FILM LIST
Hustler, with Newman’s immaculately played Fast Eddie Felson finding redemption through his cynical involvement with young pool hotshot Cruise.
Glasgow; Grosvenor, Odeon. Edinburgh; Dominion, Odeon. Lothian; Regal. Strathclyde; Kelburne, Odeon Hamilton, Rialto 0 Coming Home (18) (Hal Ashby. US, 1978) Jon Voight, Jane Fonda, Bruce Dem. 128 mins. Vietnam vet Voight (alliteration, we got it!) falls for the estranged wife (Fonda) of currently serving air force officer Dern. Well-acted look at the problems, sexual and otherwise, of an injured combat soldier returning from battle, though doubtless a good deal more meaningful on its home ground. Glasgow; Grosvenor
0 Coming Up Hoses (PG) (Stephen Bayly, UK 1986) Dafydd Bywel. lola Gregory, Bill Paterson. 93 mins. See panel. Edinburgh; Filmhouse
o Crocodile Dundee (15) (Peter Faiman, Australia, 1986) Paul Hogan, Linda Kozlowski, Mark Bluym. 98 mins. Mild-mannered, disarmingly self-mocking, old-fashioned comedy-romance with ‘Hoges‘ as a legendary croc hunter discovered by an American journalist and persuaded to sample the dubious delights of downtown
Manhattan. Glasgow; Cannon Clarkston Road,
Cinema, Grosvenor, Odeon. Edinburgh; Dominion, Odeon. Strathclyde; Kelburne, Odeon Hamilton, Rialto O D.A.R.Y.L. (PG) fr (Simon Wincer, UK, 1985) Mary Beth Hurt, Michael McKean. 100 mins. A family adopt an abandoned 10 year-old amnesiac only to discover that he is a highly intelligent prototype robotic clone. A good premise is handled with competence but little flair in this . far-fetched children’s adventure. Edinburgh; Filmhouse 0 Dead Men Don’tWear Plaid (PG) (Carl Reiner, US, 1982) Steve Martin, Rachel Ward and a cast of thousands. 87 mins. Film noir spoof has private eye Martin involved with femme fatale Ward and fiendish Nazi scientist Reiner. Much ofthe humour stems from the intercutting with actual Forties’ movies in a device now copied by the adverts for a certain lager. Edinburgh; Cameo
o Deathwatch (15) (Bertrand Tavernier, France/UK, 1979) Harvey Keitel, Romy Schneider, Harry Dan Stanton, Max Von Sydow. 130 mins. Keitel is given an irreversible operation to substitute a TV camera for his eyes and becomes an unwitting reporter for corrupt Exec Stanton, following the terminally ill Schneider as she tries to find her estranged husband and transforming her turmoils into a real-life soap opera designed to win the increasingly competitive ratings battle.
Brilliantly plotted examination of media ethics and our desensitisation to harsh realities, the film remains absorbing viewing throughout, largely due to the compulsively watchable Keitel and Stanton and the skilful use of chilly Glasgow locations. Glasgow; GFT
Tough Guys (15) (Jeff Kanew, US, 1986) Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Eli Wallach, Alexis Smith. 103 mins. As the perpetrators of the last train robbery in America, Archie Long and Harry Doyle, have carved their own modest niche in the annals of 20th-century criminal notables. Incarcerated for thirty years, as recompense for their efforts, they are released into a society that is ill-disposed towards two geriatric ex-cons.
Times they have a-changed. The old neighbourhood is overrun by ghetto-blasting punks and Mickey's, once their favourite tavern, is now a gay bar. Not only does their dewey-eyed nostalgia jar with this reality, but they are also the targets of a myopic, superannuated hit-man who never gives up on a contract, and are under constant surveillance by an obsessive cop convinced that they will inevitably resume a life oi crime. The biggest headache oi all, however, is coping with the indignities of old age in the form oi a toothless retirement home forHarry and demeaning, servlle employment for the younger Archie.
O Escalier C(15) it (Jean-Charles Tacchella. France. 1985) Robin Renucci, Jean-Pierre Bacri, Catherine Leprince. 101 mins. An art critic notorious for his vitriolic reviews moves into Escalier C of a Paris apartment house and soon strikes up an uneasy but touching relationship with his various neighbours, which eventually results in him mending his mean and nasty ways.
Rather uninspired and slightly sentimental study oftenement life, graced with a performance of entertaining venom from Robin Renucci as the central character which unfortunately leaves the other denizens of the staircase irritatineg under-developed. Glasgow; GFT
0 Flight of the Navigator (U) (Randal Kleiser, US, 1986) 90 mins. Inferior E.T.-inspired Disney holiday fare in which a plucky youngster is the only one capable ofpiloting an alien craft back to its home planet. More big screen space invaders for the kiddies. Glasgow;Odeon.
