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THE EvENT, OcTOBER
27 ·
NovEMBER
9
21
Just One Of The Girls (15)-Rental Corey Haim stars in a "laugh a minute comedy",when he changes into a cute college babe in a sex change seam which leads him out of the arms of his dream date and into those of the school bully I Out October 27.
Enter the Dragon (18)-Retall The legendary Bruce Lee stars in this hugely popular martial arts action adventure. His mission: to bring back a notorious criminal dead or alive who caused the death of Lee's sister. All this while wrestling cobras, freeing prisoners, and, of course, winning all his matches. Out November1.
The Cutting Edge (PG)-Retail D.B.Sweeney (Memphis Belle) and Moira Kelly star in the ultimate "love/skate relationship". A thrilling film where an unlikely duo of an ice hockey player and a figure skater unite to reach Olympic Gold. Out November 1.
Get Carter (18)-Retail Michael Calne stars in this highly acclaimed crime thriller. Calne plays a small time gangster drawn into an under· wor1d of violence and corruption in his search to investi· gate and avenge his brother's death. Out November 1.
By Julle Cunliffe
mme
~. nmersby is a powerful love story starring Richard Gere and Jodie Foster. Jack' nersby (Gere) who had le.. .:ven years ago to fight in the Civil War, returns to the downtrodden Southern town of Vine Hill a changed man. The previously crude, arrogant and often violent character rekindles the love that once drew his wife Laurel (Jodie Foster) to him , showing him to be kinder, gentler and more passionate than she ever remembered. (And not to worry girls, Richard Gere does shave off that hideous beard). By pioneering the cultivation of the tobacco industry, Sommersby restores prosperity to his war-torn town, bringing dramatic change, not only to the town , but to everyone in it. At a time when slavery had been apparent, both black and white are made to work together to turn the tide of poverty. The transformation of Sommersby is in fact so complete that people begin to wonder if he is really the man he claims to be, especially when three drifters say other-
V
wise. At times, even his wife begins to doubt him: the dog certainly
does. Questions seem to rise when Sommersby's feet appear to be two sizes too small. He has the same face , the same voice, but is he really the same man who left the town seven years ago? Beautifully crafted, and wonderfully made , the film is a tale of passion, deception, hope and sacrifice that holds you right to the end. The ending is unpredictable. A court case places Sommersby in difficult waters, to say the least, and the result is not exactly one you would expect. But Laurel, the ever adoring wife stands by, producing a touching and moving end. 1t is not an action packed film but it is definitely a good film to relax in front of on a Sunday afternoon. 1t combines the talents of Jodie Foster and Richard Gere to considerable effect.
Amanda Cresswe/1
Sommersby (15) Retail: From Nov 17 Rating:
****
DRichard Shepherd previews 'City of Joy' starring Patrick Swayze and Pauline Collins 'City of Joy' is a film sharing a scale and a feel with Joffe's earlier works 'The Killing Fields' and 'The Mission.' The narrative, the cinematography and the soundtrack (another collaboration with Ennio Morricone) combine to lend it an air of epic grandeur. Here again we encounter the elements of pioneering, of heroism (albeit a slightly awry version) and of struggle. Calcutta is the location where the main protagonists converge. Max Lowe (Swayze) , disillusioned with his work as a doctor in the United States, leaves for India "to find enlightenment." Hasari Pal (Puri) brings his family to the city when they lose their farm to the money lenders. Their paths cross when Max is attacked and robbed and Hasari comes to his aid . He is taken to the City of Joy, a self-help resident community, where he is tended to by nurse Joan Bethel (Coilins) . Hasari and his family move to the community and Hasari himself finds employment as a rickshaw driver in the fleet owned by the local godfather. Max, at first adamant that he is a non-practising doctor, is first coerced into helping at the clinic when he has to help out in an emergency and deal with a problem pregnancy at the leper village. Difficulties arise when the city is expanded to incorporate the lepers without the consent of the godfather, whose son, more ruthless than his father, employs violently intimidating tactics. Hasari loses his job and Max's life is in danger. Max endeavours to muster resistance against the Mafia. The scenes filmed in Calcutta expertly convey both the tumult and the serenity of the city,
depicting the considerable pain and the fleeting pleasure of life in urban India. Among the best scenes are the ones where Max and nurse Bethel visit the godfather and where the rains finally arrive and the City residents rejoice . Despite the film 's word of warn ~ ing - "If the journey is not what you expected , do not be surprised." - all labours are ultimately successful. Hasari and Max rally support against the gangsters, under whose yoke they have toiled , and freedoms are gained . Nurse Bethel manages to make Max see the worth of the work he does. Max's search for self-discovery (the timeless 'don't know who I really am' syndrome) begins badly. He confides to nurse Bethelthat "I've been opening the windows and doors of my soul and I haven't seen a damn thing yet." Finally though he finds his role. 'City of Joy' has credible performances.
