* FILM INDEX
FILM ' ma}:-
Films screening this fortnight are listed below with certificate, credits, brief review and venue details. Film index compiled by Alan Morrison.
I Apollo 13 (PG) (Ron Howard. US. 1995) Tom Hanks. Bill Paxton. Kevin Bacon. 140 mins. On 13 April 1970. an oxygen tank exploded on the service module of the Apollo 13 spacecraft. leaving three astronauts stranded some 200.000 miles from home. Howard's screen retelling is a big. epic adventure with a proudly patriotic stance. The space photography is just fantastic and the acting as good as it gets. Great entertainment. if a little rich in the apple pie department. General release. General release. I MINUS) (Richard Donner. US. 1995) Sylvester Stallone. Antonio Banderas. Julianne Moore. 125 mins. Reflective Stallone is the best professional killer money can buy. but when he notices that an equally deadly rival (Banderas) is starting to ‘steal' some of hisjobs. so begins a long. breathless and bloody chase. The familiar elements are in place. btit given that the director is Lethal Weapon helmer Richard Donner and the producer is Joel Silver. you can be sure of plenty of explosive action for your money. Glasgow: Odeon. Edinburgh: UCl. Strathclyde: UCl Clydebank. I Asterix Conquers America (U) (Gerhard Hahn. Germany. 1995) 85 mins. While brewing up a potion. village druid Getafix is captured by the Romans and taken over the sea to America. Immediately Asterix and Obelix set off to save him. coming across a tribe of Indians. stampeding buffalo and other Western adventures. The animation style hasn‘t changed for years. so you know exactly what to expect. Central: MacRobert. Strathclyde: Magnum. I Baby's Day Out (PG) (Patrick Read Johnson. US. 1994) Joe Mantegna. Lara Flynn Boyle. Brian Haley. 98 mins. Talk about regression! After Home Alone and Dennis. writer John Hughes now has a drooling toddler on the loose in the big city after he escapes from his kidnappers. led by man-with-no-shame Mantegna. Saccharine sweet storytelling which diabetics would be well advised to steer clear of. Edinburgh: MGM. I The Bait L'Appar ( 18) (Bertrand Tavernier. France. 1995) Marie Gillain. Olivier Sitruk. Bruno Putzulu. 115 mins. Middle-class also-rans Nathalie and Eric. along with shady pal Bruno. try to get the cash to open up a fashion store in America by robbing appartments of the rich. Tavemier‘s portrait of the iniquity of contemporary youth is repetitive and unconvincing: he labours the issue even while his cast give decent naturalistic performances. Edinburgh: Cameo. Fife: Adam Smith. I Bandit Dueen ( 18) (Shekhar Kapur. India. 1994) Seema Biswas. Nirmal Pandey. Manjoj Bajpai. 119 mins. Using the story of Indian outlaw Phoolan Devi. Kapur savagely attacks the caste system and the way it allows men to continually abuse women. Hugely controversial in its home country (although it was funded by Channel 4). Bandit Queen is a major international film. and as far from normal lndian fare as Ken Loach is from an MGM musical. Glasgow: GFT. I Beiore Sunrise (15) (Richard Linklater. US. 1995) Julie Delpy. Ethan Hawke. Andrea Eckert. 101 mins. American lnter-Railer Hawkc and French student Delpy are the strangers on a train who strike up a chance conversation and spend a night wandering around Vienna. The actors give career-best performances while director Linklater veers into Eric Rohmer territory with a funny. sweet and fundamentally wise movie. Fife: New Picture House. I Bigger Than life (18) (Nicholas Ray. US. 1956) James Mason. Barbara Rush. Walter Matthau. 95 mins. Mild-mannered schoolteacher Mason‘s personality is transformed when the drug he is routinely prescribed turns him into an addicted megalomaniac. Director Ray also :oncentrates on the trappings of suburbia that stand around his central character also contribute to the breakdown. A classic melodrama with a sharp social eye and great filmmaking skill. much deserving of contemporary reassessment. Glasgow: GFT. I Blade Miller (15) (Ridley Scott. US. 1982) Harrison Ford. Rutger Hauer. Sean Young. 117 nins. A tough cop tracks down a group of nalfunctioning androids in this gritty hi-tech 'etread of Raymond Chandler. executed with Scott‘s customary visual flair. and with strong )erformances. especially from Ford and Hauer. Edinburgh: Cameo. I Boys Do The Side ( 15) (Herbert Ross. US.
