FILM index
FILM INDEX continued
Nosferatu The Vampire (Werner Herzog. W.Germany/France. 1979) Klaus Kinski. lisabella Adjani. Bruno Ganz. 107 mins. Disappointineg turgid remake of the expressionist classic. whose main redeeming feature is the splendid make-up and mesmerising presence of Kinski. Edinburgh: Fruitmarket.
One Fine Day (PG) (Michael Hoffman. US. 1996) Michelle Pfeiffer. George Clooney. Charles Durning. 109 mins. An ambitious architect/single mother and a wisecracking newspaper columnist/every-other—weekend father spend a hectic day together when their kids miss their school's field trip ferry cruise. Despite modern trappings like cellular phones. One Fine Day is a defiantly old-fashioned film. but Clooney‘s cocky charm and Pfeiffer‘s comic skills are so beguiling that it will charm all but the most cynical of viewers. Glasgow: Showcase. Galashiels: Pavilion. lrvine: Magnum. Paisley: Showcase.
101 Dalmatians (U) (Stephen Herek. US. 1996) Glenn Close. Joely Richardson. Jeff Daniels. 103 mins. 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 much untouched — vile villainess Cruella De Vil (Close) kidnaps enough spotty pups to make a stunning coat. but the animal world gets the better of her — but so does the old-fashioned morality. which stresses the sanctity of marriage and that a woman‘s place is by her man's side. Glasgow: Grosvenor.
Pink Flamingos (18) (John Waters. US. 1972) Divine. David Lochary. Mary Vivian Pearce. 106 mins. The Citizen Kane of bad taste films is re-released in the UK censored version once again. albeit with a better quality print and with a message from Waters added at the end. Divine plays white trash matriarch Babs. defending her title of the ‘Filthiest Person Alive'. Waters goes all out to offend every member of the audience. but there is a unescapable humour to his shock tactics. See review. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
Quadrophenia (18) (Frank Roddam. UK. 1979) Phil Daniels. Leslie Ash. Philip Davis. Sting. 120 mins. Mods and rockers live it up on Brighton beach by swapping buckets and spades for chains and sticks. Lively first half has enough energy. music. violence and period flavour to carry it along. but all too soon it degenerates into some sort of treatise on the morality of youth. set to tunes by The Who. lidinburgh: Cameo. Romeo And Juliet (12) (Baz Luhrmann. Australia/US. 1996) Leonardo DiCaprio. Claire Danes. Pete Postlethwaite. 120 mins. The Strictly Ballroom director‘s treatment of the Shakespeare tragedy is a magnificent riot of colour. action and sexy teen romance. without any need to sacrifice the text. To call it ‘MTV filmmaking' misses the point that the camera tricks and in-jokes don't in any way distract from the fact that Luhrmann has completely grasped the issues at the centre of the play. An intoxicating. breathtaking mix of Catholic iconography. high camp and street violence that's both deliciously feverish and studiedly cool. Largs: Barrfields.
Romy & Michele's High School Reunion (12) (David Mirkin. US. 1997) Mira Sorvino. Lisa Kudrow. Janeane Garofalo. 91 mins. It‘s been ten years since California's prettiest. most vacant airheads left Middle America. but when they decide to return for their high-school reunion. old romantic longings might be given a belated second- chance. Terrific stttff from the two gals throughout and fun support from former teen iibergeek Alan Cumming. Looks like mainstream US movie comedy has a future after all. General release.
Roseanna's Grave (12) (Paul Weiland. US/UK. 1997) Jean Reno. Mercedes Ruhl. Polly Walker. 98 mins. A sublimely moving. deliciously un-PC tale of love taken to the extreme. French actor Jean Reno stars as a devoted husband goes to extreme lengths to ensure that his ailing wife will be buried alongside their beloved daughter in the small local cemetery when the time comes. Moments of sweet-natured farce sit
30 THE “ST 29 Aug -11 Sep 1997
comfortably alongside heady romance and black humour. Glasgow: City Centre Odeon. Edinburgh: Odeon.
