INDEX FILM
I Feeling Minnesota ( I 5) (Steven Baigelman. US. I996) Keanu Reeves. Cameron Diaz. Vincent D'Onofrio. 99mins. White trash cliche Freddie (Diaz) is due to marry sleazy loser Sam (D‘Onofrio) but falls for her fiance's brother Jjaks (Reeves) when he appears on the scene. An unforgivably shallow American independent movie that's filled with trite. pretentious dialogue that only serves to make the stars seem like the dim. wooden pawns we always feared them to be. See review. Glasgow: Showcase.
I The First Wives Club (PG) (lltigh Wilson. US. I996) Goldie Ilawn. Bette Midler. Diane Keaton. I02 mins. When their husbands dump them for younger. firmer flesh. a trio of well-off. middle—aged ladies get together for revenge. Laugh-out-loud lines follow each other in rapid succession as llawn. Keaton and Midler play it. respectively. sexy. ditzy and ballsy in parts that fit each like a glove. Upbeat and well-crafted in a way that will make boyfriends cringe while the women in the audience cheer. General release. I Flesh (Parrl Morrissey. US. I968). Joe Dallessandro. 80 mins. Boasting more of a story- line than many of the products of the Warhol factory in the late I960s. Morriswy's film follows Dallessandro as. trrrr. Joe. in his weird and wonderful progress through the junk underworld. Glasgow: OFT.
I French TWiSt Guam Mum/i! ( 18) (Josiane Balasko. France. I995) Victoria Abril. Josiane Balasko. Alain Chabat. l()5 turns. When her van breaks down outside the house of a conventional couple. cigar-chomping bull dyke Balasko brings a new variation of the menage-a-trois into the lives of Abril and Chabat. A naughty. ftrn and engagineg French sexual farce. filled with dynamic characterrsations. Fife: New Picture llotrse.
I From Here To Eternity (PG) (Fred Zinnemann. US. I953) Burt Lancaster. Deborah Kerr. Frank Sinatra. I IS mins. Cinematic soap opera with all the necessary love and jealousy set in a Pearl llarbour army base before the Japanese bombing. Frank won an ()scar. while Burt and Debbie tangled with more than the seaweed on the beach. Glasgow: GFI'.
I denial. Mes Parents divorcent (I2) (Patrick Braoude. Fiance. l99l ) Patrick Braoude. Sonia Vollereaux. Jean-Paul Lilienfeld. 96 mins. Actor and writer Braoudc looks at divorce from the viewpoint of a group of children. some of w horn come from broken homes. others from 'happy‘ marriages. The youngsters deliver terrific performances. French Film Festival. Glasgow: GI-‘l‘.
I Germany Year Zero ( I2) (Roberto Rossellillt. Italy/West Germany. I946) 7.! mins. The broken landscape of Berlin in the immediate aftermath of WW2 forms a potent backdrop for this neo- realist story of a thirteen-year- old boy scrambling to make a living on the black market and survi\e in cramped accommrxlation and growing sense of chaos. A pessimistic picture. certainly. but one with complete social commitment. lidinbirrgh: Filtnhouse.
I Geronimo: An American legend ( I2) (Waller lIilI. l'S. I994) Wes Studi. Jason Patric. Gene llackman. I IS mins. It's clear that director Hill and co-wiitcis John Milius and Larry Gross see (ieioiiiino. last of the Apache to surrender to the l‘S /\IIII_\. as a proud. fearless and dangerous rebel. Striving for authenticity and imbued with an unsentrmental respect for its subject. the film shows deep understanding over one of the most shameful episodes of 'ethnic cleansing' in American history. Iidinbrirgh: Cameo.
