FILM INDEX
winning Sorvrrio is the best thing in the movie. even if her role is rather dubious. but Woody's a bit long in the tooth for his part. I-‘unny. but a little tired. Glasgow: ()deon. Iidinburgh: (‘ameo I North (PG) (Rob Reirrer’. LS. 1994) lilijah Wood. Jon Lovitz. Bruce Willis 87 mins. l'niversally' popular. but ignored by Iris folks. Nonh goes out in search of new parents. btit time is runnrrrg out as he tlaycls the world: better find a new set soon. or it's the orphanage. And then there‘s the pressure from the kids of the world who are enjoying the new-found power his antics have given them, A constantly inventive fable that shows respect for all ages of its audience. Rob Rerner‘s only lets itself down by Committing a cardinal sin in the last few minutes. Glasgow: MGM Parkhead.
I Once Upon A “me In The West ( I5) (Sergio Leone. LS. 1968) Henry I'orrda. (‘lrarles Bronson. (‘laudia (‘ardinale, Jason Robards. 1(r5 mirrs. Probably Leone's best film. this classic western details in operatic fashion the drive of crooked railroad irragnate I'tllltlll to cheat widow (‘ardrnale out of her land. until lone stranger Bronson comes to town. Brilliant Moriicone score. aclringly slow pacing. aird an enthusiastic use of the wide screen mark this out as an idiosyncratic gem, Edinburgh; l'ilnrlrouse
I The Pebble Arid The Penguin on (Don Biurii. US. I995) With the voices of Martin Short. James Belushi. Tim (‘urry 7.1 mins. The director of All Dogs (In 7}) Hutu-n and All American Tale presents another animated animal feature with musical interludes that w ill keep the youngsters happy for a w Irrle Nice boy: penguin wants to woo nice girl penguin with a pebble (er. yeah .’) but nasty penguin gets in the way. Strathclyde: Kelbuirre.
I The Piano (15) (Jane ('ampion. Australia/New Zealand. I993) Holly Ilunter. Sam Neill. Harvey Keitel. 120 rrrins. Jane (‘ampiorr's irrasteipiece follows mute Scotswoman Ada (Hunter) as she travels to l9th century New '/.ealand with her piano and daughter to enter iriio an arranged marriage. Soon she begins a passionate and erotic affair with her illiterate neighbour as the means of regaining her treasured instrument. lmpeccable performances llll tlirs highly charged piece to the realms of classic cinema. undoubtedly one of the best films of the 90s, Edinburgh: Cameo.
I II Postino (L') (Michael Radford. Italy. 1995) Massimo Tr'oisi. Philippe Nori‘el. Maria ('irazia Cucinotta. 108 mins. When exiled ('lrilean poet Pablo Neruda (Norret) arrives on a remote island off the Neapolitan coast. he aids local postman Mario (Troisi) to woo the \ illage barrrraid. Gently paced and full of Mediterranean sun. Radford‘s film is nicely unsentimental. Sadly. Troisi died the day after shooting was completed. but he couldn't have left a finer legacy. Borders: Roxy.
I The Prime at Miss Jean Brodie (Ii) (Ronald Neame. UK. 1969) Maggie Smith. (‘elia Johnson. Roben Stephens. Gordon Jackson. 110 mins. The big screen adaptation of Mrrrial Spark's tale of an eccentric Edinburgh schoolteacher in the l930s shows sharp characterisations and interesting period flavour. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I Raging Bull (IS) (Martin Scorsese. IS. 1980) Robert de Niro. (‘athy Moriarty. Joe Pesci. 129 mins. Middleweight boxing clrarrrp Jake La Motta finds it difficult to sustain his early success and as his career fades. he declines into a travesty of his former self. De Niro‘s stunning physical presence dominates Scorsese‘s savagely bleak study of self-destructive machismo. Glasgow: GFT.
I Real To Reel The second Real To Reel short film festival. organised by (‘aidonald (‘ollege. features new work by young filrrrmakers in the categories: drama. docurrrentary. animation and open. Glasgow: Gl’l‘.
