Abandoned, The (2006, GBR/SPA/BUL) C-99m. Scope **½ D: Nacho Cerdà. Starring Anastasia Hille, Karel Roden, Valentin Ganev, Paraskeva Djukelova, Carlos Reig-Plaza. A 40-year-old woman travels to her birth-place in Russia to investigate the mystery behind her childhood. She hires a truck driver to drive her out into the wilderness, to the house of her parents. Once there, her life becomes a nightmare. The cottage seems strangely alive, with doppelgangers, eerie sounds and a man who claims to be her twin brother. It seems the past is prying its way back into reality and it’s bringing murder and mayhem. At first confusing and illogical, but this surreal horror film becomes scary as hell and is stylishly shot. The plot is less thrilling, but horror fans won’t mind, considering the retro-style effects and atmospheric sets. Cowritten by Richard Stanley (HARDWARE, DUST DEVIL).

Aberration (1997, NZL) C-93m. **½ D: Tim Boxell. Starring Pamela Gidley, Simon Bossell, Valeri Nikolayev, Helen Moulder, Norman Forsey. Amusing, if nonsensical, horror comedy about Gidley, who moves into a small hut in the middle of nowhere and soon finds herself under attack by mutated lizards. Self-proclaimed scientist Bossell is out to help. Not your ordinary run-of-the-mill splatter movie, it shows the weaknesses of a beginner’s film (little continuity, uneven plotting) but deliciously steps over the line, especially in the finale which will have you chuckle at the improbabilty of the going-ons. Not bad, has cult possibilities.

Able Edwards (2004, USA) B&W-81m. **½ D: Graham Robertson. Starring Scott Kelly Galbreath, Keri Bruno, David Ury, Steve Beaumont Jones, Michael Shamus Wiles. Independent feature executive produced by Steven Soderbergh has an intriguing story set in the future, after the Earth has become uninhabitable and people orbit the planet in so-called Civilization Pods. During a court hearing, we learn of an entertainment mogul (modelled after Walt Disney), who has been cloned to revive his ailing company. In the testimonials we learn of the clone’s life and career. Occasionally pretentious (all of this was shot against a green screen), but film’s biggest weaknesses are the self-conscious direction and the variable acting. An interesting experiment nevertheless, worth watching for the curious. The score is good.

Sei Mong Se Jun (2004, HGK) C-97m. *** D: Oxide Pang. Starring Race Wong, Roseanne Wong, Anson Leung, Michelle Mee. Fascinating psycho horror drama about an emotionally unstable young art student, who discovers her fascination with death and becomes obsessed with photographing death scenes. She distances herself from her surroundings, even becomes suicidal… but that’s not the end of the story. Plot is not always consistent, but film is stylishly directed, photographed and edited, another winner from cutting-edge filmmaker Pang. Written by the director and Thomas Pang. Produced by the Pang Brothers. English title: AB-NORMAL BEAUTY.

About a Boy (2002, GBR/USA) C-101m. *** D: Paul Weitz, Chris Weitz. Starring Hugh Grant, Toni Collette, Nicholas Hoult, Rachel Weisz, Sharon Small. Well-written drama from the novel by Nick Hornby about Grant, a bachelor who is pushing forty but does not feel like taking a commitment at all. All this changes, when a troubled 12-year-old boy enters his life. Cliché-free, refreshing film with a sense of humor. Adapted by the directors and Peter Hedges.

About Adam (2000, USA/GBR/EIR) C-98m. **½ D: Gerard Stembridge. Starring Stuart Townsend, Frances O’Connor, Charlotte Bradley, Kate Hudson, Alan Maher. Quite pleasant romantic comedy with a twist: Townsend is Hudson’s hot new lover, but as it turns out he also creates emotional responses in her sisters – quite willingly. Same story is told from several perspectives, which makes it interesting, if not original enough. Fans of Hudson (pre-ALMOST FAMOUS) should give it a look. Written by the director.

Abre los Ojos (1997, SPA/FRA/ITA) C-117m. *** D: Alejandro Amenábar. Starring Edoardo Noriega, Penélope Cruz, Chete Lera, Fele Martinez, Najwa Nimri, Alejandro Amenábar. Amenábar’s follow-up to his debut stunner TESIS (1996) is equally fascinating if admittedly outrageous psycho fantasy. Rich and handsome Noriega can get any girl he wants, but shies away from commitments. When he meets his friend’s latest acquaintance Cruz, he is immediately infatuated, but does not live to see the romance bud, as his ex-girlfriend crashes their car deliberately – which kills her and leaves him disfigured. From then on, it’s anyone’s guess what’s real and what’s a dream or imagination. At least the frame narrative, where Noriega tells his story to a psychiatrist in prison, seems real. Unique thriller is not for all tastes, but Amenábar keeps things bubbling and makes some interesting observations about individual perception Have you ever really opened your eyes? Fine score by Mariano Marín and the director, who also coscripted with Mateo Gil. Remade by Cameron Crowe in 2001 as VANILLA SKY, which also starred Cruz. English title: OPEN YOUR EYES.

Abrafaxe – Unter Schwarzer Flagge (2001, GER/KOR) C-81m. *** D: Gerhard Hahn, Tony Power. Starring (the voices of) Nena Kerner, Kim Hasper, David Turber, Ilona Schulz, Helmut Krauss. Entertaining kids movie, an animated feature based on a comic book series (previously adapted for East German TV in 1980!). Three pals stay behind in a museum one night and with the help of an ancient gold plate are transported to the time of the pirates, where they become involved in the search for the legendary treasure of El Dorado. Colorful animation captures the pirate spirit, and the three boys fit in very well. English title: THE PIRATES OF TORTUGA: UNDER THE BLACK FLAG.

Abre tu Fosa, Amigo, llega Sábata! (1971, SPA/ITA) C-78m. M D: John Wood (=Juan Bosch). Starring Richard Harrison, Fernando Sancho, Raf Baldassare, Alejandro Ulloa, Tania Alvarado, Gustavo Re, Luis Induni. Extremely cheap, weakly made spaghetti western about unlikely duo Harrison and Sancho, who ultimately team up to avenge the murder of Harrison’s father. For the most undemanding brood of fans. Uncut print runs 90m. English title: DIG YOUR GRAVE FRIEND… SABATA’S COMING.

Absolute Power (1997, USA) C-121m. Scope **½ D: Clint Eastwood. Starring Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Ed Harris, Laura Linney, Scott Glenn, Dennis Haysbert, Judy Davis, Buddy Van Horn. Eastwood plays a brilliant thief who accidentally witnesses a murder involving none other than the U.S. President (Hackman). He soon realizes that he must serve as a scapegoat but uses all of his wit to clear himself. Implausibilites are overcome by good storytelling, but the ending is not satisfying. Eastwood fans should stick to TRUE CRIME (1999).

Accident (1967, GBR) C-105m. ***½ D: Joseph Losey. Starring Dirk Bogarde, Stanley Baker, Jacqueline Sassard, Michael York, Vivien Merchant, Delphine Seyrig, Brian Phelan, Terence Rigby, Harold Pinter, Nicholas Mosley. Oxford professor Bogarde contemplates cheating on his wife with nephew York’s latest girlfriend Sassard, who is also one of his students. Meanwhile, his wife is pregnant with their third child. Subtle, intelligent handling of a man’s midlife-crisis and adultery, superbly performed, superbly written by Harold Pinter. Based on Nicholas Mosley’s novel. Director Losey followed this with the even more fascinating SECRET CEREMONY (1968).

Accused, The (1988, USA) C-110m. *** D: Jonathan Kaplan. Starring Kelly McGillis, Jodie Foster, Bernie Coulson, Leo Rossi, Ann Hearn. Fine drama about woman (Foster) who has been gang-raped and gets her revenge in court. McGillis plays her attorney. Well-acted (Foster won an Oscar for her multi-facetted performance) and also well-scripted (based on a real case).

