Lost In Space (PG) (Stephen Hopkins. US. 1998) William Httrt. Gary Oldman. Matt Le Blane. 109 mins. The cult TV series for the 60s gets a 90s make-over and. despite the state-of—the-art special effects. it's every bit as cheesy as the original. Professor John Robinson (Hurt) and his family are sent to colonise the distant planet of Alpha Prime. but an act of sabotage causes them to spin into the stratosphere. Stirling: Allanpark. Lore Is- The Devil ( l 8) (John Maybury. UK. 1998) Derek Jacobi. Daniel Craig. Tilda Swinton. 90 mins. By no means a documentary-style portrait of the artist. Lore /.v The Devil is concerned with the destructive relationship between Bacon and his lover George Dyer. Far more visual and experimental than most of what passes for Britiin cinema these days. East Kilbride: Arts Centre. Kirkcaldy: Adam Smith. Majorettes In Space (Various. France. 1996-97) A new package of French gay short films. including A Little Dent/i (26 mins) and A Summer Dress ( I 5 mins). directed by Francois Ozon (whose longer films Regan/e Lu Mel‘ and Sitcom were screened at this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival). The programme is completed by One Moment (6 mins). Something Different (30 mins) and Mojoreltes' In Spore (6 mins). Stirling: MacRobert. Ma 6T Va Crack-er (Crack 6T) (Jean— Francois Richet. France. 1997)Arco C Descat. Jean-Marie Robert. Malik Zeggou. 105 mins. Hard-hitting urban drama in the Lu Huine mould. While Arco. Malik and Mustapba victimise their fellow school kids. their older brothers are involved in similar conflicts with local gangs. One night's tension mounts at a hip hop clttb. there is a shooting. the police intervene and the community explodes. Part of the French Film Festival. Glasgow: GFT‘. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. La Meilleure Facon Marcher (The Best Way To Walk) ( l 8) (Claude Miller. France. 1976) Patrick Dewaere. Patrick Boucitey. Christine Pascal. 90 mins. At a summer camp for boys. one of the instructors discovers the owner's son in drag. but although he bullies the victim mercilessly. it's the latter who gets the girl. Miller. a former assistant to 'l‘ruffaut and Godard. made his debut with this sardonic tale of sexual ambiguity. Part of the French Film Festival. Glasgow: GFl‘. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. Metroland (18) (Philip Saville. UK. 1998) Christian Bale. Emily Watson. Lee Ross. 10! mins. It’s 1977. and Chris is becalmed in Metroland. the suburban sprawl at the end of London Underground's Metropolitan line. Then his old school friend Toni arrives to stir tip his calm domesticity and remind him of the time when they were rebellious public schoolboys. ln bringing Julian Barnes' debut novel to the screen. director Saville has failed to translate those qualities that made the original enjoyable: cool intelligence. playful wit and ironic authorial voice. Kirkcaldy: Adam Smith. les Miserables (12) (Bille August. US. 1998) Liam Neeson. Geoffrey Rush. Claire Danes. 134 mins. With preconceptions of the hit musical left in the foyer. the movie can be enjoyed for what it really is — a sombre dual character study concentrating on the psychological cat-and-mouse game played by ex-convict Vatican and police inspector Javert. August. director of l’el/e T/lt' Conqueror. has made a European arthouse movie filmed on a Hollywood budget. See preview and review. Glasgow: Odeon Quay. Showcase. Edinburgh: Dominion. UCl. Mr Freedom ( 18) (William Klein. France. 1967-68) John Abbey. Delphine Seyt'ig. Jean-Claude Drouot. l 10 mins. A space-age superhero arrives in France to settle the nation‘s political problems. btit in the process leaves the country itt ruins. just like Vietnam. Banned by the French government because of its parallels with the May '68 civil unrest. this kind of comic book-style engagement with politics was later picked tip by graphic novelists. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. Mrs Brown (PG) (John Madden. UK. 1997) Judi Dench. Billy Connolly. Antony Sher. 103 mins. Queen Victoria's obsessive mourning for Prince Albert is casting gloom
over the entire country. so Highland ghillie John Brown is called down front Balmoral to shake tip the stuffy English court. The performances are uniformly splendid. with Dench and Connolly (both perfectly cast) giving the film a surprising emotional depth. St. Andrews: New Pictttre House.