I Richard III ( l 5) (Richard Loncrainc. I'K. 1995) Ian McKellen. Annette Berrrrrg. Jim Broadbent. 103 mins. l'pdated to linglarrd during the 30s. Shakespeare's play is sensibly trimmed to concentrate fully on the crookbackcd king's murderous rise to the throne. McKellen gives a commanding performance amidst some wonderful supporting turns. while Lonci'aine ensures that the bard lras rarely been treated in such splendidly cinematic terms. The fascistic look of the costumes does help clarify some of the divisions in the text. Glasgow: MUM Iiiltlr Centre. Edinburgh: M(i.\1.l'(‘l, Strathclydc: UCI East Kilbride.
I Rosemary’s Baby ( 18) (Roman Polanski. LS. 1968) Mia Farrow. John C‘assavetes. Ruth Gordon. I37 nrins. In this fastidious. frightening adaptation of Ira Levin‘s novel. young housewife Farrow moves into a new apartment block where she comes to believe that her neighbours are witches and her husband is the Devil. Polanski works at the ambiguity factor all the way through by contrasting the everyday surroundings with the extraordinary events (imagined or otherwise) taking place in and around them. while the cast all play it with sonre conviction. Glasgow: (EFT.
I Sate ( 15) (Todd Haynes. IS. 1995rJiiliarine Moore. Peter liricdrrran. Susan Norman I IS mins. A \acuous (‘alifoiniarr housew ifc succumbs to a mystery environiirental illness and. in the process of trying New Age therapies. is nrade to question her own identity. Timely in its subject matter. chilling in its conception. assured in its forrrr. this is one of the key American films of the decade Glasgow: Gl-‘I‘. lidiriburglr: l'ilrrihorise.
I Seawards The Great Ships ~( 1 1 ( Illl.lly Harris. Scotland. 1900) 30 mins. Winner of Scotland's first ()scar. this tribute to ('Iydcsrdc shipbuilding has been restored in a new print Also show ing is Sean (‘orrneiy's Scottish 'It'lc'VhlUll docurrrentary I'lri- li‘im ft'l .‘I/lt/ 'I'lu' [iii/incl. which looks at the \Illl)y.tltl\. attempts to shake off union control, The screenings will be introduced by the Scottish l'lIlll Archive's Jarret McBairr and writer (‘Irlf IIairlcy Glasgow- (ii—'1'.
I Sense And Sensibility rl‘i(Arrg l.cc. t's/t‘K. 1995) limma ’I liompson. Kale \Virrslet. Alan Rickrrrair. Htigh Grant. 135 mins Denied their inheritance when the father of the household dies. the female members of the Dmlrwwrtl family face a precarious future which coirrplicates the romances of sensible lilinoi liltmllpsrull(111(IClllt)ll\C Marianne (\Vrrislct 1. Thompson's adaptation isCClrs the wordplay engaginly tail and sharp-w irted. biit never loses sight of the powerful frustrations srriiirrcirng beneath the surface. Infinitely more satisfying than your typical fluffy period piece. General release.
I Seven ( IS) ( Day id I’lllc‘llt'l. I’S. 19951Biad Pitt. Morgan l5reeirran. Gwyneth I’altrow 137 ruins, The outline is familiar ~ two cops track down a serial killer ~ but Seven is a step ahead of its rivals lirom its opening title sequence
orrw aids. it‘s an extremely dark movie which winds through the most tw isted recesses of human nature. Izaclr death is a graphic interpretation of one of the seven deadly sins. giving Alien .t’ director I‘rncher the material for an intense sty listrc exercise in horror. Glasgow (EFT. Odcori. MGM Parklread. lidinbuigh: ()deotr. l'(‘l. Sliatlicly'de: I:(‘ls.
I Sgt. Bilko (PG ) (Jonathan Lynn. LS. 1995) Steye Martin. Dan Aykroyd. Phil Hartman. 95 mins There are no surprises in this routine Steve Martin vehicle. lifted from the Phil Silvers 50s TV show. Here the scam-boy Master Sergeant continues his private vendetta with Major Thorn. By turns funny and boring. the script has too much sheen and no real firepower. Glasgow: MGMs. Stratlrclyde: ()deon Aw.
