The List: 16 Aug 1996 (101/120)

LISTINGS FILM

Fmins. Psychotic army commander Ham's takes 'over Alcatraz and threatens to decimate San Francisco in a poison gas attack: but on the goodies side are goofbali chemical weapons expert Cage and Connery. the only man ever to have escaped ‘the rock’. Hyped up MTV-style direction. fast cuts. big explosions. Brain removal is recommended for full enjoyment. Glasgow: Odeon. Virgin. Edinburgh: Odeon. UCI. Borders: Pavilion. Strathclyde: Odeon Ayr. UCls.

I Screamers(18) (Christian Duguay. Canada. 1995) Peter Weller. Roy Dupois. Jennifer Rubin. 108 mins. It's 2078. and on the mining colony of Sirius 6B. :1 ground war has degenerated into stalemate because of nasty flesh-chopping ﬁghting machines called Screamers. Weller is the Colonel who disobeys orders and tries for peace. Moments of tension and nightmare- inducing horror are let down by poor dialogue and holes in the plot. It's based on a story by Philip K. Dick. but his enduring themes were better handled in Blade Runner. Strathclyde: Mangurn.

I The Secret Agent Cliiii (PG) (John Murlowski. US. 1996) Hulk Hogan. Lesley- Anne Down. Matthew McCurley. 87 mins. A top-class secret agents hides the fact of his real job from his family - but this is no True Lies and Hulk Hogan is no Arnie. Instead. the emphasis is on the kids in the audience. as the spy's son and assorted chums become heroes in the own right by helping rescue dad from sticky situations. Action fun for the youngsters. All UCls.

I Smoke (15) (Wayne Wang. US. 1995)Har\'ey Keitel. William Hurt. Harold Perrineau. 108 mins. Novelist Hurt offers homeless lad Perrineau a place to stay after he is saved from being run over. Elsewhere. well observed Brooklyn characters hang out in the tobacco store where Keitel dispenses homespun philosophies. A delightful and compelling treat. based on the work of Paul Auster. Glasgow:

GFT.

I Some Like It Hot (PG) (Billy Wilder. US. 1959) Tony Curtis. Jack Lemmon. Marilyn Monroe. 120 mins. Two impecunious male musicians inadvertently witness the St Valentine's Day Massacre and take refuge in Florida with Sweet Sue and her Society Syncopators. an ail-female band. Brilliant. brittle. crackerjack farce with all concerned at a peak in their careers. Fife: Adam Smith.

I The SWIG! (PG) (John Landis. US. 1996) Tom Arnold. Jessica Lundy. Christopher Lee. 94 mins. America's dumbest family stumble onto what they think is a massive rubbish theft scam. but is really a ploy by military baddies to sell arms to world criminals. Again Hollywood says thick-is-cool in an embarrassing bout of farcical foolishness that stumbles over some woeful jokes. Glasgow: Odeon. Virgin. Edinburgh: Odeon. UCI. Strathclyde: Odeon Ayr.

I Tom Jones ( 18) (Tony Richardson. UK. 1963) Albert Finney. Susannah York. Hugh Griffith. 129 mins. Groundbreaking. then raunchy period romp. looser adapted from Henry Fielding. has Finney‘s robust protagonist up to all kinds of sensual mischief (including the famous foodie seduction number with Susannah York) while Bn't director Richardson‘s enthusiastic camerawork displays new wave mannerisms a go-go. Dated these days. but still a lot of fun. Glasgow: GFT.

I Trainspotting (18) (Danny Boyle. UK. I995) Ewan McGregor. Ewen Bremner. Robert Carlyle. Jonny Lee Miller. 93 mins. John Hodge's screenplay perfectly captures the desperate humour of Irvine Welsh‘s novel. keeping the episodic structure of junkie scenes for the first half. before concentrating more on Renton 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 The Truth About Gate And 0098 (15) (Michael Lehmann. US. 1996) Uma Thurman. Janeane Garofalo. Ben Chaplin. 94 mins. An insecure radio host asks her beautiful neighbour to help her woo a British photographer. Modern female take on Cyrano De Bergerac. which keeps things moving in pleasant romantic comedy manner with plenty of sight gags and one-liners. But the whole concept is guarenteed to split audiences between those who agree beauty is only skin deep and those who reckon it's only right to be disappointed if your date turns out not to be Uma Thurman. Glasgow: ABC Sauchiehall Street. Edinburgh: UCI. Strathclyde: UCIs.

I Tnister(PG) (Jan De Bont. US. 1996) Helen Hunt. Bill Paxton. Jami Gertz. 113 mins. A meteorologist and his estranged scientist wife get together again while chasing the biggest tornado to hit Oklahoma in decades. The plot is slight. but the characters are interesting and. of course. the special effects are amazing. But the structure is too repetitive - each stomr is a little bigger. each encounter a little closer - for this to be something really special. General release.

FILM mamm-

Friday 1G—Thursday 22 D

Readers are advised that progranmes may be subject to late change at any time. [1)] indicates that wheelchair access is available, though prior notiiication is advisable. [E] indicates the availability of an induction loop for the convenience oi hearing aid users. Film listings compiled by Thom iiibdin.

GLASGOW CINEMAS

I ABC 380 Clarkston Road. Muirend. 637 2641. £2.80 (£2 before 5pm Mon—Fri). Student: £2.20 (Mon-Thurs). Child/CAP: £2.

1. Independence Day ( 12) 1.45pm. 5pm. 8.10pm.

2. Flipper (PG) 1.10pm.

James And The Giant Peach (U) 3.25pm. 5.40pm.

Trainspotting (18) 8.45pm.

The Hunchback iii llotre name (U) 1.20pm. 3.40pm.

Twister (PG) 5.50pm. 8.35pm.

I ABC FILMCEIITRE 326 Sauchiehall Street. 332 1592/9513. Two bars. £4 (£3 before 5pm). Student: £3 (Mon-Thurs). ()AP: £3. Child: £2.50.

independence nay ( 12) 1.15pm. 5.15pm. 8.30pm and late.

Twister (PG) 1.45pm. 6pm. 8.45pm.

The Truth About Cats And Dogs ( 15) 1.15pm. 3.45pm. 6.15pm. 9pm.

Flipper (PG) 1.15pm. 3.30pm.

Mission: impossible (PG) 6.15pm. 9pm. The Hunchback iii Hotre Ilame (U) 1.15pm. 3.45pm. 6.15pm.

Fargo ( 18) 9pm.

The List: 16 Aug 1996 (Issue 286)