FILM INDEX
BACARDI BLACK
countryside with it. he is forced to come to temis with his present life and past culture. A wonderful piece of family storytelling. blending ancient and modern myths. Glasgow: GF'I'. I "’5 (15) (Jean-Jacques Beineix. France. 1991) Yves Montand. Olivier Martinez. Sekkou Sail. 159 mins. Beineix follows Betty Blue and Dim with this image-laden story of an old man who befriends two delinquints while searching for an almost mystical lost love. Montand's death during the final days of shooting gives poignancy to one of his most dignified roles. Central: MacRobert. I Jazz On A Summer‘s Bay (PG) (Bert Stem. US. 1959) 85 mins. Influential film from the 1958 Newport Jazz Festival features performances by Chuck Berry. Mahalia Jackson. Louis Amistrong and Thelonius Monk. Edinburgh: Cameo. I The Joy Luck Club (15) (Wayne Wang. US. 1993) Tsai Chit). Ming-Na Wen. Tamlyn Tomita. 139 mins. Intertwining tales of four Chinese women and their Chinese-American daughters uses elements of its ethnicity and the immigrant experience to highlight the more universal themes of mother/daughter relationships. Above all. it is a very Hollywood-style movie. attempting to manipulate emotions and downplay much of the insight of Amy Tan's novel. A special List screening. at 9.45am on Sat 26 precedes the film's opening on Fri 8 April. and interviews with Tan and Wang will feature next issue. Edinburgh: Cameo. I Juliet at The Spirits (18) (Federico Fellini. ltaly/France/Germany. I965) Guilietta Masina. Alba Cancellieri. Mario Pisti. 148 mins. A married woman. resigned to life with her dull husband. discovers she can conjure tip spirits at a seance. which gives her the confidence to spy on her spouse's extra-marital affairs. Mild female insight from the late Fellini. directing his own wife. with gaudy colour and intriguing fantasy sections. Central: MacRobert. I Jurassic Park (PG) (Steven Spielberg. US. 1993) Sam Neill. Laura Dern. Jeff Goldblum. A group of scientists are invited to give their approval to a theme park filled with genetically engineered dinosaurs. btit the giant reptiles are soon running amok. Unsurpassed computer effects ensure that the dinosaurs themselves are terrifyineg believable (moreso titan the PG certificate would suggest). but by the halfway point. it's more or less a chase movie with superior technology. Edinburgh: Cameo. Filmhouse. I Kalifornia ( I8) (Dominic Sena. US. 1993) Brad Pitt. Juliette Lewis. David Duchovny. Michelle Forbes. 118 mins. Take a car. a writer of a thesis. a photographer. a white trash woman- child and a murderous psycho. and put them on a road trip to the sites of various serial killings. The result is not your average serial killer movie. but a tight and stylish character-driven piece that plays with our fascination for killers while deliven'ng some slap-bang gore. Ilas the potential to do a Dogs. See review. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. All UCls. I King Kong (Merian C Cooper. US. 1933) Robert Armstrong. Fay Wray. 100 mins. A film producer on safari brings back a souvenir monster which terrorises New York. One of the all time great monster movies. even though the plot is somewhat flawed (why. for example. if the natives on the island wanted to keep Kong at bay with a giant wall. did they build a door in it large enough for him to get through?) Edinburgh: Cameo. I life 0t Brian (15)(Ten'y Jones. UK. 1979) Graham Chapman. Terry Jones. John Cleese. Michael Palin. Eric Idle. 93 mins. The Gospel According to Monty Python offended a whole host of religious dominations upon its initial release. which rather obscured the fact that behind the controversy lay their most sustained humour to date. A host of very funny setpieces and smart cameos from all the team climaxes in a rather fetching musical crucifixion. Edinburgh: Cameo. I like Water For Chocolate ( 15) (Alfonso Arau. Mexico. 