A Cena col Vampiro (1988, ITA) C-92m. M D: Lamberto Bava. Starring George Hilton, Isabel Russinova, Patrizia Pellegrino, Riccardo Rossi, Yvonne Sciò. Apart from quite creepy chillers like FINO ALLA MORTE and UNA NOTTE AL CIMITERO, Lamberto Bava also made crap like this for television: A horror director with fangs invites four would-be actors to his mansion to spend the night. Harmless, amateurishly acted, completely unfunny. Reportedly, Bava left the project before production was finished. Also known as DINNER WITH A VAMPIRE.

A Ciascuno il Suo (1967, ITA) C-93m. *** D: Elio Petri. Starring Gian Maria Volonté, Irene Papas, Gabriele Ferzetti, Salvo Randone, Luigi Pistilli. Understated, low-key but rewarding crime drama about teacher (Volonté) who investigates the murder of two men on Sicily. He soon discovers that politicians were involved in the murder scheme. Well-acted, well-photographed (by Luigi Kuveiller), and the score by Luis Enrique Bakalov is especially good. Based on the novel by Leonardo Sciascia. Winner of the best screenplay award in Cannes.

Adaptation. (2002, USA) C-114m. ***½ D: Spike Jonze. Starring Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep, Chris Cooper, Cara Seymour, Tilda Swinton, Ron Livingston, Brian Cox, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Curtis Hanson, David O. Russell. Astounding, typically eccentric film by the director of BEING JOHN MALKOVICH (1999). Cage is featured in a double role as screenwriter Charles Kaufman and his twin brother Donald. Terminally self-conscious Charles struggles to adapt book The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean (Streep), which is about colorful character Cooper, an orchid expert, whose extraordinary life is traced. Streep’s own struggles with the book are dealt with in second plot strand (three years before the adaptation). Intellectually challenging, unique movie with a brilliant script by real-life writers Charles and (the fictional) Donald Kaufman (adapting Susan Orlean’s The Orchid Thief). In a way, this movie could be compared to a snake that is eating itself. Get it?!? Its success may depend on your personal response to it. Coproduced by Jonathan Demme. Score by Carter Burwell.

Addams Family, The (1991, USA) C-102m. *** D: Barry Sonnenfeld. Starring Anjelica Huston, Raul Julia, Christopher Lloyd, Elizabeth Wilson, Christina Ricci, Judith Malina, Dan Hedaya, Paul Benedict. Fine black comedy about well-known Addams family, who live in a sinister villa and indulge in all kinds of macabre doings. One day, their lawyer tries to trick them out of a fortune by introducing their long-lost uncle, who is in fact the son of one of his creditors. Intelligent script, excellent performances, a funny homage to the TV series. Sonnenfeld’s directorial debut after photographing some films for the Coen brothers. Followed by ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES in 1993 and a TV sequel in 1998.

Addicted to Love (1997, USA) C-100m. **½ D: Griffin Dunne. Starring Meg Ryan, Matthew Broderick, Kelly Preston, Tchéky Karyo, Maureen Stapleton, Dominick Dunne. A romantic comedy, and a quite black one. When Ryan and Broderick are dumped by their lovers, they team up to make Ryan’s lover’s life hell, spying on him with the help of Broderick’s telescope. And that’s not the end of their tricks. Amusing, if you can take the mean gags, mostly for the Meg Ryan cult (and she is at her loveliest). Dunne’s directorial debut.

Addiction, The (1995, USA) B&W-82m. *** D: Abel Ferrara. Starring Lili Taylor, Christopher Walken, Annabella Sciorra, Edie Falco, Paul Calderon, Kathryn Erbe, Michael Imperioli, Fredro Starr. Difficult but fascinating allegory on addiction, evil and spirituality by cult director Ferrara. Taylor is good as philosophy student who is bitten by a female vampire and sees her life transformed, as her surfaced personal evil conflicts with her condemnation of human cruelties committed in the wars. Slow-moving and awfully meta-physical, but stylish black-and-white photography and intelligent approach to the material make this an intellectually challenging picture for cineastes. Multiple viewing recommended.

Ad Ogni Costo (1968, ITA/SPA/GER) C-114m. Scope *** D: Giuliano Montaldo. Starring Edward G. Robinson, Janet Leigh, Adolfo Celi, Klaus Kinski, Georges Rigaud, Robert Hoffman. Agreeable TOPKAPI clone with a fine cast. School teacher Robinson has masterminded a plan to steal diamonds worth $10 million from a top security mansion in Rio de Janeiro. Among the recruitees for this job are Kinski, Rigaud and Hoffman. Will they succeed? Suspenseful time-capsule isn’t perfect and neglects characterization but remains entertaining and highly watchable. Also known as TOP JOB and GRAND SLAM. Score by Ennio Morricone.

A Doppia Faccia (1969, ITA/GER) C-81m. ** D: Riccardo Freda. Starring Klaus Kinski, Christiane Krüger, Günther Stoll, Annabella Incontrera, Sydney Chaplin, Barbara Nelli, Margaret Lee, Alice Arno. Unspectacular sex-and-crime thriller with Kinski (cast against type) as a businessman who is accused of having killed his wife Lee. When he sees her act in a lurid sex movie, he is convinced that she is still alive and tries to find her. Very slowly-paced mystery, based on an Edgar Wallace novel. The twisted ending helps. Among the writers: Director Freda and Lucio Fulci. Runs 88m. in Italy. Also known as DOUBLE FACE, PUZZLE OF HORRORS and DAS GESICHT IM DUNKELN.

A Double Tour (1959, FRA/ITA) C-94m. *** D: Claude Chabrol. Starring Madeleine Robinson, Antonella Lualdi, Jean-Paul Belmondo, Jacques Dacqmine, Jeanne Valérie, Bernadette Lafont, Claude Chabrol. Highly interesting early Chabrol (his third movie) examines upper-class mores in contemporary country setting. Belmondo has a key role as a free-spirited vagabond, who breaks the harmony of a family, as his friend, gorgeous Lualdi, starts an affair with the patriarch. All this will expectedly lead to a crime. Chabrol’s direction is remarkable, as he further develops his spatial style and  camera moves. Excellent color cinematography (by Henri Decae) further enhances beautiful scenery, score adds melodramatic touch to the proceedings. Chabrol coscripted with Paul Gégauff, adapting Stanley Ellin’s The Key to Nicholas Street. Philippe de Broca was assistant director. Also known as LEDA, WEB OF PASSION.

Adventurers, The (1995, HGK) C-110m. *** D: Ringo Lam. Starring Andy Lau, Rosamund Kwan, Paul Chu, George Cheung, David Chiang, John Ching, Phillip Ko, Victor Wong. First-rate action melodrama by cowriter-director Lam. Andy Lau plays a Cambodian orphan, who lives with his uncle in Thailand. When he meets the man responsible for the massacre of his family, he feels his chance at revenge has come. He starts working for the CIA, in order to get familiar with the wealthy crimelord. Plot is hardly above-average, but direction and photography are stunning. Long and difficult to watch at times, but packs a wallop most of the times. Aka GREAT ADVENTURERS.

Adventures of Baron Munchausen, The (1988, GBR/GER/ITA) C-125m. ** D: Terry Gilliam. Starring John Neville, Eric Idle, Sarah Polley, Oliver Reed, Charles McKeown, Valentina Cortese, Jonathan Price, Uma Thurman, Ray di Tutto (=Robin Williams), Sting, Terry Gilliam. Big, overblown production, a disappointment considering that this was Gilliam’s follow-up to BRAZIL (1985). The story (about the famous lying Baron and his quest to find his friends again) is episodic and uneven, the slapstick scenes are only occasionally funny. For a family film, this is far too violent and profane. For adults, there is sumptuous production design and enough star cameos to keep you watching. Some consider this to form a trilogy with TIME BANDITS (1981) and BRAZIL (1985). The other two films had more plot. Filmed before in Germany as MÜNCHHAUSEN (1943).

