ENTERTAINMENT | Roger Ebert’ by Roger Ebert Universal press syndicate TAXI BLUES (No MPAA rat- ing, 110 m., 1990) is a searingly look at present-day Moscow, seen through the eyes of a taxi driver and the jazz musician wito stiffs him for a fare. As the driver tracks the jazzman and forces him to work out his debt, we see a confrontation between the Russian proletariat and bohemia, told in a documentary style that dramatizes the way that . street smarts and black market con- nections are survival tools in today’s Russia. Winner of the best director award at the 1990 Cannes festival. Rating: kk CITY OF JOY (PG-13, 134 m., 1992) stars Patrick Swayze as a Houston surgeon who walks away from his life and tries to disappear into the masses of Calcutta, only to be recruited by a nurse (Pauline Collins) who needs him for her clinic. This story is upstaged, how- ever, by the subplot involving a poor rural man (Om Puri) who brings his family to the city and tries to support them as a rickshaw driver. The locations are convinc- ing and the rickshaw driver is a compelling character; the main story seems contrived. Rating: KK FAR AND AWAY (PG-13, 140 m., 1992) stars Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman in a love story where they live in a brothel and he supports them by boxing bare- knuckled in a saloon until they can head for the great land rush in Oklahoma. The movie, shot in 70 mm, has great visual splendor, but the story is so simpleminded it seems pitched at junior high students. Rating: § GLADIATOR (R, 98 m., 1992) is set in a Chicago underworld of illegal boxing matches, where king- GEORGETOWN = CINEMAS 235 Guelph Street 873-1909 HOME ALONE 2 - LOST IN NEW YORK JENNIFER 8 NIGHTLY 7 & 9:15 PM. [cINEMA3] CAPTAIN RON att nema tations Over SAT, & SUN. 2:00 Have your Children's BIRTHDAY PARTY at ACTON SXO)W MING HAAN =A) call 853-0470 pin Brian Dennehy sets the odds and collects the bets. James Marshall plays a white hope named Johnny, who hates fighting but needs to pay his father’s debts. Cub Gooding Jr. is his best friend, and Robert Loggia is the smiling, slimy manager. The gim- mick of the secret, illegal fights permits the boxers to play fast and loose with the rules, and as the vio- lence escalates, Marshall looks for a way to get even with Dennehy — and finds one. Rating: k**. PROSPERO’S BOOKS (R, 106 m., 1991) is a film by Peter Greenaway, whose “The Cook, the Thief, His Wife and Her Lover” stirred things up not long ago. Sir John Gielgud stars a Shakespeare’s Prospero, in a film with an experimental visual style that uses rich overlays of typogra- phy, calligraphy, illustrations and books to examine the written & s Video Alert sources of the sorcerer’s magic. A difficult film, which will bore many, fascinate some and enchant a lucky few. Rating: k** BEAUTY AND THE BEAST G, 84 m., 1991) is in the great tra- dition of the golden age of anima- tion - a. magical musical fantasy with great visuals, a compelling hero, heroine and villain, and a col- orful peanut gallery of supporting players. With songs by “The Little Mermaid” team and a story of high adventure and romance, it’s robust, exciting, funny family entertain- ment. Rating: Four stars. SHADOWS AND FOG (PG-13, 86 m., 1992) is-filled, as advertised, with a lot of shadows and a great deal of fog, and is Woody Allen pe ee. xorrrrrr PLAYING THIS THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY * HOLLYWOOD "A PLACE WHERE FRIENDS MEET" “COUNTRY JUNCTION” BOOK YOUR CHRISTMAS PARTY NOW!!! FREE Pizza for parties of 6 or more. AT THE CORNER OF WINSTON CHURCHILL & HIGHWAY 7 877-416 TAVERN peooooces THE HOME OF COUNTRY & WESTERN MUSIC Txxxx pooees sooorrrx "8 tribute to German exp of the 1920s, crossed with some humor that never quite finds its way. Rating: #* Supper's served ‘The Acton Rotary Club and the Acton Legion (Branch 197) held their annual Seniors dinner a the legion last week. Bill Beaton (left), presi- dent of the Acton Rotary Club with the aid of First Vice of the Acton Legion Gus Jeffery pours coffee for Joyce Buchanan. HELD OVER 1 Cinema 1 7-9:15 p.m. * Sat, Sun 2 p.m. “Hoty Cow! Ir’s BIGGER & BETTER, FINER & FUNNIER THAN THE First!” ike Cidoni, RADIO ONE mALE HIRES, OS COL ne HOME ex ALONe2 Lost IN NEw YORK S MUSIC DEPARTMENT presents... CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION '92 FEATURING: e Instrumental & Vocal Ensembles and Soloists Saturday December 12th 7:30 PM GDHS Cafetorium ADMISSION: ADULTS $4.00 STUDENTS $3.00 FAMILY RATE $12.00 JJ Sk TE Oe Sk A ?| * ¢ Georgetown Choral Society A. Dale Wood - Director Presents In The 250th Annivessary Year Of its Dirst Performance HANDEL'S Messzia Deaturing one Leslie Jost - Soprano (St. Mary's ON) Emilio Fina - (Brampton ON) Tenor THE ETOBICOKE SYMPHONY Friday, December 18 Holy Cross Catholic Church 224 Maple Ave., Georgetown Concert begins at 8:00 p.m. Admission: $15.00 ORDER TICKETS CALL: ALLSTATE INSURANCE 873-1643 ~ 1-800-387-9974 o ¢ “S Susan Cooper - Alto (Toronto, ON) Ross Doddington - Bass (Aylmer, ON) and Seniors and Students: $12.00 eine eee + COS Ce Ee KMS Re Ee OK SK SOE SK ME SR BEY Rwy Se fis Re ee Se Se A yaaa