1991) Marco Leonardi. Lumi Cavazos. Regina Tome. 114 mins. At the end of the 19th century. Mexico is caught tip in the Revolution. Against this backdrop. Laura Esquival's novel and this film adaptation by Arau depict one woman's struggle for freedom front tradition. A classy melodrama that flits from comedy to tragedy to culinary excess. raising the new generation of Mexican filmmaking talent to truly international levels. Edinburgh: Cameo. I liquid Animation (15 ) 70 mins. Animation With Attitude. the titles says; and so it is. MTV's cult Liquid Television series is animation at its most anarchic and off-beat. with links more to video culture than traditional cinematic drawing techniques. Watch out for Beavis and Butthead. Mon 4 only. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
V IN PRINT
Bringing together iottings from diaries, workbooks and previous interviews, Ingmar Bergman’s Images: My life In Film (Bloomsbury £20) takes a personal and fragmented approach to the filmmaker’s oeuvre. The tiny details it adds to already available titles, such as Bergman 0n Bergman or the director’s autobiography, are debatably important, although this offering does give an honest and unsparing overview of the complete body of work. Unfortunately, some of the abundant black-and-white photos are distractineg fuzzy, and, when dark, shine through the inadequate papeL
The paper quality may be better in Vintage Monster Movies (Robert Hale
. £9.99), but the cheap-looking layout
and poor proofing would be unacceptable in a fanzine, far less a book costing a tenner. Robert
' Marrero’s dull and inept text is more a
list of old movies with crude synopses rather than an analysis of the genre. Trawling from the Silents, through the
E glories of the 308 and the decline of
the 40s, to the atomic fears of the 505, it does at least offer a good set of
7 classic stills; but there are much
better titles available for both fan and
; beginner.
1f Marrero is dealing with horror’s past, what about the present? In his
Pars»
lmummunaumi
introduction to Shock Xpress 2 (Titan £10.50), Stefan .laworzyn bemoans the lack of contemporary eye-openers in the genre, but although the book delves into the past, it’s proof positive that genre writing can be intelligent, enthusiastic and entertaining, all at the same time. Presented as an illustrated series of essays and appreciation pieces on horror, porn and the generally bizarre, Shock Xpress flies in the face of the current moral climate. Personal highlights include the Georges Franiu retrospective (a director much championed over the years by the Edinburgh Film Festival) and the piece on the rise and fall of London’s Scala cinema. (Alan Morrison)
I The Man Who Fell To Earth (18) (Nicolas Roeg. UK. 1970) David Bowie. Rip Torn. Btrck Henry. 138 mins. An alien searching for the
water needed to save his own planet has his
powers destroyed by the sinister machinations of a multinational business enterprise. Well cast Bowie gives perhaps his best performance in this dazzling. occasionally obtuse. piece of Roegran sci-fi. A film that bears and indeed improves with repeated viewings. Part of the Designs ()f The Times touring season. Edinburgh: Filrrihouse.
I Mediterraneo (15) ((iabriele Salvatores. Italy. 1992) Diego Abatantuono. Claudio Bigagli. (itriseppe Cedema. 90 mins. A group of WW2 Italian sailors find themselves stranded in the Greek village they were supposed to be ransacking. and settle down to an idyllic life with the locals. A tribute to the kinship of the
Mediterranean peoples. this 1992 Oscar winner
carries sentimentality and knowing humour in equal amounts. Strathclyde: Mothenvell.
I Mrs Doubtfire (12) (Chris Columbus. ('S. 1993) Robin Williams. Sally Field. Pierce Brosnan. 125 mins. Separated from his wife and kids. out-otlwork voice actor Daniel Hillard (Williams) dons makeup and body-padding to become a sexagenariari nanny. Another top- notch comic performance by Williams. who makes the most of his split personality zest without becoming overly sentimental. Hugely enjoyable and well pitched with gags for the whole audience. (ilasgow: ()deon. MGM Parkhead. Edinburgh: MGM. Central: MacRoben. All I‘Cls.
