Film index
0 The Quiet American (15) me (Phillip Noyce. US/UK. 2002) Michael Came. Brendan Fraser. Do Thi Hai Yen. l()0min. The previous 1958 adaptation of Graham Greene's novel excised the book‘s critical comment on America's early involvement in Vietnam and Greene hated it. This new version retains the comment. so it‘d be interesting to see what he would have made of this film. smartly scripted by Brit (‘hristopher Hampton. impeccably directed by Aussie Phillip Noyce and featuring a career best performance by Caine. In fact. Caine. whose performance is remarkably restrained and beautifully modulated. based his part. Thomas Fowler. a jaded British newspaper correspondent in Saigon at the end of the French lndo-(‘hina colonial period. on Greene himself. General release. 0 Rabbit Proof Fence (PG) eeee (Philip Noyce. Australia. 2002) Everlyn Sampi. Kenneth Branagh. David Gulpilil. 94min. It's the humanity of Noyce‘s storytelling which is the most salient feature of this filtn about Australia‘s Stolen Generation. The didacticism of this true story of the abduction of three aboriginal children from their tribe. and their resettlement at a prison-like catnp for the training of mixed race children into white culture is hidden beneath its story of human struggle and endurance. Noyce forgives all. Even Branagh‘s Mr Neville. who we first encounter explaining the bizarre semi- fascist eugenics that motivate him. is seen as not so much evil as profoundly wrong- headed. The children are the natural stars. with performances perfectly measured to their ages and situations. Selected release. The Railway Children (U) 0.. (Lionel Jeffries. UK. 1970) Dinah Sheridan. William Mervyn. Jenny Agutter. 108mm. A trio of youngsters find that their involvement with the railway that runs past their garden is to lead them into adventure. Pleasing family film with an old-fashioned. comfortably British feel that sets it apart from contemporary kids movies. MacRobert. Stirling.
Reindeer Section (15) (Simon (‘utL UK. 2002) 30min. A 30-minute documentary following the recording of Reindeer Section‘s second album. GFT. Glasgow.
Rlflfl ( l2) “.0 (Jules Dassin. France. 1955) Jean Servais. (‘arl Mohner. Robert Manuel. 1 17min. Dassin‘s enormously influential filtn combines a seminal heist sequence with key elements of film noir. lts impact on American cinema can't be understated. Dassin's film leaves its American cousins of the same era standing. The broads are breastier. the hoods harder. the mood darker. the tension higher and the plotting at once doom-laden and riddled with ironic twists. And Rififi lives up to its name: ‘rough and tumble‘. as a nightclub diva explains during a raunchy musical interlude. Cameo. Edinburgh.
Riahtey (U) (Indra Kumar. India. 2002). Min the. Asian film presentation about hope surfacing when all appears lost. starring Anil Kapoor. The Bombay Cinema. Glasgow.
Road to Perdition ( t5) «0 Mendes. US. 2002) Tom Hanks. Paul Newman. Jude Law. 1 17min. A Depression era gangster picture with solid American family values. It may also. like Mendes‘ absurdly overrated ()scar-winner American Beauty. fool cinema-goers into confusing its moody self-importance for profound insight. For here are Big Stars. Big Themes (Fathers and Sons. Loyalty and Betrayal. Sin and Salvation) and Heavy Symbolism (Water Death). Through (‘onrad Hall's darkly glistening cinematography. many of the individual tableaux are impressiver staged and stunning to behold. If only Mendes' empty. over-dressed spectacle had done justice to the fine photography and performances. GF'I‘. Glasgow.
Sale ( l8) 0.... (Pier Paolo Pasolini. ltaly. 1975) Paolo Bonacelli. Giorgo (‘ataldi. Umberto P. Quintavalle. l 12min. Facist Italy. 1944. Four wealthy libertines gather in an abandoned mansion where they have assembled a group of young men and women whom they subject to a series of sexual tortures. These abominations are depicted in graphic. repetitive and unflinching detail. To what purpose'.’ For the wealthy hosts. becaUse they can. For Pasolini. it's a comment on the nature of Mussolini's Facist state. That's why this film is an. not mere gratuitous exploitation. In fact. it‘s a milestone in film history. C(‘A. Glasgow.
The Santa Clause 2 tt') .0
(Michael Lembeck. USA. 2002) Tim Allen. Elizabeth Mitchell. Judge Reinhold. 104min. Did we really need a Santa Clause sequel'.’ Apparently so. as Santa has to find a wife before (‘hristmas or else he loses his job. General release.
Santa vs the Snowman 30 (PG) (Various. US. 2002) min. IMAX big screen presentation. lMAX. Glasgow.
Saturday Night and Sunday Morning ( l5) 0... (Karel Reisz. t'K. 1960) Albert Finney. Rachel Roberts. Shirley Anne Field. 89min. A defining moment of British cinema history. made at a time when the L'K was finding its feet in the post-war industry by transforming new stage successes into movies. Finney is the Nottingham factory worker determined he won't ‘let the bastards grind you down'. as he rails at the dead-end nature of his life. Filmhouse. iidinburgh.
