CHILLER DON’T LOOK NOW (18) 110 mins .00..
Far more than just a great fright film
Nicolas Roeg has always searched out far-reaching locations (the Aussie outback for Walkabout, the Bahamas in Eureka, out of season Venice here), but not so much for the exoticism of the location, more for the way the locale unravels layers of the self.
It’s this theme that makes Don’t Look Now more than just a great fright film; it’s also an extraordinarily intense study of emotional and geographical dislocation. Here Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland (both giving career-best performances) are a couple looking to escape England after their daughter’s recent death, and Roeg searches out their opposing methods of dealing with the loss. For Christie it’s about allowing Venice to work its way into the nervous system, to assuage her anxiety as she trusts an old, holidaying Scots woman who insists her daughter is safe in the beyond. Sutherland instead superimposes himself on Venice, busily repairing a church and failing to see the psychic reality that surrounds him.
And so while Christie accepts the spiritual signs openly; Sutherland, bombarded with psychic images, is more stubbornly rational as Roeg suggests the deepest horror, perhaps, lies in failing to trust one’s own instincts. Truly haunting. (Tony McKibbin)
I Fi/mhouse, Edinburgh from Fri 73 Apr.
THRILLER THE HOLE (15) 102 mins 0...
Part psychological thriller. part horror. The Hole. directed by Nick Hamm. is one of those films that plunges you into a paranord fear of all mankind as soon as the first end credit is illuminated on the big screen.
This British movie begins with the aftermath of a terrible event. Through a series of flashbacks. traumatised teenager Liz (Thora Birch of American Beauty fame) reveals to a psychologist (Embeth Davidtz) that she and three other friends were trapped for two weeks in an underground bunker. Only as the film progresses do we start to get an idea of the horrifying events that OCCurred there.
Using the tight structure of narrative
Suspenseful psychological horror
teenager. but whose English public school accent is faultless.
Although it may be easy to solve parts of the film's mystery from early on. The Ho/e has enough tWists and
UNDER THE SAND (SOUS LE SABLE) (15) 95 mins 0...
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MUSICAL A HARD DAY’S NIGHT (U) 87 mins .0.
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I Fii’iri'iouse, Edinburgh tinir‘ fii fill Aiv
Emotionally affecting, superbly acted
For those born JUSl too late. the spirit of the 605; Will always linger as a haunting legend. This re-release of the Beatles' screen debut, complete With digitally restored soundtrack. might well bring that legend back to life. as the 19m adventures of those four cheeky Liverpool lads hit our cinemas once more.
John. Paul. George and Ringo are supposedly preparing for a live TV performance. Actually, Jigging With the exuberant energy of youth and the fearless arrogance of those who are adored, they dodge their manager. taunt their fans and make a playground of the streets. Paul's fictional grandfather. crusted With the dOur cynicism of age and hilariously played by Steptoe And Son's Wilfrid Brambell, soon becomes their unexpected inspiration: the bad boy who dares do what the kids only dream of, the witty alter ego of them all.
Originally made in seven weeks, With a budget of Just over 8500. ()00. Richard Lester's mock documentary received two Academy Award nominations. Today, the camera tricks may seem less than impressive. but the innocent upbeat humour comes as a timely relief. (Heather Walmsley)
I Carrier), Edinburgh from Fri 13 Apr.
FAMILY ADVENTURE SPY K (U) 87 mins .00.
Writer/director Robert Rodriguez has always been concerned with turning ordinary existence on its head. In films like From Dusk Till Dawn and The Faculty the everyday is upturned by supernatural and alien forces. and things frankly turn more than a little weird. Essentially. Spy Kids is no different, except this time it's for kids. Like any y0ung children, Carmen and Juli Conez harbour hopes of madcap adventure. but unlike most children their apparently normal
Mum, dad and kids kick ass
parents Gregorio (Antonio BanderaS) and Ingrid (Carla GuginO) are top
flashbacks to reveal conflicting versions of the events leading up to the teenagers' incarceration, while craftily keeping the horrors of the hole a mystery for as long as possible. the film is packed with surprise and suspense. Equally crucial to the film's power is the performance of Birch. who not only believany portrays the complex depths of a traumatised
turns to Sustain suspense. and the darineg varied photography and lighting reinforce the constantly shifting realities Within the plot. It's worth a look. even if it‘s Just to see an example of what might have happened to the contestants of Big Brother had they been deprived of food and water fOr two weeks. (Beth Williams)
I Genera/ release from Fri 20 Apr.
international super-spies. now retired to raise a family. When a dastardly plot to destroy the world is cooked up by kooky mastermind Fegan Floop (Alan Cummingl, mummy and daddy spy are forced out of retirement. They're somewhat but of practice. thOugh. and it falls to the children to save them and save the world.
The resulting family eSpionage adventure is 8 Joy to watch. Rife With fantasy familiar from films like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. speCial-effects wizardn/ and high— octane thrills. Spy Kids is particularly enjoyable because it's the children and not the adults that ultimately save the day. (Catherine Bromley)
I Genera/ re/ease from Fri 73 Apr.
12-26 Apr Z’i’il THE LIST 27