Adventures of Pinocchio, The (1996, GBR/USA/FRA/GER) C-99m. Scope *** D: Steve Barron. Starring Martin Landau, Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Geneviève Bujold, Udo Kier, Bebe Neuwirth, Rob Schneider, Corey Carrier, John Sessions, voice of David Doyle. Well-produced, highly visual adaptation of Carlo Collodi’s popular story about a wooden puppet who lives through many adventures on his way to become human. Episodic and poorly paced but creates some moments of genuine movie magic, thanks to fine Animatronics special effects and good photography. Kids aged 6 to 10 should love the film.

Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3-D (2005, USA) C-93m. *** D: Robert Rodriguez. Starring Taylor Lautner, Taylor Dooley, Cayden Boyd, George Lopez, David Arquette, Kristin Davis, Jacob Davich. After the SPY KIDS movies (and especially after the computer game-like third one), Rodriguez delivers another eye-popping action adventure with plenty of CGI. Story is about a boy, who’d rather escape from his boring life and dreams up the title characters, who take him on an adventure to Planet Drool. Filled with non-stop action, film works because of director Rodriguez’ directing style. He just cuts it loose from minute one. Script is based on his own son’s stories and dreams. Good score by the director himself.

Aenigma (1987, ITA/YUG) C-89m. ** D: Lucio Fulci. Starring Jared Martin, Suzy Kendall, Kathi Wise, Ulli Reinthaler, Riccardo Acerbi, Lucio Fulci. One of Fulci’s latter-day works, this horror thriller is a cross between CARRIE and PHENOMENA/SUSPIRIA. When a young student at a girl’s school falls into a coma after having been bullied by classmates, her substitute (Kendall) proves to have a spiritual tie to her and takes gruesome revenge. Derivative, almost plot-heavy thriller is nothing special. Fulci’s trademark gore effects are not the film’s raison d’etre this time. 

Afraid of the Dark (1991, GBR/FRA) C-92m. **½ D: Mark Peploe. Starring James Fox, Fanny Ardant, Paul McGann, Clare Holman, Robert Stephens, Susan Wooldridge, Ben Keyworth. Ambitious but not quite successful psycho thriller drama about a little boy, who fears his blind mother may be killed by serial killer who kills only blind women. A surprising twist half-way through is a plus, but otherwise this film is too slowly paced to score a higher rating. Some effective scenes amidst general lethargy.

After Hours (1985, USA) C-96m. *** D: Martin Scorsese. Starring Griffin Dunne, Rosanna Arquette, Verna Bloom, Tommy Chong, Linda Fiorentino, Teri Garr, John Heard, Cheech Marin, Catherine O’Hara, Dick Miller, Will Patton, Robert Plunket, Bronson Pinchot, Martin Scorsese. Computer specialist Dunne spends his evening at a bar and meets a mysterious woman (Arquette), who only leaves her phone number. When he gets in touch with her that same night, he enters the New York netherworld – and embarks on a nightly odyssey through the city. Increasingly bizarre comedy with oddball characters has become a cult film and can be regarded as the PULP FICTION of the 1980s. Best enjoyed at night. Written by Joseph Minion. Score by Howard Shore (though classical music is featured more prominently). Photographed by Michael Ballhaus, edited by Thelma Schoonmaker.

Agatha (1978, USA) C-104m. Scope *** D: Michael Apted. Starring Vanessa Redgrave, Dustin Hoffman, Timothy Dalton, Helen Morse, Celia Gregory, Paul Brooke. In December 1926 famed mystery writer Agatha Christie disappeared for eleven days, this film suggests where she was while everybody was looking for her. Redgrave, as Christie, is remarkable in this good drama, Hoffman okay as American reporter. Works better as a period piece than as a mystery.

Agente 077 dall’Oriente con Furore (1965, ITA/FRA/SPA) C-102m. Scope ** D: Sergio Grieco. Starring Ken Clark, Margaret Lee, Philippe Hersent, Fabienne Dali, Fernando Sancho, Franco Ressel, Calisto Calisti. Early James Bond rip-off, as serious, but generally a far cry from the originals. Clark lacks the charisma of Sean Connery to make his secret agent role work. Here, he has to find abducted scientist Hersent, who has invented a dangerous ray gun. Leisurely paced, low-budget, most of the action is in brawls. Followed the same year by AGENTE 077: MISSIONE BLOODY MARY. Also known as AGENT 077 OPERATION ISTANBUL, FURY IN THE ORIENT, and FROM THE ORIENT WITH FURY(!).

Aile ou la Cuisse, L’ (1976, FRA) C-105m. Scope *** D: Claude Zidi. Starring Louis de Funès, (Michel) Coluche, Ann Zacharias, Julien Guiomar, Claude Gensac. Enjoyable comedy about restaurant critic Duchemin (de Funès), whose adversary (Guiomar), a fast-food producer, does everything to ruin his reputation. Duchemin’s son (Coluche) is also causing him headaches, because he would rather become a circus clown than follow in his father’s footsteps. Well-acted satire, with Louis de Funès in great form. The factory sequence is a highlight. Photographed by Claude Renoir.

Aimée & Jaguar (1999, GER) C-126m. *** D: Max Färberböck. Starring Maria Schrader, Juliane Köhler, Johanna Wokalek, Heike Makatsch, Elisabeth Degen, Detlev Buck, Inge Keller, Kyra Mladeck, Peter Weck. Meticulously produced historical drama set in  the latter years of World War Two. Schrader plays a lesbian who falls in love with “straight” Köhler, whose marraieg to soldier Buck hasn’t prevented her from having several affairs. Film sensitively depicts their budding relationship. Fine production values, assured direction by Färberböck make the difference. Good period piece (with a narrative frame set in the present day) might have been slightly more dramatic (and shorter). Based on the novel by Erica Fischer.

Ai No Borei (1978, JAP/FRA) C-104m. **½ D: Nagisa Oshima. Starring Tatsuya Fuji, Kazuko Yoshiyuki, Takahiro Tamura, Takuzo Kawatani. Follow-up to AI NO CORRIDA (1976) examines the guilt experienced by Fuji, who has killed her husband with her lover. The husband returns as a ghost and haunts the woman. Slowly paced, but horror buffs will find this satisfying as fine photography creates a spooky atmosphere. A definite influence on RINGU (1998). Director Oshima adapted the novel by Itoko Namura. Filmed in VistaVision (approx. 2.0:1). Also known as EMPIRE OF PASSION, IN THE REALM OF PASSION, PHANTOM LOVE, and THE GHOST OF LOVE.

Ai No Corrida (1976, JAP/FRA) C-102m. **½ D: Nagisa Oshima. Starring Tatsuya Fuji, Eiko Matsuda, Aoi Nakajima, Yasuko Matsui, Meika Seri. Classic Japanese sex drama focusing on the obsessive love affair between Fuji and Matsuda. Especially the woman becomes addicted to sex and develops an obsession with the male sex organ. Openly sexual, erotic character study may be considered pornography by some, though there is some value in the going-ons. Written by the director. Based on a true story that took place in 1936, previously filmed as JITSUROKU ABE SADA (1975). Followed by a sequel, AI NO BOREI (1978). English title: IN THE REALM OF THE SENSES, and EMPIRE OF THE SENSES.

