Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain, Le (2001, FRA/GER) C-120m. Scope ***½ D: Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Starring Audrey Tautou, Mathieu Kassovitz, Rufus, Yolande Moreau, Artus de Penguern, Urbain Cancelier, Dominique Pinon, voice of Frédéric Mitterrand. Mischievous, lonely – and terminally shy – Amélie Poulain (Tautou) grows up without friends in a Parisian suburb. As an adult the imaginative girl works at a bar in Paris but her introvert character prevents her from making friends, let alone having a boyfriend or lover. All this changes when she finds a secret hiding place in her bathroom, which marks the beginning of her biggest adventure. Wonderful, immensely touching romantic comedy drama by the director of DELICATESSEN and LA CITE DES ENFANTS PERDUES makes perfect use of Tautou’s innocent, immaculately beautiful face and creates a marvelous universe of odd, unique characters and situations. A must. Cowritten by director Jeunet.

Faccia a Faccia (1967, ITA/SPA) C-112m. SCOPE *** D: Sergio Sollima. Starring Tomas Milian, Gian Maria Volonté, William Berger, Jolanda Modio, Gianni Rizzo, Carole André, Angel del Pozo, Aldo Sambrell, Nello Pazzafini, Frank Brana, Nicoletta Machiavelli, Goffredo Unger. A rare spaghetti western with a brain: Professor Volonté must form an uneasy alliance with bandit Milian when he unwittingly gives him a chance to break free and then becomes an outlaw himself. However, the thoughtful man tries to influence the brute positively. Some plot weaknesses are offset by stylish direction and fine Ennio Morricone score. Comes close to the Leone westerns of the time. Written by the director and Sergio Donati. English title: FACE TO FACE.

Face of Eve, The (1968, GBR/SPA/LIE/USA) C-80m. ** D: Jeremy Summers, Robert Lynn. Starring Celeste Yarnal, Robert Walker Jr., Herbert Lom, Christopher Lee, Fred Clark. Walker goes to the Amazon jungle in search of a missing pilot friend and meets mysterious amazon blonde Yarnal, who is like a female Tarzan. It turns out several characters are after a legendary treasure, which scientist Lee might have a map to. Rather cheap adventure is pretty ridiculous (especially in the scenes with the bumbling natives), but plot is not bad, some minor cult may take to this. Uncut version runs longer. Harry Alan Towers scripted and produced. Also known as EVE.

Face/Off (1997, USA) C-138m. Scope ***½ D: John Woo. Starring Nicholas Cage, John Travolta, Joan Allen, Alessandro Nivola, Gina Gershon, Dominique Swain, Nick Cassavetes, CCH Pounder. Woo blurs the boundaries of good and evil in this rip-roaring action thriller, his best U.S. film to date. Conservative cop Sean Archer (cool Travolta) is dying to catch ruthless terrorist Castor Troy (ultra-cool Cage), who has killed his son in an attempt to assassinate the cop. Finally he gets him but Troy falls into a coma. In order to find out about a bomb that’s been planted by Troy’s organisation somewhere in L.A., Archer decides to undergo a facial operation, which will leave him looking exactly like Troy. When Troy awakens from the coma he does the same .... and ‘becomes’ Sean Archer! Rather outrageous idea works thanks to excellent star performances, Woo’s brilliant direction and some really explosive editing. James Bond would be proud of such a dynamite adventure. Alessandro Nivola (who plays Troy’s brother) is even cooler than the stars and steals every scene he’s in.

Face of Fu Manchu, The (1965, GBR) C-89m. Scope **½ D: Don Sharp. Starring Christopher Lee, Nigel Green, Joachim Fuchsberger, Karin Dor, Howard Marion-Crawford, Chin Tsai, Walter Rilla. First of five 60s adaptations of Sax Rohmer’s novels about master criminal Fu Manchu and his continuous attempts to rule (or destroy) the world. His opponents: Scotland Yard inspector Green and biochemist(!) Fuchsberger. Dated, slowly paced, evokes little interest. Still, watchable and quite influential. Lee (as Fu Manchu) sleepwalks through his role. Followed by THE BRIDES OF FU MANCHU (1966).

Faculty, The (1998, USA) C-107m. *½ D: Robert Rodriguez. Starring Elijah Wood, Jordana Brewster, Clea DuVall, Laura Harris, Josh Hartnett, Shawn Hatosy, Famke Janssen, Piper Laurie, Bebe Neuwirth, Robert Patrick, Salma Hayek. A major disappointment from director Robert Rodriguez (FROM DUSK TILL DAWN) and screenwriter Kevin Williamson (SCREAM): Several school kids find out that aliens have taken over the bodies of their teachers, and everyone in the school is also in danger of having his ‘body snatched’. This is no more than a bad remake of INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS, hardly entertaining and unpleasant to the nth degree. Some scares, but all for naught. Edited by the director.

Fade to Black (1980, USA) C-98m. **½ D: Vernon Zimmerman. Starring Dennis Christopher, Tim Thomerson, Gwynne Gilford, Norman Burton, Linda Kerridge, Mickey Rourke. Interesting take on TAXI DRIVER about nerdish film geek Eric Binford (Christopher), who lives under the thrall of his aunt. When he falls in love with Marilyn Monroe look-alike Kerridge, he finds the courage to stand up for himself and revenge himself (violently) on all those that suppressed him. Interesting thriller has lots of movie references (mostly to 30s and 40s gangster films), but is never really convincing, though Christopher gives his best. Ambitious script by director Zimmerman. Good score by Craig Safan.

Fahrenheit 9/11 (2004, USA) C-122m. **½ D: Michael Moore. Radical, deliberately one-sided documentary which looks at none other than the U.S. president and his role in the crisis following the World Trade Center attacks of 2001 and subsequent Iraq war. Tries to poke fun at the controversial figure of George W. Bush and reveal him as a kind of jack-ass, but often also works against itself, as you wonder why Moore never gives his ‘victim’ the chance to defend himself. If most of what the director accuses him of is true, then one can only shake one’s head at Bush’s re-election in 2004. No matter what your political persuasion is, you will find the pictures of war atrocities in Iraq difficult to stomach. Winner of the Grand Prize in Cannes.

Failure to Launch (2006, USA) C-97m. Scope **½ D: Tom Dey. Starring Matthew McConaughey, Sarah Jessica Parker, Zooey Deschanel, Justin Bartha, Bradley Cooper, Terry Bradshaw, Kathy Bates, Stephen Tobolowsky. Formulaic romantic comedy about 35-year-old man (McConaughey) who still lives with his parents, who hire a woman (Parker) to make him move out. Then they fall in love and predictable complications ensue. Contrivance made enjoyable by Dey’s fast-paced direction, star-chemistry.

Fairy Tale: A True Story (1997, GBR/USA) C-99m. *** D: Charles Sturridge. Starring Florence Hoath, Elizabeth Earl, Paul McGann, Phoebe Nicholls, Bill Nighy, Bob Peck, Peter O’Toole, Harvey Keitel. Warm-hearted, meticulously produced fantasy drama set in 1917, where much fuzz is made about two girls who have allegedly photographed fairies in their garden. Writer Arthur Conan Doyle (O’Toole), and magician/artist Harry Houdini (Keitel) come to investigate! Slightly uneven but magical, especially for kids. Surprising cameo at the end shall not be given away here. Keitel is excellent. Beautiful score by Zbigniew Preisner. From the director of WHERE ANGELS FEAR TO TREAD. Also known as ILLUMINATION.

Faites Sauter la Banque (1963, FRA, ITA) 89m. **½ D: Jean Girault. Starring Louis de Funès, Georges Wilson, Cathérine Demongeot, Yvonne Clech, Anne Doat, Jean Lefebvre. A bank manager advises decent shopkeeper de Funès to buy company shares which soon after turn out to be worthless. Being broke himself, the resourceful man decides to rob the bank across the street by digging a tunnel. His whole family is of help to him. Funny comedy is too slowly paced and thus mostly of interest to fans of the French comedian.

