BACARDI BLACK
INDEX FILM
FILM
Films screening this fortnight are listed below with certificate, credits, brief review and venue details. Full length reviews of new releases can be found in the listings section which follows. Film index compiled by Alan Morrison.
I The Abyss: Special Edition (15) (James Cameron. US. 1989) Ed Harris. Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio. Michael Biehn. 168 mins. Let's face it: the original ending of Cameron's underwater extra-terrestrial drama left a lot to be desired. Much better is the heightened political intrigue of this extended version. which still retains its human emotional impact. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. I Altira (12) (Otomo Katsuhiro. Japan. 1989) Animated by Nakamura Takashi. with the voices . of lwata Mitsue. Sasaki Nozomu. Koyama Mami. Ishida Taro. 124 mins. Based on the multi-volume graphic novel by Otomo. Akira is a mythical. futuristic tale of post-holocaust Tokyo. where pill-popping biker kids begin to unearth a govemment project designed to exploit the psychic and telekinetic powers of a group of laboratory-bound children. Superny animated. with a fantastic visual and narrative imagination. but you‘d be well advised to know something of the plot before you see it. Edinburgh: Cameo. I Another Girl, Another Planet (15) (Michael Almereyda. US. 1992) Nic Ratner. Barry Shemtan. Elina Lowensohn. 56 mins. Shot on a Fisher Price PXL 2000 camera. this mini-feature takes the story of New York romantic pessimism and aching longing into hitherto uncharted visual territories. A curiously hypnotic experience. Shown with Almereyda's most recent short. Aliens. See Screen Test. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. I The Aristocats (U) (Wolfgang Reitherman. US. 1970) With the voices of Phil Harris. Eva Gabor. Sterling Holloway. 78 mins. A street- wise alley cat woos an upper-class feline against the backdrop of tum-of-the-century Paris. Loads of lovcable cats. dogs. mice detectives and human adversaries. alongside some of Disney's more under-rated songs. General release. I The Baby of hiacon (18) (Peter Greenaway. Europe. 1993) Julie Onnond. Ralph Fiennes. Philip Stone. 122 mins. More stylised. more controversial. more Grecnaway. The story of a professed ‘child saint‘ in 17th centry France is the means by which the director picks apart exploitation ofchildren. particularly by the Catholic church. and notions ofchild abuse. Images of rape and mutilation will undoubtedly appal most viewers. regardless of Greenaway‘s artistic intentions. Strathclyde: UCl East Kilbride. I Backheat (15) (lain Softley. UK. 1993) Stephen Dorff. Sheryl Lee. Ian Hart. 100 mins. Back before The Beatles were a musical phenomenon. they were just five young lads knocking out rock 'n' roll hits in seedy Hamburg. Softley's film pushes the music aside and concentrates on the odd three-sided relationship of John Lennon. painter and ‘fifth Beatle' Stuart Sutcliffe and German photographer Astrid Kirchherr. The period detail and acting is superb. particularly from Hart in his second excursion as Lennon (following The Hours And 'Iimes). See feature. General release. I Bad lieutenant (18) (Abel Ferrara. US. 1992) Harvey Keitel. Frankie Thome. Zoe Lund. 96 mins. A return to urban sleaze by master of the genre Abel Ferrara. A NYPD cop (Keitel). in debt due to drugs. alcohol and gambling addiction. is intrigued by a big money reward in the case of a raped nun. Harsh. powerful. but filled with a religious orthodoxy. this is a reminder of the director at his best (Angel of Vengeance. Driller Killer) and should be picked up by Reservoir Dogs fans. Glasgow: GFT. I Beethoven'san (U) (Rod Daniel. US. 1993) Charles Grodin. Bonnie Hunt. Debi Mazar. Chris Penn. 89 mins. It's love at first sight when cinema's favorite St Bernard sees Missy. looking delectable with a pink bow in her hair. Pretty soon. this Beethoven has produced a not-so- musical quartet of pooping pups. whose ability for mischief is matched only by their sickening cuteness. Cloying stuff. certain to be lapped up by kids and people who smile at Andrex adverts. General release. I Belle Epoque (15) (Fernando Trueba. Spain. 1992) Jorge Sanz. Fernando Fernan Gomez. Ariadne Gil. Penelope Cruz. 109 mins. During the Civil War. a young deserter finds himself under the wing of an elderly libertine. enjoying
