Films screening this fortnight are listed below with certificate, credits. brief review and venue details. Film index compiled by Miles Fielder.
Affliction (l5) (Paul Sclrrader. US. I999) Nick Nolte. James Coburn. Sissy Spacek. 84 mins. There‘s no arguing the dedication that underpins Nick Nolte‘s performance as small- tovvn New Hampshire lawiiran Wade Whitehouse in Schrader‘s otherwise inaccessi- ble film. Patronised by his employer. divorced by his wife. hated by his daughter and living in the shadow of childhood beatings by alco- holic father. Wade is forced to gritr and bear it. Edinburgh: Cameo.
American llistory X ( )8) (Tony Kaye. US. I998) Edward Norton. Edward Furlong. II7 mins. A fierce. uncompromising study of racism amongst white working-class youths. American History X is as provocative as if is visually arresting. The film pulls no punches in its depiction of racist violence. but explores nrore fully the origins of bigoted attitudes that inform it. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. Kirkcaldy: Adanr Smith. Stirling: MacRobert.
An Ideal Husband (PU) (Oliver Parker. UK. I999) Rupert Everett. Cate Blanclrett. Julianne Moore. I00 trrirrs. When scheming Mrs Clieveley blackmarls brilliant politician Sir Robert Clriltern belrrnd his loving wife’s back. loafing Lord Goring comes to his friends assistance in this fine adaptation Oscar Wilde’s play. The cracking cast do justice to the archetypal Wildearr wittrcisnrs. Edinburgh: Dominion. Stirling: MacRobert.
Another Land (Amit Goren. I998) 85 mins. Examination of the meaning of 'home'. from a personal and public perspective. set against a background of political upheaval in Israeli between I992—98. Part of Descriptions OfA Struggle. an Israeli/Palestinian film season. Edinburgh: Fruitrrrarket Gallery.
Antz (PG) (Eric Darnell/Tint Johnson. US. I998) The voices of Woody Allen. Sharon Stone. Gene Hackman. 83 mins. When worker ant Z-4l95 meets Princess Bala. he falls corn- pletely in love; but. while trying to prove him- self as a soldier. Ire uncovers a dastardly plan to flood the colony. Brightly coloured and full of gags with slick computer animation. Edinburgh: Odeon. Ayr: Odeon.
Arsenic And Old Lace (PG) (Frank Capra. US. I942) Cary Grant. Raymond Massey. Peter Lorre. I I8 nrrns. Priceless black comedy has Grant upping the double-take factor when sinister criminals Massey and Lorre come to stay with his tw o sweet aunts. a double-act who of course are just as murderous them- selves. Part of the West End Film Festival. Glasgow: Gilmorelrill Centre.
Because Of That War (Orna Ben Dor. I988) 90 mins. Mufti-award winning documentary about the memory of the Holocaust. here reflected by second generation Israelis. Part of Descriptions ()f' A Struggle. air Israeli/Palestinian filirr season. Edinbtrrgh: Fruitnrarket Gallery.
Bedrooms And Hallways ( IS) (Rose Troche. UK. I999) Kevin .Vchrdd. Tom Hollander. James l’trrcfoy. 96 units. These li’i'i/i'mmiv Arid Hal/(vars are populated by pretty. profession- al. loved-up or cast-down twenty and thir- tysonretlrings. In Illls‘ case they also happen to be Say. Credible characters vv ithrn the franre- work of a classic British farce. Falkirk: FTH. Beefcalte ( l8) (’I‘Irom Fitzgerald. Canada. I999) 93 mins. Blurring fact with fiction. Brett-aka tells the story of Bob Mizer. founder oferotic model agency. Athletic Model Guide. Into Mizer's sun-drenched. well-oiled world walks l7-year-old Neil. who will soon be implicated iii a sex scandal. Part of the Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. Glasgow: GET. Beloved/Friend ( l8) (Ventura I’ons. Spain. I998) 90 trritrs. Chamber piece revolving around the interlocking relationships of five people in Barcelona: a middle-aged professor. his lover. a delinquent student. two friends and their pregnant daughter. Part of the Lesbian 8: Gay Film Festival. Glasgow: Gl’l'.