Fallen (1998, USA) C-124m. Scope ** D: Gregory Hoblit. Starring Denzel Washington, John Goodman, Donald Sutherland, Embeth Davidtz, James Gandolfini, Elias Koteas, Gabriel Casseus, Robert Joy. After a serial killer is executed in the gas chamber a two-thousand year-old demon leaves his body and travels on, having control over every body he inhabits. Cop Washington is puzzled when similar murders are committed despite the killer being dead. Cop thriller with supernatural theme doesn’t work because of overly realistic setting. Overlong film remains watchable thanks to good cast and some suspenseful sequences. The ending is a disappointment. And don’t wait for the demon to show its true face.

Fallen Angels (1995, HGK) C-95m. **½ D: Wong Kar-Wai. Starring Leon Lai, Michelle Reis, Takeshi Kaneshiro, Charlie Yeung, Karen Mok. Post-modernist drama about the alienated youth in Hong Kong, focusing on professional hitman Lai and the woman who assigns him to his jobs. Story is barely there and only serves as a frame for impressive images from the lives of the protagonists, turning out as a showcase for cinematographer Christopher Doyle. Voice-overs prevent the film from falling apart altogether. Well-received in many quarters, but without a clear narrative it's hard to like a film, even though it's interesting and stylishly made. See also CHUNG KING EXPRESS.

Fall of the Roman Empire, The (1964, USA) C-172m. Scope *** D: Anthony Mann. Starring Sophia Loren, Stephen Boyd, Alec Guiness, James Mason, Christopher Plummer, Anthony Quayle, John Ireland, Omar Sharif, Mel Ferrer, Eric Porter. One of the most intellectual historical epics of the 1950s and 1960s, detailing the fall of Rome, as Caesar (Guiness) is at first trying to make peace with all tribes only to realize that animosities remian hidden below the surface. Top cast, epic handling by director Mann. Shot in Ultra Panavision 70 (2,75:1) that produced a picture wider than any other technique. Also shown at 153m..

Familiari delle Vittime Non Saranno Avvertiti, I (1972, ITA) C-99m. Scope *½ D: Alberto De Martino. Starring Telly Savalas, Antonio Sabato, Paolo Tedesco, Teodoro Corrà, Salvatore Billa. Disappointing, poorly plotted mafia thriller about upstart Sabato, who works his way up the organization to finally avenge his father’s murder. Slow-moving stuff, cowriter-director De Martino has done better. Shot by Joe D’Amato. English titles: CRIME BOSS, NEW MAFIA BOSS, and THE MAFIA TERMINATOR.

Family Jewels, The (1965, USA) C-99m. **½ D: Jerry Lewis. Starring Jerry Lewis, Sebastian Cabot, Neil Hamilton, Jay Adler, Ellen Corby, Milton Frome, Donna Butterworth, Scatman Crothers. Sweet-natured comedy for Jerry Lewis fans. He plays the driver of a super-rich girl, who has lost her father and must now choose a new one in her five uncles (all played by Lewis!). The only really funny routine is in the pool hall, but film is hard to dislike.

Family Man, The (2000, USA) C-125m. Scope **½ D: Brett Ratner. Starring Nicolas Cage, Téa Leoni, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Piven, Saul Rubinek, Josef Sommer, Harve Presnell, Mary Beth Hurt. Ever-so-smooth Hollywood fantasy about hot-shot investment broker Cage, who abandoned his lover (Leoni) to start a career in New York City. Thirteen years later, he is magically transported into the life he could have had, if he had stayed with his lover. If you buy this premise, you might like this drama. Others may find that it reeks of Hollywoodesque family values. By the director of the RUSH HOUR movies. Score by Danny Elfman. Well-photographed by Dante Spinotti.

Family Plot (1976, USA) C-121m. **½ D: Alfred Hitchcock. Starring Karen Black, Bruce Dern, Barbara Harris, William Devane, Ed Lauter, Cathleen Nesbitt. Hitchcock’s last film is medium crime drama with black humor. Dern and Harris rip off elderly ladies with their psychic act, meet seriously villainous couple Black and Devane when investigating their latest victim’s family history. Lightweight, talky drama that would qualify as plot-heavy if it had much plot to speak of. Still, interesting as Hitch’s last project; he died four years later without getting another project off the ground (he had been involved in a spy drama called ‘The Short Night’). Scripted by Ernest Lehmann, based on the novel The Rainbird Pattern by Victor Canning. Score by John Williams.

Family Stone, The (2005, USA) C-103m. *** D: Thomas Bezucha. Starring Claire Danes, Diane Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Dermot Mulroney, Craig T. Nelson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Luke Wilson. Comedy drama set around X-Mas, when the title family have a reunion, and eldest son Mulroney is bringing his fiancée Parker, who everybody seems to dislike. Character-driven drama scores thanks to good performances and just the right amount of melodrama. No classic, but enjoyable. Written by the director.

Fan, The (1981, USA) C-94m. *½ D: Edward Bianchi. Starring Lauren Bacall, James Garner, Maureen Stapleton, Hector Elizondo, Michael Biehn, Anna Maria Horsford, Dwight Schultz, Dana Delaney, Griffin Dunne. Boring, simply bad thriller about Biehn’s obsession with musical star Bacall, which leads to several assaults and murders. A tedious adaptation of the novel by Bob Randall, interesting cast and Pino Donaggio score fail to enliven this.

Fando y Lis (1967, MEX) 96m. **½ D: Alejandro Jodorowsky. Starring Sergio Kleiner, Diana Mariscal, María Teresa Rivas, Tamara Garina, Alejandro Jodorowsky, Valerie Jodorowsky. Earthy art film (cult director Jodorowsky’s first) about the odyssey of Fando and paralyzed Lis, who embark on a journey to the mythical city of Tar. Loosely structured film is held together by powerful images and scenarios, but diverts (or at least appears to divert) too often from its central issue. Fascinating viewing for Jodorowsky devotees, incomprehensible trash for outsiders (film caused a riot at its premiere and was subsequently banned in Mexico). Includes some interesting references to Jodorowsky’s own life. Cowritten by the director and Fernando Arrabal, whose play this film is based on. Also known as TAR BABIES.

Fanny Hill (1964, USA/GER) 96m. **½ D: Russ Meyer. Starring Laetitia Román, Miriam Hopkins, Ulli Lommel, Chris Howland, Helmut Weiss, Alexander D’Arcy, Walter Giller, Albert Zugsmith. Román (Mario Bava’s LA RAGAZZA CHE SAPEVA TROPPO) is well-cast as naive country maid Fanny Hill, who comes to the big city and soon finds herself a protégé of ‘lady’ Hopkins (who owns a brothel). Some amusing bits, brief nudity in this first filmization of the novel by John Cleland. Redundant in the second half, as all the comedy is based on the fact that Fanny is unaware that all the men want to have sex with her. Co-producer Albert Zugsmith is said to have directed parts of this movie. Filmed about 10 times since.

Fantasia Chez les Ploucs (1971, FRA/ITA/EGY) C-81m. Scope *** D: Gérard Pires. Starring Lino Ventura, Mireille Darc, Jean Yanne, Jacques Dufilho, Georges Demestre, Luigi Bonos, Nanni Loy, Rufus, Alain Delon. Crazy farce set and filmed in the United States. Ventura, constantly fooling the sheriff and his bumbling deputies, is running an illegal destillery. Yanne comes to visit his old buddy with his son, and they soon make the acquaintance of super-sexy Darc, who is wearing part of her gangster-lover’s latest loot: A bikini slip made entirely out of diamonds. Free-wheeling satire on the American way of life is the stuff cult movies are made of: Creative direction by Pires (TAXI), loose star performances and its extra-madness make it a joy to watch. Claude Miller (MORTELLE RANDONNEE) coscripted and did some second unit directing. Aldo Lado (MALASTRANA) was assistant director. English title: FANTASIA AMONG THE SQUARES.

