FILM INDEX
I Notorious (PG) (Alfred Hitchcock. US. 1946) Cary Grant. Ingrid Bergman. Claude Rains. 101 mins. World War Two. Cynical intelligence agent Grant enlists playgirl Bergman to help him uncover a Nazi atomic plot in Rio de Janeiro. She marries suave plotter Rains and then finds her life in alarming danger. Taut. classic thriller. with a fine Ben llecht script that effectively blends romance and suspense. Glasgow: GET. I The Nutty Professor ( l 2) (Tom Shadyac. US. 1996) Eddie Murphy. Jada Pinkett. James Coburn. 95 mins. Stealing the plot from the Jerry Lewis vehicle. this Jekyll-and-Hyde variation has Murphy iii a variety of roles. Principally. he's overweight btrt sweet scientist Shemtan Klurnp. who comes tip with a formula that shrinks him to sexy but egotistical Buddy Love. Unfortunately. he often reverts to gross size at inopertune moments. The make-up is good. btrt the fart level of humour is way too simplistic. Glasgow: Showcase. Edinburgh: UCI. Strathclyde: UCI. I October (PG) (Sergei Eisenstein. USSR. 1928) Nikandrov. Vladimir Popov. Boris Livanov. 164 mins. Commissioned to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the October Revolution. Eisertstein's filrtt is a pulsating expression of the power of montage. with a succession of dazzling images and the elaborate use of visual metaphor marking this out as one of the Soviet cinema's great classics. Even if it is all a bit too ntuch. Glasgow: GET. I Once Were Warriors ( 18) (Lee Taniahori. New Zealand. 1993) Rena Owen. Terrrttrera Morrison. Mamaengaroa Kerr-Bell. 99 mins. Tamahori's feature debut is a gritty Loach-style look at domestic violence and disenfrartchisernertt within Auckland's Maori trnderclass. It's a film about survival - of individuals. of families. and of race. It's also an uncompromising. shocking film that doesn't sertsatiortalise its material. Edinburgh: Filrrt Guild. I 101 Dalmtianuti) (Stephen llerek. US. 1996) Glenn Close. Joely Richardson. Jeff Daniels. 103 rttins. Disney turns one of its favourite animated films into a live action pantomime with spodges of Home Alone buffoonery. making sure there are plenty of dogs to make the kids go 'aaahhh'. The story remains pretty ntuch untouched - vile villairtess Cruella De Vil (Close) kidnaps enough spotty pups to make a stunning coat. but the animal world gets the better of her - brrt so does the old-fashioned morality. which stresses the sanctity of marriage and that a woman's place is by her man‘s side. See feature and review. General release. I It Poetirro (U) (Michael Radford. Italy. 1995) Massimo Troisi. Philippe Noiret. Maria Grazia Cucinotta. 108 rrtins. When exiled Chilean poet Pablo Neruda (Noiret) arrives on a remote island off the Neapolitan coast. he aids local postrrtan Mario (Troisi) to woo the village barmaid. Gently paced and full of Mediterranean sun. Radford's film is nicely unserttirttental. Sadly. Troisi died the day after shooting was completed. but he couldn't ltave left a finer legac . Edinburgh: Filrnhorrse. I Rebeca (PG) (Alfred Hitchcock. US. 1940) Laurence Olivier. Joan Fontaine. Judith Anderson. 130 mins. Wonderfully atmospheric romance. made when Hitch was at his height. The young bride of rich widower Maxim de Winter joins him at his grand mansion - Manderley - but everywhere she turns. there are memories of his first wife. whose death is surrounded by mystery. Anderson's overwrought Gothic housekeeper Mrs Danvers steals the show. Glasgow: GET. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. I The Santa Clause (U) (John Pasqtrin. Us. 1994) Tim Allen. Judge Reinhold. Wendy Crewson. 98 mins. When he urtknowingly dons that famous red suit. divorced toy company executive Scott Calvin discovers a clause that means he's legally bound to be Santa from that moment on. TV star Allen (Home Improvements) is a competent lead in this upbeat festive tale that tries hard to appeal to the widest possible audience. Glasgow: Virgin. Edinburgh: Odeon. Central: ABC. Fife: ABC. Strathclyde: ABC. I Secrets AM [108(15) (Mike Leigh. UK. 1996) Timothy Spall. Brenda Blethyn. Phyllis Logan. 140 mins. Leigh's Palme D‘Or-winning follow up to Naked is a bittersweet take on suburban domestic life. Young black optician Hortense searches for the mother who put her up for adoption as a baby. but is surprised to discover it's white working-class Cynthia. Genuinely emotional. with great performances by Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Timothy Spall. but the showstopping tum comes from Cannes winner Brenda Blethan. Glasgow: GET. Edinburgh: Cameo. Filmhouse. I Sense All Sensibility (U) (Ang Lee. US/UK. 1995) Emma Thompson. Kate Winslet. Alan Rickman. Hugh Grant. 135 mins. Denied their inheritance when the father of the household dies. the female members of the Dashwood family face a precarious future which complicates the romances of sensible Elinor (Thompson) and emotive Marianne (Winslet).
