Film Dictionary

October 10, 1994

Mario und der Zauberer (1994) ****

Natural Born Killers (1994) ****

Trzy kolory: Bialy (1994) ****

Zemsta meza jest tematem drugiej czesci trylogii Kieslowskiego, poswieconej trzem idealom Rewolucji Francuskiej.

Trois couleurs: Rouge (1994) ****

The last part of Krzysztof Kieslowski's celebrated trilogy about liberty, equality and fraternity. This film, set in Geneva, stars Jean-Louis Trintignan and Irene Jacob.

Speed (1994) ****

Tremendously exciting action movie about a runaway bus.

Very impressive Disney animated feature, loosely based on Shakespeare's "Hamlet". It's about a young lion avenging the death of his father. Great songs by Elton John include:

"Circle Of Life" ***
"I Just Can't Wait To Be King" **
"Be Prepared" *
"Hakuna Matata" **
"Can You Feel The Love Tonight" ***

Four Weddings And A Funeral (1994) ****

Excellent comedy about a complicated love affair between a British bachelor (Hugh Grant) and an American playgirl (Andie McDowell), who continually meet each other at various receptions.

Barcelona (1994) ****

Brilliant comedy of manners about romantic adventures of two young Americans in Barcelona. Director Whit Stillman's screenplay is full of witty, screamingly funny dialogues in the tradition of Jane Austen and Oscar Wilde.

Through The Olive Trees (1994) ****

In a remote Iranian village, devastated by an earthquake, a film crew is making a movie, while their lead actor (a local peasant) wants to marry a girl despite opposition from her grandmother.

The Shawshank Redemption (1994) ****

Surprisingly effective drama starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman as two prison inmates. An excellent film in every respect.

The Last Seduction (1994) ****

September 9, 1994

Killing Zoe (1994) ***

Forrest Gump (1994) ***

Dumb And Dumber (1994) ***

Pret-a-Porter (1994) ***

Erotique (1994) ***

Felidae (1994) ***

Neighborhood dogs are being killed by a mysterious assassin. An excellent animated film from Germany.

Sexual Outlaws (1994) ***

Rapa-Nui (1994) ***

Burning Paradise (1994) ***

Two legendary heroes, Fong Sai-Yuk and Hung Shi-Kwan, rescue hundreds of Shaolin monks held captive in a dark fortress.

Bullets Over Broadway (1994) ***

Amusing Woody Allen comedy about a young playwright trying to preserve his artistic integrity.

Airheads (1994) ***

Wildly anarchistic comedy about three rock musicians invading a radio station and taking hostages.

The Adventures Of Priscilla, Queen Of The Desert (1994) ***

Campy musical comedy starring Terence Stamp as an aging transsexual travelling across Australia with two drag queens (Guy Pearce and Hugo Weaving). Amazing, Oscar-winning costumes. Songs include:

"I've Never Been To Me" **
"I Will Survive" ***
"Shake It"
"Finally" **
"Mamma Mia" ***
"Save The Best For Last" *

The Lovers (1994) ***

A beautiful love story, a Chinese "Romeo And Juliet".

Death And The Maiden (1994) ***

Bitter Moon (1994) ***

Yes Sir! Madame (1994) ***

Directed by Robert Morin. A crazy farce about bilingualism in Quebec.

Wolf (1994) ***

A serious horror movie about a publishing executive (Jack Nicholson) biten by a werewolf.

Widows' Peak (1994) ***

Delicious little film set in a quiet Irish village. It begins like a clever comedy of manners worthy of Jane Austen, but its ending is straight from an Agatha Christie's mystery novel. Surprising and delightful.

When A Man Loves A Woman (1994) ***

Excellent drama about alcoholism, starring Meg Ryan and Andy Garcia. She drinks, checks into a rehab clinic, goes to AA meetings and slowly rebuilds her life. It's only then her real problems begin...

True Lies (1994) ***

Terrific action picture directed by James Cameron. One Arnold (Schwarzenegger) takes care of the action department, while another (Tom) excells as comedy relief. The film suffers from excessive sexism and racism (Cameron probably got sick and tired of unfair accusations concerning his earlier films and decided to prove his critics right).

Star Trek Generations (1994) ***

An entertaining, narratively complex action film with great special effects. William Shatner and Patrick Stewart team up to defeat an evil scientist (Malcolm McDowell). It's the farewell episode for the original crew of the "Enterprise", as well as the first installement starring the "Next Generation" cast.

Stargate (1994) ***

A science-fiction/fantasy/action/adventure film starring Kurt Russell, James Spader and Jaye Davidson.

Red Rock West (1994) ***

Superb western/film noir about murder and deceit in contemporary Wild West.

Quiz Show (1994) ***

Tense drama starring Rob Morrow as a congressional legal counsel exposing a television scandal.

