FILM INDEX
and order are barely able to suppress a reckless bedlarn rampaging on the highways of the state. W-ary and disgusted. super'cop Gibson retires but returns with a purpose to avenge the rmrrder by marauding bikers of his wife and child. Violent stuff witlr death-defying stunt work. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I The Maltese Falcon (PG) (John lltrston. US. 1941) Humphrey Bogart. Mary Astor. Sidney Greenstreet. Peter Lorie. 101 mins. Huston's first film is a quintessential. claustrophobic film nuir. Bogart is caught in a web of deceit and betrayal as the Fat Man uses every means. including rmrrder. to get his hands on the elusive ornament of the title. Forget the twists and turns of Dashiell Hammett's plot. enjoy instead the darkly comic world peopled by Sam Spade and Joel Cairo. With an episode of ctrlt TV favourite The Saint. lidrnburgh: Cameo.
I The Man Who Fell To Earth ( )8) (Nicolas Roeg. CK. 1976) David Bowie. Rip Torn. Buck Henry. 138 mins. An alien searching 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 performance in this dazzling. m‘casronally obtuse. piece of Roegian sci-fi. A film that bears and indeed improves with repeated viewings. With an episode ofcult TV favotrrrte Sluice I999. Edinburgh: Cameo. I Miami Rhapsody ( )5) (David l-‘i-ankcl. ('8. 1995) Sarah Jessica Parker. Antonio Banderas. Mia Farrow. 97 mins. it's not often that Hollywood manages to pull off a romantic comedy that comes at you consistently from a woman's point of view. Aspiring comedy writer Gwen decides to settle down and get married. otin to discover that all of her family are having affairs. Despite this rather different approach to romance. the tone isn’t necessarily cynical. more open and honest for the 90s. Strathclyde: 13C1 [East Kilbride.
I Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie (PG) (Bryan Spiccr. 1995) Paul Freeman. Gabrielle Fitzpatrick. Amy Jo Johnson. 95 mins. A strictly juvenile big screen version of the TV show with the Angel Grove teenagers battling the evil lvan ()oze. Wearing their colour-aided jumpsuits. they use good old-fashioned teamwork to tumble and kickbox their way through oodles of monsters. The fights are well- staged. btrt some of the effects are tacky. It’s all panto—bland enough to keep the kids happy. Glasgow: ()deon.
I Mortal Komhat ( 1.5) (Patti Anderson. CS. 1995) Christopher Lambert. Robin Shou. Linden Ashby. 101 mins. Three top iiarth warriors are selected to battle against alien warriors in order to win the ultimate prize — the freedom of mankind. L'rrlike Streetfiglrtel'. Mortal Kant/mt has a sense of humour about itself. but the dramatic limitations are obvious. Pretty soon. it's caugirt in a rut of endless. repetitive fight sequences. There are arcade games with better plots. General release. r
I Muriel’s Wedding ( l 5) (P.J. Hogan. Australia. 1994) Toni Collette. Rachel Griffiths. Bill Hunter. 105 mins. l’giy duckling Muriel decides to leave behind her boring life in Porpoise Spit and search for her Prince Charming in the big lights of Sydney. A bouncy Abba soundtrack and fairy tale ambiance add to the charm of one of the year's best crowd-pleasers. As sparkling. in its own way. as The Adventures Of Priscilla. Glasgow: Gi-T. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I The Neon Bible (12) (Terence Davies. l'K. 1995) Gena Rowlands. Jacob Tierney. Diana Scarwid. 92 mins. The setting may be different — the US Southern Bible Belt in the 1940s. lifted from the novel by John Kennedy 'l‘oole — btrt the concerns are identical to Davies's previous works (Distant Voices Still Lives. Tlte Lung [)uy Closes). A boy's memory is forever marked by his violent. absent father. his overly sensitive mother and his flamboyant night-club srrrger aunt. Strong women. weak men. pain and tiny moments of joy: Davies has made the same film again. albeit beautifully. particularly on account of Mick Coulter's widescreen photography. See feature and review. Glasgow: GFT. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I The Net (12) (lrwin Winkler. US. 1995)
Sandra Bullock. Jeremy Northam. Dennis Miller.
