NEW FILMS FRIDAY
JANE EYRE - Franco Zeffirelli ("Romeo and Juliet," TV's "Jesus of Nazareth") directed this new adaptation of Charlotte Bronte's frequently filmed classic, with Oscar-winner Anna Paquin ("The Piano") as young Jane, Charlotte Gainsbourg as the adult Jane and William Hurt as Rochester. Reviewed in this section. PG (violence). (Exclusive, Broadway.)
MULHOLLAND FALLS - An all-star cast - Nick Nolte, Melanie Griffith, Chazz Palminteri, Treat Williams, John Malkovich - highlights this crime drama about four L.A. cops in the '50s known as the "Hat Squad," maverick plain-clothes detectives investigating organized crime. (Partly filmed in Wendover.) Not screened for local critics; to be reviewed. R (violence, sex, profanity). (Carmike 12, Century, Cottonwood, Crossroads, Gateway, Midvalley; Redwood, with "Diabolique"; Reel, Sandy 9.)
THE QUEST - Jean-Claude Van Damme makes his directing debut and stars in this action yarn about a New York pickpocket who inadvertently finds himself on a freighter bound for the Far East, leading him to an exclusive fight tournament. Roger Moore co-stars, along with 15 championship martial artists. Not screened for local critics; to be reviewed. PG-13 (violence, profanity). (Carmike 12, Century, Holladay, Midvalley, Reel, Sandy 9, Trolley Corners, Trolley North; Valley Vu, with "Sgt. Bilko.")
SUNSET PARK - Rhea Perlman (she was Carla on TV's "Cheers" and is Danny DeVito's wife) becomes coach to an undisciplined Brooklyn high school basketball team in this comedy-drama. Reviewed in this section. R (violence, profanity). (Carmike 12, Century, Creekside, Gateway, Midvalley, Sandy 9, Trolley Square.)
THE THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE - Another "Fatal Attraction" sendup, this time with Martin Lawrence ("Bad Boys," TV's "Martin") making his directing debut and starring as the victim, who says those incendiary words, "I love you," to femme fatale Lynn Whitfield. Not screened for critics; to be reviewed. R (violence, sex, profanity, vulgarity). (Cottonwood, South Towne, Trolley Square.)
THE TRUTH ABOUT CATS & DOGS - Romantic comedy about an insecure radio talk-show host (Janeane Garofalo) who becomes nervous after being wooed by a charming photographer on the phone, so she asks her friend, an eager-to-please model (Uma Thurman), to assume her identity so he won't be disappointed. Reviewed in this section. PG-13 (sex, profanity, vulgarity). (Broadway, Century, Holladay, Plaza 5400, South Towne, Trolley Corners, Trolley North.)
RE-ISSUED FILM
TAXI DRIVER - This 20th-anniversary re-issue of Martin Scorsese's shocking exploration of one man's descent into madness (Travis Bickle, as played by Robert De Niro) boasts improved stereo and restored color, as it relates the story of the title character's inability to connect with other people, using New York City as a metaphor for hell. Bernard Herrmann's score was his last; co-stars include Jodie Foster, Harvey Keitel, Cybill Shepherd, Peter Boyle and Albert Brooks. Scorsese has a cameo as one of Bickle's passengers. Reviewed in this section. R (violence, gore, profanity, vulgarity). (Exclusive, Tower.)
SPECIAL SCREENING
NIGHTFALL - The Utah Film & Video Center presents this locally produced, independent, low-budget horror-thriller, which focuses on an FBI agent tracking a serial killer from Seattle to Salt Lake City, only to discover the killer is a vampire. A 16mm film made by local talent; the filmmakers will be in attendance to take questions from the audience. Not rated, probable R (violence, gore, female nudity in a shower scene, profanity, vulgarity). (Salt Lake Art Center auditorium, 8 p.m.)