the pleasures of his four daughters - a lesbian. a widow. a bride-to-be and a virgin. Sparkling. feel-good. period comedy that revels in the joys of life and love. See review. Glasgow: GFT. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. I Shall on the Beach (12) (Gurinder Chadha. UK. 1993) Kim Vithana. Jirnmi llarkishin. Sarit; Khajuria. 100 mins. A group of Asian women from Birmingham leave their day-to-day cares behind them and head in a van for Blackpool. But the problems of culture clashes. a patriarchal community. domestic violence and generation gaps follow them onto the sand. A magnificently fresh. uplifting view of life in Britain through Asian eyes. Fife: Adam Smith. I Blonde Venus (PG) (Josef Von Sternberg. US. 1932) Marlene Dietrich. Herbert Marshall. Cary Grant. 97 mins. Forced into a career as a nightclub singer to pay for her dull husband's medical fees. Dietrich falls for playboy Grant. Odd mix of melodrama and social realism. with one show-stopping number in ‘Hot Voodoo'. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. I Blue ( 15) (Derek Jarrnan. CK. 1993) With the voices of Nigel Terry. Tilda Swinton. Derek Jannan. 76 mins. Jarman‘s personal reflection on living with AIDS sets a soundtrack of diary extractions. readings and music by Simon Fisher Turner against a blue monochrome screen — a film with no images. Nevertheless. this is a brave. absorbing cinema experience. deeply moving for all who see it. The proceeds from this special screening at 10.45am on Sat 9 go to Milestone House. Edinburgh: Cameo. I The Blue Kite (15) (Tian Zhuangzhuang. China/11K. 1993) Lu Liping. Zhang Wenyao. Chen Xiaoman. 138 mins. A mother and son struggle to survive the upheavals of the Mao regime and the violent turmoil of the Cultural Revolution. Tian's film tells it straight. where others. such as Farewell My ('om‘abine. have taken a more metaphorical approach. and the result is an honest and moving account of a still sensitive issue. Edinburgh: Cameo. I Body Snatchers ( I 8) (Abel l-‘crrara. US. I993) Gabrielle Anwar. Meg Tilly. Terry Kinney. 87 mins. A terrific remake of the pods-from-space story that brings a touch of teenage alienation to the conformity themes. this time set within the confines of a airbase. The director's use of widescreen and screaming digital stereo sound effects means that this has to be seen on the big screen. Glasgow: Gl-‘l'. I Bon Voyage. Charlie Brown (U) (Bill Melendez. US. 1980) With the voices of Daniel Anderson. Scott Beach. Casey Carlson. 75 mins. The Peanuts gang come to Europe on an exchange trip. fixing its borne-spun philosophy to the travel genre. Edinburgh: l-‘ilmhouse. I Budgies llepared Saturdays Seen on TV over Christmas. Murray and Barbara Gr'igor's documentary examines the legacy of Bud Neill. Glasgow's best-loved cartoonist. Fans and friends reminisce over the exploits of Lobey Dosser and Rank Bajin. .‘vlun‘ay Grigor and George Wylie will introduce the show and offer an illustrated analysis of Neill's fascination with the Wild West. Glasgow: Gl’l‘. I Burden Of Dreams (15) (Les Blank. L's. 1982) Werner llerzog. Klaus Kinski. Claudia (‘ardinale 95 mins. A documentary on the making of llerzog's Fitzcurra/(lo hits on material that's almost as crazily obsessive as the fictional film itself. A temperamental cast (including a maniacal Kinski) and the director‘s monumental efforts to overcome Amazon difficulties make this continuously fascinating viewing. as good in its own way as Hearts Of Darkness. Edinburgh: Cameo. I Caravaggio ( 18) (Derek Jarman. CK. 1986) Nigel Terry. Sean Bean. Tilda Swinton. 