Chinese) are hit by tragedy, the surviving offspring (Li and R&B star Aaliyah) team up to avenge their brothers' deaths. This is basically a martial arts display attached to a vaguely flirtatious friendship. It's a shame that Li’s first starring role in an American film (following a supporting part in Lethal Weapon 4) is so disappointing. General release.
Saving Grace (15) 1H: (Nigel Cole, UK, 2000) Brenda Blethyn, Craig Ferguson. 94 mins. Saddled with crushing debts after the sudden death of her husband, keen horticulturist Grace (Blethyn) transforms the greenhouse of her Cornish mansion into a marijuana plantation with the assistance of her Scottish gardener, Matthew (Ferguson). Already being touted as this year’s feelgood British comedy, Saving Grace attempts to recapture the magic of the Ealing classics; instead it merely feels out of touch with modern life. Odeon, Dunferrnline.
Scary Movie (18) **** (Keenen Ivory Wayans, US, 2000) Marlon and Shawn Wayans, Carmen Electra, Shannon Elizabeth. 88 mins. Poking fun at the whole teen slasher movie phenomenon, the plot follows the first Scream movie (originally to be titled, yup, Scary Movie): A masked murderer stalks and murders high school kids in a self-consciously ironic manner. It parodies The Usual Suspects, The Matrix, The Blair Witch Project, The Exorcist and anything else that gets in the way, and the surprising thing is it actually works with the gags coming thick and fast. Big Stoopid Fun. General release.
Shanghai Moon (12) tit (Tom Dey, US, 2000) Jackie Chan, Lucy Liu, Owen Wilson. 110 mins. The flimsy plot of this ‘East meets Western' is merely an excuse for gags and set-pieces, with Chan cast as Chon Wang, a 19th century Imperial Guard who travels to the States to rescue abducted princess Pei Pei (Liu) from the villainous Lo Fong. Things don’t go smoothly, however, and Chong finds himself teaming up with an incompetent yet affable criminal, Roy O’Bannon (Wilson). Filmed in widescrcen, Shanghai Noon affectionately sends up the characters and conventions of numerous Westerns, while the ever-smiling Chan's martial arts stunts are still a joy to behold. Winter Garden, Rothesay.
Show Boat (U) *** (George Sidney, UK, 1951) Ava Gardner, Kathryn Grayson, Iloward Keel. 108 mins. Unashamedly sentimental remake of the James Whale original, a musical depicting turn of the century Mississippi riverboat people. Classic songs of course. Lumiere, Edinburgh.
Sitting Pretty (PG) tit (Walter Lang, US, 1948) Clifton Webb, Robert Young, Maureen O'llara. 84 mins. Webb brings his acidic humour to this better than average tale of a male nanny who manages to instil some sense of order in a suburban home terrorised by three brats. Genuinely funny. St Bride's, Edinburgh.
Snatch (l8) ** (Guy Ritchie, UK, 2000) Brad Pitt, Benicio Del Torro, Vinnie Jones. 102 mins. Ritchie insists that Snatch is not a sequel to Lock Stock And Two Smoking Barrels. And he is right; it‘s practically a remake. There's the same swaggering facetiousness, the same juvenile obsession with underworld villains, and the same cod- Cockney accents. Ritchie’s penchant for baroque plotting is also in evidence, although Lock Stock‘s mildly confusing denouement was crystal clear compared to the opening ofSnatch. The acting is a notch up from the first film, while some of the gags and situations are genuinely funny. Adam Smith, Kirkcaldy.
Snow Day (PG) *** (Chris Kock, US, 2000) Chevy Chase, Pam Grier, John Schneider. 90 mins. Weatherman Tom Brandston‘s (Chase) ratings are sliding as the public reject his traditional routine in favour of slick network rival Chad Symmonz (Schneider). Ilis network manager Tina (Grier) orders Tom to spice up his act by wearing comic book costumes, all of which troubles pale in comparison to family man Tom 's domestic stresses. Chase confounds expectations to appear, for the first time in years, in a movie that is actually funny. UCI, Glasgow.