Fantasist, The (1986, EIR) C-98m. **½ D: Robin Hardy. Starring Christopher Cazenove, Timothy Bottoms, Moira Harris, John Kavanagh, Mick Lally. Fairly interesting thriller about a young woman (Harris) who moves to Dublin and soon is targeted by a dangerous serial killer. Well-made, at times intriguing, but characters are shallow and their motivations are not always clear. Director Hardy (of THE WICKER MAN fame) adapted the novel Goosefoot by Patrick McGinley.

Fantasma d’Amore (1979, ITA/FRA/GER/MON) C-98m. *** D: Dino Risi. Starring Romy Schneider, Marcello Mastroianni, Eva Maria Meineke, Wolfgang Preiss, Raf Baldassare. Fascinating psycho drama about merchant Mastroianni and his consternation upon seeing a former love (Schneider) on the bus almost irrecognizably withered and his subsequent obsession with her memory. It turns out she may have died some years ago – is he haunted by visions? Stars are completely convincing, haunting score by Riz Ortolani, a film not easily forgotten. Schneider, at forty, remains most ravishing. Photographed by Tonino delli Colli, based on a novel by Mino Milani.

Fantasma dell'Opera, Il (1998, ITA/HUN) C-104m. ** D: Dario Argento. Starring Julian Sands, Asia Argento, Andrea Di Stefano, Nadia Rinaldi, Coralina Cataldi-Tassoni, Zoltán Barabás, István Bubik. Another remake of Gaston Leroux's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, this time by Italian horror specialist Dario Argento. Meticulous production values, wonderful set design, but film lacks everything that made the story so tragic and irresistible in the first place. Sands is fatally miscast as a phantom without mask, Argento's daughter Asia does her best, but there's just no chemistry between her and the leading man. What's more, Argento's trademark gore scenes seem almost completely out of place, as if they were just used to shock and disgust the audience. Watchable for Argento devotees, but Gérard Brach and Argento's screenplay fails to come up with new ideas, let alone enforce the old ones. Good score by Ennio Morricone.

Fantasma di Sodoma, Il (1988, ITA) C-84m. M D: Lucio Fulci. Starring Claudio Aliotti, Maria Concetta Salieri, Robert Egon, Jessica Moore, Al Cliver. Cheap, dull, obvious horror/exploitation film about six teenagers who stumble into deserted villa and are confronted with the ghosts of evil Nazi soldiers and their whores. Repellent, dumb trash. THE GHOSTS OF SODOM, or SODOM’S GHOSTS are film’s English titles.

Fantastic Voyage (1966, USA) C-100m. Scope ***½ D: Richard Fleischer. Starring Stephen Boyd, Raquel Welch, Edmond O’Brien, Donald Pleasence, Arthur O’Connell, Arthur Kennedy, James Brolin. First-rate science-fiction adventure about a group of scientists, who are minituarized inside a submarine and injected into the body of a dying man. Their mission is to travel to the brain and destroy tumor-like clot. It’s artery travel rather than space travel, but Oscar-winning effects are fascinating and situations are suspenseful. An original adventure classic. Exciting, appropriately bizarre score by Leonard Rosenman, fine photography by Ernest Laszlo. Based on a story by Otto Klement and Jerome Bixby, sort of remade in 1987 as INNERSPACE.

Fantomas (1964, FRA/ITA) C-105m. Scope *** D: André Hunebelle. Starring Jean Marais, Louis de Funès. Jounalist Marais and chief-of-police de Funès are after a super-criminal in this sometimes mediocre but always worthwhile adaptation of a French comic book. The action pushes the comedy in the background, which is too bad because de Funés has some hilarious bits. Still, a remarkable production, with shades of James Bond. Followed by two sequels.

Fantomas Contre Interpol (1965, FRA/ITA) C-99m. Scope **½ D: André Hunebelle. Starring Jean Marais, Louis de Funès. Fantomas returns, abducting two scientists, whose invention he wants to abuse to become ruler of the world. Agreeable sequel is full of costumes and chase sequences, punctuated by mild comedy.

Fantomas Contre Scotland Yard (1966, FRA/ITA) C-101m. Scope **½ D: André Hunebelle. Starring Louis de Funès, Jean Marais. In this last of the Fantomas adventures the formula tires, as the super-criminal blackmails some of the world’s richest men. De Funès is finally given more time to display his comic talent, which makes up for weaknesses of the script. This final part of the trilogy was released in the U.S. as FANTOMAS AGAINST SCOTLAND YARD. 

Fantomes du Chapelier, Les (1982, FRA) C-120m. ***½ D: Claude Chabrol. Starring Michel Serrault, Charles Aznavour, Monique Chaumette, Aurore Clément, Stéphane Audran. Shy Jewish taylor Aznavour suspects cunning hatter Serrault of being the strangler that is roaming the narrow streets of Paris by night. It turns out he keeps the corpse of his wife in his room, pretending that she is still alive. Stunning psycho thriller drama (with shades of Hitchcock’s PSYCHO), superbly directed, brilliantly acted by Serrault, who is chilling as the mad hatter. Only quibble: The adaptation of Georges Simenon’s novel leaves a few questions open, especially its ending will leave you unsatisfied. Nevertheless, a must-see. English title: THE HATTER’S GHOST.

Farfalla Con le Ali Insanguinate, Una (1971, ITA) C-98m. Scope *** D: Duccio Tessari. Starring Helmut Berger, Giancarlo Sbragia, Ida Galli, Silvano Tranquilli, Carol André, Wolfgang Preiss, Duccio Tessari. Unconventionally structured, interesting giallo about the murder of a school girl and the subsequent trial of middle-aged family father Sbragia. During the trial, flashbacks are used to deepen the story and clarify the mystery. Technically good, with some sharp editing and directing, this thriller plays like a semi-documentary at times. Incredibly rich and varied score by Gianni Ferrio. Written by the director and Gianfranco Clerici (NON SI SEVIZIA UN PAPERINO, L’ANTICRISTO). English title: THE BLOODSTAINED BUTTERFLY.

Far From the Madding Crowd (1967, GBR) C-161m. Scope ***½ D: John Schlesinger. Starring Julie Christie, Peter Finch, Terence Stamp, Alan Bates, Fiona Lewis, Prunella Ransome. Elite filmization of Thomas Hardy’s novel about willful woman (Christie) who is caught between three men, all of whom are in love with her. Superb drama is an intelligent examination of how women can affect the lives of men – and vice versa. Top direction and stylish photography (by Nicholas Roeg) make this a must for fans of period-dramas.

Fargo (1996, USA) C-98m. ***½ D: Joel Coen. Starring Frances McDormand, William H. Macy, Steve Buscemi, Harve Presnell, Peter Stormare. The Coens’ breakthrough into mainstream is a wonderfully nutty and highly original film about a kidnapping gone wrong. Car salesman Macy hires two bumbling would-be killers who should knock off his wife, so that he can cash in the money from her life insurance. Naturally, everything goes wrong that possibly can. Superb performances (including Oscar-winning McDormand as a pregnant police woman) make this a must for any dedicated movie-goer, even outdoing the Coen’s brilliant stylistics. If not their best it ranks among their most outrageous efforts.

