Film
Reviews
‘rnE' PHANTOM
CARRIAGE . .
(U) 91min 1 ‘
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I It‘s like WW2 all over again, what with the release of the Gracie Fields ‘
Collection (Optimum ooo ) and the Tommy hinder Collection (Optimum ooo ). The Rochdale comedienne's box set inches slightly ahead of Trinder's with a couple of decent films including the proto patriot sing, laugh and dance in Blackpool comedy Sing As We Go (1934). With seven features and no time-wasting extras this is actually pretty good value (retailing at $30) if you have an elderly relative with a bit of time on their hands. Trinder was Fields' male counterpart. a kind of South London George Formby whose lightweight slapstick comedies were much loved by beleaguered Brits during the blitz years. The films often dealt with the cheeky chappie‘s attempts to help the war effort. This collection also features seven films. the best of which are The Foreman Went to France (1942) and 1943's Champagne Charlie (pictured). Like Fields' features. these films are very much a product of their time so some kind of generational translation may be needed.
If that's all a bit too working class for you. head to Italy to watch sex comedy Casanova 70 (Optimum 000 ). Marcello Mastroianni plays an impotent Major on the hunt for a cure. The film is actually a bit rubbish but it does have a certain hysterical cult charm akin to the other ‘groovy' comedies of the time such as What's New Pussycat and the original Casino Poyale.
Two great films by Taiwanese filmmaker Tsai Ming-liang finally get their due on DVD this fortnight. His most recent I Don’t Want to Sleep Alone (Axrom oooo ) is an affectineg surreal stOry of one y0ung man‘s attempts to make a home for himself in Kuala Lumpur. The Wayward Cloud (Axiom so...) is Miang-liang's attempt at making a big porno movie musical. and if you like this kind of thing it's really great fun. Both DVDs feature good extras for the uninitiated who want to learn about this remarkable filmmaker.
Finally. Ron Underwood‘s much-loved cult disaster film Tremors (Universal 0000 ) gets a standalone release (let '3 face it's the only one of the franchise wonh watching) and This Is Spinal Tap (Optimum 0000 ) gets re- released on DVD for about the three millionth time. Let the last word go to David St Hubbins: ‘The wider the waistband/the deeper the quicksand.‘ Indeed. (Paul Dale)
60 THE LIST 3‘ Jan—1.1 Fet‘ -7038
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(Steve Cranier)
lHRlLLER
ROAD GAMES (15) 96min (Optimum DVD rental/retail) 000
Made in 1981 as a star vehicle for then rising star Stacy Keach. this likeable Aussie road mOVie from Richard Psycho // Franklin is hampered by American influences. Not Just With Keach who chews up the scenery wrth all the Curious self-lowrig diction of a luvvie (albeit one too rarely given a lLllC‘y film role — Keac‘n apparently studied at RAD/kl. but also Franklin. who looks l-ke he ransaCked the Hitchcock catalogue for suspense devices and plot motivation.
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LES VISITEURS 1 8:2
(15) 225mm
ll rernantle DVD
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113nm IIESW\
As the film which famously out-grr ssed Jurassrc Park in France on its homeland release in 1993. the original [es VISIiOt/ff)‘ holds a special place in the hearts of Francophile cinernagoers. It's really Just a reasonath fun slapstick comedy of the sort which Hollywood churns out these days. albeit the one which introduced the talents of Jean Reno to a larger audience. As the noble Sir Godefrey, and aided by his weasely rnansr—mxant Jacououille (Christian Clavieri, Reno plays the medieval fish Out of water thrust into modern-day France With stoic charm, although the set [)IGCB‘) involved are by turns irnpiShly Clever and infuriatingly childish. The unheralded 1998 sequel, subtitled: The Corridors of Time. is .vell-ser./ed by the fact that it reunites almost all the orignal cast while ramping up both the scatological quota and the Bi// and Ted-style
I Knew wuo KILLED ME (18) 106mm
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tippir‘i) llll‘. (lass-en .‘.iin (we rii iniiiiiitiii'lu. the Litith (li'l’l‘nl), lohiin .f‘l‘l li- {)(Nr‘ill'i have a 'l'i‘ill peffidree While ll"~ far from .i (,lllfflllrllh irizi‘;terpief:e it dr winii't (lllllff deserve all the flack it'f, heen attractini; lohan playi, Autire‘, H‘,’lllllll]_ a small town gal who loves the piano and dates a riuarterliack. llntil i he". ahducted try a local ‘,(,‘ll£l| killer With a taste for prolonged torture. Her mutilated liod; if; found hy the road tiarel, alive, but when she wakes she (Llilllll‘, she", 53()lll(:()ll‘:(:1‘3ftftllllfffly, hadafiu T;lfl[)()f;l Dakota Mow, If, she lyirii; or i‘, Aubrey 'itill in Jeopardy?” lt'f‘, a fairly ll()ll‘;(,‘llf)|f.éll thriller Wllll a supernatural l‘f/lfsl l ohari is, at, alwaym, Hatchatile. hut llll‘, i'. a flat performance compared to Mean (i‘ir/i. and Just My / rick [/tra', include alternative ()()f:lllll(}, Elllfffllilll‘fl: endirir; and an extended 'Jlllp Seene for those who like that kind of thing. (Henry Northriiore)
fAN l/«SY HUHHUF’ DAY WATCH: DIRECTOR’S CUT
(15) 140min
(20th Ceritur/ Fox) CO.
The SQCOfld iri'.talrrie'.t in director Tirriur Bekrriarr‘ibeto/V, Russian fantasy horror trilOQ/ (based or ih‘: DOORS 0f Seder Luk/arieriko; (Oeuses on a murky world where vampires. nrzards and demons are locked in