Films screening this fortnight are listed below with certificate. credits, brief review and venue details. Film index compiled by Miles Fielder.
Affliction ( l5) (Paul Schrader. US. I998) Nick Nolte. James Coburn. Sissy Spacek.
I l4 mins. Nolte's ()scar-nominated performance as a small-town New Hampshire lawman is the outstanding component of Sehrader's Ieaden film. which pummels home its theme of paternal tyranny and child abuse vv ith unnecessary heavy- handedness. Introspective and inaccessible. Kirkcaldy: Adam Siiiiih.
American History X ( )8) (Tony Kaye. US. I998) Edward Norton. [Edward Furlong. I I7 mins. A fierce. uncompromising study of racism amongst white working-class youths. Arirt'rirmi Hismrv- X is as provocative as it is visually arresting. The film pulls no punches in its depiction of racist violence. btit explores more fully the origins of bigoted attitudes that inform it. Glasgow; ()deon City Centre. Edinburgh; ()deon.
Anastasia (U) (Don BItith/Gary Goldman. US. I997) Voices of Meg Ryan. Christopher Lloyd. John Cusack. 94 mins. Rewriting history somewhat. evil magician Rasputin puts a curse on the ’I‘sar's family and causes the I9l7 Revolution. The child princess Anastasia survives. bttt grows tip as an orphan. unable to remember her past. Ayr: Odeon.
Antz (l’G) (liric Darnell/lint Johnson. US. I998) The voices of woody AIlen. Sharon Stone. Gene Hackman. 83 mins. When worker ant '/.-4|95 meets Princess Bala. he falls completely in love. but. while trying to prove himself as a soldier. he uncovers a dastardly plan to flood the colony. Brightly coloured and full of gags vv ill) siick computer animation. Glasgow Gl’l‘. Edinburgh: ()deon. Ay r: ()deon. Hamilton: ()deon. Kiliirarnock: ()deon.
Arlington Road ( I5) (Mark l’eIlrngton. L'S. I998) Jeff Bridges. Tim Robbins. Joan Ctisack. I I7 mins Paranoia thriller drawing on the Oklahoma City bombing and the Waco siege. Single parent. vv idovver and university lecturer in American terrorism Bridges becomes suspicious of neighbours Robbins and Cusack when he discovers a worrying. hidden past. Glasgow: ()deon Quay. Showcase.
Asterix the Gaul (U) tl'i‘atice. I967) ()5 mins. The early adventures of the plucky little warrior who wreaks havoc among the occupying Roman troops. aided by his plump pal ()belis. the druid Getalix aritl his amazing magic potions. I-‘alkirk: I’I'H.
At First Sight ( l 3) (Irwin Winkler. US. I998) Val Kilmer. Mira Soi'vino. I34 mins. Based on a case study recounted by Dr Oliver Sticks of xlli'tikt’ninev lame. xll l'il'rvl Sig/ii is the tale of a blind man named Virgil who regains his sight after experimental surgery. It‘s an intriguing story. btit unfortunater director Winklei' has chosen to dress it tip as a glossy romantic melodrama. See review. Selected release.
Babe: Pig In The City (PG) (George Miller. US. I998) James Cromwell. Magda Szubanski. 99 mins. Just as precocious as before. young Babe accidentally iniures Farmer Hoggett and ptits the farm in jeopardy. In desperation Mrs H and Babe set off to make a fee-paying appearance at a State Fair where their adventures in the big city begin. Stirling. .‘vIacRobert.
The Band Wagon (LI) (Vincenie Minnelli. US. I953) l'lCtl Astaire. Cytl Charisse. I12 mins. Screening in celebration of the centenary ol the great song and dance man. Minnelli‘s sparkling and vvrtty musical showcases times such as 'By Myself" and ‘Dancing In The Dark' I5alkrrk: I’I’H. Barney's Great Adventure (t') 72 mins. A kids 'l‘\' phenomenon. Barney the purple dinosaur's big screen debut finds him down on a farm with a trio of kids in search of a magic egg. Perfect for tinder-fives. Ayr: ()deon.
