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"Scugo, Citizen -- Tuesday, Janu 993-- 11 These two films are worth a look with john foote Scent Of A Wo Directed By in Brest Now Playing At The Champlain Centre, Whitby hh 1/2 When he's at his best, as he was in the Godfather (1972), the Godfather-Part 2 (1974), Dog Day Afternoon (1975), and Dick Tracy (1990), Al Pacino is a brilliant, riveting actor capable of dominating a film with a danger he seems to radiate. His performances as Michael Corleone in The Godfather series are among the finest captured in film, yet in recent years Pacino has not given the type of performance we expect from him. (Did he go cute?) Al Pacino is back, with a blistering, rage filled performance that dominates this film from his first appearance. He portrays Frank, a blind, bitter war veteran who has decided to . commit suicide, but not before having one last fling in New York City. Frank hires a young man, portrayed by Chris O'Connell, to be his eyes in the Big Apple, but Frank winds up beifig a mentor, a teacher, and friend to this bewildered college student. It's something he does not count on; he's come to enjoy his rage because it belongs so completely to HIM. A friendship was not in the cards, yet it happens, and it is HOW it happens that makes the film work. Portraying a blind man presents many challenges, which Pacino conquers in every frame of the film. It's nota "movie star" performance, but rather a sensitive, quite often ferocious characterization of a Aunette Desclampo R.M.T. (705) 786-1249 MASSAGE THERAPY benefiting pl CEL ETT) * Pregnancy BR CLERIC ET RE ETRE * Pre & Post Surgery RULER NM EDIETIS TES ER CRANIAL THERAPY highly effective for * Chronic Pain * TMJ Dysfunction RU EICETR (FTF * Emotional Trauma * Dyslexia * Attention Deficiency in Children 2{38= (ele c} 4 Gift Certificates Available at the flics man torn apart by what his life has become. Unlike many of Pacino's other great performances, he externalizes here, as opposed to holding his emotions in. While there is a chance of going over the top, Pacino is smart enough not to cross that line. Over the weekend he collected a Golden Globe Award for best actor, and the film was a surprise winner as Best Drama, dusting such favourites as A Few Good Men, and Unforgiven. Pacino may finally win that Oscar that has eluded him for many years. He is this year's sentimental choice, yet a deserving candidate. Bravo to director Martin Brest, a former action movie director, who shocked everyone with this powerful, sensitive drama. While Pacino dominates the film, it is to Brest's credit he never allows the actor to overpower his film. Particularly fine is the development of friendship between the blind man (who sees the world despite of his handicap), and the young man who will both learn and teach during his wild weekend. An Oscar contender for sure! Chaplin Directed By Attenborough kk There have been times in film history when the greatness of a performance has elevated that film to greater heights than the film deserves. It happened in 1982 with Richard Attenborough's Gandhi, in which Ben Kingsley gave a remarkable performance that made that old fashioned film seem much better than it Richard 2. " - a % : PN > really was. Ironically this is the case with Attenborough's film on the life of Charlie Chaplin. Actor Robert Downey Jr. gives a simply astounding performance as the silent screen genius who revolutionized the art of filmaking. Downey's performance is uncanny in its sheer brilliance and authenticity. Not only does he capture the pantomime skills of the man, but allows us to see inside the mind that was Chaplin. Without question this will stand as one of the greatest performances captured on film, and should garner Downey an Oscar nomination, possibly the award itself. However the film itself is a dismal failure. Rather than focus on the life of Chaplin, it seems to veer from one great moment to another, than on to the next disaster. While Chaplin's life was indeed filled with many upe and downs, the film trivializes each event, never allowing us to see why things happened as they did. For instance, for all his genius as a filmaker and person, why did Chaplin find himself in trouble with the FBI and the courts? | wanted to know more Chaplin, (and it was clear that Downey was prepared to let us know everything), yet his director fails him, making a forty million dollar film look and sound like a TV mini- senes. However, despite my many misgivings about the film, I remain astounded by the depth of Downey's work. Creating the characters portrayed by Chaplin is one thing, but creating the genius that WAS Chaplin is quite another. Robert Downey Jr. has given one of the finest performances on film, that alone is reason enough to see this film. How fitting it would be if Downey won an Oscar for portraying the little man who virtually created movies as art. 50% OFF .. & 20% OFF ............cooevvvveeeeeeeeee..... All Quilts 30to 50% OFF ........................ 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