BACARDI BLACK
INDEX FILM
FILM
Films screening this fortnight are listed belovt with certificate, credits, brief review and venue details. Flim index compiled by Alan Morrison.
I The Age or innocence (U) (Martin Scorsese. US. 1993) Daniel Day-Lewis. Michelle Pfeiffer. Winona Ryder. 138 mins. Up-and-coming lawyer Newland Archer risks the wrath of 1870s New York society when he falls in love with the scandal-shrouded Countess Olenska. despite being already engaged. Scorsese is magnificently faithful to Edith Wharton's novel. while painting its troubled emotions with an eloquent camera. Opulent and richly detailed. with no release from the internalised pain of passion. Glasgow: GFT. I Akita (l2) (Otorno Katsuhiro. Japan. 1989) Animated by Nakamura Takashi. with the voices of lwata Mitsue. Sasaki Nozomu. Koyarna Marni. lshida Taro. 124 mins. Based on the multi-volume graphic novel by Otomo. Akira is a mythical. futuristic tale of post-holocaust Tokyo. where pill-popping biker kids begin to unearth a government project designed to exploit the psychic and telekinetic powers of a group of laboratory-bound children. Superny animated. with a fantastic visual and nan‘ative imagination. but you'd be well advised to know something of the plot before you see it. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. I The American Friend (PG) (Wim Wenders. West Germany/France. 1977) Dennis Hopper. Bruno Ganz. Gerard Blain. Lisa Kreuzer. 123 mins. Based on the Patricia Highsrnith novel Ripley Zr Game. this excellent. existentialistfilm noir centres on an alienated Hopper at large in Germany. where his task is to locate and motivate a killer without a track record. He finds his hired man in the innocent Ganz. but loses his sense of identity in the process. Stirring stuff. with all that eloquent desolation that typifies Wenders' work. Glasgow: GFT. I And The Band Played (in (12) (Roger Spottiswoode. US. 1993) Matthew Modine. Alan Aida. Patrick Bauchau. 141 mins. Countless cameos from Richard Gere. Anjelica Huston. Phil Collins. Steve Martin and others add a bit of zip to this somewhat overlong and lecture-ish account of the race to discover the AIDS virus. Played as a medical detective story. it has a good strong lead in Modine and certainly points a few political fingers. but its mainstream potential is limited. Fife: Adam Smith. I Autumn Moon (15) (Clara Law. Hong Kong/Japan. 1992) Masatoshi Nagase. Li Pu Wai. 108 mins. Dissolute youth Tokio stumbles through downtown Hong Kong and forms a platonic relationship with schoolgirl Wai. who‘s waiting out the term before joining her parents abroad. The influence ofJim Jannusch casts a long shadow. but this deceptive charmer is a more human affair. Glasgow: GFT. I The Ballad Of little Jo (15) (Molly Greenwald. US. 1993) Suzy Amis. Bo Hopkins. lan McKellen. 121 mins. An unusual western that redefines the genre through modern. politically correct eyes (feminism. anti-racisrn and homophilia raise their anachronistic heads). Josephine Monaghan cuts her hair and passes her off as cowboy Jo after her family disowns her for becoming an unmarried mother. The male- dominated society she comes up against. and ultimately defeats. is a mirror of today. Beautifully shot. the androdynous casting is interesting and a little unsettling. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. I Barton Fink (15) (Joel Coen. US. 1991 ) John Turturro. John Goodman. Judy Davis. Michael Lerner. 117 mins. When socially-committed playwright Barton Fink (Turturro) is consigned by the Hollywood machine to write wrestling films. he slumps into a writer's block as large as his mysterious next-door neighbour (John Goodman). Unprecedented winner of best film. actor and direction awards at 1991's Cannes Film Festival shows the Coen’s at their most menacing and absurd best. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. I Belle Epogue (15) (Fernando Trueba. Spain. 1992) Jorge Sanz. Fernando Feman Gomez. Ariadne Gil. Penelope Cruz. 109 mins. During the Civil War. a young deserter finds himself under the wing of an elderly libertine. enjoying the pleasures of his four daughters - a lesbian. a widow. a bride-to-be and a virgin. Sparkling. feel-good. period comedy that revels in the joys of life and love. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. Fife: Adam Smith.