I A Booty Movie (l') (Ke\ in Lima. l'S. I996) With the voices of Bill Farmer. Jason Marsden. Jim Cummings. 7-I mins. After a school prank backfii‘es. Goofy decides to take troublesome son Max off on a bonding fishing trip. Max is trying his best to be cool. but that isn't easy when your dad's this particular Disney star. An incident-wicked journey provides plenty of laughs w hrch should keep restless kids and accompanying adults amused. General release. I Guantanamera ( I S) (Tomas (ititic‘t'lcl Alca/Jrran (‘arlos 'l’abro. Cuba. I995) l()S mins. For his final film before his death from cancer this year. Alea retearned w ith his co-dii'ector from the ()scai-nornrnatcd .S'Imii-lierrv Aml
('lim u/u/e for a satirical stab at modern Cuba's political and financial crises. Three people travelling across Cuba III a funeral car keep crossing paths with a phrlanderrng truck driver arid his fr rend. finding bureaucratic frustrations at every stop. Glasgow: GFT.
I Guide (PG) (\"ijay Anand. India. I965) IS} mins. ()rie of the classics of Bollywood‘s golden ilgc l\' l.0ll()\\'C(l 1| pelgnnul uPPCquncc "\- stai'. Dev Anand. The film — shown in Hindi with no subtitles — tells the story of a girl seduced away from her tyrannical husband by a tourist guide and fulfilling her dream of becoming a dancer. Later. the guide is mistaken for a holy man after he emerges from a spell in prison. Dev Anand is one of the Indian film industry's biggest stars and producers. co-foundcr of Navketan Studios. Glasgow; GI’l'. lidinburgh: l-"ilmhouse.
I la Haine t I8) (Matthieu Kassovitz. Fiance.
I995) Vincent Cassel. llubert Kounde. Said Taghrnaoui. 85 mins. This edgy. black-and-white portrait of racial tension and police brutality on a run-down estate outside Paris won twentysornething Kassovitz the Director's Prize at the I995 Cannes Film Festival. Three ethnically mixed lads come up against the cops when one of their pals is hospitalised after a raid. Urgent. compelling filrnrnaking that's as punchy as a blow to the head. Edinburgh: Film Guild.
I Heat ( I8) (Paul Mort'issey. US. I972) Sylvia Miles. Joe Dallessandro. Andrea Feldman. I00 mins. Junkie stud Dallessandro takes up with fading Ilollywood actress Miles in this most accessible instalment of the Warhol-sponsored Morrissey sleaze cycle. notorious at the time for its explicit treatment of male sexuality. The bastard son .S'rmiel Boulevard never knew it had. liditiburgh: Cameo.
I lln Heros Ties lliscret ( IS) (Jacques Audiard. France. I996) Mathieti Kassovitz. Anouk Grinberg. Sandr'ine Kiberlain. IOS mins. Kassovitz. director of La lluirie. slips into acting mode as a Frenchman who decides. during the final days of World War 2. to pass himself off as a hero in order to win friends and admiration. The Walter Mitty concept Iras some grit in it given the controversial claims made by some would-be members of the Resistance. French Film Festival. Glasgow: Gl’l‘. Edinburgh: Filinhouse.
I Home For The Holidays ( I 5) (Jodie Foster. l'S. I996) llolly llrrnter. Robert Downey Jr. Anne Bancroft. l03 mins. For her second movie behind the camera. Foster deals with the strained interactions between an entire family when a daughter reluctantly comes home for Thanksgiving. The director strives for objectivity. but unfortunately the performances are so powerful that they trigger off personal memories for the audience. making this — like the family occasions that inspired it — an uncomfortable experience to be survived rather than enjoyed. Glasgow: ()deon Quay. Showcase. I Hum Dono (PG) (Amai'jeet. India. I961) l56 mins. The Dev Anand season continues with the Bollywood star playing identical soldiers. When both go to war and one is presumed dead. confusions of identity (and love) follow in a tale of high drama. llindi dialogue with no subtitles. Glasgow: Gl’l'.