Besieged (PG) (Bernardo Bertolticci. Italy. I998) Thandie Newton. David Thewlis. 92 mins. Besieged is a revelation. It has a youth- l'ul vigour that recalls Bertolticcr's best early work. The only doubt is whether the simple story - aborrt the oddly roiriantrc relationship between music teacher ('I'Irervlrs). and his live- in African housekeeper (Newton) - is too slight. See preview and I'C\ rew Glasgow: GET. Edinburgh: l‘lllllllOllsL‘.
Best Laid Plans ( IS) (Mike Barker. US.
26 THE LIST III—."I It) I I99“
I999) Alessandro Nivola. Reese Witherspoon. Josh Brolin. 93 mins. It's impossible to reveal much of the plot of this super-stylish. well- crafted thriller without mining it — so let's just say it involves The reunion of two old college pals and an accusation of rape. There‘s much to recommend: a palpable atmosphere of brooding menace and dark desire. a plot full of U-tums and an enormously impressive cast. Greenock: Waterfront.
Better Than Chocolate ( I8) (Anne Wheeler. Canada. I998) l0l nrins. Lovelom teenage college dropout Maggie finds all she desires in itinerant artist Kim. But when Maggie‘s morn returns front a trip East. the women's comfort and joy is threatened. Sexy. fun. comic rorrrp. Part of the Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. Glasgow: GFT.
Blue Eyed (I5) (Bertram Verhaog. Germany/USA. I996) 88 mins. The first screening in Glasgow of a remarkable. award- winning documentary. Ever since the death of Martin Luther King. Jane Elliott has organised workshops in which she splits participants into two groups. Those with brown eyes are given privileges. those with blue eyes feel discrimi- nated against. Edinburgh: Filrrrhouse.
Body Troopers (PG) (Vibeke ldsoe. Norway. I996) 92 mins. Imaginative children‘s adven- ture (a kind of remake of the I960s sci-ti film. The Fantastic Voyage) about a little boy who travels around his ailing grandfather‘s body in order to find out what is wrong with it. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
Boogie Nights (l8) (Paul Thomas Anderson. US. I997) Mark Wahlberg. Burt Reynolds. Julianne Moore. l52 irrins. Doing for porn filnrmaking what Candie/lax did for gangsters. Boogie Nights charts the rise. fall and redemp- tion of a fictional porn superstar (Wahlberg) against the enormous changes wrought in the industry between the 70s and 80s. Edinburgh: Cameo.
Bride 0f Chucky (I8) (Ronnie Yrr. US. I999) Brad Dourif. Jennifer Tilly. Alexis Arquette. 89 mins. The dismembered corpse of the pint- sized homicidal maniac is exhumed for this knowing horror sequel to the C Ill/(I iv Play series. The new edition offers diversion in the form of Jennifer Tilly as the once-human Chucky‘s vengeful ex-girlfriend Tiffany. See review. Selected release.
A Bug’s Life (U) (John Lasseter. US. I998) Voices of Dave Foley. Kevin Spacey. David Hyde Pierce. 95 nrins. The colony of Ant Island is being oppressed by a gang of menac- ing grasshoppers. When inventive but clumsy worker ant Flik incurs the wrath of gang leader Hopper. he heads off to find help heavyweight help in the battle against his oppressors. Selected release.
Bullitt ( I8) (Peter Yates. US. I968) Steve McQueen. Jacqueline Bisset. Robert Vaughn.
I I4 nrins. Super cool cop thriller with the most famous car chase in the history of cirre~ nra. tip and down the streets of San Francisco. Kirkcaldy: Adam Smith.
