May 5, 1998
Un 32 aout sur terre (1998) **
After surviving a horrible car crash, a young woman (Pascale Bussiere) decides to have child with a friend (Alexis Martin). He already has a steady girlfriend, but being a typical guy, he enthousiastically agrees. His only condition: the child has to be conceived in the desert. This Quebec pic substitutes oddness for originality, and promises more than it delivers.
Towards A Promised Land (1998) *
A documentary about Quebec's Jewish community and its relationship with the Francophone majority.
Viens danser sur la lune (1998) *
Lolita's Humbert Humbert would have loved this bizarre kidpic about 13-year-old nymphets wearing skimpy bathing suits and thick makeup. The voyeuristic camera behaves in ways more appropriate for soft-core erotica than family entertainment.
2 Secondes (1998) **
Charlotte Laurier plays a mountain-bike racer who retires from that sport to work for a messenger service in downtown Montreal. In a particularly poor year for Quebec cinema, this flawed effort still emerges as a veritable breadth of fresh air after many embarrassing flops.
C't'a ton tour Laura Cadieux (1998) **
Cavemen from Villendorf used to worship them as fertility goddesses. They inspired artists like Rubens and Botero. But unfortunately, in present-day Quebec, well-rounded matrons are no longer en vogue. They are forced on crash diets by doctors who make them wait for hours in their offices. This flawed, but entertaining adaptation of a Michel Tremblay's novel treats its oversized heroines with a unique mixture of warmth and cruelty.
Les Boyz II (1998) *
I've prepared a whole litany of abusive adjectives (arranged alphabetically from abominable to wretched) to heap upon this sorry-ass excuse for a movie, but since it will be a huge hit anyway, I might as well save my breath, and engage in more meaningful activities like shooting arrows at the sun or pumping water out of the ocean.
Le Coeur au poing (1998) **
A young woman, feeling lonely, offers herself to complete strangers. This Quebec film is well directed and superbly acted (especially by Montpetit), but also very bizarre. An uneven effort: sometimes campy, often genuinely touching and always unsettling.
Seul dans mon putain d'univers (1998) *
A depressing documentary about juvenile delinquents in Montreal. A well-meaning effort, but seriously misguided. By offering no solutions (even implying that there are no solutions), the film basically encourages the viewers to nod their heads, sight...and go on with their lives. Supposedly "realistic" documentaries like this one largely explain public apathy concerning social problems.
La Deroute (1998) *
Quebec film about an Italian-Canadian businessman and his relationship with his daughter.
Kayla (1998) *
Set in a small Canadian village in 1920, it's a story of a young boy who befriends a wild dog. Not really a family film; younger children might be upset by scenes of animals being shot or poisoned.
La Position de l'escargot (1998) **
Tomassini is excellent as a young woman trying to reconcile with her prodigal father (Lanoux) and falling in love with her stalker. It's a great, beautifully nuanced performance. Unfortunately, the film itself is very uneven, with an interesting story badly scripted and weakly directed. And true to its title, everything moves at a snail pace.
Aujourd'hui ou jamais (1998) *
An old aviator, grounded for 15 years, wants to fly once again. But while fixing his antique airplane, he's visited by his prodigal father and a mysterious woman in a blonde wig. Lefebvre's auteurist touches (lethargic pace, catatonic characters, flegmatic dialogue, vividless imagery) are all very much in evidence.
April 4, 1998
Macca Strewth (1998) ****
VHS/Carrhot (1998) ***
Probably the only film ever made showing a carrot having sex with a grater. Computer animation.
Sunrise Over Tiananmen Square (1998) ***
Snow Cat (1998) ***
A sad midwinter tale about a young girl and her cat. Narrated by Maureen Stapleton, the film uses a new finger-paint technique of animation.
Mon enfant ma terre (1998) ***
A powerful indictment against the landmine industry. Animation technique: computer-coloured drawings on paper.
A Viagem (1998) ***
No Support (1998) ***
A claymation extravaganza about a billboard cowboy trying to prevent a suicide. Directed by René Castillo and Antonio Urrutia.
Bunny (1998) **
Weird, Oscar-winning (and rather unpleasant) cartoon about an old female rabbit, a moth and a baking oven.
Zoom (1998) *
An abstract animated film. The camera zooms towards an abstract pattern, revealing an ever-changing maze of curved lines.
