FILM index
FILM INDEX continued
The Last Days Of Disco ( IS) (Wltit Stillman. US. I998) Chloe Sevigny. Kate Beckinsale. Chris Eigematt. I II! rttins. Writer-director Stillman has carved out a cinematic niche for himself with his urbane comedies of manners Melmpulilatt and Barcelona. and his latest is tto exception. Sevigny and Beckinsale play publishing assistants who frequent a trendy club it) early 80s New York. where they and their male yuppie friends worry about relationships. careers and the reactionary subtext of Disney's Lady Am! The Trmtrp. It's glorious stttff. Edinburgh: Lumiere.
Last Night ( l5) (Don McKellar. Canada. I999) Don McKellar. Sandra Oh. David Cronertberg. 94 tttitts. There are six hours left until the world ends. btrt 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 iii an against-the-clock scenario. Edinburgh: Cameo.
Little Voice ( )5) (Mark Herman. UK. I998) Jane Horrocks. Brenda Blethytt. Michael Caine. 97 mins. Horrocks recreates her acclaimed performance itt Jint Cartwright's I992 hit play as a repressed Northern girl who reveals a remarkable gift for impersonating great pop divas. Little Voice's astonishing talent is disc0vered and exploited by her brassy. man-hungry mother's latest lover. failed talent agent Ray Say. Horrocks is sensational as are Blethytt as the mother and Caine as the sleazy agent. Edittbttrgh: Cameo.
Lone Start l5) (John Sayles. US. I996) Chris Cooper. Elizabeth Pena. Kris Kristofferson. I35 tnirts. When a modern-day Texan sheriff investigates a decades-old murder. past clashes with present artd local mythologies have to be re-examined. Sayles‘s various sub-plots don't distract from each other: irt fact. they reinforce arid counterpoint. bttildittg a complex social. historical artd political backdrop to the riveting thriller on the surface. Another masterpiece from America's greatest independent director. Glasgow: GFT.
Lost Highwayt l8) (David Lynch. US. I996) Bill Pullman. Patricia Arquette. Robert Loggia. I35 mitts. Further out than even the celluloid version of Tll'fll Peaks: Fire Walks With Me. Lynch's latest radicalisation of thejilm nm'r traditions concerns jazz saxman Pullman. his wife (Arquette). a mystery man (Robert Blake). a garage mechanic (Balthazar Getty) and a crime kingpin (Loggia) - bttt itt typically Lynchian non-linear plotlines that exist within the logic of dreams. Haunting. provocative. and a genuinely personal undertaking. Edittbttrgh: Cartteo.
Made In Ilong Kong ( I5) (Frttit Chan. Hong Kong. I999) Sam Lee. l08 mins. Chan's audacious debut is a brazen retort to the ‘everything's l'rtte' official line on the ex- colony's future: eschewing glitzy metropolitan locations itt favour of claustrophobic out-of- towrt housing estates with their teenage suicides. organised crime rings and dysfunctional families. Glasgow: GFT. Manon Des Sources (PG) (Claude Berri. France/Italy. I986) Yves Montand. Daniel Auteuil. Emmanuelle Bean. I I4 ntitts. Tert years after the demise of Jean de Florette. the Soubeyrans rtttt a prosperous carnation farm. Steering this epic rural saga towards the realms of Greek tragedy. this is a fttll and satisfying second half that explores the suffering of the guilty as they pay a crippling penance for man's greed and envy. The producnon values are as high as ever artd Auteuil assumes Depardietr‘s mantle itt his development from glaikit idiot to broken-hearted suitor. Edirtbttrgh: Filmhouse.
The Match I I5) (Mick Davis. UK. I999) Max Beesley. Laura Fraser. Richard E. Grant. 96 mitts. In a Highlattd village. thllie Smith carries the physical and emotional scars of a childhood tragedy. His only way to salvation seems to be through his childhood sweetheart. Rosemary who has returned from the Big City. ()r he cart manage Benny‘s Bar football team to glory rtr their annual clash with Le Bistro. coaclted by (lte sleazy Gorgeous Gtts. The result of all this is not exactly a tale of the unexpected. General release.