Lonesome software programmer Angela (Bullock) accidently comes across a disk that can infiltrate any computer system without detection. and soon becomes the victim of a shadowy criminal group who erase her official identity and then try to do the same to her corporal one. Predictable dangers for a single white female are given the candy store thrills of the intemet. But there's a lack of suspense for which even the likeable presence of Bullock :an't compensate. Glasgow: Odeon. Edinburgh: Odeon. UCl. Strathclyde: UCls. WMR.
I Nikita (18) (Luc Besson. France. 1990) Anne Parillaud. Tcheky Karyo.1ean-Hughes Anglade. Jeanne Moreau. 114 mins. The latest exercise in stylish tosh from Gallic muesrm Besson. Parillaud stars as a junkie waif resurrected from her dreary existence by the enigmatic Karyo. an
agent for the government's most secretive undercover organistaion. and pretty soon she's a topnotch assassin. Brit does this make her any more f ulfilled'.’ Edinburgh: Cameo.
I Nine Months ( 12) (Chris Columbus. US. 1995) Hugh Grant. Julianne Moore. Tom Arnold. 100 mins. Grant plays Sam (of course. he really plays himself). a child psychologist who hates kids and who goes ape when his wife says she's pregnant. The ever-successful Chris Columbus has come up with a film that‘s impossible to irate. with flawless script and infectious performances. So it's still to early for the Hugh Grant backlash. See review. General release.
I Pocahontas (1’) (Mike Gabriel/Eric Goldberg. CS. 1995) With the voices of Mel Gibson. lrene Bedard. Billy Connolly. 81 mins. The true story of Pocahontas is given a splash of Disney colour. reducing her from heroine to lovesick bimbo as she falls madly in love with white settler Captain John Smith. The cliched beauty of the leads. the cutesy animals and talking tree make it a travesy. and even the songs are tuneless warbling ballads. Only the animation is worth a mention. General release.
I Priest ( 15) (Antonia Bird. UK. 1994) Linus Roache. Robert Carlyle. Tom Wilkinson. 103 mins. Writer Jimmy McGovern (Cracker: Ileurtv .»1nr/.1!iml.v) goes from strength to strength with another uncompromising foray into an area of social contention. while director Antonia Bird (Sure) shows that she too is adept at balancing political and emotional impact. Priest‘s handling of homosexuality within the clergy is no excuse for tabloid scandal; instead. what emerges is a story of personal freedom. compassion and the struggle against hypocrisy. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I Psycho (15) (Alfred Hitchcock. US. 1960) Anthony Perkins. Janet Leigh. Vera Miles. John Gavin. Martin Balsam. John Mclntire. 109 mins. llitclr's rnisogynistic masterpiece has a young secretary take off to iricksville with a bagful of her boss's money. Unfortunately for her she chooses to put up at the Bates' Motel. run by that nice Norman boy. The ironic dialogue (‘Mother's not quite herself today') make it ajoy to catch anytime around. We liked it didn't we mother . . . mother? Borders: Pavilion.
I The Quick And The Dead ( 15) (Sam Rairni. (S 1995) Sharon Stone. Gene Hackman. Russell Crowe. Leonardo DiCaprio. 108 mins. into town rides Stone. intent on a revenge-driven showdown with the immeasurably evil Hackrnan. who keeps his enemies six feet under with an annual quick-draw tournament for a huge cash prize. As befits a western more in the European as opposed to American tradition. R‘aimi behaves like Sergio Leone‘s hip. hyperactive grandson. Defiantly cartoonish. with as many twisted angles. fast edits. zooms and swoops as can be fitted in before high noon. Glasgow: Grosvenor. Strathclyde: Magnum.
