FILM LIST
posthumous critique of the Stalin years is the evidence it supplies of a culture learning to express its liberation. Glasgow: GFI‘.
I The Rescuers (U) (Wolfgang Reithennan, John Lounsberry and Art Stevens. US, 1977) With the voices of Bob Newhart, Eva Gabor, Geraldine Page. 77 mins. Technically expert and sporadically enthralling cartoon adventure from the latterday Disney studios, which lacks the inventiveness and lustre of the man himself’s work. The story concerns two members of the Mouse Rescue Aid Society, who, with the help of Orville the albatross, set out to save an orphan girl from the wicked Medusa‘s home in a Louisiana swamp. Glasgow: Cannon The Forge. Central: Regal.
I Hobocop (18) (Paul Verhoeven, US, 1987) Peter Weller, Nancy Allen, Ronny Cox. 103 mins. Slick and stomach-chumingly violent futuristic thriller blending elements of Dirty Harry , Frankenstein and The Six Million Dollar Man. When diligent policeman Weller is shot to pieces by vicious hoods, his remains are mechanically reconstructed into a hi-tech law enforcement officer, but the human desire for revenge still beats beneath his mechanical exterior. Glasgow: GFT.
I sex. lies and videotape (15) (Steven Soderbergh, US, 1989) Andie McDowell, Laura San Giacomo, James Spader. Peter Gallagher. 101 mins. The sex: John (Gallagher) is conducting a steamy affair with his sister-in-law Cynthia (San Giacomo). The lies: they neglect to tell his wife, Anne (McDowell). The videotape: John’s buddy Graham (Spader) gets his kicks by filming women‘s sexual confessions. 26-year-old Soderbergh‘s first feature is a strikingly assured, funny and thoughtful piece of work, forcing us to examine our own attitudes toward sex, and won the Palme d‘Or at Cannes. Glasgow: Grosvenor.
I She Devil (15) fi (Susan Seidelman, US, 1989) Roseanne Barr, Meryl Streep, Ed Begley Jr. 99 mins. See review. Glasgow: Cannon The Forge, Odeon. Edinburgh: Odeon. Strathclyde: Odeon Ayr, UCI Clydebank, UCI East Kilbride.
I Shirley Valentine (15) (Lewis Gilbert, UK, 1989) Pauline Collins, Bernard Hill, Tom Conti. 110 mins. Gilbert‘s screen version of the celebrated Willy Russell play, now expanded from a monologue to include Hill as the insensitive hubby and Conti as the Greek bit of stuff Shirley meets on a Mediterranean holiday that turns into a voyage of self-(re)discovery. Collins is outstanding in the title role of frustrated Liverpudlian housewife. Central: MacRobert Arts Centre.
I Ski Patrol (PG) (Richard Corell, US. 1989) Ray Walston, Roger Rose, Martin Mull. 90 mins. Just when you thought it was safe to go back to the cinema again , he’s back! Yes, producer Paul Maslansky, the man who brought you all five of the miserably mirthless Police Academy movies, returns with his latest er, brainchild. This big-budget comedy caper has dashing ski instructor'Roger Rose battling against nasty property developer Ray Walston who's seeking to change the local resort beyond recognition. Expect the same bland of juvenile slapstick and exasperating smuttiness as before. Glasgow: Cannon Sauchiehall Street. Strathclyde: Odeon Ayr, UCI Clydebank, WMR Film Centre.
I Soil On The Inside (PG) a (Katy Radford, UK, 1989) Andy Sheppard‘s Rhythmical Personages. 60mins. Evocative, well-observed portrayal of British jazz saxophonist Sheppard and the lS-piece multi~national big band he assembled for a brief recording and touring project last autumn. See preview. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I The Step (15) (Alezander Rekhviashvili, USSR, 1986) Merab Ninidze. 90mins. Displaying the same stand-offish comic precision as fellow Georgians the
t\‘
The Witches (PG) a (tile Hoeg, US, 1990) Anielica Huston, Mai Zetterling, Rowan Atkinson. 92 mins. ch Hoeg’s Hoald Dahl adaptation gets oil to a slow start with nine year-old Luke (Jason Fisher) being told all manner ol spooky tales by his Norwegian grandmother (Mai Zetierling). She explains the leatures that distinguish witches lrom human women, and how children can be stolen away. For years, it turns out, old Granny has been searching lor the
., crones’ leader, the Grand High Witch,
but without results.