FOREIGN-LANGUAGE FILMS
SHANGHAI TRIAD - * * * * - The use of nuance and subtlety in this 1930s crime flick could provide a real lesson for in-your-face American filmmakers, as renowned Chinese director Zhang Yimou ("Ju Dou," "Raise the Red Lantern") creates a gorgeous tapestry of time, place and character, with his perennial star Gong Li as the pampered mistress of a Shanghai godfather whose life is threatened by a rival gang. The story is told from the viewpoint of a 14-year-old boy, and the director's restraint never lessens the film's stunning, scary power, or the ending, which is a shocker. A complete departure from Zhang's usual period pieces, this one marks him as a filmmaker without limitations. In Chinese, with English subtitles. R (violence, profanity, vulgarity, sex). (Exclusive, Tower.)
THE WHITE BALLOON - * * * 1/2 - Enchanting, deceptively simple, slice-of-life Iranian film about a 7-year-old girl who wants desperately to purchase a special goldfish from a local merchant, as part of the New Year's celebration. But she loses her money along the way and must rely on the kindness of others. Fabulous, spare filmmaking of the first order, with little Aida Mohammadkhani completely charming in the central role. In Farsi, with English subtitles. PG (mild violence). (Exclusive, Tower.) (April 19, 1996)
DOCUMENTARY FILM
ANNE FRANK REMEMBERED - * * * * - Shattering, superbly structured biography of the young teenager who has long been a symbol of the 11/2 million children exterminated during the Holocaust. Her diary, and the subsequent play and film that sprang from it, prove to tell only part of her story, as this film shows by humanizing her and the family and friends who surrounded before and after their two years in hiding. Oscar-winner as best documentary; narrated by Kenneth Branagh, with diary readings by Glenn Close. Mostly in English, but some German with English subtitles. Not rated, probable PG (wartime newsreel footage). (Exclusive, Avalon.) (April 19, 1996)
CONTINUING FILMS
THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT - * * * - Slick, funny and bright romantic comedy has Michael Douglas as a widowed U.S. president who falls for an environmental lobbyist (Annette Bening), prompting his aides (Martin Sheen, Michael J. Fox) to fear a romance may ruin his bid for re-election (especially when unbilled Richard Dreyfuss, as a ruthless senator, uses it to try and bring the popular president down). Engaging performances and a witty script make this slight but enjoyable yarn a lot of fun. PG-13 (profanity, vulgarity). (Kaysville, Sandy Starships.) (Nov. 17, 1995)
BED OF ROSES - * * 1/2 - Despite its weaknesses and a tendency to forcibly thrust its cuteness on the audience, this sentimental romance has plenty of charm, with Mary Stuart Masterson quite good as a successful, upscale New York businesswoman with a dark, mysterious past, and Christian Slater as the stranger who woos her with flowers galore. Could have used more humor, though. PG (vulgarity). (Sandcastle, Sugarhouse, Valley Fair.) (Jan. 26, 1996)
BEFORE AND AFTER - * * 1/2 - Small-town New England doctor Meryl Streep is stunned when her artist husband (Liam Neeson) begins hiding evidence upon learning that their son (Edward Furlong) has been accused of murder. Interesting ideas, but the complex question of how far one might go to protect a child is treated superficially, and in the end is less than satisfying. Neeson and Furlong are polar opposites in temperament but Streep is terrific, as usual. PG-13 (violence, gore, sex, partial nudity, profanity). (Valley Fair.) (Feb. 23, 1996)
THE BIRDCAGE - * * 1/2 - Funny but artificial Americanized adaptation of the hit French farce "La Cage aux Folles" about a gay couple (Robin Williams and Nathan Lane) posing as straight to fool the prospective, very conservative in-laws (Gene Hackman and Dianne Wiest) of the adult son they have raised together. Some wildly funny moments, but at two hours it's too long and falters in places. Quite faithful to the original film, however. R (profanity, vulgarity, partial nudity, lewd art). (Century, Crossroads, Holladay, Midvalley, South Towne.) (March 8, 1996)
BLACK SHEEP - * 1/2 - A dreadful misfire that attempts to recapture the success of "Tommy Boy," with Chris Farley as the title character, the younger brother of a Washington state gubernatorial can-didate (Tim Matheson), who assigns David Spade to watch over him. Gross-out gags and juvenile one-liners abound, but very little that is funny. PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, drugs). (Family Center, Sandy Starships, Sugarhouse, Valley Fair.) (Feb. 2, 1996)