Basquiat ( l5) (Julian Schnabel. US. I996) Jeffrey Wright. David Bowie. Michael Wincott. l()(r mins. Schnabel's biopic of his friend Jean-Michel Bastitiiat truly captures
24 THE llST 29 Apr—I3 May 1999
the whims of the 80s New York art scene. where hype mattered more than talent. lidinburgh: l‘ilmhouse.
Bedrooms And Hallways ( )5) (Rose 'l‘roche. UK. I999) Kevin McKidd. 'I'om Hollander. James I’urefoy. 96 mins. 'Ihese Bet/moms xllitl Hal/n tl\'\ are populated by pretty. professional. loved-up or cast-dovv n twenty and thirtysomethings. In this case they also happen to be gay British larce mixed vs ith a more liberated attitude towards sexuality (homo and hetero). litIinburgh' Cameo.
Beloved ( l5) (Jonathan Deninie. L’S. I998) Oprah Winfrey. Danny Glover. ’lhaiidic Newton. Kimberly Iilrse I73 mrns l-evv novels convey the emotional and psychological consequences of slavery as vividly as Toni Morrison's Pulitzer Prize winner. lie/oral. L'nfortunately Demnie‘s rather conventional film doesn't Irave the satire power as the book. Iidinbui'gh: Lumiere. DllllfCl‘lllllllL‘l Carnegie Hall. Black Beauty (U) (Caroline 'llioiiison. US/UK. I994) Sean Bean. David 'l'hewlis. Peter Cook. 82 mins. 'llie riiost famous horse in children's literature returns in a faithful screen version which taps into a darker aroma of childhood vision. The pace sets off at a gallop. Stirling: Allanpar'k. Black Cat, White Catt l5) (Iiinir Is'usturica. Germany/I511)nee/YugosIavia/Austria/(ii'eece . I998) Florijan .Aitlllll. Branka Katie. Bajram Sevredzan. l39 mins. Crazy film from the Yugoslavian director of Air-mitt Dream and (Pitt/ererutuitl. set vv ithin a community of gypsy people and telling a tale of dodgy deals. family ties. yotiiig love and magical occurrences. A sensory overload delight. See rev ievv (ilasgovv
Gl7l'. Edinburgh: l-‘ilinhouse.
Buffalo 66 ( l5) ( Vincent Gallo. L'S. I998) Vincent Gallo. Christina Ricci. Angelica Huston. I It) mins. late for Billy Brovvn is so awful that lie reconstructs hrnisell from lies upon his release from a live year prison spell. Kidnapping a young girl named Layla. Brown concocts a story (or his parents. A black humoured. deeply lile-alfir'rning tilm lidinburgh; Cameo.
A Bug's Life (I?) (John l.assetct'. L'S. I99S) Votees of Dave lioley. Kevin Spacey. David Hyde Pierce. 95 mins. ‘I‘he colony ol Aiit Island is being oppressed by a gang of menacing grasshoppers. When inventive btit clumsy vvorker ant lilik incurs the vvrath of gang leader Hopper. he heads oll to find help heavyweight help in the battle against his oppressors. General release.
Bulworth ( IS) (Warren Beatty'. I'S. I998) Warren Beatty. Halle Berry. ()liver l’latt. l08 mins. In the final stages of a political campaign. disillusioned Democratic Senator J. Billitigton Bulworth finds himself unable
Playing hooky: Sarah Michelle Geller and Brandy in
I Still Know What You Did Last Summer
to mouth the bland platitudes needed to get himself re-elected. So he hires an assassin to bump him off. and speaks his ovv n mind for the first time iii years Iidinburgh: liilitilitrttse.