Air Force One (1997, USA) C-124m. Scope ***½ D: Wolfgang Petersen. Starring Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman, Glenn Close, Dean Stockwell, William H. Macy, Xander Berkeley, Jürgen Prochnow. Presidents die hard too: Harrison Ford plays the U.S. president, whose plane is hijacked by a group of Kazachian terrorists headed by merciless Oldman. Although an escape pod might have easily rescued Ford he prefers to stay aboard because his wife and daughter are in the hands of the hijackers. If you accept this terribly American premise and go along with the thrills, this DIE HARD-meets-SPEED action blockbuster will keep you on the edge of your seat for the whole running time. The script is occasionally mean and manipulative but superbly entertaining nonetheless.

Airplane! (1980, USA) C-88m. **½ D: Jerry Zucker, Jim Abrahams, David Zucker. Starring Robert Hays, Julie Hagerty, Lloyd Bridges, Leslie Nielsen, Robert Stack, Peter Graves, Lorna Patterson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jim Abrahams, James Hong, Nicholas Pryor, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker. After a decade of disaster films, it was only a matter of time when AIRPORT spoofs like this were made. Gag-filled comedy details transatlantic flight with shell-shocked ex-pilot Hays trying to win back stewardess Hagerty’s affection. The only problem may be the fish that was served for dinner… Contains some funny, laugh-out-loud bits but also more than its share of gratuitious gags and a few tasteless ones, like pilot Graves’ fondness for little boys and a suffering girl who is waiting for an organ transplantation. Still, has achieved cult status over the years. Enjoy in company. Good score by Elmer Bernstein. Followed by AIRPLANE II: THE SEQUEL (1982).

Airport (1970, USA) C-137m. Scope ***½ D: George Seaton, Henry Hathaway. Starring Burt Lancaster, Dean Martin, Jean Seberg, Jacqueline Bisset, George Kennedy, Helen Hayes, Van Heflin, Maureen Stapleton, Barry Nelson. Top-notch thriller set in stormy winter night at a metropolitan airport, where several characters and their problems are introduced: Worried chief of air traffic control Lancaster, his number-one technician Kennedy, smooth pilot Martin and his pregnant lover, stewardess Bisset, old stowaway Hayes, and suicidal, nervous Heflin. Professionally done, with great dialogues and most of the film operating on an emotional level. First-rate entertainment, from the novel by Arthur Hailey, also became the blueprint for more than a dozen disaster films to follow in the 1970s and was itself followed by three sequels, starting with AIRPORT 1975. Dramatic score by Alfred Newman. Uncredited Hathaway directed some of the outdoor scenes.

Airport 1975 (1974, USA) C-106m. Scope M D: Jack Smight. Starring Charlton Heston, Karen Black, George Kennedy, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Susan Clark, Helen Reddy, Gloria Swanson, Linda Blair, Dana Andrews, Sid Caesar, Myrna Loy, Nancy Olson. Terrible sequel to AIRPORT takes 45m. for anything to happen (pilots are killed when jumbo jet collides with private plane) and goes absolutely nowhere from then on. Good cast is wasted, including Swanson in her last film.

Airport ’77 (1977, USA) C-114m. Scope **½ D: Jerry Jameson. Starring Jack Lemmon, Lee Grant, Brenda Vaccaro, Joseph Cotton, Olivia De Havilland, James Stewart, George Kennedy, Darren McGavin, Christopher Lee, Robert Foxworth, Robert Hooks, Monte Markham, Kathleen Quinlan, M. Emmet Walsh. Best of the AIRPORT sequels, this disaster thriller is about the maiden flight of billionaire Stewart’s new airplane, which is carrying his daughter and grandson among other celebrities. When a trio of hijackers attempt to get contol over the aircraft, it crashes into the sea and sinks slowly. Will the rescue teams be there on time? Plot is only so-so, but cast is interesting and score (by John Cacavas) is excellent. Photographed by Philip H. Lathrop. Followed by THE CONCORDE: AIRPORT ’79.

Akarui Mirai (2003, JAP) C-115m. ** D: Kiyoshi Kurosawa. Starring Jô Odagiri, Tadanobu Asano, Tatsuya Fuji, Takashi Sasano. Marumi Shiraishi. Difficult, slowly-paced drama from acclaimed director Kurosawa, about the friendship between two alienated young workers in Tokyo. One of them runs amok, and the other sees it his task to take care of his pet jellyfish that ultimately escapes into the sewage system. Not a horror film a la ALLIGATOR (1980), this one is more a character study and a study of loss and alienation. See for yourself if you can make any sense of it. English title: BRIGHT FUTURE.

Akira (1988, JAP) C-124m. *** D: Katsuhiro Otomo. Impressive animated feature set in Neo-Tokyo after World War III, where a group of motorbikers battle a rival gang, while the government is conducting secret experiments with human beings, which give them strange hallucinatory powers. One day a gang-member is kidnapped, undergoes such a treatment and turns into a vicious destroyer. Violent adult animation is very uneven in terms of plot but visually dazzling. Based on the graphic novel Akira by the director. Contributed largely to the popularity of so-called Mangas, Japanese animation movies.

Albatros, L’ (1971, FRA) C-92m. **½ D: Jean-Pierre Mocky. Starring Jean-Pierre Mocky, Marion Game, Paul Muller, André Le Gall, R.J. Chauffard, Dominique Zardi. Unusual, unconventional thriller about the headhunt for a copkiller (Mocky), who has escaped from prison and taken the daughter of a prominent politician hostage. Apart from following their fates, film also looks at the political repercussions of the kidnapping, since preparations for the elections have already begun. Screenplay, cowritten by Mocky, is ambitious and quite lyrical but also very uneven. Of interest mostly to cineastes, others beware.

Aldila, L’ (1980, ITA) C-86m. Scope ** D: Lucio Fulci. Starring Katherine McColl, Lucio Fulci. Absolutely senseless story of a woman who moves into a house - unaware of the fact that there’s one of the ‘seven doors of death’ in the basement - is the excuse this time for unmotivated scenes of slaughter and over-the-top gore. Horror fanatics will surely go for it, but even they will need a strong stomach to endure it. One of the goriest and slimiest pictures ever made. Released as SEVEN DOORS OF DEATH in the U.S., film is also known as THE BEYOND.

Al di là della Legge (1968, ITA/GER) C-89m. Scope **½ D: Giorgio Stegani. Starring Lee Van Cleef, Antonio Sabato, Gordon Mitchell, Lionel Stander, Bud Spencer, Graziella Granata, Herbert Fux, Romano Puppo, Günther Stoll. Okay spaghetti western about outlaw Van Cleef, who wins the trust of young manager Sabato despite having just robbed a lot of money from him. He even becomes sheriff to fight the bad guys. Interesting cast (with Van Cleef and Spencer cast against type) in fairish western. Nice Riz Ortolani score. Fernando Di Leo was among the writers. Runs 111m. in uncut version. English title: BEYOND THE LAW, BLOODSILVER, and THE GOOD DIE FIRST.

Alexander (2004, USA/GBR/GER/NED) C-175m. Scope *** D: Oliver Stone. Starring Colin Farrell, Anthony Hopkins, Angelina Jolie, Val Kilmer, Christopher Plummer, Jared Leto. Technically faultless epic about the life of Alexander the Great, played by Farrell. Told in flashback style by Hopkins, film deals with the conqueror’s relationship to his parents (Jolie, Kilmer), and his rise to greatness when he conquered many parts of the world. Well-directed, superbly photographed (Rodrigo Prieto), remains a worthwhile view throughout its 3 hours. Fine symphonic score by Vangelis (his first in a long time).