Far Out Man (1990, USA) C-81m. ** D: Tommy Chong. Starring Tommy Chong, C. Thomas Howell, Rae Dawn Chong, Shelby Chong, Paris Chong, Martin Lull, Bobby Taylor, Judd Nelson, Cheech Marin, Michael Winslow, Paul Bartel. Write-director Chong summons a select cast of stars and friends for this rather inept comedy where he plays a left-over hippie, who travels across America in search of his wife who left him. For Chong’s fans, anyone else might be easily offended. Not very funny. Also known as SOUL MAN II, although this is not a sequel.

Fast and the Furious, The (2001, USA) C-106m. Scope **½ D: Rob Cohen. Starring Paul Walker, Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Rick Yune, Ted Levine, Rob Cohen. Undercover cop Walker infiltrates gang of street racers, hoping to bust them for some armed robberies. Hot-shot racer Diesel doesn’t know if to trust the newcomer, but ultimately they become friends. Flashy action movie doesn’t mean much, but succeeds as mindless entertainment, with the final thirty minutes quite exciting. Just don’t look beneath the glossy façade. Success at the box-office prompted a sequel (2 FAST 2 FURIOUS).

Fast Company (1978, CAN) C-93m. ** D: David Cronenberg. Starring William Smith, Claudia Jennings, John Saxon, Nicholas Campbell, Don Franks, Cedric Smith, Judy Foster. Atypical Cronenberg film about aging drag-star racing champion Smith and his ruthless manager Saxon's attempts to "retire" him. Characters are stereotype and story lacks punch, though film is not at all bad. Cronenberg's direction shows talent, and the songs are pretty good. For car fanatics. Cowriter-director Cronenberg would later return to his fascination with cars in the controversial CRASH. Never released theatrically outside Canada.

Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1966, USA) 86m. *** D: Russ Meyer. Starring Tura Satana, Haji, Lori Williams, Susan Bernard, Stuart Lancaster, Paul Trinka, Dennis Busch, Ray Barlow, Mickey Foxx. Another cult favorite from director Russ Meyer (MUDHONEY): Bizarre adult melodrama about a trio of female ex-cons, who kidnap a young girl after killing her lover and hide out at a farm in the middle of nowhere. The wheelchair-bound owner and his two sons (one of whom is mentally retarded) soon learn that the women are tough, foul-mouthed and not to be played around with. Good melodramatic score, stylish camera perspectives and some incredibly snappy dialogue make this great fun to watch. Acting is not faultless, however. Strangely enough, there’s no frontal nudity, although the women’s sex appeal is sensational. From a story by director Meyer, who also edited the picture and produced it along with his wife Eve.

Fast Food Nation (2006, USA) C-113m. ** D: Richard Linklater. Starring Greg Kinnear, Luis Guzmán, Ashley Johnson, Patricia Arquette, Kris Kristofferson, Bruce Willis, Ethan Hawke, Avril Lavigne. Over-plotted comedy drama about the American fast food industry and its employees and workers. Film focuses on Kinnear, a marketing manager for a big fast food chain, who is ordered to investigate bad test results for meat at one of their factories. Director Linklater also examines the fates of the illegal Mexican workers and the unhappy restaurant employees. Spiced up with pointless, distracting star cameos, film fails to compel, mostly because of script that is poorly paced and doesn’t interweave the stories well. What’s more, we already know about this issue. SUPERSIZE ME (2004) was the better, spunkier approach. Cowritten by director Linklater, based on a book by Eric Schlosser.

Fast Perfekter Seitensprung, Ein (1995, AUT) C-105m. ** D: Reinhard Schwabenitzky. Starring Andreas Vitàsek, Elfi Eschke, Hans Clarin, Heinz Petters. So-called comedy about unhappily married Vitàsek, who meets voluptuous Eschke, who has just fled a marriage. They have an affair, which leads to predictable complications. Made watchable by a likeable cast of popular Austrian and German actors, but result is clichéd and contrived. May not mean much to non-Austrians, which is exactly the problem of the national film ‘industry’: it produces easy-to-take, none-too-clever films which appeal to Austrian audiences only. This film was made in this self-conscious vein. Its (national) success prompted two sequels.

Fast Track (2006, USA) C-90m. ** D: Jesse Peretz. Starring Zach Braff, Amanda Peet, Jason Bateman, Charles Grodin. Mia Farrow, Lucian Maisel, Donal Logue, Josh Charles, Paul Rudd. Romantic comedy with the emphasis on comedy about young parents Braff and Peet, who move to her hometown in Ohio, where he has to start over in a new job with her dad Grodin (in his first screen role since the 1994 IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY ). Too bad he must collaborate with her ex-lover, wheelchair-bound Bateman. And the baby-blues is just kicking in… Braff gets a relentless beating here until the finale, where the film goes completely overboard. Even the outtakes over the 10-minute closing crawl aren’t very funny. Also known as THE EX.

Fatal Frames (1996, ITA) C-131m. ** D: Al Festa. Starring Stefania Stella, Rick Gianasi, David Warbeck, Ugo Pagliani, Leo Daniel, Alida Valli, Geoffrey Copleston, Linnea Quigley, Giorgio Albertazzi, Rossano Brazzi, Ciccio Ingrassia, Donald Pleasence, Angus Scrimm. Incredible horror over-indulgence features Italian singer Stella (née Di Giandomenico) as a pop star (what else?) whose latest music video director Gianasi is haunted by the killing of his wife. In Rome, the same killer seems to be threatening the crew and filming his victims. An unsuccessful attempt to revive the Italian horror film (more or less dead since 1991), ambitious perhaps, but slowly paced and fatally overlong. At least, director Festa (Stella’s spouse) tries to stage this stylishly, with some good lighting and editing. Still, it’s simply too much (noise) and too little (plot), and practically only saved by some cameos of horror legends. Dedicated to Brazzi and Pleasence, whose last film appearance this was. Italian title: FOTOGRAMMI MORTALI.

Fatal Games (1984, USA) C-87m. ** D: Michael Elliot. Starring Sally Kirkland, Lynn Banashek, Sean Masterson, Michael O’Leary, Linnea Quigley, Christopher Mankiewicz. Some athletes who are contenders for the Olympic Games are killed off by a mad javelin thrower. Standard slasher movie, with some stylish photography and lighting, as well as a rather straight plot line (the writers seemed more interested in the hardship of training). An okay view, but tends to be boring. Also known as KILLING TOUCH, OLYMPIC NIGHTMARE.

Fatevi Vivi: La Polizia Non Interverrà (1974, ITA) C-100m. Scope ** D: Giovanni Fago. Starring Henry Silva, Rada Rassimov, Philippe Leroy, Gabriele Ferzetti, Franco Diogene, Lia Tanzi, Calisto Calisti, Paul Muller. Not-bad, little-known police movie about the kidnapping of a rich man’s daughter. Silva is the cop on the case, and he thinks Leroy is behind it all, a man with mafia-relations. Leroy then uses his connections to seek out the real kidnappers. A little unspectacular, but interesting cast makes this an okay view. 

Fatiche di Ercole, Le (1957, ITA) C-107m. Scope **½ D: Pietro Francisci. Starring Steve Reeves, Sylva Koscina, Fabrizio Mioni, Ivo Garrani, Gina Rovere. The granddaddy of all muscleman epics to follow, this one is also one of the best of its kind. Film follows the exploits of Hercules (or Ercole), as he assists Jason in finding a token of power. Plot is much too episodic and disjointed, but film buffs will savor rich production design, a rousing, bizarre score and some impeccable lighting and style effects by none other than Mario Bava (Some consider him to have been the co-director, too.). Later cut to 98m., and even 91m. English title is simply HERCULES. Immediate sequel: ERCOLE E LA REGINA DI LIDIA (1959). Followed by approximately 70 or 80 peplum epics between 1959-1964, after its release in the U.S. (in 1959) proved to be immensely successful.

