FILM INDEX .
FILM m3-
Fllms screening this fortnight are listed below with certificate, credits, brief review and venue details. Film index compiled by Alan Morrison.
I Apnisakshi ( I5) (India. I995) Nana Patekar. Marrirsha Korola. Jackie Sheroff. I65 mins. When her‘jealous husband. who won her in return for a debt. is feared dead in an accident. Madhir starts life afresh with a man who really loves her. But unexpectedly her husband returns to the scene. In Hindi with no subtitles. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I low! ( l8) (Francis Coppola. US. I980) Martin Sheen. Marlon Brando. Robert Duvall. Dennis Hopper. l53 mins. Vietnam as The Ultimate Trip. We follow [IS Army assassin Sheen downriver and deeper into the Heart of Darkness ruled over by Brando's mad Colonel Kuitz. Alternater pretentious and visually overpowering (the Valkyries helicopter attack. for example). its gr'andiloquent folly somehow pierces right to the bone of the conflict. Glasgow: GET. Edinburgh: liilmhouse.
I Babe (Li) (Chris Noonan. Ai'stralia. I995) James Cromwell. with the voices of Christine Cavanaugh. Miriam Margolyes. litigo Weaving. 92 mins. An orphaned pig falls under the eye of a kindly collie and begins to think he's destined for glory at the regional trials. Talking animals suggest that this is a kids’ movie: to an extent it is — and a great one — btrt there's enough skewered humour (hail the psycho mice?) for adults to discover an unexpected cult hit. A triumph for the underpig. Glasgow: Virgin Parkhead. Strathclyde: UCI East Kilbride.
I Beautiful Thing ( I5) (llettie Macdonald. L'K. I996) Glen Berry. Linda Henry. Scott Neal. 9() mins. Jamie. a teenager having a hard time at the local comprehensive. falls for neighbour Ste. who himself is on the receiving end from his ex- boxer dad. First-timer Macdonald's direction is unflashy. but attuned to the inner lives of these motley individuals. and the cast work wonders. Bright. summery and full of life‘s possibilities. Glasgow: Odeon. Edinburgh: Odeon. Stratbclyde: East Kilbride Arts Centre.
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I Blood Simple ( l8) (Joel Coen. t'S. I983) John Getz. I-‘iaricis McDor'iiiand. M. Emmet Walsh. 99 mins. Arrs‘picious debut from the Coen bi'others' directioii/prtxJuction team. Walsh excels as the seedy Sheriff investigating a simple murder whose devilish Texan chronicle of double- crossirig is anything but simple. Ari enthusiastic attempt at coriteriiporar'y film iron. which keeps everyone guessing even after the final frame. Glasgow: Gl-T. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I Blue In The Face ( I5) (Wayne Wang. t'S. I995) Harvey Keitel. Roseanne. Victor Argo. 89 mins. l'siiig Keitel's cigar store manager’s tangled love life as a loose narrative thread. the makers of Smuke returned to the set for an improvised portrait of Brooklyn and its residents. Witty celebrity cameos aplenty from Madonna. Jim Jarmusch and Michael J. I‘ox. in what is nothing less than a party on screen. Edinburgh: I'IIIIIIIOIISC. l-‘ife: Adam Smith.
I Brayeheart ( I 5) (Mel Gibson. Its. 1995) Mel Gibson. Patrick McGoohan. Sophie Marceau. I77 mins. Mel Gibson's long and bloody account of the life of Scottish warrior hero William Wallace boasts some remarkable battle scenes and great perfoiiiiances. Aiming to entertain ()ii a wider scale than the more literate Rub Rm. Brui‘e/Ierirl's Scottish passion is tempered by a few Hollywood moments — touches (if sentimentality and ‘dr'aiiiatic' historical inaccuracy. Nevertheless. it's a fine. full-blooded attempt to tap into the spirit that fires Scotland's history and heroes. Edinburgh: I:Illl)ll()tl.\‘c. ()deon. I‘ife: Adam Smith.
