Entrapment ( I5) (Jon Amiel. US. I999) Sean Connery. Catherine Zeta-Jones. I I2 mins. Former ace cat burglar Robert ‘Mac' MacDougal (Connery) attracts the attention ofsexy insurance investigator Gin Baker (Zeta-Jones). She is determined to find evidence connecting him with that opening sequence robbery. just as he is determined to not have that crime pinned on him. It‘s all very Tn Cali-h A Thief. btit not really in the same league. See review. General release. The Exorcist ( I8) (William Friedkin. US. I973) Linda Blair. Ellen Burstyn. Max Von Sydow. I If) mins. IL'imest 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. Edinburgh: Cameo.
Fear Eats The Soul ( l 5) (Rainer Werner Fassbinder. W. Germany. I974) El Hedi Ben Salem. Brigitte Mira. 93 mins. A middle-aged charwoman who used to be a Nazi Party member. takes up with a young Arab immigrant worker. much to the consternation of her friends and neighbours._Typically melodramatic Fassbinder study of a disintegrating relationship. which also examines the problems of racism in West German society. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. Fertile Memory (Michel Khleifi. I980) 99 mins. Klrleifi documents the lives of two Palestinian women living in Israel: Farah. a widow living with her children and grandchildren and Sahar. a West Bank novelist. Part of Descriptions OfA Struggle. an Israeli/Palestinian film season. Edinburgh: Fruitmarket Gallery.
Festen (The Celebration) (l8) (Thomas Viiiterberg. Denmark. I998) Ulrich Thornsen. Heniriiig Moritzen. Thomas Bo Larsen. I06 mins. The eldest son of a country hotelier returns to Denmark for his father's 60th birthday celebrations. But the seemingly innocent family reunion becomes a nightmare as some shocking family truths are revealed. Edinburgh: Cameo.
Field Diary (Amos Gitai. l982) Made in the occupied territories during the invasion of Lebanon. I-‘ieli/ [)iarv employs the power of the camera against the power of the gtrii. Part of Descriptions Of A Struggle. an Israeli/Palestinian 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 has provided over 300 Scots withthe opportunity to make films ranging from brash comedies to perceptive documentaries. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
Full Metal Jacket ( I8) (Stanley Kubrick. L'K. l987) Matthew Modine. Dorian Harewood. Lee Ermey. I09 mins. Technically effective and narratively balanced depiction of raw Vietnam recruits as they endure basic training and the even greater horrors of the I968 Tet offensive. One of the best of all the Vietnam movies. Edinburgh: Cameo.
Les Garcons Terrible ( I8) (Various. I997- 98) 88 mins. Three short tales: My Pal Rae/ml. a hilarious story of penis obsession. racism and sexual fantasy. Aniel. in which a beautiful and enigmatic man becomes the subject of attention at a factory. and Open Bl)(lf(’.\. in which an l8-year-old boy cruises porn cinemas. Part of the Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. Germany. Year Zero ( I S) (Roberto Rossellini. Italy/Germany. I947) Edmund Moeschke. Wemer Pittschau. Barbara Hintz. 74 mins. Groundbreaking work of Neo- Realism in which Rossellini employs a documentary style approach to illustrate the state of the post-war German nation. Set in Berlin during the Occupation in I945. the film focuses on a I3-year-old boy who works the black market in the bombed-out city. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
Get Carter ( IS) (Mike Hodges. UK. l97l) Michael Caine. Britt Ekland. John Osborne.
I I2 mins. (iel Carter stands out as a highlight in the artist formerly known as Micklewhite's career. His superbly controlled performance as the relentless avenger on a score-settling trip to the North East of England only makes you wish Caine had played more villains. Hodges grime effective direction proves that you don't need to be as worthy as Ken Loach to make a document of social history. Glasgow: GFT. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
Going Home (Omar Al-Qattan. I996) 50 mins. The story of Mahor Derek Cooper. an eyewitness to the mess left when the British government abandoned Palestine in I947. leaving Arabs and Jews to fight over territory. Part of Descriptions OfA Struggle. an Israeli/Palestinian film season. Edinburgh: Fruitmarket Gallery.
GoodFellas (l8) (Martin Scorsese. US. I990) Robert De Niro. Ray Liotta. Joe Pesci. Lorraine Braco. Paul Sorvino. I45 mins. Liotta plays Henry Hill. a real-life matiusn. with De Niro as his mentor in crime. And while the bullets. lists and carving knives fly. Scorsese brings us back to that unavoidable question - yes. it's glamorous and lucrative to live this way. but can anyone really live with the consequences? Edinburgh: Cameo.
