November 11, 1988
The Unbearable Lightness Of Being (1988) *****
The best film about the Prague Spring of 1968, Philip Kaufman's "The Unbearable Lightness of Being" is an adaptation of Milan Kundera's excellent novel of the same title. The film tells the story of a young surgeon, Tomas (Daniel Day-Lewis) who attempts to float above the mundane world of personal responsibility and commitment to practice a sex life that has no traffic with the heart, to escape untouched from the world of sensual pleasure while retaining his privacy and his loneliness. His relationships with two women, Juliette Binoche and Lena Olin, as well as various short flings, dominate the story. But the real subject of Kaufman's film is freedom (the 'lightness' of the title). Rita Kempley described the film in Washington Post as a mix of ''glitzy garter belt look of "Cabaret" and the somber Angst of Bergman. Puckered lips and rounded bottoms are intercut with invasion-era newsreels of bodies under sheets. Artful compositions, with hats off to Magritte, are set to the eerie arpeggios of Leos Janacek's score. It's an atmosphere that stirs the heart, the hormones and the head. Allegorically, Tomas is torn between the two women, as he is between East and West, anarchy and order. And the movie is held together by the constant tension between people and nations, the power of love and the love of power''. It's a Hollywood movie, but with a very European sensibility, due not only to the original material, but also to the fact that the script for adapted by the great French screenwriter, Jean-Claude Carrière (''Belle de jour'', ''The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie'', ''Milou en mai'', ''Cyrano de Bergerac'').
October 10, 1988
Cinema Paradiso (1988) ****
Krotki film o zabijaniu (1988) ****
September 9, 1988
Talk Radio (1988) ***
Oliver Stone directed this hard-hitting film about a controversial talk radio host.
Oliver And Company (1988) ***
A little cat joins a bunch of canine thieves. A animated adaptation of Dickens' "Oliver Twist", set in contemporary New York. Songs:
"Once Upon A Time In New York" *
"Why Should I Worry ?" **
"Streets Of Gold" *
"Perfect Isn't Easy" *
"Good Company"
"Why Should I Worry ?" (reprise) *
Little Dorrit (1988) ***
A superlative adaptation of Charles Dickens' novel set in a debtor's prison. It consists of two parts, each telling the same story from a different point of view.
"Nobody's Fault" ***
"Little Dorrit's Story" ***
"Nobody's Fault" ***
"Little Dorrit's Story" ***
In The Line Of Duty 3 (1988) ***
Cynthia Khan kicks some major ass in this fine crime flick from Hong Kong. Aka "Force Of The Dragon".
High Hopes (1988) ***
Very original black comedy about snobbery and class-consciousness in Thatcher's Britain.
Hairspray (1988) ***
Ricky Lake is an obese dance contest winner in this campy comedy directed by John Waters.
The Dead Pool (1988) ***
Clint Eastwood, Liam Neeson and Jim Carrey star in the fourth sequel to "Dirty Harry" (1971).
As Tears Go By (1988) ***
The Accidental Tourist (1988) ***
Interesting film about a travel-guide writer (William Hurt) and his romance with an excentric dog-trainer (Geena Davis).
The Naked Gun (1988) ***
The first, and the best, of the farces starring Leslie Nielsen as the bumbling Lt. Frank Drebin.
Hôtel Terminus (1988) ***
Excellent documentary about Klaus Barbie, the notorious Gestapo chief in Lyon.
Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988) ***
Excellent, and very sophisticated comedy starring Steve Martin and Michael Caine.
L'Ours (1988) ***
An orphan cub is adopted by a large kodiak bear who's chased by two hunters in the Canadian Rockies. Beautiful film, gorgeous photography.
Police Story II (1988) ***
Jackie Chan plays a disgruntled cop in this engrossing sequel to the 1985 hit.
Powaqqatsi (1988) ***
A follow-up to "Koyaanisqatsi" (1983), filmed in Brazil, Egypt, Kenya, Peru, India, Hong Kong, Israel, France, Nepal and Berlin.
Salsa (1988) ***
"Cali Pachanguero" *
"Under My Skin" *
"Good Lovin'" *
"Oye Como Va" *
"Puerto Rico" **
"I Know" **
"Spanish Harlem" **
"Margarita" **
"Chicos y Chicas" **
"Puerto Rico" (reprise) **
School On Fire (1988) ***
Tales From The Gimli Hospital (1988) ***
August 8, 1988
July 7, 1988
The Vanishing (1988) **
A heavy and depressing psychological thriller about a young man searching for his kidnapped wife. Well directed and acted, with a shocking and terrifying ending. A coproduction between Holland and France, the film was submitted by Holland for a Oscar nomination, but was rejected because the director is French. French title: "L'Homme qui voulait savoir".
Red Sorghum (1988) **
Visually stunning, but weakly plotted Chinese film about winery workers fighting against Japanese invaders.
Sur (1988) **
Modernist drama directed by radical Argentinian director Fernando Solanas. Heavy-handed and dogmatic, but visually beautiful.
June 6, 1988
May 5, 1988
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