The University News (Irving, Tex.), Vol. 27, No. 12, Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 29, 1998 Page: 4 of 11
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4 April 29,1998
Arts & Entertainment
The University News
I
i
photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics
Campbell Scott and Steve Martin in David Mamet's The Spanish Prisoner.
photo courtesy of Miramax Films
John Hannah and Gwyneth Paltrow in Sliding Doors.
The Big Hit Sliding Doors
low young inventor, Ben Gazzara his
demanding boss, and Steve Martin—
radiating intelligence in a role that
finally rescues him from his recent
string of fluffy family comedies—the
stranger who’s either a helpful friend
or a duplicitous spy. Written in the
playwright’s patently clipped dia-
logue, the script recalls Mamet’s ear-
lier House of Cards in complexity.
Even if you guess the final twist, you
should find the film a perversely
pleasurable puzzle.
The Butcher Boy
(UA Cine)
Neil Jordan (The Crying Game)
is a brilliant fellow, and his new pic-
ture—about a young Irish lad’s de-
scent into madness and violence—
is exquisitely made. Unfortunately,
its mixture of comedy and cruelty
(intended, one supposes, to be both
shocking and liberating in the fash-
ion of Kubrick’s A Clockwork Or-
ange) comes across as simply nasty
and mean-spirited: the picture’s of-
fensive content isn’t mitigated by
any perceptivity or wit, despite its
impressive exterior.
Perhaps the situation would be dif-
ferent if Eamonn Owens, who plays
the boy, weren’t a one-note perform-
er. He’s such a screeching delin-
quent from frame one that his fate
comes as no surprise; and the char-
acters surrounding him are so broad
that they offer little relief from his
irritating presence. This one’s a
grave disappointment, considering
the talent involved.
Two Girls and a Guy
(wide release)
Writer-director James Toback
has concocted what’s essentially a
filmed single-set play in which a las-
civious actor is confronted by two
girlfriends whom he’s been simulta-
neosly stringing along.
There’s some amusing dialogue
in the piece (as well as a lot of raun-
chiness), but the only real reason for
seeing it is the performance of Rob-
ert Downey, Jr., as the self-absorbed
Lothario. He spares nothing in cre-
ating a character at once attractive
and repellent. It’s a true tour de
force that takes the script beyond
its pedestrian roots.
Ayn Rand: A Sense of Life
(UA Cine)
A slickly-made but overly rever-
ential “authorized” biography of the
Russian-born author of such turgid
tomes as The Fountainhead and
Adas Shrugged who also presented
herself as a serious philosopher.
Funded largely by a foundation bear-
ing her name, it looks good, but is
far too hagiographical to present a
balanced view of so controversial a
figure.
(wide release)
There’s good trash and bad trash;
this pint-sized Pulp Fiction, about
four goofy hitmen who kidnap their
boss’ goddaughter, falls into the lat-
ter category. Splashy, loud, and re-
plete with both crude ethnic stereo-
types and the neon-lit violence typ-
ical of Hong Kong director Che-Kirk
Wong, it’s a much dumber clone of
last year’s smart, savvy Crosse Point
Blank-, rent that instead.
Chinese Box
(wide release)
Wayne Wang’s filmization of The
Joy Luck Club (1993) was a well-
organized tearjerker; his new film is
an oddly disjointed and rambling
study of a dying British journalist
(Jeremy Irons) searching for love
against the backdrop of Hong Kong’s
reversion to Chinese rule.
The various story threads aren’t
successfully integrated, and there’s
a showy pretentiousness to the
script that’s dispiriting in view of the
participation of such strong writers
as Jean-Claude Garriere and Paul
Theroux in fashioning it. Even
worse, the lovely Gong Li is utterly
wasted as Irons’ long-term lover.
She deserved better of her first En-
glish-language role.