Thompson‘s adaptation keeps the wordplay engaginly tart and sharp-wilted. but never loses sight of the powerful frustrations simmering beneath the surface. Infinitely more satisfying than your typical fltrffy period piece. Glasgow: GE 1‘. Edinburgh: C artteo.
I Seven 38-0131 (PG) (Akira Kurosawa. Japan. 1954) Toshiro Miftrne. Takahashi Sirnrrra. 200 rttirts. A group of timid villagers seek protection against the excesses of a brutal warlord by hiring seven heroic samurai. Seminal Japanese action picture. with a slow-building digrtity matching the best ofJohn Ford. and in its stylishly aesthetic handling of screen violence a profourtd influence on the likes of Sam l’eckirtpah. lligltly recommended. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I Shallow Brave ( l8) (Danrty Boyle. 15K. 1994) Kerry Fox. Ewan McGrcgor. Christopher Eecleston. 90 mins. Three Edinburgh llatrttatcs find their new co-habitant dead with a stack of money urtder his bed. so after performing a little DIY on the corpse. they reckon all their worries are over. Filled with dark humour and cynical one-liners. this Scottish thriller is bloody arid intelligent enough to please the cult audience while remaining accessible enough to be a mainstream hit. Edinburgh: Cartteo.
I Shine (I2) (Scott Hicks. Australia. 1996) Geoffrey Rtrslt. Noah 'l'aylor. Armin Mueller~ Stahl. 105 mins. Winner of nine top awards at Australia's equivalent of the ()scars. S/lfltt’ is a remarkable arid devastatirtg frlrtt about the life of cltild prodigy artd pianist David Ilelfgott. who was forced to retire front the stage due to a mental breakdown. btrt returned later irt life. The performances show real love. while the recital passages are presented with a conviction that underlines the quality of the film as a whole. See preview and review. Glasgow: GET. ()deort Quay. Edittburgh: Cameo.
I Short Cuts ( 18) (Robert Altman. (S. 1993) Andie MacDowell. Tim Robbins. 1.in Tomlin. Tortt Waits. et al. 187 rttirts. Lortg arid absorbing. Altman's patchwork approach shifts Raymond Carvers short stories to l.os Angeles. a city socially artd geologically on the poirtt of fallirtg apart. The stories cross over. character‘s lives rub together. threads are picked rrp after Iccccding for 1| “’llilc Edinburgh: Cartteo.
I The Singing Ringing Tree (1?) (Francesco Stefarti. East Germany. 1958) 73 ntirts. Imaginative adaptation of the Grimm Brothers" tale. in which Princess Thousandbeauty's suitor prince has the unertviable task of supplying her with said vegetation in order to win her hand. Glasgow: GET.
I Sleepers ( 15) (Barry Levinsori. US. 1996) Jason Patric. Brad Pitt. Robert De Niro. Dustin Hoffman. Kevin Bacon. 157 rttirts. Four boyhood friends are thrown into a juvenile detention centre when a prank goes wrong. and are sexually and psycltologicall abused by the guards. Years later. two of the boys rtturder the ringleader and their pals try to pull off a scartt that will see them go free. In its film form. Lorenzo Carcaterra's controversial ‘true' rtovel becomes a rtostaglic rites-of-passage tale. tough prison ‘rrtessage' picture arid edge-of—seat courtroom drama rolled into one powerhouse of a movie. See review. General release.
