INDEX FILM
movie. but the central storyline sweeps with it a huge range of styles and moods i before its tragic showdown. and sustains an ironic existentialism to its final frame. A work of flawed brilliance. and a turning ’ point in Godard's career. I Point Blank ( 18) (John Boorman. US. 1967) Lee Marvin. Angie Dickinson. Keenan W'ynn. 92 mins. Revenge-ridden Marvin is bent on justifying his dreamlike existence and turning the tables on the mysterious criminal Organisation which employed him in this tense. well crafted thriller that boasts an imaginitive and influential treatment of time. Boorman's impressive first American feature is made memorable by Marvin‘s brilliant portrayal ofan outmoded gunman confusediy taking on a world overrun by technology. I The Pope Must Die (Peter Richardson. US. 1990) Robbie Coltrane. Beverly D'Angelo. Herbert Lom. Ade Edmonson. 97 mins. See review. Glasgow: Grosvenor. Odeon. Edinburgh: ()deon. Central: Allanpark. Caledonian. Strathclyde: Kelburne. Odeon Ayr. Odeon Hamilton. I Postcards From The Edge ( 15) (Mike Nichols. US. 1990) Meryl Streep. Shirley Macl-aine. Dennis Quaid. Gene Ilackman. Richard Dreyfuss. 101mins. Glossy but honest adaptation ofCarrie Fisher's largely autobiographical novel of 2 Hollywood hell: cocaine addiction. waking up with strangers. a plummeting reputation and the degradation ofthe detox clinic. In this case. the young star. played with gusto by Streep. faces the additional tribulation ofan alcoholic mum (MacLaine). but can country ‘n‘ western save the day? Sensitively assembled with an admirable lightness oftouch. this isa reasonably honest and generally charming g movie. 5 I Presumed lnnocent(15) (AlanJ. Pakuia. 1 US. 1990) Harrison Ford. Greta Scacchi. Bonnie Bedelia. Brian Dennehy. Raul Julia. 126 mins. Courtroom drama with Ford as the upright state prosecutor accused of the murder of his colleague. Scacchi. with whom he was having an affair. Julia shines as the brilliant defence lawyer determined to get him off. Ex-lawyer Scott Turow's bestseller gets the prestige big-screen treatment from veteran director Pakula. who returns to the themes of his earlier movies The Parallax View and All The President's Men in this thoughtful vision of corruption in America's corridors of power. I Prick Up Your Ears ( 18) (Stephen Frears. UK. 1987) Gary Oldman. Alfred Molina. Vanessa Redgrave. 110 mins. Wickedly tart and funny biographical portrait ofthe seesaw relationship between playwright Joe Orton and his jealous lover Kenneth Halliwell. Oldman breezes confidently through his role as Orton with cocky assurance. but the chamelon-like Molina goes one better in the smaller part. achieving a difficult blend of awkward shyness and frighteningly violent paranoia. Frears works well with screenwriter Alan Bennett. though the latter is said to have struggled with homophobia. I Problem Child (PG) (Dennis Dugan. US. 1990) John Ritter. Michael Oliver. Michael Richards. Gilbert Gottfried. Amy Yasbeck. 81 mins. Adopted and returned thirty times to the orphanage. Junior is a troublesome child. a monster for foster parents. Now yet another hapless couple (Ritter and Yasbeck) have taken him into their home. and all hell is going to descend upon them. Flippant — if funny — comedy on what would. in other bands. be a serious topic. I Raising Arizona (15) (Joel Coen. US. 1987) Nicolas Cage. Holly Hunter. 94 mins. Married ex-con Cage settles down to a life ofcrime once more and remedies his j wife‘s childless state by stealinga ( millionaire's recently whelped quintuplet. | Exhilirating. live-action cartoon I combining non-stop action. crazy
situations and deadpan wit. This second feature from the Brothers (BloodSimple) Coen is a joy. I Repossessed (15) (Bob Logan. US. 1990) Linda Blair. Leslie Nielsen. Ned Beatty. Lana Sehwab. 85 mins. Ms Blair made her name by vomiting copious green ectoplasm. rotating her head and growling Obscenities in the voice of Satan. Now she returns in a silly send-up of The Exorcist which. despite the inclusion of a few nods to devotees of that still-popular barrel of fun. and a televised exorcism-athon.sets the sights of its humour far too lowand leaves the intelligent moviegoer feeling a bit cheated. I Robin Hood ( 12) (John Irvin. US. 1991) Patrick Bergin. Uma Thurman. Jurgen Prochnow. Edward Fox. 104 mins. Raunchy but unsatisfying version ofthe much-filmed myth about medieval English rabble-rouser. with Thurman exuding post-feminist sensuality and Bergin revelling in the rakish rebel persona. Will it take the wind out of Costner's sails. or will we forget all about it come July? I The Rocky Horror Picture Show ( 18) (Jim Sharman. UK. 1975) Tim Curry. Susan Sarandon. Barry Bostwick. Meat Loaf. 100mins. The cult film toend allothers. this rock spoofon old horror movies has created a breed of Rocky Horror crazies. and packs them in at late shows everywhere. The film has its moments. and Curry is splendidly camp as the bisexual Frank N. Furter. I Scenes From A Mall ( 15) (Paul Mazursky. US. 1990) Woody Allen. Bette Midler. Paul Mazursky. 