Faust: Love of the Damned (2001, USA/SPA) C-101m. **½ D : Brian Yuzna. Starring Mark Frost, Isabel Brook, Jennifer Rope, Jeffrey Combs, Mònica Van Campen, Leslie Charles, Andrew Divoff. Surprisingly stylish and effective horror film from Full Moon collaborator Yuzna. Frost plays an artist who strikes a deal with the devil and becomes a razorblade-wielding killer. Plot doesn’t hold up, but direction, score, as well as gore and sex scenes will hold the interest of the devoted. Based on a graphic novel by Tim Vigil and David Quinn.

Fauve est Laché, Le (1958, FRA) 100m. ** D: Maurice Labro. Starring Lino Ventura, Estella Blain, Paul Frankeur, Alfred Adam, François Chaumette. Restaurant owner and family father Ventura is ‘per-suaded’ by the police to spy on an old friend who may have something to do with the disappearance of a formula of a special fuel. Ventura, star of over 60 films, is muscular in a typical role, but film is unexciting and badly paced. Direction is below average. Claude Sautet cowrote the screenplay. This was his first screen credit. Frédéric Dard (LES MAGICIENS) also collaborated.

Fear (1996, USA) C-98m. Scope *½ D: James Foley. Starring Mark Wahlberg, Reese Witherspoon, Alyssa Milano. Witherspoon’s first boyfriend turns out to be a psychopath who doesn’t like her daddy’s attitude. Painfully derivative and predictable thriller with no twists at all! Poor Foley’s directorial effort can’t save it. This might attract dumb (American?) teenagers.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998, USA) C-117m. M D: Terry Gilliam. Starring Johnny Depp, Benicio Del Toro, Tobey Maguire, Craig Bierko, Katherine Helmond, Mark Harmon, Tim Thomerson, Penn Jillette, Cameron Diaz, Lyle Lovett, Flea, Gary Busey, Christina Ricci, Michael Jeter, Harry Dean Stanton, Ellen Barkin. Painful, almost unbearable adaptation of Hunter S. Thompson's book about his drug-induced fantasies and adventures in Las Vegas with his lawyer/buddy. Movie is one long drug trip, filmed accordingly, but utterly unpleasant and pointless. Period flavor is there (especially on the sound-track), as well as some scattered laughs, but otherwise this is bottom-of-the-barrel. Cowritten by Gilliam.

Fear City (1984, USA) C-95m. **½ D: Abel Ferrara. Starring Tom Berenger, Billy Dee Williams, Jack Scalia, Melanie Griffith, Rossano Brazzi, Rae Dawn Chong, Joe Santos, Maria Conchita Alonso. Dark, unrelenting thriller set in the New York underworld of drugs and prostitution. Berenger plays a troubled ex-boxer, whose girlfriend Griffith, a stripper, may be targeted by a psychopath that carves up her colleagues. Not exactly a rewarding experience, but Ferrara cultists may find this a must for their collection. Alternative titles: BORDER, RIPPER.

Fear in the Night (1972, GBR) C-94m. ** D: Jimmy Sangster. Starring Judy Geeson, Joan Collins, Ralph Bates, Peter Cushing. Young woman goes to live with her husband at a boys’ school and is soon stalked by a one-armed maniac. Script (co-written by the director) is not bad but teases the audience too long. Well-edited during the attack scenes. A Hammer Films production.

Fearless Hyena, The (1978, HGK) C-98m. Scope ** D: Jackie Chan. Starring Jackie Chan, Shih Tien, James Tien, Li Kuen, Yen Si-Kuan. Martial arts superstar Jackie Chan made his directorial debut with this eastern, which he also wrote and choreographed. It is about a young fighter living with his grandfather, who is hiding from an old enemy. Plot is lame (worst complaint: the pointless comic scenes), the fight scenes are first rate. Jackie’s fans will rave about their idol (his physique and styles are impressive), whereas others will shake their heads at this nonsense. Produced by Lo Wei’s production firm. Followed by a 1983 sequel.

Fearless Hyena Part II, The (1983, HGK) C-90m. M D: Lo Wei, Chan Chuen. Starring Jackie Chan, Chen Hui Lou, Shek Tien, James Tien. Producer Lo Wei’s attempt at still cashing in on Jackie Chan even after the star had left his company is almost criminal. Plot about two rivalling gangs and Jackie’s involvement is incoherent, confusing. Several scenes were filmed using a body double. Don’t watch this, not even if you are a fan.

Fearless Vampire Killers or: Pardon Me, But Your Teeth Are in My Neck, The (1967, GBR) C-107m. Scope **** D: Roman Polanski. Starring Jack MacGowran, Roman Polanski, Sharon Tate, Alfie Bass, Ferdy Maine, Terry Downes, Ronald Lacey. Brilliant, timeless horror comedy about absent-minded professor Abronsius (unforgettable: Jack MacGowran) and his idiotic assistant Alfred (director Polanski himself), who travel to wintry Transsylvania, hoping to find ‘real vampires’. When they hear the tale of a count living in a castle in the mountains they are out to investigate. Extremely funny film’s assets are the beautiful visuals, which plunge the viewer deeply into a ghastly, rural winter and the score, which is eerie and satirical at the same time. Don’t miss it. Cinematography by Douglas Slocombe. Cut to 98m. for U.S. release. The original version, running 118m., has so far not been made available to the public. Polanski later turned the film into a stage musical, which premiered in Vienna in 1997. Alternative title: DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES.

Fear No Evil (1981, USA) C-99m. ** D: Frank LaLoggia. Starring Stefan Arngrim, Frank Birney, Barry Cooper, Daniel Eden. Occasionally stylish but pretty stupid and trashy horror movie about antichrist Arngrim and archangels’ quest to destroy him in modern day high-school setting. Might interest horror buffs, others steer clear! Features music by cult bands Sex Pistols and Talking Heads. Highly interesting for Joel Coen’s involvement in the picture; he is credited as assistant editor. Also known as MARK OF THE BEAST.

Feeling Minnesota (1996, USA) C-99m. Scope M D: Steven Baigelman. Starring Keanu Reeves, Vincent D’Onofrio, Cameron Diaz, Delroy Lindo, Courtney Love, Tuesday Weld, Dan Aykroyd. Ex-con Reeves returns to his family on the day of his brother D’Onofrio’s marriage to prostitute Diaz, who’s been forced to marry by her pimp. Quiet unexpectedly Reeves and Diaz fall in love and take it on the lam. Hopelessly muddled script tries to copy TRUE ROMANCE and PULP FICTION but does not manage to include one single likeable character in the plot. The result is a downbeat mess which goes on and on and on, with forced comic relief. The only interest springs from the cast, but you are better advised to stay away. Danny De Vito coproduced. The title was inspired by a Soundgarden song, if anyone cares.

Felicia’s Journey (1999, CDN/FRA) C-115m. Scope ***½ D : Atom Egoyan. Starring Bob Hoskins, Arsinée Khanjian, Elaine Cassidy, Sheila Reid, Nizwar Karanj, Ali Yassine, Peter McDonald. Director Egoyan’s follow-up to THE SWEET HEREAFTER (1997) is equally brooding, fascinating psycho drama. A young Irish girl (Cassidy) comes to England to search for her lover, who has obviously abandoned her and finds herself courted by a kind, soft-spoken stranger, catering manager Hoskins. He offers to help in her desperate situation and slowly wins the girl’s trust… just as his true nature is revealed to the audience. Meticulously, masterfully directed, richly textured psycho drama puts Egoyan in the league of a Claude Chabrol. Impressive visuals, good acting, and an unsettling score (by Mychael Danna – THE ICE STORM, GIRL, INTERRUPTED) make this a must. Some critics remarked on (underlying) simpleness of story – this is the cinematic way of making a simple story terrific. Egoyan also scripted, from the novel by William Trevor.