I We (15) (Wayne Wang. US. 1995) Harvey Keitel. William Hurt. Harold Perrincau. 108 rtrins. Novelist Hurt offers homeless lad Per'rineau a place to stay after he is saved front being rtrn 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 Patrl Auster. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I The SW ( 15) (Stephen Frears. UK. 1993) Colin Meaney. Tina Kellegher. Ruth McCabe. 90 rttins. Don‘t expect the plusher production values of The Commitments with the latest screen version of Roddy Doyle's novels: instead. enjoy a hilarious comedy that never loses sight of its human heart. Sharon Curley announces her pregnancy but not the name of the father. setting the small Barrytown community into uproar. but bringing her family closer together. A gem. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I Some litre 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 all-female band. Brilliant. brittle. crackerjack farce with all concerned at a peak in their careers. Glasgow: GET.
I Spanking The Hey (18) (David 0. Russell. US. 1994) Jeremy Davies. Alberta Watson. Benjamin Hendrickson. 98 mins. Emotionally blackmailed into looking after his bed-ridden mother during college vacation. Ray‘s life begins to tip over the edge as annoying circumstances escalate and sexual tension begins to take its roll. The subject matter isn't sensationalised. but played out in psychologically realistic tenns; the performances. too. tend not so much to be offbeat as understandably awkward and
uncomfortable as they worrld trt real life. Edinburgh: hilltllttttis‘c'
I Star Trek: First Contact ( I 3) (Jonathan Iir'akes. l'S. 1996) Patrick Stewart. Jonathan I‘t'akes. Brertt Spiner. Ill mitts The eiglttlt and most iriipressrye instalment rrt tlte series gives the Nt‘t! Generation crew a chance to be fully centrestage. A brooding Captain I’rcatd (Stewart) leads the fight against tlte ltalf Ileslt. Italfattachitte Borg. who are rrttcrtt on .rttac king Earth and clrartgrrtg history. Genuinely scary irt parts. with firte per'forrttarrces throughout See review. Gerteral release.
I Steal 819, Steal little I 12) (A rtdrcw I)a\ l\. 133. 1996) Andy Garcia. Alan Arkrn. Rachel Ticotin. 94 mins. Andy Garcia plays feuding twin brothers. one who has sold out to the American dollar. the otltcr who stay s true to his Latino roots. irt this odd trtoprart fable by the director of The I’rrertrve. Epic themes roll across the screen. but for all the film‘s range. rt has no depth. arid is over -corrtplicated by its numerous sub-plots arid sertti-plots. See review. Glasgow: ABC Sauchieltall Street. Showcase. Edinburgh: 1.'C1.Stratltclyde: l'(‘l Clydcbartk.
I Stealing Beauty ( 15) (Bernardo Bertoltrccr. ltaly/I-‘rance/l’K. 1996) Liv Tyler. Jeremy Irons. Donal McCartn. 118 mins. A teenage Arttericart beauty (Tyler) visits her late rttotlrer"s bohemian ex-pat friends irt Tuscany with a rttrrid to lose her virginity to the young man for w ltorrt site has Irad a lasting infatuation. Rivals for her affections are rrtarty. arid her arrival irrisertles the balance of the house. The photography artd handling of Ber'tolucci's first Italian-set frltri for fifteen )L'Ills is characteristically masterful. although the storyline may contain a little too much rrtiddle aged rttale leehery. Glasgow: (ii-'1‘.
I A Summer’s Tale (1') (Eric Rohmer. Iran'ce. 1996) Melvil l’opatrd. Aurelia .\'olrrt. Arrtartda Langlet. 113 rttirts. ()n Itolrday tn Dirtard. young Gaspard stumbles irtto (w o tittirrtg complications while awaiting the arrival of his nominal girlfriend. It's astonishing ltow rtrtrclt richness ()l rrisigltt arid incident the French master packs rrtto a relatively confined canvas. A witty arid touchineg humane portrait oI youthful indecision. Edirtbtrrglt: l'ilrrthorrse.
I Sweet Sweetbaclt's Baadasssss Song ( lb‘) (Melvin \'an I’eebles. LS. 1971 ) 97 mins. .\'ot just the original blaxploitatiort movie. btrt one of the key films irt world independent cinema. Writer. director. producer arid actor \'art I’eebles became a folk hero for his tale about a cool lover who stands tip against w ltitey. (‘atclt it while you cart. Edinburgh: liilrtthouse.