BRAVEHEART - * * 1/2 - Mel Gibson directed, co-produced and stars in this big-budget epic, which garnered five Oscars, including best picture and Gibson as best director. Based on the true story of 13th-century Scottish rebel William Wallace, who united his people against English rule in general, and evil King Edward I (Patrick McGoohan) in particular. Spectacular battle scenes and a compelling story with excellent performances, but the violence is far too bloody, and - at nearly three hours - the film is far too long. R (violence, gore, rape, sex, nudity, profanity, vulgarity). (Sugarhouse.) (May 24, 1995)
BROKEN ARROW - * * * 1/2 - This action-thriller boasts a very high "Wow!"-factor, with plenty of wild stunts and wonderfully choreographed action set-pieces by Chinese director John Woo (who stumbled with his first American film, Jean-Claude Van Damme's "Hard Target"). The high-profile cast includes John Travolta as a crazed Air Force pilot who steals a pair of nuclear bombs and Christian Slater as his co-pilot, who performs Indiana Jones stunts as he tries to stop him. A real nail-biter. R (violence, profanity, vulgarity). (South Towne.) (Feb. 9, 1996)
CELTIC PRIDE - * * - Juvenile comedy about a pair of rabid sports fans (Dan Aykroyd, Daniel Stern) who hope to clinch the chances of the Boston Celtics in the NBA Championship series by kidnapping the opposing team's flamboyant superstar player (Damon Wayans). The opposing team is the Utah Jazz, but don't look for any familiar players - only the uniforms are the real deal. Aykroyd and Stern, in recycled characterizations, have some energy, but Wayans seems to be sleepwalking. PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity). (Carmike 12, Century, Cottonwood, Crossroads, Gateway, Plaza 5400; Redwood, with "Mr. Wrong"; Reel, Sandy 9.) (April 19, 1996)
CITY HALL - * * - Over-the-top Al Pacino is the mayor of New York in this "Godfather"-style melodrama, but the central character is his deputy (John Cusack), who investigates a street shootout between a cop and a mobster and uncovers a line of corruption that leads back to city government. This predictable picture plays like a TV-movie and may have been conceived as a longer movie, since Bridget Fonda's crusading lawyer and Martin Landau's possibly corrupt judge get short shrift. R (violence, profanity, vulgarity). (Family Center, Sugarhouse, Valley Fair.) (Feb. 16, 1996)
CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY - * * * - Mildly successful adaptation of the famous Alan Paton book (first filmed in 1951, with Sidney Poitier in the cast) is given a tremendous boost by a particularly stunning scene as the film's centerpiece and the solid performances of James Earl Jones and, in support, Richard Harris. Jones is the country minister searching for family members in the big city and finding tragedy at every turn. Charles S. Dutton co-stars in this tale of reconciliation in the midst of racial strife, the first movie to come out of democratic South Africa. PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity). (Kaysville.) (Jan. 26, 1996)
DEAD MAN WALKING - * * * * - Compelling, dramatically satisfying anti-death penalty film with a remarkably balanced view from writer-director Tim Robbins ("Bob Roberts"), based on the true story of a nun (played by Robbins' significant other, Susan Sarandon) who strikes up a tentative relationship with a death-row inmate (Sean Penn). Superb performances from the leads - and everyone else. Sarandon won the best actress Oscar for this role. R (violence, rape, profanity, racial epithets, brief nudity). (Broadway.) (Feb. 2, 1996)
DIABOLIQUE - * 1/2 - Dreadful remake of the classic 1955 French thriller, about the abusive, tyrannical headmaster (Chazz Palminteri) of a private boys school, whose murder is plotted by his heart-of-granite mistress (Sharon Stone) and mousey wife (Isabelle Adjani). Then, after his supposed death, evidence suggests the ladies may have bungled the job. Enter Kathy Bates as a nosy detective. Good and bad performances by the stars, idiotic updates in the story and bad dialogue to spare. R (violence, sex, nudity, profanity, vulgarity). (Redwood, with "Mulholland Falls.")