Both Coilins and Swayze, in parts far different to those in wh ich they are usually spied, show adequate versatility and glimpses of impassioned acting, though both can seem out of place. With Swayze's occasional "cool", "yo" or "sucker" the potential danger is the impression of 'Point Break' meeting 'Mahanagar' (Satyajit Ray) .
deliver possibly the finest performances , as Hasari Pal and his wife Kamla. Joffe's film benefits from the vitality of immediate experience. Street scenes depict Calcutta and the behaviour of its citizens accurately. At moments, unfortunately, some of the sequences lose the spontaneity and movement and gestures are extraneous. In general, however, the characters are very real and can be recognised as both individuals and as social types. Issues of interest in contemporary India are addressed such as the persistence of the class system and the corruption of its executive class. Examined also are the citizens' generally passive acceptance of this, as well as the outsiders' sometimes bluff misreading of the situation. The appalling poverty and distress are also well portrayed. Though not as dramatic as 'The Killing Fields' nor as ambient as 'The Mission', City of Joy' is an estimable film giving a valuable, ii occasionally contrived, look at peoples' plight. An afternoon reasonably wellspent.
City of Joy (15) Retail: Out this fortnight Rating:***
Untamed Heart
Adam (Christian Slater) is a silent oddball who washes dishes in 'Jim's Coffee Shop' where Clndy (Rosie Perez) and Carolina (Marisa Tomei) • of 'My Cousin Vinny' fame· wait· resses. The film slowly evolves into a love story, after Adam, in a somewhat macho and unrealistic display, rescues Carolina from two over zealous customers who attack her on her way home one night. Predictably, Carolina begins to see Adam in a new light and romance blossoms. Caroline teams that Adam was brought up by some nuns who told him a fairy story about his weak heart being that of a baboon, which of course he be·
bm Puri and Shabana Azmi
lieves since this allows him to be different! Carolina's attackers take revenge on Adam; landing him in hospital and he refuses to consider the heart transplant operation the doctors dlscoverhe urgently needs.... Both Christian Slater and Marisa Tomel are convincing in the development of their separate characters - Adam steps back Into society In the shelter of Carolina's love and Carolina regains the conidence eroded by a succession of loser boyfriends. The film does seem to take some time to get moving • not helped by the fact that Christian Slater doesn't speak for the first half of.the film - a complete
VIDEOPLUS
CHART
tumaround from his usual roles. An easy and enjoyable film to watch, but keep your tissues
handy.
Llsa Bushrod
Untamed Heart (15) Retail: Out this fortnight * * Rating:
**
(1) [1] Death Becomes Her (PG) (2) [2) Singles (15) (3) [3] Dracula (18) (4) [6) Unforglven (15) (5) [7J Single White Female (18) (6) [9] Peters Friends (15) (7) [4) Malcolm X (15} (8) [10) Damage (18) (9) [8) Leon The Pig Farmer(15) (1 0) [5] A Few Good Men (15) •Chart kindly supplied by VIDEO PLUS, 107 Unthank Road, Norwich. Telephone (0603) 666863