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wy 14 Scugog Citizen -- Tuesday, July 21, 1998 Summer movies: the good, the bad and the ugly The summer of '92 has been a strange one for movies, in that there has not bech a clear cut smash hit, nor has there been a huge flop. Last year, the runaway hits were Robin Hood and Terminator II: Judgement Day, while the failures seemed to come in bunches. This summer, we have been plagued with sequels (Batman Returns, Lethal Weapon 3, Honey I Blew Up The Kid, and Alien 3), so it is fair to say there has not been a great deal of originality on screen/ this summer. However, in faimess, it has been a pretty fair summer at the movies, with an interesting mixture of action, thrills and romance to please almost every- one. This week I want to take a look at some of the movies released this summer (most of them are sull on in the areca); here, in capsule form, are the movies of the summer of '92, the good, the bad and the ugly. Far and Away...was not the hit it was expected to be, but the rea- sons for that should have: been 'obvious. Do audiences, Amencan and Canadian, really want to see Tom Cruise as an Irish immigrant? Seriously, Cruise is looked upon as the all-American actor, and despite the fact he has proven he is a fine actor, I think he was stretching THSVEEKS TOPS coal 1. Bily Ray Cyrus - SOME GAVE ALL 2. Red Hot Chili Peppers - BLOODSUGARSEXMAGIC 3. Kniss Kross - TOTALLY KROSSED OUT 4. Faith No More - ANGEL DUST 5. Guns 'n' Roses - USE YOUR ILLUSION 985-0804 110 WATER ST. Across from the Ball Diamonds 3 Day Service - We'll try to find any avaliable Tape or CD for You Goldsmithing specializing in custom design has moved to 238 QUEEN ST., (Room 101) PORT PERRY 985-2953 Opening Thursday, July 23rd 10am to 5 pm Tuesday to Saturday Noon to 4 pm - Sunday things with this film. Director Ron Howard has made another of his feel good movies; his apple pie American idealism 1s getung to be a lide ugh w watch. Howard is quite a fine director (Splash, Parenthood, Backdraft) but his films lack the gritty edge which will lift them above the Hollywood sheen they seem to all buy glow with. While Far and Away is beau- uful w look at, the cinema is not a medium for picture post cards. We need movement, which Far and Away sadly lacked. Cruise is very fortunate that he has given sterling performances in Rain'Man (1988) and Born in the Fourth of July (1989), because A League of Their Own.. fea- tures wonderful performances from Geena Davis, Tom Hanks and Madonna (of all people), a tern fic script, and solid direction from Penny Marshall. It's the story of the American Women's Baseball League, which earned great fame in the war years when the men were away at war. These ordinary girls became, through the game of baseball, extraordinary for a very short ime. Davis is a knockout as the gifted star catcher, demonstrat- ing the comic skills we have not seen since her Oscar winning per- formance in Th Rafelson, to the performances of Ellen Barkin and Nicholson. Now in 1970, Nicholson and Rafelson made a bnlliant film gether, Five Easy Pieces, so you have to won- der what happened? Nicholson 1s one of North America's best actors, his films are eagerly await- ed and he rarely disappoints. This ume, as a sleazy dog trainer who falls for an opera singer, he's awful. The whole movie is a dog, a tremendously disappointing effort from otherwise talented people. What happened, Jack? Housgsitter..is a very funny Accidental Tourist. As least we know he john h. foote _ at the flicks NOT an Eddie Murphy fan. It is my opinion; and ONLY my opinion, that he has single handedly been ible for the poor px i of blacks on screen over the last 10 years. Only since the emergence of Denzel Washington, Whoopi Goldberg, Morgan Freeman and director Spike Lee, have blacks been portrayed as people. Murphy has made a career portraying the smari alec black man from the gheto who always outsmarts the white man (which, in a way. may be poetic justice, but to build a carcer on that? His latest, Boomerang, js quite possibly his funniest movie because he bas had 10 step away from that rather annoying image he created for himself to play a character. Granted, he 1s not the suave romanuc man he needs to be in the film, but neither is he the foul- mouthed con man audience haves grown tired of. While Boomerang is not a great film, it is a fun film, with enjoyable performances from Murphy and Robin Givens. M 201 four Printing dhic port parry printing NORTH STREET A RUBBER STAMPS % MAGNETIC SIGNS * INSTANT PRINTING * WEDDING INVITATIONS % ~~ = CREATIVE DESIGN and LAYOUT % QUALITY PROCESS and COLOUR PRINTING % COMPUTER and CUSTOM BUSINESS FORMS * limited 985-9755 the down on his luck film featuring two hilarious perfor- mances from Goldie Hawn and Steve Marun. It's not real shock that Steve Martin is funny, the man was one of the most influential coach given a last chance, Tom Hanks gives perhaps his most affecting performance since Big. As for Madonna, she was a pleasant surprise because | so disliked her in her last film out- ing, perhaps she has learned to work as a team player. How appro- priate a baseball movie should teach her that lesson Unlawful Entry. _contains-a very scary performance by Ray Liotta as a cop who befriends a happy young couple, yet his inten tons are nothing but evil. Liotta does a remarkable job ternfying both the couple and the audience. It 1s probably the scariest perfor- mance of the year. Kurt Russell and Madeline Stowe are the vicums of his perverse abuse, which quickly takes the form of murderous intent There is a particularly disturbing scene which closely parallels the recent Rodney King beating, and clearly displays the diabolical side of Liowta's character. Good thrillers are hard to come by, so this is a reason to be happy, Unlawful Entry is one thriller not to miss Man Trouble..may be the worst film Jack Nicholson has ever made, it may be the worst perfor- mance Jack Nicholson has ever given (he's just NEVER bad!) Everything about this film is a fail- ure, from the god awful scnpt, to the shoddy direction of Bob tand-up comics of the '70s, long before he became a highly respected actor. But laiely, Goldie Hawn has not done much to remind anyone of her talents as a daffy no-holds barred comic. She gets the role she was waiung for as a pathological har who has an affair with Marun, then sets about wreaking havoc on his life. It allows for much physical comedy which of course Marun 1s a genus = at Cool World. 1s basically an adult version of Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, blending hive action seamlessly with animated characters. Be wamed, this 1s a very adult film, not for kids. With that said, Cool World 1s not near the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit? was, It lacks that film's charm and breathless pace. However, there 1s something interesting and quite often appalling about the abstract world created by Ralph Bakshi and his ammators. Kim Basinger 1s a doodle who comes to treacherous life after sleeping with her creator, played by Gabriel Byrne. Naturally what happens is all but deadly, and pretty much all the plot the film has. Some of the animation 1s beautiful 10 look at, but for the most pant it is a film that was done, and done better a few years ago Some neat twists, but not for the little ones. r oR * Prices basedon ~~ / gl above 9' x 9" Kitchen * Pre-finished & Fully assembled * Counter Tops, delivery & installation available. * Serving Port Perry for Five Years WOODTECH Melimine ~ $1595. Natural Oak L 172 REACH INDUSTRIAL PARK ROAD