Cartoons (L') 70 Illllls. thnriig selection of
cartoons from animation's Golden Age of Hollywood. including appearances by Tom and Jerry. Bugs Bunny. Droopy and Daffy Duck. They don‘t make ‘em like they used to. lialkii'k. l-‘l'H.
Casablanca tl’(.i) (Michael Carin. ('8. I942) Humphrey Bogart. Ingrid Bergman. Dooley Wilson. '03 mins. You must remember this Bogart being impossibly noble. Bergman torn betvv een tvvo lovers, Claude Rains playing both ends against the middle A wonderful hill of beans. lidinburgh. St. Brides Centre.
A Civil Action ( l 5) (Steven /.atllian. L‘S. I999) John li'mollti. Robert Duvall. William H. Macy. I IS mins. 'l'rav'olta's slick. ambulance-chasing lavvyer grovv s a heart when he adopts a hopeless case. but in so doing comes a cropper. An intelligent and candid c‘\;lllllllilll()ll of the corruption inherent in the CS legal system. General release.
Clockwatchers t l2) (Jill Sprecher. LS. I996) l.isa Kudrovv. Toni Collette. l’ai'kci l’osey 9o mins Well cast. sharply -scripted black comedy about a quartet ol office girls dealing with the politics and boredom of the the 9 to 5 routine. Part or the .\itici'ic;iir Independence ‘l‘our'. See feature. Iitlrnbtirgh l‘lllllllUlISL‘.
Crash ( IS) (David Cr'onenberg. I99“) .l.lIlIC\ .Spatlc‘l‘. l'ltilly lltlllIL‘l'. l'ilttls Kolc‘as lllll iiiiiis :\ cool. insidioust disturbing study ol an evolv ittg human pathology based on cr'otrciscd car crashes .iiid techno-lanlasres. livery lieleio and liornosevual permutation is evplored as tlte lived boundaries ol "normal. sestialrty give vvay to .i creatively 'pei‘vcrse lliiidity lztlinbur'gh Cameo
Dead Presidents t Ls") (.-\lbett .Illtl Allen Hughes. l'S. I995) l.arcn/ late. Keith David. Chris l'ttcker III) miris .\ young Brons tecnagci retirining from Vietnam teams up v\ Ill) his disillusioned friends to commit a dating at iiiotri'ed car robbery Messy take on Me beloie. during and alter Vietnam. but theres a cracking soul/lunk soundtrack ldinbuigh l’iltiihousc
8mm ( IS) (Joel Schtiniachcr. l'S. I999) Nicolas Cage. .loatitnn l’hociiiv. lames (iandoll'ini I.”z mins laimily man and private investigator 'l'otn \\'elles is asked by .i rich \\l\lt)\\ to track (lovv ii the source or .i reel ot liliii. apparently depicting the v iciotis iiiui'dei' of a teenage girl. l‘oi' .i mainstream movie. this is fairly evplicrt vvhile the treatment of the subiect matter is laudany adult. General release.
eXistenZ ( | 5) (David Cronenberg. Canada/UK. I999) Jennifer Jason Leigh. .Iude Law. Willem Dal'oe. 92 mins. An intriguing movie game about two fugitives on the run from reality. (’Xf.\‘l(’llZ posits a future-now where groups of people participate in virtual reality games by literally plugging consoles that resemble foetuses into their bodies. Bizarre. magnetic aritl playfully grotesque. See feature arid review. General release.
The Exorcist ( IS) (William I-‘riedkin. US. I973) Linda Blair. lillen Burstyn. Max Von Sytlovv. I l() mins. liai'nest priest Von Sydmv steps in to save poor little possessed girl in this hugely effective scarefest. Re-released in remastered form. with a super stereo soundtrack. Dead good. dead scary. dead priest. lidinburgh: Cameo.
Eye Of God ( I 5) (Toni Blake Nelson. US. I997) Kevin Anderson. Martha l’limpton. 83 mins. low key drama about a couple of kids from the small-town heartland of America. l‘ine performances. an offbeat sensibility and some ambitious non-linear editing mark out this US indie flick. Part of (Ire American Independence 'I'our. See feature. Iidinburgh: l'illlllltltlSC.
