INDEX FILM

superior technology. I ladybird. Ladybird (18) (Ken Loach. UK. I 1994) Crissy Rock. Vladimir Vega. Sandie I Lavelle. IOI iiiins. Loach's latest hard-hitting socio-political drama tells the story of ‘Maggie'. i a woman with a history of relationships with , violent men. who has her four children taken from her when she refuses to co-opetate with Social Services. A new liaison with a gentle South Atiiericati exile only causes new traumas. Loacli pushes otrr sympathies to the side of the underdogs rather than the social workers who are

also victims of a heartless system. lixtretiiely harrowing. btit a vital catalyst to debate.

I The Last Seduction ( 15) (John Dali). t'S. 1993) Linda Iiioretitiiio. Peter Berg. Bill Pullman. 110 mins. After double-crossing her husband. stealing some drugs sale cash and Iioliiig tip in a small town. (irade ‘A' bitch Bridget Gregory uses her sexual charms to lure the naive Mike Sw-ale itito a plan that will free her from her troubles. .\'o one handles polished pulp like John (R(’(/ Ruck Wei!) DaIiI. and here he's got the added advantage of a deliciotrsly nasty performance frotii Linda I'IOICIIIIIM) as a fettitne who's more fatale than most.

I leaving Lenin ( 12) (Iitidaf linilyn. Wales. 1993) Sharon Morgati. Wyn Bowen Ilill'l‘is'. Shelley Rees. ()O mitis. A group of Welsh sixtli- formers ate accidentally left to fetid for themselves iti St Petersburg. Strangers iii a strange land. they begin to define their emotional independence iii a city that‘s also buzzing with a sense of discovery. A witty and compassionate study of everyday people facing extraordinary circumstances that is much more than a native torigtre novelty item. liditibuigh: I-‘ilmhoiise.

I The lion King (Poi (Roger Alleis/Rob Minkoff. L'S. I‘)‘)~I) With the voices of Matthew Broderick. Jeremy Irons. Robert (itiillaunie. 88 mins. The first Disney animated feature to be based on an original story rather than a traditional folk or fairy tale. The Linn King retains all of the studios markers: iriipeccable animation. jolly songs. colourful characters and a strong moral guideline. Startling fatiiily fare. (lerieral release.

I louisiana Story (P(i) (Robert I‘Iaher‘ty. t's. I948) Joseph Boridreaux. Lionel Le Blatic. 78 mins. The last film by noted poetic doctirtientarist lilahetty may not work terribly well as a dissection of the oil exploration business. btit offers a beautiful child's eye view of Iiow the oiliiieri first intrude upon and are later accepted by rural society. liditibtirgli: l-‘iltiiliotise. I M. Butterfly ( 15) (David Cronenberg. LS.

1993) Jeremy Irons. John Lone. IOI riiitis. [Extremely low-key Scottish opening for Crotietiberg's adaptation of David Henry Hwatig's stage play. which finds Iroris' I’reticli diplomat falling fora Peking Opera singer in

. pie-Cultural Revolution CIiitia. Edinburgh: Iiilmhouse. I Mairi Mhor (Mike Alexander. Scotland. 199-1)

Catriona-Anna .-\'ic A‘Phi. Alyxis Daly. (‘eit Kearney. ()3 units. John McCrath's script.

describing the life of (iaelic songwriter Mary

McPheison the unofficial bard of the Highland Land League. who fought back against the Highland clearances is filled with sotig.'1'liis is the portrait of a powerful woman w hose creative drive is as much an inspiration today as it was a century ago. The director and writer w ill be on hand to introduce the film and take questions.

(ilasgow': (il’l'.

I Major league It (I’m (David 8. Ward. t'S. 199-1) Charlie Sheen. IOU) Bei'eiiger. (‘oibiti

Bernsen. 105 tniiis. After their tags-to-iiclies

talent turnaround. the Cleveland Indians baseball team again find themselves struggling before again finding inspiration. liven as sequels go. this is a sad rehash that strikes out on second

base. Strathclyde: Cannon. f I Man Bites Dog I IS) (Remy Belvatix/.»\iidre

Bonzel/Betioit Poelvoorde. Belgium. 1002) Benoit Poelvoor'de. Remy Belvatrx. Jenny Drye. 00 mins. Somewhere iii the unexplored hinterland between Henry: l’urtruit (rfu Serial Killer and TINA /\ S/rimt/ 'Iit/t came three young Belgians. who sprticed tip their graduation film. Horrifically comic mock-doc on a poetry- quotitig tiiass-riiurderer. it soon sharpens its

set iotis edge arid becomes truly shocking. A real chin-dropper of a film if ever there was one. liife: Robins.

I The Man Who Fell To Earth ( IS) (Nicolas Roeg. I'K. I‘)7(i) David Bowie. Rip I011). Btlck Henry. 138 tiiitis. An alien seaichirig for the

water needed to save his own planet has his

powers destroyed by the sinister machinations of a multinational business enterprise. Well cast Bowie gives perhaps his best perfortiiancc II) this dazzling. tx‘casiotially obtuse. piece of Roegiari sci-Ii. A film that bears and indeed improves with repeated viewings. (ilasgow: (il’l'.

I Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein ( (Si (Kenneth

Biariagli. I'S/I'K. 199-1) Robert De Niro. Kenneth Branagli. Ilelena Bonham Carter. 120 units. Aiiibitiotis medical student \'rctor I‘ranketistein discovers the means of regenerating dead tissue. btit so horrified is he

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with his success that he abandons his creation bringing a terrible revenge upon his friends and family. Keeping close to Mary Shelley's book. Bratiagli departs from it only to clarify and expand upon her aims. The scope is immense. the themes deep and literate. the acting and design first class. See feature. (iCIICI'nI release. I The Mask (PG) (Charles Russell. CS. 1904) Jitii (‘ari'ey. Cameron Diaz. Peter Reigert. 95 tiiiris. A timid batik clerk finds an ancient mask that allows him to fulfil his innermost desires as a suave charmer arid criiiie-tiglitiiig whirlwind. Ari amalgam of 20s. 30s and 40s decor. The .Ilmk has a skimpy plot. btit its rousing musical set-pieces and eye-popping computer-generated effects (like a live action 'l’ex Avery cartoon) make it the surprise hit of the summer. (‘ietier‘al release.

I Maverick (PC) (Richard Donner. US. 1994) Mel (iibsoti. Jodie Foster. James Garner. 127 tiiins. Romantic gambler Bret Maverick has got to get tip a big enough pot to enter a poker game with a stake of half a million dollars. btit encounters various loose and at times unconnected adventures on the way. A card-con movie with western trappings. Maverick showcases the ‘unpredictable' quirks of Gibson's screen persona. the kind of thing that he gives a lunatic edge iii the I.(’I/1(ll ll't'u/mii series. Rollicking. pie-packaged etitei'tainttient that slips itito the sharnbolic.

I Mean Streets ( IS) (Martin Scorsese. LS. 1073) Ilarvey Keitel. Robert de Nii'o. David P-roval. 110 mins. Tony‘s Bar is the base for four young Italiaii-Americans. whose increasingly illegal activities lead to tragedy. Vividly observed character study which combines breathtaking technique with a pervasive sense of cortuptioti. Keitel and de Niro give of their very best. (ilasgow: (ili'l'.

I Mina Tannenliaum ( 12) (Mattitie Dtrgowsoti. liiarice. I‘M-I) Rotiiatie Bohringer. lilsa Xylberstein. Jean-Philippe Iicoffey. 128 mins. An aspiring painter and a shallow media wannabe remain together through childhood. the romantic yearnings of adolescence. btit are tested by adulthood's pressures. Boliringer and

[y lberstein work wonders iii the central roles. while I)ugowson's revelation of buried truths will shake you to your core. Perceptive. stylish aritl wise. Edinburgh: Cameo.

I Monkey Trouble (II) (Iii‘anco Atiitirt'i. L‘S. 199-1) 'I‘hora Birch. Harvey Keitel. Mimi Rogers. ()6 riiins. Birch is a weeriy with fatnin trouble.

w ho happens on a rogue capuchiti monkey as a

CRAIG SHEFFER MEG TlliliY ERIC STOIII‘Z

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pet. Problem is. it's a trained thief belonging to strange-accented European gypsy Keitel. t'niriiaginative. sentimental tale with an insufferable Hollywood tiiix of group hugs and cute fuiballs. Glasgow: MGM Film Centre. Edinburgh: L'CI. Central: :\II(1I1ptll‘k. Strathclyde: I'CI Clydebank. WMR.

I Mrs Doubttire (PCi) (Chris Columbus. US. 1903) Robiii Williams. Sally Field. Pierce Biostiaii. 125 miiis. Separated frorii his wife kids. otit-of-woik voice actor Daniel Hillard (Williams) dons make-up and btxly-padding t become a sexagetiariati nanny. Another top notch comic performance by Williams. who makes the most of his split personality zest without becoming overly sentimental. Iltrgely enjoyable and well pitched with gags for the

w hole audience.

I My Fair Lady (PCr) (George Cukor. I’S. 196-1) Rex Harrison. Audrey Hepburn. Stanley Holloway. Wilfred Ilyde White. 175 mins. liainiliar screen adaptation of Lerner and Loewe's musical slant t)ll I’l'yllttl/IUII. notable for a catalogue of great tunes. Harrison‘s somehow endearing half-spoken siiigitig. and Cecil Beatoii's splendid costume designs (especially iii the racecourse sequence). (ilasgow: ()deon. Iidinbuigli: ()deon.

I My Own Private Idaho ( IS) (Gus Van Satit. I'S. 1‘)‘)l ) River Phoenix. Kcatiti Reeves. William Richeit. 105 iiiitis. Shakespeare's Henry [1’ Party I (l/Itl 2 are given a sleazy. contemporary twist in Van Sant's follow-tip to the admirable Drugstore ('uirlmv. Screen heart- thtobs Phoenix and Reeves make brave career moves by playing a rent boy and the pteppie layabout object of his affections. btit to good :ffect. A compelling. idiosyncratic. left-field gem. Iiditibui'gli: Cameo.

I Right of the Demon ( I S) (Jacques 'I‘otii'riettt‘. I'K. 1057) Dana Andrews. Niall Mac(iinriis. Atlietie Seyler. S7 mitis. Screen-writers Charles Bennett and IIal Ii. Chester are the real stars of this comparative rarity. an intelligent horror film. Adapted from a story by MR. James. iti which an occulist wreaks vengeance on his enemies by stttiiriiotiitig a tiiedicval demon. the film achieves a sustained level of suspense. with several genuinely frightening sequences. Iiditibtii'gh: I‘iltltltOtlSC.

I North (PCii (Rob Reitier. I'S. l‘)‘)-I) lilijah Wood. Jon Lovitz. Bruce Willis. 87 riiitis. l'nivet'sally popular. btit ignored by his folks. .\'ottIi goes out iii search of new parents. btrt titiie is running out as Ire travels the world: better

and

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The List 18 Noveiiiber- I December 109-1 23