Pacifier, The (2005, USA/CDN) C-95m. Scope **½ D: Adam Shankman. Starring Vin Diesel, Lauren Graham, Faith Ford, Brittany Snow, Max Thieriot, Chris Potter, Carol Kane, Tate Donovan, Adam Shankman. Change of pace for Diesel: Here he plays a Navy S.E.A.L., who is assigned to protect five children of a suburban family whose father has been kidnapped. Diesel is quite good in this utterly contrived, fairly entertaining family comedy produced by Disney.

Pack, The (1977, USA) C-99m. ** D: Robert Clouse. Starring Joe Don Baker, Hope Alexander-Willis, Richard B. Shull, R.G. Armstrong, Ned Wertimer, Bibi Besch. Horror thriller about several vacationers who find themselves under attack of a pack of abandoned, hungry dogs. Baker plays a local who hanles the situation well. Poor, one-dimensional script moves at a pedestrian pace, but there are well-filmed attack scenes to make up for the lulls. Good use of slow-motion. Written by the director.

Pacte des Loups, Le (2001, FRA) C-150m. Scope *** D: Christophe Gans. Starring Samuel Le Bihan, Vincent Cassel, Emilie Dequenne, Monica Bellucci, Jérémie Rénier, Mark Dacascos, Jean Yanne, Jacques Perrin. In 18th century France a beast is roaming the countryside, killing young women and children. A nobleman is called upon, who tries to stop the killings with his friend, an Indian. Marvelous mix of fantasy and horror elements is long and has a simple story, but direction, photography, and especially editing are brilliantly stylish. Film hits bull’s-eye during its action sequences, which are simply stunning. A noteworthy achievement by the director of CRYING FREEMAN (1995) and an interesting companion piece to Michael Wadleigh’s horror film WOLFEN (1981). Originally released at 142m., later extended to present length. English title: BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF.

Padroni della Città, I (1976, ITA/GER) C-86m. ** D: Fernando Di Leo. Starring Jack Palance, Al Cliver, Harry Baer, Gisela Hahn, Edmund Purdom. Ordinary crime thriller about godfather Palance, who, apart from facing competition from a rival syndicate, must contend with a young man whose father he killed years ago. Plot is a yawn, but Palance looks menacing and Luis Enrique Bacalov’s score is very rhythmical. English titles: THE BIG BOSS, BLOOD AND BULLETS, MISTER SCARFACE, RULERS OF THE CITY.

Paganini Horror (1989, ITA) C-83m. *½ D: Luigi Cozzi. Starring Daria Nicolodi, Jasmine Main (=Maimone), Pascal Persiano, Maria Cristina Mastrangeli, Donald Pleasence. Italian violin master Niccola Paganini is the inspiration for this tedious horror film, cowritten by director Cozzi and star Nicolodi. During a music video shoot, the ghost of Paganini is resurrected and he kills members of the crew. Quite gory, not without atmosphere, but inept direction kills it. Entire sequences just don’t work at all. Don’t mix this up with the Klaus Kinski production KINSKI PAGANINI, made that same year. Aka THE KILLING VIOLIN.

Paidia tou Diavolou, Ta (1975, GRE) C-102m. *½ D: Nico Mastorakis. Starring Bob Behling, Jane Lyle, Jessica Dublin, Gerard Gonalons, Jannice McConnell, Nikos Tsachiridis, Nico Mastorakis. A young couple spend their holiday on the idyllic Greek island of Mykonos, but they turn out to be immoral, perverted and sadistic and start abusing and killing the people around them. Infamous video nasty, banned in many countries, but film is not very explicit. Lack of character depth and motivation identify this as pure exploitation. Unfortunately it is also rather boring. Dublin’s ‘sex’ scene must be among the most embarassing things ever put on celluloid. English titles: ISLAND OF DEATH, DEVILS IN MYKONOS, A CRAVING FOR LUST, CRUEL DESTINATION, ISLAND OF PERVERSION, and PSYCHIC KILLER 2.