DOWN PERISCOPE - * * 1/2 - This spoof of submarine thrillers takes its cue from the 1959 classic "Operation Petticoat," crossed with the anarchic spirit of "M*A*S*H," though it isn't nearly as accomplished. Still, despite the absence of any big-laugh set-pieces, there is a fairly steady stream of chuckles, highlighted by the capable cast, a mix of veterans and newcomers. Lauren Holly is wasted, however, as the lone woman among them, positioned as little more than a sex object. PG-13 (profanity, vulgarity, violence). (Carmike 12, Murray.) (March 1, 1996)
EXECUTIVE DECISION - * * 1/2 - "Die Hard" on a passenger airliner, crossed with "Airport '75," believe it or not, resulting in a mixed bag - it's tense and suspenseful, but it's also pretty dumb. A hijacked 747 is boarded in the air by a special forces team, led by Steven Seagal (whose role is minor). Kurt Russell, as an intelligence analyst, and scientist Oliver Platt join them to foil a plot by Middle Eastern terrorists who plan to bomb Washington, D.C. Halle Berry, Joe Morton and John Leguizamo co-star. R (violence, profanity). (Carmike 12, Cinemas 5, Olympus; Redwood, with "Primal Fear.") (March 15, 1996)
FARGO - * * * - Alternately hilarious and shocking, this film noir thriller with homey, domestic Midwest trappings is as eccentric and artful as anything the Coen Brothers have done. But think "Blood Simple," not "Raising Arizona." Character actress Frances McDormand (Joel Coen's wife) stars as a pregnant police chief up to her neck in her first homicide case after a local car salesman's kidnap scheme goes awry. A few missteps, but sharp, dark satire most of the way. R (violence, gore, sex, nudity, profanity). (Broadway, Cottonwood.) (March 29, 1996)
FATHER OF THE BRIDE PART II - * * 1/2 - This sequel to the 1991 comedy (a remake of the 1951 sequel "Father's Little Dividend") has reluctant Steve Martin and giddy Diane Keaton facing grandparenthood, and just as Martin finally gets used to the idea, they discover Keaton is also pregnant! Too long, too silly, too much of Martin Short, and the characters' wealth makes it a bit hard for Joe Average to identify with them. But Steve Martin is great, and there are enough laughs to make you forgive most of its faults. PG (vulgarity). (Kaysville, Valley Fair.) (Dec. 8, 1995)
FEAR - * 1/2 - Mark Wahlberg has the showy role in this teen horror-thriller as a "Fatal Attraction" psycho who woos and wins an unsuspecting 16-year-old (Reese Witherspoon). But when she dumps him, he terrorizes the family as the finale resonates both "Night of the Living Dead" and "The Last House on the Left." And what starts off as a fairly interesting, complex melodrama gradually becomes more and more ludicrous. R (violence, profanity, sex). (Holladay, Midvalley; Redwood, with "Sudden Death"; South Towne, Trolley Square.) (April 13, 1996)
FLIRTING WITH DISASTER - * * 1/2 - There are some hilarious bits of business in this road comedy about an uptight entomologist (Ben Stiller) who embarks on a cross-country trip to find his natural parents, with his wife (Patricia Arquette), their new baby and a newly divorced adoption-agency counselor (Tea Leoni, of TV's "Naked Truth") in tow. But some of the farce feels forced, more frenetic than funny. Casting veteran co-stars Alan Alda, Mary Tyler Moore, George Segal and Lily Tomlin against type is an amusing touch, however. R (violence, sex, nudity, profanity, vulgarity, drugs). (Broadway, South Towne.)