I Reservoir Dogs ( 18) (Quentin Tarantino. US. 1992) Harvey Keitel. Tim Roth. Michael Madsen. 100 mins. A gang of hoods. known only to each other by colour-coded nicknames. meets at an abandoned warehouse to figure how out their rigorously planned heist went so drastically wrong. The best debut in years from w riter-director Tarantino. whose stylish violence seduces the audience into complicity. Brilliant in every sense of the word. Fife: Adam Smith.
I Rice People (PG) (Rithy Panh. France. 1993) 125 mins. This achineg slow portrait of a Cambodian rice-growing faruily is one of those films that seems to be completely bare on the surface. but allows a trickle of slight details to build into something more meaningful. When the father of the family dies. the wife is forced to take charge of her seven daughters and ensure that the crop comes in. Rice People demands a saintly patience. but it's depiction ofa community and way of life entirely distanced from the affluent West is intriguing and ultimately moving. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I Rob Roy (15) (Michael Caton-Jones. US/UK. 1995) Liam Neeson. Jessica Lange. Tim Roth. 130 mins. When he is betrayed by the Marquis of Montrose (John ilurt) and a maliciously psychopathic Englishman (Roth). Rob Roy MacGregor is determined to win back the honour of his name. Alan Sharp's script is rich. witty and literate: Caton-Jones's direction injects a little action. but doesn't pander to Hollywood: and all the performances are wonderful. A stirring epic which refuses to compromise. making it one of the best films about Scotland and the Scottish psyche ever made. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I Rudyard Kipling'e The Jungle Book (PG) (Stephen Sommers. US. 1994) Jason Scott Lee. Lena Headey. Sam Neill. 112 mins. Disney's new live action version of Kipling‘s well-loved stories doesn‘t have the appealing talking animals or songs of the 1967 animated version. but it‘s a great matinee-style wheeze — imagine an early Tarzan movie crossed with an Indiana Jones adventure. Jungle boy Mowgli meets up
again with the British army regiment for whom his father was a guide. but finds himself forced to reveal to a group of soldier cads the whereabouts of some hidden treasure. Great fun. Strathclyde: Cannon.
I The Secret Garden (l?) (Agnieszka Holland. US. 1993) Kate Maberly. Maggie Smith. John Lynch. 102 mins. The unusual combination of the director of Euro/m [Sum/m and the writer of lirlwurrl Scissor/minis conspires to create an authentic and affecting version of the children‘s classic novel. Shipped back from India. lonely orphan Mary makes friends with a local lad and her sickly cousin. exerting a magical recuperative process on the latter and a hidden walled garden. Touching and uncontrived. Strathclyde: MGM.
I The Sexual life or The Belgians ( 18) (Jan Bucquoy. Belgium. l99~1)Jean-Henri Compete, Sophie Schneider. Noe Franq. 80 mins. A semi- autobiographical tale of a country boy's coming of age as a would-be revolutionary and writer in 50s and ()0s Belgium — not. you'd think. the basis of some slyly irreverent. episodic charmer. It's also not the titilating study that the title suggests. more a witty and honest look back on the ups and downs of various amorous escapades from a teenager who's busy trying to change the world. Glasgow: Grosvenor. Strathclyde: East Kilbride Arts Centre.
I Silenced Writers/Silenced Stories ( IS) A rare screening of Robert Tongue's The Tim 0/ Us (see Glasgay! preview). which was banned by the BBC. forms the central part of this examination of the differences between silencing artists in repressive regimes and in the UK. Speakers include writer/editor Bob Cant. lrish activist/writer Kieran Rose. deputy director of Stonewall Anya Palmer and a representative from Amnesty International. Glasgow: Gi’l'.