Painted Faces (1989, HGK) C-112m. ***½ D: Alex Law. Starring Samo Hung, Lan Ching-Ying, Cheng Pei-Pei. Melancholy look back at a Peking Opera school in the 1960s, whose teacher (Hung) is faced with the decline of the popularity of his art. Memorable film has fine acting and screenplay, along with a superb music score (by Lowell Lo) to recommend it. Based on autobiographical events of Samo Hung’s life, who was to become a famous martial arts star in the 1970s and 1980s.

Palabras Encadenadas (2003, SPA) C-89m. **½ D: Laura Maná. Starring Dario Grandinetti, Goya Toledo, Fernando Guillén, Eric Bonicatto. Interesting but artificial psycho thriller drama about professor Grandinetti, who has abducted his ex-wife, a psychiatrist, and tells her that he has become a serial killer and she will be his 19^th victim. This leads to a psycho-battle a la Starling and Lecter. Some intriguing twists throughout keep this bubbling. From the producer of THE MACHINIST (2004). English title: KILLING WORDS.

Pale Rider (1985, USA) C-115m. Scope **½ D: Clint Eastwood. Starring Clint Eastwood, Michael Moriarty, Carrie Snodgress, Chris Penn, Richard A. Dysart, Sydney Penny, Richard Kiel, Billy Drago, Budyd Van Horn. Typical Eastwood western, although his formula started to show aging signs. The archetypal ‘Man With No Name’, in the guise of a preacher, reappears in a small gold mining town, which is terrorized by a landowner. Good performance by Moriarty, otherwise film is hardly rousing. Okay, for Eastwood fans. Inexplicably, this was nominated for the Golden Palm in Cannes!

Palindromes (2004, USA) C-100m. *½ D: Todd Solondz. Starring Ellen Barkin, Rachel Corr, Richard Masur, Alexander Brickel, Jennifer Jason Leigh. Daring drama from the maker of HAPPINESS (1998) and STORYTELLING (2001). Story deals with 12 or 13-year old girl, who wants to get pregnant just for the hell of it and the repercussions of her choice. Beware: The girl is played by several child actresses, who couldn’t be more different! Obviously a comment on the bigotry of society and the nihilism that rules part of today’s youth, but most of it is thoroughly off-putting, not to say perverted. View only if you like Solondz’ work.

Pallbearer, The (1996, USA) C-98m. **½ D: Matt Reeves. Starring David Schwimmer, Gwyneth Paltrow, Barbara Hershey, Michael Rapaport, Toni Collette, Carol Kane. Self-conscious single Schwimmer, who still lives with his mother, is asked to be pallbearer at a long-forgotten friend’s funeral. He is soon torn between the dead pal’s sexy mother (Hershey) and a girl he was unhappily in love with in high school (Paltrow). Comedy-drama casts Friends star Schwimmer and gorgeous Paltrow in the lead roles, but script makes no points at all and unfortunately remains superficially romantic. Schwimmer’s dumb look is simply annoying after a while.

Palmetto (1998, USA/GER) C-114m. Scope *** D: Volker Schlöndorff. Starring Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Shue, Gina Gershon, Rolf Hoppe, Michael Rapaport, Chloë Sevigny, Tom Wright. Atmospheric noir-like thriller, adapted from James Hadley Chase’s novel Just Another Sucker. Harrelson plays an ex-journalist who has just been released from prison. He meets ‘femme fatale’ Shue, who persuades him to ‘kidnap’ her stepdaughter, so she can cash in $500,000 from her old and sick husband Hoppe. Unpredict-able complications ensue, which are best not revealed here. Outstanding cinematography (by Thomas Kloss) recreates the 40s noir atmosphere, although the film is set in the 1990s. Thriller maintains suspense despite a few inconsistencies in the plot. The intimate scenes involving Shue and Harrelson are pretty steamy. Gershon, playing Harrelson’s girlfriend, is given very little to do.