FROM DUSK TILL DAWN - * 1/2 - Gory crime melodrama meets gory horror, uneasily, in the latest from Quentin Tarantino ("Pulp Fiction"), who wrote the script and co-stars with George Clooney (TV's "E.R."). They play psycho brothers on a bloody crime spree who seek sanctuary in Mexico only to encounter a topless bar full of vampires. A few amusing ideas, but they're blown away in the service of glop-and-goo special effects. Yechh. R (violence, gore, nudity, profanity, vulgarity). (Redwood, with "The Substitute"; Sugarhouse.) (Jan. 19, 1996)
HAPPY GILMORE - * * 1/2 - Crude, vulgar and wildly uneven - but with some hysterical scenes - this vehicle for "Saturday Night Live" vet Adam Sandler has him playing a pro-hocky wannabe who can't skate. So he switches to golf and finds he has an unbelievable 400-yard tee shot! The scene with Bob Barker knocking the stuffing out of Sandler is worth the price of admission, and Carl Weathers is also funny as a golf pro with an unlikely wooden hand. But a deadly unfunny subplot about a nursing home should have been excised. PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, profanity, partial nudity, sexual imagery). (Family Center, Kaysville, Sandcastle, Sandy Starships, Sugarhouse, Valley Fair.) (Feb. 16, 1996)
HOMEWARD BOUND II: LOST IN SAN FRANCISCO - * * - Young chil-dren are the primary audience for this sequel to the earlier family film, based on "The Incredible Journey," with voice-over dialogue for the animals. Here, the two dogs, aging Shadow (voice of Ralph Waite) and peppy young Chance (Michael J. Fox), along with smart-aleck feline Sassy (Sally Field), try to find their way home when they become lost on the wrong side of the tracks in the Bay Area. And along the way, Chance finds romance. G. (Cinemas 5, South Towne.) (March 8, 1996)
JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH - * * * 1/2 - Wonderfully realized adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic children's book with eye-popping animation and terrific vocal performances (by the likes of Richard Dreyfuss and Susan Sarandon) in the style and by the creators of "The Nightmare Before Christmas." A young boy escapes his unhappy life by sailing away on a giant peach (towed by 100 sea gulls) after being befriended by a spider, ladybug, glow worm, grasshopper and centipede, encountering unexpected adventures on the way to New York City. PG (violence, mild vulgarity). (Flick, Gateway, Plaza 5400, Reel, South Towne, Villa.) (April 12, 1996)
JUMANJI - * * * - This kids movie is definitely not for little ones, but as a rambunctious action-comedy it's loads of fun. The plot has a pair of kids stumbling on the title board game, as they inadvertently endanger New Hampshire's ecosystem by unleasing exotic animals and a deadly virus. Think "Gremlins," with which this film shares a certain anarchic sensibility. PG (violence, profanity, vulgarity). (Family Center, Kaysville, Sandy Starships, Sugarhouse, Valley Fair.) (Dec. 15, 1995)
KIDS IN THE HALL: BRAIN CANDY - turkey - Obnoxious, in-your-face, off-the-wall comedy from the Kids in the Hall, a Canadian cross-dressing comedy quintet that fancies itself a '90s Monty Python. The movie, about a wonder anti-depressant, is a series of skits that occasionally show some wit but are mostly just vulgar, tasteless and humorless. The "Kids" are talented, but if you're not already a fan, you may just wish it would go away. R (profanity, vulgarity, sex, nudity, drugs). (Trolley Square.) (April 12, 1996)
LAST SUMMER IN THE HAMPTONS - * * 1/2 - The latest from New York filmmaker Henry Jaglom is another self-important, semi-improvised talky social comedy, as a family of pompous actors, playwrights and some show-biz students come together at the matriarch's summer home, with the usual pretentious dialogue exchanges about sex, and occasional other subjects. Jaglom is certainly an acquired taste, but he's not in the league of Woody Allen or Chekov, both of whom resonate here. The late Viveca Lindfors has the nominal lead as the matriarch, with Andre Gregory, Roddy MacDowell and Roscoe Lee Brown among the supporting cast. R (violence, profanity, vulgarity). (Exclusive, Broadway.) (April 19, 1996)
