Gendernauts (18) *t* (Monika Treut, US, 2000) Sandy Stone. 86 mins. Transvestites, transsexuals and hennaphroditcs have long been the staple diet of US chat shows, but what of those who refuse any kind of gender labelling? Monika Treut's fascinating documentary explores the phenomenon of gender ambiguity amongst a small group of people living in the Bay Area of San Francisco. Linked by Sandy Stone, the self proclaimed ‘Goddess of Cyberspace’, we are introduced to a selection of gender mixers and sexual ‘cyborgs' (people who alter their bodies using new technologies and hormones). See review. Glasgow: GET.
Gladiator (15) *‘k‘k (Ridley Scott, US, 2000) Russell Crowe, Richard Harris, Joaquin Phoenix. 150 mins. Just before dying Caesar Aurelius (Harris) charges General Maximus (Crowe) with cleaning up his beloved, but politically corrupt Rome. Aurelius' son, Commodus (Phoenix), doesn't take kindly to this and has his rival executed. But Maximus survives and, as a gladiator, works his way back to Rome intent on revenge. Parallels must be drawn with Sparticus and Ben Ilur; we've not seen a Roman epic in a long time. Scott's is a handsome spectacle and exciting enough, but that's all it is. General release.
Gone In 60 Seconds (15) *1: (Dominic Sena, US, 2000) Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, Vinnie Jones. 118 mins. A re-working of “.8. Halicki’s 1974 cult car-chase movie which, despite its flashy paint-job and hip- hop in-car stereo soundtrack, lacks grunt and growl beneath the hood. Forced out of retirement when his kid brother, Kip (Ribisi), crosses some heavy duty criminals, legendary car thief ‘Memphis’ Raines (Cage) must reunite his old crew and steal fifty cars in one night, or kiss his sibling's ass goodbye. The original had too many car chases and not enough plot or characterisation; this has too much plot, too many characters and not enough metal- crunching, tyre-squealing action. General release.
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A Goofy Movie (U) *tt (Kevin Lima, US, 1996) With the voices of Bill Farmer, Jason Marsden, Jim Cummings. 74 mins. After a school prank backfires, Goofy decides to take troublesome son Max off on a bonding fishing trip. Max is trying his best to be cool, but that isn’t easy when your dad's this particular Disney star. An incident-packed journey provides plenty of laughs which should keep restless kids and accompanying adults amused. Glasgow: Odeon At The Quay.
Hercules (U) **** (John Muskcr & Ron Clements, US, 1997) With the voices of Tate Donovan, James Woods, Danny DeVito. 91 mins. British cartoonist Gerald Scarfe’s designs marry his customary grotesquery with Uncle Walt's softer characterisations. llades (a magnificently splenetic James Woods) wants to exact revenge on Zeus by destroying his son Hercules, but luckily our hero has Pegasus as his steed and Phil the grumpy satyr (Danny DeVito) as his coach. Classical purists might grumble, but this is one of the studio's most dynamic and entertaining features. Glasgow: Odeon. High Fidelity (15) **** (Stephen Frears, US, 2000) John Cusack, lben Hjejlc, Jack Black. 113 mins. Nick Hornby's story of a vinyl junkie who's more interested in his music collection than his relationships with women is practically a British institution. Yet, Cusack - and co-writer/producer pals D.V. DeVincentis and Steve Pink — have drawn on their own pasts to make a film that’s as funny and profound as the book. But the great script, cast and music wouldn’t have meant a thing without a filmmaker of Frears' calibre taking charge. General release.
His Girl Friday (U) ***** (Howard Hawks, US, 1940) Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Bellamy,. 92 mins. llawks's dynamic comedy is one of the best Hollywood ever made. Grant and Russell are simply fantastic as the sparring newspaper editor and top reporter drawing battle line sin their professional and personal lives. Hecht and MacArthur's script from their original play The Front Page, spits out a series of rapid-fire quips and cross-cutting
gags, but allows the supporting characters to have their scene-stealing moments too. Don‘t miss it. Edinburgh: Lumiere.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame (PG) *ik‘k (William Dieterle. US, 1939) Charles Laughton, Maureen O‘llara, Cedric llardwicke. 117 mins. Not exactly pin-up material, Laughton woos his gypsy love in and around the Notre Dame and wins much audience sympathy in the process. Stylisth and atmospherically directed. You might not remember Quasimodo's name, but his face rings a bell. Kilmarnock: Odeon.