Soon, however, her luck is to change, and as the reels pass by ‘The Witches’ becomes captivating stuti. With a little help from longstanding collaborators like screenwriter Allan Scott (Don’t Look Now) and regular editor Tony Lawson, ch Hoeg has abandoned the non-linear narrative leel of his earlier work for a more straighttorward story-telling style, and made a superior klds’ movie that still bears his own very particular stylistic stamp.
Like the woeiully underrated ‘Track 29’, this is a lot oiiun, much of which is derived lrom the spectacle ol Aniellca Huston managing to sprout the iull witchy lacial get-up (crooked nose, harly moles etc) right in the middle of what appears to be the HSPCC’s annual general meeting. And as it all that isn’t enough, some thirty minutes in our child hero Luke gets himselitumed into a mouse (courtesy oiJim Henson’s Creature Shop), but keeps the audience rooting for him as the action proceeds from a rodent's eye view scurrying across iloors, crawling under carpets and even shimmying up curtains. A definite treat. (Jeremy Clarke)
Preview Sun 20. Strathclyde: UCI Clydebank, UCI East Kilbride.
From Fri 25: Glasgow: Cannon The Forge, Cannon Sauchiehall Street. Edinburgh: Cannon. Strathclyde: UCI Clydebank, UCI East Kilbride.
Shengelaya brothers (Blue Mountains) and Otar Iosseliani (Favourites 0/ The Moon), Rekhviashvili shows how an impoverished student‘s daily round of visits by a host of friends and acquaintances gradually begins to take on a life of its own. It is hoped that the starof the film, Merab Ninidze, will be able to attend this special screening and offer a few insights into contemporary Georgian cinema. See also Mayfest diary. Glasgow: GFT.
I Superleens ( 18) (Russ Meyer, US. 1975) Shari Eubank, Charles Pitts. Uschi Digard. 105 mins. Breasterama time with Russ the sexist. The plot concerns our hero‘s flight from a trumped up murder charge and his dalliance with many a substantially-nourished young lady on his way across country. Technically Meyer‘s an accomplished film-maker and there‘s a lot of nifty cutting around. not all of it by the censor. Wonder how many folks go to Russ Meyer movies to watch the editing technique. Screening as half ofa double-bill with Ultravixens, though last time we were shown Beyond The Valley Of The Ultravixens, which opens with the talented Francesca ‘Kitten‘ Natividad stirring notorious Nazi Martin Bormann‘s corpse to sexual arousal and sort of takesit from there. Glasgow: Grosvenor.
I Sweetie ( 15) (Jane Campion. Australia. 1989) Genevieve Lemon. Karen Colston. Tom Lycos. 100 mins. Controversial
debut feature from New Zealand born Campion follows the fortunes oftwo sisters. the quiet, nervy Kay(Karen Colston) and the unpredictany psychotic Sweetie (Genevieve Lemon). whose behavioural eccentricities involve eating china ornaments and painting herself blue. as the pair try to resolve their emotional and familial conflicts. Boldly scripted and composed. Campion‘s film brings a dreamlike quality to the everyday. but beneath all the freakish behaviour and self-consciously challenging camerawork. there breathes a very simple tale of common humanity. Glasgow: GFT. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. I Swimming To Cambodia (15) (Jonathan Demme. US. 1987) Spaulding Gray. 87 mins. The idea ofan 87-minute monologue might initially appear unprcpossessing. but in the hands of actor/philosopher Gray it becomes a fascinating experience as his idiosyncratic delivery touches upon his experiences in S. E. Asia while shooting The Killing Fields (in which he played a tiny part). Glasgow: GF'T.