I The 39 Steps (I’G) (Alfred Hitchcock. I'K. 1935) Robert l)oriat. Madeleine Carroll. Godfrey Teale. 81 mins. Undoubtedly the best film version of John Bucltart's rtovel. as Donal evades a spy rirtg across the length and breadth or the country. with rttarvellous set pieces irt the London Palladium arid the Forth Bridge. Hitchcock at his action-packing peak. Edinburgh: I‘iltttltOIISC.
I Three Colours Trilogy ( I 5) (Kr zysztol Kieslowski. France/I’olartd/Switzerland.
1993/94) Juliette Birtoclte. Jtrlie I)elpy'. Zbrgntew-
Zatttacltowski. Irene Jacob. Jean-l.ouis Trintignant. 98/91/90 rrtirts. Kieslowski‘s rrtasterftrl trio of films. tlterrtatically based around the ideals of the French Revoltrtion —
Liberty. Equality. Fraternity — gets to the heart of
the contradictiorts of the new Europe. btrt never loses sight of its lturttati heart. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I Through The Olive Trees (I’o) (Abbas Kiarostarni. Iran/France. 1994) 103 mins. Subtitles. Blending fact arid fiction. this deceptively sirrtple work follows the attempts of a filrrt director to shoot a drarrta iii the earthquake-hit landscape of Northern lran. As the amateur actors ltave trouble distancing themselves from their roles. their problems intrude irtto the action as much as the film crew has intruded into their lives. A joyful rttasterpiece. stripped dowrt to essentials. See review. Edinburgh: Filmhotrse
I Trainspotting ( 18) (Danny Boyle. 1'K. 1995) Ewan McGregor. Ewert Bremner. Robert Carlyle. Jonny Lee Miller. 93 mins. John Ilodge's screenplay perfectly captures the desperate humour of Irvine Welsh‘s rtovel. keeping the episodic structure ofjtrrtkie 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 ofdrug~taking. Glasgow: City Centre Odeon. Edinburgh: Cameo. Odeon. I mill Eddie (tbc/l 5) (Gillies Mackinnon. UK. 1996) Stephen Rea. Richard Harris. Brenda Gleeson. 105 mins. A special one-off preview screening. introduced by the director. who takes time off from shooting Regeneration. This follow-up to Small Faces. set amidst the Irish travelling community. tells of the doomed love of a tyranical older man (Ham's) for a beautiful young woman. and the trouble market merchant
Rea frrtds himself irt when he ltelps otrt the pal w lto is also in love wrtlt the girl. The atmosphere is well realised arid Harris is magnificent. Edinburgh: Cameo. I Twelfth Night (1‘) (Trevor Ntrnn. UK. 1996) Imogen Stubbs. llelerta Bonham Carter. Nigel llav. (home. 1.1.5 rrtrrrs. There's a dark cloud hanging met the happy ending in this splendid Shakespeare adaptation by cx-RSC top mart .\trrtrr I‘lie larcrcal action brought about by the c‘lttss dressing plot never loses sight of the pain at its core. and the joke on Malvolio has a cruel edge l’cr lorrttattces are excellent. wrtlt Bert Kingsley an inspired choice. bringing wergltt to IlIc role ()1 lltc tool I-este. (ilasgow‘ (if-II. I Two Days in The Valley ( I 5) (John ller/feld. LS. 1990) Danny Aiello. Jeft Daniels. James Spader. l()(l mitts Assassrrtatrort. double-cross. kidnapping. rttrrrder -~ rrttrlttple cltaracters pitclt up for this modest. old-fashioned btit perfectly enjoyable IIItt\ re that's tilled w rtlt disarming pcrtorritartces. -\rcllo's‘ touching study irt claw cd-back dignity (tips the hill. Edirtbtrrglt: I‘lltllllttthc‘. I TWO Much (I’( i ) (lernarido 'I'rtteba. ('8. 1990) Antonio Barideras. .