CABLE GUY, THE
Even die-hard Jim Carrey fans were taken aback by this very, very
dark comedy, about a cable TV installer who makes life miserable
for one of his customers. Jim Carrey plays the cable guy, a
perfectionist so lonely that he jumps at the chance to hang out
with nice-guy Matthew Broderick. But when Broderick decides to
end their paling around, Carrey destroys all aspects of
Broderick's life. A mean, sadistic comedy.
Director: Ben Stiller. Stars: Jim Carrey,
Matthew Broderick, Ben Stiller, George Segal. CC (MPAA rating: R
96 min.) Comedy 1996 (Columbia TriStar 82428)
Priced for rental Available:
12/3
CHAIN REACTION
Some director's have a lust for life, director Andrew ("The
Fugitive") Davis has a lust for people-on-the-run. In this
totally unbelievable scenario, Keanu Reeves plays a machinist
working with scientists on a project to create free energy from
water; when the experiment succeeds and professional killers
murder the project leader, Keanu is framed and must run for his
life from the FBI, the CIA and the police. A fun if unplausable
popcorn chomper.
Director: Andrew Davis. Stars: Morgan Freeman,
Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz. CC (MPAA rating: PG-13 106 min.)
Thriller 1996 (FoxVideo 4130) Priced for
rental Available: 12/17
CROW, THE:
THE CITY OF ANGELS
This weak sequel to the highly successful and cult fave 1994 "The
Crow" still has a few tantalizing moments, most notably those by
rock star Iggy Pop as a nasty biker demon. The story line has the
requisite supernatural crow summoning from the dead a young man
to exact revenge on his killers. Set in a future, wasteland city
of Los Angeles, the film's visuals far outdistance the actors.
Fun for fans.
Director: Tim Pope. Stars: Vincent Perez, Mia
Kirshner. CC (MPAA rating: R 85 min.) Horror thriller 1996
(Dimension 8887) Priced for rental
Available: 12/3
FAMILY THING,
A
Strange little film about racial relations, specifically what
happens when a white Southerner discovers that his natural mother
was a black woman. The journey to self-discovery commences when
the man (Robert Duvall) decides to track down his half-brother
(James Earl Jones). Though the men's lives have been distanced by
more than just miles, they find that the bonds of family are
indestructible. An inspirational outing.
Director: Richard Pearce. Stars: Robert Duvall,
James Earl Jones. CC (MPAA rating: PG-13 109 min.) Drama 1996
(MGM/UA 905535) Priced for rental
Available: 12/23
FRIGHTENERS,
THE
Finally, a role Michael J. Fox can sink his ectoplasm into. Here
he plays a shady "ghostbuster" who promises to rid houses of the
dead spirits who haunt them. Actually, the swindle is on: Fox is
in cahoots with the ghosts he promises to evict (he somehow has
the ability to communicate with the dead). But his world is
turned inside out when he uncovers a nasty poltergeist bent on
killing everyone in town. A fast-paced, exciting tour-de-spirit.
Director: Peter Jackson. Stars: Michael J. Fox,
Trini Alvarado, John Astin. CC (MPAA rating: R 85 min.)
Horror 1996 (MCA/Universal 82830) Priced
for renta Available: 12/17
ISLAND OF DR.
MOREAU, THE
On the 100th anniversary of the H.G. Wells story, director John
Frankenheimer tried his hand at reinterpreting the classic horror
tale. Here Dr. Moreau, played by Marlon Brando, is a geneticist
tinkering with DNA, combining humans and animals to create a
"perfect race." Unfortunately, the beast-people get tired of it
all and revolt, causing much terror for all involved. Co-stars
Val Kilmer as the mad scientist's assistant.
Director: John Frankenheimer. Stars: Val
Kilmer, Marlon Brando. CC (MPAA rating: PG-13 96 min.) Horror
Thriller 1996 (New Line N4444V) Priced for
renta Available: 12/24
 JOE'S
APARTMENT
A young man fresh from Iowa rents a New York City apartment and
is befriended by 50,000 talking, singing, and dancing
cockroaches. What's more, these roaches take a liking to Joe, and
help him woo a young lady, fend off an unscrupulous landlord and
beat back a couple of bad guys. While based on the "Joe's
Apartment" short that developed a cult following on MTV, the
translation to a full-length feature doesn't quite make it. If
you haven't seen the original, though, check this one out for the
special effects and the roaches.