I Much Ado About Nothing (PG) (Kenneth Branagh. UK/I'S. I993) Denzel Washington. Kenneth Branagh. Emma Thompson. Keanu Reeves. 111 mins. A lusty. lively version of Shakespeare's comedy of love and deceit. set in the sun-drenched Tuscan hills. Barbed witticism fly across the screen as British thesps and American stars acquit themselves with honours. Central: MacRobert. Strathclyde: Mothenvell. UCI East Kilbride.
I limit: (it Chance (15) (Philip Haas. US. 1993) James Spader. Mandy Patinkin. M. Emmet Walsh. 97 mins. A good-natured drifter loses his car and cash when he backs a professional gambler in a poker game. then finds himself paying off the debt with the pointless task of building a stone wall. Low-key comedy and impressive character insight makes this one of those classin realised IFS independent movies
that is a joy to discover. See preview. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I My life ( 12) (Bruce Joel Rubin. LS. 1993) Michael Keaton. Nicole Kidman. llaing Ngor. 117 mins. In the process of making a video about his life for his unborn son. PR man Bob Jones disovers that having cancer is forcing him to reassess what is truly important. Rubin treads a very similar path to Ghost and Jacob's [udder (both of which he wrote). alternating doses of sentiment with some depreciating and very human humour from Keaton. All UCls.
I Naked (18) (Mike Leigh. 13K. 1993) David Thewlis. Katrin Cartlidgc. Lesley Sharp. 126 mins. Johnny. a cynical drifter. wanders around
the homeless of London spouting a bitter
philosophy. An episodic. bleak. btit bitingly funny portrait of 90s Britain that suffers from a few characters who cotild only exist in a Mike Leigh world. Scenes of sexual violence may be difficult for sortie audience members to sit through. btit the virtuoso performance from 'I‘hewlis is worthwatching for itself. Strathclyde: Motherwell. (SCI East Kilbride.
I On Deadly Ground (18) (Steven Seagal. (IS. 1993) Steven Seagal. Michael Came. Joan Chen. 110 mins. No longer is the thinking man's Chuck Norris kicking the shit out of lowlife scumbags. now he's kicking the shit out of capitalist scumbags intent on destroying the delicate balance of the ecosystem by oil exploration. First-time director Seagal stages the action scenes with great skill. btit falls down with the characterisation and speechifying environmentalist tone. (ilasgow: M(iMs. Edinburgh: MGM. All L'Cls.
I Orlando (PG) (Sally Potter. UK. 1992) Tilda Swinton. Billy Zane. Quentin Crisp. 92 mins. A male Elizabethan counter begins ajourney of self-discovery that involves four centuries and a sex change. Swinton's simple btit unique beauty captures the androgyny of the perfect Everyman/woman. while director Potter creates front Virginia Woolf's novel a humorous and visually splendid succession of episodes that is a constant joy to watch. At last. a literary film rather than a literature substitute. Glasgow: GET. I Paint Your Wagon (PG) (Joshua Logan. US. 1969) Lee Marvin. Clint Eastwood. Jean Seberg. 165 mins. Hear Clint sing! Hear Lee sing! Yep. this is the musical westerns where cowboys were born under wanderin‘ stars and spend time talking to the trees. The performances are better than the crooning. and the story — on the boom
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of a gold town — ain't bad either. Edinburgh: St Bride‘s.
I The Pelican Brief (12) (Alan J. Pakula. US. 1993) Julia Roberts. Denzel Washington. Sam Shepard. 141 mins. Another adaptation ofa John (The Firm) (irisham novel; another over-long. flabby thn‘ller. Law student Roberts finds herself on the rtrn from killers when her speculative brief on the murder of two Supreme Court judges hits a raw nerve. Instantly disposable stuff. with Washington as solid as ever in his beefed-up role. Glasgow: MGM Film Centre. Edinburgh: UCI. Stratliclyde: l'CI (‘lydebank. I A Perfect World ( I 5) (Clint Eastwood. US. 1993) Kevin Costner. Clint Eastwood. Laura Dern. I38 mins. Career criminal Butch Hayes (Costner) springs himself from the pen and takes a young boy hostage: pursued by a grizzled Texas Ranger (Eastwtxxl) and a criminologist (Dem). he forms a close relationship with his captive. who begins to enjoy an adventure previously denied him. I'nfortunately overlong. due to too many plot strands. there are still enough personal demons present to give it a compelling edge. Central MacRobert.