The Faculty ( l 5) (Robert Rodriguez. US. I998) lilijah Wood. Clea Diivall. Salma llayek. III-l mins. T/lt’ Faculty fits neatly into the niche we've come to expect from Kev in ‘St reum' Williaiirson's pen: lots of great-looking young actors. a rock soundtrack and plenty of nods to past movies (here sci-ii) for those in the know. General release.
The Fifth Element ( l3) (laic Besson. l’i'ance/I'S. I997) Bruce Willis. Milla Jovovich. Gary ()ltlnian. |37 mins. New York City in the 33rd Century. and cabbie Koi'ben Dallas picks up an unexpected passenger III the shape of l.celoo - an alien vv ho holds the key to saving the world. Camp designs. self-ritdulgent performances and genre rip-offs play it for laughs. litlitiburgh; Cameo
First Reels ( la) (various. I'ls’. I998/9) I()() inrns approx. Scotland-based talent initiative presents iittie nevv liliiis In I). jt’lllllft‘I'X. The /.I/ll'tll'ltll.'. .ilv Dune/Hens I'tlt t’. No .l/ttllt'r ll‘lit‘l‘t' lit!) (in. . .S'iiiiIv/iilte. HI lv’Ii/t'v ()7 Put IFUI/It’l'tl/H, 'I'liert'y .thl/llllg' '12) l'it’tll’ Bu! l't'ar /I\t'// and ("i/evil): litlinhurgh; l‘ilmhouse. The Fly ( IS) (Dav-id Cronciibet'g. L’S. I986) .lefl’ Goldbltiiii. Geeiia Dav is. |()() mins. Brilliant rcconceptualisation of the camp I958 classic. with (ioltlblum highly effective as the scientist vvhose experiments in telcportation go disastroust wrong. The special elfccts are superlativer revolting. the tension sustained throughout. lidinbtii'gh: Cameo.
Forces Of Nature ( l_‘)i l'S. I999) Ben Atlleck. Sandra Bullock l()() mins. Ben is a nervous llyer seated nest to eccentric Sarah on the flight that will take Iirrii home to his \veddrng When the plane crashes before take till he gets Sarah as his unwelcome sidekick on a cross country road trip. A teeny (in both senses) romance w ith a couple of charismatic stars and a big budget. See rev tevv (it’llc‘l'al iclease Four Little Girls ( )2) (Spike l.ce. ('8. I998) Ill: Iiiitis l.ce Ittst foray into dociiiiietitttt‘y lrlinniaktng is a no-holds-barred study ol the cry ll rights movement ol the (ills which focuses on the boiirbing ol .iii Alabama Baptist Church in \vhich lour children were killed. Part of the '\IIIL‘I rcan Independence 'I‘oui'. See lcatute l'.tlllll‘lll:_'ll l-ilinhousc Fox And His Friends ( IS) (Rainer Werner litssbtntlei'. W (iei'riiany. I970) Rainer Werner Fassbinder. I’etci Chatel. Karlheiiil. Boliiii l.‘I niins l~assbrndcr himself plays l’ov. an unemployed car l‘.l\.ll worker who is picked tip by .i middle-class antiques dealer .iiid introduced to .i nevv milieu where he is esploitetl Compassionate. heated and politically astute homosevual melotli'aiiia iii the director ‘s most coiitiolled style l5diribtitgh lilnrhouse
Full Metal Jacket I is) (Stanley Kubrick. I'K. I9S7) .\I.itthevv \lodine. Dorian llatevvood. l ec l2i'iriey lll‘) iiiitis l'echnically cttectrve and narrativer balanced depiction ol l'.l\\ \‘ietnam recruits .is they endure basic training and the even greater horrors of the l9oS let olfensive lidinburgh. Lumiere.
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