Felidae (1994, GER) C-81m. ** D: Michael Schaack. Voices of Ulrich Tukur, Mario Adorf, Klaus Maria Brandauer, Helge Schneider, Uwe Ochsenknecht. Watchable animated feature, based on a novel by Akif Pirinçci. A cat, from whose point of view the story is told, moves into a new house with his owner. He finds out there’s a serial (cat) killer in the neighborhood and decides to unveil his identity. Pretty dark and violent, this animated film is not for children, since it also contains a sex scene(!). Plot is too self-conscious, and the animation is just average. Set in London.

Félins, Les (1963, FRA) 96m. Scope ***½ D: René Clément. Starring Jane Fonda, Alain Delon, Lola Albright, Sorrell Booke, Carl Studer, André Oumansky. Enticing, atmospheric psycho thriller-drama: Delon is fleeing from the wrath of an American businessman, whose wife he had an affair with. On the Riviera he meets two women (Fonda, Albright) who help out in an organisation for the poor, and becomes their driver. At their beautiful estate Delon tries to seduce Albright, while Fonda seems to have the hots for him. The women, however, have other things in mind. Subtle, well-directed, with stylish photography by Henri Decaë and an exceptional score by Lalo Schifrin. Takes some time to get where it’s going, but the ending is well-worth the wait. The two stars were never more ravishing. Fonda is especially enthralling. Based on the novel Joy House by Day Keene. Costa-Gavras is credited as assistant director. Highly recommended to fans of French thriller dramas (like me), others may find this less compelling. English titles: JOY HOUSE, and THE LOVE CAGE.

Felix – Ein Hase auf Weltreise (2005, GER/ITA) C-85m. ** D: Giuseppe Maurizio Laganà. Featuring the voices of Hugo Egon Balder, Uschi Glas. Rather weak animated feature about plush bunny Felix, who gets lost during one vacation and tries to get back to his owner. On his way back he has many adventures, including encounters with the Yeti, Nessy, and Captain Nemo. Episodic, inoffensive script, with animation that was standard in the 1980s. For the smallest viewers. Director Laganà was animator for the Italian animation classic ALLEGRA NON TROPPO (1977).

Felix 2 – Der Hase und die Verflixte Zeitmaschine (2006, GER) C-82m. ** D: Giuseppe Maurizio Laganà. Starring (the voices of) Patrick Flecken, Helmut Markwort, Sunnyi Melles, Christiane Paul, Barbara Rudnik. Sequel to FELIX – EIN HASE AUF WELTREISE (2005) gives you more of the same sub-standard animation, episodic plot. The bunny gets catapulted through time and meets cave dwellers in the Stone Age, Vikings and Egyptians among others. A slight improvement over the first movie, but still nothing to get excited about. Really belongs on TV.

Female Trouble (1975, USA) C-98m. *** D: John Waters. Starring Divine, David Lochary, Mary Vivian Pearce, Mink Stole, Edith Massey, Cookie Mueller, Susan Walsh. Terrific Waters satire about one Dawn Davenport (Divine), who quits school at sixteen and turns to a life of crime. Fast-paced script by Waters with brilliant dialogues makes this film fascinating, when it easily could have been repulsive. Unpretentious, no-holds-barred look at life, with comically bizarre situations, and in the center cult star Divine in a sensational performance. Warning: Film contains enough nudity (male and female), violence (gore) and profanity to be considered offensive by some viewers.

Femme à Coté, La (1981, FRA) C-106m. *** D : Francois Truffaut. Starring Gérard Depardieu, Fanny Ardant, Henri Garcin, Michèle Baumgartner, Veronique Silver. Thoughtful drama detailing the relationship between Depardieu and Ardant (both married) as they resume their affair years after they broke up. Good, well-acted character study, similar to the love dramas by Claude Chabrol. Cowritten by the director. English title: THE WOMAN NEXT DOOR.

Femme de Chambre du Titanic, La (1997, FRA/ITA/GER/SPA) C-100m. Scope ** D: Bigas Luna. Starring Olivier Martinez, Romane Bohringer, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Didier Bezace, Aldo Maccione. Glossy love drama about French factory worker Martinez, who wins a trip to see the departure of the Titanic and falls in love with chambermaid Sánchez-Gijón on the luxury liner. When he returns he spins wild tales about an affair with that woman before an ever-increasing crowd of listeners, much to the chagrin of his wife Bohringer. Nice to look at, well-produced but lacks any dramatic impact whatsoever (to say nothing about nudity). Not even worth comparing to James Cameron’s TITANIC, which premiered the same year. Based on the novel by Didier Decoin, screenplay cowritten by the director. English title: THE CHAMBERMAID OF THE TITANIC.

Femme Fatale (2002, FRA) C-110m. **½ D: Brian De Palma. Starring Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Antonio Banderas, Peter Coyote, Eriq Ebouaney, Edouard Montoute, Gregg Henry. Romijn-Stamos plays the title character, a cunning blonde bombshell, who cheats her partners out of a diamond loot (stolen during a premiere at the Cannes film festival). She gets a chance at erasing her traces when she is mistaken for a missing woman and accepts her identity. But that’s just the beginning of a serpentine story. Stylish, typical De Palma thriller recalls his 1976 OBSESSION (among other films), but plot twists are so outrageous at times (and illogical) that the whole film becomes overtly artificial. Romijn-Stamos is hot, make no mistake. This film will produce varying responses – buffs will find it interesting, others will be frustrated early on. Sandrine Bonnaire appears as herself (in the Cannes festival scenes). Written by the director.

Femme Infidèle, La (1968, FRA/ITA) C-98m. ***½ D: Claude Chabrol. Starring Stéphane Audran, Michel Bouquet, Michel Duchaussoy, Maurice Ronet, Henri Attal, Dominique Zardi. Excellent drama by Chabrol, cold and low-key but engrossing and ultimately shattering. Bouquet suspects his wife Audran of being unfaithful and hires a private detective to prove it. Is there a way of mending their broken relationship? Fascinating character study by one of the great French directors, made at the peak of his faculties. Brilliant, bizarre score by Pierre Jansen. Not for all tastes but undeniably powerful. The story unfolds not so much on screen as in the viewer’s head. Written by the director. English title: UNFAITHFUL WIFE.

FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992, USA/AUS) C-76m. *** D: Bill Kroyer. Starring (the voices of) Tim Curry, Samantha Mathis, Christian Slater, Jonathan Ward, Robni Williams, Grace Zabriskie, Geoffrey Blake, Robert Pastorelli, Cheech Marin, Thomas Chong. Ecologically-minded animated feature about fairy-like creatures who live in a part of the rainforest, which is about to be destroyed. One of the workers is shrunk to their size and finds out about their cause. Unfortunately, there’s also an evil spirit released from his tree prison, who wants to destroy the fairy folk. If it wasn’t for the slapstick and whimsy, this would get fairly close to the work by Studio Ghibli. Still, an interesting, well-made adventure with an important message. Score by Alan Silvestri. Followed by a 1998 video sequel.

Festen (1998, DAN) C-105m. *** D: Thomas Vinterberg. Starring Ulrich Thomsen, Henning Moritzen, Thomas Bo Larsen, Paprika Steen, Birthe Neumann, Thomas Vinterberg. Harrowing drama about a family gathering which ends disastrously when the eldest son of patriarch Moritzen publically accuses the father of having abused him and his sister sexually when they were kids. Authentic, even painful portrayal of a dysfuctional family which sticks together despite terrible skeletons on the closet. The first of the DOGME films. Aka DOGME # 1 – FESTEN, and THE CELEBRATION.