Ali (2001, USA) C-159m. Scope **½ D: Michael Mann. Starring Will Smith, Jamie Foxx, Jon Voight, Mario Van Peebles, Ron Silver, Jeffrey Wright, Jada Pinkett Smith, Giancarlo Esposito, Ted Levine. Glossy attempt at a screen biography of the great boxer Muhammad Ali, with Smith in the title role. Script covers the years 1964-1974 (a pivotal period in which Ali had contact with Malcolm X and converted to the Islam), but film wallows in flashy depictions instead of providing descriptions. For people less familiar with the star, this may seem superficial. Partly redeemed by Smith’s performance and Emmanuel Lubezki’s brilliant cinematography. Also notable for Mann’s unconventional directorial style (if only his script was better).

Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974, USA) C-112m. *** D: Martin Scorsese. Starring Ellen Burstyn, Kris Kristofferson, Billy Green Bush, Diane Ladd, Lelia Goldoni, Harvey Keitel, Jodie Foster, Laura Dern. Early Scorsese drama about widowed 35-year-old mother Burstyn, who, after the death of her brutish spouse, promises her son to take him to Monterey – in search of a better life. Moody, authentic, well-acted drama isn’t among Scorsese’s top achievements; he tries too hard to imitate the Nouvelle Vague and keeps movie slightly too episodic. Still, some found this excellent. Burstyn won Best Actress Oscar, Scorsese went on to direct TAXI DRIVER (1976). Larry Cohen is credited as production executive. Followed by a TV series.

Alice in Wonderland (1951, USA) C-72m. *** D: Claude Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske. Starring (the voices of) Kathryn Beaumont, Ed Wynn, Richard Haydn, Sterling Holloway,   Good Lewis Carroll adaptation from Disney, not among their masterpieces but well-worth watching. Young girl Alice is bored with her life, then follows a rabbit (with a watch, no less) into a rabbithole and stumbles (or falls) into a wondrous land which seems toh ave its own laws. Rather episodic, and so fast-paced that it becomes annoying at times, but well-animated, with many delightful sequences. Legend has it that Aldous Huxley contributed to the script.

Alice ou la Dernière Fugue (1976, FRA) C-93m. ** D: Claude Chabrol. Starring Sylvia Kristel, Charles Vanel, André Dussollier, Fernand Ledoux, Thomas Chabrol, Jean Carmet. After leaving her husband Alice Carol (Sylvia Kristel - star of EMMANUELLE) stumbles into a strange mansion where time seems to stand still. When she wakes up the following morning she discovers that she cannot leave the premise. Strange psycho drama, oddly fascinating at its best, terribly slow and redundant at its worst. An experiment which is almost impossible to rate, but only recommended to followers of the director, others may find this parable too slow or difficult to decipher. Obviously inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. English title: ALICE OR THE LAST ESCAPADE.

Alien (1979, USA) C-117m. Scope *** D: Ridley Scott. Starring Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt, Ian Holm, Yaphet Kotto. One of the most acclaimed sci-fi horror movies of all time: On their way back to Earth, Skerritt and Weaver’s spacecraft is intercepted by an S.O.S. signal. When they are out to investigate, an evil organism attacks Hurt and is brought on board. Soon the crew must combat an alien life form that seems indestructible. Top cinematography, art direction, production design, film’s plot is of secondary interest (it’s actually based on the 1958 low-budgeter IT! THE TERROR FROM BEYOND SPACE), but suspense doesn’t give you much time to think anyway. A modern classic and perhaps the most intense science-fiction film of all time. Watch it in a theater for maximum effect. Alien design by H. R. Giger. Story by Dan O’Bannon, co-produced by Walter Hill. Score by Jerry Goldsmith. Followed by three sequels, starting with ALIENS. Director Scott went on to make another sci-fi classic, BLADE RUNNER.

Alien Dead, The (1980, USA) C-73m. M D: Fred Olen Ray. Starring Buster Crabbe, Raymond Roberts, Linda Lewis, George Kelsey, Fred Olen Ray. Amateurish horror movie made on a shoe-string about an alien invasion in rural Southern community. The ‘aliens’ walk around like zombies attacking people. Ed Wood-ish director Ray obviously gathered his friends and family to make this inept mess after watching DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978). Also known as IT FELL FROM THE SKY, and SWAMP OF THE BLOOD LEECHES. ‘Movie Dead’ is more like it.

Alien from the Deep (1989, USA/ITA) C-92m. ** D: Anthony M. Dawson (=Antonio Margheriti). Starring Daniel Bosch, Julia MacKay, Alan Collins, Robert Marius, Charles Napier. Two Greenpeace activists stumble upon a monster created by radioactive waste which a ruthless company has been dumping into a volcano. Trashy but fast-moving ecological thriller that turns into a sci-fi-horror flick in the second half. The monster is not convincing, however. Nearly all of director Dawson’s films are watchable if you can accept the worthless plots. Italian title: ALIEN DEGLI ABISSI.

Alien Predator (1987, USA) C-90m. ** D: Deran Sarafian. Starring Dennis Christopher, Martin Hewitt, Lynn-Holly Johnson, Luis Prendes, J.O. Bosso. Trashy but not unexciting sci-fi horror film in the ALIEN-vein, about an alien organism which fell from space with the SkyLab and is threatening to take over a small Spanish town – and then the world. Not very intelligent, but quite well-made and contains enough gore to please genre fans. Written and coproduced by director Sarafian. Filmed in 1984. Some consider this to be a sequel to NIGHT SHADOWS.

Alien Resurrection (1997, USA) C-109m. Scope ** D: Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Starring Sigourney Weaver, Winona Ryder, Ron Perlman, Dominique Pinon, Dan Hedaya, J.E. Freeman, Brad Dourif, Raymond Cruz, Michael Wincott. On a space vessel, Ltd. Ripley (the character from the original ALIEN) is cloned by some scientists in order to get hold of the alien organism that started to breed in her before her death at the end of ALIEN³. When a bunch of outlaws board the ship - wouldn’t you know it - the alien queen escapes from the lab, and Ripley must do her best to kill it. Muddled script bombs, no doubt, but special effects are explosive (and quite gory). A telling comment about this film is made in the movie itself: ‘How can you bear this life?’ (Ryder to Weaver). So, non-science-fiction/horror fans beware!   

Aliens (1986, USA) C-137m. *** D: James Cameron. Starring Sigourney Weaver, Carrie Henn, Michael Biehn, Michael Biehn, Paul Reiser, Lance Henriksen, Bill Paxton, Jenette Goldstein. Ltd. Ripley returns to Earth after floating in space for 80 years. When she learns that settlers have established a colony on the Alien’s planet, she is willing to travel back – only to find that all the settlers have been used as cocoons for breeding new aliens. Unlike Scott, director Cameron (THE TERMINATOR) places the emphasis on action. The sequel is less subtly stomach-churning than the original but contains some excellent sequences, especially the finale. Also shown in a 154m. Director’s Cut version. Like the first part (ALIEN), this won a Special Effects Oscar. Followed by ALIEN³.

Alla Ricerca del Piacere (1972, ITA) C-98m. **½ D: Silvio Amadio. Starring Farley Granger, Barbara Bouchet, Rosalba Neri, Umberto Raho. Bouchet is writer Granger’s new secretary, but she only applied for the job because her friend, Granger’s old secretary, has mysteriously disappeared. Soon she finds herself entagled in all-night parties, sex and drugs. Quite interesting, well-mounted giallo bogs down a little in mid-section but is worth watching alone for seeing Neri and Bouchet make love in slow motion. Hypnotic score by Teo Usuelli. Alternative titles: AMUCK!, HOT BED OF SEX, LEATHER AND WHIPS, REPLICA DI UN DELITTO, and MANIAC MANSION.

