film
index
Films screening this fortnight are listed below with certificate, credits. brief review and venue details. Film index compiled by Miles Fielder.
Animal Farm (to (John Halas & Joy Batchelor. UK. I955) With the voice of Maurice Denham. 75 mins. Reasonable attempt to translate ()rwell's classic into cartoon form. which is too earnest to reproduce the novel's zest in a satisfactory way Glasgow; (ii—T.
Antz (PG) (Eric Darnell. Tim Johnson. US. l998) The voices of Woody Allen. Sharon Stone. (iene Hackrnarr. 83 mins. When worker ant Z-«II95 (Allen) meets Princess Bala (Stone). he falls completely in love: but. while trying to prove himself as a soldier. he uncovers a dastardly plan to flood the colony. Arr]: is brightly coloured and full of gags. so adults will chuckle while kids are prrlled in by the slick computer animation. (ienei'al release.
August 32nd On Earth ( )5) (Denis \‘iIIeneuve. Canada. I997) Pascale Bussieres. Alexis Martin. 98 mins. A young woman named Simone. survives a horrific car smash physically urrhurt. but mentally scared. Post-crash trauma forces her to rethink her life and she decides to have a child wrtlr her best friend Philippe. a decision which stretches the boundaries of their friendship. Glasgow: (ll-T
L'Autre cote De La Mer (The Other Side Of The Sea) (Dominique Cabrera. France. I997) Claude Brasseur'. Rischdy Zem. Marthe \'rllalonga. 89 mins. Two lost souls. a Frenchman born in Algeria and an Algerian born in l-‘rance. meet when the French industrialist comes to Paris for the first time for a cataract operation to be performed by the Algerian ophthalmologist. Intelligent examination of two men searching for their roots. Part of the French Film Festival. (ilasgow: (ilfli. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
Bandhan (PG) ( K. Murli Mohair Rao. India. I998) A film about human relations and the ties that bind us. Barrdhan is a bond between brother and sister. husband and wife. a young boy and girl. In Hindi without subtitles Edinburgh: Cameo.
Blade l I8) (Stephen Norrington. US. I998) Wesley Snipes. Stephen l)orff. Kris Kristoffcrson. III mins. Young Brit director Norringtoir's techrro-vampire movie — based on the Marvel Comics character -- is rrrarred by weak storytelling and flashy computer- garne visuals. ()rre hoped for sustained atirrospherics and coherent mythology: instead. this fashionably updated take on vampire lore squander's its innovative ideas on a series of tII\|tIlIlIL‘tI set-pieces. (iener‘al release.
Brown's Requiem i I8) (.Iasott Freeland. liS. I998) Michael Rooker. William Sasso.
‘ Kevin ('orrigan 9." mins. The first
adaptation of a .I.llllL‘\ IiIlroy novel (here his debut book) since I. .l. ('wrfu/eiilml is also a crime thriller set in his Angeles' underworld Rookei‘ is an ex-cop turned PI. w ho undertakes a surveillance lob which. of course. is far more complicated and ptitellllilll} lethal than it first looks. (ilasgow: (il’l.
Cantique De La Racaille (Melody For A Hustler) (Vincent Ravalec. France. I998) Yvan Attal. Virginie I.anoue. Yann Collette. I()-I mins. In this film debut from novelist Ravalec. a sinaIl-tiirre Parisian criminal takes a shot at the big time with the girl of his dreams. As he amasses wealth and moves to a rrriddIe-class neighbourhood. paranoia begins It) clouds Ills mind. Witty critique of the business ethic. Part of the French Film Festival. (ilasgow: (il’l'. Edinburgh. I-rlmlrouse.
Capitaine Conan (Bertrand 'l'averrrrer. I-i‘ance. I996) Philippe 'I‘orreton. Samuel Ie Bilrarr. Bernard I.ccoq. I.‘\() mins. The Balkans WI 8 and a battle that helped secure an allied victory llo\ve\ er. 'I‘av erriiei'. one the masters of rirodern French cinema. focuses on a fortnight-long armistice and his epony mous anti-hero (Cesar award-winning TUI‘I'L‘IUII) who follow s his own moral code. wine. women and song. Part of the French Film Festival. Glasgow: (il’l‘. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
Cathy Come Home (PG) (Ken Loach. UK. I966) Carol White. Ray Brooks. 79 mins. Loach‘s seminal docu-drama affected the nation in a way that any TV broadcast is unlikely to do today. causing the issues to be debated and a new realist style to be born. White plays a young homeless woman struggling to keep her family together and. although the lines between victim and victimiser might be rather simply drawn. it remains an impassioned piece of work. Glasgow: GF'I‘.
