'The director-star plays a drifter who brings hope to disparate communities in a post- apocalyptic future threatened by an army of terrorists. Most UK publications weren't able to review it before release — which is normally a bad sign — but Warerworld was equally slated. and it proved entertaining enough. See review. General release.
Prince Valient (PG) (Anthony Hickox. UK. I997) Stephen Moyer. Joanna Lumley. Katherine Heigl. 9?. mins. A hokey attempt at the sword and sorcery genre which plays havoc with Arthurian legend. Sir Gawain's squire does battle with the evil Morgan Le l-‘ey (Ltimley) for the stolen sword Excalibur and imperilled Lady llene (Heigl). Too much awful dialogue and ripe acting bring laughs btit no respect. Ayr: Odeon.
Prisoner Of The Mountains (18) (Sergei Botlrov. Russia/Kazakhstan. I996) Oleg Menshikov. Sergei Bodrov Jr. Through this simple. moving fable based on a story by 'l‘olstoy, Bodrov sheds a clear light on the bitter war between the former Soviet Union and the independence-seeking Chechens. A pair of captured Russian soldiers are used by a local chieftan to get his own son back. but complications ensue. A collision of
deep human need and the stark realities of war that garnered a deserved Oscar nomination. See preview and review. Glasgow: (ll-'l'. Gilmorehill.
Resurrection Man (18) (Marc Iivans. UK. 1997) Stuart Townsend. James Nesbitt. John Hannah. lUl mins. Dealing with a series of (non-political) killings in Belfast. Revurm-Iimi Mun challenges attitudes towards a society saturated with media coverage of violence. Victor (Townsend). at the centre of a random and ruthless killing spree. becomes glamorised by a local journalist and begins to believe in his own myth. A difficult and uncomfortable film to watch which has the power to blow the mind. (ilasgow: ()deon Quay.
Ring Of Bright Water (PG) (Jack Couffer. UK. 1969) Bill Travers. Virginia McKenna. 107 mins. Modest story of one man and his otter. Perfect. credible filming of a heartwarming animal story. A treat for adults and children alike. with lovely wildlife photography. Stirling: MacRobert.
Romeo And Juliet ( l 2) (Bar. Luhmiann. Australia/US. I996) Leonardo DiCaprio. Claire Danes. l’ete Postlethwaite. 120 mins. 'lhe 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 ‘M'I'V filmmaking' misses the point that the camera tricks and in-jokes don‘t in any way distract from the fact that l.tihrmann 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. Glasgow: City Centre ()deon.
La Scorta ( l 8) (Ricky 'l'ognazzi. ltaly. I993) Claudio Amendola. [Enrico Lo Verso.
Carlo Cecchi. 95 mins. Inspired by the real life story of a magistrate who moved from nothem ltaly to the Mafia stronghold of Sicily. this is a sewing. edge-of—seat thriller concentrating on the bravery. dedication and comradeship of his personal police escort. The tension never lets off. Introduced by Italian academic Salvatore Colucello. who will discuss cinematic representations of the mafia. Glasgow: GFT.
Scottish Talent Forum The Scottish People's Film Festival continues in Glasgow with this attempt to demystify the movie- making process. Actors Denis Lawson and Ewan McGregor talk about their experiences and introduce film clips and a screening of local filmmaker Hannah Robinson's short Candy Floss. Sun 22 Feb only. Glasgow: GFI‘.
Scream (l8) (Wes Craven. US. 1996) Neve Campbell. Courteney Cox. Drew Barrymore. l 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 closer. 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. Edinburgh: Cameo.
Serpent's Kiss (15) (Philippe Rousselot. UK. 1997) Ewan McGregor. Greta Scaachi. Pete Postlethwaite. l04 mins. The presence of Ewan McGregor at this UK premiere ensures a sell-out. but it's not his best piece of work. Even his charm can't save this story of an 18th century landscape gardener who heats up the passions in the country house where he is commissioned to work. Neither the romance nor the plot twists carry much conviction. Glasgow: GFT.
Shallow Grave (18) (Danny Boyle. UK. I994) Kerry Fox. liwan McGregor. Christopher Eccleston. 90 mins. 'lhree Edinburgh flatmates find their new co- habitant dead with a stack of money under his bed. so after performing a little DlY on the corpse. they reckon all their worries are over. Filled with dark humour and cynical one-liners. this Scottish thriller is bloody and intelligent. This special screening for the blind and visually impaired comes complete with an audio description by Carol McGregor. Ewan's mum. Glasgow: Gl-‘l'. Sick (no cert) (Kirby Dick. US, 1997) 89 mins. This unforgettable documentary on the life and death of performance artist and self- proclaimed ‘supemtasochist' Bob Flanagan contains some extreme images - a penis nailed to a block of wood. real footage of Flanagan's death. But it's not simply sensationalist. Instead it shows how a man wracked by pain from cystic fibrosis claimed back his body by acts of self-mutilation and a brave humour. Inspiring. See review. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
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Killer good looks: Stuart Townsend in Resurrection Man
index FILM
See it Hear it Feel it
EDINBURGH
EE/TlVAL THEATRE
Sedflsnflnne
Tues 24. Thurs 26 & Sat 28 Feb
test [an tutte
by Mozart
production supported by Dunard Fund
Wed 25 Feb
Snatched in the florist Bitten Stunts b, r.
Fri 27 Feb
by Handel
Scottish Opera in concert
Sun 1 Mar at 7.30pm Tickets From £7
. Jazz Art (UK) presents . . . Euttm a lllIE Tue 3 Mar at 7.30pm Tickets from £7.00 0
PLflillll'lS
Crash! Bang! NaIIeull
Thurs S to Sat 7 Mar at ll.00am & 2.00pm Children's tickets from £5.00 The Playdays gang are back with a brand new show.
attenuate llflNEE
Mon 9 to Wed ii Mar at 7.30pm Tickets From £7.50
'A thrilling spectacular show. in the Footsteps of Riverdance...‘
BRISTOL EVENING POST
Opera For Europe presents
LUEIU SILLH tum...
Fri 13 & Sat 14 Mar Tickets From £9.00
flex 0ch 0131 see are firnups 0131 529 runs
20 Feb-S Mar 1998 THE “ST 33