I Broken Arrow ( IS) (John Woo. t'S. I995) John Travolta. Christian Slater. Samantha Mathis. 86mins. Bad guy iiiilitaiy pilot John Travolta ejects his partner Christian Slater from the cockpit while on a routine assignment and nips ()ff with tw o live nuclear missiles. The script (by the writer of Speed) falls over itself in an attempt to set tip as many problems as possible for Slater to solve. but it also offers plenty ()f superior set pieces. And Travolta relishes playing the villain. Central: MacRobert. I Brond ( l5) (Michael (‘atori-Jories. l'K. I987) John Hannah. Stiatford Johns. I53 mins. Scots- boin ('atoii-Jones (Memphis Bel/e. Rub Rui') was still at film school when he directed this three- part thriller for television. Hannah is a student who witnesses a murch in Glasgow. but there‘s no corpse. and he comes under the scrutiny of a mysterious man called Brond. Edinburgh: l‘ilmhouse.
I The Cable Guy ( I 2) (Ben Stiller. l'S. I996) Jim ('arrey. Matthew Broderick. Leslie Mann. 96 mins. When he settles into his batchelor pad. hoping to enjoy an easy life ofcable television. architect Steven Kovacs (Broderick) didn't expect that the cable installer would go to any lengths to become his friend. Misjudged comedy with the hyperactive (‘ar‘rey in conniving form. ftill of spot-tlie-sceiie humour. General release. I Casino ( l8) (Martin Scorsese. l'S. I995) Robert De Niro. Sharon Stone. Joe Pesci. I78 mins. Lifetime gambler Ace Rotlistein is chosen as the mob‘s man in Vegas. and runs the casinos smootth until things fall apart during the 70s. Scorsese's latest gangster epic has a touch of Greek tragedy about its downfall of a self-made man. but it‘s too riiuch in (imane/lus territory to be special. The cinematography and editing are as textbook as ever. and Stone delivers the performance of her career. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I Charles Bennie Mackintosh Event I20 mins. In association with the Mackintosh exhibition at the McLellan Galleries. the GET screens a double bill of films which examine his life and work: Murray Grigor's Muekinimh and Alistair Moffat's Dreams Am/ Ret‘u/Iei'limrv. Glasgow: GFT.
I The Confomist ( l 8) (Bernardo Bei‘tolucci. It/Fr/Ger. I970) Jean-Louis Trintigant. Stefania Sandrelli. Gastonne Moschin. II5 mins. A man tries to sublirnate his homosexuality by conforming to the dictates of 30s fascist Italy. marrying a drill wife and agreeing to carry out an assassination. A masterpiece of visual style that draws disturbing links between the political and sexual arenas. The Con/ornir'sr can now be seen in Benolucci's own ll5-minute cut. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
I Dead Man ( l8) (Jim Jarmusch. US. I995) Johnny Depp. Gary Farmer. Lance Ilenricksen. l2I mins. After heading out west for a job vacancy that's already been filled. accountant Bill Blake (Depp) finds a posse on his tail after the shooting of his would-be employer‘s son. With a bullet in his own chest. Blake hooks up with an Indian called Nobody (Farmer). who reckons this is the spirit of the poet Blake and so prepares a proper funeral. Glorioust shot in black and white. meticuloust paced and imbued with a spiritual transcendence. Jarmusch's existential Western is innovative and unexpected. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I m Calls I» (IS) (Hal Salwen. US. I994) Alanna Ubach. Tim Daly. Dana Wheeler. 8| mins. The morning after a disasterous party. the invited non-attenders ring in their excuses to the
hostess. A movie of telephone calls”? ()Ii. yes. As a satire on the growing loss of orri ability to corriiiiunicate face to face. the film is inventive and fun. but the joke extends itself too far and. somewhere along the litre. disappears rip its own iirorrthpiece. See review. Glasgow: (‘iI-T. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I Desperado ( l8) (Robert Rodriguez. l'S. I995) Antonio Barideras. Salma Hayek. Joachim I)e Almeida. l()() mins. l’art sequel. part big brrdget remake. Des/ierm/u delivers all the shoot-ours and explosions denied us in Rodriguez's inventive debut [5/ .‘Iluriuehi. Barideras- siiiotrlders as the revenge-driven guitarist. bill the emphasis is not on plot — delight instead in the glorious action .set pieces. The irltrriiate firearm tIariienco. Strathclyde: ()deon Ayr.
