INDEX FILM
now be seen as a triumph of bleak satire and fluid cinerrratic techniqrre. Central: MacRobert. I Richard Kern Film ( I8) Bosque Records presents an evening of frlm and live music in Glasgow's only ‘adult' cinerrra. Richard Kern is one of the leading names of the New York underground/cinerrra of transgression movement. and tonight's programme includes some of his key older works (Death Valley 69) and others receiving their Scottish premiere (Serving Cirr-le). Sexually charged images that aren't for the squerrrislr. On the musical front. check out live sets by Dorrrinic Waxing Lyrical. Gilded Lil and Trout. Wed I2 only. Glasgow: Divally‘s.
I Ridicule ( I8) (Patrice I.econte. France. I996) Charles Berlirrg. Jean Rochefort. Fanny Ardant. I02 mins. A young engineer travels to the court of Louis XVI to secure funding for a drainage project and discovers a cruel society where savage wit can open doors or slam them in your face. Verbal duels give the filrrr a literate spark. and the portrait of a decadent world rrrarrages to achieve several contemporary parallels. A costume drama with depth beneath the costumes. See preview and review. Glasgow: GFI'. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I Sale ( I5) (Todd Haynes. US. I995) Julianne Moore. Peter Friedman. Susan Norman. I IS rrrirrs. A vacuous Californian housewife succumbs to a mystery environmental illness and. in the process of trying New Age therapies. is rrrade to question her own identity. Timely in its subject matter. chilling in its conception. assured in its forru. this is one of the key American films of the decade. Edinburgh: I-‘ilrrrhouse.
I Secrets And lies ( l5) (Mike Leigh. UK. I996) Timothy Spall. Brenda Blethyn. Phyllis Logan. I40 mins. Leigh's Palme D‘Or-winning follow up to Naked is a bittersweet take on suburban domestic life. Young black optician llortense searches for the mother who prrt her tip for adoption as a baby. brrt 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 turn comes from Cannes winner Brenda Bletlrarr. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I Sense And Sensibility (U) (Ang Lee. US.UK. I995) Emma Thompson. Kate Wirrslet. Alan Rickrrrarr. I35 rrrirrs. Denied their inheritance when the father of the household dies. the female members of the Daslrwood farrrily face a precarious future which complicates the romances of sensible Elinor (Thompson) and emotive Marianne (Wirrslet). 'I‘honrpsorr's adaptation keeps the wordplay engagingly tart and sharp-wirted. but never loses sight of the powerful frustrations simmering beneath the surface. Infiniter rrrore satisfying than your typical Iluffy period piece. Edinbrrrgh: Odeon. I She's The One I IS) (Edward Burns. US. I996) Edward Burns. Mike McGlone. Jennifer“ Aniston. 97 rrrirrs. This pleasing comedy shares the sarrre sense of humour as Burns's debut (The Brut/perv McMa/len) and focuses on the fraternal tensions between a pair of Irish-Americans in matters of love. sex and marriage. A gentle. witty. perceptive film with neat dialogue. fresh characters and nicely judged acting - US indie cinema as qtrality soap. See review. Glasgow: ABC Film Centre. Odeon Quay. Showcase. Edinburgh: ABC. UCI. Stratlrclyde: UCIs.
I Shine ( I2) (Scott Hicks. Australia. I996) Geoffrey Rush. Noah Taylor. Armin Mueller- Stalrl. |05 rrrirrs. Winner of nine top awards at Australia's equivalent of the Oscars. Shine is a remarkable and devastating film about the life of child prodigy and pianist David llelfgott. who was forced to retire from the stage due to a mental breakdown. btrt returned later in life. The mr'forrrrances show real love. while the recital passages are presented with a conviction that
underlines the quality of the film as a whole. Glasgow: Grosvenor. Odeon Quay. Showcase. Edinburgh: Cameo. UCI.