Rumble In The Bronx (15) (Stanley Tong. Hong Kong. 1996) Jackie Chan. Anita Mui. Francoise Yip. 90 mins. For his latest attempt to crack Hollywood. Chan has maintained the kind of control he exercises over films in his native Hong Kong — and it works. He throws himself with gusto into an adventure that has him defending his uncle's Chinese supermarket in New York against a variety of street toughs. Violent macho tosh balanced by a sweet nature and a sincere. if clunky. moral. Glasgow: UCl Clydebank. Paisley: Showcase.
Scream (18) (Wes Craven. US. 1996) Neve Campbell. Courteney Cox. Drew Barrymore. 1 l lmins. 'lhe teenagers of Woodsboro know they're typical stalker fodder. so when a killer hits town. they gather in an enormous house to watch horror movies as the real bad guy gets cIOser. Self- conscious references are good fun. the opening sequence is genuine white-knuckle material. and - if you know the rules — you'll find it perfectly scary and funny. Glasgow: City Centre ()deon. Edinburgh: UCl.
Shine (12) (Scott Hicks. Australia. 1996) Geoffrey Rush. Noah Taylor. Armin Mueller-Stab]. 105 mins. 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 Helfgott. who was forced to retire from the stage due to a mental breakdown. but returned later in 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. Stirling: MacRobert.
The Shining (18) (Stanley Kubrick. US. 1980) Jack Nicholson. Shelly Duvall. Philip Stone. 146 mins. Kubrick's overwrought. overlong horror film dispenses with much of the psychic apparatus of Stephen King‘s novel to concentrate on the deeper horror of a family turning in on itself. Nicholson. with all the stops out. is bug-eyed and demonic as the writer cracking up violently in an isolated hotel. and the final scenes are. literally. chilling. Edinburgh: Cameo. Shorts 8 (18) 86 mins. Not the most inspiring title fora collection of gay shorts from Belgium. Britain. New Zealand and the US. It's a varied line-up. taking in short dramas and more atmospheric pieces. touching on eroticism. culture clash and the development of sexuality. But given that one piece is called Melvyn St'lttttatttttatt. Freudian Dentist. who knows what secrets might be unearthed“? lidinburgh: Filmhouse. The Slab Boys (15) (John Byrne. UK. 1997) Robin Laing. Russell Barr. Louise Berry. 98 mins. John Byrne combines his plays The Slab Boys and Cut/in 'A Rug for a semi-autobiographical vision of urban lads dreaming about making it to the work dance and then to a better life. However. despite its wonderful stylised look. this filmjust doesn't do the theatre pieces justice. The cast (with the exception of Robin Laing) overact to the back stalls and the banter doesn't get the sharp delivery it needs. but the magnificent sets save the feature from being too much of a disappointment. See feature and review. Glasgow: Girl. ()deon Quay. Showcase. UCl Clydebank. Edinburgh: ()deon. UCl. liast Kilbride: L'Cl. Paisley: Showcase.
Space Jam (U) (Joe Pytka. US. 19%) Michael Jordan. Bugs Bunny. Wayne Knight. 87 mins. Nasty alien cartoons have captured Bttgs Bunny and are going to enslave the Looney Tunes in their amusement park on Moron Mountain. but Bugs has the brainwave of challenging them to a basketball game and enlisting the talents of Michael Jordan for his team. Lacking the class of Who Framed Roger Rabbit.” and the pace of a real basketball game. Space Jam should divert the kids on Saturday mornings. Glasgow: ()deon Quay. Showcase. Edinburgh: ()deon. Largs: Barrfields. Paisley: Showcase.
Speed 2: Cruise Control (12) (Jan De Bont. US. 1997) Sandra Bullock. Jason Patric. Willem Dafoe. 121 mins. 'lhis sequel to the 1994 hit fails to play on the vehicle. out-of-control idea in the same creative way. Bullock returns as Annie on vacation with
i
Keeping mum: Michelle Pfeiffer in One Fine Day
her cop boyfriend (Patric) when their ship is hijacked by computer genius and nutter Willem Dafoe. who tampers with the controls of the liner. sending it speeding towards the shore. Patric's unmemorable screen presence comes nowhere near the charisma of Keanu. but De Bont's action skills make the move tense and spectacular. General release.
