AMERICAN
WEREWOLF IN PARIS, AN
A sequel of sorts to "An American Werewolf in London," this
special-effects-fest follows an American on a "daredevil tour of
Europe" (which includes bungee jumping from the Eiffel Tower) who
meets and falls in love with a sad, mysterious woman who turns
out to have a pretty hairy secret. She's the girl of his dreams -
- but she presents quite a nightmare for the naive American. For
fans of the genre who enjoy gory human-to-animal transformations.
Director: Anthony
Waller. Stars: Tom Everett Scott, Julie Delpy. CC, (MPAA rating:
R, 98 min.), Horror, 1997, Box office gross: $25.761 million,
(Buena Vista 13550), No SRP, Priced for
rental, Available: 5/19
AS GOOD AS IT
GETS
An eccentric, acid-tongued anal-retentive romance novelist
discovers love and a new respect for other human beings when his
carefully ordered life is jolted by events beyond his control.
First he's forced into caring for his gay neighbor's dog, then he
becomes involved with a waitress/single mother and her asthmatic
young son. Academy Awards for Helen Hunt and Jack Nicholson. A
great, warm, loving film ... kind of like the way they used to
make them. Directed by James L. Brooks and co-starring Greg
Kinnear.
Director: James L.
Brooks. Stars: Helen Hunt, Jack Nicholson, Greg Kinnear, Cuba
Gooding Jr.. CC, (MPAA rating: PG-13, 138 min.), Comedy, 1997,
Box office gross: $131.786 million, (Columbia TriStar 21703),
$14.95 SRP, Available: 5/19
DECONSTRUCTING
HARRY
Life and art, sex and love intersect in this
"return-to-his-roots" comedy by Woody Allen, who once again plays
a despicable (but loveable) sex- and love-hungry best-selling
author who gets in trouble when his latest book reveals all about
his friends -- much to their chagrin. Allen mingles the
novelist's fictional creations with his reality, developing an
enthralling story line that continually comments on itself. One
of the more entertaining pieces of Allen work in some time,
peppered with some of Hollywood's finest talent (Robin Williams,
Richard Benjamin, Billy Crystal, Judy Davis, Kirstie Alley and
others).
Director: Woody
Allen. Stars: Woody Allen, Kirstie Alley, Richard Benjamin, Billy
Crystal, Judy Davis, Julie Kavner, Demi Moore. CC, (MPAA rating:
PG-13, 96 min.), Comedy, 1997, Box office gross: $10.569
million, (New Line 4632), No SRP, Priced for
rental, Available: 5/26
DESPERATE
MEASURES
A police officer, in need of a bone marrow transplant for his
young son, strikes a deal with a sociopathic convict who happens
to be a perfect blood match, setting off a horrible and violent
chain of events. When a San Francisco cop persuades his superiors
to transport a serial killer to a hospital for a transplant, the
murderer stages an ingenious escape, turning the hospital into a
battleground. Now the cop's world is turned inside out: does he
hunt down or help the one man who can save his son? A bit
overwrought but thrilling. Stars Andy Garcia, Michael Keaton.
Director: Barbet
Schroeder. Stars: Andy Garcia, Michael Keaton. CC, (MPAA rating:
R, 101 min.), Thriller, 1998, Box office gross: $13.244
million, (Columbia TriStar 21753), No SRP, Priced
for rental, Available: 5/26
FIRESTORM
Weak action adventure starring former football pro Howie Long as
a smoke jumper, a forest-fire fighter who parachutes into raging
infernos to save the day. Here he must fight a fire as well as a
group of convicts who make their escape into the wilderness
posing as fire fighters. There's plenty of action, computer-
generated fireballs, scorched earth and even a love interest for
the hero. William Forsythe is a suitable villain.
Director: Dean
Semler. Stars: Howie Long, Scott Glenn, William Forsythe, Suzy
Amis. CC, (MPAA rating: R, 88 min.), Action, 1998, Box office
gross: $7.727 million, (Fox), No SRP, Priced for
rental Available: 5/26
FOR RICHER OR
POORER
Tim Allen and Kirstie Alley star as Manhattan socialites on the
run from the IRS: they had plenty of money but a lousy marriage
and a dishonest accountant. Now they're fugitives, hiding out in the
Amish county of Pennsylvania as the long-lost relatives of a
local family. But they soon discover that doing hard work might
be more difficult than doing hard time. Both Allen and Alley are
comedians of the first order, and despite the film's weak
premise, the pair are a pleasure to watch.
Director: Bryan
Spicer. Stars: Tim Allen, Kirstie Alley, Michael Lerner. CC,
(MPAA rating: PG-13, 116 min.), Comedy, 1997, Box office
gross: $36.611 million, (Universal 83375), No SRP,
Priced for rental Available:
5/5
GATTACA
In a bleak future, the world strives for perfection and a
person's genic code determines one's station in life; those with
inferior genetics are considered "de-generates" and lose access
to professional status. One young "In-Valid" man tempts the fates
and tries to prove that he's the equal of his superiors despite
his genetic shortcomings: He's passionate, emotional, a dreamer -
- and he wants to become a space navigator for the Gattaca Corp.
