FILM index
FILM LISTINGS continued
Double Jeopardy (15) ta (Bruce Beresford, US, 1999) Tommy Lee Jones, Ashley Judd, Annabeth Gish. 105 mins. Double Jeopardy is The Fugitive with a female lead. Not only does it rip off the earlier film's basic premise — innocent hero(oine) gets wrongly convicted for murdering a spouse and goes on the run, pursued by a dogged officer of the law — it even boasts the same co-star (Jones). But while The Fugitive was gripping and well- crafted, Double Jeopardy is formulaic pap. Glasgow: Odeon, Odeon At The Quay, Showcase. Edinburgh: Virgin Megaplex. Paisley: Showcase.
Dr Strangelove (PG) *tbhk (Stanley Kubrick, US, 1963) Peter Sellars, George C. Scott, Sterling Hayden. 93 mins. Subtitled ‘Or, How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb', Kubrick and writer Terry Southem’s superb black comedy satire shows us, step by careful step, just how easily foolish politicians and military egos could start a nuclear war. Glasgow: Grosvenor.
Dragonheart (PG) *Hr (Rob Cohen, US, 1996) Dennis Quaid, Sean Connery, David Thewlis. 103 mins. Disillusioned but noble knight Bowen (Quaid) teams up with the last of the dragons (voice and mannerisms by Connery) to free the land from a tyrant king (Thewlis). Dungeons and dragons for all the family in a film that is only fun when the expertly animated, fire-breathing beast is on screen. Otherwise the storyline lumbers along. Glasgow: GFI‘.
East Is East (15) ***** (Damien O'Donnell, UK, 1999) Om Puri, Linda Bassett, Jordan Routledge. 96 mins. Based on Ayub Khan-Din's play, East Is East draws its perfectly balanced mix of belly laughs and tears from the conflict within a multi-racial family living in Salford in the 705. Head of the Khan household, George attempts to force his sons into arranged marriages in a belated effort to preserve tradition, but, born in England, the sons are having none of it. Glasgow: Odeon, Odeon At The Quay. Edinburgh: Dominion, Lumiere. Kirkcaldy: Adam Smith. Largs: Barrfields Cinema.
End Of Days (18) *1 (Peter Hyams, US, 1999) Arnold Schwarzenegger, Gabriel Byrne, Robin Tunney. 122 mins. At the end of this apocalyptic action movie, Arnie raises his eyes to heaven and prays, ‘Please God, help me.’ Indeed, for this is a wildly inconsistent mish-mash of 705 devil movies, 805 action pics and 905 computer-generated sfx. Byrne is the handsome human host for the dark angel whose procreative lust must be thwarted by Schwarzenegger's vodka- sodden, rocket-launcher-toting non-believer. Edinburgh: Cameo.
The End Of The Affair (18) *inHr (Neil Jordan, UK/US, 2000) Ralph Fiennes, Julianne Moore, Stephen Rea. 101 mins. This is a diary of hate,’ explains narrator Bendrix (Fiennes), as he attempts to piece together the memories of his war-time affair with Sarah (Moore), the wife of high- ranking civil servant Henry (Rea). Jordan captures the rancorous tone and bitter intensity of Graham Grahame Greene’s source novel in this potent adaptation, the impact of which is compounded by a trio of commanding performances. Glasgow: Odeon. Edinburgh: Virgin Megaplex. St Andrews: New Picture House.
Entre Las Piernas (Between Your Legs) (18) *** (Manuel Gomez Pereira, Spain, 1998) Victoria Abril, Javier Bardem, Carmelo G6mez. 129 mins. Who can resist Abril and Bardem in a movie about two sex addicts? Abril seeks out anonymous sex encounters; Bardemis into phone sex. Together they meet at a therapy group and its dynamite! Pan of the Spanish Film Festival. See preview. Glasgow: GF'T. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
Extreme Screen (U) tit 40 mins. Although the lwerks experience impresses on a technical level, neither of these films transcend entertainment as lumbering fairground attraction. Everest is a dry-as- sand account of a recent expedition up the big yin. Filmed in the style of a Sunday afternoon docudrama, it also has the dubious honour of rendering a remarkable adventure mundane. A much better bet is the visually
30 THE LIST 16-30 Mar 2000
wondrous The Living Sea, an ‘edutaining’ look at mankind’s relationship with the sea (with voice-over from Meryl Streep). Edinburgh: Virgin Megaplex.