Good Or Bad. Black Or White (Amii Goren. I995) 82 mins. Goren‘s film follows Ukrainian immigrant Peter as he arrives at a deserted military base. the first home for immigrants to Israel from the fomier Soviet Union. Pan of Descriptions OfA Struggle. an Israeli/Palestinian film season. Edinburgh: Fruitmarket Gallery.
Grace Of God (l8) (Gerald L'Ecuyer. Canada. I997) Gerald L‘Ecuyer. 75 mins. Director and star L‘ Ecuyer undertakes a personal odyssey through love and life. from the trauma of psychoanalysis (with shrink David Cronenberg) to the ordeal of his first love. whom he took to a Tom Jones concert. Touching and funny. Part of the Lesbian 8; Gay Film Festival. Glasgow: GEI’. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
Happy Birthday Mr. Mograbi (Avi Mograbi. I999) 77 mins. Mograbi celebrates both the 50th anniversary of Israel and his own birthday. following the jubilee celebrations and charting his own middle age crisis. Part of Descriptions OfA Struggle. an Israeli/Palestinian film season. Edinburgh: Fruitmarket Gallery.
Hilary And Jackie (I5) (Anand Tucker. UK. I998) Emily Watson. Rachel Griffiths. David Morrissey. I22 mins. This biopic of Jacqueline du Pre. who died from multiple sclerosis in I987. has incensed the classical music world: however. it tells a complex. honest and moving story. In its exploration of the tangled skeins ofsibling rivalry and love. Hilary Am] Jackie is superb. Edinburgh: Cameo. Kilmamock: Odeon.
A House In Jerusalem (Amos Giiai. I998) 90 mins. Follow-up to Gitai‘s film. Bait. which looks at the problems experienced by Israelis occupying a pan ofJerusalem at the expense of its former inhabitants. Part of Descriptions OfA Struggle. an Israeli/Palestinian film season. Edinburgh: Fruitmarket Gallery.
Human Traffic (I8) (Justin Kerrigan. UK/Ireland. I999) John Simm. Lorraine Pilkington. Danny Dyer. 95 mins. One of that rare breed - a good movie about contemporary dance culture. Set in Cardiff. although it could be anywhere. the film follows a gang of friends over a non-stop weekend of boozing. mobile phonecalls and drug-inpsired clubbing. Selected release. The Idiots (l8) (Lars von Trier. Denmark/ France/ltaly/Netherlands/Germany/Sweden. I999) Bodil Jorgensen. Jens Albinus. lI~I mins. ln Lars von Trier's follow tip to Breaking The Waves. :1 bunch of 'idiots' run a little bit amok in their village. get thrown out of tea-rooms. make whoopee at the swimming baths and disrupt board meetings. But these misfits are as sane as you or I. with a simple aim to test society‘s attitudes to the disabled. Appreciation naturally conquers enjoyment btit The Irlinis is a challenge well worth taking up. See review. Glasgow: GFT. Edinburgh: Cameo.
Introduction To The End Of An Argument (Elia Suleiman/Jayce Sallourn. I992) 45 mins. Criticism of representations of the Middle East. Arab Culture and palesiinian people as produced by the West. Part of Descriptions Of A Struggle. an Israeli/ Palestinian film season. Edinburgh: Fruitmarket Gallery.
lThinIt I Do (l5) (Brian Sloan. US. I998) Alexis Arquette. Guillermo Diaz. 87 mins. A group of George Washington University graduates are re-united at a social gathering (in this case a wedding) and unresolved issues are settled by the score. Although matters are settled a tad too tidily. as an 'altemative lifestyle' take on featherweight romantic comedy. it succeeds well enough. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
Jack Frost (PG) (Troy Miller. US. I998) Michael Keaton. Kelly Preston. Mark Addy. l02 nrins. Neglegent husband and father Jack Frost chooses to go on a road trip with his band rather than a holiday with his family and is killed in a car accident. However. he gets a chance to begin afresh when he is reincarnated as. erm . . . a snowman. Glasgow: Virgin. Edinburgh: Odeon. Ayr: Odeon. Kilmamock: Odeon.
The King And I (U) (Richard Rich. US. I999) Ian Richardson. Mir'anda Richardson. Martin Vidnovic. 87 mins. Animated version of the true story ofAnna Leonowens and her experiences as a teacher for the royal family in I9th Century Siam. Cracking songs by Rodgers and Hammerstein and. being animated. the facility for more active roles to be taken by talking elephants. sentimental chimps and proud panthers. It's a cracking ride. General release.
Kristin Lavransdatter ( l 5) (Liv Ullnian. Norway. I995) ISO mins. Epic love story set in the l4th century about a woman who is raised to uphold the family honour. which. in this case. means agreeing to be married off by her father. But dark forces are at work. which undermine the father‘s plans. Part of the Lesbian & Gay Film Festival. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
Last Night (I5) (Don McKellar. Canada. I999) Don McKellar. Sandra Oh. David Cronenberg. 94 mins. There are six hours left until the world ends. but there's no Bruce Willis blasting asteroids here: Last Night is about real people experiencing real emotions. As their particular brand of anger. grief. wonder or frustration works its way towards a resolution. each character fulfils his or her dream in an against-the-clock scenario. See preview and review. Glasgow._: Odeon Quay. Edinburgh: Cameo.
