Fill INDEX
COUPE DE VILLE
Coupe De Ville (15) (Joe Roth, US, 1990) Daniel Stern, Patrick Dempsey, Ayre Gross, Alan Arkln. 98 mins. In 1963, three brothers- an air iorce tight-ass, a wimpy college graduate and a potential delinquent- meet tor the ilrst time in several years, tricked by their lather into driving a ’54 Cadillac irom Detroit to Florida for their mother's birthday. 0n the way, they come to terms with bruised egos and dented tenders, and linally begin to understand one another— all set to a ilnger-ciickin’ back catalogue oi rock’n’roil hits. Yeuch, you might say; but don’t be tooled by the above synopsis. In the same way that Stand By Me is far more than a kids’ coming-oi-age movie, Coupe De Ville is nostalgic comedy in the Diner/American Grailiti class.
As a director, Joe Roth has the dubious distinction oi having helmed Revenge oi the Nerds ll: Nerds in Paradise. In his new job as chairman oi 20th Century Fox, he has lifted an ailing studio to the top oi the pack (in revenue terms) in less than three years, and is the only director since the 1930s to head a major Hollywood studio.
Although he injects a degree oi star-spangled naivety into the proceedings- the events occur only months before that all-important bullet
3‘ fit “if Coupe De Ville: ‘nostalgic comedy in the Diner/American Graiiiti class'
took a trip through the President’s brain and a nation lost its innocence -there are iinely observed truths in his depiction oi the line line between sibling rivalry and atiection. it the traditional east to west road movie has been given a 90 degree twist here, then so has typical American sentimentalism. Ratherthan relying on witty one-liners, the laughs emerge irom the characters and the situations
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they iind themselves in, endowing the lilm as a whole with more depth than most oi its peers. And irom this sustained comedy rises at least one all-time classic scene concerning the real meaning oi the lyrics oi Louie Louie. Forget all prejudices and be pleasantly surprised. (Alan Morrison)
From 31 Jan: Edinburgh Cameo.
memory other own. but relives the nightmares of a murdered woman. Old~fashioned Hitchcockian thriller. carried off with much style. Strathclyde: Motherwell Theatre.
I Don Giovanni (PG) (Joseph Losey. Italy/France/West Germany. 1979) Ruggero Raimondi, John Macurdy. Edda More. Kiri Te Kawana, Kenneth Riegel. 176 mins. Radical and colourful interpretation of Mozart‘s great opera, with Raimondi‘s Don presented in an overwrought and highly unattractive light, indulging himself of the fruits of others' labour. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I Double impact ( 18) (Sheldon Lettich. US,1991) Jean-Claude Van Damme, Geoffrey Lewis, Alan Scarfe. Alonna Shaw. 108 mins. Our favourite kick boxer is back. this time as identical twins— one nice. one nasty — who team up after having been separated for 25 years in order to beat the living crap out of the killer of their parents. Highlight is a tightly edited sequence when Jean-Claude the First takes on Jean-Claude the Second, but even then it only amounts to a predictable whole interrupted by choreographed violence. General release.
I Drugstore Cowboy ( 18) (Gus Van Sant Jr. . US, 1989) Matt Dillon, Kelly Lynch. James Remar, William S. Burroughs. 100 mins. A gang ofdope fiends. headed by our Matt, blithely rip off a series of drugstores in Gus Van Sant‘s recreation of 1971 Oregon. Complete with its halucinatory visions of flying cows, the film created a stir stateside for presenting the theft and use of narcotics as an alluring pastime. It marks a new and more creditable milestone in Hollywood drug movies. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I Edward Scissorhands (PG) (Tim Burton. US. 1991 ) Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder. Dianne Wiest, Vincent Price. 105 mins. Burton follows up the excesses of Barman with this fairy tale for the 905, which works as a welcome return to the darker side of the genre. Depp is the unfinished creation of The Inventor (Price), who lives alone in a crumbling mansion, unable to even scratch his nose without needing stitches. Beautifully shot. tenderly acted and full of hidden depths. Central: Caledonian.
I Edward ll (18) (Derek Jarman, UK,1991) Steven Waddington, Tilda Swinton, Andrew Tieman, Nigel Terry. 90 mins. Christopher Marlowe‘s 16th century play was a tale of illicit love, jealousy and regicide. Jarman's reworking of the script makes the central themes more relevant to the present day, with particular emphasis on the repressed love between Edward and his friend Gaveston. With a discussion led by Jarman. Glasgow: GFI‘.
I Exiled Programme 3 (15) Films by Charlie Chaplin , Chilean artist Raul Ruiz and Amos Gitai
make up this third programme in the serieson exiled artists and related themes. titled Dislocated Realities. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I Exiled Programme 4 (15) Fragile States, four films examining notions of sexuality. includes a screening of Derek J arman's 1986 short Imagining October. Glasgow: GFT.