Palookaville (1996, USA) C-92m. **½ D: Alan Taylor. Starring William Forsythe, Vincent Gallo, Adam Trese, Frances McDormand, Robert LuPone, Lisa Gay Hamilton, Kim Dickens, Bridgit Ryan, Douglas Seale. Three unemployed friends decide to turn to a world of crime but seem to be too idiotic to complete any job. Slight but likable comedy that is too self-conscious and unfocused for a better rating.

Panda Kopanda (1972/73, JAP) C-71m. *** D: Isao Takahata. Starring (the voices of) Kazuko Sugiyama, Kazuo Kumakura, Yoshiko Ohta, Yasuo Yamada. Compilation of two cute animated shorts marks another collaboration of Hayao Miyazaki (writer) and Isao Takahata (director) after their work for the LUPIN III TV series. The first of the two shorts introduces a little girl whose grandmother goes away for a few days, leaving her alone in the house. She is visited by a Panda bear baby and his father, who turn out to be fugitives from a zoo. Intended for small children, who will find this very cute and funny. The second short, released in 1973 and titled PANDA KOPANDA AMEFURI SAKASU NO MAKI, continues the girl’s adventures with the Panda bears and is superior to the first, as Miyazaki’s creative genius is given full reign. Our protagonists are joined by a tiger baby from a circus and are surprised by a monstrous flood. Yoshifumi Kondo (MIMI WO SUMASEBA) was among the crew. English titles: PANDA! GO PANDA!, and PANDA, LITTLE PANDA.

Pane e Cioccolata (1973, ITA) C-115m. *** D: Franco Brusati. Starring Nino Manfredi, Anna Karina, Johnny Durelli, Paolo Turco, Max Delys. Bittersweet comedy about bumbling Italian Manfredi who goes to Switzerland to find a job but has to realize that he is not accepted there. Well-acted, funny, but also dramatically uneven. Photographed by Luciano Tovoli (SUSPIRIA). Titled BREAD AND CHOCOLATE and cut to 107m. for film’s U.S. release in 1978.

Panic Room (2002, USA) C-112m. Scope *** D: David Fincher. Starring Jodie Foster, Kristen Stewart, Forest Whitaker, Dwight Yoakam, Jared Leto, Patrick Bauchau. Recently divorced Foster moves into a new apartment with her daughter. It has a so-called Panic Room, which is supposed to protect them from burglars, muggers and the like. Needless to say, things go wrong in the first night already. Thriller is overly simplistic at the beginning but beautifully mounted by screenwriter David Koepp. Well-directed, well-scored by Howard Shore. Cinematographer Darius Khondji was replaced by Conrad W. Hall (Conrad Hall’s son). Nevertheless, movie marks a continuation of director Fincher’s dark visual style. That’s Nicole Kidman’s voice on the phone as Bauchau’s lover.

Paper Moon (1973, USA) 102m. **** D: Peter Bogdanovich. Starring Ryan O’Neal, Tatum O’Neal, Madeleine Kahn, John Hillerman, Randy Quaid. Brilliantly entertaining road-movie drama about small-time crook O’Neal who travels the country with a wise-cracking little girl (Tatum O’Neal), who may be his daughter (and is in real life!). Together they live through unforgettable vignettes as slowly a deep friendship develops between them. One of the best modern comedy-dramas. Plot apparently lifted from a German comedy of 1955, which starred Heinz Rühmann.

Papillon (1973, USA) C-150m. Scope **½ D: Franklin J. Schaffner. Starring Steve McQueen, Dustion Hoffman, Victor Jory, Don Gordon, Anthony Zerbe, Robert Deman, Woodrow Parfrey, Bill Mumy, Richard Farnsworth. Prison drama based on the autobiography of Henri Charrière about McQueen, a ‘pimp killer’ who gets sent to infamous prison on an island off the coast of French Guyana, where no one can escape. Slowly paced, anti-climactic throughout, but McQueen’s performance is impressive, as is Hoffman’s as his friend. Good location work. Fine Jerry Goldsmith score was Oscar-nominated. DVD contains an interesting making-of documentary entitled THE MAGNIFICENT REBEL with Charrière on the set explaining things (only months before his death of throat cancer).