Psy 2: Ostatnia krew (1994) ***

Rosyjska mafia szmugluje bron do Jugoslawii.

Organized Crime & Triad Bureau (1994) ***

Terrific crime movie from Hong Kong. Fast-paced, incredibly exciting, very violent and cynical (good cops are torturing suspects, corrupt cops try to stop the abuse).

Muriel's Wedding (1994) ***

Very peculiar black comedy about a young girl - fat, ugly and desperate to get married. The film is mean-spirited and cynical, but also very entertaining.

Timecop (1994) ***

Drunken Master 2 (1994) ***

Co-director Jackie Chan stars in this martial arts film set in the early 20th century.

Disclosure (1994) ***

An adaptation of Michael Crichton's controversial novel, starring Michael Douglas and Demi Moore. The film begins with a case of sexual harassment, but then becomes an exciting story of office intrigue. Tense, well directed drama.

Clerks (1994) ***

Low budget comedy about a convenience store clerk having a bad day.

Clear And Present Danger (1994) ***

An adaptation of Tom Clancy's bestseller about a US cover operation against drug smugglers in Colombia.

Chungking Express (1994) ***

Stylish, very imaginative, constantly surprising film about two Hong Kong cops, each meeting a strange and weird woman.

The Day The Sun Turned Cold (1994) ***

A son suspects his mother of poisoning his father. Somber, very well directed film, set in a wintery Chinese village.

Octobre (1994) ***

This daring film offers an "insider" perspective on the activities of Quebec terrorists who abducted and killed a cabinet minister in 1970.

The New Legend Of Shaolin (1994) ***

Plenty of excellent kung-fu fights in this entertaining actioner starring Jet Li, Chingmy Yau and child star Tze Miu. Directed by Wong Jing, with action sequences by Corey Yuen.

Maya Lin: A Strong Clear Vision (1994) ***

Oscar-winning documentary about the designer of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC.

Maverick (1994) ***

Quirky western starring Mel Gibson as a gambler trying to win half a million dollars. Amusing and entertaining.

The Mask (1994) ***

Jim Carrey is a riot as a timid bank clerk who becomes a crazy cartoon character at night. He's like the Genie from "Aladdin" - a walking, breadthing wisecrack.

Love & A .45 (1994) ***

A Quentin Tarantino-inspired crime film starring Gil Bellows and Renée Zellweger. Writer-director C.M.Talkington swears that he wrote the script long before seeing "Reservoir Dogs" (1992), but nobody will ever believe him.

Louis 19, le roi des ondes (1994) ***

Self-reflexive, almost brechtian comedy about a shop clerk whose entire life is filmed for a TV channel. Uneven, but often very funny.

Fun (1994) ***

Quite reminiscent of "Heavenly Creatures" (1994), not nearly as good, but still a fine film about an intense friendship between two teenage girls who turn to murder.

Little Women (1994) ***

Superlative adaptation of Louise May Alcott's popular novel, starring Winona Ryder as feisty Jo. Superior to all earlier adaptations (even George Cukor's 1933 classic with Katharine Hepburn).

Lamerica (1994) ***

Two corrupt Italian businessmen want to set a shoe factory in post-Communist Albania.

Hoop Dreams (1994) ***

Acclaimed documentary about two inner-city kids trying to use basketball as a ticket out of the ghetto.

Les Gens de la rizière (1994) ***

The lives of rice farmers in Cambodia, simply told in a beautiful film.

Ed Wood (1994) ***

Ed Wood, Jr. became known as Hollywood's worst film director, but he could also be considered as a visionary artist with no talent. His films achieved lasting fame as great cult classics because of their unique combination of technical ineptness, unintentionally hilarious dialogues and subversive political ideas. This film is a touching tribute to Ed Wood and his friend, Bela Lugosi.

Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) ***

A delicious cinematic feast from Taiwan, a splendid comedy about a relationship between an elderly chef and his three grown-up daughters.

The Professional (1994) ***

A reclusive hitman befriends a little girl (Natalie Portman). Violent, nihilistic drama directed by Luc Besson.

August 8, 1994

Faut pas rire du bonheur (1994) *

Boring film about a lonely man meeting some bizarre characters on Christmas Eve.

Les Patriotes (1994) ***

La Reine Margot (1994) ***

Les Roseaux sauvages (1994) ***

Mina Tannenbaum (1994) **

Une histoire d'amitié entre deux jeunes filles juives à Paris.

Le Colonel Chabert (1994) *

Gerard Depardieu plays a colonel who must prove his identity.

Grosse fatigue (1994) **

L'idée de depart est geniale, mais l'execution nous laisse a notre faim. C'est l'histoire d'un acteur celebre qui se fait remplacer par son sosie. Une comedie noire inspiree par Franz Kafka.