddeons Glasgow and Edinburgh. UCIs irom Fri 4 May.
I A NIGHTMARE DH ELM STREET PART V: THE DREAM CHILD (18) Freddy Nrueger returns to hack his way through some more American teens. only this time he appears in the dreams oi an as yet unborn child. Way to go. Fred! See review. Glasgow Cannon Parkhead and UCts from Fri 11 May.
I PRETTY WOMAN (15) Richard Gere (again!) isthe loveiorn exec who picks up Julia Roberts’ hooker with a heart in Garry (Beaches) Marshall's latest romantic comedy. Sounds familiar, huh? See review. Wide release from Fri 11 May. I SWEETIE (15) Jane Campion’s spiky debut Ieature looks attire emotional turmoil caused by the rumbustiously psychotic Sweetie on the rest of hertamiiy. A brave. assured and genuinely surprising uttering from a unique Australian talent. See Film Preview. Edinburgh Filmhouse Sun 6 to Tue 22 May; Glasgow Film Theatre Sun 13 to Tue
22 May.
WEEK ONE 48 WEEK TWO 49
LISTINGS:
o e X m a E
INDEX
I The Abyss ( I 5 ) (Jarrtcs Cameron. I 'S. I989) [id Harris. Michael Biehrt. Mary Iilizabeth Mastraritortio. l-Ifl mins. An estranged eouple get caught tip in a tense drama on the sea floor in this mos ie made almost entirely underwater. Though Cariierort has opted for a more contemplative exercise in tension. the intertwining of plots leads one to feel that he‘s crammed too much into the film's length. It may not godovsri asagreat artistic achievement. but it does push back a few boundaries of the possible in movie-making. so it won't sink vs ilhottl trace. Edinburgh: Cameo.
IAlieDS( l8) (James Cameron. ITS. I980) Sigourney Weaver. Michael Biehn. 137 mins. Revived frorrr a 57-y ear snooze in deep space. Warrartt ()f'ficer Weaver is cajoled into joining a marine rescue mission to the planet that is home torthe original alien beastie. I'nrelentingly paced with a terrifically gutsy performance from Weaver. this nerve-shredding sequel not only matches its predecessor btit canrtily surpasses it. An ()scar vs inner for special effects. Iidinburgh: Cameo.
I All Dogs Go to Heaven t t ' ) ( Don Bltith. L'S. I989) With the voices of Burt Reynolds. Loni Anderson and Dom I)el.uise. 84 mins. In Bluth'slatest animated feature. likeablc Alsatian Charlie Barkiri is killed by his partner in small-time crime. but manages to trick his wa)‘ out of the Afterlife to faceearthbound adventure with cute orphan Anne-Marie as he seeks revenge on hisdouble-crossing buddy. ()ccasionally sloppy animation is more than rttade up for by the irrv entive story-litre and an allusive sense of humour that should even have adultssuppressing the odd guffavs. (ilasgovv: Cannon The Forge. ()deon. Edinburgh: ()deon. Strathclyde: ()deon Ayr. ()deon Hamilton. L'CI Clydebank. I'CI Iiast Kilbride.
IAlways (PG) (Steven Spielberg. l'S. I989) Richard Dreyfuss. Holly Hunter. John Goodman. IZII mins. Airborne fire-fighter [)reyfuss' deepening relationship with feisty co-vsot'kct' l lunter faces a slight hitch vs hen he's killed in action. trying to sav e best mate ( ioodmait. Thanks hovsev er to guardian angel Audrey Hepburn. hissoul icltti‘llslo Iiarth. only to face anguish as hisev-los er falls into the armsof hunk Bradlohrrson. Art absorbing miv of old fashioned sentiment arid sittIc-ol-Iltc-ttt'l special effects. Spielberg's reworking of l94.‘~'s Spcricer”lracy actiorier .-I (hit Minter/Joe pays Ii'iI‘ttIc to the wholesome I lollyvstiotl vsarrnth of half a century ago. but his attempts at coriv ey trig an adult lov e affair remain utreoriitortably adolescent. (ilasgosv : (irosvcrior. Central: Cannon. Strathclyde: ('anrion. IThe Big EasyttsitirmMcBride-.18. I987 ) Dennis ()uaid. Iilleti Bar‘kiri. Ned Beatty. fill mins. I’r'etty . smart andsexy cop thriller set in a sweaty . atmospheric New Orleans. vs here local lieutertant ()uard'tries to clear up a series of gangland murders vs liile falling in love vs rtli Barkiri‘s attorney . in toss it to investigate police corruption. Izdinburglr: I‘ilmhousc. IBIack Raint IS) I Ridlcy Scott. I'S. I989) Michael Douglas. Andy (iar'cia. Ken Takakura. IZS mins. .\'ot so much the land of the Rising Sun as the land of Shiny Surfaces as adrriarr extraordinaire returns to a set not unlike li’lm/t'lv’umrt'r. However. some promising ideas are shunted to the sidelines by Douglas's sour and rather uninspiring heroics as the \'evv York cop sent to ( )saka toeourtter a counter letting ring. 'I he vs hole perhaps corilrrriis Scott as a master decorator Iiired to tart tip a very obs iotis formula.
Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I Black Sitcoms A full day ofsereenings will include episodes from Nigerian television's popular comedy series Bust A'- (‘tmrpany and its Jamaican counterpart ()fft‘t’rAl Large. as well as instalments from our own Channel 4's early Iiighties offering No Problem and the rrtore recent Dav-mtmd's. The aim is to explore whether Black sitcoms differ from their White cousins. arid whether Black jokesabout race in themselves are racist. The event is designed to dovetail with Filmhouse‘s May programme compiling the work of Black comics and film-makers from Melvin Van I’eebles right up to Whoopi (‘roldberg and Keenan Ivory Wayans‘. Iidinburgh: Filmhouse.
I Blade Runner( 15) (Ridley Scott. 118. I982) l larrison Ford. Rutger I latter. Sean Young. H7 mins. A tough eoptracks down a group of malfunctioning androids in this gritty hi-tech retread of Raymond Chandler. executed with Scott‘s customary visual flair. and with strong performances. especially from I-‘ord and llauer. Btrt try following the confusing plot first time around. (ilasgow: (il’l‘. Iidinburgh: Cameo. Filmhouse.
I The Blues Brothers ( 15) (Jolt n I.aridi.s. ITS. I980) John Belushi. Dan Aykroyd. Carrie Fisher. [30 mins. Bloated. overlong anarchic Chicago comedy with the two stars on a mission from (iod to salvage the imperilled fortunes ofari orphanage. Lots of guest stars. musical numbers and automotive destruction in a typical product ofover-emphatic contemporary American humour. (ilasgow: Crrosvenor.
I Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure ( 15) (Stephen Ilerek. ITS. I990) Kcanu Reeves. Alex Winter. 91 rrrirrutes. Bill and Ted have art ‘excellent' friendship. but their dream of forming a band called the ‘W'yld Stallyns' is haunted by the spectre of thinking their history exams and being packed off to military academy. I lowever. courtesy of a time-travelling telephone booth. the two dudes canter through the centuries on a breakneck refresher course where they meet tip vs ith the likesof (ienghis Khan and Beethoven. Problems multiply in this enjoyably manic teen romp when this brace of historical figures make it back to contemporary California with them. Like. totally tubular. man. Strathclyde: WMR Film Centre.
I Bull Durham t 15) (Ron Shelton. its. 1988) Kevin Costner. Susan Sarandon. Tim Robbins. 1118 mins. A surprisineg intelligent attd absorbing baseball flick.
vs hose real focus is on the emotional triariglc betvseert baseball groupie Sarandon and players Robbins and Costner. the former a half-vs itted pitcher. the latter an aging catcltcr vs ho thistime lets it slip betvseen his fingers. Strong playing all round and inspired leadership front Shelton (of ( 'mlt'r l’fl't’ fame) make a vsinnrng team. Central: MacRobert Arts Centre.