I Betty Blue (18) (Jean-Jacques Beineix. France. 1986) Jean Hugues Anglade. Beatrice Dalle. 120 mins. Ternpestuous love gone mad as an older handyman and a free-spirited woman embark on a passionate. peripatetic fling that ends in tragedy. Filmed with a dazzling technique and an irritating emptiness by the maker of Diva. Central: Allanpark.
I The Beverly Hillbillies (PG) (Penelope Spheeris. US. 1993) Jim Varney. Cloris Leachman. Erika Eleniak. Diedrick Bader. 103 mins. A bunch of backwoods natives strike oil. become billionaires and move to Beverly Hills. There are only a couple of almost wry moments amid the excruciatingly bad puns. desperate parodies and inane slapstick. and the writers seem to believe we need a stupid face or pose every 60 seconds. That's a formula that might work on TV with constant commercial breaks. btrt not in a cinema feature. General release.
I Beverly liills Cap 3 (15) (John Landis. US. 1994) Eddie Murphy. Jtrdge Reinhold. Hector Elizondo. 107 mins. Axel's boss takes a bullet. so he heads off to an LA theme park to track down the baddie. Terrible plotting. ineffectual action scenes. insultingjurnps in the narrative filled in by stilted vocal explanations - if there’s a worse filrn this year. i don’t want to see it. Glasgow: MGM Film Centre. Borders: Pavilion. All UCls.
I Blanit Cheque (PG) (Rupert Wainwright. US. 1993) Brian Bonsail. Karen Duffy. Miguel Ferrer. 94 mins. When some guy runs over his bike. eleven-year-old Preston Waters is hurriedly given a blank cheque. which he subsequently cashes for a cool million dollars. But the signatory is thief Carl Qtrigley. and soon he's on the kid's trail. Every youngster's dream-come- true meets routine slapstick and slushy morality in what isn't the most subtle or original movie you'll see this year. See review. Glasgow: Odeon. MGM Parkhead. Edinburgh: Odeon. UCi. Strathclyde: Odeon Ayr. L'Cls.
I Blue Velvet (18) (David Lynch. US. 1986) Kyle MacLachlan. Dennis Hopper. lsabella Rossellini. 120 mins. 1n small-town Middle America. would-be boy detective Maci.achlan finds a severed ear on some waste ground. When the police shoo lrim away he decides to do some investigating of his own. A singular fusion of the cosy and the terrifying which blends kitsch and nightmare. B-utovie detection and brtrtal sex to deconstruct our complacent vision of normal society. This is filrn-rnaking of remarkable imagination and skill. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I The Blues Brothers ( 15) (John Landis. US. 1980) John Belushi. Dan Aykroyd. Carrie Fisher. 130 mins. Bloated. over'long anarchic Chicago comedy with the two stars on a mission from God to salvage the imperilled fortunes of an orphanage. Lots of guest stars. musical numbers and automotive destruction in a typical product of Over-emphatic contemporary American humour. Strathclyde: Odeon Hamilton.
