FILM LIST
The Fly (18) (David Cronenberg, US, 1986) Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, John Getz. 96 mins. The distance between the 1958 Vincent Price vehicle where mad scientist goes too lar and ends up with the head at a fly and this current version loosely based on the same short story is a remarkable testament to how far the oft-reviled horror genre has come in those years. The earlier movie is camp, corny and utterly laughable; the reincarnation under review is both a serious, thoughtful iilm oi ideas and a disturbineg absorbing entertainment, a work at carelul integrity that cannot be dismissed as some crasst exploitative hart-bag extravaganza. The narrative’s simplicity is the key to its etiectiveness. Woman journalist (Geena Davis) meets brilliant, attractive scientist (Jeti Goldblum), discovers his revolutionary work in teleportation, and as she is deciding to write about him happens to tail in love with hersubject. Meanwhile, her ex-hoytriend (John Getz), editor at the sclentitic magazine she writes for, continues to harass her. Goldblum senses his presence, and in a drunken lit at sexual jealousy dares to act as his own guinea pig in the lirst teleportation at a human being by the still untested technology. However, a tly somehow gets trapped in the apparatus and a contused computer iuses it at a molecular level with the hapless scientist, whose body soon begins to
landowner Cardinale who awaits the arrival of the railroad and the expected financial killing. Offbeat. eccentric, inventive and unforgettable. Edinburgh; Cameo o The Passion ol Joan of Arc (PG) (Carl Dreyer. France. 1927) Maria Falconetti. 81 mins. Intense account of the trial and execution ofJoan of Arc. GlzisgoszF'I‘ o Pauline at the Beach (15) (Eric Rohmer, France. 1983) Amanda Langlet, Arielle Dombasle. 94 mins. On holiday on the Normandy coast. intrigues develop between two girls and three gentlemen. The motto of the third of Rohmer’s Comedies and Proverbs is ‘He who wags his tongue too much will surely bite on it‘. and it‘s basically the same recipe as before with a vigorously structured narrative affectionately observing human follies. Edinburgh: French Institute 0 Peggy Sue Got Married (PG) (Francis Ford Coppolla. US. 1986) Kathleen Turner. Nicolas Cage, Catherine Hicks. 103 mins.
An entertaining. irresistibly sloppy romantic drama with a real regard for its characters and their modest preoccupations. Glasgow; Odeon. Edinburgh; Odeon 0 Pigsty ( l8) (Pier Paolo Pasolini. Italy. 1969) The film deals with two brothers in a wealthy family. one living on a remote island and resorting to cannibalism. the other taking his sexual pleasure with pigs. An extreme and singular talent at work. Edinbugh; EUFS
THE FLY
undergo grotesque mutations. The girl ieels a mixture of pity and revulsion for her horribly decaying lover, but the latter comes to the lore when she discovers that she is bearing
his child . . .
The two central performances are undeniably appealing, giving the movie much more of an emtional pull than in the majority ot Cronenberg’s work so tar. Goldblum begins as a shy, wide-eyed innocent and manages to retain our sympathy as he becomes mutated into a hyperactive, sugar-craving sexual athlete and finally a rotting heap of deformed flesh. The tear of disease striking our loved ones make Davis's continuing affection for his increasingly repulsive iorm entirely credible, and the revelation
o The Purple Rose of Cairo (PG) (Woody Allen. US. 1985) Mia Farrow. Jeff Daniels. Van Johnson. 85 mins. Unhappy waitress Mia relies on the exotic escapism of the Hollywood dream factory to survive the daily grind of Depression-ridden America. One day an ardent suitor steps down from the screen and totally transforms her life with a touch of romance.
Poignant comic love story from the maestro. Edinburgh: EUFS 0 Queen Christina (PG) ( Rouben Mamoulian. US. 1933) Greta Garbo. John Gilbert. 101 mins. The 17th century Swedish monarch is appalled at the thought ofa political marriage and. disguised in men‘s clothes conducts a search for an eligible male throughout the country before finding romance with the Spanish ambassador. Superbly entertaining historical nonsense in Hollywood‘s best manner. fluidly directed by a master craftsman and featuring one of the star‘s most iconic performances. The final shot. with Garbo on the prow of her ship, still packs a punch. Glasgow; GFI‘ 0 Rate ItX ( 18) (Paula de Koenigsberg and Lucy Winer. US. 1985) 93 mins. Skilful feminist documentary. comprising a series of interviews with men involved in the sexploitation industry in various guises. Edinburgh; Filmhouse 0 Room With A View (PG) (James Ivory. UK. 1985) Helena Bonham Carter. Maggie Smith. Denholm Elliott. 117 mins. Elegantly
that she is pregnant by him plays on the most unmentionable human tears. Few iilm-makers would even contemplate treading in thisterritory. The method in which Goldblum’s deformities are partly created and passed on through sexual contact creates echoes (doubtless intentional) oi the AIDS epidemic, and subversiver casts a romantic relationship as the catalyst lorthe unleashing oi horribly destructive hitherto repressed male sexual urges.