I The Citadel ( 15) ( Mohamed(‘houikh. Algeria. I988) Khaled Brakhat. I)ji|ali Ain-Tedeles. I’ettouma ()usliha. 95 mins. Set in a sun-baked North African village. (‘houikh's feature sets otrt to toexamine the exploitativ e nature of polygamy and the absurd neivs ork oftraditional marriage customs. The narrativ e foIIovss Sidi. a rich merchant vs ho sets turmoil in motion vs hen his decision to take a fourth vs ife has his three existing spouses upin arms. Meanvv hile. his adopted son Kaddour has Ialleri in love. and to save the family name. Sidi has to find him a suitable high-born virgin bride withitr 34 hours. A shocking and farcical final sequence
vs herein the old man resolves hisproblems in one fell swoop rounds off an absorbing document of another culture. Iidinburgh: I-‘ilmhotise.
I Dangerous Liaisons ( 15) (Stephen lirears.lfS.1988)(ilennCloseJohii Malkovich. Michelle I’feiffer. Keanu Reeves. Iltlmins. Madame de'l‘ourvel
and the \"icomte de Valmont (Close and Malkovich) are treacherous 18th century aristocrats weaving a web oferotic duplicity around one another. Frears makes a notable I lollywood debut. guiding his cast throuin a difficult set of narrative pirouettes. Yet for all the pent-up emotion on screen. little fervour seeps through. and the result is rather cold and calculating. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. I Dead Poets Society ( PG) (Peter Weir. LS. 1989) Robin Williams. Robert Sean Leonard. Iithan Ilavvke. 129 mins. Ina staid private boys‘ school in Fifties New England. an unconventional teacher (Williams) interests his charges in literature and philosophy to such an extent that they form a secret club to investigate them (along with booze and girls) further. Though Williams is or) good form. the film focuses mainly on the boys' emotional development and crises. and on the mystery and beauty surrounding their midnight meetings. A sensitive. tense and moving study of the conflict between passion and authority. even ifthe plot is something of a cliche. Glasgow: (irosvenor. I Die Hard ( 18) (John .‘vlc'I'iernan. US. 1988) Bruce Willis. Alan Rickman. Bonnie Bedelia. I31 mins. Willis playsa cop who attends a tower block party with his estranged spouse. The building is raided by terrorists. so it's left to Willisto bump off the baddies and save the hostages while the police and FBI languish ineptly on the sidelines. Unbearably tense actioner that gets good mileage out of yawning lift-shafts and flying bullets. while Willis is convincing as an ordinary guy trying to cope with it all. Watch out for Brit Rickman as a villain with a sense of humour. Edinburgh: Cameo. I Dogs in Space ( 18) (Richard Lowenstein. Australia. 1986) Michael IIutchence. Saskia I’ost. Chris Haywood. |()9 mitts. The young and infuriatineg talented director ofStrr‘kehmmd returns with somethirtg completely different: a punk-era version of .N'uslrt-r'lle brimming with raw energy. a multiplicity of characters and the expected interlocking stories. The ramshackle plot centres around Sam. the lead singer in a punk band. and his girlfriend Anna. who are two inhabitants of a drop-in-anytime house populated by punks. vegetarians. students and anyone else interested in parties. gigs. TV. random discussions and loadsa drugs. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. I Driving Miss Daisy (L') (Bruce Beresford. CS. 1989) Jessica Tandy. Morgan Freeman. Dan Aykroyd. 99mins. The winner of fotrr ()sears. including Best Film and Best Actress for Jessica Tandy. This film adaptation of Ajfred Ijhry‘s Pulitzer-winning play. charts the relationship between gentlewoman Tandy and her chauffeur Freeman. The narrative spans several decades of gradually shifting attitudes and developing racial consciousness. An affecting mosaic of every day pride and prejuduce which reveals a deeply-laid insight intohuman behaviour. presented throughout with vs onderful pacing. (ilasgovs': Crrosvenor. lidinburgh: Cannon. I Earth Girls Are Easy I PG 1 (Julicn 'I‘emple, I'S, 1988) (iecna Davis.Jeff (ioldblttm. Michael Mcls'ean. Charles Rocket. flit) mitts. A srrtallspaceship crash-lands in a Californian manicurist's swimming pool. ()ut step three furry aliens to enjoy the plastic delights ofbeach culture and. once they sltave off their fur. the attentions ofthe native girls. Iimphatically. but quite creatively. tasteless musical comedy which. on the
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OFFERS P.99
‘OThc List 4- 17 May 1990