Allegro Non Troppo (1977, ITA) C/B&W-85m. *** D: Bruno Bozzetto. Starring Marialuisa Giovannini, Néstor Garay, Maurizio Micheli, Maurizio Nichetti. Italian animation classic rivals Disney’s FANTASIA (1940), albeit this is not for children. Frame story is awkward, even off-putting as it is set during an orchestra rehearsal, with a presenter talking straight into the camera. The conductor is the animator who turns pieces of classical music (by Debussy, Dvorak, Vivaldi etc.) into visual poems. Some sequences show off Bozzetto’s artistic mastery, especially the rhythmical one set to Maurice Ravel’s Bolero. Recommended to buffs. The director’s most famous character, Signor Rossi, makes a cameo appearance.

Aller Simple, Un (1971, FRA/ITA/SPA) C-102m. ** D: José Giovanni. Starring Jean-Claude Bouillon, Nicoletta, Maurice Garrel, Jean Gaven, Paul Beauvais, Alain Mottet, Rufus, Giancarlo Giannini, Ottavia Piccolo. Typically ponderous crime drama by Giovanni, a former crook himself. Bouillon is a small-time gangster, who robs a jeweller’s shop, then shoots a policeman in self defense. In hospital, he realizes that he hardly stands a chance against the accusations. Makes one point – again and again and again. Based on the novel by Henry Edward Helseth. English title: ONE WAY TICKET.

Alligator (1980, USA) C-91m. **½ D: Lewis Teague. Starring Robert Forster, Robin Riker, Michael V. Gazzo, Dean Jagger, Henry Silva. A monster alligator kills humans in the sewers of Chicago, cop Forster is investigating the murders with zoologist Riker. It turns out that hormone experiments are responsible for the unnatural growth of the reptile. Monster movie doesn’t take itself seriously and offers some nice shock scenes. This okay animal horror was written by John Sayles and directed Lewis ‘CUJO’ Teague. Followed by ALLIGATOR II: THE MUTATION in 1991.

Al Límite (1997, SPA) C-94m. Scope **½ D: Eduardo Campoy. Starring Juanjo Puigcorbé, Lydia Bosch, Béatrice Dalle, Bud Spencer, Mabel Lozano, José Manuel Lorenzo, Rafael Romero Marchent, Rosanna Yanni. Slickly made if familiar thriller about a serial killer on the loose in Madrid and state attorney Bosch’s attempt to catch him. Her rival: Radio celebrity Dalle, who’d do anything to get him on the show. Attractive Bosch is good, but thriller remains too obvious. English title: TO THE LIMIT.

Almost Famous (2000, USA) C-123m. ***½ D: Cameron Crowe. Starring Billy Crudup, Frances McDormand, Kate Hudson, Jason Lee, Patrick Fugit, Zooey Deschanel, Fairuza Balk, Anna Paquin, Philip Seymour Hoffman. Bijou Phillips. Fugit plays a 15-year-old who gets inspired by his sister’s records to become a rock’n’roll journalist in 1973. He goes on the road with an up-and-coming rock band and finds himself torn between the budding love for ‘band-aid’ Hudson, the band’s extravagance and his over-protective mother McDormand. Superior cast, heart-felt (semi-autobiographical) script by the director make this a winner from start to finish. Hudson and McDormand give Oscar-worthy performances (both were nominated). Crowe’s screenplay won the Academy Award.

Along Came Polly (2004, USA) C-90m. **½ D: John Hamburg. Starring Ben Stiller, Jennifer Aniston, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Debra Messing, Alec Baldwin, Hank Azaria, Bryan Brown. Thoroughly clichéd but still quite enjoyable romantic comedy about risk manager Stiller, who’s an ace with statistics, and his bride Messing, who cheats on the poor guy on their honeymoon and calls their relationship off. Devastated Stiller questions his entire existence, but then… along comes Polly (Aniston), who’s a chaotic friend from junior high. Scriptwriters make this completely artificial, but Stiller is funny (especially when dancing Salsa).

Alouette, Je Te Plumerai (1987, FRA) C-93m. *** D: Philippe Zucca. Starring Claude Chabrol, Valérie Allan, Fabrice Luchini, Micheline Presle, Jean-Paul Roussilllon. Film director Chabrol is well-cast as a cunning old man who moves from an old people’s home into the flat of a young couple who hope that they’ll inherit a vast fortune. However, the old man only pretends to be sick, which he cannot hide forever. Sometimes funny, sometimes serious satire on money and human relationships, intelligently scripted by the director. Acting, direction, score uniformly fine. In fact, film comes close to being a ‘Chabrol’ itself. English title: THE LARK.

Alphaville (1965, FRA/ITA) 99m. *½ D: Jean-Luc Godard. Starring Eddie Constantine, Anna Karina, Akim Tamiroff, Howard Vernon, Laszló Szábó, Michel Delahaye, Christa Lang, Jean-Pierre Léaud. Very strange science-fiction film about private eye Lemmy Caution (Constantine), who is called to futuristic city of Alphaville, where a computer is controlling everything. He is supposed to rescue an abducted scientist. Or something like that. Seems dated and pretentious, hardly makes sense. Still, a cult film in some circles. Based on Paul Eluard’s novel Le Capitale de la Douleur. Full title: ALPHAVILLE, UNE ETRANGE AVENTURE DE LEMMY CAUTION.

Altrimenti Ci Arrabbiamo (1973, ITA/SPA) C-96m. Scope **½ D: Marcello Fondato. Starring Terence Hill, Bud Spencer, John Sharp, Donald Pleasance, Patty Shepard. Typical Hill/Spencer comedy, made after their spaghetti western days, about two friends who have just won a nice buggy, which is destroyed by “villain” Sharp’s gang. His adviser and psychologist (Pleasance, in a rare comic turn) wants to demolish a theme park, which the boys happen to like. Slapstick comedy is quite engaging and funny (and also rather silly). Some scenes go on for too long. For kids. English title: WATCH OUT, WE’RE MAD.

Al Tropico del Cancro (1972, ITA) C-85m. Scope ** D: Eduardo Mulargia, Gian Paolo Lomi. Starring Anthony Steffen, Anita Strindberg, Gabriele Tinti, Umberto Raho, Stelio Candelli, Alfio Nicolosi. Just okay giallo about doctor Steffen, who has developed an important serum or drug on Haiti that many businessmen are after. When people around him turn up dead, it becomes clear that the formula is worth more than a human life. Interesting setting, replete with voodoo references, but plot is too vague for too long and hardly exciting. Some bizzarre slow-motion scenes involving Strindberg almost make it worthwhile. Spaghetti western actor Steffen also co-authored the story. Nice period soundtrack by Piero Umiliani. English titles: DEATH IN HAITI, PEACOCK’S PLACE, TROPIC OF CANCER.

Amanti del Mostro, Le (1974, ITA) C-84m. **½ D: Sergio Garrone. Starring Klaus Kinski, Katia Christine, Marzia Damon, Stella Calderoni. After her father’s death, Christine goes to claim her inheritance, a castle. Her husband Kinski is about to discover the laboratory downstairs, where Christine’s father used to conduct experiments with animal blood, resulting in a kind of Jekyll/Hyde schizophrenia. One of the last gothic horror chillers produced in Italy, this one is unusually soft-spoken but eventually too low-key for its own good. Still, this obscure title is worth seeking out for genre fans and those of Kinski, who seems ideally suited to this role. Director Garrone made a similar film simultaneously, which is called MANO CHE NUTRE LE MORTE (1974). The two films are sometimes mixed up. English title: LOVER OF THE MONSTER.

Amanti d’Oltretomba (1965, ITA) 104m. ** D: Allan Grünewald (=Mario Caiano). Starring Barbara Steele, Paul Miller (=Paul Müller), Helga Liné, Laurence Clift, Rik Battaglia. Doctor Müller conducts secret experiments in his castle’s dungeon in order to rejuvenate the blood of his lover Liné. His wife Steele, who is having an affair with Battaglia, may be his first victim. It turns out that Steele has a sister that looks exactly like her. Euro-cult horror has atmospheric setting and the likes of Barbara Steele (twice!), but film is poorly paced and written. Still, it’s a quite famous example of its subgenre, the Italian Gothic horror chiller, which was – as this one clearly shows – influenced by the Poe adaptations by Roger Corman from the early 60s. Score by Ennio Morricone. Also shown in 90m. version. Alternative titles include THE FACELESS MONSTER, LOVERS BEYOND THE TOMB, NIGHTMARE CASTLE, NIGHT OF THE DOOMED and even ORGASMO (for no obvious reason).