1995) Whoopi Goldberg. Drew Barrymore. vlary Louise Parker. 117 mins. Ratrcous black esbian Goldberg and shyly romantic ride-share ’arker are off to discover a new life; en route hey save abused Barrymore from her drug- lealer‘ boyfriend. When Barrymore discovers she's pregnant. the trio show sisterly solidarity ind set tip house together. Though the characters may sound like crude archetypes. the sheer strength of the performances invests them with humanity. Gir'ls‘ rrrglrt our movie of the year. Strathclyde: East Kilbride Arts Centre. I Braveheart t 15) (Mel Gibson. US. 1995) Mel Gibson. Patrick McGoohan. Sophie Marceau. 177 mins. Mel Gibson‘s long and bloody account of the life of Scottish warrior hero William Wallace boasts some remarkable battle scenes and great performances. particularly McGoohan's merciless King Edward. Aiming to entertain on a wider scale than the more literate Rob Roy. Brave/reart's Scottish passion is tempered by a few Hollywood moments — touches of sentimentality and ‘dramaric' historical inaccuracy. Neverthelcs. it's a fine. full-blooded attempt to tap into the spirit that fires Scotland's history and heroes. General release. I The Bridges or Madison County (12) (Clint Eastwood. US. 1995) Clint Eastwood. Meryl Streep. 9-1 mins. Robert James Wallet"s book may be literary tripe. but one's admiration for director-star Eastwood increases a thousand- fold. as he conjures one of his finest achievements as a filmmaker. It's a classic love story between a passing photographer and a woman whose husband and children are off at the state fair. and [Eastwood has created a work with real tear-stirring potency despite its litter lack of sentiemerrtal gushiness. Strathclyde: WMR. ' I Brief Encountei (PG) (David Lean. UK. 1945) (‘elia Johnson. Trevor Howard. Stanley Holloway. 86 mins. Stiff upper lips and emotionally charged brushes of the hands are all that Johnson and Howard will allow themselves as their extra-marital ‘affair' doesn't develop rmrch beyond unspoken longings at a railway station. For some. the tears will still roll: for others. the ungiving morality is exasperaling. Given the rigidity of this English romance. the RachmaninOv soundtrack is unfirtingly sweet. Glasgow: GET. I Bullets Dver Broadway ( 15) (“body Allen. US. 1994) John (‘usack. Dianne \N'iest. (‘lrau Palminteri. 105 mins. Self-absor bed playwright David Shayne (Cusack) compromises all the way down the line as he attempts to get his new masterpiece staged - he's willing to cast a gangster's girlfriend for the necessary funding and take writing tips from her streetwise bodyguard. Allen's emphasis is on witty dialogue and strong tnrformances. which gives the film a slightly theatrical feeling. Glasgow: MGM Parkhead. I Carrington ( 18) (Christopher Hampton. L'K. 1995) Emma Thompson. Jonathan Pryce. Steven Waddington. 123 mins. Hampton's debut as writer-director concentrates on the deeply loving. platonic relationship between Bloomsbury Group writer Lyllon Strachey (Pryce) and painter Dora (‘arringron (Thompson). The film takes an episodic approach to their life together. letting the performances flourish. but providing some extremely funny and literate one-liners to lighten the moments when tragedy looms. Darker and more intriguing than the typical British period piece. Edinburgh: Cameo. I Casper (PG) (Brad Silber'ling. tfs. 1905) Christina Ricci. Bill Pullman. (‘athy Moriarty. 100 mins. Iivet‘yone's favourite friendly ghost has been living with his three bad-tempered uncles in an abandoned mansion. When it's bequeathed to a money-grabbing heiress who thinks it's filled with hidden treasure guarded by unquiet spirits. (‘asper comes into contact with ghost psychologist Pullman's tomboy daughter (Ricci). A very messy amalgam of G/rmrbasrerx effects. Addams Family gothic humour and the sort of overblown feelgood Spielbergiana that revels in funny gadgetry and family values. General release. I Chungking Express ( 12) (Wong 'Kar -wal. Hong Kong. 1994) Brigitte l.in. Takeshi Kaneshiro. Tony Leung. Faye Wang. 97 mins. Such a glorious concoction of humour. energy. style and kookiness rarely comes our way. Tire two loosely overlapping stories are set around a fast food stall in Hong Kong. with mismatched romance and indulgent heartache the menu for today. The second segment is the stronger. bill the film is so fresh and unusual that it more than survives this slight imbalance. A Boat [)e Souffle for our times. Edinburgh: Cameo. Fife: Adam Smith. I Cltiun Kane (PG) (Orson Welles. LS. 1941 ) Orson Welles. Joseph Corten. Agnes Moorehead. 119 mins. Stunningly successful biographical mosaic centring on a Hearst-like media tycoon. Welles' first film remains scintillating viewing for its sheer technical verve. narrative
confidence and spellbinding performances. The
Filrrihouse.