88mins. Successful professional couple Allen and Midler are out celebrating their sixteenth wedding anniversary in true American style — by shopping together. In a burst of honesty. Allen reveals that he’s been unfaithful. at which point the proverbial undesirable substance hits the air conditioning vent. Though everything looks set for a delirious showdown between two leading exponents ofthe mouth-off. Mazursky's normally cunning hand with script and direction (as seen in Enemies — A Love Story) misfires here. leaving little of interest to meet high expectations. I La Senyora (18) (Jordi Cadena. Spain/Catalonia. 1987) Silvia Tortosa. Hermann Bonnin. Luis Merlo. 104 mins. Written (from an Antoni Mus novel) and co-produced by its leading actress. this is a curious and disturbing black comedy. apparently designed to exploit her not inconsiderable sexual charms. The story centres on a woman forced into marriage with a pruriently clean older man. who refuses intimate contact and demands that she conceive by artificial insemination. satisfying his sexual desires only through exhibitionism. Her frustration is such that she herself becomes a twisted voyeur. Whether the viewer is moved to follow suit is presumably a matter of taste. Glasgow: GF'T. I Sibling Rivalry ( 15) (Carl Reiner. US. 1990) Kirstie Alley. Bill Pullman. Carrie Fisher. Jami Gertz. Scott Bakula. 88mins. See review. Glasgow: Odeon. Edinburgh: UCI. I Silence OtThe Lambs ( 18) (Jonathan Demme. US. 1991) Jodie Foster. Anthony Hopkins. Scott Glenn. 119mins. Following a series of horrific serial murders. imprisoned psycho-killer Hopkins is released to help Foster and Glenn‘s FBI agents track down the culprit. Adapted from a novel by Thomas Manhunter Harris. Demme‘s film version is a subtle but scarey suspense shocker. with two excellent performances and great narrative drive. I Ski Patrol (PG) (Richard Corell. US. 1989) Ray Walston. Roger Rose. Martin Mull. 90mins. Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the cinema again. he‘s back! Yes. producer Paul Maslansky. the man who brought you all five ofthe
miserably mirthless Police A cademy movies. returns with his latest er. brainchild. This big-budget comedy caper has dashing ski instructor Roger Rose battling against nasty property developer Ray Walston who‘s seeking to change the local resort beyond recognition. Expect the same bland ofjuvenile slapstick and exasperating smuttiness as before.
I Sleeping With The Enemy ( 15) (Joseph Ruben. US. 1990) Julia Roberts. Patrick Bergin. Kevin Anderson. 115 mins. Hollywood‘s hottest female star isonce again the centre ofattention in this . effective thriller about a woman driven to i desperate steps to avoid her psychopathically violent husband. The delicate — not to say socially important — subject matter is approached with as much sensitivity and responsibility as can be expected from Hollywood. and the film has done very healthy trade at the US box office. launching director Ruben into the big league after a string of minor hits including The Stepfather and True Believer. Ultimately. though. the film is too light and glossy to be taken seriously as anything other than gripping entertainment.
I State Of Grace ( 18) (Phil Joanou. US. 1990) Sean Penn. Ed Ilarris. Gary Oldman. Robin Wright. 134 mins. See review.
I Submarine ( 15) (Mark Littlcwood. L' K. 1990) 52 mins. A BAFTA Scotland documentary on artist and sculptorTom McKendrick. which focuses on his relationship with his hometown of Clydebank and the influence it has had on his work. McKendrick and members ofthe production team will discuss the film after the screening. Glasgow: GFT.
I Sunday In The Country (PG) (Bertrand Tavernier. France. 1984) Louis Ducreux. Sabine Azema. Michel Aumont. Genevieve Mnich. 94 mins. In rural France at the turn ofthe century. an ageing painter invites his family to his house. and in the course of one summer day. their relationships. griefs and fleeting moments of happiness are explored in tender detail. as is the hoary question of life's relationship to art. A lilting. contemplative movie which reveals a good deal about Tavernier's own outlook on his life and work.
I Sweetie (15) (Jane Campion. Australia. 1989) Genevieve Lemon. Karen Colston. Tom Lycos. 100 mins. Controversial debut feature from New Zealand born Campion follows the fortunes oftwo sisters. the quiet. nervy Kay(Karen Colston) and the unpredictably psychotic Sweetie (Genevieve Lemon). whose behavioural eccentricities involve eating china ornaments and painting herself blue. as the pair try to resolve their emotional and familial conflicts. Boldly scripted and composed. Campion's film brings a dreamlike quality to the everyday. but beneath all the freakish behaviour and self-consciously challenging camerawork. there breathes a very simple tale of common humanity.