Odeon O The Fly ( 18) (David Cronenberg,
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Given director Jeff Kanew’s previous credits (Revenge oi the Nerds, Gotchal, etc) Tough Guys emerges as a frequently pleasant surprise. Lighthearted and lightweight, it will never be regarded as a great film but, in its favour, there are some funny moments, a degree oi finesse and the warm camaraderie of the Lancaster-Douglas partnership. The most interesting aspect of the film is lts knowing exploration of their accumulated screen personalities. As Harry, Lancaster displays the grace and world-weary wisdom that he has previously expressed so beautifully in Atlantic City and his work for Luchino Visconti. As Archie, Douglas mildly mockes the vain, age-defying, macho image by which one might readily identify him.
Together, they are the heart and soul of this modestly engaging enterprise. As two remnants of a bygone era refusing to go gently into that good night, their impeccable teamwork has an ease and charm that is hard to resist and a pleasure to re-encounter. They really don’t make ’em like that anymore. (Allan Hunter)
US, 1986) Jeff Goldblum, Geena Davis, John Getz. 96 mins. Brilliant reconceptualization ofthe 1958 camp classic, with Goldblum highly effective as the scientist whose experiments with teleportation go disastrously wrong and Geena Davis impressive as the love of his life. Special effects superlatively revolting. Tension sustained throughout. Required viewing. Glasgow; Cannon Clarkston, Cinema
0 The Fourth Protocol (15) (John Mackenzie, UK, 1987) Michael Caine, Pierce Brosnan, Joanna Cassidy. 119 mins. Perfectly competent but rather unexciting screen version of the altogether more inolving Freddie Forsyth potboiler. Brosnan is the coolly efficient Soviet superspy who is dispatched to Brtain; his orders to assemble and detonate an atomic device. Caine is the shambling, anti-establishment maverick who somehow latches on to the plot and races against time to prevent the unthinkable from happening. Disappointingly old-fashioned lukewarm Cold War thriller.
Glasgow; Odeon. Edinburgh; Odeon
o The Fringe Dwellers (PG) n (Bruce Beresford. Australia, 1986) Kristina Nehm. Justine Saunders, Bob Maza. 98 mins. Aborigine girl Trilby has dreams ofwhat the future might hold and ambitions to secure a life outwith the ghetto of shanty towns that her elders inhabit. However, she encounters on the kind of prejudice and igrnorance that reinforces her status as one of life‘s have nots.
Plodding, worthy realistic drama that deals merely in cliches and stereoptypes. lacking purpose, insight or dramatic worth. Dreadfully dull. Edinburgh; Filmhouse o The Golden Child (PG) (Michael Ritchie, US, 1986) Eddie Murphy, Charles Dance, Charlotte Lewis. 94 mins. Substandard Murphy on the trail of a perfect infant born once every thousand generations who is the repository of all goodness and compassion.
Ludicrous and unfunny pseudo- mystical claptrap. A tap-dancing Pepsi can steals the show. Strathclyde; Odeon Ayr o The Green Bay (PG) (Eric Rohmer, France, 1986) Marie Riviere. Vincent Gauthier, Sylvie Richez. 99 mins. See panel. Glasgow; GET
0 Hannah and Her Sisters (15) (Woody Allen, US, 1986) Woody Allen, Michael Caine, Mia Farrow, Diane Weist. 107 mins. A mellow, meaningful riposte to the gloom-ridden Interiors, Hannah is an upbeat celebration of the cohesion and support within the family unit as several couples fall in and out of love over the changing seasons.
Blessed with a terrific ensemble cast, the film is achingly funny, touching and extremely perceptive. Edinburgh; Marco‘s Cinema
0 Heart Beat (18) (John Byrum, US, 1979) John Heard, Sissy Spacek, Nick Nolte. 108 mins. Desultory, part-biopic of Jack Kerouac focusing on his on/off relationship with Neal and Carolyn Cassady. Decent performances cannot compensate for the plodding, uninteresting execution ofan over-fanciful script. Edinburgh; Filmhouse o Heavenly Pursuits (15) (Charles Gormley, UK, 1986) Tom Conti, Helen Mirren, David Hayman. 92 mins. Conti is the caring teacher caught up in his remedial school’s miracle fever, who must determine the plausibility of divine intervention in modern day Glasgow. Engaging, lightweight comedy-drama told with wit and charm. Glasgow; Grosvenor O The Hitcher ( 18) (Robert Harmon, US, 1986) Rutger Hauer, C. Thomas Howell, Jennifer Jason Leigh. 98 mins. A tense, skilful tale of cross-country motorised combat ensues when drowsy driver Howell stops to pick up the refreshing company of Hauer, a deranged killer with a penchant for in-car slayings. Edinburgh; EUFS o Inspecteur Lavardin (15) (Claude Chabrol, France, 1986) Jean Poiret, J ean-Claude Brialy, Bernadette Lafont. 100 mins. This sequel to Cap 414 Vin
10 The List 17- 30 April