March 3, 1998
Kabaret Olgi Lipinskiej: Dziady na czatach (1998) ***
"Jedna wielka rodzina" **
"Powiedzmy sobie taka roza" *
"Plaga egipska" **
"Czart w internecie" ("Kabina cieni") **
"Na final 98" **
"Czytac ulotki" *
Kabaret Olgi Lipinskiej: Placowka for ewer (1998) **
"Ja tez jestem gospodarzem" *
"Nie mamy drygu do maszerowania" *
"Pomnik studenta" *
"Placowka for ever" *
"Daj im Panie" *
The Canterbury Tales (1998) ***
Kabaret Olgi Lipinskiej: Zeby jaja byly swieze (1998) ***
"Nasz rzad" *
"Zeby jaja byly swieze" *
"Cyniczna uczta etnografow TZG" ("Postmoderna i pokropek") *
February 2, 1998
The Prince Of Egypt (1998) *
Impressive scenery (temples and monuments and statues), but a very dull story.
Pi (1998) **
Stylish, quite intriguing film about a mathematician trying to solve the mystery of the universe.
The Last Days (1998) **
Directed by James Moll. This Oscar-winning documentary about Holocaust deliberately avoids any voice-over narration, letting its five protagonists (which include US congressman Tom Lantos from California) to tell their own stories in their own way. The film relies mainly on spontaneous recollections and observations, allowing the survivors to emerge as full-fledged human beings, rather than mere symbols of victimization and suffering.
Hollywoodism (1998) **
A documentary about the founding fathers of Hollywood - Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe, who invented the American Dream, brought it across the ocean and propagated it through their movies. The film glorifies Hollywood cinema, presenting it as anti-elitist and profoundly democratic, but conveniently ignoring its racist treatment of other minorities. A flawed, but well-researched film.
Rush Hour (1998) **
Hollywood apologizes for the racism in Lethal Weapon 4 with this amusing interracial/buddy/comedy/action/kung-fu coctail. Chan plays a Hong Kong cop coming to L.A. to find the kidnapped daughter of a Chinese consul. Tucker tags along for the ride, supplying a steady flow of one-liners. Refreshing and very funny, but light on chop-socky goodies.
Enemy Of The State (1998) **
The National Security Agency plays a cat-and-mouse game with a resourceful lawyer (Will Smith). Taut, exciting chase thriller with plenty of cool high-tech gizmos (including satellite cameras tracking down fugitives on rooftops). The best scene has Smith trying to get rid of his clothes (infested with surveillance devices), while escaping from federal agents in a hotel.
The Education Of Little Tree (1998) **
Fine little film about a Cherokee family in eastern Tennessee. **
Clay Pigeons (1998) **
Black comedy about a young stud (Joaquim Phoenix) suspected of being a serial killer. He doesn't actually murder anyone, but bizarre circumstances force him to hide several bodies.
A Civil Action (1998) **
John Travolta plays a crusading lawyer going after two companies polluting water supplies.
The Rugrats Movie (1998) **
Pre-school critters get stranded in a forest, fighting off wolves and Russian circus monkeys as they try to reunite with their parents. A fast-paced cartoon with non-stop action and a few chuckles. An ideal pic for kids old enough to hate Barney, but too young to lust after Jennifer Love Hewitt or Leonardo DiCaprio.
Ever After (1998) **
Don't expect any pumpkins in this version of the Cinderella tale. Instead of fairy godmothers waving their magic wands or little mice knitting party dresses, we get Leonardo Da Vinci helping a poor orphan girl (Barrymore) marry a handsome prince (Scott). A surprisingly good movie, with some unexpectedly complex characters.
Return To Paradise (1998) **
Unless they return to Malaysia and face three years in jail for drug possession, two young American will see their friend executed. Flawed and extremely moralistic, it's nevertheless a well directed, hard-hitting film with interesting, three-dimensional characters.
Can't Hardly Wait (1998) **
Romantic misadventures of horny teenagers during an all-night party. Unlike most such comedies, this one actually tries to be clever (with references to Oscar Wilde and Kama Sutra). It's mostly fluff, but Jennifer Love Hewitt's angelic smile makes it worthwhile.
Buffalo 66 (1998) **
Vincent Gallo and Christina Ricci star in this bizarre, but uplifting film about family and love.
Bride Of Chucky (1998) **
Chucky gets lucky and the rest is child's play. His new girlfriend, Tiffany, is a doll. Together, they slash and carve themselves through this OK horror movie, leaving plenty of corpses behind. Clever touches of black humour enliven the proceedings. But visually the film is weak, even though it comes from the director of "The Bride With White Hair".
The Bible And Gun Club (1998) **
A bunch of redneck gun-and-bible salesman gather for a convention in Las Vegas. An award-winning satire about fascism in America. The script, the style and the acting are all top-notch, but the film itself is extremely unpleasant to watch, because every single character is either a racist swine, an asshole or, at best, a jerk.
Stepmom (1998) **
After what she had suffered at the hands of an evil stepfather in "Bastard Out Of Carolina", adorable Jena Malone would be predictably hostile towards her new stepmother (Julia Roberts). But fortunately for her, this adult turns out to be a saint.