Scooby-Doo (PG) 00 ( Raja Gosnell. US. 2002) Freddie Prinze Jr. Sarah Michelle Gellar. Matthew Lillard. 87min. Smohy' the movie starts well. pitching itself somewhere between tribute and send-up of the Hanna-Barbera canoon. The casting is astute. best of all. Matthew Lillard as stoned slacker Shaggy. Even the computer- generated Scooby himself isn‘t lacking in charm. But Smnhy-Ihm sadly fails to live up to the promise of its opening reel. Admittedly. the film's bold playpen colours are fun and there are some clever gags that will score with the show's pothead following. But the jokes soon wear thin. (‘ineWorld. Falkirk.
Secret Ballot (L') 000 (Babak Payatni. [ran/ltaly. 2002) (‘yrus Abidi.
(Sam
STOLICHNAYA
Nassim Abdi. 105mm. iilection day on the remote island of Kish in the Persian (iulf. .\ sullen soldier (Ahitli ). stationed to guard against smugglers. is given the ditty of escorting the idealistic young female official (Ahdi) collecting the votes. few of the locals. however. seem familiar with the practicalities of filling in a ballot form. Inspired by Mohsen Makhmalbaf‘s short film listing Ut’mucrm‘v. Sct'rt'l Bit/lot is an amusineg absurdist fable. which observes some of the contradictions of introducing democracy (it’ll (ilasgow.
The Shipping News t 15) 0000 (Lasse llallstrom. t'S. 2002) Kevin Spacey. Julianne Moore. Judi Dench. l 1'7min. Annie l’roulx's l’ulit/er l’ri/e-vvinnmg novel about a depressed middle-aged father who takes his daughter off to his family 's ancestral home in barren Newfoundland after the unfaithful wife (though love of his life) is killed in a car wreck. is an eccentric black comedy. but also a raw. melancholy yarn. What hope. then. for arch sentimentalist Hallstrom not leaving l’rouls's masterpiece fioundering'.’ .\'one it would seen). yet against the odds llallstrom delivers a watertight piece of drama. directed and acted with beautiful restraint. particularly by Spacey who plays the depressed protagonist Qtioy‘le. Ster Century. lidinburgh.
Singin’ in the Rain it‘) .0000 (Gene Kelly (& Stanley Donen. 1S. 1050) Gene Kelly. Donald ()'('onnor. Debbie Reynolds. (‘yd ('harisse. l02miu. Hollywood undergoes the transition from the silent era to the talkies and reputations rise and fall. Absolutely wonderful musical entertainment. with the slickest of snappy dialogue. enduringly catchy numbers. a cast of genuine charisma. and an engaging picture of the industry in transition into the bargain. Quite splendid. l’ilmhouse. Iidinburgh.
Horrors in Hey Arnold! The Movie
Sitcom t IS’) .0. tl‘rancois ()/on. l-‘rance. NUS) Adrien dc \‘an. Marina de Van. livelyne Dandry. S5min. How funny one finds the idea of a strait-laced family suddenly given to incest. sado-masochism and bise\uality depends on how close one feels to the conventions ()loll mocks and how scandaliscd one is by that mockery. ()ne feels that Sitcom’s .i l -year-old director is sharper than the film‘s more obvious moments suggest. (amco. tidinburgh.
The Slipper and the Rose it')
0. (Bryan l’orbes. t'K. 107m Richard ('hamberlam. (iemma ('ravcn. Kenneth .\loore. 14mm). live action version of the (’inderella story. which replaces the magic of Disney animation
w ill) plush period decor and songs. Boasting a fine British cast. it's nevertheless overlong. .\1acRobcrt. Stirling. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs it') .0... (Walt Disney. IS. 1937) “ith the voices of :\tlt't;tn;t (‘ttselottL llarry Stockvv ell. Lucille l.a Verne. 83min. One of the most enchanting and influential of animated features. The central character is a mite wet but the individualistic dwarfs. memorable songs. superbly crafted backdrops and characters make this an essential cinematic e\pertcnce. .\'ow restored. frame by frame with the colour as sharp as ever. .\'orth fidmburgh Arts (‘entre. lidinburgh.
Some Like it Hot (PG) 0.... (Billy Wilder. 1S. 1050) Tony (‘urtis. .lack l.emmon. .\l;tt'|l_\tt .\lonroe. 120mm. 'l‘wo impecumous male musicians inadvertently witness the St Valentine's Day Massacre and take refuge in l‘lorida will) Sweet Sue and her Society Syncopators. an all—female band. Brilliant. brittle. crackerjack farce
vv ith all concerned at a peak in their careers. l-ilmhouse. lidinburgh.
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44 THE LIST 12 Dec 2002—2 Jan 2003
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