\1e|anreGrrffrtlt. Daryl Hannah 117 111111\ '\ dreadfully clumsy torriarttrc cotttcdy, \\lll1 Bartderas as art art dealer engaged to (illllllll but passing himself off as his own brother in order to pursue her sister (Hannah). llic (irrrtrig rttistrres. the cast are terrible and director 'I'rtrcba loses the brownie [titttilsltt‘gdlilc’tl\tllll111C“scat-“1111111111[.ll Ir'r flr’ [Ilia/(tr Glasgow: Show ease. I The Usual Suspects ( Is) r Bryart Singer. (’8. I995 ) ( iahrrel Byrrte. Key rrt Spacey. Stephen Bzrldw rrr l()lr Illlt‘rs 'I'Itet'e's a good sense of non tatalrsrit hanging over" The (trail Sat/tech. \‘-I11\Il ts guessing garrtc cinema at its best. A pcrtcc tly tlI.Il;lIL‘(I team of crooks discover" that their ( lrarrcc rrieetrrtg wasn‘t so random after all: Ili('_\ 're being Used m an rrttrrcate \cttdetta by legendary gangster boss Keyser' Sosc. So stylish. it sends a tingle dow II the spillt‘. Glasgow: GET. I The Van t 15) (Stephen l-rears. lrelartd/I'K. 199m ( ‘olrri \leartey. l)ortal ()'Kelly'. (ier‘ Ryan. 105 mins. 'l he trrtal rristalrrtent in the ltig screen treatritcrrt or Roddy l)oy le's Barrytowrt triology is much darker arid less funny than farts of The -( ‘orrrnrrrrrri'rrtt arid "/‘lri‘ Suit/rpm rttigltt expect. (‘orrccrttratrng on the tensions that grow between two men as ho go into the fast-food business. it‘s really a serious look at tttale mid-life crisis arid long-territ unemployrrtent. Meariey sparkles ortce again. Ittll()\c‘1.tll tlte swearing becomes intrusive. the drama lacks a punch arid the pace is faulty (ilasgow‘ ()(IL‘OtIs. lidiribrrrglt: Cameo. 1 '( ‘1. I les Visiteurs t l’( 3) (Jean Maire l’oire. France. 1993) Christian (‘lay rer Jeart Retro. Valerie 1 errrercrer. 105 mins. Monty Python meets Don Qurxote as a 12th century krtrgltt arid his smelly \Cl \ant are pitched forward rrt time to modern- (lay l'rartce after drrrrkirtg a magic potion. Art enjoyable blend ot buffmtrtery. action. romance and satire. it broke I‘rertclt box office records. lidrnbrngh: I ilrnltotrse. I When Harry Met Sally ( IS) (Rob Reiner. US. 195’”) Billy Crystal. Meg Ryan. Carrie Fisher. 95 mins. 'l'lrouglrtlril sex comedy has Crystal (llarry ). Ry art (Sally) and Reiner' on top forrtt. w rtlt highly entertaining results. Nora Ephron's witty screenplay: intelligently ponders the |)()\\ll)llll)' of rttale/fertrale friendship with or w rthout rorrrartce. and guess which side wins. Annie Hall for tltc late l9h‘()s. with now-famous faked orgastri. Glasgow: Gl-‘I'. I While You Were Sleeping (I’(.;) (Jolt Turteltarrb. 1 'S. 1995) Sandra Bullock. I’eter Gallagher. Bill l’trllrtiarr. 10-1 mins. A railway statrort ticket seller rescues the man of her dreams front art oncoming train. arid is mistaken by hrs farttrly hit his ttartcee while he is in a coma. A warm. sortrewltat sentimental comedy rrt w lticlr trtrc love is pitted against romantic idealrsrtt rrt safe Hollywood fashion. Bullock carries her first start ing role with an easy chamt. (ilasgow: (iI'vli. I Wings Of Desire ( 15) (Wim Wertder's. W. Gerriiany' .1937) Bruno Gartz. ()tto Sander. Solxeig l)orttrrtartin. I’eter Iialk. 127 ntirts. Restless angel Gattz on duty over Berlirt takes a tip trortt American 1110\16 star and forrtter angel I’alk on the possibilities ofcrossirtg over. and follows his mentor ‘s path to consummate his relationship with beautiful circus acrobat l)orttrrtartin. Gorgeous black-and-white photography arid a sensitive feel for the people and places of Berlin grace. Edinburgh: Cameo. I Women in Revolt (18) (Paul Morrissey. US. 1971 ) Jackie Curtis. Candy Darling. Holly Woodlawrt. Mon‘issey's satire on the women's rnoverrtent (which manages an artistic double take by having transvestites in the lead roles) acltieves a genuine poignancy through the star presence of the performers. but is filmed in fairly dull fashion. The sex iii the foregrorrnd is less subversive than the comic speeches in the background. and the feeling is that this is as close as we‘ll get to a glimpse of life in the Warhol Factory. Glasgow: GET.
38 The List 13 Dec 1996-9 Jan 1997