MRS. WINTERBOURNE - * * - Disappointing "While You Were Sleeping" wannabe, about a homeless and very pregnant young woman (Ricki Lake) who is on a passenger train when it crashes and afterward adopts the identity of a pregnant passenger who was killed. This puts her in the home of her wealthy "mother-in-law" (Shirley MacLaine) and creates no end of social complications. Unfortunately, the comedy is hamfisted and Lake seems distracted. MacLaine is the film's primary saving grace. PG-13 (profanity, vulgarity). (Century, Holladay, Plaza 5400, South Towne, Trolley Corners, Trolley North.) (April 19, 1996)
MR. HOLLAND'S OPUS - * * * - Formula, cliched storytelling gets a boost from several inspiring vignettes and a knockout central perfor
mance by Richard Dreyfuss as a high school music teacher who takes the job reluctantly but over the next three decades learns the value of sharing his passion for music with others. Essentially a '90s update of "Goodbye, Mr. Chips." PG (profanity). (Carmike 12, Cinemas 5, Gateway, Olympus; Redwood, with "Toy Story"; Sandy 9.) (Jan. 19, 1996)
MR. WRONG - * 1/2 - TV sitcom star Ellen De-Generes makes her big-screen debut with this creepy gender-switch sendup of "Fatal Attraction," with Bill Pullman as the demented one-night-stand who won't go away. The setup offers some laughs, but the uneasy blend of dark satire and sprightly comedy never comes together and the second half of the film heads rapidly downhill without a chuckle or smirk in sight. PG-13 (violence, sex, profanity, vulgarity). (Redwood, with "Celtic Pride"; Sugarhouse.) (Feb. 17, 1996)
MUPPET TREASURE ISLAND - * * 1/2 - Cute, amusing Disney production reuniting Kermit, Miss Piggy and the gang for an adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson's classic pirate tale "Treasure Island" isn't quite up there with "A Muppet Christmas Carol," but it's not bad. Tim Curry is devious pirate Long John Silver - who has a lobster named Polly on his shoulder - and there are some good songs. But it plays like an elongated "Muppet Show" TV skit, with anachronistic asides and inside gags. G. (Carmike 12, Cinemas 5.) (Feb. 16, 1996)
OLIVER & COMPANY - * * * - Disney's 1988 animated feature, which places Charles Dickens' "Oliver Twist" in a modern-day urban setting with animal characters, isn't the studio's most artistic effort, but it's still a lot of rip-roaring fun as Dodger the mutt (voiced by Billy Joel) takes Oliver the kitten under his paw and shows him how to live on the streets of Manhattan. Bette Midler and Cheech Marin steal the show as, respectively, a prissy poodle and a feisty chihuahua. G. (Carmike 12, Gateway, Olympus, Plaza 5400, Sandy 9.)
PRIMAL FEAR - * 1/2 - Dreadful courtroom thriller, with Richard Gere as an arrogant Chicago attorney who courts headlines by defending an altar boy accused of brutally slaying a Catholic archbishop. Great cast (Alfre Woodard, Frances McDormand, John Mahoney) wasted in ridiculous, salacious story that gets worse as it goes along. R (violence, gore, sex, nudity, profanity, vulgarity). (Carmike 12, Century, Flick, Gateway, Holladay, Plaza 5400; Redwood, with "Executive Decision"; Sandy 9.) (April 3, 1996)
RUMBLE IN THE BRONX - * * * - Silly story has Jackie Chan as a Hong Kong cop vacationing in the Bronx and having run-ins with a motorcycle gang and local mobsters. But forget the plot; go for the action, driven by Chan's incredible stunt work and complex physical comedy. This is Chan's dubbed-in-English effort to win over the American audience. A huge hit at the recent Sundance Film Festival. R (violence, profanity, brief partial nudity). (Sugarhouse, Valley Fair.) (Feb. 23, 1996)
SABRINA - * * * - There's nothing wrong with the 1954 original, or its dream cast (Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn and William Holden), but this smooth remake intelligently updates the right elements and boasts a talented '90s cast (Harrison Ford, Julia Ormond and talk-show host Greg Kinnear). Taken on its own terms, this is witty, charming, of the kind we don't often get anymore. The story is an unlikely romance as a chauffeur's daughter is pursued by a pair of wealthy brothers. PG (vulgarity, profanity). (Kaysville.) (Dec. 15, 1995)
SENSE AND SENSIBILITY - * * * * - Emma Thompson delivers a marvelous central performance, and she won an Oscar for her screenplay adaptation of this delightful comic melodrama based on Jane Austen's novel. Thompson is one of two sisters (Kate Winslet plays the other) whose station in life has been reduced, and just when romance seems most likely, their suitors head for London. Charming, witty and unabashedly romantic. Alan Rickman and Hugh Grant co-star. PG (adult themes). (Broadway.)