The Matrix ( I5) (The Wacltowski Brothers. US. I999) ) Keanu Reeves. Carrie-Anne Moss. Lawrence Fishburtte. I39 ntins. In the future. reality is actually art illusion - the human race
107 TIIE lIST 5-12 Aug I999
is enslaved by a computer virus which has taken over the world. Computer genius Neo (Reeves) is one of the few people who doesn‘t believe his eyes. so it's up to him arid a couple more cyber commandoes to save the world. General release.
Mighty Ioe (PG) (Ron Underwood. US. I998) Charlize Theron. Bill Paxton. I I4 mitts. Whichever way you cut it. Mighrv Jne is just another big monkey movie. Despite infinitely more sophisticated effects than its I949 predecessor. this version is far less involving or entertaining - it‘s so predictable you would think the monkey wrote it. Glasgow: Odeon Quay. Edinburgh: Odeon. Ayr: Odeon.
Mulan (U) (Barry Cook. Tony Bancroft. I998) Voices of: Ming-Na Wen. Donny Osmond. Eddie Mttrphy. 89 mins. After Disney's tastin designed venture into Greek mythology with Hen-ales. the studio has brought its lens to bear on the rich and colourful possibilities of Chinese legend. The m0st strikittg aspect of this romantic epic is its magnificent animation. Details of character. movement and expression are as line as should be expeCted from the world's best known cartoon studio. bttt the stunning large-scale set pieces are truly astonishing. while the design team stirs itt an authentic flavour of China. General release. The Mummy ( l2) (Stephen Sommers. US. I999) ) Brendan Fraser. Rachel Weisz. John Hannah. II5 mins. The secret of the l'rlm's success lies in its reinvention as an Indiana Jones-style adventure itt which rugged hero Fraser. luscious librarian Weisz and comic sidekick Hannah scour l930s Northern Africa for the fabled City of the Dead and unwittingly resuscitate dead Egyptian priest. who immediately busies himself with ravaging the land with apocalyptic plagues. General release. My Favourite Martian (PG) (Donald Petrie. US. I999) ) Christopher Lloyd. Jeff Daniels. Elizabeth Hurley. 92 mins. This movie remake of an American TV favourite. scarcely known in the UK. is a breezy family adventure that's amusing and disarmineg entertaining. Some excellent special effects help. as we meet a hapless Martian visitor who has crash landed on Earth and is keen to leave as soon as possible. General release.
My Name Is Joe ( I5) (Ken Loach. UK. I998) Peter Mullan. Louise Goodall. David McKay. I05 mins. My Name Is Jue's blend of comedy. social drama. love interest artd tense thriller makes for a more accessible movie than we‘d normally expect from Loach. Recovering alcoholic Joe Kavanagh (Mullan) meets artd falls in love with health visitor Sarah (Goodall). bttt his well intentioned scheme to get a young friend out of the grip of a vicious drug dealer looks likely to backfire on everyone he cares for. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. Nights Of Cabiria (PG) I Federico Fellini. Italy/France. I957) Giulietta Masirta. ll7 mitts. Cabiria (Masina. collaborator and wife to Fellini) works the wastelands on the outskirts of Rome as a spunky. if soft-hearted whore. Her naiveté leads her to being dumped on and abandoned by every man she encounters. Masina is allowed to shout a little too mttch when sombre pain would have been better and the whole film is as annoying and masterly as Fellini could make it. Glasgow: GFT. Edinburgh: Filmhouse.
Notting Hill ( l5) (Roger Michell. UK. I999) Hugh Grant. Julia Roberts. I l0 mitts. Screenwriter Richard Curtis's eagerly awaited follow-up to FOUI' Wet/dings Am/ A Funeral has Grant playing Williant Thacker. the divorced owner of a travel bookshop into whose life walks Hollywood megastar Anna Scott (Roberts) and. before you know it. they kiss. General release.