(wide release)
The trick in writer-director Pe-
ter Howitt’s romantic comedy is that
it offers two separate stories involv-
ing a young woman (Gwyneth Pal-
trow), with each of the plots emerg-
ing from a single decision she makes
after dumping her unfaithful boy-
friend. The “What if?” idea’s a cute
one, even if Howitt doesn’t have the
skill to pull it off with complete suc-
cess.
One of the best things about the
picture is John Hannah, an exuber-
ant Scottish actor (Four Weddings
and a Funeral) who play’s Paltrow’s
love interest.
In a recent visit to Dallas, Han-
nah proved a great raconteur, regal-
ing his listeners with tales of his suc-
cessful transition from plumbing to
acting school by simply memorizing,
uncomprehendingly, the declama-
tion of a speech from Richard II
from a recorded Shakespearean per-
formance. Luckily, he’s as enjoy-
able on film as he is in person.
^ Critic’s Choice
"¥ alias’ premier theatre for art and independent films, The
I Inwood, is an interesting way to spend an evening. Not only
I J will you catch sight of an unsual film, but afterwards will be
able to enjoy a drink in their Lounge. Three movies, all under two
hours, are showing presently; The Big One (PG); an Iranian film
Gabbeh (unrated), which is closing Thursday; and The Smash Pris-
oner (PG). The first show of the day, usually around noon, is dis-
counted, costing $4.50. Following shows are priced $6.50 for adults.
The Lounge, opens at 5 pm and has no set closing time. Drinks are
priced $3 and up. They recommend for tickets to be bought in ad-
vance in order to avoid long lines and guarentee a seat. For more
information call (214) 352-6040 or (214) 352-5085. The Inwood
Theatre is located 5458 W. Lover's Lane.
By F.S._
Contributing Writer
Mamet's successful con and Jordan's misstep
Dallas Arts Calendar
Through May 3
Zimwee and the Drum
Jubilee Theater
(817) 338-4411
$12-$16
Through May 16
Jack the Ripper: Monster of
Whitechapel
Pocket Sandwich Theater
(214) 821-1860
$6-$12
Through May 17
Monet: A Turning Point
Dallas Museum of Art
(214) 922-1200
$6 with student I.D.
Through June 6
Vampire Lesbians of Sodom
and Sleeping Beauty, or
Coma
3916 Main
(214) 821-6005
$12-$15
through May 19
The Young Man from Atlan-
ta
Dupree Theatre, Irving Arts Cen-
ter
(972) 252-ARTS
$12-$15
through May 3
Zimwee and the Drum
506 Main, Fort Worth
(817) 338-4411
$12-$16
through July 19
Ancient Gold: Treasures from
the Republic of Bulgaria
Kimbell Art Museum
(817) 332-8451
$4-$8
In Concert
April 30
Rebel Train
Sons of Hermann Hall
(214) 747-4422
May 1
Reverend Horton Heat
Old 97's
American Fuse
Bronco Bowl
Gall Ticketmaster
May 5
Tonic
Meredith Brooks
Shawn Colvin
Naked
Coca-Cola Starplex
Gall Ticketmaster
May 15
Ben Folds Five
Superdrag
Bronco Bowl
Gall Ticketmaster
May 17
Edgefest featuring Everclear
Mighty Mighty Bosstones
The Crystal Method
Bobgoblin
Our Lady Peace
Ballpark in Arlington
Tickets at Blockbuster Music
May 22
Deep Blue Something
Caravan of Dreams
(817) 429-4000
May 9
Trout Fishing in America
Caravan of Dreams
(817) 429-4000
Ticketmaster: (972)647-5700
The Spanish Prisoner
(Landmark’s Inwood).
David Mamet has crafted a won-
derfully convoluted plot for his new
directorial effort, the tale of an elab-
orate con surrounding a mysterious
process jealously guarded by its
company and sought by competi-
tors. Campbell Scott plays the cal-
movie reviews
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The University News (Irving, Tex.), Vol. 27, No. 12, Ed. 1 Wednesday, April 29, 1998, newspaper, April 29, 1998; Irving, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth841514/m1/4/: accessed July 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting University of Dallas.