Burnt By Frost ( I5) (Knut Erik Jensen. Norway. I997) IOO nrirrs. A man named Simon is haunted by the scars of his childhood and victimised by his neighbours in a remote and close-knit community in northern Norway . Following the outbreak of' World War II. the Russians and Americans arrive and Simon's troubles intensify with the Normway's shifting political allegiances. Glasgow: GET. Celebrity ( I8) (Woody Allen. US. I999) Kenneth Branagb. Melanie Griffith. Winona Ryder. Charlize Theron. Leonardo DiCaprio.
I I3 mins. A not always successful dissection of the nature and price of fame. The film revolves around Branagh's philandering hack and wannabe screenwriter. Lee Simon (Allen's alter-ego). who is irresistible to a succession of dazzlineg attractive women. See review. General release.
Central Station ( l5) (Walter Salles. Brazil. I998) Vinicius de Oliveira. Fernanda Montenegro. I I0 trrins. Sugar-coated ireo-real- ism or a film that stares poverty in the eye'.’ Salles‘s international hit is the story of a young Rio de Janeiro street urchin and a for- mer schoolteacher who go on the run together in a film explores that Latin American main- stay: the search fora missing loved one. Kirkcaldy: Adam Smith.
Children Of Shatila (Mai Mast'i. I989) 50 mins. Documentary made in close collabora- tion with Palestinian two children Iivirrg in the Shatila refugee carrrp in Beirut. which canre to world attention after the Sabre-Shantila mas- sacre. Part of Descriptions Of A Struggle. an Israeli/Palestinian film season. Edinburgh: Fruitnrarket Gallery.
Chronicle Of A Disappearance (Elia Suleiman. I996) 84 mins. Back from New York. Suleiman uses his perspective as a visi-
tor to Israel to document how much the Arab population it) Israel is losing its identity. Part of Descriptions Of A Strtrggle. air Israeli/Palestinian film season. Edinburgh: Fruitrrrarket Gallery.
Citizen Kane (U) (Orson Welles. US. I94 I) Orson Welles. Joseph Cotton. Dorothy Comingore. I I9 mins. ('iiirm Kane remains one of the towering and groundbreaking artis- tic achievements of the century. Told mainly in flashback. we see the life story of Charles Foster Katie (loosely based on William Randolph Hearst. the rnegalonraiiiacal news- paper magnate) through several viewpoints. Glasgow: GET. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
The Corruptor ( I8) (James Foley. US. I998) Chow Yttn-Fat. Mark Wahlberg. Ric Young.
I l0mirrs. Intended as a dramatic vehicle for Hong Kong hero Chow Yrin-Fat and as an opportunity for (ililiigurrr (ilm Ros-x director James Foley to try the action genre. this action-drama about corrupt cops in New York's Chinatown is somewhat stilted. Edinburgh: UCI.
Cruel Intentions ( I5) (Roger Kumble. US. I999) 97 mins. Sarah Michelle Gellar. Ryan Phillipe. Reese Withersptxrn. 98 mins. This teen remake of Dangerous [.ltllullly‘ with horny high school kids taking the place of the sexual sclremers is terrific fun. Kathryn (Gellar) and Sebastian (Phillipe) are two spoiled. wealthy step-siblings living in .‘vlanhattan who devise a wager: he must seduce the new school principals daughter Annette (Witlrerspoorr). If Sebastian fails. Kathryn gets his car: if Ire succeeds. Ire gets to have sex with his stepsister every which vs ay. See feature and review. General release.
The Dambusters (L7) (Michael Anderson. L’K. I955) Michael Redgrave. Richard Todd. I25 nrins. Stiff upper Brits all round as scien- tist Barnes Wallis and wing commander Guy Gibson join forces to bomb the jeri'ies in the Ruhr darirs. To be fair. The l)tllll/)ll.\'l¢’l'\ is an authentic and detailed recoirstrtictin of the events. Edinburgh: Lumiere.