Orphans ( l8) (Peter Mttllan. UK. I999) Douglas Henshall. Gary Lewis. Stephen McCole. 95 mins. On the eve of their mother's funeral. four grown-up orphans express their grief as storm clouds gather itt the skies. Less the social realism of Ken Loach. more a surreal expressionism which takes everything to its illogical conclusion. Glasgow: Showcase. Paisley: Showcase.
Painted Angels ( I5) (Jon Sanders. I999. US) Brenda Fricker. Kelly McGilIis. Anna Mottram. IIO mins. Painted Angels conveys the insecurities of displaced women and their hardships as they struggle to earn a crust through the sex trade in the l9th century American west. A refreshingly non-male picture of the westent frontier. Glasgow: GFT. The Pillow Doolt ( I8) (Peter Greenaway. UK/Netherlands/France. I996) Vivian Wu.
The animated adventures of quirky adol
escent Doug Funnie graduate from
their popular Saturday morning slot on American television to big screen glory. courtesy of Disney in Doug's tst Movie. Movie No. 1 sees the twelve-year-old torn between taking action against environmental pollution and taking his beloved Patti Mayonnaise to the high school dance.
General release from Fri 6 Aug.
[Ewan McGregor. Yoshi Oida. l26 tttitts. Greettaway‘s distinctive style of frames within frames artd text scrolling across the screen reaches its zenith itt this visual masterpiece. A Japanese model chooses her lovers on the strength of their calligraphic skills. and slowly she puts itt motion a revenge plan against the man who ruined her father. McGregor CO-slars as a bisexual translator whose kit is more off than on. bttt the graphic ttttdity is sensually handled. Achineg gorgeous images make for sheer cinematic poetry. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. The Polish Bride ( I5) (Karim Traida. Netherlands. I999) Mortic Hendrickx. Jaap Spijkers. 90mins. Set lit the Highlands of Holland. Polish woman Anna Krzyzattowska escapes the clutches of two deeply unpleasant men and is found semi-conscious artd taken irt by the kindly Hettk Woldrirrg. who lives a lortely farm life. Slowly (well. very slowly actually). their faltering. non-tactile friendship grows into something much stronger and the true test of their devotion comes when danger is brought to their door. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. A Price Above Rubies ( IS) (Boaz Yakin. US. I999) Renee Zellweger. Christopher Eccleston. I I6 rttins. Married into a Hassidic Jewish community itt Brooklyn. Sonia (Zellwcger) cannot find the room she needs to express her passionate nature. Sonia likens her repression to being on the within. and before long she succumbs to her irnntoral brotheroitt-law. Sender (Ecclestorr). Thanks to the cast. A Price Il/mul Rubies is moving despite its trtteveness. Glasgow: GFT.
The Red Violin ( l5) (Francois Girard. Canada. I998) Samuel L. Jackson. Don McKellar. Jason Flemyttg. I30 rttirts. Not the story of a musician. btrt the story of a musical instrument. Spanning four centuries. the ‘Iife story' of the violin is related itt five chapters. beginning it) an Italian workshop. ending with an auction itt Montreal. Hauntineg lyrical. btrt uneven film. Edinburgh: Lumiere. Stirling: MacRobert. Romeo And IuIiet( I2) (Baz Luhrmann. Australia/US. I996) Leonardo DiCaprio. Claire Danes. Pete P0stlethwaite. I20 mins. The Strict/v Ballnmm director's treatment of the Shakespeare tragedy is a magnificent riot of colour. action and sexy teen romance. without any need to sacrifice the text. To call it 'MTV t'tlmmaking' misses the point that the camera tricks and in-jokes don't iii any way distract from the fact that Lubrmattn has completely grasped the issues at the centre of the play. Art intoxicating. breathtaking mix of Catholic iconography. high camp and street violence that's b0th deliciously feverish and studiedly cool. Edinburgh: Filmhorrse.