SGT. BILKO - * * * - Steve Martin delivers a terrific performance and is surrounded by a very funny ensemble supporting cast in this surprisingly winning adaptation of the old Phil Silvers TV sitcom. Martin is the bombastic stateside Army sergeant who has turned the motor pool into a casino and has more gambling schemes up his sleeve than aces. Dan Aykroyd is his befuddled commander and Phil Hartman is a nasty major who has a grudge against Bilko. Great fun. PG (profanity, vulgarity, violence). (Carmike 12, Gateway, Holladay, Midvalley, Sandy 9, Trolley Corners; Valley Vu, with "The Quest.") (March 29, 1996)
THE SUBSTITUTE - * 1/2 - Ridiculous mixture of "Rambo" and "Dangerous Minds," with Tom Berenger as a mercenary who poses as a substitute teacher in a tough Miami school to get revenge on the gang leader who had his teacher-girlfriend (Diane Venora) assaulted. Then he discovers the principal (Ernie Hudson) heads up a drug-trafficking ring that operates out of the school! The film's silliness escalates until the denouement, as the school is practically blown to smithereens by rival mercenary groups. R (violence, nudity, profanity, vulgarity, drugs). (Carmike 12, Century, Creekside, Gateway, Midvalley, Reel; Redwood, with "From Dusk Till Dawn"; Sandy 9, Trolley Square.) (April 19, 1996)
SUDDEN DEATH - turkey - A mean-spirited "Die Hard"-at-a-hockey-game action picture, shaped as a vehicle for Jean-Claude Van Damme. He's not bad, and there are some wild if completely implausible stunts. But so many innocent bystanders get slaughtered - including some we've come to care about - that audience sympathy goes out the window in the first half-hour. Strictly for blood-'n'-guts fans. R (violence, profanity, vulgarity, nudity). (Redwood, with "Fear.") (Dec. 22, 1995)
TOY STORY - * * * * - Hilarious feature-length Disney cartoon - entirely animated by computers - about two toys, an old-fashioned pull-string cowboy (voiced by Tom Hanks) and a space-age action figure (Tim Allen), who become rivals for the affections of the boy who owns them. Packed with visual gags and witty one-liners, though the toys are treated reverentially. Charming and hysterically funny, and it moves so fast it seems to be half its 70-minute length. G. (Cinemas 5, Olympus; Redwood, with "Mr. Holland's Opus.") (Nov. 22, 1995)
UP CLOSE & PERSONAL - * * 1/2 - Although supposedly based on the book "Golden Girl," the tragic true story of network news anchor Jessica Savitch, this film is merely romantic pap, a fictional, simple-minded tale of a pretty young newscaster (Michelle Pfeiffer) who rises from gofer at a local Florida station to network star (Robert Redford) under the guiding hand of her older lover, a veteran network newsman whose own star has faded. More like "Pygmalion" than "Broadcast News," but Redford and Pfeiffer prove that movie-star charisma can make an audience forgive the most ridiculous lapses in logic. PG-13 (sex, profanity, violence). (Carmike 12, Creekside, Plaza 5400, Sandy 9.) (March 1, 1996)
WHITE SQUALL - * * - Jeff Bridges is good in this true story of a sea captain and a group of teenage boys who set off on an eight-month Caribbean voyage in 1961 and find themselves shipwrecked when a freak storm strikes. And director Ridley Scott ("Alien," "Blade Runner," "Thelma & Louise") stages the storm terrifically. But the rest is dull, dull, dull - a sort of "Dead Poet Society" on the high seas. PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, sex, nudity). (Family Center, Sugarhouse, Valley Fair.) (Feb. 2, 1996)
*****
CROSSROADS
Past movie reviews and capsules by Chris Hicks are available online. Search for MOVIES.