Inspector Gadget (U) tit (David Kellogg, US, 1999) Matthew Broderick, Rupert Everett, Joely Fisher. 79 mins. Disney‘s take on the French kids’ cartoon follows the part human, part gizmo Gadget's (Broderick) quest to become a proper, respected cop. Unfortunately, the dastardly Claw (Everett) has a scheme for world domination, which includes creating an evil doppelganger of the trenchcoated wonder. The Inspector's many contraptions will delight younger viewers, and oldies will be amused by the plentiful self-referential moments. Dunfermlinc: Odeon.
The Iron Giant (U) *tttt (Brad Bird, US, 1999) Jennifer Aniston, llarry Conick Jr, Vin Diesel. 86 mins. In this animated film adaptation of'l‘ed llughes's classic children's story about a boy who befriends a 50ft. robot from outer space, the action is transported from rural England to small- town America in the late 1950s. The resulting film is a fast-moving thrillfest featuring bongo-beating beatniks, a great rockabilly soundtrack and explosive destruction on a grand scale. This being a kids film, through, it’s violence with a conscience. Dunfermlinc: Odeon.
Jeux lnterdits (Forbidden Games) (18) **** (Rene Clement, France, 1952) Brigitte Fosey, Georges Poujouly, Amédee. 102 mins. A city girl is taken in by a country family after her family are killed by German soldiers. There she strikes up a friendship with a young boy and they create a pet cemetery. Poignant story about the traumatic effects of war on children, winner of the best Foreign Film Oscar. Edinburgh: Lumiere.
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Kikujiro (12) *tti (Takeshi Kitano, Japan, 2000) ‘Beat' Takeshi, Yusuke Sckiguchi. 122 mins. Kitano plays the title role (interestingly, also his father‘s name), a small-time criminal who finds himself the surrogate father to nine- year-old Masao (Sekiguchi) when the boy sets off in search of the mother he has never met. In a departure from the gangster films his European reputation is built on, Kitano‘s sharply observed comic road movie shows the Japanese director/actor in more slapstick mode, giving his offbeat wit a freer rein. Edinburgh: UGC Cinemas.
Logan's Run (PG) tit (Michael Anderson, US, 1976) Michael York, Jenny Agutter, Richard Jordan. 118 mins. Popular and quite interesting entry in the 70s post-apocalyptic cycle of science fiction films. In this future a utopian society propagates the appearance of youth, and when its members reach the age of 30 they‘re terminated. York and Agutter are the tearaways making a break for freedom. Edinburgh: UGC Cinemas.
Lone Star (15) **** (John Sayles, US, 1996) Chris Cooper, Elizabeth Pena, Kris Kristofferson. 135 mins. When a modern-day Texan sheriff investigates a decades-old murder, past clashes with present and local mythologics have to be re-examined. Saylcs's various sub-plots don't distract from each other: in fact, they rc-inforce and counterpoint, building a complex social, historical and political backdrop to the riveting thriller on the surface. Another masterpiece from America‘s greatest independent director. Edinburgh: Filmhouse. Love’s Labour's Lost (U) hit (Kenneth Branagh, US, 2000) Kenneth Branagh, Alicia Silverstone, Adrian Lester. 93 mins. Branagh‘s attempt to make Shakespeare multiplex- fricndly will shock textual purists for he has taken the early, wordy, romantic comedy, cut 70 per cent of its dialogue and filled the holes with show tunes from the 30s and 40s. Branagh's most audacious, and frankly maddest, Shakespeare adaptation to date proves to be a funny, engaging, and consistently entertaining trifle. Edinburgh: Lumiere.
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