I 90090605) (Barry Levinson. L'S. I996) Jason Patric. Brad Pitt. Robert De Niro. Dustin Hoffman. Kevin Bacon. I57 mins. Four boyhood friends are thrown into a juvenile detention centre when a prank goes wrong. and are sexually and psychologicall abused by the guards. Years later. two of the boys rrrurder the ringleader and their pals try to pull off a scam that will see them go free. In its film forrrr. Lorenzo Carcaterra's controversial ‘true' novel becomes a nostaglic rites-of-passage tale. tough prison ‘message' picture and edge-of-seat courtroom drama rolled into one power house of a movie. General release.
I Srnolte ( l5) (Wayne Wang. US. I995) Harvey Keitel. William Hurt. Ilarold Perrinearr. I08 rrrins. Novelist Hurt offers homeless lad Perrineau a place to stay after Ire is saved from being rtrn over. Elsewhere. well observed Brooklyn characters Irarrg out in the tobacco store where Keitel dispenses homespun philosophies. A delightful and compelling treat. based on the work of Paul Auster. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I Some Mother's Son ( l5) (Terry George. Ireland/US. I996) Ilelen Minen. Fiorrrrrrla Flanagan. Aidan Gillen. I ll mins. This gripping account of the IRA lrrrnger strikes during the early 80s focuses on two fictional mothers. one a gentle pacifist. the other with a fierce hatred of soldiers. Terry George. writer of In The Name Of The Father makes his debut as director and. while his film is not overly objective. it does recognise humanity on all sides. What impresses rrrost. however. is the fine acting from Mirren. Flanagan and a host of fresh and familiar faces. Glasgow: Odeon Quay. Showcase. Virgin. Stratlrclyde: l,'CI.s.
I Star Trek: First Contact ( l2) (Jonathan Frakes. US. I996) Patrick Stewart. Jonathan Frakes. Brent Spirrer. I I l rrrirrs. The eighth and most impressive instalment in the series gives the Next Generation crew a chance to be fully centrestage. A brooding Captain Picard (Stewart) leads the fight against the half-flesh. half-machine Borg. who are intent on attacking Earth and changing history. Genuinely scary in parts. with fine performances throughout. Glasgow: Odeorrs. Showcase. Edinburgh: I'CI. Stratlrclyde: UCIs.
I Stealing Beauty ( I 5) (Bernardo Ber‘tolucci. Italy/Fr'ance/l.'K. I990) Liv Tyler. Jeremy Irons. Donal McCann. I I8 rrrirrs. A teenage American beauty (Tyler) visits her late mother's bohemian ex-pat friends in Tuscany with a mind to lose her virginity to the young man for wlrorrr she has had a lasting infatuation. Rivals for her affections are many. and her arrival urrsettles the balance of the house. The photography and handling of Bertolucci's first Italian-set film for fifteen years is characteristically masterful. although the storyline may contain a little too much middle-aged rrrale Ieclrery. Glasgow: GFI‘. I Super Mario Bros (PG) (Rocky Morton/Annabel Jarrkel. US. I993) Boh lloskins. John Leguizamo. Dennis Hopper. l()5 mins. The film of the video game. featuring Italian pipe-rrrenders plumbs new and tedious depths. In a parallel world. they try to rescue a princess from a lizard-like baddie. but our heroes are lost in over-designed sets and variable special effects. rrrore holes than a drain-cover. Fife: Robin's.
I Surviving Picasso ( l5) (James Ivory. UK. I996) Anthony Hopkins. Natasclra McEllrorre. Julianne Moore. l22 mins. Merclrant-lvory's film is less interested with the secrets of Picasso's craft than a portrait of the artist as lover. The argument is that the clrarrvinisrrr Ire showed the women in his life was necessary to
his genius. brrt there's no attempt to offer insight into his creativity. What almost redeerrrs the frlm. however. is llopkins's astonishing performance and physical transfonrration. Borders: Pavilion. Roxy.