Darling ( l8) (John Schlesinger. L‘K. I965) Julie Christie. I27 mins. Forget the crass Austin Powers view of colourful Cai'naby Street. Sclrlesitrger‘s encapsulation of swing- ing sixties Britain is the real thing. Christie excels as the ordrrrary woman who becomes part of the jetset and won an Oscar for her trouble. Glasgow: Gl’l'. Edinburgh: Filirrlrottse.
The Debt Collector ( I8) (Anthony Neilsorr. L'K. I999) Billy Connolly. Keir Stott. lairr Robertson. I I0 mins. Reformed atrd out of prison. ex-Ioarr shark Nicky Dryden (Connolly) is a rich. happin married celebrity on the Scottish art scene. but policeman Kellie (Stott) is determined to crash his party. The lives of Jimmy Boyle and Hugh Collins spring to mind. but writer-director Neilsot) uses the tale to picks away at the nasty jealousies and small-irrindedness that can fesler beneath the surface of a small nation. See features and review. General release.
Deep End Of The Ocean ( I5) (L'Iu (ii-oshard. L'S. I999) Michelle Pfeif’f'er. Treat Williams. eroopr Goldberg. I05 mins. Pfeif'fer puts her experience of motherhoth to good use in this moist-but-not-soppiirg missing child drama. It begins in Slirddisoir. Wisconsin in I988. where Betlr Cappadora. the adoring mother and vs ITC. cruiirbles when her tlrree-year-old Ben. is abducted. Nine years later. a young boy knocks on the door and Beth is convinced it is Ben. Glasgow: ()deoir ()rray. Edinburgh: ABC l'lllll Centre.
Deportation (Avr Slograbr. I989) I2 mins. Short film dealing with the exile of palestitrran detainees by the Israeli authorities. Part of Descriptions ()f' A Struggle. arr lsi'aeIi/l’alestirriarr filirr season. Edinburgh: Fi'rrittriarkct Gallery.
Edinburgh College Of Art Degree Show (Various. L’K. I999) Wonderfully eclectic selection of graduation films from the Art College students. ranging from animation through documentary to science fiction and drama. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
8mm ( l8) (Joel Schunracher. US. I999) Nicolas Cage. Joaquin Phoenix. James Garrdollinr. I23 rrrins. Famin man and private investigator 'limr Welles is asked by a rich widow to track down the source of a reel of filth. apparently depicting the vicious nrurder of a teenage girl. Fora mainstream movie. this is fairly explicit while the treatment of the subject matter is laudany adult. Edinburgh: UCl. l’tttsleyi Showcase.
eXistenZ ( l5) (David ('t'otietrbet'g.
Canada/L ls. I999) Jennifer Jason Leigh. Jude Law. Willem Danc. 92 mins. Air intriguing lll()\ te game about two fugitives oi) the run from reality. ('Xim'ir/ posits a future-now
where groups of people participate in virtual reality games by literally plugging consoles that resemble foetuses into their bodies. Kirkcaldy: Adam Smith.
The Exorcist ( l8) (William Friedkin. US. I973) Linda Blair. Ellen Burstyn. Max Von Sydow. I I0 mins. Earnest priest Von Sydow steps in to save poor little possessed girl in this hugely effective scarefest. Now re- released in remastered form. with a super stereo soundtrack (so you can hear those obscenities in full). Dead good. dead scary. dead priest. Glasgow: Showcase. Paisley: Showcase.