I The Terminator ( 18) (James Cameron. US. 1984) Arnold Schwarzenegger. Michael Biehn. Linda Hamilton. 107 mins. in 2029 machines have all but conquered the planet but a saviour is at hand in the form of a new human leader. The machines respond by sending Schwarzenegger's cyborg back in time to
1984 on a mission to kill the future leader’s mother. inventive, excitineg-paced science-fiction adventure with a notable performance from Arnie in his first villainous role. Glasgow: GFT. I Thelonious Monk: Straight Ho Chaser(U) (Charlotte Zwerin. US. 1988)Thelonious Monk. Charlie Rouse. Tco Macero. 90 mins. Drawing on fourteen hours of material shot in 1968 for a GermanTV special, this priceless portrait of a pianistic genius is crammed with fascinating footage of Monk on the road. in the studio. and on stage. While the testimonies and narration supply the bare facts. much of the material here shows how bebop‘s high priest remains an enigma. Brought to you courtesy of Executive Producer Clint Eastwood. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. I T00 Beautiful For You Trop Belle Pour Toi(15) (Bertrand Blier. France. 1989) Gerard Depardicu. Josiane Belasko. 91 mins. intense study of passion and marital infidelity as car dealer Blier finds himself much less attracted to his stunning wife than plain and plump secretary Belasko. who nevertheless turns out to be both sweet and sensual. With customary bravado Blier turns domestic cliche on its head. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. I Torrents of Spring (PG) or (Jerzy Skolimowski. Italy/France. 1989) Timothy Hutton. Nastassia Kinski. Valeria Golino. 101 mins. See review. Glasgow: Cannon Sauchiehall Street. Edinburgh: Odeon. I La Traviata (PG) (Franco Zefferclli. Netherlands. 1982) Teresa Stratas. Placido Domingo. Cornell MacNeil. 109 mins. Verdi‘s grandioscly pathetic retelling of Dumas' The Lady ofThe Catnelias‘ is brought to the screen in typically sumptuous fashion by director Zeffirclli. and remains as glossy and lifeless as the rest of his output. The music survives however. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. I True Grit (PG) (Henry Hathaway. US. 1969) John Wayne. Glen Campbell. Kim Darby. The Dook got himselfan Oscarfor daring to look old, fat and one-eyed in this enjoyably old-fashioned Western adventure. He plays an ageing lawman inveigled into helping teenager Kim Darby set out after the men who murdered his father. meeting a series of uncharacteristicaly self-effacing humiliations along the way. Central: Paisley Arts Centre. I Uncle Buck (12) (John Hughes. US. 1989) John Candy, Amy Madigan. Gaby Hoffman. 100 mins. Hughes‘ prolific career as maestro of teenage angst continues unabated in this latest comic outpouring on the traumas and trivialities ofgrowing up. Candy‘s Buck initially appears to be an overweight. clumsy, tactless slob. the last person you'd ask to look after your kids. but here he getsthe chance to look after three of his brother‘s kids for the weekend. The film explores his troubled relationship with a confused adolescent. as they release theirindividual frustrations before coming to a mutual understanding. A carefully plotted and well scripted moral fable living up to the standards expected from the director of The Breakfast Club. Glasgow: Cannon Sauchiehall Street. Central: Caledonian. Strathclyde: Odeon Ayr.UC1Clydebank, UCI East Kilbride. I Les Valeuses ( 18) (Bertrand Blier. France, 1974) Gerard Depardicu. Patrick Dewaere, Miou-Miou. Jeanne Moreau. 118 mins. In their first screen roles. Depardieu and Dewaere are enthusiastically brutish as a shocking pair who steal cars and break into houses asa prelude to the abduction and exploitation of women. Blicr's debut feature from his own novel is a cheerfully amoral exercise in unrestrained bad taste (apart from the splendid Stephane Grapelli score). The original French title is roughly translatable as The Bollocks.’, which gives you some idea ofjust how unrestrained it is. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
The List 18—31 May 199037