90mins. Jatman's biographical study of the brilliant Italian Renaissance painter centres on the artist's triangular relationship with a low-life gambler and his prostitute lover. a passion that is to result in murder. Ambitious and accessible work that finds a delicate. cinematic equivalent for the subtle shadings of in Caravaggio's brushwork. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. I Cool Running: (PG) (John Turteltaub. US. 1993) Doug E. Doug. Leon. John Candy. 99 mins. Speculative comedy based on the first-ever Jamaican bobsled team at the last Winter Olympics is harmlesst amiable. but unfortunately cranks up too many moralistic messages complete with appropriate accompanying music. Still. audiences seem to like its easy-going nature. making it an affectionate tribute to the late John Candy. General release. I Daughters of the Dust (PG) (Julie Dash. USA. 1991) Cora Lee Day. Alva Rogers. Trula Hoosier. 112 mins. An impressionist portrait of a turn-of-the-century family living on one of the barrier islands off Georgia. who are about to migrate to the mainland. Drawing on the Gullah dialect of the islands. the film becomes a vibrant.
detailed account of colonial history and fatnily life spread across generations. Central: MacRobert.
I Dead Poets Society (PG) (Peter Weir. US. 1989) Robin Williams. Robert Sean Leonard. Ethan llawke. 129 mins. In a 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 fonn a secret club to investigate them (along with booze and girls) further. Though Williams is on 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 if the plot is something of a cliche. Glasgow: GET.
I ET (U) (Steven Spielberg. US. 1982). Dee Wallace. Henry Thomas. Peter Coyote. 1 15 mins. An alien creature gets stranded on earth (the opening sequence of threatening legs and flashing torches is beautifully done). where he is adopted by some kids. who help him construct a communication device to summon back his spaceship. All the little guy wanted to do was go home. but Spielberg made sure he had lots of cute and agreeable adventures first. and slipped in the most tear-jerking psuedo-death since Baloo the Bear in The Jungle Book for good measure. Edinburgh: MGM.
I The Exorcist (18) (William l-‘riedkin. US. 1973) Linda Blair. Ellen Burstyn. Max Von Sydow. 110 mins. Earnest priest Von Sydow steps in to save poor little possessed girl in this hugely effective scarefest. Dead good. dead scarey. dead priest. Glasgow: ()deon. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I Farewell My Concuhine (15) (Chen Kaige. China. 1993) Gong Li. Leslie Cheung. Zhang l‘engyi. 156 mins. The story of two Peking Opera actors and the woman who comes between them provides an intimately detailed story which is set to a constantly shifting backdrop of Chinese politics during the 20th century. The Opera setting provides colour and spectacle. and questions how far a man will go for his art; the historical episodes give this Palme d'Or winning film the flavour of a genuine epic. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I Fitzcarraldo ( 15) (Werner Herzog. W. Germany. 1982) Klaus Kinski. Jose Lewgoy. Claudia Cardinale. 158 mins. At the turn of the century. an eccentric lrish rubber-baron. known as Fitzcarraldo to the natives. decides to build an opera house in the Peruvian jungle. To this end. his massive steamship has to be hauled over a mountain. Determinedly realistic South American odyssey that proved punishing for director. star. and the unfortunate hordes sucked into making their dreams a reality. But the result is damned impressive. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I Free Willy (1,?) (Simon Wincer. CS. 1993) Jason James Richter. Lori Petty. Michael Madsen. 112 mins. After moving from one set of foster parents to another. young Jesse finds himself helping out with chores at a marine amusement park where Willy the orca whale has also been separated from his family. Land and sea rebels become soul-mates. and the plot heads down a distinctly [ff-like path. Easy-to-grasp adventure for the kids: a little too simplistic and manipulative for a more sophisticated audience. Glasgow: MGMs. Edinburgh: MGM. UCI. Central: Allanpark. Strathclyde: Odeon Ayr. UCls.