I Shallow Grave ( ix) (Darrny Boyle. t'K. 1904» Kerry l‘ox. liw an McGregoi. ('Iiirstophei Iiccleston. 90 mins. Three lidrnbur‘gh flatmates find their new co-lrabitant dead w ith a stack of money under his bed. so after perfoi riring a little DIY on the corpse. they reckon all their worries are to er. Brit the cops are closing in. there are two thugs after the money. and the psychological tension is beginning to show. Filled with dark humour and cynical one-liners. llrrs Scottish thriller is bloody and intelligent enough to please the cult audience while i'eiiiaining accessible
enough to be a iirarnstrearrr Irrt. lidinburglri
I-ilmhouse.
I Small Faces ( Its) (Gillies Mackiirnon. IX. 1995) lain Robertson. Joseph McFadden. J.S. Dtrffy. 108 mins. (‘o written with producer brother Billy. Gillies .‘ylackinnon's marvelloust detailed study about the growing pains of a boy- catrglrt iii the fringes of Glasgow's gangland violence in the (ills errrerges as a warm and accurate portrayal of working-class farrrrly life. (‘entiirrg on three brothers. it avoids the pitfalls of the Glasgow hard rriarr nrovie. instead becorrritrg a superior rites of-passage tale. Glasgow; MGMs. lidinburgh; ()dcorr. I (‘1. Str'athclydc: l'('l (‘Iydebank
I Smoker 15) (Wayne Wang. LS. 1995) Harvey Keitcl. \Yillrarrr Hurt. Harold Pcrrrncau. lllts‘ mins. Novelist Hurt offers horrreless lad Perrineau a place to stay after he is saved from berrrg run over“. lilsewhere. well observed Brooklyn characters hang otit in the tobacco store where Keitel dispenses homespun philosophies. A delightful and compelling treat. based on the work of Patrl Alister. Glasgow: GI‘T Edinburgh: (‘ameo
I Stonewall (15) (Nigel Finch. l'K/I'S. I995)
Guillermo Diaz. liied Weller. Brendan L‘orbalis. 99 mins Gay country boy Matty Dean (Weller) comes to New York in the surnrrrer of '69 and meets up w rtlr a crowd of drag queens led by diva LaMirairda (Diaz). Police Iiarassirient and injustice brings about gay rights demos. then riots in the days after Judy Gar'larrd's death. A colourful. moving. celebratory film from the late Nigel liiriclr Glasgow: GI‘T. lidiirbur'glr: liilnrhoirs‘e.
I Sudden Death ( IS) ( Peter llyarrrs. IS. 1995) Jean-Claude Van Damnre. Powers Boothe. Raynrorrd J. Barry. 110 mins. Actor and director reteam after 'Iinri'mp for a breathless. if predictable. action romp. A coolly efficient extortionrst holds the Vice President and a stadium of ice hockey fans hostage. biit bites off more than Ire can chew when Ire grabs a little girl — daughter of irraiirtenance man Van Damme. Glasgow: MGM l-‘ilnr ('entre. lidinburgh: l'(‘l. Strathclyde: l'(‘ls.
I Swimming With Sharks ( 15) (George Huang. LS. 1995) Kevin Spacey. l'l‘dlllx’ Whaley. Michelle liorbes. 95 mins. ('riui/ Sits/rec! and ()scar-w iirirer' Spacey doiiriirates affair s as a monstrous Hollywood studio executive who bullies new boy \\'h:i1ey in this irirpressive debut by Huang \1o\ ies about movies are nothing new. but like the best (The l’liivt'i'. etc). this one gets beyond the glairrour to say meaningful things about the priorities of work and rrrghtrrrarish master-and-seivant relationships See feature and review.
I Taxi Driver r is) (Martin Scorsese. ('8. W70) Robert De Niio. (‘ybill Shepherd. Jodie Foster.
I 14 mins. Arr alienated taxi driver in New York is so repelled by the squalor and the rrroral decay around him that he is driven to terrible violence. ()ne of the key films of the Severrtres with the Scorsese-De Niro partnership at its peak. Iidiiiburgh: ('ameo.
