Films screening this fortnight are listed below with certificate, credits. brief review and venue details. Film index compiled by Alan Morrison.
Alien Resurrection (18) (Jean-Pierre Jeunet. US. I997) Sigourney Weaver. Winona Ryder. I05 mins. I-IviI boffins clone Ripley and the unborn alien inside her. but the monster escapes and rampages about a labyrinthine spaceship. It's a shaky premise. with a pick ‘n' mix selection ofelements front earlier Alto/i movies. l)elit'ute.s.ven director Jeunet retains enough of his own distinctive. retro-future vision but damages the series‘ serious tone with unfunny one- Iiners. quually otit of place is Winona Ryder. General release.
Austin Powers: International Man Of Mystery t I 5) (Jay Roach. US. I997) Mike Myers. I-Ili7abeth Hurley. Michael York. 94 mins. Austin Powers. the Sixties' silliest superspy'. is brought out of suspended animation and pitted him against his old nemesis. But the world has moved on three decades. so his tin-PC catchplirases and behaviour create a bit of a comic time-clash. Written by and starring llil_\‘llt’:\‘ Iliirltl's Mike Myers. Austin Powers has perfect detail. spot-on (.astitig and a hilarious mix of clever pastiche and toilet gags. Edinburgh: Cameo.
Bean (PG) (Mel Stiiitli. UK. I997) Rowan Atkitisoii. Peter MacNicol. Pamela Reed. 97 mins. Bean the movie triakes an attempt to broaden the range of Atkinson's tremendously successful 'I‘V sight-gag character by sending him off to California to be mistaken for an art expert. Most gags are agreeably daft; several are tiresornely Iavatorial; eventually. however. the film upholds family values and true blue American schmaltz. (ialashiels: Pavilion. Black Beauty (U) (Caroline 'I‘hotiison. US/l_.'K. I994) Sean Bean. David 'I‘hewlis. Peter Cook. 83 mins. The most famous horse in children's literature returns iii a faithful screen version by debut director 'Ihotnsoti. vvliose work as a screenwriter ~ The St't t't'l (ittI’t/t’lt. [Lit/ll dl't/ St I.\'.vm'/ittlit/.\‘. The Nightmare [More ('lirtsmrus - taps into a darker current of childhood vision. The pace sets off at a gallop. and should intrigue adults as well as younger viewers. Stirling: Carlton.
Blood Simple (18) (.loel Coen. US. I983) John (ietz. I-‘r'ancis McDormand. M. Emmet Walsh. 99 mins. Auspicious debut from the Coen brothers‘ dii'ectioti/pt'oduction team. Walsh excels as the seedy Sheriff investigating a simple murder whose devilish 'I'exan chronicle of double-crossing is anything but simple. An enthusiastic attempt at contemporary filtii rioir. which keeps everyone guessing even after the final frame. I-(Itnbrtr‘glr. Cameo.
The Borrowers ((1) (Peter Hewitt. UK. l997) John Goodman. Jim Broadbent. Celia Imrie. Sb mins. At a height of only four inches. the Borrowers hide in wall cavities and Irv ing beneath the floorboards of the Lender hotisehold. When a nasty lawyer tries to svv rndle the humans otit of their inheritance. families big and small join forces The design and effects create a strangely familiar. oddly unplaceable world. arid children will have little difficulty suspending enough disbelief to be spellbound by the magic of the film. General release
Breaking The Waves ( IS) (Lars von Trier. Denmark/I‘rance. I996) I-Zmily Watson. Stellan Skarsgard. Katriii Cartlidge. ISS mins. In a close-knit Calvinist community iii the north of Scotland. a young woman faces banishment from the church when she makes a self-sacrificing pact with God in order to save her husband‘s life. Unlike von 'I'rier's austere arthouse works (litmi/ni). this intimate melodrama is raw and exposed. Emotional connection transcends everything else iii one of the most moving films ever made. Edinburgh: Cameo.
Chasing Amy (18) (Kevin Smith. US. (996) Ben Affiect. Joey Lauren Adams. Jason Lee. I l I mins. The third film by the writer/director of Clerks is a wry and surprisingly mature look at tweritysomething
32 THE LIST 19 Dec 1997—8 Jan 1998
I am the law: Sylvester Stallone in Cop Land
relationships. Comic book artist Holden (Affleck) falls desperately iti love with Alyssa (Adams). but she prefers gals to guys. Sexual desire and a crisis of masculinity come under the microscope iii a film that's bloody funny in a risque way. Edinburgh: Cameo.
Close-Up (PG) (Abbas Kiarostanii. Iran. I990) 93 mins. Kiarostarni brings questions of what is real and what is fabricated to the fore as he films a courtroom trial and dramatises events leading tip to the 'crime'. using real people as themselves. The principal subject is Hossein Sabzian. an unemployed printer who passes himself off as a reclusive director. but is charged with fraud. Kiarostami's openly honest manipulations introduce a complex series of arguments about social standing and the nature of art. btit also uncover sortie very human behavioural quirks. See review. Edinburgh: I’ilmhous‘c.
