October 10, 1989
Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) ****
Directed by Hayao Miyazaki. A young witch comes to a big city and uses her talents to make deliveries for people. A wonderful animated fable from Japan.
Un Monde sans pitié (1989) ****
The Little Mermaid (1989) ****
Delightful Disney animated fairy-tale about a headstrong mermaid, Ariel, defying her father, King Triton, and falling in love with a handsome prince, Eric. It's a very loose adaptation of a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen. The animation is superb, colors are lively and the musical score (by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman) is both imaginative and appealing. The film has several outstanding musical numbers, including "Under The Sea", a Busby Berkeley-inspired extravaganza featuring dancing crabs, singing octopies, choruses of shrimps and an amazing variety of colorful, exotic fishes. There is also an evil squid witch Ursula, who tricks Ariel into a scamy deal, and Louis, a wickedly funny French chef, whose desperate attempts to capture (and cook) Ariel's friend Sebastian the Crab, is the comic highlight of the film. Songs include:
"Fathom's Below"
"Daughters Of Triton"
"Part Of Your World" ***
"Under The Sea" ***
"Poor Unfortunate Souls" *
"Les Poissons" *
"Kiss The Girl" ***
Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989) ****
Batman (1989) ****
Violent action/adventure/fantasy blockbuster about heroic Batman (Michael Keaton) fighting evil Joker (Jack Nicholson). Truly amazing set designs and superlative direction by Tim Burton.
Heathers (1989) ****
September 9, 1989
La Réception (1989) ***
A Canadian adaptation of Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians". Very low-budget, but ingenious.
Black Rain (1989) ***
Superlative human drama about survivors of Hiroshima. Great portrait of Japanese customs and moral principles.
Crimes And Misdemeanors (1989) ***
A humorous tale about jealousy and success is contrasted with a serious story about obsession and murder. Excellent Woody Allen's film, skilfully combining his witty dialogue comedies (like "Annie Hall") with his grim, introspective dramas (like "September").
Great Balls Of Fire (1989) ***
"Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On" ***
"Great Balls Of Fire" ***
"High School Confidential" **
"Breathless" **
"Real Wild Child (Wild One)" **
Honey, I Shrunk The Kids (1989) ***
Good special effects and some clowning from Rick Moranis just about save this otherwise average science-fiction/comedy/adventure.
In The Line Of Duty 4 (1989) ***
A fine crime flick starring Cynthia Khan and Donnie Yen. The film is surprisingly anti-American - the villains are CIA agents who deal drugs in order to finance the Contras. Aka "Witness".
I Want To Go Home (1989) ***
An American cartoonist tries to find his daughter while attending an art exhibition in Paris. Screamingly funny comedy written by Jules Feiffer and directed by Alain Resnais. It's a sincere tribute to the American cartoon artists. One should absolutely avoid a horrendously dubbed French version, which doesn't make any sense, since the crucial point of the film relates to the American cartoonist's inability and unwillingness to communicate in French.
Licence To Kill (1989) ***
My Left Foot (1989) ***
Film biography of Christy Brown, the famous Irish poet and painter, who suffered from celebral palsy that crippled his arms and right leg.
Roger & Me (1989) ***
Powerful documentary about the economic disaster in Flint, Michigan, where GM closed a large plant in the mid-1980's. Director Michael Moore unsuccessfully tries to meet the company's president Roger Smith. Often hilarious, always sarcastic, the film is a devastating condemnation of the corporate greed.
Sex, Lies And Videotape (1989) ***
An interesting film about complex relationships between family members and friends. Winner of the Palme d'or in Cannes.
Dead Poets Society (1989) ***
Memorable film about a poetry teacher (Robin Williams) and his students, set in a Vermont private school in the late 1950's.
Earth Girls Are Easy (1989) ***
Very campy musical comedy about three hunky aliens (Jeff Goldblum, Jim Carrey and Damon Wayans) landing their spaceship in Geena Davis' pool. Songs and musical numbers:
"Brand New Girl" *
"The Ground You Walk On" *
"Deca Dance" **
"'Cause I'M A Blond" ***
A Better Tomorrow III (1989) ***
Set in Saigon in 1974 and 1975 (with a brief intermission in Hong Kong), it's a prequel to the first two films. Directed by Tsui Hark, who puts more emphasis on characters than on action.
August 8, 1989
La Revolution Francaise (1989) **
Conventional, but impressive historical drama about the fall of the French monarchy from 1789 to 1794, focusing on the central figures of the Revolution: Louis XVI, Marie-Antoinette, La Fayette, Mirabeau, Danton, Desmoulins and Robespierre. The film is presented in two parts: the first, directed by Robert Enrico, deals with the early, glorious phase of the revolution; the second, directed by Richard T.Heffron, shows how the democratic ideals slowly degenerate into a brutal and paranoid dictatorship. An informative chronicle of one of the most fascinating periods in modern history.
"Les Annees lumière" **
"Les Annees terribles" **
"Les Annees lumière" **
"Les Annees terribles" **
Les Deux Fragonard (1989) *
Une belle lavandière devient la modèle et la maîtresse du peintre Honoré Fragonard.
Monsieur Hire (1989) **
An intriguing French film about a misantropic tailor falling in love with a mysterious woman who lives across the street. Very slow moving.
La Vie et rien d'autre (1989) *
Tedious French film about the identification of MIA's from World War I.
July 7, 1989
Eight Taels Of Gold (1989) *
Directed by Mabel Cheung. A New York cab driver (Samo Hung) returns to his native village in Mainland China.
Leningrad Cowboys Go America (1989) ***
June 6, 1989
Henry V (1989) **
An adaptation of the Shakespeare's play about English invasion of France and the battle of Agincourt (1415). Not bad, but inferior to Laurence Olivier's 1945 version.
May 5, 1989
Cruising Bar (1989) **
One night in the lives of four weirdos (all played by Michel Côté): a hyperactive punk, an eternal looser, a pseudo-sophisticate and a fat, middle-aged Don Juan. Amusing.
April 4, 1989
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