I Thelma & Louise (15) (Ridley Scott. t 's. 1991) Susan Saiandorr. (ieena Davis. Harvey Kcitel. Michael Madserr. 129 mins. The buddy/road movie genres are turned on their heads as Saiarrdon and Davis grasp the steering wheel and head off leaving a trail of murder and mayhem in their wake. ()rr one level. the film is the critical catalyst that had the feminists cheering and put the stars on the cover of lime iiraga/ine. just as llllptrl‘lflllll}. it‘s an accessible piece of errtertairrrrrent w itli excellent central perfo.niarrces. lidinburgh' ('ameo.
I Things To Do In Denver When You're Dead (IS) (Gary l-ledei. IS. 1995) Andy Garcia.
(‘hiistopher Walkcn. Gabrielle Airwar. IIS mins.
When a final job for The Man With The Plan goes badly wrong. Jimmy The Saint is given 48 hours to get out of town. btrt sticks around to help save his associates. Garcia's calm presence balances with a host of colourfully eccentric character parts in a modern noir that's a million times rrrore mature than the corrric book gunplay of l’ul/r Fiction or the clever-clever twist of The ll'ruul Sin/mil. ()ne of the most literate scripts the genre has seen. Sec feature and review. Glasgow: ()deorr. MGM Parklread. Edinburgh: Cameo. l'(‘l. Stiathclyde: l'('ls.
I Three Colours Trilogy (15) (Krzysztof Kreslow ski. France/Polarrd/Sw itzerland.
1995/94) Juliette Birroclre. Julie Delpy. Zbigtiiew
Xarriachowski. Irene Jacob. Jean-Louis 'l‘rintignairt. 98/91/96 mins. Kieslowski's irrasterful trio of films. thematically based around the ideals of the French Rev olution — Liberty. liquality. l-‘raterrrity — gets to the heart of the contradictions of the new Iiurope. btrt never loses sight of its hurrran heart. lidinburgh: I’ilmhouse.
I Through The ~Sound Barrier (l.') Silent film expert Neil Brand provides an rrrterestirrg look at the origins of cinema as an art form.
accorrrparryirrg a 35mm slrowreel of clips from
the great silerrts on the Gl-‘T's new baby grand piano. Glasgow: GI’I‘. Edinburgh: l-ilrrrhouse.
I To Die For ( 15) (Gus Van Sarrt. US. 1995) Nicole Kidman. Matt Dillon. Joaquin Phoenix. 107 mins. Obsessed with TV fame. Suzanne (Kidnran) takes a job as a weatlrergirl with her local cable station. but uses her position to begin a docurrrentary on modern youth. And uses her subjects to knock off her husband (Dillon). a ball-arrd-chairr around her arrrbitious ankles. Van Sarrt's ultimately tragic satire on the psychological power of [IS media isn't a new subject. but his treatment is enlivened considerably by an excellently judged performance by Kidman. who's beginning to show her true potential. Edinburgh: l-‘ilmhouse. I Torch Song Trilogy ( 15) (Paul Bogart. t'S. 1988). Harvey Fierstein. Anne Bancroft. Matthew Broderick. I I9 rrrins. The story of Arnold. a New York drag queen’s search for acceptance of his sexual orientation from his mother (Bancroft) and a steady relationship with his lover (Broderick). Adapted from the hit stage show with writer l-‘ierstein taking the lead role. its theatrical roots lead to a sucession of sharp one liners and knock ‘em dead musical numbers. The result is a heady mixture of laughter and tears. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I Toy Story (PG) (John Lasseter'. US. 1995) With the voices of Tom Hanks. Tim Allen. Don Rickles. 8| rrrins. It isn't just the state-of-the-art images that distinguish Disney‘s first computer'- gerrerated animation feature. it's got a cracking adventure story too. A tale of friendship and self-belief combined with an exciting rescue and against-the-clock tension. Toy Story is sprinkled with comic asides. Don't be fooled into thinking these toys are just for the kids. General release. I Trainspotting ( 18) (Danny Boyle. UK. 1995) Ewan McGregor. liwen Bremner'. Robert Carlyle. Jonny Lee Miller. 93 rrrins. John llodge's screenplay perfectly captures the desperate humour of Irvine Welsh's novel. keeping the episodic structure ofjunkie scenes for the first Iralf. before concentrating more on Rerrtorr in London in the later stages. Fast and stylish direction. creative soundtrack and acting that's off-the-rails excellent. A cinematic blast from beginning to end. which also shows a complex — and true - understanding of the lure and fatal consequences of drug-taking. General release. I 12 Monkeys ( 15) (Terry Gilliam. US. 1995) Bruce Willis. Brad Pitt. Madeleine Stowe. 