Cop land (I5) (James Marigold. IFS. I997) Sylvester Stallone. Robert De Niro. Harvey Keitel. Ray I.iotta. 105 mins. Stallone plays sheriff Freddy Heliin. bossed around by the NYPD men who make their home in Garrison. New Jersey. When he uncovers deep-rooted police corruption on his turf. he has a one-shot chance to win back his self- respect. Like LA. Confidential. (ii/i [Al/It] has a storrner of a plot. but is essentially a character-driven movie. The acting is. unsurprisingly. in a league of its ovv n. vs itli Stallone's lumbering hero providing his best role since Rocky. Glasgow: Odeons. Showcase. UCI Clydebank. Virgin. Edinburgh: ABC Wester Hailes. Cameo. Dominion. ()deon.
Danny The Champion Of The World (ti) (Gavin Millar. UK. I989) Jeremy Irons. Robbie Coltrane. Samuel Irons. 97 mins. Roald Dahl's tale of a corrupt property baron (Coltrane) given his come-uppance by resourceful nine-year old Danny becomes a family movie in more vs ays than one. Millai'. whose past work includes l.evv is Carroll piece [)retmit-lii'lrl and 'I‘V's The Crow Rt’tltl. goes for wholesome entertainment and casts father and son as father and son in the central roles. Charming and vvarnihearted. Glasgow: GI7I‘.
The Day Of The Beast ( 18) (Alex de la Iglesia. Spain. I995) Alex Angulo. Armando de Razza. Santiago Segur. I I() mins A priest's research leads him to believe the anti-Christ will be born iii Madrid on Christmas Day. so he immerses himself iii evil. looks for clues in death metal songs and kidnaps a TV parapsychologist. ’I‘lie director's follow-up to An imi .lIttItttiIc is a devilishly funny hon‘or comedy that meanders after about an hour. btit not before proving more imaginative than most recent American genre offerings. Iidinburgh: Filmhouse.
Dennis (PG) (Nick Castle. US. I993) Mason Gamble. Walter Matthau. Joan Plowright. 98 mins. He's blond. he's cute. he's American. his dog isn't a fluff'ball with teeth. At least the stripey jumper remains the same. But. then again. the Dennis of the US
i l
cartoon strip never was related to '/'/;r' li’t'tmu's arch-tiienace \‘v'heii I)ctiriis's folks go off on business. the nuscliev tous little brat is left iii the hands of his elderly neighbours. Home .‘illlllt scenario from the John Hughes stable. Stirling. Carlton.
The English Patient ( (5) (Anthony Minghella. I'K/I’S. I991») Ralph l~rerrnes. Juliette Bitioclie. Kristin Scott I‘lionras. Io} mins. A mysterious stranger. suffering from horrific btrrns. is cared for by a Canadian nurse dttring the final days of WWII. Iii flashback. we discover more about the great romantic affair vv hose tragic climax brought him to this state. Anthony Minghella alters the focus of Michael ()rida;it.|e's Booker Prize-vs iriiiitig trove. to concentrate more on boiling passions in the North African desert Spectacularly' filmed on location. the film boasts magnificent performances from each atid every one of the leads. Iidinhut'gh: I‘ilm (iiiild.
Event Horizon ( IS) (Paul .'\Iltlel‘still. US/l‘K. I997) Laurence I'ishbitt'tiL'. Sam Neill. Joely' Richardson 9I mins. I'Iie crevv of a rescue ship discover that hell has been unleashed inside a missing craft that reappears near Neptune. as their deepest fears begin to tei‘r'orrse thetn iii physical foriii. lfl‘t'll/ Hat-mm boasts stunning "I‘echno .‘vledieval‘ design. btit tight editing leaves the cliaracterisatioti .iiid story stripped to vv ithin ati inch of their lives Iidinbtirgh. ()deoti.
Face/Off ( IS) (John Woo. I'S. I997 ) .Iolin 'I‘t'avolta. Nicolas Cage. Joan Allen l3.i niins I‘BI agent Sean Archer ('I'r'ayolta) undergoes radical surgery to become terrorist Castor If”) (Nicolas Cage i. but when It”) comes out of a coma and undergoes a similar operation. Iie too is able to slip iiito his enemy 's domain domestic atid professional Part horror. part sci-fr. full-(iii action. with a cast that‘s uniformly excellent. (ilasgovv. ()deon Quay.
Shovv case. I'CI ('Iydebank. \ irgrii Ifdinburgh I'CI last Kilbi'rde I ('l
Paisley Showcase
FfiSk ( I3“ liv)(ltl \IL'IU“. l‘X I'l‘l<l \lls'lldel Gunther. Craig Chester Parker I’osey S7 nuns. It‘s qttitc .i feat ori director 'Iodd \'erovv ‘s part to make gay porn. torture. murder and necrophilia so utterly yavv n- iiidttcing. 'I‘he story of a young man who inflicts bloody slaughter on a series of lovers is told through the tiiost piofotttidly banal of dialogue I lie feel is of an Andy \Vat'liol out-take (Iteatiit up by air adolescent David I ynch See teviev. I'dinbiitgli I~ilinhouse
The Full Monty t I5) (Peter Catlanco. l'K. I997) Robert Carlyle. Ioiii \\ ilkitisoii. .\Iaik Addy 92 nuns Carlyle plays (iar'y. .rii unemployed Sheffield steelvvoi'ker' vv ho. along vvith an odd mix of former colleagues. decides it) go one better than the Chippendale troupes that fill the local halls Cattaneo's Iaugh-out-Iotrd fiIrii comes from the same tradition as [from (I (m. mixing comedy vs itli a strong social conscience .itid .shovving unemployment as aii etiiasculating experience. (ieneral release.