I The Hunchback 0t Hotre Danie (PG) (Gary 'I‘rousdale/Kirk Wise. US. I996) Willi the voices of Tom llulce. Demi Moore. Kevin Kline. 90 mins. Young Quasimodo is kept prisoner in medieval Paris‘s great cathedral by the evil Judge Frollo. but when the beautiful gypsy Iismeialda comes on the scene. the boy's heroic instincts save the day. Strong vocal performances. stunning cityscapes. grand songs and an expertly mature handling of adult themes make this an instant classic with plenty to say about moral hypocrisy. lidinburgh: ABC. liCl. Fife: ABC.
I I Shot Andy Warhol ( l8) (Mary llairon. l'S/UK. I995) Lili Taylor. Jared Ilarris. Stephen Doi'ff. l03 mins. Radical lesbian feminist Valerie Solanas is an unlikely candidate for a biopic and. were it not for Taylor's astonishingly energetic and witty performance. she might have remained so. The period backdrop and Warhol‘s Factory entourage are presented as a decadent but decidedly unglamorous lot (which is probably close to the truth). while the director's battery of film techniques minors the central character‘s shifting mental torment. See pt'eview and review. Glasgow: (if-T. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I In Search (It Eric Campbell (L‘) (Kevin Macdonald. UK. I996) 40 mins. Not long ago. details surrounding Dunoon-born Campbell — the bushy eyebrowed villain of the Chaplin movies — were sketchy to say the least. but after a call put out by the Edinburgh Film Festival. a much fuller portrait of the man behind the image is now available. Macdonald‘s documentary rs touching at times. as it reclaims a lost history from fragments of filth and personal memory. The director will talk about the film and introduce rare footage of Glaswegian comedian Billy Ritchie. Glasgow: GI'T.
I Independence day ( l 2) (Roland limmerich. l'S. I996) Will Srnilh. Jeff Goldblum. Bill Pullman. I50 mins. Day ()ne: alien ships hover over the world's major cities. Day Two: they attack. Day Three: mankind goes into hokum overdrive and gears tip to kick some alien ass. A 5()s-style invasion B-movie with 90s state-of—the art effects. Independence Duv is popcorn value- for-money at its very best. A gripping scare scenario that doesn't take itself too seriously. throws in some conspiracy theories and rounds it off with the most devastating disaster scenes ever pill on film. Glasgow: ()deon Quay. Showcase. lidinbtirgh: Cameo. lfiCl. Stratlrclyde: l'Cl Clydebank.
I the Island Of Dr Moreau ( I2) (John Frankenheimei. I'S. I996) Marlon Brando. Val Kilmer. David ThewIis. 95 mins. A stranger stumbles onto an island where a geneticist is playing God by splicing together a race of human-animal hybrids. The HG. Wells novel is updated to the near future. but falls flat due to a
lack of scares and some ridiculoust over-the- top performances - with Brando as the prime crrlpit. General release. I It's A Wonderful lite (PG) (Frank Capra. L'S. I946) James Stewart. Donna Reed. llenry Travers. Thomas Mitchell. I29 mins. Small- town boy Stewart runs into financial difficulties and is on the brink of suicide when an elderly angel descends to earth to show him all the good his life has done for those around him. Archetypal Capra sentimentality with a superny detailed fantasy framework and one of Stewart's most lovable performances. One to warm even the most glacial heart. Glasgow: Gl-T
I Jack (PG) (Francis Ford Coppola. L‘S. I996) Robin Williams. Diane Lane. Bill Cosby. I I3 mins. Again playing a kid-in-adult's-body. Williams is this time thwarted by the movie‘s appalling central concept: the ageing disease suffered by his ten-year-old means he'll die when barely out of his teens. Further irnplausibility is added by the way he wins his classmates onto his side. ’elI-meaning but embarrassing and sentimental piece frorn Coppola which might disturb young viewers and will irritate older audiences. General release.