I the Fabulous Baker Boys (15) (Steve Kioves. US, 1989) Jeff Bridges, Beau Bridges. Michelle Pfeiffer. 113 mins. Veteran piano duo Jeffand Beau draft in Ms Pfeiffer‘s smokey chanteuse to save their act‘s declining fortunes, but as the trio go on the road together. romantic and professional relationships are soon in turmoil. Crackling with some of the sharpest dialogue in years, this is a moody. mature picture. beautifully shot and scored. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I Flirting (12) (John Duigan,Australia,1991) Noah Taylor, Thandie Newton. Nicole Kidman. 100 mins. The second part of writer/director Duigan‘s trilogy, which began with 1987‘s The Year My Voice Broke. relates the continuing life of Danny Embling (Taylor), now at a remote Australian boys‘ boarding school. Wonderfully evocative writing and characterisations lift this gem above other. more slushy. tales of first love. Glasgow: GET.
I Forthe Boys ( 15) (Mark Rydeil. US. 1991) Bette Midler. James Caan, George Segal. Patrick O‘Neal. 145 mins. See review. General release (Week 2).
I the Four Feathers (PG) (Zoltan Korda. U K. 1939) John Clements, June Duprez, Ralph Richardson. 130 mins. Rousing stuff in the Sudan as the British forces take on those foreign johnnies. While it makes for good adventure fare in terms of heroism versus cowardice. one can‘t help wincing at the outdated imperialist values that smoulder on regardless. Glasgow: Grosvenor.
I Frankie and Johnny (15) (Garry Marshall. US. 1991) Al Pacino. Michelle Pfeiffer. Hector Elizondo. Kate Nelligan. 117 mins. Despite some feminine resistance, love begins to sizzle between disillusioned waitress Frankie (Pfeiffer) and short order cook Johnny (Pacino). Warm-hearted romance , with side orders of cliche and diner realism, from the man who brought you Pretty Woman. General release.
I Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare (18) (Rachel Talalay, US. 1991) Robert Englund. Lisa Zane, Short Greenblatt, Yaphet Kotto. 90 mins. Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to mourn the passing of Freddy Kruger, child killer and dream stalker. But the man whose bladed gloves put the rip in R.1.P. doesn‘t leave us before a final (and disappointing) 3D climax. Plot? Be serious. A very poor epitaph indeed. General release.
I Haegln' With the Homeboys ( 18 ) (Joseph B.
Vasquez. US. 1991 ) Doug E. Doug. Mario Joyner, John Leguizamo. Nestor Serrano. 88 mins. Four friends - an angry young black man. a struggling actor. a womaniser and a naive supermarket clerk — go off in search of a good time on a Friday night. It‘s supposed to be a break from their daily drudgery. but it only brings more trouble. Subtly addictive film that includes hilarious ensemble performances. Glasgow:
GFT.
I Hearts of Darkness ( 15) (Fax Bahr/George Hickenlooper. US. 1990) Francis Coppola, Eleanor Coppola. Martin Sheen. Marlon Brando. 97 mins. Compelling mixture ofdocumentary footage and recent interviews concerning the troubled production of Francis Coppola‘s Apocalypse Now. Artistic vision battles with escalating budget. typhoons and heart attacks deep in the Philippine jungle. As important and fascinating as the film it portrays. Glasgow: GF'T. I Henry: Portrait OIASeriai Killer ( 18) (John McNaughton. US. 1986) Michael Rooker.Tom Towles. Tracey Arnold. 80 mins. Based loosely on the true life (and subsequently recanted) confessions of Henry Lee Lucas. McNaughton's exemplary film is a harrowing account ofan amoral mass murderer. Scenes of rape and mutilation transcend the usual titillation ofthe genre and force the audience to question the use of murder as entertainment. Simultaneously one ofthe most important releases of recent years. and one recommended with caution. Glasgow: GF'T. I Hidden Agenda (15) (Ken Loach. UK. 1990) Frances McDormand. Brian Cox, Brad Dourif. Mai Zetterling. 103 mins. One of Britain's most respected political film-makers takes on the big one — the security forces in Northern Ireland. When an American lawyer is killed. details begin to emerge which are neither palatable nor — in the view of the British government — suitable for public consumption. Loach‘s research has revealed some unsavoury facts about Britain‘s record on civil and human rights. and he‘s not keeping them to himself. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. I Highlander ( 15) (Russell Mulcahy. UK. 1986) Christopher Lambert. Beatie Edney, Sean Connery. 111 mins. A handful of immortals battle through the centuries to win a mythical prize. A curious mixture of romance in 16th century heather and car chases in present day New York. the film is an ineiegant, often ludicrous. but enjoyably daffy adventure. Lambert seems more at home with the contemporary passages and only the ever wonderful Connery has the requisite style for the kitsch Scottish scenes. Glasgow: Grosvenor.
