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ENTERTAINMENT Of the two new films I havé seen lately, I have to admit to two things: great, giddy surprise and major disappointment. The movie industry does a strange thing after the Christmas blockbusters are unleashed...it comes to a halt, releasing movies that may or may not make it at the box office. It's hard for these films to'gain attention because the Oscars are fast approaching and generally speaking, the spring is not the greatest time for people to be going to movies, thé quality has often not been there. However, My Cousin Vinny, one of the funniest films I have seen in a long, long tiie, is worth sprinting to the movies for. It's hilarious, well writ- ten, brilliantly acted, and delivers more laughs per minute than any movie I have ever seen. Now let's be clear: it is not one of the greatest films ever made, but it i ly. Joe Pesci, who won an Oscar as the psychopath in Goodfellas (1990) is a rather unorthodox little lawyer who winds up in Alabama to defend his cousin for murder. It seems a case of mistaken iden- tity, but strange circumstances have landed the cousin and his friend in jail, with everything point- ing to a guilty verdict. . : Enter Vinny...a trash, tough talking lawyer from the Bronx, who has been practising law a total of six weeks, He locks horns with the judge from the very beginning, but it is a credit to the writers that the confrontations between Vinny and the Judge (Fred Gwynne) never become cliched. Vinny dresses wrong, he talks wrong, his methods are a little strange, and he really is in over his head, but he tries. It's a fish out of water story that works as good as any I have ever seen. Part of the reason is Pesci's hilarious, yet often touching performance, and in a startling performance Marisa Tomei as .| Pesci's equally tough talking, drop dead gorgeous girlfriend. Together the pair dominate the film, car- rying every scene they are in, and giving the audi- ence more belly laughs than any film in the past 10 years. It's fun, pure and simple, ark when fun is done this well, it makes you feel good to go to the movies. Thie second film I saw this week was a major dis- appointment to me, despite the fact I admired many thriller that surges to a violent climax, beautifully filmed, well acted and directed, but that ultimately cops out. Michael Douglas is a troubled cop who bplieves that Catherine Tremmel, a writer, has murdered a Big thrills, big disappointment -of the things in it. Basic Instinct is a suspenseful - former rock star. Tremmel's books seem to tell in detail how she goes about setting her victims up, but the woman is far too brilliant for him to nail her. Instead, she carefully manipulates him in a deadly capand mouse game, that forever keeps the audi- ence guessing, and on the edge of their seats. The torrid scenes between Douglas and actress Sharon' Stone are frank and explicit, which nearly eamed the film an X rating, but in faimess, they work for the storyline. We must believe the attraction the cop has for the woman, which these scenes inl _ with a Salt-Water Moon on one night only The Borelians Theatre will wrap up their successful season performance of the superb David French play, Salt- Water Moon. Among the more Canadian written in the last ten years, Sajt-Water Moon is a comic love story with dramatic undertones, that has make clear. However, be clear, it is a film for adults. Deafy icularly Douglas as to terms with who killer may be, how to deal with F are strong, p the tortured cop trying to come & 5 | in the movies. What I question was the role itself. In Black Rain, he portrayed essentially the same type sion of that role. It's a small quibble -- I think he deserves better roles than he often gets. Sharon Stone does a nice job (a daring job, in fact) of portraying the icy bisexual writer who has far too many secrets. Much of the film requires her to be nude, so it is to her credit that we are always watching her CHARACTER, not her body. She is frightening because it is clear she is so brilliant, iously' setting up everyone who dares get close to her. . Director Paul Verhoeven is very talented at keep- ing a film moving along at a furious pace, but he needs to work on plot. There are far too many red herrings in the film; too many unresolved questions, 100 many gaping plot holes and perhaps too much violence, This is the same man who directed Total Recall (1990), so'it's clear that excess plays a large role in his films, be he had the talent, because with all the nudity, and furious love scenes, it is clear the 'Finally, the ending is curious because it is such a total cop-out in every way. I will not give it away, but it simply left t00 much unresolved for me (bey- ing for a Hitchcock ending works ONLY if you are Hitchcock), While I like things that leave it up to your imagination, this was a cheap trick on the audi- ence that did not work. No pay-off. What you get is a fast paced story loaded with sex and violence, that races $0 a conclusion that cannot end itself Cop-out. Begin germinating seeds FROM PAGE 10 ' soil and reduced light until they After gi gradually begin drying up the soil (Rick Pecman is a horticultur- alist. and general manager of 0GS Garden Gallery in _Brooklin. Gardening Guidelines will be a and be sure to use a fungicid weekly: in the Scugog Citizen (space permitting), provid- ing timely tips and recommenda- tions for the gardeners north of the ridges. Mr. Pecman has obtained his degree in forestry from Lakehead University, his diploma in horticulture from the University of Guelph, and his qualified plantsman certificate from the University of Guelph. He has years of experience working for forest companies such as Kimberly-Clark of Canada and EB, Eddy Forest Products Lid. and has been working in the retail garden centre industry with OGS since 1985 (through the years he's d more than 700 profes- landscape designs for do-it- yourself gardeners in the Durham Region). se joyed great in both Canada and the United States. Salt-Water Moon vill play for one night only, as a ial event, Saturday April 4, at the Town Hall Theatre, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10, available at Irwin Smith Music or at the door. Call 985-0611 to reserve. LJ Directed by John H. Foote, Salt-Water Moon explores the relationship between Jacob Mercer and Mary Snow, two youths very much in love. The problem is that Jacob left Mary a year ago to go to Toronto to see the world and make decisions about his life. When he heard she was engaged to another man, he returned to woo her back. Still hurt and frankly bewildered by his abrupt departure the year before, Mary is not going to be easily wooed by the talkative young man. Very much an actor's play, director Foote is thrilled to have award-winning actress Tara as Mary Snow, and Bruce Williamson as Jacob Mercer. Tara was redently seen in the Borelians' production of The Caxible (as was Bruce), and col- lected an award at the Sears Festival last year for the Borelians, in the one act play Black Comedy, and in last fall's The Crucible. Need a hearty chuckle or two? Tired of talk about the econo- my? Winter getting you down? Car need a new transmission? You need a good laugh or two and there's no better place to get it (a laugh or two) than Stage Nine, 926° Simcoe Street North in wa. Stage Nine offers great live entertai from dy to music all this week (March 24-31) Check out the ad on this page, then check out Stage Nine and see for yourself. ~ "DAVID FRENCH secre we ronocss « JOHN H. FOOTE One Night Only! SATURDAY, APRIL 4 pm \. GREAT TICKETS AVAILABLE AT IRWIN SMITH MUSIC or CALL 985-0611 J FEMME FATALE starring yvate dive a Co. Also KARAOKE Diel & '4 FEMALE COMEDIANS Talent Night MARCH 31st Femme Fatale .Jocelyne ee © 9 @ © © & 6 0 O