The Model Couple (William Klein. France. 1975—76) As part of an experiment to predict the domestic habits of the French in the 21st century. the Ministry of the Future sets up an ‘average' Couple in an apartment within a New City. currently under construction. Every detail of the habits of the couple are fed into a computer to be analysed. A somewhat more sinister variant on The Truman Slimr-style paranoia. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
The Mother (Die Mutter) (Manfred Wekwerth. GDR. 1958) Helene Weigel. Fred Diiren. Erich Franz. H7 mins. An oppressed Russian woman is transformed into a militant revolutionary in this adaptation of Bertolt‘s Brecht's 1931 production. itself based on the Maxim Gorky novel. Glasgow: Goethe lnstitut. Mother And Son (U) (Alexandr Sokurov. Germany/Ussr. 1997) Gundt'un Geyet'. Alexei Ananishnov. 73 mins. In an old stone
cottage. a dying mother is tended by her son.
The converse and he carries her through the countryside. Sokurov‘s film owes more to landscape painting than cinema and it‘s images are all the more breathtaking for it. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
Mother Courage And Her Children (Mutter Courage Und lhre Kinder) (Peter Palitasch. GDR. 1961) Helene ’eigel. Angelika Hurwicz. Ekkehard Schall. 148 mins. Film of Bertolt Brecht‘s famous production. the flagship of the Berliner Ensemble's repertoire. Glasgow: Goethe lnstitttt.
Mulan (U) (Batty Cook. Tony Bancroft. US. l998) The voices of Ming-Na Wen. Donny Osmond. Eddie Murphy. 89 mins. After Disney‘s tastily designed venture into Greek mythology with Hercules. the studio has brought its lens to bear on the rich and colourful possibilities of Chinese legend. Details of character. movement attd expression are as fine as should be expected from the world‘s best known cartoon studio. bttt the stunning large-scale set pieces are truly astonishing. General release.
Muppet Treasure Island (PU) (Brian Henson. US/UK. l99(i)'l‘im Curry. Kevin Bishop. Billy Connolly. 102 mins. Young Jim Hawkins. along with his friends the Great Gonzo and Rizzo The Rat go hunting for treasure with Captain Flint‘s map. meeting up on the way with Long John Silver (Curry). and Fozzie. Kermit. Miss Piggy et al as various Stevenson characters. Faithful to the book. bttt hilarious in its extraneous details. Edinburgh: ()deon.
My Name Is Joe ( 15) (Ken Loach. UK. 1998) Peter Mullan. Louise Goodall. David McKay. 105 mins. My Name Is Joe's blend of comedy. social drama. love interest and tense thriller makes for a more accessible movie than we'd normally expect from l.oach. Recovering alcoholic Joe Kavanagh (Mullan) meets and falls in love with health visitor Sarah (Goodall). bttt his well intentioned scheme to get a young friend out of the grip of a vicious drug dealer looks likely to backfire on everyone he cares for. General release.
The Negotiator ( 15) Samuel 1.. Jackson. Kevin Spacey. J.'l'. Walsh. 140 mins. When Danny Roman. the best hostage negotiator in Chicago. is framed for tnurder by his felloss boys in blue. he takes hostages and seals himself off in an office high-rise. As an extra safeguard. he demands that negotiations are handled by his peer from another precinct. Take a deep breath at the beginning. because you won't let it out until the final credits roll. See review. General release.
Nil By Mouth (18) (Gary ()ldman. UK. 1997) Ray Winstone. Kathy Burke. Charlie Creed~Miles. 139 mins. Oldman‘s directorial debttt is an account of alcoholism aitd marital abuse which stalks smoky East End pubs. smog-ridden council estates and cheap-rate lives with an itchy amphetamine energy. This is simply one of the best British movies of the 90s — shocking. funny. heartfelt and honest. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
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index FILM
EE/TIVAL
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t9 Nov~3 Dec 1998 THE “ST 39