Lawrence Of Arabia (PG) (David Lean. UK. I962) Peter O‘Toole. Alec Guinness. Jack Hawkins. Omar Sharif. 222 mins. O‘Toole‘s debut as the enigmatic adventurer still impresses. but apart from the majestic action sequences. it‘s the disturbing sense of clinical and cold-blooded violence hanging over the highly literate characterisation that today seems especially striking. Edinburgh: Lumiere.
The Lost Son (l8) (Chris Menges. UK. I999) Daniel Auteuil . Nastassja Kinski. Catrin Cartidge. l02 mins. In his first English-speaking role. Auteuil plays former French cop Lombard. now making his living as a low grade private eye in London. Recruited to find a missing person. the case evolves into something far more unexpected. plunging him into a dangerous underworld of vice and paedophilia. See review. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
Ma'aloul Celebrates Its Destruction (Michel theifi. I984) 30 mins. Documentary about the annual celebrations at the sight of a Palestinian village. destroyed in I948 by the Israeli army. Part of Descriptions OfA Struggle. an Israeli/ Palestinian film season. Edinburgh: Fruitmarket Gallery.
Made In Hong Kong (tbC) (Fruit Chan. Hong Kong. I999) Sam Lee. I08 mins. Chan's audacious debut is a brazen retort to the ‘everything's Iine' ofiicial line on the ex- colony‘s future; eschewing glitzy metropolitan locations in favour of claustrophobic out-of-town housing estates with their teenage suicides. organised crime rings and dysfunctional families. See review. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
Madeline (U) (Daisy Von Scherler. US. I998) Frances McDormand. Nigel Hawthorne. Hatty Jones. 89 mins. Madeline is a hybrid of the 'adorable' pre-teen childrens’ heroine. As intelligent as Matilda. she's also as precocious as Pippi Longstocking and. like Annie. she's an orphan. Well-intentioned but desperately dull. Edinburgh: Dominion. Ayr: Odeon. Irvine: Magnum.
The Magnificent Ambersons (PG) (Orson Welles. US. I942) Joseph Cotton. Dolores Costello. Agnes Moorehead. 88 mins. The decline and fall of an American family told when Welles was at the peak of his cinematic power. Even studio tinkering can‘t lessen its impact. as the director takes an ambivalent view on how American life was changed by the industrial age. Glasgow: GFT. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
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index FILM Nicky Agate
The column that previews the summer's movies from the streets of New York.
Manhattan would make an appalling lover. Every weekend a street-talk acronym becomes the latest playpen of the cheekboned and fickle, a sushi hybrid is heralded as the new drum & bass and Stoli cranberry is perennially 'so last week'.
It's only a fortnight since Darth Maul and his dark siders were the talk of the town and light sabres were the latest in post-Vicks 'n’ whistles chic. Now the Jedis and co have been defeated by the bright sid, and the Big Apple has swung from stars to Powers. Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me [see feature on page 6] was the third biggest opening film in celluloid history. And while Tom Twyker's wonderful Run Lola Run — a kamikaze cacophony of animation, music and astounding technical virtuosity — opened at one of the few independent theatres downtown, the crowds eschewed the progressive and lush in favour of the many faces of Mike Myers.
Like pre-Truman Show Jim Carrey, Myers is one of those comic actors I've never really understood. He JUSI doesn't make me laugh, but admitting such a thing in America is akin to eating a baby alive; it's frigid and damnable, a calculating callousness that stems from my quintessentially British inability to find my emotions and laugh at a fart.
So my American friends deCIde to 'cure' me, and the Rabelaisian spectacle begins. To be fair, the film is not without merit, but the humour stems not from Austin and his by-the- book shagadelic antics, but from the ironic pastiches of real-life Americana slotted craftily into the plot. Dr Evil is in league with Starbucks, the Microsoft of the coffee world. The Evil Family appear on The Jerry Springer Show, giving Jerry a chance to parody himself, his guests and proclaim a movie version of his moral mots justes. Fans of the first film will doubtless appreciate an FX-ed up Myers as Fat Bastard, a truly gargantuan Glaswegian with a penchant for bodily function.
Those in search of yet more faecal humour will be delighted to know that Southpark: Bigger, Longer c9 Uncut, opens on Wednesday 30 June. Doubtless the fickle city will turn again. In the face of such horror, Myers may become my new best fnend.
24 Jun-8 Jul I999 THE LIST”