Farewell My Concubine (15) *tii (Chen Kaige, China, 1993) Gong Li, Leslie Cheung, Zhang Fengyi. 156 mins. The story of two Peking Opera actors and the woman who comes between them provides an intimately detailed story which is set to a constantly shifting backdrop of Chinese politics during the 20th century. The Opera setting provides colour and spectacle, and questions how far a man will go for his art; the historical episodes give this Palme d’Or winning film the flavour of a genuine epic. Edinburgh: Lumiere.
Fight Club (18) **** (David Fincher, US, 1999) Brad Pitt, Ed Norton, Helena Bonham Carter. 135 mins. Masculinity is in a mess and consumerism is to blame. Men have become docile spectators of life according to Fight Club, Fincher's controversial adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk‘s novel. In reckless response to this late 20th century malaise, Norton’s docile spectator teams up with Pitt's mischievous Tyler Durden to form an arena for men to beat each other to a pulp and thus reconnect with the world. It’s hit and miss, but enough of the punches connect to startle even the most docile of viewers. Stirling: MacRobert.
Flipper (PG) tit (Alan Shapiro, US, 1996) Elijah Wood, Paul Hogan, Chelsea Field. 96 mins. Difficult city teenager Sandy (Wood) doesn’t warm to ex-hippie uncle Porter (Hogan) down in the Florida Keys until along comes friendly dolphin Flipper. The story brings to mind aspects of Andre and Free Willy, but there are only so many scripts that can accommodate an aquatic star. Predictable stuff in the heart-wanning category. Stirling: Carlton.
Floras De Otro Mundo (Flowers From Another World) (15) iii (lciar Bollain, Spain, 1999) Jose Sancho, Lisette Mejia, Luis Tosar. 106 mins. Bollian's second film is inspired by a newspaper story concerning a small village lacking eligible woman that shipped in a bus load of potential wives. Picking up where the media finished, Bollain looks at the lives of three resulting couples. Part of the Spanish Film Festival. See preview. Glasgow: GFI‘. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
French Surrealist Shorts (18) iii (Various, France, 1929) 80 mins approx. Selection of shorts dominated by the inclusion of Luis Bunuel's Un Chien Andalou, which gained notoriety and X certificate when it was finally shown to the British public in 1968. The infamous eyeball slitting scene was the course of all the trouble, but the film, co-written with Salvador Dali, is well worth a full viewing. Glasgow: GFT.
Full Metal Jacket (18) in“: (Stanley Kubrick, UK, 1987) Matthew Modine, Dorian Harewood, Lee Ermey. 109 mins. Technically effective and narrativer balanced depiction of raw Vietnam recruits as they endure basic training and the even greater horrors of the 1968 Tet offensive. One of the better Vietnam movies. Edinburgh: Virgin Megaplex.
Fury (PG) *iti (Fritz Lang, US, 1936) Spencer Tracy, Sylvia Sydney. 94 mins. Lang‘s first American film stars Tracy as a man wrongly accused of kidnapping who is nearly killed by a mob who turn him into a psychotic murderer. Lang’s fascination with fate, revenge and fallibility of the legal system are all present and well accounted for. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
Gigi (PG) tit (Vincente Minnelli, US, 1958) Leslie Caron, Louis Jourdan, Maurice Chevalier. 119 mins. Caron is the coquette allied to Jourdan’s rake; they are watched over by an extravagantly French Chevalier and the rest of fin de siecle Paris. This is a lavish musical from the golden days of MGM, adapted from Colette's novel by Lerner and Loewe. As Oscar-winner in its day, now best remembered for songs like Thank Heavens For Little Girls. Glasgow: GF'T.
Girl, Interrupted (15) *i't‘k (James Marigold, US, 2000) Winona Ryder,
Angelina Jolie, Whoopi Goldberg. 127 mins.