The Rugrats Movie (U) (Norton Virgien/Igor Kovalyov. US. I998) Voices of: EC. Daily. Christine Cavanaugh. Kath Soucre. 80 mitts. The weekly animated adventures of the un- cutesy. irritatineg voiced Pickles family is big among kiddies and adults iii the States. bttt the movie is definitely more of a junior entertainment. The film's message is well intentioned. and it might keep the little ones quiet for a while. Glasgow: Grosvenor. Showcase. UCI. Edinburgh: Odeon. Ayr: Odeort. Kilmarnock: Odeon. Paisley: Showcase.
A Simple Plan ( I5) (Sam Raimi. US. I998) Bill Paxton. Billy Bob Thornton. Bridget
Fonda. l2l mitts. 'l'wo close btrt very different brothers accidentally stumble upon 54m iii a wrecked plane. and decide to hold onto the cash. Btrt of course. their illegal lottery jackpot is just the start of a nightmarish descent ittto greed. suspicion and murder. Kirkcaldy: Adam Smith. Stirling: MacRobert.
Star Wars Episode ‘I: The Phantom Menace (U) (George Lucas. US. I999) Ewart McGregor. Liam Neesou. Natalie Portman. I32 mins. On the surface. the plot structure isn‘t a million light years away from the original Star Wars. ltt visual ternts. The I’hatttmtt Mettat'e stands alone itt the cinematic universe. At times you'd think there was more animation than live aCtion on screen - and maybe it's this toning down of the ltumart element that has left the film lacking soul. General release.
10 Things I Ilate About You ( l2) (Gil Jungcr. US. I999) Julia Stiles. Jospeh Gordon-Levitt. Heath Ledger. 98 ntirts. It could have been horrible. Bttt this Itighschool-set reworking of Shakespeare's The Taming Of The Shrew is not only faithful to its source. btrt is a funny. charming and enjoyable filttt itt its own right. Purists may be aghast at the hijacking of such a literary jewel. bttt films like this offer easy access to great stories. General release.
This Year's Love ( I5) (David Kane. UK. I998) Douglas Henshall. Catherine McCormack. Kathy Burke. Jennifer Eltle. Dougray Scott. Ian Hart. ll8 trtitts. Kane's deliciorrsly wry romantic comedy features star-crossed lovers. 90s-style - six late-twerttysomcthirtgs whose orbits coincide briefly over a period of three years. The trendy London neighbourhood of Cantden provides a living. breathing setting. for an ensemble piece that is gratifyineg free of synthetic sitcom contrivance or cute. sentimental solutions. Edinburgh: Cameo.
Toy Story (PG) (John Lasseter. US. I995) With the voices of'l‘om Hanks. Tim Allen. Don Rickles. 8| mitts. It isn't just the state-of-the- art images that distingtrislt Disney's first computer-generated animation feature. it's got a cracking adventure story (00. A tale of friendship and self-belief combined with an exciting rescue and against-the-clock tension. Tuv Sltrn' is sprinkled with comic asides. Don't be fooled ittto thinking these toys are just for the kids. Glasgow: Showcase. Paisley: Showcase.
Treasure Island (PG) (Fraser Heston. US/UK. I990) I33 trtitts. Well. shiver me timbers if it ain't Cap'rt Heston with only one leg and a parrot hamnting away itt this new version of the Robert Louis Stevenson talc. And blow me if it ain't that Master Bale from Empire of The Star itt the role of Jim lad. More than that we darett't say. except to add that our critical black spol is on its way to writer/producer/director Heston. care of the Admiral Bertbow sushi bar. Burbank. Glasgow: GFT.
La Vie De Jesus ( l8) (Brtrtto Dumont. France. I997) 96 ntins. Dumont's tttarvellous l'tlm asks trs to see what unemployment. in all its manifestations. actually lee/s like. It has as its focus twenty-year-old Freddy. an epileptic living with his mum tn the small northern town of Bailleul near Lille. There are wonderfully rendered moments here - the widescreen vistas of the brooding Nord landscape. an explicit sexual encounter in a field - quite as breathtaking as any in recent cinema.