I A Bronx Tale (15) (Robert De Niro. US. 1993) Robert De Niro. Chazz Palminteri. Lillo Brancato. 124 mins. After witnessing a fatal shooting. a young boy is taken under the wing of a local hood; but this bad angel‘s influence is balanced with advice from his honest. hard- working father. An atmospheric. subtly rendered coming-of-age tale set in the 60s. with De Niro showing ample talent before and behind the camera. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I Camp Thiaroye (18) (Ousmane Sembene/ Thierno Faty Sow. Senegal/Algeriaffunisia. 1988) lbrahima Sane. Sigiri Bakara. 152 mins. Just after WW2. a group of African troops become involved in a mutiny and massacre following their detention at a camp in Senegal. The story can be read as a metaphor for colonialism. with its racist foundations and almost inevitably bloody ending. Fascinating. at times violent. material from the African continent's leading filmmaker. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I The Cement Carded ( 18) (Andrew Birkin. UK/Gennany/France. 1993) Charlotte Gainsbourg. Andrew Robertson. Sinead Cusack. 105 mins. Based on the acclaimed book by lan McEwan. Birkin’s award-winning film intertwines themes of incest and death with innocent insight. Not so much a coming-of-age movie as a regression into childhood. it is meticulously observed and contains flawless performances from its young cast. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I City Shorts 2 70 mins. ‘Streets. Sidewalks. And The Surreal' is the name of this second programme of rarely screened shorts by contemporary filmmakers which celebrate urban environments. This screening consists of an extract from Willard van Dyke's The City. Sidney Peterson‘s Architectural Mil/inery. Robert Vas's The Vanishing Street. Jules Buchner's The Window Cleaner. Anthony Stern's San Francisco. Sally Potter's London
sponsored by BACARDI BLACK
Start and Humphrey Jennings's London Can Take It. Sat 30 only. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. I The Coniormist ( 18) (Bernardo Bertolucci. it/Fr/Ger. 1970) Jean-1.0uis Trintigant. Stefania Sandrelli. Gastonne Moschin. 115 mins. A man tries to sublirnate his homosexuality by conforming to the dictates of 30s fascist ltaly. marrying a dull wife and agreeing to carry out an assassination. A masterpiece of visual style that draws disturbing links between the political and sexual arenas. The Conformist cart now be seen in Bertolucci's own 115-minute cut. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. I Cool ilunnlngs (PG) (John Turteltaub. US. 1993) Doug E. Doug. Leon. John Candy. 99 mins. Speculative comedy based on the first-ever Jamaican bobsled team at the last Winter Olympics is harmlessly amiable. btrt unfortunately cranks up too many moralistic messages complete with appropriate accompanying music. Still. audiences seem to like its easy-going nature. tnaking it an affectionate tribute to the late John Candy. Central: MacRober't. I The Crow (18) (Alex Proyas. US. 1994) Brandon Lee. Ernie Hudson. Richelle Davis. 101 mins. infamous as the film on which martial arts star Bruce Lee's son Brandon was killed by a defective stunt gun. this is the most consistent attempt yet to create on film the distinctive feel of the graphic novel. The characterisation and plot development may be slight — a rock star comes back from the dead to wrech revenge on the gang who killed him and his girlfriend — but stylistically. it's a gem. Glasgow: Odeon. Edinburgh: L'Cl. I The Crying Came ( 15) (Neil Jordan. UK. 1992) Stephen Rea. Forest Whitaker. Jaye Davidson. 112 mins. A disillusioned lRA terrorist strikes up a friendship with the black British soldier he has kidnapped. and subsequently finds himself in London arid in love with the latter's girlfriend. A bold. trnpredictable filtn that has plenty to say about notions of personal and sexual identity. if only all British movies were as good as this. Edinburgh: Cameo. I The Custodian ( 15) (John Dingwall. Ans. 19931Antltouy LaPaglia. Htth Weaving. Barry ()tto. 101 mins. Convinced that his police buddies are on the take. Quinlan decides to blow their gaff from the inside. and so sets himself up as a sacrificial lamb. LaPaglia is so tense. you‘re waiting for him to explode; his performance in the jewel in the crown of this superior cop corruption thriller that also explores different notions of integrity. See Screen Test. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. I Dennis (PG) (Nick Castle. US. 1993) Mason Gamble.Wa1ter Matthau. Joan Plowright. 