Amazing Captain Nemo (1978, USA) C-103m. *½ D: Alex March. Starring José Ferrer, Burgess Meredith, Lynda Day George, Tom Hallick, Mel Ferrer, Horst Buchholz. Juvenile fantasy with Ferrer rather looking like Captain Birdseye than Captain Nemo. He goes aginst a mad scientist (Meredith) who threatens to blow up Washington, D.C. Along the way they also visit Atlantis. Pretty unspectacular, only kids will find this an okay view. Received only limited theatrical release.

Amazing Mr. Blunden, The (1972, GBR) C-99m. *** D: Lionel Jeffries. Starring Laurence Naismith, Lynne Frederick, Garry Miller, Rosalyn Landor, Marc Granger, Diana Dors, James Villiers, Madeleine Smith. Delightful children’s fantasy about poor London family, who are visited one day by a mysterious stranger by the name of Mr. Blunden, who offers the mother a job as a housekeeper in an allegedly haunted house. The single parent accepts and along with her three children (one of whom is a toddler) moves into the derelict mansion. Soon the children learn that two kids died in the house a hundred years ago, and Mr Blunden may be a ghost! Short of effects, but fine, old-fashioned story (based on The Ghosts by Antonia Barber) offers enough joy. Fine score by Elmer Bernstein. Produced by Barry Levinson.

Amazzoni – Donne d’Amore e di Guerra, Le (1973, ITA/SPA) C-103m. Scope *½ D: Alfonso Brescia. Starring Lincoln Tate, Lucretia Love, Paola Tedesco, Robert Widmark (=Alberto dell’Acqua), Frank Brana, Solvi Stubing. Tired, pointless actioner, an Italian-Spanish co-production set in ancient Greece, where the Amazon women (called the Devil Women here) are terrorizing the countryside. Enter a few tough men, who teach the local farmers to defend themselves a la THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (1960). Pretty ridiculous, only surprise is how professional the score is amid this inept mess of a movie. Cowritten by Bruno Corrucci. English titles: THE DEVIL WOMEN, BATTLE OF THE AMAZONS, BEAUTY OF THE BARBARIAN.

Ambulance, The (1990, USA) C-91m. *½ D: Larry Cohen. Starring Eric Roberts, James Earl Jones, Megan Gallagher, Red Buttons, Janine Turner, Eric Braeden, Stan Lee. Barely believable thriller about Roberts, who discovers that there are ambulance cars in New York City that abduct patients. It turns out some doctor is using them for his evil schemes. Film starts out quite well, but some self-conscious (unintentional?) comic touches, slow pace and dumb plotting ruin it. Who advised Jones and Buttons to be in this? Director Cohen also scripted.

American Beauty (1999, USA) C-117m. Scope **½ D: Sam Mendes. Starring Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening. Laced-in-acid satirical drama about ‘typical’ American suburban family, consisting of sexually frustrated, forty-ish Spacey and hysterical, equally frustrated wife Bening. Their daughter N.N. currently lives through the pangs of puberty, until her classmate, precocious N.N. enters the scene and turns Spacey’s life upside down. And disturbed teenager N.N. has just moved into the neighborhood with his apathic mother and shell-shocked vietnam-vet father. Study of mid-life crisis is buoyed by fine performances but remains unpleasant throughout. Actually no more than a paraphrase of the much more atmospheric and moody THE ICE STORM. Several surreal scenes make it worthwhile, but ultimately film fails to make a point, except that American beauty can be found in a plastic bag dancing in the wind. Depressing. Oscar winner for Best Picture, Best Actor, Screenplay, Photography.

American Dreamz (2006, USA) C-107m. *** D: Paul Weitz. Starring Hugh Grant, Dennis Quaid, Mandy Moore, Willem Dafoe, Chris Klein, Jennifer Coolidge, Sam Golzari, Marcia Gay Harden, Seth Meyers, John Cho, Bernard White, Lawrence Pressman, Chao Li Chi, Carmen Electra, Judy Greer. Amusing satire of American values follows two contestants to a talent competition hosted by Grant (the highest rated show on TV), one of them bumbling Arab terrorist Golzari, who is supposed to explode himself and the confused President (Quaid) at the finale. A bit obvious and not always credible, but stars (especially Grant and Quaid) make up for it. Another solid piece of entertainment, written and produced by director Weitz (AMERICAN PIE, ABOUT A BOY).

American History X (1998, USA) C/B&W-119m. *** D: Tony Kaye. Starring Edward Norton, Edward Furlong, Beverly D’Angelo, Jennifer Lien, Ethan Suplee, Fairuza Balk, Avery Brooks, Elliott Gould, Stacy Keach, Paul Le Mat. Engrossing, at times powerful drama about racist, neo-Nazi Norton, who is sent to prison after killing two blacks, leaving his desolate family – especially his teenage brother Furlong – to themselves. The boy eagerly embraces his ideology, but when Norton is released from prison completely changed, conflicts break open. Told in flashbacks, film’s best scenes deal with the family, but it also has important things to say about racism and hatred in general. Good performances. Score tends to be too overblown. Photographed by first-time director Kaye.

American Nightmare, The (2000, USA/GBR) C-73m. *** D: Adam Simon. Featuring interviews with John Carpenter, Wes Craven, David Cronenberg, Tobe Hooper, John Landis, George A. Romero, Tom Savini. Interesting look at the influence of real-life events on American horror films of the late 1960s and 1970s. Famous directors are interviewed about why they made the films, some experts discuss the phenomenon in general. NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD (1968), LAST HOUSE ON THE LEFT (1972), THE TEXAS CHAIN SAW MASSACRE (1974), SHIVERS (1975), DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978) and HALLOWEEN (1978) are discussed in detail, clips are shown from these movies and others. Very informative documentary, although the endings of the movies are also shown and/or explained (spoiler alert!).

American Perfekt (1997, USA) C-100m. **½ D: Paul Chart. Starring Amanda Plummer, Robert Forster, David Thewlis, Fairuza Balk, Paul Sorvino, Joanna Gleason, Geoffrey Lewis, Chris Sarandon, Jay Patterson. Odd, intriguing road movie with Plummer reprising the neurotic character from earlier roles. A maniac causes her to have an accident on the road in the desert, and by chance she is helped by passing-by Forster, who claims to be psychiatrist. He evades decisions by tossing a coin each time he is unsure what to do. And yes, there's a serial killer on the loose. Interesting, to say the least, but not very believable and exciting. The ending disappoints a little. Still, this thriller is recommended to all lovers of the bizarre cinema. Produced by Irvin Kershner. Score by Simon Boswell. Written by director Chart.

American Pie (1999, USA) C-96m. *** D: Paul Weitz. Starring Jason Biggs, Shannon Elizabeth, Alysno Hannigan, Chris Klein, Natasha Lyonne, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Tara Reid, Seann W. Scott, Eugene Levy, Lawrence Pressman, Mena Suvari. Formulaic but very funny teen comedy about four college pals who decide Prom Night’s the deadline for losing their virginity. More profane and explicit than others of its kind (and not exactly credible) but also more entertaining and likable. Fast-paced fun. Followed by a sequel.

