The List: 26 Jan 1996 (32/92)

FILM INDEX

obsessed older brother. is terriﬁc in the later. more dramatic scenes. brit the concept is too clumsy in its contemporary incarnation. See preview and review. (ieneral release.

I The Santa Clause (U) (John Pasquin. L’S. i994) Tim Allen. Judge Reinhold. Wendy Crewson. 98 mins. When he unknowingly dons that famous red suit. divorced toy company executive Scott Calvin discovers a clause that means he's legally botrnd to be Santa from that moment on. TV star Allen (Home Imp/‘m‘r'lnc'ntl is a competent lead in this upbeat festive tale that tries hard to appeal to the widest possible audience. (‘entral2 Allanpark.

I Seven ( I8) (David Fincher. L’S. I995) Brad Pitt. Morgan Freeman. (iwyneth Paltrovv. I27 mins. The outline is familiar — two cops track dowrt a serial killer — but Seven is a step ahead of its rivals. From its opening title sequence onwards. it's an extremely dark movie which winds throtrgh the most twisted recesses of human nature. liach death is a graphic interpretation of one of the seven deadly sins. giv ing Alien 3 director l‘incher the rnatetial for an intense stylistic exercise in horror. (ieneral release.

I Showgirls ( IS) (Paul V'erhoeven. l'S. I995) Elizabeth Berkeley. Kyle .\lacl.achlan. (iina (iershon. I30 mins. Director Vcrhoeven and writer Joe liszterhas combine agairt for an unbelievably crtrde ‘expose‘ of l.as Vegas pond life. w ith an ambitious young woman moving tip in the world from a lap-dancing dive to a casino revue. A catalogue of exploitation cliches. clunky dialogue arid gratuitous topless set pieces that will no doubt have a life on the video shelves with the sticky hanky brigade. Edinburgh: ()deon. l’(‘l. Strathclyde: L't‘l (‘lydebank

I Sister My Sister ( 15) (Nancy Meets-lei. t'K. 1995) Julie Walters. Joely Richardson. Jodhi May. 89 mins. A respectable bourgeois household shocks l930s France with the incestuous relationship of its sibling servants The script and director show their tlreatrrcal roots with a tedious build tip and endless meaningful glances. so despite some solid performances. it's too slow where it sliorrld be suspenseful. See review. lidinburgh: I-‘ihnhouse. I Sisters Or The Balance Of Happiness ( 15) (Margarethe Von 'I‘rotta. West (iermany. I979) Jtrtta Lampe. (itldl'tlll (iabriel. Jessica liruh. 95 mins. When the sister that she dominates kills herself. secretary Maria (l.ampe) begins a

similarly paltertted relationship with a girl front her office. A more controlled analysis of a sibling relationship than \'on ’I‘i'otta's other Sivre/ films. which also has comments to make about the problems in post-WW2 (ierman society. lidinburgh: Iiilm (irrild.

I The Sound (It Music (t'r (Robert Wise. (‘8. I965) Julie Andrews. (‘hristopher Plummet. Richard llaydtr. lileartot‘ Parker. Peggy Wood. 173 mins. In the late l930s. vivacious nun Maria (Andrews) introduces the Von 'I‘rapp children to the joys of music. and their widowed father (Plummer) to the joys of love as Nazism begins to sweep Austria. ()ne of the great screen musicals. completely uricynical. and boasting a host of memorable songs and chann-sodden moments. And it's all based on a true story. Iidinburgh: I‘ilmhouse.

I Species ( IS) (Roger Donaldson. US. I995) Ben Kingsley. Michael Madsen. Natasha llenstridge. IOS mins. The offspring of alien and human DNA escapes from a US government lab and sets out to mate in modern America. Btit iiglit away a mismatched learn is assembled to track her down — and kill her. The whole drive of the plot takes an easy. rnisogynistic line. playing on male fears of the female power to reproduce. adding a serious complaint to basic moans against this unor'iginal. non-scary piece of trash. life: New Picture House.

I Star Trek Special (Po) (t's. l9S-t/So/S9/9l ) William Shatncr. Del-‘oi'est Kelley. Leonard Nimoy. l()5/l l9/I()7/l()9 mins. i:()tll' tr‘ckkie treats in the shape of big screen episodes 3--6. one after the other: The Search For Spock. The Winter Home. The Final Frontier and The l'nilivt'ui'c'l'ci/ (‘nlrril/‘i'. Stralhclytlc; i'ias‘t Kilbride Arts (critic.