98 mins. He's blond. he’s cute. he‘s American. his dog isn't a fiufiball with teeth. At least the stripey jumper remains the same. But. then again. the Dennis of the US cartoon strip never was related to The Bruno's arcir-menace. When Dennis's folks go off on business. the mischeviOus little brat is left in the hands of his elderly neighbours: Home Alone scenario from the John Hughes stable. Strathclyde: Paisley Arts Centre. I Double Indemnity (PG) (Billy Wilder. US. 1944) Barbara Stanwyck. Fred McMurray. Edward G. Robinson. 106 mins. Cracking adaptation by Wilder and Raymond Chandler of the James M. Cain novel has insurance man McMurray attracted by the alluring Stanwyck. who talks him into murdering her spouse. and all goes well until his boss Edward G. begins to suspect foul play. Sexual chemistry. labyrinthine plotting. tart wordplay. it's all here. A classic. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. I The Exorcist (18) (William Friedkin. US. 1973) Linda Blair. Ellen Burstyn. Max Von Sydow. 110 mins. Earnest priest Von Sydow steps in to save poor little possessed girl in this hugely effective scarefest. Dead good. dead scarey. dead priest. Glasgow: Odeon. Strathclyde: WMR. I Faraway, So Close1(15)(Wim Wenders. Germany. 1993) Otto Sander. Nastassja Kinski. Bruno Ganz. 144 mins. Wenders’s sequel to Wings OfDesires again focuses on the divide between humans and angels. and has one of the winged ones experience the joys and pains of terresuial life. However. after an exhilerating opening and some stunning photography. the film falls apart when it attempts a B movie gun- running narrative. From genius to incompetence in a matter of frames. Edinburgh: Cameo. I Fearless(l5) (Peter Weir. US. 1993) Jeff Bridges. lsabella Rossellini. Rosie Perez. 122 mins. Convinced of his own immortality after surviving a horrendous plane crash. Max Klein‘s reaction to his near-death experience has a metaphysical bent reminiscent of director Peter Weir’s early work. Bridges is magnificent as his character reassesses the details of daily living.
Catch the best Flint
this fortnight- ._ .,
FIRST RUN I The Last Seduction A double- crossing femrne fatale does the dirty in small-town America. A masterpiece of polished pulp from John Dahl. who’s fast making the genre his own. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I Go Fish Twentysornething Max is trying to get it together with Ely. but the girls’ shyness is an obstacle in Rose Troche’s fresh and funny lesbian slacker movie. Glasgow: GFT. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I liorth Rob Reiner’s latest is a constantly inventive fantasy about a boy searching for new. more appreciative parents. A rare kids’ film that doesn’t patronise its audience. General release.
I The Custodian Superb acting from Anthony LaPaglia as he star as a tightly wound Australian cop who’s determined to blow open his colleagues corruption from the inside. no matter the personal cost. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
REPERTORY
I The American Friend An existential crime thriller from Wim Wenders. with Dennis Hopper persuading Bruno Ganz to find a little adventure in his mundane life. Glasgow: GFT
I Like Water For Chocolate Warmly engaging magic realism from Mexico as a girl cooks up some special dishes when banished to the kitchen by her domineering mother. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I The General One of the most impressive silent comedies. that gets beyond slapstick and breathtaking stunts with a strong story about a gormless hero (Buster Keaton) rescuing a train from behind enemy lines during the American Civil War.
bringing pain to his family and hope to fellow survivors. Glasgow: Grosvenor. Edinburgh: Cameo. Central: MacRobert.
I The Fisher King (15) (Terry Gilliam. US. 1991) Robin Williams. Jeff Bridges. Amanda Plummer. Mercedes Ruehl. 137 mins. A suicidal former radio DJ (Bridges) and a drop-out former professor of medieval history go in search of the Holy Grail in contemporary New York. The visual splendour of Gilliam's previous movies — Time Bandits and Baron Muncltausen — is more restrained here. but the blend of myth. satire and romance is strong. Unfortunately. the wonderful central performances by Williams and Bridges are let down by a cop-out. up-beat ending. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I The Flintstones (U) (Brian Levant. US. 1994) John Goodman. Rick Moranis. Elizabeth Perkins. Rosie O’Donnell. 92 mins. Fred is promoted to an executive post at the quarry. but only as a stooge for his boss’s corporate rip-off: nevertheless. money and power go to the Flintstones' heads. causing friction with the Rubbles. The movie keeps to the TV series' prehistoric parody of modern suburban life. adds bright and chunky sets and a post-yuppie morality tale on greed that doesn't quite sit right. and comes out a little plot-heavy. The one-liners will be picked up by adults. kids will get bored. But it’s no the yabba-dabba dodo it could have been. General release.
The List 29 July—11 August 1994 29