Director: John
Payson. Stars: Jerry O'Connell, Megan Ward. CC (MPAA rating:
PG-13 82 min.) Comedy 1996 (Warner Home Video 14042) Priced
for
renta Available:
12/17
 MATILDA
Danny DeVito directed and stars in this quirky family film about
a young girl (Mara Wilson) with dimwitted parents (DeVito and
real-life wife Rhea Perlman) who are so caught up in their world
that they don't see the budding genius growing up in their midst.
When she finally gets the opportunity to go a proper education,
she faces nasty adults who make the school a purgatory for the
kids. When Matilda discovers she has telekinetic powers, she's
able to triumph over all the wicked grownups in her world.
Director: Danny DeVito. Stars: Mara Wilson,
Danny DevIto, Rhea Perlman, Embeth Davidtz. CC (MPAA rating: PG
98 min.) Comedy 1996 (Columbia TriStar 86860)
Priced for rental Available:
12/17
ROCK, THE
This fast-paced, non-stop action thriller barrels straight ahead
from start to finish -- so don't stop to worry about the weak
character development or some of the improbabilities of the story
line. When a disgruntled General and his commandos take over
Alcatraz Island and threaten to destroy San Francisco, an FBI
chemical weapons expert (Nicolas Cage) and a top secret federal
prisoner (Sean Connery) -- the only man to ever escape from the
Island -- are the only hope to prevent tragedy. Get your popcorn
ready.
One of this summer's hottest action thrillers explodes on the
little screen.
Director: Michael Bay. Stars: Sean Connery,
Nicolas Cage, Ed Harris. CC (MPAA rating: R 136 min.) Thriller
1996 (Hollywood Pictures 8887) Priced for
rental Available: 12/10
TIME TO KILL,
A
An all-star cast is featured in this John Grisham-penned hit.
When a Mississippi factory worker (Samuel L. Jackson) kills the
white men who brutally assaulted his 10-year-old girl, the case
serves to highlight the generations-long divisions in the South:
between whites and blacks, rich and poor, civil rights workers
and Klan members. Newcomer Matthew McConaughey plays the defense
lawyer, aided by a Boston law-student (Sandra Bullock) and a
veteran attorney (Donald Sutherland). Co-stars Kevin Spacey.
Director: Joel Schumacher. Stars: Sandra
Bullock, Samuel L. Jackson, Matthew McConaughey, Kevin Spacey. CC
(MPAA rating: R 150 min.) Drama 1996 (Warner Home Video
14317) Priced for rental
Available:12/30
TIN CUP
The life of a ramshackle driving-range instructor (Kevin
Costner), whose legendary ball-striking skills are matched only
by his self-destructive nature and low-life charm, is upset when
he's smitten by the woman of his dreams (Rene Russo). To win her
over, he enters the U.S. Open, competing with a longtime rival
(Don Johnson) to prove to himself and his lady friend that he has
the right stuff. Cheech Marin co-stars.
Director: Ron Shelton. Stars: Kevin Costner,
Rene Russo, Don Johnson, Cheech Marin. CC (MPAA rating: R 133
min.) Romantic comedy 1996 (Warner Home Video 14318) Priced
for
rental Available:
12/17
WELCOME TO THE
DOLLHOUSE
This dark comedy about high school puberty is highlighted by a
rave performance by newcomer Heather Matarazzo. Life is hell for
seventh grader Dawn Weiner (Matarazzo): the geeky girl has few
friends at school, where her classmates call her names and the
boys shoot spitballs at her; at home her folks ignore her in
favor of younger sister Missy. Yet somehow Dawn perseveres,
struggling against reality and fighting back at her antagonists.
It's a time and a place that we've all been through -- and have
lived to laugh at. Winner of the Grand Jury Prize at the 1996
Sundance Film Festival, and an original outing for director Todd
Solondz.
Director: Todd Solondz. Stars: Heather
Matarazzo, Matthew Faber, Angela Pietropinto. CC (MPAA rating: R
87 min.) Comedy 1996 (Columbia TriStar 82563)
Priced for rental Available:
12/31
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