Papillon, Le (2002, FRA) C-85m. *** D: Philippe Muyl. Starring Michel Serrault, Claire Bouanich, Nade Dieu, Francoise Michaud, Hélène Hily. Lonely butterfly collector Serrault makes the acquaintance of a neglected little girl, 8-year-old Bouanich. When her mother fails to show up one evening, the old man takes her with him on a trip to the mountains, where he hopes to catch a rare butterfly. Soft-spoken drama is not perfect but doesn’t need to be. With a story and actors like this you can’t go wrong. English title: THE BUTTERFLY.

Paranoia (1970, ITA/SPA) C-92m. ** D: Umberto Lenzi. Starring Carroll Baker, Jean Sorel, Luis Dávila, Alberto Dalbés, Marina Coffa, Anna Proclemer, Hugo Blanco, Calisto Calisti. Racing car driver Baker must retire after an accident. Upon her release from rehabilitation, she is invited by her ex-husband Sorel to his exclusive villa. Soon it becomes clear that his new wife Proclemer would rather see him dead… but that’s not the end of the story. Typically convoluted thriller, watchable, but poorly acted (especially by Sorel), rather poorly paced. Easy-listening score by Gregorio García Segura, (conducted by Piero Umiliani) provides period flavor. Reportedly, Joe D’Amato was camera operator. Don’t mix this up with Lenzi’s ORGASMO (1969), which was known as PARANOIA in some countries and also starred Baker. Also known as A QUIET PLACE TO KILL, and A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO KILL.

Paranoiac (1963, GBR) B&W-80m. Scope **½ D: Freddie Francis. Starring Janette Scott, Oliver Reed, Sheila Burrell, Maurice Denham, Alexander Devion. Minor Hammer chiller about Reed’s troubled family, who can’t deal with sudden arrival of son Devion, who was thought to be dead for years. Is Devion telling the truth or is Reed trying to drive his sister to insanity? Rather bland thriller picks up toward the finale, with some solid acting and Francis’ interesting visual style.

Par de Zapatos del ‘32, Un (1974, SPA/ITA) C-86m. **½ D: Rafael Romero Marchent. Starring Ray Millland, Sylva Koscina, Remiro Oliveros, Franco Giacobini, Charly Bravo, María Silva, Eduardo Calvo. Interesting giallo-like thriller set in France: Milland plays doctor at a boarding school for boys, who has hired an assassin to kill someone. When the killer does this by blowing up an entire plane, killing 140 innocent people, Milland clubs him to death. However, one of the boys, we don’t know who, witnessed this killing. How can Milland find out who was the witness? Remains interesting, if not too credible or compelling. Good score by Stelvio Cipriani. Italian title: QUALCUNA L’HA VISTO UCCIDERE (SOMEONE SAW HIM KILL). English titles: WITNESS TO MURDER, THE STUDENT CONNECTION.

Parker (1984, GBR) C-97m. **½ D: Jim Goddard. Starring Bryan Brown, Cherie Lunghi, Kurt Raab, Elizabeth Spriggs, Bob Peck, Uwe Ochsenknecht, Dana Gillespie, Ingrid Pitt, Tom Wilkinson, Hannelore Elsner. Unusually structured thriller about businessman Brown, who has spent eleven days in the power of kidnappers and returns to his every-day life without a clue. Who abducted him and why? Brown’s performance remains too cold to make this work, but worth a look. Bogs down in last third, though. Partly set (and shot) in Germany. Also known as BONES.