The thematic richness of the film then, is considerable, and the narrative is charged with emotional intensity and a constant dread, a sort ol psychological nausea, that lingers long atterthe linal credits. Absolutely
v essential viewing. (TrevorJohnston)
mounted. with an agreeable lightness of touch, this is a near perfect version of Forster's sunny comedy ofmanners. Nominated for 8 Oscars. including Best Picture. Glasgow; Grosvenor. Edinburgh; Dominion 0 Rosa Luxemburg (PG) (Margarethe Von Trotta. West Germany, 1986) Barbara Sukowa. Daniel Olbrychsloi. Otto Sander. 124 mins. Surprisingly conventional. time-hopping biographical portrait of revolutionary Rosa. blending the personal and the political in a staid and heavy-going manner. At least Sukowa’s performance brings a little passion to the proceedings. Glasgow; GET 0 Round Midnight ( 15) (Bertrand Tavernier. France-US. 1986) Dexter Gordon. Francois Cluzet. 133 mins. Relentlessly touching character study with some fine playing and one unforgettable performance (a Best Actor nominee at this year‘s Oscar ceremony). Glasgow: GET 0 Rumble Fish ( 18) (Francis Ford Coppolla. US. 1983) Mickey Rourke, Matt Dillon. Diane Lane. 94 mins. Electrifying expressionist visuals grace an existentialist parable about the need to forge one‘s own identity and the alienation it can bring. Glasgow; GET 0 Salvador(18) (Oliver Stone. US. 1986) James Woods. Jim Belushi. John Savage. 122 mins. Raw. abrasiver brilliant drama of journalists under fire. as a sleazy. ‘warjunkie‘ photojournalist travels
to Salvador and finds his senses assaulted by the corruption and fear abounding and his conscience finally pricked by the suffering of his fellow beings.
Angry. bravura filmmaking that not only demands your attention but deserves it. Woods‘ utter. unnerving conviction has won him a richly deserved Best Actor Oscar nomination. Glasgow; GFT. Edinburgh; Filmhouse 0 Short Circuit (PG) (John Badham, US. 1986) Ally Sheedy, Steve Guttenberg. Fisher Stevens. 98 mins. Formula romp in which a sophisticated military robot is struck by lightning and develops human characteristics. Glasgow;Odeon. Edinburgh; Odeon
0 Sid and Nancy (18) (Alex Cox. US. 1986) Gary Oldman. Chloo Webb. David Hayman. l 1(1mins.
For the most part a breathlessly - enjoyable biopic, Sid And Nancy gets bogged down in an interminable last halfhour. Great performances though. Edinburgh; Filmhouse
O Sitting Ducks ( 15) (Henry Jaglom. US. 1979) Michael Emil. 95 mins. A pair ofinept shysters manage to pull off a robbery and head to Florida with their ill-gotten gains. Edinburgh; EUFS 0 Soul Man (PG) fr (Steve Miner. US. 1986) C. ThomasHowell. Arye Gross. Rae Dawn Chong. 104 mins. Howell wins a place at Harvard Law School but is denied financial support by his wealthy father so he gets out the boot polish and pinches a fellowship that is designed to help disadvantaged black students. The stage is then set for an obvious. if well-meaning. lowbrow race comedy as he tries to pass for black at college. Glasgow; ABC Sauehiehall Street. Grosvenor. Edinburgh; ABC. Lothian; ABC. Strathclyde; ABC Greenock. ABC Kilmarnock 0 Stop Making Sense (PG) (Jonathan Demme. USA 1984) 88 mins. Dynamic footage ofTalking Heads in concert from 1983. Edinburgh: Cameo 0 Strange People (PG) (Vasily Shukshin. USSR. 1971 ) 90 mins. Multi-story drama exploring the eccentricin of the Soviet peasantry and the inner strength with which they are endowed. Edinburgh: Filmhouse 0 Streamers ( 18) (Robert Altman. US. 1983) Mathew Modine. Michael Wright, George Dzundza. 118 mins. At an air force training camp three young recruits virtually have the place to themselves. and various tensions based on the supposed homosexuality ofone ofthem finally erupt into violence. Highly charged Altman chamber piece. a companion to Come Back The Five And Dime Jimmy Dean. Jimmy Dean , delicately filmed and with a roster of excellent performances. Hard going at times. but rising to a climax of some power. EUFS o Streetwise (18) (Martin Bell. US. 1984) 90 mins. Campaigning investigative documentary on the dispossessed street kids ofSeattle‘s skid row. Edinburgh; EUFS 0 Subway ( 15) (Luc Besson. France. 1985) Christopher Lambert. Isabelle
14 The List 20 Feb — 5 March