I These Foolish Things (PG) (Bertrand Tavernier. France. 1990) Dirk Bogarde. Jane Birkin. Odette Laure. 107 mins. Low-key and philosophical. Tavernier‘s homage to the wisdom (and follies) ofage takes reconciliation and hope as its main themes. Set in a small town in the southof France. it shows how a father(Bogarde) and his estranged daughter (Birkin) come to forgive and understand one another as he approaches death after a major operation. Deeply touching and superbly acted. with Bogarde taking his first movie role since 1978 as his filmic swansong.
I Time or The Gypsies ( 15) (Emir Kusturida. Yugoslavia. 1990) Davor Dujmovic. Bora Todorovic. Ljubica Adzovic. Sinolicka Trpkova. Elvira Sali. 142 mins. In a rough but fecund Yugoslavian gypsy community. young Perhan (Dujmovic) lives with his grandma and aspires to marry Azra (Trpkova). but
is too broke. When the mysterious Gypsy Sheik Ahmed (Todorovic) arrives in town. he sees a chance to better himself. and returns with him to Italy fortutoring in dirty dealings. Teeming with life and spectacularly scored. this is a gritty. brutal comedy: epic in scope and hugely enjoyable. I Tin Men (15) (Barry Levinson. US. 1987) Richard Dreyfuss. Danny De Vito. Barbara Hershey. 112 mins. Baltimore. 1963. A minor car accident is the beginning ofa major tit-for-tat feud between two aluminium salesmen. Returning to the gently autobiographical territory that he mined so well in Diner. Levinson has produced a thoroughly refreshing and warmhearted character comedy with top-notch performances. ITrust(15) (Hal Hartley. US. 1990) Adrienne Shelly. Martin Donovan. Merritt Nelson. 90mins. In suburban Middle America. a rebellious high-school dropout (Shelly) leaves home after causing her father‘s fatal heart attack by announcing she‘s pregnant. By chance. she meets the dangerous but intelligent Matthew. who has also rebelled and lost his job. As their relationship develops. they gain a new and valuable sense of themselves. A highly unusual black comedy with several unexpected twists from the writer/director of The Unbelievable Truth. Glasgow: GET. I While Fang (PG) (Randal Kleiser. US. 1990) Klaus Maria Brandauer. Ethan llawke. Jed the dog. Bart the bear. 109 mins. Jack London's classic adventure yarn set in the cold wastes of the Klondike. brought to the screen again by Disney's Touchstone subsidiary. A satisfying version with a strong cast and excellent use of bleak Alaskan locations. I White Hunter, Black Heart (PG) (Clint Eastwood. US. 1990) Clint Eastwood.Jeff Fahey. George Dzundza. 112 mins. Adapted from writer Peter Viertel's fictional chronicle of his experiences with obsessive and occasionally irresponsible director. John Huston. while preparing to shoot The African Queen on location in what's now Zimbabwe. Director Eastwood. provides not so much an arid exercise in cinephile archaeology as an indulgently affectionate picture ofthe old-style filmmaker’adventurer at play. sleeves rolled up in a Hemmingwayesque struggle against the oncoming barrage of experience. As actor. however. Clint turns in what's arguably his best performance. I The Wind And The Lion (PG) (John Milius. US. 1975) Sean Connery. Candice Bergen. Brian Keith. John Huston. Geoffrey Lewis. 119 mins. Simplistic and manipulative version of real events in 1904. when an American citizen was kidnapped by Arabs in North Africa. leading to a confrontation between Teddy Roosevelt (Keith) and the Arab leader Raisuli (Connery). The plot is overburdened with philosphical discussion and random incident. but Milius' attempt to draw comparisons between the two cultures is not entirely in vain. Edinburgh: Filrnhouse. I Women On The Verge OIANervous Breakdown ( 15) (Pedro Almodovar. Spain. 1988) Carmen Maura. Antonio Banderas. Julieta Serrano. 98 mins. When Pepa‘s illicit affair with an older man is abruptly terminated. she sets out for revenge. but is distracted by a succession ofoffbcat visitors seeking her calming influence. A splendidly bizarre character comedy from the maker of Law ()fl)esire. with some off-the-wall acting and a plot that pays ironic but affectionate homage tothe classic Hollywood comedies of the 1950s. I Young Frankenstein ( 15) (Mel Brooks. US. 1974) Gene Wilder. Gene llackntan. Peter Boyle. 108 mins. A splendidly accurate James Whale pastiche choc-full of memorable one-liners and crazee situations. Brooks' most affectionate and consistently humorous film. '
The List 14» 27June 199127