I Tm“ ( l8) (Jack Arnold. US. I955) Leo G. Carroll. John Agar. Mara (‘orday. 80 rrrins. Not as good as Them.'. but scary enough for arachnophobia sufferers. A giant spider terrorises humanity after a scientific experrernent goes wrong. but the US Army (including a young Clint Eastwond in a late scene) are on hand to save the day. Glasgow: GI-‘I'.
I Tarturfe (PG) (liW Murnau. Germany. I925) Errril Janrrirrgs. Werner Krarrss. 7l mins. An excellent adaptation of the Moliere play which. for all its lack ofdialogrre. still manages to convey the theme of hypocrisy through clever use of dark and shadow Edinburgh: Filrrr Guild. I That Thing You no! (Poi (Tom Hanks. US. I996) Tour Everett Scott. Liv Tyler. Tom Hanks. l()7 mins. Torn Ilanks's foot-tapping debut as director follows the rise and fall of a young rock ‘n' roll band in the oos as they move from early setbacks to farrre and interband rivalries. It's well cast. with fresh-faced newcomers aptly playing the wannabes. and the numbers are catchy enough. However. for originality. look elsewhere as the success vs arrrbitiorr theme is an over-documented theme. General release.
I The Thief OI Bagdad (PG) (Ludwig Berger/Michael Powell. I'K. I940) Sabu. Conrad Veidt. Rex Irrgrarrr. l55 mins. Super Arabian Nights fantasy lras native boy Sabu outwitting evil Grand \"izier Veidt with the help of a magic carpet and a rather splendid genie (played by silent director Ingram). The blend of fantasy. thrills and special effects lras rarely been bettered. and children will absolutely adore it. Edinburgh: l‘ilm Guild.
I Through The Olive Trees (PG) (Abbas Kiarostarrri. Iran/France. I994) IO} mins. Subtitles. Blending fact and fiction. this deceptively simple work follows the attempts of a film director to shoot a drama in the earthquake-hit landscape of Northern Iran. As the amateur actors Irave trouble distancing therrrselves from their roles. their problems intrude into the action as rrruclr as the film crew has intruded into their lives. A joyful rrrasterprece. stripped down to essentials. Glasgow: GI'T.
I Trainspotting ( I8) (Danny Boyle. UK. NM) Ewan McGregor. Ewen Brerrrrrer. Robert Carlyle. Jorrrry Lee Miller. 93 mins. John Ilodge's screenplay perfectly captures the desperate humour of Irvine Welslr‘s novel. keeping the episodic structure ofjrrrrkie scenes for' the first Iralf. 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 an understanding of the Irrre and consequences of drugs. Glasgow: ()deorr. Central: MacRobcr't. I Trees lounge ( l5) (Steve Btrscerrri. US. I996) Steve Buscemi. Chloe Sevigny. Anthony l.aPaina. 95 rrrirrs. Prolific US indie actor Brrscemi comes rrp trumps in front of and behind the camera in this carefully detailed. character- dr'iven movie that's rrrore Cassavettes than Tarantino. It's to Buscemi's credit as actor. writer and director that Ire encourages such sympathy for his barfly loser. whose self-pitying journey through (low) life is funny and unscntimental.Tlre greatest. rrrost phenomenal. small. unassuming film you're likely to see all year. See preview and review. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I True Romance ( l8) (Tony Scott. US. l993) Christian Slater. Patr'icra Arquette. Dennis Hopper. I I9 rrrirrs. Comic bookstore assistant
Clarence meets. sleeps with and marries novice hooker Alabama within a matter of hours. then the lovebirds find themselves on the run with an accidentally stolen case of cocaine. Limelight- stealing cameos and writer Quentin Tarantino's verbal set-pieces frre this excellent movie. the epitonre of disposable pop culture for the fast food generation. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I Two Day: III The Valley ( l5) (John Herzfeld. US. I996) Danny Aiello. Jeff Daniels. James Spader. IOO nrins. Assassination. double-cross. kidnapping. murder — multiple characters pitch up for this rrrodest. old-fashioned but perfectly enjoyable movie that's filled with disarming performances. Aiello's touching study in clawed- back dignity tops the bill. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I The Van ( l5) (Stephen Frears. Ireland/UK. I996) (‘olm Meaney. Donal O'Kelly. Ger Ryan. I05 mins. The final instalment in the big screen treatment of Roddy Doyle‘s Barrytown triology is rrruch darker and less funny than fans of The Commitments and The Snapper might expect. Concentrating on the tensions that grow between two men who go into the fast-food business. it‘s really a serious look at rrrale mid-life crisis and long-term unemployment. Meaney sparkles once again. but overall the swearing becomes intrusive. the drama lacks a punch and the pace is faulty. Central: MacRobert.