Fierce Creatures (1997, USA) C-93m. Scope *** D: Fred Schepisi, Robert Young. Starring John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, Michael Palin, Ronnie Corbett, Carey Lowell, Robert Lindsay. Amusing comedy reunites the A FISH CALLED WANDA cast in a story about seemingly incompetent zoo keeper Cleese and American managers Curtis and Kline, who are supposed to keep an eye on him and the finances. It's not the story that counts but the funny dialogues and spirited performances. Everybody's fine in this (admittedly mild) farce. Filmed in 1995 and 1996 (with Schepisi replacing Young).

Fifth Element, The (1997, FRA) C-127m. Scope *** D: Luc Besson. Starring Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm, Milla Jovovich, Chris Tucker, Luke Perry, Brion James. Incredibly kitschy but hip and funny science-fiction comedy featuring Bruce Willis as taxi driver who has to save the world after beautiful alien Jovovich drops onto his cab. Story  is pure escapism, not in need of a message. Reminiscent in many ways of BLADE RUNNER, film has nothing of the classic’s dark atmosphere; it should rather be seen as its comic counterpart. Wonderful costumes by Jean-Paul Gaultier add to the fun. ‘LEON’ Jean Reno has a small role.

51^st State, The (2001, USA/GBR/CDN) C-92m. **½ D: Ronny Yu. Starring Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Carlyle, Emily Mortimer, Meat Loaf, Rhys Ifans, Nick Bartlett, Angus McInnes. Free-wheelin’, rowdy action comedy about chemist Jackson, who has just created a powerful drug and wants to sell the formula for $20 million to a British dealer. Too bad there’s a female assssin after him – hired by the guy he ditched back in the States. Thriller has some furiously directed sequences but runs out of steam (and story) in the second half; watch this for curiosity sake. Jackson and Carlyle have fun in their roles. Aka FORMULA 51.

Fight Club (1999, USA) C-139m. Scope **½ D: David Fincher. Starring Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helena Bonham Carter, Meat Loaf. Ed Norton has a secure job, but he is dying inside. He hasn’t slept for weeks and starts going to evenings organised by the Methodist church for the terminally ill. One day a man (Pitt) enters his life and changes it completely. They become the founders of the Fight Club, a secret organization with its own codex, where men can get rid of their aggressions by fighting one-on-one. Fascinating to a certain degree, technically first-rate, but plot lacks credibility and the twist in the second half of the picture is not as effective as intended. Worth a look for fans of director Fincher (SE7EN, THE GAME), others may be put off by the violent scenes.

Fight for Survival (1977, HGK) C-100m. Scope *½ D: Hour Jeng. Starring Shang Kuan Ling-Fen, Kar-Ling, Wang Tao, Yuen Si Woo, Lee-Lin Lin. Dull, slow eastern about a young girl who wishes to learn the art of Kung Fu. When she is rejected at the Shaolin monastery, she seeks help from an old eremite, who makes her a master. She then goes on to retrieve stolen book of the Shaolin from several villlains. Fights are not exciting, plotting too redundant. Also known as LADY WU TANG.

Figlia di Frankenstein, La (1971, ITA) C-83m. ** D: Mel Welles, Aureliano Luppi. Starring Joseph Cotten, Rosalba Neri, Paul Muller, Paul Whiteman, Herbert Fux, Mickey Hargitay. Cotten plays Dr. Frankenstein, whose daughter Neri – an M.D. herself – takes over his laboratory when the monster kills him. Low-budget horror tries to be atmospheric, and score is not bad, but plot is poorly paced. Watchable for Euro horror fanatics, others may not be so forgiving. Cotten went on to make GLI ORRORI DEL CASTELLO DI NORIMBERGA (BARON BLOOD) with Mario Bava. Sergio Martino was camera operator. Uncut print runs a few minutes longer.  Alternative titles: LADY FRANKENSTEIN, MADAME FRANKENSTEIN, and DAUGHTER OF FRANKENSTEIN.

Final Destination (2000, USA) C-98m. ** D: James Wong. Starring Devon Sawa, Ali Larter, Kerr Smith, Kristen Cloke, Daniel Roebuck, Seann William Scott, Tony Todd. Teenager Sawa has a frightening premonition of a plane crash and therefore leaves his jet to Paris in panic. When the plane really crashes, he is faced with the disbelief of the police and friends, as well as a dark force that is trying to kill all survivors. Stupid, illogical horror movie that somehow remains watchable due to effective direction and editing.

Final Programme, The (1973, GBR) C-89m. *½ D: Robert Fuest. Starring Jon Finch, Jenny Runacre, Hugh Griffith, Patrick Magee, Sterling Hayden, Harry Andrews. Daredevil, globetrotter, intellectual Jerry Cornelius (Finch) is faced with the possible end of the world and sets out to investigate the so-called Final Programme, which was designed to survive the Apocalypse. Science-fiction, based on the novel by Michael Moorcock, is much too pretentious and confusing to score any high points. A curio nevertheless, and as such it inspired a cult. From the director of the DR. PHIBES movies. Released in the U.S. as THE LAST DAYS OF MAN ON EARTH (at 79/81m.).

Final Terror, The (1983, USA) C-82m. **½ D: Andrew Davis. Starring John Friedrich, Adrian Zmed, Ernest Harden Jr., Lewis Smith, Rachel Ward, Daryl Hannah, Joe Pantoliano, Mark Metcalf. Slasher movie in the vein of FRIDAY THE 13^TH is actually better than most of the series’ films. A group of teenagers intend to spend an idyllic weekend in the woods, but unfortunately there’s a mental health clinic nearby. Could their psychopathic driver (Pantoliani) be involved? Direction, screenplay, photography, score, acting are quite good, the story could have been a little more exciting and compelling. Director Davis also photographed the picture (using the pseudonym A. Davidescu). Coproduced by Samuel Z. Arkoff.

Finders Keeper, Lovers Weepers (1968, USA) C-74m. **½ D: Russ Meyer. Starring Anne Chapman, Paul Lockwood, Duncan McLeod, Gordon Wescourt, Robert Rudelson, Lavelle Roby, Jay Sinclair, John Furlong. Sex-and-crime melodrama about night club owner Lockwood, whose wife is enraged by his nightly escapades and becomes a topless dancer herself. And then some crooks decide to rob his bar. Above-average time-killer, with Meyer showing some style in editing, photography and direction.

Finding Nemo (2003, USA) C-100m. *** D: Andrew Stanton, Lee Unkrich. Starring the voices of Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Alexander Gould, Willem Dafoe, Geoffrey Rush, Elizabeth Perkins, Barry Humphries, Eric Bana, Bruce Spence, John Ratzenberger. Huge Disney/Picar hit about a clownfish (voiced by Brooks), whose only son gets caught by a scuba diver. The worried father embarks on an adventure trek across the Pacific to find his son and win back his trust, which he forfeited earlier. Hectic, overly aggressive, and endowed with too many unlikely plot twists, but has first-rate animation and a lot of funny scenes. Not the masterpiece it was labelled, but good fun. Oscar winner for Best Animated Feature.

Finding Neverland (2004, GBR/USA) C-101m. Scope **½ D: Marc Forster. Starring Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet, Julie Christie, Radha Mitchell, Dustin Hoffman. Sort-of biography of the creator of Peter Pan, writer J.M. Barrie (played by Depp). In turn-of-the-century London, the poet lives in a unhappy marriage and finds himself drawn to single mother Winslet, whose four sons ultimately provide the inspiration for Barrie’s best-known work. Good performances, but Barrie’s motivations are superficially dealt with only, and the emotional impact is muted. Based on a play by Allan Knee. Oscar-winner for Best Score.

