/ ROMANCE & ROUGH STUFF PAGE 21 Air America [2.9] The Court-Martial of VIDEORELEASES Comedy: Action, VVar Jackie Robinson [3.3] 1900, Color, 112 minutes [R: violence, language] Drama: Biography The following films are scheduled Director: Roger Spottiswoode 1.990, Color, 094 minutes [Not Rated] for release on video this mond1. Cast: Mel Gibson, Robert Downey Jr., Nancy Director: Lany Peerce Though based on the latest Travis, David Marshall Grant, Lane Smith Cast: Andre Braugher, Daniel Stem, Ruby Dee, available information, these Review: An otherwise silly premise is handled Stan Shaw, Paul Dooley, Bruce Dem listings are subject to change [and deftly by Spottiswoode and company to provide Review: This historical drama is an in1portant not all stores carry all videos]. light yet solid escapist fare: Downey is the rookie footnote to U.S. histocy, seJving as a 20th centucy For a guide to Cinedex and pilot drafted for unofficial airlifts during the Viet follow-up to "Glocy" [Edward Zwick, 1989]. The Nam VVar, and Gibson is the veteran who puts up film presents the events leading up to and the MPAA ratings, see our masthead wiili the rookie's idealistic questions. "Air America" VVorld VVru· II experience of Jackie Robinson (best on page three. never realizes hilarity, but it remains consistent known for being the first black player in major throughout, creating an absurd reality that rings league baseball). His confrontation wiili racial true, and provides Gibson and Downey enough prejudice in ilie milita!y, leading up to the opportunities to exercise their expert comic timing. mevitable title proceeding, is standard stuff Release Date: 21. Februruy 1991 heightened by sensitive writing and superb acting. Originally filmed for television, the non-cinematic Chicago Joe and the Showgirl [2.8] work remains powerful for its stocy and for its Drama: Character Study performances. 1900, Color, 105 minutes IRl Release Date: 28 Febmacy 1991 Director: Bemard Rose Cast: Keifer Sutl1erland, Emily Lloyd, Patsy Kensit Darkman [1.8] Review: Reminiscent of "Badlands" and "Bonnie Drama: Action, Fantasy and Clyde," "Chicago Joe" presents a young man 1.990, Color, 096 minutes [R: violence, language] and woman whose chance meeting leads to ve1y Director: Sam Rairni serious thrill seeking. Set in VVorld VVar II London, Cast: Liam Neeson, Frances McDormand, Colin it's ilie dubious reputation of Joe (Suilierland) that Fhels, Larry Drake, Nelson Mashinta excites a.TJd motivates ilie showgirl (Lloyd). This Review: Rainll has carefully and thoroughly set up true stocy is primarily a lightweight character study his dramatic components based on a traditional iliat slowly reveals ilie emotional make up of ilie code, only to quickly toss the code out the window. two leads. The absence of powerful revelations in Neeson plays a scientist attempting to discover a ilie script leaves "Chicago Joe" only mildly formula for synilietic flesh. As he's on the verge of entertaining, except for several exceptionally a breakthrough, he crosses paths wiili some amusing situations iliat arise from ilie characters' gangsters (tied into local politics) who all but peculiar predicaments. murder Neeson and destroy his laboratocy. Release Date: 07 Februacy 1991 Cinema Paradiso [3.7] Comedy/Drama: Character Study 1988, Color, 123 minutes [Not Rated] Director: Guiseppe Tomatore Cast: Philippe Noiret, Jacques Perrin, Salvatore Cascio, Mario Leonardi, Agnese Nano, Leopolda Trieste Review: A splendid script affords ilie director and cast evecy opportunity to breath real life into tl1is village community which revolves around ilie local motion picture theater. It's there that a young boy named Toto, completely fascinated with fue cinema, strikes a friendship with the projectionist and learns the trade. This is not a quickly paced film and may be slow at times for some, but the leads and supporting ensemble are tightly bound by ilie movie house, a dramatic premise that is a loving tribute to the cinema on behalf of audiences everywhere. Note: In Italian uith English subtitles. Winner of the Academy Award for Best Foreign Picture. Release Date: 06 Februruy 1991 "'_ ................... ~ -·- -··· - ·""' ..... _.. _,._ Af..... s.-n 2 . "'"-· ' -~ · ....OM! ............- ... CINEGUIDEFEBRUARY1991 :cineGuide:• • FEBRUARY1991 VOLUME 1 NUMBER 5 •coVER: ROXANNE's Steve Martin longs for the romance found by Humphrey Bogart and Audrey Hepburn in SABRlNA Photos courtesy of RCN Columbia Home Video and Paramount Home Video, respectively. .:NEW RELEASES PAGE 2 IIGENRES & THEMES: PAGE 5 •ciNEDEX: A IJST OF AIL FILM REFERENCES PAGE 12 •REVIEWS & RATINGS Most reviews and ratings of recent titles are based on theatrical screenings, including original running time. CineGuide fihn ratings in this issue (appearing in brackets following film titles) are based on our Cinedex· System, a 0-5 scale: 5.0 Absolute perfection 4.0 Archive material Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jr. look ready for action in February's video release, "Air America." 