I Clerks ( 18) (Kevin Smith. LFS. 1993) Brian O'Halloran. Jeff Anderson. Marilyn Ghigliotti. 90 mins. Just when you were sick of the very sight of the word ‘slackcr'. along comes Clerks and gives the whole commercialisation of the Gen X lifestyle a good hard kick up the backside. Kevin Smith's hilariously fotrl dialogue peps up the exchanges on life. sex and everyday living between bored convenience store check-out assistant Dante and equally bored video store manager Randal. Strathclyde: l'(‘l East Kilbride.
I Clueless (12) (Amy lleckerling. US. 1995) Alicia Silverstone. Stacey Dash. Britanny Murphy. 98 mins. Beautiful. fashionable and streetsmart Beverley Hills schoolgirl Cher (Alicia) is spoilt to distraction. but when teenage romance floors her. she's as clueless as anyone. This has all the ingredients for an unashamedly brainless smash teen comedy — including a new line in kooky dialect — but unfortunately it doesn't do anything that l/r'uthel‘x didn‘t do better. General release.
I The Cobweb (PG) (Vincente Minnelli. US. 1955) Richard Widmark. Lauren Bacall. Gloria Grahame. 124 mins. Psychiatrist Widmark finds himself in a sexual quandary when his wife and the mother of his child (Grahame) remains passionate and physical while his mistress (Bacall) is more the homely sort. The Freudian level rests close to the surface. btrt Minnelli pulls the best from his actors. Glasgow: GF'I‘.
I Crimson Tide (15)(Tony Scott. US. 1995) lGene llackman. ~Denzel Washington. George 'Dzundza. 116 mins. When a rebel Russian nationalist general with his mitts on the nuclear trigger brings Armageddon back onto the agenda. the [SSS Alabama. with its 24 Trident missiles. is called itrto action. With a nightmare scenario. two top stars acting their socks off and ‘a director who knows how to get the most from {big budget effects. this tense arid claustrophobic {submarine thriller is a prime slice of weekend jenrertainment. See review. General release. lGeneral release.
{I Dance: Belgium Blitl ( 15) Two pieces from .tlre country currently at the forefront of dance- ion-screen rnnovation: Wim Vandckeybus's ‘RUu'luIlrl and the Anne Teresa de EKcersmaekcr/Peter Grecnaway collaboration ;l\’me. Glasgow: (EFT.
rI Dance: Expression (15) A programme icapturing the way in which the lens acts as a ipr'rsm for the language of dance. The moods ‘ move from the desolate relationships of DV8 s EDerrrl [)reann (lfrllmrm-hmnre Men to the ‘emotive soliloquy of David Rousseve's I’ul/
ii)!!!‘ Ilerlrl 7i) The :Wrmn. Glasgow: (ii‘vl‘.
II D'Artagnan’s Daughter ( IS) (Bertrand 'l‘avernier. France. 1994) Sophie Marceau. Philippe Noiret. (‘laude Rich. 136 mins. .()r'iginally a project for director Riccardo Freda luv-ho then fell ill). this lacklustre swashbuckler :was picked up by 'I‘avernier. but his approach lacks pizzazz and good old cut~and-thrust. When a dastardly duke attacks her convent. young nun iMarceau is forced into action. and so she drags ldad D‘Artagnan and his mrrsketeer mates out of ir'ctiiemenl. A few diverting flourishes aside. Dick Lester probably did it better. (‘entr'alt MacRobert.
I Dialogues With Madwomen ( l5) (Allie Light. (TS. 1993) 90mins. Light‘s engrossing and moving documentary tells the story of seven women who have experienced multiple personalities. manic depression. schizophrenia and euphoria. Unlike other films which would just take a straightforward interview approach. this one taps into the dreamlike qualities of trnbalarrced imagination. recreating the memories and fantasies of its subjects. including the director herself. Fife: Adam Smith.