Star Kid (1998) **
A robot from outer space lands on Earth and befriends a shy boy. There is plenty of exciting fights with schoolyard bullies and fearsome aliens. This is actually a watchable picture, but only pre-teen kids will be able to truly enjoy it.
One True Thing (1998) **
A dutiful wife (Mery Streep) is dying of cancer, and her daughter (Renee Zellweger) comes home to take care of her.
One Good Cop (1998) **
A heroic New York cop (Baldwin) finds himself investigated by the FBI because his best friend happens to be a Mafia boss. A Scorsesian tale of loyalty and betrayal in Little Italy. Not particularly original, but fast-paced and well acted.
Species II (1998) **
American astronauts, returning from a mission to Mars, bring an alien entity with them. An odd mixture of soft-core erotica, sci-fi and horror movie elements. It's much sleazier than the original, as most of the action involve horny aliens trying to reproduce like crazy with humans.
Southie (1998) **
Set in a rough Irish neighborhood in South Boston, it's a slow-moving drama starring Donnie Wahlberg.
The Object Of My Affection (1998) **
Jennifer Aniston plays a pregnant woman who falls in love with her gay roommate and decides to raise her child with him rather than her lover. Under a seemingly banal story of unrequited love hides a strongly political film that deals a mortal blow to the old idea of a traditional, nuclear and patriarchal family. It marks yet another milestone in the portrayal of gays in Hollywood cinema.
Snake Eyes (1998) **
An Atlantic City cop (Cage) investigates a political assassination that has occured during a boxing match. Director DaPalma's fans will be thrilled by the majestic camerawork, superb mise-en-scene, and an amazingly long opening scene shot in a single take. Others might notice that the plot makes no sense, or that, even if it did, wouldn't be very exciting anyway.
Niagara Niagara (1998) **
Excellent performance from Robin Tunney (awarded a Volpi Cup at Venice), enlivens this latest entry in the crazy-lovers-on-the-run sub-genre. After films like Kiss Or Kill, Heaven's Burning, A Life Less Ordinary and Angel Baby, this subject is getting a little stale.
Next Stop Wonderland (1998) **
Way better than 'Til There Was You, not nearly as good as Sleepless In Seattle, it's yet another romantic comedy about star-crossed lovers who only meet at the end of the film. Set in Boston, the pic has a gently sarcastic tone of quiet desperation.
Smoke Signals (1998) **
A humorous road movie about two Coeur d'Alene Indians undertaking a spiritual journey from Idaho to Arizona. En route, they get on each other's nerves, often with hilarious consequences. A well-deserved double winner of the Audience Award and the Filmmakers Trophy at the Sundance Film Festival. It's the first full-length feature film written, directed, co-produced and acted entirely by Native Americans.
The Slums Of Beverly Hills (1998) **
A raunchy, breast-obsessed comedy about a poor family insisting on living in Beverly Hills, and relying on rich relatives to pay their rent. Unfortunately, instead of pure clean fun a la Beverly Hillbillies, this is a convoluted, pseudo-freudian mess with very unpleasant Oedipal undertones (complete with uncles groping their nieces, and nieces planting sharp objects into their uncles).
The Negotiator (1998) **
Tense, well-directed drama about a heroic cop (Jackson), framed for a murder he didn't commit, taking hostages to prove his innocence. The plot isn't exactly fresh (it's Copland meets The Fugitive meets Dog Day Afternoon), but the execution is flawless. Suspense is built with a truly hitchcockian skill.
Slam (1998) **
A gifted young poet, living in the slums of Washington D.C., is arrested for drug possession.
Six Days, Seven Nights (1998) **
Harrison Ford and Anne Heche find themselves on a desert island, bicker, fall in love, escape from evil pirates, etc. It's top-notch entertainment as long as they fight and verbally assault each other. Later, mushier scenes are less fun, but Schwimmer as a weak-willed "victim" of a seductive vamp is hilarious.
I Think I Do (1998) **
Enjoyable screwball farce about a gay couple, their friends, relatives and former lovers. At times, but not always, it manages the capture the same kind of fey charm and clumsy sentimentality as "Four Weddings And A Funeral". An expert mix of slapstick and sophistication, with good dialogue and decent performances.
Meet Joe Black (1998) **
A remake of "Death Takes A Holiday", with Brad Pitt in Frederic March's role.
A Simple Plan (1998) **
A thriller about three guys who discover a plane wreck. It's very well directed, but some plot twists are a little far-fetched.
Simon Birch (1998) **
A warm, old-fashioned family drama, set in a quaint little town in Maine in 1964. A story of a friendship between two boys, it's a rare contemporary example of pure "apple-pie" Americana. Wearing its sentimentality as a badge of honor, the film glorifies small-town family values, while harshly condemning its hypocrisy and bigotry.
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