Ceux Qui M'Aiment Prendront Le Train (Those Who Love Me Can Take The Train) (Patrice Chéreau. France. I998) Pascal Greggory. Jean-Louis Trintignant. Valeria Bruni-Tedeschi. 122 mins. Chéreau's semi- autobiographical film revolves around the funeral of painter 'l'rintignant. The collective grief of the attendees brings to the surface old grievances which threaten to consume them all bar Francois. a cynical young man travelling with his gay lover. Emotive performances and dazzling imagery secured the film critical acclaim at Cannes. Part of the French Film Festival. Glasgow: (ii-T. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
Une Chance Sur Deux (Half A Chance) (Patrice Leconte. France. I998) Jean-Paul Belmorrdo. Alain Delon. Vanessa Paradis. I09 mins. Two icons of French cinema are reunited in this thriller. The action revolves around Paradis‘ ex-con. who isn't sure which of the retired businessmen (Belmondo or Delon) is her father. 'I‘ogether. the trio are embroiled in Russian mafia intrigue on the Riviera. Part of the French Film Festival. Glasgow: GI-‘I'. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
City Of Angels t l 2) (Brad Siberling. US. I998) Meg Ryan. Nicolas Cage. Dennis Franz. I I7 mins. Cage plays an angel who falls in love with heart surgeon Ryan in this earnest but unintentionally leaden remake of Wirrr Wenders's sublime Wings Of Desire. Moments of high emotion are off-set by flashes of humour. btrt the Gothic magnificence of Wenders‘s film is replaced by a soft focus. filtered earnestness that pushes the story towards soapy melodrama. Edinburgh: Cameo.
La Classe De Neige (Class Trip) (Claude Miller. France. I998) Clement Van Den Bergh. I.okman Nalcakan. Francois Roy. 96 mins. A shy young boy. whose tyrannical father has forced him to retreat into a fantasy world. is brought back to reality by a close encounter with a child molester. Based on a news story. via Emrrranuel Carrere's novel. this is part coming-of-age tale. part psychological thriller. Part of the French Film Festival. Glasgow: (if-T. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
Claude Duty Shorts ( 15) (Claude Duty. I-‘rance. I98t’r—96) I ll) mins. Highlights of Duty’s work from the past decade includes: l.u I’ut'e/le Des Zines. .S'Ii‘emulc'x, I’uit/s' If! .llois. Meliuee A I’m/kl and Les [inert-ex De .lirniieees. Part of the French Film Festival. Glasgow: GI-T. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. Comme Elle Respire (White Lies) (Pierre Salvadori. France. I998) Marie 'I'rintignanl. (iuiallume Depardieu. Jean-Francois Steverrin. l()7 nrins. ()ff-beat comedy in which ’I‘riirtigrrant dtrmps her boyfriend in Bordeaux. flies to Paris. works her way through a series of odd jobs and is held to ransom by the fiendish I’)epardieu. But matters are complicated when the pair fall for each other. From the director of Ilr’i'ltl 'liiijeel. Part of the French Film Festival. Glasgow: Gl-‘l'. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
Con Air ( I 5) (Simon West. US. I997) Nicolas Cage. John Malkovich. Steve Buscemi. I I5 mins. Big. loud boyz movie in which Cage's parolee Cameron poe is locked in a prison transport plane with two dozen of the most unsavoury characters. Of course. there's a mid-air break out and the cons. lead by Malkovich's Sirus the Virus ptit relative ‘goody‘ Poe through his paces. Nice cameo from Buscemi as a child murderer. Edinburgh: Cameo.