Ryder plays Susanna Kaysen, whose memoirs of her time spent in a mental
Tobey Maguire picks apples and learns the ways of the world in The Cider House Rules, adapted by John Irving from his own novel
institution in the late 605 provide the basis for this film, but the star of the show is Lisa (Jolie), a gorgeous, unpredictable sociopath who establishes herself as Susanna's best friend and worst enemy. The film does veer too far into tissue territory, but this remains a sensitive and persuasive piece of work. See feature and review. Selected release. Goya En Burdeos (Goya ln Bordeaux) (15) *tit (Carlos Saura, Spain, 1999) Francisco Rahal, Jose Coronado, Dafnc Fernandez. 100 mins. Saura and Italian cinematographer Vittorio Storaro are reunited following their collaboration on Tango for this visually stunning portrait of the great Spanish artist. The 82-year-old deaf, exiled master recalls his life and work with an impressive central performance by Rabal. Part of the Spanish Film Festival. See preview. Glasgow: GET. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
The Green Mile (18) iii: (Frank Darabont, US, 2000) Tom Hanks, Michael Clarke Duncan, David Morse. 189 mins. Darabont follows one Stephen King prison drama, The Shawshank Redemption, with another about life on death row at Cold Mountain Penitentiary in the 1930s. Despite its lengthy running time, Darabont's careful, even pacing works at this length. Only towards the end, where the strong storylines are resolved with a somewhat whimsical paranormal occurrence, does this sturdy piece of filmmaking waver. General release. Itola, (Estas Sola? (No, Are You Alone?) (15) *** (Iciar Bollian, Spain, 1995) Silke, Candela Pena, Alex Angulo. Bollian's directing debut is a lively road movie that charts a female friendship. Moody La Nina and bubbly Trini leave Madrid to go in search of money, love and life, which quest enriches their lives and tests their friendship. Part of the Spanish Film Festival. See preview. Glasgow: GFI‘. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
The Hours Of Wedlock (PG) *‘ki' (Kichitaro Ncgishi, Japan, 1986) Multiple award-winning film about a couple coming to terms with infidelity and modern living. To divorce or not to divorce becomes the question. Part of GilmorehillGlZ's contemporary Japanese cinema season. Glasgow: GilmorehillGl2.
House On Haunted Hill (18) that (William Malone, US, 2000) Geoffrey Rush, Famke Janssen, Chris Kattan. 92 mins. Rush mugs and leers outrageously as Stephen Price, a twisted amusement park tycoon who invites a small group of guests to his wife‘s birthday celebration at a derelict lunatic
asylum, the scene of mass slaughter two generations before. This building has plans of its own and, instead of the expected group, live complete strangers show up, each of whom has been offered $1 million to stay the night. No cash prizes. though, for guessing what happens after they find themselves locked in. Glasgow: ()dcon. Largs: Barrficlds Cinema. Paisley: Showcase.
Ice-Capades (PG) it (Jospeh Stanley, US, 1941) Phil Silvers, James Ellison, Jerry Colonna. 88 mins. In this distinctly lukewarm Hollywood musical a newsrecl cameraman fakes an ice show in New York's Central Park. Not particularly memorable except for the appearance of Silvers, better known and loved as Sgt Ernest Bilko. Edinburgh: St Bride's.
In Search Of Lost Identity (18) «kit (Various, Germany, 1994/95) 90 mins. Filmmaker and film historian Marcel Schwierin introduces four films: Matthias Miillcr's Alpsee, Caspar Stracke‘s Afierbirth, BjOm Melbus's Far, Far Away and Ayse Polat‘s/l Party For Bey/tan. Glasgow: GET. The Insider (15) ***** (Michael Mann, US, 2000) Russell Crowe, Al Pacino, Christopher I’lummer. 157 mins. Mann's heist movie, Heat, boasted some electrifying set pieces, yet while The Insider contains virtually no ‘action' there's a terrific sense of dramatic urgency that drives the film. It all starts in the mid-90s with Jeffrey Wigand, the corporate man who blew the whistle on the American tobacco industry, triggering a $246 million lawsuit. The performances are excellent and not since All The President's Men has fact and drama merged so powerfully on screen. General release.
Inspector Gadget (U) tit (David Kellogg, US, 1999) Matthew Broderick, Rupert Everett, Joely Fisher. 79 mins. Disney's take on the French kids' cartoon follows the part human, part gizmo Gadgct‘s (Broderick) quest to become a proper, respected cop. Unfortunately, the dastardly Claw (Everett) has a scheme for world domination, which includes creating an evil doppelganger of the trcnchcoated wonder. The Inspector's many contraptions will delight younger viewers, and oldies will be amused by the plentiful self-referential moments. General release.
Iron Giant (U) ***** (Brad Bird, US, 1999) Jennifer Aniston, Harry Conick Jr,
Vin Diesel. 86 mins. In this animated film adaptation of Ted Hughes's classic children's story about a boy who befriends