I Die Hard With A Vengeance ( l5) (John Mc'l‘iernarr. US. 1995) Bruce Willis. Jeremy Irons. Samuel 1.. Jackson. 128 mins. Basically an extended cat and mouse game. .‘vlcTier'nan's sequel to his own original has washed-up anti- hero Willis and pissed-off. good-hearted sidekick Samuel 1.. Jackson dashing across New York (‘ity from pay-phone to pay-phone. solving childish riddles in time to deactivate a stash of hidden bombs. Imagine Speed with a hangover. with plenty of comedy. the best buddy pairing in years. but a curious lack of satisfying set pieces. Edinburgh: L'Cl. Strathclyde: UCI Clydebank. I Disclosure ( 18) (Barry Levinson. US. 1994) Michael Dotrglas. Dcmi Moore. Donald (Sutherland. 128 mins. High-flying computer 'hardware exec Douglas is beaten to promotion by former flame Moore. whose subsequent attempts to get his pants off brings about allegations of sexual harassment. The spark point in Michael (‘richton's source novel is only one factor in this corporate suspense thriller. which rs as slick. professional and empty of sure-footed morality as you would expect. That said. you'll stay glued to the screen. Edinburgh: Filrnhouse.
best film ever made'.’ Who's arguing? Edinburgh:
HIT LIST' I
Catch the best Film this fortnight.
FIBST BUN
I II Postino An Italian charmer set on a quiet island off the Neopolitan coast. where the local postman is aided in his courting of a barmaid by an exiled poet. Glasgow: GFT. Edinburgh:
F i Int/rouse.
I Living In Oblivion Wandering boom mikes. actors‘ egos and jealousies among the crew: it all adds up to a hilarious nightmare for Steve Buscemi in Tom DiCillo‘s take on the highs and lows of low-budget filmmaking. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I Crimson Tide Tension and testosterone levels are high as Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington second-guess a renegade Russian in Tony Scott‘s submarine thriller. General release.
I Panther The origins and growth of the Black Panther Party are presented in an entertaining and accessible way. with no hint of compromise over the film’s forthright political views. General release.
I Land And Freedom The complexities of the Spanish Civil War are shown in an emotional light in Ken Loach‘s masterpiece. which features an international ensemble of actors lead by the brilliant larr Hart. Edinburgh: Canter).
BEPEBTDBY
I The lied Shoes What could be better in the GFT‘s dance season than Powell and Pressburger‘s stunning ballet melodrama. based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairy-tale? Clusgmr'.‘ CF]:
I The Thief 0i Dagdad Michael Powell also had a hand itr this spectacular Arabian Nights style adventure. an unforgettable example of cinema at its most magical. Edinburgh: Film/rouse.
I Diva (15)(Jean-Jacques Beineix. France. 1981 ) Frederic Andrei. Roland Berlin. Richard Bohringer. 11" m.r:s. The twisted fate of two tapes. one an illegal recording of an American opera star. the other exposing a crime ring. is the central strand of this daffy Gallic cult favourite. Style exudes from every sprocket hole. Edinburgh: Film Guild.
I Ed Wood (15) (Tim Burton. US. 1994) Johnny Depp. Martin Landau. Patricia Arquette. 123 mins. Burton's fondly atmospheric homage to the so-called ‘worst director of all time' is his best film to date. It‘s more than a biopic pastiche. however: the emotional heart of the film is found in the genuinely caring relationship between Wood and the dying. drug-addicted Bela Lugosi (a marvellous Martin Landau). Depp plays Wood as a bundle of energy and innocent romanticism. capturing the spirit of dogged determination that makes the subject such an appealing character. Strathclyde: East Kilbride Ans Centre.
I Eight And A Half Otto E Mezzo ( 18) (Federico Fellini. Italy. 1963) Marcello Mastroianni. Claudia Cardinale. Anouk Aimee. 138 mins. Many regard this moody magnum opus as the Italian maesrm's finest hour. Following a scenario not unlike the one that faced the director when he was under pressure to come up with a sequel to the massive international success of La Dulce Vita. it stars Mastroianni as
. 24 The List 3-16 Nov 1995