Fine Madness, A (1966, USA) C-104m. **½ D: Irvin Kershner. Starring Sean Connery, Joanne Woodward, Jean Seberg, Patrick O’Neal, Colleen Dewhurst, Renee Taylor, Werner Peters, Jackie Coogan. Irreverent, radical poet Connery, always in need of money, plagues society with violent outbursts. His wife Woodward thinks only a psychiatrist can help him. So-so filmization of the satirical novel by Elliot Baker. Not funny enough but well-acted and generally not without interest. Screenplay by the author.

Fingers (1978, USA) C-91m. ***½ D: James Toback. Starring Harvey Keitel, Jim Brown, Danny Aiello. Concert pianist Keitel spends his life cashing back money his father has lent. Potent, absorbing drama about a man whose life slowly loses its meaning; he even fails playing the piano at an audition. Superb performances all around.

Finis Hominis (1971, BRA) B&W-79m. M D: José Mohica Marins. Starring José Mohica Marins, Teresa Sodré, Roque Rodrigues, Rosângela Maldonado, Mario Lima. Writer-director-actor Marins (COFFIN JOE) delivers utter trash with this story about a christ-like persona, who shocks people at first, but then turns out to be kind of a savior. Use of music is almost completely inappropriate, technically it’s a mess, often laughably bad. With this Marins puts himself in a league with Jess Franco, or even Ed Wood! English subtitle: THE END OF MAN.

Fino alla Morte (1987, ITA) C-97m. *** D: Lamberto Bava. Starring Gioia Scola, David Brandon, Marco Vivio, Urbano Barnerini. Interesting variation of THE POSTMAN ALWAYS RINGS TWICE about Brandon (AQUARIUS) and Scola, who murdered Scola’s husband six years ago and must now contend with her son’s nightmares and the arrival of a stranger (Barberini, OPERA) who might know something about the case. Bava expectedly adds horror elements, although this is one of his more subtle works – and one of his best. Slightly overlong, not consistently good, but a must for fans of obscure movies. Cowritten by the director. Score by Simon Boswell. English title: UNTIL DEATH

Fiocco Nero per Deborah, Un (1974, ITA) C-104m. Scope ** D: Marcello Andrei. Starring Bradford Dillman, Marina Malfatti, Gig Young, Delia Boccardo, Lucretia Love. Deeply troubled twenty-something Malfatti would love to have a baby but she finds her husband Dillman off-putting. Then she starts having premonitions about impending deaths. Interesting psycho horror has nice directorial touches and an incredibly varied score (by Alberto Verrecchia), but pace is leaden, and script – an obvious imitation or rather variation of ROSEMARY’S BABY (1968) – provides no thrills. Buffs should give this one a look, others beware. English titles: BLACK RIBBON FOR DEBORAH, and simply DEBORAH.

Fio do Horizonte, O (1993, POR/SPA/FRA) C-92m. *** D: Fernando Lopes. Starring Claude Brasseur, Andréa Ferréol, Ana Padrao, Antonio Valero, Miguel Guilherme, Nicolau Breyner, Lúis Santos. Intriguing psycho drama about pathologist Brasseur, who who day dissects a male body that somehow looks like him when he was much younger. He finds a photograph among the personal items and starts to become obsessed with finding out the identity of the man, who was shot near the Lisbon harbor. Awfully slow but consistently interesting, with a startling conclusion. Not for all tastes, but photography, score, acting are flawless. Based on a novel by Antonio Tabucchi. French title: LE FIL DE L’HORIZON.

Fiore delle Mille e Una Notte, Il (1974, ITA/FRA) C-131m. **½ D: Pier Paolo Pasolini. Starring Ninetto Davoli, Franco Citti, Tessa Bouché, Margaret Clementi, Ines Pellegrini, Franco Merli. The last part of Pasolini’s Medieval trilogy, following IL DECAMERON and I RACCONTI DI CANTERBURY (all prototypical examples of the cyclical framed narrative, i.e. stories-within-stories). A loosely structured, often fascinating fantasy about a youth who falls in love with a slavegirl and spends the length of the film looking for her. In between, several stories from the Arabian Nights are interspersed. Pasolini doesn’t manage to instill much meaning into his erotic fantasy, but authentic locations and imagery compensate for story-telling flaws. For patient viewers. Includes male and female full frontal nudity. Original version runs 155m. English titles: ARABIAN NIGHTS, FLOWER OF THE ARABIAN NIGHTS.

Fire and Ice (1983, USA) C-81m. *** D: Ralph Bakshi. Starring the voices of Susan Tyrrell, Maggie Roswell, Stephen Mendel, Alan Koss, William Ostrander. Quite appealing sword and sorcery epic – made a year after CONAN’s box-office-success, about two warring tribes and a young warrior’s attempt to defeat the Ice Lord. Medium plot is outdone by dynamic animation (by Bakshi and the famed Frank Frazetta), which lets the characters move very realistically. A must for buffs.

First Blood (1982, USA) C-97m. Scope ** D: Ted Kotcheff. Starring Sylvester Stallone, Richard Crenna, Brian Dennehy, Bill McKinney, Jack Starrett, Michael Talbott, David Caruso. Stallone plays a vietnam vet returning to his home country, who is hassled by officer Dennehy and the local police force so much that he is transported back into the traumatic time in Vietnam. He escapes from the police station and hides out in the woods, his special training making it almost impossible for the cops to catch him. Incredibly dumb action thriller somehow made it to cult status, probably thanks to Stallone’s tense performance. Watchable, but rather dull. Stallone also coscripted, from the novel by David Morrell. Score by Jerry Goldsmith. Known simply as RAMBO in many other countries. Followed by RAMBO: FIRST BLOOD PART II (1985), RAMBO III (1988) and a TV series in 1986.

First Great Train Robbery, The (1979, GBR) C-111m. Scope *** D: Michael Crichton. Starring Sean Connery, Lesley-Anne Down, Donald Sutherland, Alan Webb, Malcolm Terris, Wayne Sleep, Robert Lang. Title is the plot of this crime comedy about three ‘noble’ criminals who intend to steal gold from a moving train in the mid-1800s. Never terribly rousing but amusing and entertaining. Crichton wrote the screenplay from his own novel, which was based on a true incident. Well-produced by Dino de Laurentiis. U.S. title: THE GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY.

First Mission (1985, HGK) C-91m. Scope **½ D: Samo Hung. Starring Jackie Chan, Samo Hung, Chan Lung, Dick Wei, James Tien, Phillip Ko, Emily Chu, Wu Ma, Corey Yuen, Melvin Wong. Jackie Chan plays a cop who must look after his retarded brother Hung. Things are complicated when the dumb giant accidentally gets hold of a bag full of jewelry – something the local gangsters want badly. Action-comedy-drama offers a welcome change of pace for a Jackie Chan movie, but plot is uneven and doesn’t really integrate its different elements well. The final fights are excellent – as usual with Hung movies. Worthwhile for Jackie and Samo’s fans. Also known as HEART OF THE DRAGON.

First Snow (2006, USA/GER) C-102m. **½ D: Mark Fergus. Starring Guy Pearce, Piper Perabo, William Fichtner, J.K. Simmons, Shea Whigham, Rick Gonzalez, Jackie Burroughs. Pearce plays an aggressive travelling salesman, who decides to have his palm read while his car is being repaired but doesn’t like the outcome. Obviously the palm reader has seen something not right in his future. Should Pearce believe him, or go his own ways? Soon several coincidences show that the palm reader was right. Existential psycho drama with echoes of MEMENTO (2000) never cuts loose but remains interesting, evocative. Fichtner lends credible support as Pearce’s colleague. Good score by Cliff Martinez.

Fist of Fury (1972, HGK) C-106m. Scope *** D: Lo Wei. Starring Bruce Lee, Nora Miao, Jun Arimura, Robert Baker, Fu Ching Chen, Tony Liu, Lo Wei. Bruc