Le Corps Ouverts (Open Bodies) (Sebastien l.ifshitz. France. I998) Yasmine Belrrradi. Pierre-l.oup Rajot. Margot Abascal. 47 mins. Eighteen-year-old schoolboy Rimi‘s life seems monotonous. All that changes when Ire attends an audition and ends up on the director's casting couch. Award-winnirrg. refreshineg candid and devoid of cliche. Part of the French Film
Festival. Glasgow: GFI‘. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
Cube ( I 5) Vi ncenzo Natali. Canada. I998) 92 mins. Six people awake in a cubic chamber with a door in each wall. With no memory of how they got there. they quickly learn they are in a maze made of similar cubes. many of which are booby-trapped with lethal devices. A fine example of creativity on a low budget. the execution of this nerve-racking sci-fr thriller is as ingenious as its concept. Edinburgh: Cameo. The Daytrippers (l5) (Greg Mottola. US. I997) Hope Davis. Liev Schreiber. Parker Posey. 87 mins. Strained as a family unit. the Malones pull together when daughter Eliza suspects her husband is having an affair. So begins a chaotic and disputatious trawl through New York in a station wagon. Mottola's script is as painfully incisive as it is funny and compassionate. That it succeeds as a film is thanks to its talented cast. Edinburgh: Cameo.
Dead Man's Curve (I5) (Dan Rosen. US. 1997) Matthew Lillard. Michael Vanan. Randall Batinkoff. 86 mins. When over- privileged college kid Tim hears of a policy to reward students with straight A grades if their room-mate commits suicide. Ire persuades Chris to help him kill Rand. This film has a complicated plot. and things swing this way and that: only by the end do you realise Irow very paranoid the world is. See preview and review. Glasgow: ()deon Quay. UCI Clydebank. Showcase. Edinburgh: UCI. Kilmarnock: ()deon.
Déja Mort (Already Dead) (Olivier Dalian. France. I998) Romain Duris. Benoit Magimel. Zoe Felix. I08 mins. A girl from the Cete d'Azur decides her only opportunity to escape the drudgery of small town life is to become involved in the schemes of two wealthy Nice youths. Sex. drugs. rock. roll atrd nihilism meet in this take on Rebel Il’ilhmrl A Cause refracted through a late 20th sensibility. Part of the French Film Festival. Glasgow: (if-T. Edinburgh: Filnrfrouse.
Dieu Seul Me Voit (God's Got My Number) (Bruno Podalydes. France. I998) Denis Podalydes. Jeanne Balibar. Isabelle Candelier. I I8 nrins. A super indecisive man (deciding whether or not to cross the road is a problem) meets three decisive and determined women. A fresh. loose. insightful comedy. part of a trilogy devoted to the director and star brothers team. Part of the French Film Festival. Glasgow: GFT Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
Le Diner De Cons (The Dinner Game) (Francis Veber. France. I998) 'l‘hierry l.hermitte. Jacques Villeret. Francis Huster. 100 mins. Clever French farce adapted from the stage. The story revolves around a series of dinner parties. to each of which a guest of honour is invited by Pierre and his friends. an ‘idiot' to be toyed with. However. when the local accountant is arrives to dine the tables are ttrrned. Part of the French Film Festival. Glasgow: GFT. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
La Divine Poursuite (The Gods Must Be Dancing) (Michel Deville. France. I997) Antoine de Caunes. Emmanuelle Seigner. Elodie Bouchez. l02 mins. Mr Eurotraslr himself stars in this fast and furious comedy as a delivery man who unwittingly complicates a criminal scheme to smuggle a million dollar golden statue through customs. Beyond the comedy of errors. Deville's film makes sonre sardonic comments on men and women. work and love. Part of the French Film Festival. Glasgow: GITI'. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
Dr Dolittle (PG) (Betty Thomas. US. I998) Eddie Murphy. ()ssie Davies. Oliver Platt. 85 mins. A turkey with Rex Harrison in its original form. and still pretty dire this time round. This wild famin adventure offers crude bottom humour for the Babe audience. but the talking animals gimmick battles with cheesy morality and nothing comes together. General release.
Don Juan (Jacques Weber. France. I998) Jacques Weber. Emmanuelle Béart. Michel Boujenah. I04 mins. Star and director Weber freely adapts Moliere's book to produce a lavish costume drama. In a war- ravaged 17th century Spain. Don Juan is on the run. having abandoned his fiancee Donna Elvira. However. Elvira's brothers are in pursuit intent on avenging their
index FILM
sister‘s honour. Part of the French Film Festival. Glasgow: OFT. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
Earth (I5) (Deepa Mehta. India/Canada. I998) Kitu Gidwani. Nandita Das. Aamir Khan. I I5 mins. Second part of Mehta's loose trilogy (following Fire and preceeding the forthcoming Water) flashes back to I947 and the partitioning of India and Pakistan by the British and the ensuing riots. Glasgow: GF'I‘.