I The Swan Princess rt‘i (Richard Rich. t'S. I995) Willi the voices of John ('leese. Jack Palance. Steven Wright. 94 mins. Sivan l.alc rrr its fairytale form. with all the expected ingredients that modern children‘s animated features contain -— talking animals. bland bttt cute heroes. musical routines. An evil riiagician casts a spell on a princess. turning her into a swan. Arid any film that features I’alance doing a song called ‘.\'o More Mr Nice Guy" has to by worth a visit. Izdiubui'gh: l'(‘l. Stt'athclyde: Magnum. ()deons, l'(‘I (‘lydebankz

I he Me Up! ﬁe Me Down! ( IX) (Pedro Almtxlovar. Spain. I990) Antonio Bandcras. Victoria Abiil. Francisco Rahal. l0l mins. It’s women on the verge of exploitation time as

FREE SCREENING

Spike Lee’s Blockers

Spike Lee's latest film. based on the novel by Richard Price. stars Harvey Keitel as a cop caught up with two brothers from the inner city one a drug dealer. the other a straight-laced family man. Possibly Lee's most accessible movie to date but nonetheless one that pulls no punches in dealing with the problems caused by crack cocaine. Produced by Martin Scorsese. and also featuring great performances by John Tunurro and newcomer Mekhi Phifer. C/ockers sees Lee back on the hard-hitting foriri of [)(r The Rig/tr Thing. The List is offering you the rare chance to get something for nothing. On Saturday 3 Feb the UCI Clydebank is having a screening of (lockers at 10.30pm for l lprn. Anyone taking this voucher along to the UCI. Clydebank before Fri 2 Feb will receiv ' a free ticket to the screening. The film goes on generer release on Fri 9 Feb. and next issue of The list features an in-depth interview with Spike Lee.

Almvxlovar reveals his most provocative confection to date with a bare outline that reads like sexist trash: rrtale loony Banderas kidnaps porno queen Abril. ties her to the bed. pumps her ftrll of drugs and. lo. they fall in love. Look beyond the sordid details. however. and the film creates its own moral logic based on mutual need between two very damaged characters. In the end. Almodovar manages creditany to wring moments of crnotioual resonance out of the tttost unpiomising matetral. (ilasgow: (il’l'.

I To Die Fan [5) (Gus Van Sant. l'S. I995) Nicole Kidman. Matt Dillon. Joaquin Phoenix. I07 mitts. ()bsessed w ith 'l'\’ farne. Suzanne (Kidmarr) takes a job as a weathet‘girl with her local cable station. btit uses her position to begin a (Its‘umentaiy on modern youth. Arid uses her subjects to knock off her husband (Dillon). a ball-and-chain around her ambitious ankles. Van Sarit's ultimately tragic satire on the psychological power of 1S media isn't a new subject. but his treatment is enlivened considerably by an excellently judged [\‘ii'ormancc by Kidrnan. vv Ito‘s beginnirtg to show her true potential. Edinburgh: Cameo. Iiife: Adam Smith.

I 23:58 ( l5) t l’ierre-\\'rllram (ilenn. lirance. I992) Jean-l-iancois Stevenin. Jean Pierre .‘ylalo. (ictard (iarmcr. S3 mins. liilm references come in all forms — imagery. dialogue. clips. plot smulatrty~ ltl (ilcrm's caper movie. a specific homage to Kubrick's The Killing. llet‘e. however. the setting is the Le Mans 24-hour motorcycle race. the goal a si\ million franc heist, \Ioie interesting for its buffci'y than its thirllcr' qualities. (ilasgow: (il’l‘.

I The Usual Suspectsr ls) ( lily-an Singer. 178. I995) (iabriel Byrne. Kcv in Spacey. Stephen Baldw in. 106 mins. There‘s a good sense of uoir lataltsm hanging over 'l'hr ('rrru/ Sits/tech.

w hrch 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. lidrnburgh: l‘ilmhouse. ()dcoit.

I The Virgin Spring t IS) (Ingmar Bergman. Sweden. I959) \Ias \'on Sydovv. Birgitta

\alberg. (iunnel l.rridblom. SS mins. As in T/It’

.Sr't'r'nth Sm/ a cotrple of years earlier. Bergman courtrres up a brooding and cruel medieval landscape vv ithin which to situate a heavily symbolic morality play. Here. a young virgin is raped and murdered after her elder sister sumriions rip a pagan curse. btrt when \'on Sydow averiges her death by dispatching the

sw incherds who cornmited the original atrocity a spring spouts tip from the ground on the spot

w here she died. (ilasgow: (ii-'1‘.