George Of The Jungle ((5) (Sam Weisman. l‘S. I997) Brendan I'raser. l.eslie Mann. Holland 'I’aylor. 9I mins. I.oincloth-clad hero (ieroge t Fraser) saves San I'ransicati socialite l‘rsiial (Mann). but his trip to the urban jungle is shortlived when he hears of the kidnap of his hairy sidekick. Ape (voiced by Joliti (‘leesei 'Ihe plot is the usual blend of humour. action. slapstick. adventure and. of course. romance. while the knowing and punchy script is easily tip with the best of modern Disney. General release.
Great Expectations (PG) (David lean. UK. I946) John Mills. Bernard Miles. I‘inlay Currie. I IS mins. l.ean‘s adaptation of the Dickens novel remains cinema's definitive versioti even after half a century. Ati orphan meets an escaped convict and is introduced into a new world of adventures and finely observed characters. Photography and design at its best. (ilasgovv ; (irosveiior. Grosse Pointe Blankt IS) (George Attriitage. l'S. l99b) John Cusack. Minnie Driver. Alan Arkin. ltlS mins. Depressed freelance Iiitmati Martin Q. Blatik (Cusack) returns to his home toss it for a high-school reunion. but finds his past private life and current profession are about to overlap. Armitage turns iii a fair post-Woo action sequence here and there. while Cusack positively inhabits Martin. switching from c(attic/romantic lead to focused killer effortlessly and belie‘. ably. Iidinbtii'gh; Cameo
Hercules (U I (John Musker & Ron ('Iettietils. US. I997) “hit the voices of'Iate Donovan. James Woods, I)anny' I)e\"ito. 9| mins. British cartoonist (ierald Scarle's designs marry his cttstottiat‘y' grotesquet'y
vs ith l‘ticle Wall's softer characterisatiotis. Hades (a iiiagnrficently spletietic James Woods) wants to exact revenge on '/.eus by destroying his son Hercules. btit luckily our hero has Pegasus as his steed and Phil the grumpy saty r (Danny I)e\’ito) as his coach. (ieiieral release.
His Girl Friday (ll) (Howard lIavv ks. CS. l9.l()) Cary (irant. Rosalind Russell. Ralph Bellamy. 92 mins. Hawks's dynamic comedy is one of the best Hollywood ever made. (irant and Rtrssell are simply fantastic as the sparring newspaper editor and top reporter drawing battle line siti their professional and personal lives. Hecht and MacArthur 's script froiii their origitial play l/lt' I-‘mirl Page. spits otit a series of rapid- fire quips and cross-cutitig gags. but allovvs the supporting characters to have their scene-stealing moments too. Don't miss it. lidrnburgli: Iiilrrihouse.
Home Alone 3 (PG) (Raja (iosnell. US. I997) Alex I). l.lll!.. ()lek Krupa. Ry'a Kililstedt, 95 mins. Instead of Macaulay Ciilkiti. here cotiies Alex I). I.in/. (Michelle Pfeiffer's kid iii ()Ilt’ litre I)trv ). biit this filtii is not a patch on the iiti-PC slapstick and reckless sttttitiiig of the original. Stuck at home vs rtli the chicken pox. Alex discovers a gang of Iii-tech international criminals trying to locate a top secret microchip. so he sets up increasineg elaborate and sadistic traps. See rev ievv. (ieneral release.
I Know What You Did Last Summer ( I8) (Jim (iillespie. US. I997) Jennifer Love IIevvitt. Sarah Michelle (iellar. Ryan Phillippe l(ll mins. Writer Kevin
\\ iIIiaiiisori broke new horror ground with St It'd/II. btit this effort is the sort of stalk 'ri' slash flick that's lucky not to go straight to video Ihe story follow s four hiin school friends plagued by a murderer exactly one year after they accidentally ran over a man and ditched the seeriirngly dead body. Scottish first-time director Jttti Gillespie |villl\ the dots and piles on the horror cliches. (ienei'al release
It’s A Wonderful Life ( I’) thank Capra. l'S. I‘IJoi .laines Stevvatt. I)ontia Reed. Henry ’I'iavet's l39 niins On its release. ('apra's salute to small toss n values vv as overlooked at the ()scars atid only scraped by at the box office. 50 years down the line. however. it's as much a part of Christmas as Bing Crosby 's crooning. Stevv art plays dispart'rng family man (ieorge Bailey. saved at the poriit of suicide by a caring angel. Sentrnient vvtiis the day. btrt that doesn't outvveigh the film's genuine warmth and Iiitit of darkness. (ilasgovs. (il’l'. (iflfllUl‘CllIll. Iiditiburgh: Cameo.
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