Swingers (15) (Doug Liman. US. 1996) Vince Vaughn. John liavreau. Ron Livingston. 96 mitts. Wannabe actor Mike and his pal 'l'rent drive to Vegas to play the tables and pick up some babes. Later. in LA. the boys hang out with their friends. wandering the trendy bars. Which is just about all there is to .S'wingers — a heap of talking. the odd homage (Scorsese and 'l'arantino) and lots of male bonding. A highly watchable. very funny and entertaining piece of low-budget filmmaking. Glasgow: ABC l-‘ilm Centre. lidinburgh: ABC Westcr Hailes. Cameo. Terminator 2: Judgement Day ( 15) (James Cameron. US. 1991 ) Arnold Swarzeneggcr. Linda Hamilton. lidwat'd l’urlong. Robert Patrick. 136 mins. 'lhe most expensive film ever made. In a reprogrammed role that says much about his changed image since the first movie. Arnie becomes the underdog fighting to protect mother and child from another more advanced cyborg. With an element of uncontrived human compassion lurking throughout the gloriously expensive action sequences. as Swarzencgger's cyborg develops human feelings. this is more than just a $100 million fairground ride. Glasgow: UCI Clydebank.
That Old Feeling ( 12) (Carl Reinet'. US. 1997) Bette Midler. Dennis liarina. l’aula Marshall. 105 mins. A once-married couple dissolve into violent conflict every time they have to share a room. otin to realise this aggression masks an even more primal urge. As predictable comedies go. That ()/(I Fee/mg has plenty of spirit and some pleasingly snide one-liners to recommend 11 for an evening of aimless. brainless entertainment. See review Glasgow: ()deon Quay. lidinburgh: ABC Wester Hailes. Tierra ( 15) (Julio Medem. Spain. 1996) Carmelo Gomez. limma Suarez. Karra lilejalde. 125 mins. The latest by the writer- director of Hints and The Red Squirrel)
describes a place that is both physical and metaphysical. Angel (Gomez) believes that a part of him does not exist. but speaks to him out of the cosmic darkness. Housewife Angela (Suarez) is loved by Angel‘s ‘angel‘. while sexually vociferous teenager Mari (Silke) is desired by Angel the man. Uncompromising. inventive. controlled and fascinating. Edinburgh: Cameo.
Toy Story (PG) (John Lasseter. US. 1995) With the voices of Tom Hanks. 'l'tm Allen. Don Rickles. 81 mins. 11 isn'tjust the state- of-the-art images that distinguish Disney‘s first computer-generated animation feature. it's got a cracking adventure story too. A tale of friendship and self-belief combined with an exciting rescue and against-tbe-clock tension. 'lity Story is sprinkled with comic asides. Don‘t be fooled into thinking these toys are just for the kids. Glasgow: Virgin. Warriors 0f Virtue (PG) (Ronny Yu. US. 1996) Angus Macl’adyen. Mario Yedidia. Marley Shelton. 102 mins. Whisked off to a parallel world. young Ryan is threatened by evil 1.0111 K01110th (Ift'iti‘t'ltt‘ttt'l's Macl-adyen) but protected by five kung fu fighting kangaroos. A dodgy script that rips off The A'ei'eretultttg Story. Power Rangers and 'Ieenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is lifted by an entertaining combination of great production design. Hong Kong martial arts skills and decent Hollywood special effects. lidinburgh: ()deon.
West Side Story (PG) (Robert Wise & Jerome Robbins. US. 1961) Natalie Wood. Richard Beymer. Rttss 'l'amblyn. Rita Moreno. 155 mins. Romeo And Juliet revisited against a background of New York gangs. Great songs of course. bttt the playing of the stylised dancing against a realistic background contrives to make it all look rather catnp these days. Glasgow: Grosvenor.
When We Were Kings (U) (Leon Gast. US. 1996) Muhammad Ali. George l-‘orman. Norman Mailer. 84 mins. An Oscar winner in the Best Documentary category. this splendid account of the historic ‘Rumble In The Jungle' boxing match between Ali and 1-‘orman gets beyond the punches thrown in the ring to convey the sense of black pride being born. Amazingly dramatic. Glasgow: ()deon Quay.