I Diphy: The Biggest Dog In The World (t‘) (Walter Sherisori. l'Is’. I973) Jim Dale. Spike Milligari. Angela Douglas. 88 mins. Regularly wheeled ()iit to keep the kids quiet at Christmas. this concerns an ()Id English Sheepdog who accidentally eats a super-fertiliser designed to grow extra large vegetables. Instead (it dy trig a horrible death. like Alice lie grow s and grow s, which leads to all sorts of adventures Pleasant. old-fashioned fairiily' CIIlCllillllllIL‘lll. Glasgow: Virgin Parkhead.
I Double Indemnity (PU) (tIiIIy wilder. t's. I944) Barbara Stanwyck. I‘ICtI McMuiiay. Edward G. Robinson. l()6 mins. Cracking adaptation by Wilder and Raymond Chandler of the James M. Cain novel has insurance man McMrir‘r'ay attracted by the alluring Stariwyck. who talks him into murdering her spouse. and all goes well until his boss Edward G. begins to suspect forrl play. Sexual chemistry. labyrinthine plotting. tart wordplay. it's all here. A classic. Edinburgh: l‘IlllilimtsC.
I Dunston Checks In (Po) ( Ken K\\;Ipls. [8. I995) Jason Alexander. l-"aye I)iiriaway. Eric Lloyd. 88 mins. There's monkey business aplenty when a jewel thief smriggles his oi’angtitan partiiei-rri-ciime into a posh hotel. Adults w ill get even more out of this than kids. because the humour is irresistible. the characters suitably loathsome oi adorable. and Sam the ()rang a star in the making. Central: MacRobert. I Exotica ( l8) (Atom Egoyan. ('anada. I994) Bruce Greenwood. Mia Krrscliner. Elias Koteas.
. l()l mins. A brooding set of troubled souls who
collect in a strip cltrb are linked by a dark event it) their pasts. In a way. Egoyan's film. despite its setting. isn't about sex at all. It certainly doesn't allow the viewer to escape into fantasy. instead focusing on how these traumatised individuals cope with their personal sense of loss. The filrrimaker's most accessible film to date. Edinburgh: liilrrihouse.
I Farewell My Donculiine ( IS) ((‘hen Kaige. China. I993) Gong Li. Leslie (‘heung Xliarig Fengyi. I56 mins. The stoi y of two Peking ()per'a actors and the woman who comes between them provides an intimately detailed story which is set to a constantly shifting backdrop of Chinese politics during the 20th century. The Opera setting provides colour and spectacle. and questions how far a man will go for his art: the historical episodes give this Palriie d'()r' winning film the flavour of a genuine epic. Edinburgh: I‘iliiihouse.
I Fargo ( I8) (Joel ('oen. I'S. I996) Frances McDormand. Steve Buscemi. William H. Macy. 97 mins. Hoping to make some bucks. a car salesman attempts to have his wife kidnapped by hitmen; but quickly blood is spilt. As the pregnant police detective on the case. McDormarid provides a warm-hearted centre for the movie. while the absirr'dist plot and weird local colour gain momentum. It’ll be considered a classic. given time. Glasgow: ABC Sauchiehall Street. Edinburgh: Cameo.
I Farinelli ( l5) (Gerard Coi'biau. I‘rance/Belgiurrr. I994) Stefano Dionisi. Enrico Lo Verso. Jeroen Krabbe. lI0 mins. Biographical details. period splendour and a fictionalised narrative combine for an account of the life of l8th century castran Carlo Broschi. Dependent on his brother‘s music for his stardom (while his brother is dependent on hirii for an outlet for his compositions). his main desire is to sing the more emotional music of Ilandel rather than the custoiii-wi'itteii ornamental ditties his fans love. ()i'nate costumes. arresting vocal set pieces and a strong dramatic undercurrent make this a feast for the eyes and ears that doesn't ignore the mind. Edinburgh: l‘ilriilioiise.