0 19'>-HRI-STARNCTURFS. 3.0 Recommended 2.5 Average 2.0 Below average 1.0 No redeeming value Believed to be dead, the scientist sets up shop in Death Warrant [NOT REVIEWED] Civilized disagreement is par for the an abandoned factory and, using the efforts of his Drama: Action course, and Cinedex ratings and reviews research, seeks his revenge. Director Raimi 1900, Color, 000 minutes [Rl are intended only as guides. We inadequately sets up that premise, and that Director: Deran Sarafian encourage readers to express their point damages everything that follows. In the first place, Cast: Jean-Claude Van Darnme, Robert Guillaume, of view (see below, under "How to being an innocent victim isn't enough to earn our Cynthia Gibb, George Dickerson, Patrick Kilpatrick, Contact Us"). faith or sympathy. In that light, the fact that Art LaFlew·, Abdul Salaam El Razzac When available, Motion Picture Darlonan undertakes brutal revenge (instead of Release Date: 27 February 1991 Association of America theatrical ratings are included, along with warning lines: justice and the American way) is a violation of all G General Audiences good guy ethics. Raimi may have meant this to The Endless Game [2.6] PG Adult guidance suggested appear as the actions of a tragic individual, the Drama: 1990, Color, 123 minutes [PG-13] PG-13 May be unsuitable for under 13 ultimate irony that Darlonan's private sense of Director: Bryan Forbes R May be unsuitable for under 18 justice is as violent as are his enemies. His Cast: Albert Finney, George Segal, Kristen Scott NC-17 For adults only supposed heroics are instead a comic book movie Thomas, Derek De Lint, Monica Guen-itore, Ian •SUBSCRIPriONS gone wrong. Perhaps "Darlonan" is someone the Holm, John Standing, Anthony Quayle, Nanette Subscriptions are available for $15 per popular audience can cheer on, but the more Newman year (12 issues) by sending your check sensitive, critical filmgoer will be disappointed. Review: Strong leads and intriguing plot points or money order to the address below. Release Date: 14 February 1991 help to spice up this otherwise monotonous presentation. The storyline behind writer-director •HOW TO CONI'ACI' US CineGuide welcomes your comments & Days of Thunder [2.31 Forbes' script involves a British intelligence agent suggestions. Please contact us at Drama: Character Study, Romance (Finney) investigating the death of a fellow spy CineGuide 1990, Color, 107 minutes [PG-13] (also his mistress). As the top cast member, Finney Post Office Box WI Director: Tony Scott is commanding as always, though the script affords Oak Park, n, 60303 708-383-0277 Cast: Tom Cruise, Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, him only the subtlest shading of character. The Nicole Kidman, Cary Elwes continual conflict of his search is simple survival in •DISClAIMER Review: Cruise holds his own is this film that has the world of espionage: spies and double spies are CineGuide is an independent little overall worth. He plays a car racing hot dog everywhere and, as Finney explains, trust is not in publication, and it has no affiliation with with a hot head to match. Despite those negative any motion picture or video company. their professional vocabulruy. The wooden The ideas and opinions expressed qualities, his natural talents help him to overcome presentation by Forbes does allow Segal to stand herein are those of CineGuide or its the antagonism he creates on and off the track. out in an untypically colorful role as a dangerous contributors. The entire contents of this That's about as full as the plot gets, leaving plenty but unidentified player in the game. issue are Copyright 1991 by CinePress of room for character development which never Note: Originally made for cable broadcast, this unless othe1wise noted, and no portion may be reproduced without written occurs. Duvall especially makes up for the lack of work contains the final performance of AnthOny permission. The publisher & editor is scripted substance, and Scott's direction of racing Quayle. Jeremy A Pollack scenes is absorbing. If you're a true Cruise fan, Release Date: 28 February 1991 you're sure to enjoy his performance despite the CONTINUED story flaws. Release Date: 07 February 1991 3 CINEGUIDEFEBRUARY1991 A Fight for Jenny [1.8] Sutherland, the film delivers an absorbing story, VIDEORELEASES Drama: 1986, Color, 100 minutes [Not Rated] hampered by a poor plot choice and an Director: Gilbe1t Moses unsatisfactory ending. Cast: Lesley Ann WruTen, Philip Michael Thomas, Release Date: 13 Febl'Ua.I)I 1991 Jaclyn-Rose Lester, Jean Smrut, Lynne Moody, Barbara Montgome1y, Drew Snyder, William I Come in Peace [3.0] Athmton Drama: Action/Fantasy Review: Taken from a tme st01y, this account of 1990, Color, 091 minutes the circumstances swTounding a custody battle is [R violence, strong la.Ilguage, brief nudicy] reminiscent of "The Good Mother." Wanen is the Director: Craig R Baxley mom here who, with her daughter, leads a Cast: Dolph Lundgren, Brian Benben, Betsy contented life until she meets Thomas.