I The Wanderer (PG) (Jean-Gabriel Ablicocco. France. I967) Jean Blaise. Alain Libolt. Brigitte Fossey. I04 rrrins. A young Frenchman at the turn of the century falls in love with a mysterious member fo a theatrical troupe. only to lose her and his adolescence. The film's flashy visual style attempts to recreate the fairy-tale atmosphere of Alain Foumier's novel Le Grand Mean/tier. Glasgow: GET.
I Welcome To The Dollhouse (I5) (Todd Solondz. US. I995) Ileatlrer Matarazzo. Brendan Sexton Jr. Matthew Faber. 87 rrrirrs. Heather Matarazzo delivers an unforgettable performance as Dawn Wiener — a lonely. softly-spoken child subjected to constant abuse at school and virtually ignored at home. This Sundancc Grand Jury Prt'zewinner presents the world of high school as far closer to the bone than the usual sanitised version. probing an inner world of frustration and anger with scathing humour and understanding. Glasgow: GF'I'. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I When The Cat's Array ( l 5) (Cedric Klapish. France. I996) Garance Clavel. Oliver Py. Zinedine Soualerrr. 95 rrrins. The magic of Paris is captured perfectly in this sparkling. unpretentious movie which is deep in emotion. but light in touch. When her feline friend goes missing. Chloe (Clavel) gathers together her neighbours to search for the errant moggy and discovers more about life on the way. A low key joy. Strathclyde: East Kilbride Arts Centre.
I White Man's Borden ( l 5) (Desmond Nakano. US. I996) John Travolta. Harry Belafonte. Kelly Lynch. 96 mins. Travolta plays a farrrily man who loses his job. then steps over the line when he abducts his boss — all in a world where those in power are black and the unemployed underclass are white. Illustrated with satirical humour. the class and race reversals are so exaggerated that immediate discomfort arediffused: brrt the details that combine to build a picture of an alternative society are more subtle. See review. Glasgow: Odeon Quay. Edinburgh: UCI.
I The Wild In The Willows (U) (Terry Jones. UK. I996) Terry Jones.‘ Eric Idle..S'teVe Coogan. 88 mins. When Mole's home is destroyed by weasel property developers. he enlists the help of Rat. Badger and egotistical Toad to uncover a conspiracy. Jones‘s Python~for-kids adaptation of the classic novel is a tad self-indulgent. withsome awful songs and~lacklustre pacing.
Glasgow: Virgin. Fife: Adam Smith.
l0 AFILM BY SOlOlle . NOW SHOWING Cameo, Edinburgh FROM FRIDAY 14 Glasgow
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WINNER GRAND JURY PRIZE 1996 0
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_ “Bitineg Funny.
“Devilisth clever”
SUN DANCE FILM FESTIVAL
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LOS ANGELES TIMES
“Darkly Comic”
Geoff Andrew - TIME OUT
Janet Maslin - NEW YORK TIMES
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‘ The List 7-20 Feb (997 29