129 mins. A convict from the future is sent to the past to discover the source of a lethal virus that has devastated humanity. but even he begins to wonder if the images in his head are merely delusions. A complex time-travel fantasy. with liberal subplots and a decent mystery edge. that's lifted by Gilliam's ever-brilliant visual skills. It may at times stumble over its own inner logic. but it's an odd. eccentric creation that engages the inraginatiorr. General release. I Underground ( I 5) (Emir Kusturica. l5rance/Germany/Iltingary'. 1995) Miki Manojlovic. Lazar Ristovski. Mirjana Jokovic. 1(r7 mins. A black rrrarketeer cons a cellar full of refugees into believing that WW2 still rages overhead. and so becomes a top dog in the Yugoslav corrritiunist regime. Kusturica's meditation on 50 years of Balkan Iristory is set against a background of national tragedy. but the tone is emphatically upbeat and one brilliant set- piece follows another. A Palme D'Or-winning celebration of the human spirit. l‘ife: Adam Smith. I Unzipped ( 15) (Douglas Kecve. US. 1995) 73 mins. It's bitch eat bitch in the bearrpole world of fashion. as designer Isaac Mizrahi prepares for his autumn show. More than an elongated (‘lotlivs Slime. this entertaining and remarkava candid docurrrentary goes behind the scenes to capture the egotistical pomposity and breathless enthusiasm of the industry. Plenty of celebrities and supermodels to be seen. Glasgow: GFI‘.
I A Vampire In Brooklyn ( 15) (Wes Craven. US. 1995) Eddie Murphy. Angela Bassett. Kadeem Hardison. I02 rrrirrs. The last of his line. (‘aribbean vampire Maximillian comes to New York with his reluctant ghoul to seduce his unwitting blood sister. Classy production values and (‘raven's intimate knowledge of the genre pay off handsomely. with shocks. suspense and laughs. If only Murphy wouldn't over-extend himself. here taking on three roles. See review. All L’CIs.
I White Squall (15)(Ridley Scott. US. 1995) Jeff Bridges. (‘aroline Goodall. John Savage. 129 mins. .A group of teenage boys endure their rites-of-passage on board lrard-but-fair skipper Bridges's sailing school. But when a storm breaks. the consequences are tragic. Scott's deeply uneven film has the worst elements of l)¢’(l(/ I’m'lr Socierv and a crirrgingly banal ending; it also features a single extended set- piece that is a triumph of technical ability and visceral power. See review. General release.
I Who Framed Roger Rabbit? (PG) (Robert Zerrreckis. LS. 1988) Bob Hoskins. Joanna (‘assidy. (‘lrristopher Lloyd. 92 trrins. In 1949 LA. the humans live alongside the Toons. cartoon characters working in movies. Animated star Roger Rabbit hires private dick Iloskirrs to keep tabs on his wife. but he uncovers a conspiracy that threatens the future of ’l'oontown itself. An amazing technical achievement for the interaction of cartoons arid live action. this box office winner spoofs the film noir genre while nrilking the Tex Avery-style cartoon violence for all it's worth. Fife: Cannon.
I Withnail & I (15) (Bruce Robinson. UK. 1987) Paul McGanrr. Richard [-2. Giant. Richard Griffiths. 107 mins. Two out-of-work actors surviving 1969 London giro squalor take a break in a picturesque Lake District cottage. where one of ihenr suffers the attentions of the ageing homosexual owner. entertaining British comedy has a second stab at glory. and it‘s the bleaker end-of-the-decade elements that have lasted best. Fife: Adam Smith. I Wuthering Heights (L7) (William Wyler. US. 1939) Lawrence Olivier. Merle Oberon. David Niven. 103 mins. The film that more than anything is responsible for misrepresentation of Bronte's novel. it‘s still a cracking good romance in its own right. The full passion of melodrama is unleashed in powerfully elemental surroundings. Glasgow: GI’T.
38 The List 3-16 May 1996