I Flipper (PG) (Alan Shapiro. US. I996) Elijah Wood. Paul Ilogari. Chelsea Field. 96 mins. Difficult city teenager Sandy (Wood) doesn't warm to ex-hippy uncle Porter (Hogan) down in the Florida Keys until along comes friendly dolphin Flipper. The story brings to mind aspects of Andre and Free Willy. biit there are only so many scripts that can accommodate an acquatic star. Predictable stuff in the heart-warming category. See review. General release.
I French Twist Cazmi Mum/ii ( l8) (Josiane Balasko. France. l995) Victoria Abi'il. Josiane Balasko. Alain Chabat. 105 mins. When her van
Catch the best Film this fortnight.
FIRST IlIJlI
I James And The Giant Peach Roald Dahl's much-loved children‘s book is brought to bright and colourful life in the stop-motion animation style of The Nightmare Before Christmas. See preview and review. General release. I The Passion Of Darkly Iloon Philip Ridley's long awaited follow-up to The Reflecting Skin is a mix of gothic horror and adult fairytale. Religious fundamentalism clashes with unfamiliar sexuality in a lonely forest. See review. Edinburgh: Film/muse.
II The Hunchback Df llotra Darne Disney doesn‘t skim on the adult themes of Victor Hugo's novel. while the animation and songs prove strong enough to keep the kids spellbound. Another instant classic. General release.
I Dead Man The measured pace of Jim Jarinusch’s existential western adds to the dreamlike atmosphere as Johnny Depp goes on an epic journey. Edinburgh: Currier).
flE-BELEASES
I The Godfather Part II Coppola expands upon the themes and scope of the original with two parallel stories with Robert De Niro as the young Vito Corleone and Al Pacino reprising his role as Michael. New print. Edinburgh: Film/muse.
I Blood Simple Murderous intrigue in the sweaty heat of Texas as a strip bar owner plans to kill his wife and her lover. A stylish modern noir that marked the debut of the Coen brothers. Glasgow: GI'T Edinburgh: Currier).
breaks down outside the house of a conventional couple. cigar-clioiiiping bull dyke Balasko brings a new vaiiatioii of the menage-a-tr'ois into the lives of AMI and Chabat. A naughty. fun and engagrngly lirench sexual farce. filled with dynamic characterisations. Central: MacRobeit. I From Dusk Till Dawn ( I8) (Robert Rodriguez. l'S. I996) George (‘Iooneyz Harvey Keitel. Quentin Tarantino. I08 mins. For its first third. this Taramino-scripted movie is a suspensent kidnap thriller as two killers on the run (Clooney and 'l'ai'aiitino) hole tip with three hostages in a Mexican strip club. Then the tone changes into an sfx-heavy vampire western as the clientele spring fangs. Repetition abounds in a messy. tedious affair that's neither scary nor funny. Edinburgh: Cameo. UCI. Str'athclyde: lTCls.
I Get Shorty ( l5) (Barry Sonnenfeld. US. I995) John Travolta. Danny DeVito. Gene llackman. Rene Russo. I I0 mins. Loan shark Chili Palmer (Travolta) shifts from Miami to LA and. being a movie buff. decides to get into the film business. With its sharp dialogue. quirky characters and oflbeat humour. this is probably the best adaptation yet of an Elmore Leonard novel. Travolta shows his true star quality — he's as cool as milk and as deadly as a rattlesnake. Edinburgh: ABC.
I The Godfather, Put It ( l8) (Francis Coppola. US. I974) Al Pacino. Robert De Niro. Robert Duvall. 200 mins. Still the only sequel to win the
28 The List 26 Jul-8 Aug I996