Elizabeth (IS) (Shekhar Kapur. UK. I998) Cate Blanchett. Geoffrey Rush. Christopher Ecclestone. I20 mins. Not your typical frock flick. Shekhar Kapur's film may be ravishing to look at. but it's altogether darker and more disturbing than you'd expect. A political thriller from Tudor history. in which Blanchett's performance turns cherished notions about England's Virgin Queen on their head. Glasgow: ()deon Quay. Edinburgh: Cameo. Dominion. ()deon. UC I. Wishaw: Arrow.
Event Horizon ( I 8) (Paul Anderson. US/UK. I997) Laurence Fishburne. Sam Neill. Joely Richardson. 9l rrrins. The crew of a rescue ship discover that Irell has been unleashed inside a missing craft that reappears near Neptune. as their deepest fears begin to terrorise them in physical form. Effectively a haunted house movie set in space. Event Horizon boasts stunning "I‘echno Medieval' design; but tight editing leaves the characterisation and story stripped to within an inch of their lives. Edinburgh: Canreo.
Ever After (PG) (Andy Tennant. US. I998) Drew Barrymore. Dougray Scott. Angelica Huston. I20 mins. The filmmakers invest the tale with some PC values. nrost obviously in its heroine who shows ‘girl power" independence and intellect. Barrymore manages to be both sweet and gutsy. but the surprise lies in Scott's engaging turn as the Prince. Wishaw: Arrow. Eve’s Bayou (I5) (Kasi Lemmons. US. I998) Samuel L. Jackson. Lynn Whitfield. Debbi Morgan. l08 mins. Set firmly in the Southern Gothic storytelling mould shaped by William Faulker. Harper Lee. Tennessee Williams. er al. actress Lemmons' directing debut is a blast. The prolonged opening family party sequence. in which some uncomfortable secrets and lies are unearthed. introduces the inhabitants of the eponymous Louisiana property. The ensuing rnelodrarrra is played out by uniforme excellent cast. Stirling: MacRobert.
The Exorcist ( I8) (William Friedkin. US. I973) Linda Blair. Ellen Burstyn. Max Von Sydow. I l0 mins. Earnest priest Von Sydow steps in to save poor little possessed girl in this hugely effective scarefest. Now re- released in remastered form. with a super stereo soundtrack (so you can hear those obscenities in full). Dead good. dead scary. dead priest. Glasgow: ABC Film Centre. Showcase. Edinburgh: UCI.
Face/Off ( I8) (John Woo. US. I997) John Travolta. Nicolas Cage. Joan Allen. 133 rrrins. FBI agent Sean Archer (Travolta) undergoes radical surgery to becorrre terrorist Castor Troy (Nicolas Cage); but when Troy comes out of a coma and undergoes a similar operation. he too is able to slip into his enemy's domain - domestic and professional. Part horror. part sci-fr. full-on action. with a cast that's uniformly excellent. Edinburgh: Cameo.
Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas (18) (Terry Gilliam. US. I998) Johnny Depp. II8 rrrins. As adaptations of cult books g0. Gilliam‘s take on Hunter S. Thompson's assassination of the American Dream is a glorious mess of a movie. It remains true to the author's vision of moral torpor and psychosis. whilst injecting a good shot of Gilliam's own obsessions. Flawed. certainly. but epically degenerate. And thus pure gonzo. General release.
Festen (The Celebration) ( l8) (Thomas Vinterberg. Denmark. 1998) Ulrich
'l‘homsen. Herrrring Moritzen. Thomas Bo
Larsen. I06 mins. The eldest son of a country hotelier returns to Denmark for his father's 60th birthday celebrations. But the seemingly innocent family reunion becomes a nightmare as some shocking family truths are revealed. Part of the London Film Festival On Tour 98. Glasgow: GFI'.
Continued over page
19 Nov—3 Dec 1998 THE LISTS“!