I Highlander 2: the Duickenlng(15) (Russell Mulcahy. US. 1991) Christopher Lambert. Sean Connery. Virginia Madsen. Michael lronside. 95
mins. 1n the year 2024. Connor MaeLeod (Lambert) is a very old man. but his future is threatened when his enemy Katana (lronside) returns from planet Zeist. With his youthful energy and his decaptitated mentor (Connery) restored to him. MacLeod sets out to defend all he stands for. Silly and illogical sequel to an already somewhat fanciful original. Glasgow: Grosvenor. I liors La Vie (15) (Mamoun Bagdadi. France. 1991) Hippoiyte Girardot. Rafic Ali Ahmad. Hussein Sbeity. 97 mins. See review. Glasgow: GF'I‘. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. I Hot Shots(12) (Jim Abrahams,US,1991) Charlie Sheen. Cary Elwes, Valeria Golino. Lloyd Bridges. 87 mins. 1n the hands of. say.Tony Scott. this could have been a star-Spangled action adventure: in the hands ofJim Abrahams. however. it becomes another Airplanefl Top Secret spoof that sends up the macho world of fighter pilots. Thankfully the rapid-fire wit and visual gags score as many hits as misses. but post-Gulf War timing and an ad line that bills it as ‘the mother of all movies‘ kick it into a rather dubious satirical league. Glasgow: Cannon Sauehiehall Street. Edinburgh: UCI. Strathclyde: Motherwell Theatre. UCI Clydebank. I in the Realm or the Senses Ai No Corrida ( 18) (Nagisa Oshima. Japan, 1976) Tatsuya Fuji. Eiko Matsuda. 105 mins. At last deemed fit for certification. Oshima's shockingly erotic film can now be publicly screened. 1n the militaristJapan of 1936. a couple enclose themselves in their own sensual world. their passion escalating until only death can provide the next orgasm. Masterly though necessarily extremely explicit look at the power of sexual arousal. which has attracted controversy throughout the world. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. Strathclyde: MotherweliTheatre. I the lndian Runner (15) (Sean Penn,US.1991) David Morse. Viggo Mortensen. Valeria Golino. Dennis Hopper. Patricia Arquette. 135 mins. Penn‘s self-consciously earnest writing/directing debut concerns the fraternal tensions ofa respected local cop and an itinerant ne‘er-do-well. A highly auspicious first film that captures a strong sense of place and character. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. I it's A Wonderful Lite (PG) (Frank Capra. US, 1946) James Stewart. Donna Reed, Henry Travers. Thomas Mitchell. 129 mins. Small-town boy Stewart runs into financial difficulties and is on the brink of suicide when an elderly angel descends to earth to show him all the good hislife has done for those around him. Archetypal Capra sentimentality with a superbly detailed fantasy framework and one of Stewart‘s most lovable performances. One to warm even the most glacial heart. Glasgow: Gl-T. I Jacguot de Nantes (PG) (Agnes Varda. France. 1991 ) 120 mins. Director Jacques Demy made the 60s‘ classics Lola and Les Parapluies de Cherbourg; here we see the life behind the celluloid images in a documentary based on his early life. filmed by his wife Agnes Varda. An unsentimental account of a creative talent and an evocative portrait ofhis times. This special screening on Sat 1 Feb at 7.30pm, will be presented by Scotland on Sunday arts editor Richard Mowe. and is the Scottish premiere (some two months before the London opening). Also with a screening of Renoir‘s La Regle Du Jeu. Tickets £5/£4 from lnstitut Francais d‘Ecosse. 13 Randolph Crescent. Edinburgh. EH3 7T1". I JFK (15) (Oliver Stone, US. 1991) Kevin Costner. Joe Pesci. Gary Oldman. Tommy Lee Jones. 190 mins. Based on the controversial theories of New Orleans district attorney Jim Garrison. Stone‘s epic account of what did or did not happen when President Kennedy made an untimely exit from this world makes for enthralling cinema. A fine performance by Costner is supported by one of the finest casts ever assembled before the camera. Regardless of verity of his argument. this is Stone's most powerful effort to date. General release. I K2 (15) (Franc Roddam, US.1991)Michael Biehn, Matt Craven, Raymond J. Barry. Hiroshi Fujioka. 111 mins. Exciting location filming is marred by predictable buddy and climbing cliches as two friends join a billionaire‘s expedition to tackle the world's second highest but most dangerous mountain. Attempts to supplement themes of man against nature with some self-discovery are lost in an avalanche of pretentiousness. Better by far are the documentaries on the making of the movie. See preview. Glasgow: Cannon Sauehiehall Street. Edinburgh: Cannon. I Lite is M1 (15) (Mike Leigh, UK, 1991) Alison Steadman. Jim Broadbent. Jane Horrocks. Claire Skinner, Timothy Spall. David Thewlis. 102 mins. Domestic cringe-drama which centres on a family with mismatched twin daughters (Horrocks and Skinner), an inefficient caterer dad (Broadbent) and a generous-spirited mum (Steadman). Like all Leigh's work. the drama is laced with a bleak. almost cruel humour. but it’s en joyable. truthful and surprisingly optimistic. Edinburgh: Cameo.
16 The List 31 January - 13 February 1992