Mini-Reviews
by Hal Render
Copyright 1990 Hal Render
I thought I'd post brief reviews of some good films I've seen recently on video. (The release dates I've given are approximate, by the way.)
Scale: ***** Buy it.
**** Rent it more than once.
*** Rent it once.
** Rent it on special (maybe).
* Back off, man, this one might go off.
HOUSEKEEPING (1989) **** A Bill Forsyth film, this is a touching, amusing story of two orphaned girls who come under the supervision of their eccentric Aunt. Beautiful cinematography and great performances by the leads, esp. Christine Lahti.
THE LONG GOOD FRIDAY (1979) **** Gripping, complex British gangster movie, with great work by Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren in the leads. Warning: those who have trouble understanding heavy accents (particularly Cockney) may want to avoid this film.
MIRACLE MILE (1989) **** A sleeper from last year, this story mixes romance, suspense and the threat of nuclear war in a very different, very engrossing film. (To tell more would spoil too much of the plot.) Stars Anthony Edwards and Mare Winningham.
MR. NORTH (1989) *** One of the last films produced by John Huston, this is the film version of a Thornton Wilder story (if I remember right). It tells the story of Mr. T. Theophilus North, an engaging young man with some unconventional ideas and a peculiar physical ability to store static electricity. Despite the good performances and an interesting setting (ritzy Rhode Island during the 20's or 30's), the story on this one never really drew me in. I can only recommend it to fans of the period and the people involved. Stars Anthony Edwards, Robert Mitchum, Tammy Grimes, Virginia Madsen, Anjelica Huston, Harry Dean Stanton and others.
HOW TO GET AHEAD IN ADVERTISING (1989) **** A very weird, very funny comedy about the tribulations of a British Ad exec who just can't figure out how to sell a new acne cream. The stress gives him a problem that makes the average case of pimples seem desirable. Wonderful performances by the leads none of whom I knew except for Rachel Ward who has quite overcome her early typecasting.
THE LION IN WINTER (1967) ***** A classic that tells the story of "family ups and downs" on Christmas day 1183 in the household of King Henry II of Britain. An enthralling character study, this film has incredible performances by Peter O'Toole and Katharine Hepburn, with solid support from Anthony Hopkins, Timothy Dalton and others. This film has probably the overall best dialogue of any movie I have every seen, so good that I watched it twice in a row just to try to remember some of it. Hepburn deservedly won an Oscar for her performance. If you haven't seen this film, by all means try to do so.
PRICK UP YOUR EARS (1988) **** A solid British drama, this film describes the tragic relationship between playwright Joe Orton and his lover, Kenneth Halliwell. The film covers Orton's rise to success and the emotional struggles of Halliwell to adjust from his early start as Orton's mentor to his later role as Orton's "personal assistant." Very well acted by Gary Oldman, Alfred Molina and Vanessa Redgrave. (Note: the film may bother those who have a problem with an open depiction of homosexual relationships.)
PASCALI'S ISLAND (1989) **** Set just before WWI, this film tells the story of Basil Pascali, a "local character" on a Turkish-governed Greek island. Basil makes a meager living on the island as an interpreter and government intermediary for residents and tourists. Basil is also a "career informer" for the Turkish Imperial government, and has been sending secret reports for the last 20 years. The film details a sequence of events that may either expose Basil or allow him to leave a life that has lost meaning for him. Ben Kingsley (one of my favorite actors) is excellent as Basil, Charles Dance does a fine job as the archaeologist, and Helen Mirren is very good as Basil's best friend.
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hal render
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