I Six Degrees or Separation ( l5) (Fred Schepisi. US. 1993) Stockard Channing. Donald Sutherland. Will Smith. 11 1 mins. A New York bourgeois couple help out a young black man who claims to be a friend of their son; although it soon becomes obvious he's pulling a scam. it's a story they can dine out on. Smith's performance dances along the fine line between audacity and deceit and Charming is a delight. but the film is a tad too long and not a little stilted. Glasgow: Gi-‘l‘.
I Spanking The Monkey ( 18) (David 0. Russell. 1S. 1994) Jeremy Davies. Alberta Watson. Benjamin ilendricksorr. 98 mins. Emotionally blackmailed into looking after his bed-ridden mother during college vacation. Ray's life begins to tip over the edge as annoying circumstances escalate and sexual tension begins to take its roll. The subject matter isn't sensationalised. but played out in psychologically realistic terms: the performances. too. tend not so much to be offbeat as understandably awkward and uncomfortable as they would in real life. Glasgow: Grosvenor.
I Species ( 18) (Roger Donaldson. US. 1995) Ben Kingsley. Michael Madsen. Natasha Henstridge. 108 mins. The offspring of alien and human DNA escapes from a US government lab and sets out to mate in modern America. But right away a mismatched team is assembled to track her down — and kill her. The whole drive of the plot takes an easy. misogynistic line. playing on male fears of the female power to reproduce. adding a serious complaint to basic moans against this unoriginal. non-scary piece of trash. General release.
I Stargate (PG) (Roland Emmerich. US. 1994) Kurt Russell. James Spader. Jaye Davidson. 122 mins. Was Earth visited centuries ago by aliens. Seems like it. particularly when Egyptologist Spader solves the key to a huge engraved circle found at the pyramids and unlocks a doorway to another planet. Along with a military team led by Russell. he encounters totalitarian space god Ra (Davidson) and reverses US foreign policy by helping the locals. Big budget science fiction with gleefully ridiculous story and brilliant effects. Strathclyde: UCI East Kilbride.
I Straw Dogs (18) (Sam Peckinpah. UK. 1971) Dustin Hoffman. Susan George. David Warner.
l 18 mins. An mild—mannered American brings his English wife back to her borne village. only to have violence flare in this inbred Cornish community. Long tarred with the ‘gratuitous‘ brush. Peckinpah‘s contemporary horror/thriller still retains its power. Glasgow: GFT.
I Super 8 1/2 ( 18) (Bruce LaBruce. Canada. 1994) Gay porn auteur LaBruce sends himself up in this mock-doc about a Warholian gay porn auteur on the decline. Hardcore action (the strongest you‘re likely to see on a legitimate big screen) alternates with some good comedy and satire. Glasgow: Glasgow Film and Video Workshop.
I Tartan Short: ( 18) ()0 mins. The third year of films made under the Scottish Film Production Fund/BBC Scotland scheme has proved the strongest yet. Stevan Rimkus‘s Dancing features a brilliant central performance by Sylvia Syms: Bill Pryde‘s The Pen has Bill Paterson scouring
a train for a writing utensil: and Peter Mullan's Fridge is a masterpiece of short filmmaking. the struggle of two homeless alcoholics to rescue a boy trapped in an abandoned fridge in a Glasgow back court. See review. Glasgow: Gf’i‘. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
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 forru of a new human leader. The machines respond by sending Schwarzenegger cyborg back in time to 1984 on a mission to kill the future leader's mother. Inventive. excitingly‘ paced science-fiction adventure with a notable performance from Arnie in his first villainous role. Fife: New Picture House.
I Thelma & louise ( is) (Rittlcy Scott. (is. 1991) Susan Sarandon. Geena Dav is. Harvey Keitel. Michael Madsen. 129 mins. The buddy/road movie genres are turned on their heads as Sarandon and Davis grasp the steering wheel and head off leaving a trail of murder and mayhem in their wake. ()n one level. the film is the critical catalyst that had the feminists cheering and put the stars on the cover of Time magazine; just as imjxn'tantly. it's an accessible piece of entertainment with excellent central performances. Glasgow: Gi’l‘.