But a murder in the ranks threatens his success in this icy sci-
fi melodrama.
Director: Andrew
Niccol. Stars: Ethan Hawke, Uma Thurman, Loren Dean, Jude Law. CC, (MPAA
rating: PG-13, 112 min.), Science Fiction, 1997, Box office
gross: $12.253 million, (Columbia TriStar 82643), No
SRP, Priced for rental Available:
5/5
MOUSE HUNT
Two hapless brothers inherit an empty, run-down house from their
deceased father, whose fixation on his string factory has all but
caused the family to go bankrupt. But the house turns out to be
an historical mansion worth a fortune ... if the pair can fix it
up for an auction. All goes well until they discover there's
someone else on the premises: a mouse who doesn't want to be
evicted. More than "Home Alone" with cheese, the film's wild
slapstick and mouse point-of-view shots grow on you. There's a
great cameo by Christopher Walken as an exterminator as well as
to-perfection performances by Nathan Lane and Lee Evans. An off-
kilter delight. In clamshell packaging.
Director: Gore
Verbinski. Stars: Nathan Lane, Lee Evans, Christopher Walken,
Michael Jeter. CC, (MPAA rating: PG, 97 min.), Comedy, 1997,
Box office gross: $59.732 million, (Universal 83585), $22.98
SRP, Available: 5/5
PLAYING GOD
When a Los Angeles surgeon is stripped of his license after
performing an operation on amphetamines, he hits harder drugs and
enters a downward spiral that leads him to become a "gunshot doctor"
for a hip Los Angeles gangster. Now his life-saving skills are put to
use saving the wrong men. Should he keep his lurid life or face his
demons and regain his destiny? This thriller plods along with little
believability and carries no weight from its cast, particularly David
Duchovny, whose laconic manner may suit "The X-Files" but only comes
off as sleepwalking in this more demanding big-screen situation. Co-
stars Timothy Hutton and Angelina Jolie.
Director: Andy
Wilson. Stars: David Duchovny, Timothy Hutton, Angelina Jolie.
CC, (MPAA rating: R, 94 min.), Action-Thriller, 1997, Box
office gross: $4.159 million, (Buena Vista 10443), No
SRP, Priced for rental, Available:
5/12
STARSHIP
TROOPERS
Director Paul Verhoeven brings to life Robert A. Heinlein's 1959
tale of intergalactic war between giant insects and mankind, with
extravagant special effects and directing, but
less-than-spectacular acting and scripting. Part of the problem
is a young, inexperienced cast going for the action jugular
coupled with Heinlein's "fascist utopia" political vision --
silly words from silly kids -- but overshadowing it all are the
magnificent action sequences that are downright mind-blowing.
Verhoeven has a knack for orchestrating violence and here he
raises the ante on mayhem.
Director: Paul
Verhoeven. Stars: Casper Van Dien, Dina Meyer. CC, (MPAA rating:
R, 124 min.), Science Fiction, 1997, Box office gross:
$54.628 million, (Columbia TriStar 71713), No SRP,
Priced for rental, Available:
5/19
SWEET HEREAFTER,
THE
Following a tragic school bus accident, a high-profile lawyer
descends upon a small town with promises of retribution and a
class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of the grieving community.
But his investigation into the crash uncovers a tangled web of
lies, deceit and forbidden desires that mirrors his own troubled
personal life. There's secrets to keep and personal agendas to be
kept. A stirring drama from a talented director (Atom Egoyan).
Director: Atom
Egoyan. Stars: Ian Holm. CC, (MPAA rating: R, 93 min.), Drama,
1997, Box office gross: $2.937 million, (New Line 4629), No
SRP, Priced for rental, Available:
5/26
TOMORROW NEVER
DIES
Latest James Bond epic pits 007 (Pierce Brosnan) against an evil
media baron (Jonathan Pryce) who wants to start a naval war
between China and Great Britain to boost subscriptions to his
newspapers and satellite channels. Joining Bond in his efforts to
stymie the villain is Chinese action heroine Michelle Yeoh, as a
Chinese secret agent, who almost out-Bonds the hero. In only his
second outing, Brosnan almost fills Bond's shoes and this
adventure is surely one of the best since the last of the Connery
epics. What Bond really needs, however, is more Yeoh.
Director: Roger
Spottiswoode. Stars: Pierce Brosnan, Jonathan Pryce, Michelle
Yeoh, Teri Hatcher. CC, (MPAA rating: PG-13, 119 min.),
Thriller, 1997, Box office gross: $121.644 million, (MGM
906834), No SRP, Priced for rental,
Available: 5/12
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