Fahrenheit 451 (IS) (Francois Truffaut. UK. I966) Oskar Werner. Julie Christie. Cyril Cusack. Anton Diffring. Shades of I984 in this depiction of a fascist future state where firemen burn books in order to uphold a soci- ety where television deaderrs the mind. Werner is the man who becomes a small scale rebel by refusing to set literature alight. Part of the West Etrd Film Festival. Glasgow: Grosvenor. Fear And Loathing In Las Vegas ( I8) (Terry Gilliam. US. I998) Johnny Depp. ll8 nrins. As adaptations of cult books go. Gilliam's take on Hunter S. 'I'honrpson's assassination of the American Dream rs a glorious mess of a movie. It remains true to the author's vision of moral torpor and psychosis. whilst injecting a good shot of Gillianr's own obsessions. Flawed. certainly. brit epically degenerate. And thus prrre gonzo. Edinburgh: Cameo. Fear Eats The Soul ( f5) (Rainer Werner Fassbinder. W. Germany. I974) El Hedi Ben Salem. Brigitte Mira. 93 nrins. A middle-aged charwoman who used to be a Nazi Party member. takes tip with a young Arab immio grant worker. much to the consternation of her friends atrd neighbours. Typically melodramat- ic Fassbinder study of a disintegrating rela- tioirslrip. which also examines the problems of racism in West German society. Glasgow: Gl-‘l’. Edinburgh: FiIiriIrouse.
Fertile Memory (Michel Klrleif'i. I980) 99 mins. Khleifi documents llre lives of two Palestinian women living in Israel: Farah. a widow living with her children and grandchil- dren and Sahar. a West Bank novelist. Part of Descriptions Of A Struggle. an Israeli/Palestinian film season. Edinburgh: Fruitmarket Gallery.
Field Diary (Amos Gitai. I982) Made in the occupied territories during the invasion of Lebanon. F ielil Diary employs the power of the camera against the power of the gun. Part of Descriptions Of A Struggle. an Israeli/Palestiirian film season. Edinburgh: Fruitmarket Gallery.
Fierce Films: The Film School Scotland (Various. UK. I999) Selection of" films from the third year of the School. which Iras provid- ed over 300 Scots with the opportunity to make films ranging from brash comedies to perceptive documentaries. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
Finding North ( I5) (Tanya Wexler. US. I999) John Benjamin Hickey. Wendy Makkena. 95 mins. When his lover Bobby dies of'AIDS. Travis is ready to commit suicide. btit is dis- tracted from his grief by a scavenger hunt through Texas that Bobby has pie-recorded on audio cassette. On his trip lre's joined by Brooklyn girl Rhonda. who thinks at first Travis could be her Prince Charming. As ever. the on-tlre-road formula becomes more about ‘finding yourself" than what seems to be the surface plot. Glasgow: ()demr Quay.
Fist Of The North Star ( l8) (Toyoo Ashida. Japan) I l0 mins. In the aftermath of a nuclear war. biker gangs roams the ravaged laird. Only Ken. master of the North Star martial art. can rebuild society. save the world. etc. The mate- rial has already been covered in the seminal Mail Mar films. Here the rather ropey arrima- tion is no substitute for live action Mel and co. One for the Arrinre fans. Edinburgh: Cameo. Forces Of Nature ( I2) (Bronvvetr Hughes. L’S. I999) Ben Af‘fleck. Sandra Bullock. I06
' mins. Ben is a nervous flyer seated next to
eccentric Sarah on the flight that will take him Irorrre to his wedding. When the plane crashes before take off Ire gets Sarah as his unwel- come sidekick on a cross country road trip. A teeny (in both senses) romance. Glasgow: UCI Clydebank. East Kilbride: UCI. Irvine:
Ma nuni. Kiliirat'nock: Odeon.
Ful Metal Jacket ( I8) (Stanley Kubrick. UK. I987) Matthew Modine. Dorian Harewood. Lee Errrrey. I09 mins. Technically effective and irarrativel y balanced depiction of raw Vietnam recruits as they endure basic training and the even greater Irorrors of the I968 Tet offensive. ()ire of the better Vietnam movies of recent years. Edinburgh: Cameo. Les Garcons Terrible ( I8) (Various. I997-98) 88 nrins. 'Ilrree short tales: My l’al Rae/rid. a