I Third Known Nest ( 18) Best known as the director of Sir-nun. Tom Kalin is also a productive short filmmaker. in this special Glasgayl event. Kalin wrll introduce a selection of nine of his shorter works. Glasgow: C(‘A.
I To Die For (15) (Gus Van Sant. US. 1995) Nicole Kidrnan. Matt Dillon. Joaquin Phoenix. 107 mins. Obsessed with TV fame. Suzanne (Kidrnan) takes ajob as a weatheigrrl with her local cable station. but uses her position to begin a documentary on modern youth. And uses her subjects to knock off her husband (Dillon). a ball-and-chain around her ambitious ankles. Van Sant's ultimately tragic satire on the psychological power of US media isn't a new subject. but his treatment is enlivened considerably by an excellently judged [wrformance by Kidrnan. who's beginning to show her true potential. See preview and review. Glasgow: MGM Par'khead. Edinburgh: MGM. l'Cl.Strathc1yde: UCls.
I 2001: A Space Odyssey (U) (Stanley Kubrick. 1,7S/L'K. 1968) Keir Dullea. Gary Lockwood. 141 mins. Celebrated visionary epic about the history and future of the human race. superbly crafted and directed by Kubrick. It needs the big screen to do real justice to the famous sequences on the development of man and the landing of the mysterious monolith. ()ne of the great classics of modern cinema. Edinburgh: Cameo. I Under Siege 2 ( 18) (Geoff Murphy. US. 1995) Steven Seagal. Eric Bogosian. Katherine lleigl. 99 mins. Seagal returns as former Navy SEAL and gourmet chef Casey Ryback. this time finding himself taken hostage on a train by a mad computer genius and a bunch of mercenaries. Bogosian is a totally charismatic nutter. who has captured a secret satellite with explosive powers and has set his sights on Washington. so it's tip to our hero to save the free world. The soft-spoken Seagal is no great actor. but the film has plenty of action. and a satisfyineg explosive climax. Delivers the goods. See review. General release.
I The Usual Suspects ( 18) (Bryan Singer. US. 1995) Gabriel Byme. Kevin Spacey. Stephen Baldwin. 106 mins. There's a good sense of noir fatalism hanging over The Usual Suspects. which is guessing game cinema at its best. A perfectly matched team of crooks discover that their chance meeting wasn't so random after all: they're being used in an intricate vendetta by legendary gangster boss Keyser Sose. So stylish. it sends a tingle down the spine: but the ludicrous use of Pete Postletwaite‘s character almost undermines it all. Glasgow: MGM Film Centre. Edinburgh: Cameo. Fife: New Picture House.
I While You Were Sleeping (PG) (Jon Turteltaub. US. 1995) Sandra Bullock. Peter Gallagher. Bill Pullman. 104 mins. A railway station ticket-seller rescues the man of her dreams from an oncoming train. and is mistaken by his family for his fiancee while he is in a coma. She‘s happy to live out her fantasy. until the situation becomes complicated when she falls for her would-be beau's brother. A warm. somewhat sentimental comedy in which true love is pitted against romantic idealism in safe Hollywood fashion. Bullock carries her first starring role with an easy charm. Glasgow: Odeon. Edinburgh: UCl. Fife: Adam Smith. Strathclyde: UCI C‘lydebank.
I The Wild Bunch (Sam Peckinpah. US. 1969) William Holden. Ernest Borgnine. Robert Ryan. 14.5 mins. The bloody but emotionally sensitive tale of a battle to the death between rough-riding Texans and Mexican revolutionaries. A classic and highly influential Western. which creates a paradoxical beauty from explicitly violent ingredients. Glasgow: GFT.
28 The List 20 Oct-2 Nov 1995