I The French lieutenant’s Woman (15) (Karel Reisz. UK. 1981) Meryl Streep. Jeremy Irons. Leo McKern. 123 mins. Past and present. reality and artifice. passion and scandal are artfully juxtaposed in Harold Pinter's masterful adaptation of the John l‘owles novel. which contrasts the Victorian romance of a scholarly gentleman with a fallen woman . and the contemporary affair between actor and actress portraying them in a film. Slightly starchy but rich and satisfying. Part of the Designs OfThe Times season. Glasgow: GEI‘. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I Friends (15) (Elaine Proctor. liK/South Africa. 1993) Ken‘y Fox. Darnbisa Kente. Michele Burgers. 111 mins. The friendship of three women from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds is tested when the anti-apartheid activities of one have fatal consequences. Writer- director Proctor shows considerable skill by creating a heartfelt examination of life as a woman under the volatile regime of 80s South Africa. Central: MacRobert.
I The Fugitive ( 15) (Andrew Davis. US. 1993) Harrison Ford. Tommy Lee Jones. Jeroen Krabbe. 130 mins. Wrongly accused of murdering his wife. Dr Richard Kimble (Ford) goes on the run. trying to track down the one- armed man who is the real killer while being hunted by a US Deputy Marshal himself. Great acting. but what could have been one of the best
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FIRST Bill
I Backheat Superb acting gives a boost to this biopic on the early days of The Beatles. concentrating on the three-handed relationship between John Lennon. Stuart Sutcliffe and Astrid Kirchherr. General release.
I Short Cuts Masterfully acted and directed patchwork portrait of Los Angeles residents on the brink of social, psychological and geological collapse, based on Raymond Carver’s short stories. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I Belle Epoque A sparkling Spanish period comedy, centring on a young deserters exploits in a liberal household full of beautiful women. Oscar winner for Best Foreign Film. Glasgow: GFT Edinburgh: Film/rouse.
III Schindler’s list Spielberg‘s talents mature with this multi-Oscar winning story of a Gennan industrialist who saved 1.100 Jews from certain death during WW2. One of the best films ever made. General release. REPEIITOIIY
llI Akita Japanese animation at its best. although the plot — which involves genetic mutations, etc, etc - is narrativer challenged. The combination of hand-drawn figures and computerised backgrounds is truly stunning on the big screen. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I The Piano Acting, cinematography and music blend with exquisite beauty in Jane Campion's tale of repression in 19th century New Zealand. Glasgow: Odeon. Central: MacRobert. All UCIs.
thrillers in recent years lacks edge-of—the-seat appeal as director Davis fails to light the fuse on a dynamite plot. Glasgow: (ll-'1‘. Mercat. Odeon. Fife: Adam Smith. Strathclyde: UCI Clydebank. I Green Card ( 12) (Peter Weir. US. 1991) Gerard Depardieu. Andie MacDowell. Bebe Neuwirth. Gregg Edelman. 107 mins. The hugely amiable figure of Depardieu dominates this. his Hollywood debut. He plays a French composer living illegally in New York and in desperate need of a work permit. MacDowell's horticulturalist is in love with a conservatory apartment. but needs a husband to get the lease. Funny. charming. and not without profundity. btrt suspend your disbelief for the (Ienoiunenr. Glasgow: Gl’l‘.
I lienry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer ( 18) (John McNaughton. US. 1986) Michael Rooker. Tom Towles. Tracey Arnold. 80mins. Based loosely on the true life (and subsequently recanted) confessions of Henry Lee Lucas. McNaughton's exemplary film is a harrowing account of an amoral mass murderer. Scenes of rape and mutilation transcend the usual titillation of the genre and force the audience to question the use of murder as entertainment. Simultaneously one of the most important releases of recent years. and one recommended with caution. Edinburgh: UCI.
I Highlander ( I5) (Russell Mulcahy. UK. 1986) Christopher Lambert. Beatie Edney. Sean Connery. 111 mins. A handful of immortals
The List 8--21 April 199417