Some Like It Ilot (PG) *tttt (Billy Wilder, US, 1959) Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Marilyn Monroe. 120 mins. Two impecunious male musicians inadvertently witness the St Valentine's Day Massacre and take refuge in Florida with Sweet Sue and her Society Syncopators, an all-female band. Brilliant, brittle, crackerjack farce with all concerned at a peak in their careers. Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
Space Cowboys (PG) it (Clint Eastwood, US, 2000) Clint Eastwood, James Garner, Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland. 130 mins. The first halfof Space Cowboys could be called Four Grumpy Old Men, as we’re introduced gradually to each ageing member of Team Daedalus, an aborted space project in the 505. Then halfway through the film Eastwood flicks a switch and it becomes Apollo 13, except full of old folks. And a million times more daft. The first part works better. Let’s face it, this acting combo has got a few miles on the clock, but not even this cast can salvage much respect from this lame duck ofa film. Magnum Theatre, Irvine.
The Straight Story (U) *titt (David Lynch, US, 1999) Richard Farnsworth, Sissy Spacek, Harry Dean Stanton. 111 mins. Midwestern old timer Alvin Straight is hellbent on re-uniting with his estranged, terminally ill brother so he takes to the road aboard his motorised lawnmower. Farnsworth’s lead performance is honest, heart-felt and credible, while Lynch maintains his fascination with the inherent strangeness of smalltowns and lost highways. But, in this sublime snail’s pace odyssey, modern psychosis is replaced by old time decency. Edinburgh Film Guild at the Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
Strawberries And Chocolate (15) the-k (Tomas Gutierrez Alea/Juan Carlos Tabio, Cuba, 1993) 110 mins. A sociology student and a middle-aged gay man meet and soon a platonic friendship develops despite a regime that gives very little freedom to those who stray from the authoritarian path. The initial stereotyping of the characters mirrors audiences preconceptions, but soon deeper personalities are allowed to emerge in this sympathetically engaging and warmly funny film. GF'I", Glasgow.
Stuart Little (U) *** (Rob Minkoff, US, 2000) Michael J. Fox, Geena Davis, Hugh Laurie. 92 mins. Live action with a computer generated talking mouse voiced by Michael J. Fox, Minkoff‘s adaptation of EB. White's classic childrens' book sees the sweet wee rodent orphan being adopted by affluent Manhattanitcs the Little family. Stuart's problems begin with a new nemesis, the mean-spirited, inappropriately-named family cat Snowbell. The message of the film is clear — little guy discovers the meaning of family, loyalty and friendship — but of more interest to viewers both small and large will be the Tom AndJerry-style antics. Selected release.
Tabu (PG) tint (KW. Mumau, US, 1931) Anna Chevalier, Matahi, Ilitu. 90 mins. Murnau’s last film — made partly in collaboration with documentarist Robert Flaherty — tells of a young Tahitan girl, earmarked for a sacrifice ritual, who falls in love with a pearl fisherman. Edinburgh Film Guild at the Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (l8) *ttir (Tobe Hooper, US, 1974) Marilyn Burns, Gunnar Hansen, Allen Danziger. 84 mins. A group of kids travel to a broken- down house in the middle of nowhere and meet cannibalistic degenerates who pick off the cast one by one. Perhaps the most relentless slice of terror ever put on screen Cameo, Edinburgh.
Thelma & Louise (15) *‘k‘k‘k (Ridley Scott, US, 199]) Susan Sarandon, Geena Davis, Harvey Keitel, Michael Madsen. 129 mins. 'I'hc buddy/road movie genres are turned on their heads as Sarandon and Davis grasp the steering wheel and head off leaving a trail of murder and mayhem in their wake. On one level, the film is the critical catalyst that had the feminists cheering and put the stars on the cover of Time magazine; just as importantly. it's an accessible piece of entertainment with excellent central performances. Filmhouse, Edinburgh.
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COMMITTEE MEM BERS
The Scottish Arts C0uncil (SAC) is a national body which funds, develops and advocates for the arts in Scotland. SAC is looking for new members for its various committees. Committee members play a key role in the Council's work by advising on arts development issues and making funding decisions.
SAC‘s remit includes the suppOrt and development of a wide range of drama, dance, literature, music, collaborative arts, festivals, crafts and visual arts. We also distribute National Lottery funds for capital and activity-based arts projects.
If you have knowledge or experience you think would be relevant to any of these areas we would like to hear from you.
Our aim is for committees to have as wide a representation as possible. We are therefore particularly keen to hear from young people, people with disabilities and members of ethnic minority groups. It is important that committee members are drawn from across Scotland.
Members typically serve for three years and are expected to attend between six and eight meetings each year. They may also be asked to help evaluate the activities funded. The positions are voluntary but expenses are reimbursed.
For an application form, please contact our Help Desk on 0131 240 2443/2444, open between loam-12 noon and 2-4pm. Monday to Friday.
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