I Philadelphia (12) (Jonathan [)emme. US. 1993) Tom Hanks. Denzel Washington. Jason Robards. 125 mins. A law yer takes his former employers to court. convinced that he has been sacked because he is suffering from AIDS. Demme‘s film goes as far as any mainstream Hollywood movie on this subject could in the current climate. btit for all its compromises. it should be applauded for avoiding any notion of riianiptilative death-bed sensationalism. Ilanks. for once. is allowed to break free from lightweight comic roles. and delivers a moving performance. (ieneral release.
I The Piano (15) (Jane (‘ampion. Australia/New Zealand. 1993) Holly Hunter. Sam Neill. Harvey Keitel. 120 mins. Jane Campion's masterpiece follows mute Scotswoman Ada (Hunter) as she travels to 19th century New Zealand with her piano and daughter to enter into an arranged marriage. Soon she begins a passionate and erotic affair with her illiterate neighbour as the means of regaining her treasured instrtrment. lrnpeccable performances lift this highly charged piece to the realms of classic cinema. undoubtedly one of the best films of the 90s. (ilasgow: (iI"I'. Edinburgh: Filrrihouse. UCI. Fife: Adam Smith.
I The Professional Bolgo 13 (12993 mins. Anime — Japanese animated action - tip on the big screen for a change. A cold-as-granite assassin finds himself tip against the CIA. FBI and Pentagon as he tries to track down a Mafia boss. ()ne of the strongest Manga titles to date. with the narrative drive and pacing of a feature film combined with the framing and split-screen techniques of the graphic novel. As much sex and violence as any llesh-andbone 18 certificate. btit very much one for the boys. Edinburgh: Filrrihouse.
I Providence ( l8) (Alain Resnais. France/ Swiss. 1979) John (iielgud. Dirk Bogarde. Ellen Burstyn. David Warner. 101 mins. The magnificently malicious (iielgud stars as a dying. drink-sodden novelist who tries to complete his last work by writing in the characters of his own family. When they arrive. they are nothing like their portrayals in his imagination. An intriguing fusion of past and present. literal and imaginary. (ilasgow: (il’l‘.
I Raiders Of The Lost Ark (PU) (Steven Spielberg. I‘S. 1981 ) Harrison Ford. Karen Allen. 115 mins. Ford plays adventuring archaeologist Indiana Jones. who almost bites off more that) he can chew when he turns tip the Ark of the Covenant in Nazi-infested wartime Egypt. Retum to the breathless excitement of the Saturday morning serial with this rollercoaster of a movie. probably better than either of its sequels. Edinburgh: MUM.
I Red Rock West ( 15) (John Dahl. US. 1992) Nicolas Cage. Lara Flynn Boyle. Dennis Hopper. 98 mins. Mistaken for a Texas hitman. Nicolas Cage is offered $5.000 by a smalltown sheriff to kill his wife . . and then double the amount by her if he'll reverse the hit. Scooting otit of town with the money and the job undone. he bumps into the real killer. and his problems begin. A slick tale of double. triple and quadruple dealing that adds a comic twist to the tight Blmul Simle atmosphere. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. I The Remains of the Day (U) (James Ivory. CK. 1993) Anthony Hopkins. Emma Thompson. James Fox. 13-1 mins. A butler reminisces on the pre-WWZ days he spent in Darlington Hall. when he turned a blind eye to his employer's dealings with the Nazis and his own feelings for the housekeeper. ()ne of Merchant-Ivory's best. with Hopkins the epitome of English emotional repression. Edinburgh: Dominion. Strathclyde: Magnum. I Reservoir 0093(18) (Quentin Tarantino. US. 1992) Harvey Keitel. Tim Roth. Michael
15 The List 25 March—7 April 1994