American Pie 2 (2001, USA) C-104m. *** D: James B. Rogers. Starring Jason Biggs, Shannon Elizabeth, Alyson Hannigan, Steve Klein, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Natasha Lyonne, Mena Suvari, Tara Reid, Seann William Scott, Casey Affleck. Hilarious sequel to the 1999 box-office hit follows the exploits of Biggs and his friends as they rent a beach house during the holidays and try to get laid by as many chicks as possible. Full of amusing vignettes (the lesbian house sequence is a scream!), good performances by an enjoyable cast. Scott is especially fun to watch. Followed by AMERICAN WEDDING (2003).

American Psycho (2000, USA) C-102m. Scope **½ D: Mary Harron. Starring Christopher Bale, Willem Dafoe, Jared Leto, Josh Lucas, Samantha Mathis, Matt Ross, William Sage, Chloë Sevigny, Reese Witherspoon. Adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ cult novel about a Wall Street yuppie whose luxurios but ultimately meaningless existence drives him to brutal murder. Bale succeeds in breathing life into the main character and, though not as violent as the book,  director Harron captures the tone of the novel quite well. However, the final third offers no novelties, and the film peters out without a satisfying climax. All in all, not a bad stab at filming the unfilmable. Cowritten by diretor Harron.

American Wedding (2003, USA) C-103m. Scope **½ D: Jesse Dylan. Starring Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott, Alyson Hannigan, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Thomas Ian Nicholas, January Jones, Eugene Levy, Lawrence Pressman. Conclusion of the AMERICAN PIE films follows the preparations to Biggs and Hannigan’s wedding. Needless to say, Stiffler (Scott) is fouling things up, while trying to score on Hannigan’s best friend Jones. More episodic, with a weaker plot, but fans should still get their share of belly laughs.

American Werewolf in London, An (1981, USA) C-97m. *** D: John Landis. Starring David Naughton, Jenny Agutter, Griffin Dunne, John Woodvine, Brian Glover, John Landis. Two American tourists travelling through Scotland are attacked by a werewolf one night. One of them dies, the other (Naughton) is brought to a London hospital. He eventually moves in with nurse Agutter, but must learn that he is now a werewolf and his transformation is pending. Effective, well-directed horror movie manages to be both funny and serious, and quite violent, too. A cult hit. Rick Baker won an Oscar for his good, bloody effects. Score by Elmer Bernstein. Followed by a loosely related sequel in 1997.

American Werewolf in Paris, An (1997, USA/FRA) C-98m. **½ D: Anthony Waller. Starring Tom Everett Scott, Julie Delpy, Vince Vieluf, Phil Buckman, Julie Bowen, Pierre Cosso, Thierry Lhermitte, Anthony Waller. American Scott, touring Europe with two friends, meets a young woman (Delpy) in Paris under unusual circumstances and falls in love with her. Little does he know that she is a werewolf, and there are more of her kind roaming the streets at night. Well-paced, effective comic horror thriller with atmospheric sets suffers from a second-rate plot that has a few good ideas but not enough of them. This sequel to John Landis’ AN AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON is better than expected, however, and horror fans will boost the rating by half a star.

Amiche Mie (1982, ITA) C-79m. *½ D: Michele Massimo Tarantini. Starring Nadia Cassini, Carmen Russo, Olivia Link (=Olinka Hardiman), Michele Gammino, Gianfranco D’Angelo, Carla Gravina. In the late 1970s and early 1980s there was obviously a market (in Italy) for silly erotic comedies like this one: Three sexy friends will only receive the inheritance of 1 billion Lire if they cheat on their husbands within three days. If you expect something titillating, forget it.

Amityville Horror, The (1979, USA) C-101m. ** D: Stuart Rosenberg. Starring James Brolin, Margot Kidder, Rod Steiger, Don Stroud, Murray Hamilton, Helen Shaver. Obviously plotted horror film about a young family who moves into a house where a gruesome murder has taken place. Soon they discover that the house is haunted as terrible things start to happen. Pretty dull, but technically okay and well-scored (by Lalo Schifrin). Steiger is much too dramatic in a pointless role as a priest. Based on a novel by Jay Anson, who claims that this things happened to him in real life! Followed by seven sequels (so far), starting with AMITYVILLE II: THE POSSESSION. U.S. version runs 117m.

Amityville II: The Possession (1982, USA) C-98m. ** D: Damiano Damiani. Starring Burt Young, Rutanya Alda, James Olson, Jack Magner, Diane Franklin, Andrew Prine, Ted Ross, Moses Gunn. Young moves into the notorious house with his family and is confronted with eerie going-ons. Sequel to the above retreads the familiar path (haunted house/exorcism) but is competently made and has better production values. Based on the novel Murder in Amityville by Hans Holzer. Score by Lalo Schifrin. Produced by Dino de Laurentiis. U.S. version runs 104m. Followed by AMITYVILLE 3-D.

Amityville 3-D (1983, USA) C-92m. Scope M D: Richard Fleischer. Starring Tony Roberts, Tess Harper, Robert Joy, Candy Clark, John Beal, Leora Dana, John Harkins, Lori Loughlin, Meg Ryan. Third film of the series was shot in widescreen and 3D, but this is about the only novelty in this tired horror movie. Roberts moves into haunted house, is faced with paranormal going-ons. Tame and unconvincing; horror fans should stay away. Ran 105m. in U.S. theaters. Followed by AMITYVILLE 4: THE EVIL ESCAPES (a TV-movie), THE AMITYVILLE CURSE, AMITYVILLE 1992: IT’S ABOUT TIME, and AMITYVILLE: A NEW GENERATION.

Amore Amaro (1974, ITA) C-104m. **½ D: Florestano Vancini. Starring Lisa Gastoni, Leonard Mann, Maurizio Fiori, Rita Livesi, Franco Patano. Quiet, serious drama, set in Italy of the 1930s, about 26-year-old Mann, who falls in love with an older woman, while beginning to be critical of the emerging Fascist movement. In prolepses (flash-forwards), we see the protagonists at an advanced age). This film ought to have been better, it wavers too undecidedly between the two plot strands. Based on the novel by Carlo Bernari. Beautiful score by Armando Trovajoli, who also collaborated with Mario Bava. From the director of the intense spaghetti western I LUNGHI GIORNI DELLA VENDETTA. English title: BITTER LOVE.

Anaconda (1997, USA) C-90m. Scope ** D: Luis Llosa. Starring Jennifer Lopez, Ice Cube, Jon Voight, Eric Stoltz, Jonathan Hyde, Kari Wuhrer, Owen Wilson, Vincent Castellanos, Danny Trejo. Standard monster horror film about a giant snake which terrorizes a documentary film crew in the Amazon jungle. Some exciting moments and Voight's over-the-top performance as the bad guy save this flick from a worse rating. The snake is all too obviously made of rubber, when not animated by computer graphics.

Analyze This (1999, USA) C-103m. *** D: Harold Ramis. Starring Robert De Niro, Billy Crystal, Lisa Kudrow, Chazz Palmintieri. Witty comedy about mafia kingpin De Niro, who seeks out psychiatrist Crystal to be cured from his sudden shifts in mood that make it impossible for him to do his job. Crystal is about to be married to Kudrow, but De Niro considers his problems to be more important than her - and the shrink's other patients. Funny, hilarious at times, this comedy's biggest drawing card is the chemistry between De Niro and his suffering psychotherapist Crystal.

Anastasia (1997, USA) C-94m. Scope **½ D: Don Bluth, Gary Goldman. Voices of Meg Ryan, John Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, Angela Lansbury, Christopher Lloyd, Hank Azaria, Bernadette Peters, Kirsten Dunst. In 1916, little Anastasia, the Russian Czar's daughter, gets lost during revolution and is rediscovered ten years later... but she doesn't remember her heritage and may fall prey to two loafers, who are eager to cash in the money promised by Anastasia's grandmother to those who find her. However, there's love to be foun