I Waiting To Exhale ( 15) (Forest Whitaker. (78. I995) Whitney Houston. Angela Bassett. Loretta l)evrrie. l.ela Rochoii. l2l mrris. 'I‘ltis' soapy account of fotri African American women engaged in a frustrated search for Mr Right pushes all the correct buttons. btrt seldom connects \\ llll reality it feels like we're eavesdropping on a series of informal self-help

classes for women vvhosc men done them wrong.

and the cast squce/c more from the banal dialogue that) ll deserves. See review. (ierrcial release.

I While You Were Sleeping ( P(i) (Jot) I‘uiteltaub. l‘S. I995) Sandra Bullock. Peter (iallaghcr. Bill Pullman. IIH rrtitis. A railway station ticket-seller rescues the man of her dreams from an oncornrrrg train. and is mistaken by his family for his fiancee while he is in a coma. She's happy to lrvc out her fatitasy. until the situation becomes complicated when she falls lor lier would-be bcati‘s brotltcr. A warm. somewhat sentimental comedy in which true love is pitted agarrrst romantic idealism in safe llollyvvood fashion. Bullock carries her first starring role with an easy charm. ('ential: MacRobett.

I The White Balloon (l') (Jafat Panahi. Iran. I995) Aida \Ioharrimadkham. \lohscn Kafili. licrcshteh Sadr ()rfam S4 units A young girl goes to the market to buy a goldfish. btrt loses lici money on the way The material may be the most rntrndane of concerns. bill this film. which unfolds Ill real time. is as ircrve-wiacking as any Hitchcock thirllcr. With its truth to detail. stylistic simplicity arid vvoridcrfirl depiction of innocence and pturty. it icaw akctrs faitlt in the medium of cinema. lidinburgh: ('ameo.

I The Young Poisoner's Handbook ( la) (Benrairriu Ross) lltigli ()'(‘oiior. Antony Sher. (‘Iiailotte (‘olcmarr lt)5 mins. Adolescent bitterness and a schoolboy fascination with toxic substances bccoirre a lethal chemical cocktail when teenager (iraham Young starts poisoning family and friends. Director Ross takes great risks w ith his riialciial. btrt the tone is expertly rendered - there are urorricrits of excruciating horror and nastiness, birt they're complemented by a dark and drsttrrbing comedy. lidinburgh: (‘amco

FILM

LISTINGS WEEK ONE Friday 26—Thursday 1

Readers are advised that programmes may be subject to-late change at any time. [0] indicates that wheelchair access is available, though prior notification is advisable. [E] indicates the availability or an induction loop for the convenience or hearing aid users. Film Listings compiled by Thom Dibdin.

GLASGOW CINEMAS

I CANNON Clarkston Road. M trircnd. 637 264I. £2.80 (£2.20 before 5pm). Student: £2.20. Child/()AP £2.

1. Seven ( IS) 2.30pm (not Sat/Sun). 5.15pm. 8.20pm.

Babe (ti) Sat/Sun only. l2.30pm (not Sun). 2.50pm.

2. Sabrina (PG) I.20pm (not Sun).

5. I0pm. Spin.

3. Dangerous Minds ( I5) 3.25pm (not Sat/Sun). 5.45pm. 8.45pm.

Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (PG )

Sat/Sun only. lprn (not Sun). .v.l5pm.

I CITY CENTRE ODEON Rertlield Street. 332 34 I3 (24 hour itrfo line: ()l42 693

. I3). Bar. [DI screens 2. 3 and 4. £4 (£3.25 before 5pm). Student/(IBM): £3.25. Child/HAP: 2.7.5 (£2.50 before 5pm). Superior .scats (no concessions): £4.50 (£3.75 before 5pm). Advance booking on Access/\"isa/Switch hotline: 33. 955I arid at box office from I Iam--7pm. Dangerous Minds ( I5) I.I5ptit. 3.45pm. 6. I 5pm. 9pm & late.

Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (I’(})

I l.45am (Sat only). 2pm. 4.15pm. 6.30pm.

Seven t IS) I.45pm. 5.45pm. 8.45pm a late.

Waiting To Exhale t 15) 2pm. 5.45pm. S.45pm.

Goldeneye ( 12) 2pm (trot Sat/Suit). 5.45pm. 8.45pm.

The Indian In The Cupboard (PG) Sat/Sun only. llam (not Stilt). l.l5pm. 3.30pm. Babe (U) I I.I5am (Sat only). l.3()pm. 3.45pm. 6pm (not Sun).

Braveheart ( l5) Spin.

Father Of The Bride 2 (PG) Sun only. 5.45pm.

The List: 26 Jan 1996 (Issue 271)