I James And The Giant Peach (t ') (llcnry Selick. US. I996) Paul Terry. Susan Sarandon. Simon Callow. 79 mins. From the director of 77m Brrrrmi '.i‘ The Nig/imrrrre Before Clirixtmrri comes a wonderfully colourful adaptation of Roald Dahl‘s much-loved novel. Live action tops and tails the story. btit for the most part. it's fun times with stop-motion puppets. By turns funny and scary. it stays true to Dahl's surreal and whimsical vision. General release.
I Jingle All The Way (PG) (Brian Levant. l’S. I996) Arnold Schwarzenegger. Sinbad. Phil Hartman. 90mins. llaving failed to learn his lesson with Kindergarten Cup. Arnie again tries for a broad comedy with children in this attempt at a ‘heartwarming' Christmas movie. tackling the Yuletide shopping crowds in search of Minnesota‘s last remaining Turbo Man toy. Running gags are run into (Ire ground. the slapstick is lumpen and the spurious moral sentiments hypocritical. A real seasonal turkey. See review. General release.
I Jour De Fete (U) (Jacques Tati. France. I948) Jacques Tati. Grry Decornble. 87 mins. A rural French postre sees a film about the efficiency of the American mail service and decides to smarten tip his act. Charming debut feature by Tati. effortlessly building visual set-pieces and establishing the amiable duffer of a central role
that was later to become the unforgettable M. llrrlot. This screening marks the Scottish premiere of the original colour version of the print. French Film Festival. Glasgow: (ii-'1'. lidinburgh: Filrnhouse.
I Jude ( l8) (Michael Wintctbottorn. L'K. I996) Christopher Eccleston. Kate Winslet. Rachel Griffiths. I20 mins. Based on Thomas Hardy's uncoinpromisirigly bitter final novel. this trernendorrsly powerful adaptation shares the novel's romantic tragedy between its two central characters. Determined and honest Jude (Eccleston) is snubbed by Victorian society as he strives for a university education. but worse is in store when he falls in love with his cousin (Winslet). llard-hitting acting. a director and writer who truly understand llardy's themes. and stunning photography elevate this to classic status. Str‘athclyde: Magnum.
I Kansas City ( IS) (Robert Alttnan. l's. I996) Jennifer Jason Leigh. Miranda Richardson. Ilarry Belat'onte. I I8 mins. What he did for country rnusrc in Nashville. Altman doesn't quite do with jazz in Kansas ('itv. although the musical elements of this nostalgic journey to the director's childhood are its strongest. What lets the film down are the ovet'played performances of Leigh and Richardson as. respectively. kidnapper and politician's wife in the dramatic plot that lies over a richly atmospheric portrait of the city of swing in the I9_i()s. See preview arid review lidinbui‘gh: Filmhouse.
I last Man Standing ( l8) (Waltei' IIIII. US. I996) Bruce Willis. Christopher Walken. Bruce Detn. llill 'boriows' the plot of Kiii'osawa's lirjr'm/m and Leone's I'TU/II/ ()[DuI/(rri. with Willis as the mercenary playrtig two warring factions against each other. Colourful character'isatrons come from Walken and Dern. but the overall production is a dire warning that classics should be left alone. partictrlarly by a director whose career seems about to be added to the body count. lidinburgh: Cameo.
I The Last Of The High Kings ( )5) (David Keating. Ireland. I996) Jared Leto. Gabriel Byrne. Catherine ()‘llara. IOI mins. During the school holidays in Drrbliri's summer of I977. Frankie learns the ways of (Ire world even though the girls remain unobtainahle and his actor dad (Byrne) is a fleeting presence. Yes. it's another rites-of-passage tale. but better than Iiiost due to its strre sense of territory and sharp wit. A w ce jewel. See review. Glasgow: Showcase. lidinbur'gh: l'Cl.
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FROM FRIDAY 6 DECEMBER FILMHOUSE EDINBURGH
The List 29 No\ - l 2 Dec (0% 29