Partie de Campagne, Une (1936/46, FRA) B&W-40m. n/r D: Jean Renoir. Starring Sylvia Bataille, Georges D’Arnoux, Jeanne (Jane) Marken, André Gabriello, Jacques Borel (=Jacques B. Brunius), Jean Renoir. Renoir’s famous ode to nature follows city people to the country, where they want to enjoy themselves and relax. The men go fishing, and the women let themselves be wooed by the locals. Interesting clash of lifestyles, superbly scored by Joseph Kosma, photographed by Claude Renoir. Edited in Renoir’s absence, released ten years after it was originally shot. Among Renoir’s assistants: Jacques Becker, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Yves Allégret, and Luchino Visconti! English title: A DAY IN THE COUNTRY.

Partie de Plaisir, Une (1974, FRA/ITA) C-101m. *** D: Claude Chabrol. Starring Paul Gégauff, Danièle Gégauff, Clemence Gégauff, Paula Moore, Michel Valetta. Fine Chabrol drama about relationship between Paul and Marie Gégauff (both married in real life at that time), which is marred when he confesses that he has had several affairs and suggests she do the same. Realistic, unpretentious film was written by Gégauff himself. In real life he suffered a terrible fate; he was murdered by his second wife in 1983. English title: PIECE OF PLEASURE.

Party, The (1968, USA) C-99m. Scope *** D: Blake Edwards. Starring Peter Sellers, Claudine Longet, Buddy Lester, Gavin MacLeod. After two successful PINK PANTHER comedies, director Edwards reteamed with his star Peter Sellers and delivered this priceless comedy. A bumbling Indian extra is mistakenly invited to a bombastic party at a film producer’s villa and wreaks unintentional havoc there. As much a time capsule as it is a Sellers one-man-show. None other than him could have made this work. Score by Henry Mancini, photographed by Lucien Ballard.

Passage to India, A (1984, GBR) C-163m. *** D: David Lean. Starring Judy Davis, Victor Banerjee, Peggy Ashcroft, James Fox, Alec Guiness, Nigel Havers, Richard Wilson, Antonia Pemberton, Michael Culver. Lengthy but worthwhile adaptation of E.M. Forster's masterful novel about young British woman (Davis) who travels to India to be engaged to a British magistrate, and meets geniality in a Muslim doctor (Banerjee). Fine performances carry film to an abrupt conclusion; Forster's original ending was dropped. Director Lean's final film (BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI, DOCTOR ZHIVAGO).

Passenger de la Pluie, Le (1969, FRA/ITA) C-117m. ***½ D: René Clément. Starring Charles Bronson, Marlène Jobert, Jill Ireland, Annie Cordy. On a rainy day a stranger arrives in a French seaside town. Jobert, whose husband is away, is raped by the man and subsequently kills him, disposing of his body in the sea without telling the police. The next day another stranger (Bronson) arrives and begins questioning her about what happened that night, but Jobert, suffering from a childhood trauma, refuses to tell the truth. Deliberately paced psycho drama, with excellent mise-en-scène and score (by Francis Lai). Fascinating, if not for all tastes. Script by Sébastien Japrisot, based on his novel. English title: RIDER ON THE RAIN. 

Passi di Morte Perduti nel Buio (1977, ITA/GRE) C-91m. *** D: Maurizio Pradeaux. Starring Leonard Mann, Robert Webber, Vera Krouska, Nino Maimone, Barbara Seidel. On the Istanbul-Athens express a woman is murdered when the train passes through a tunnel. The people in her compartment are the suspects, including photographer Mann, who owns the murder weapon. Together with his silly girlfriend he tries to convince inspector Webber (based in Athens) that he didn’t do it. Giallo mystery is well-plotted, stylishly made and even has a sense of humor. A late-bloomer for the genre, with a fine score by Riz Ortolani. English title: DEATH STEPS IN THE DARK.

Password: Uccidete Agente Gordon (1966, ITA/SPA) C-93m. Scope *½  D: Terence Hathaway (=Sergio Grieco). Starring Roger Browne, Helga Liné, Miguel de la Riva, Franco Ressel, Rosalba Neri, Andrea Scotti, Angel Menéndez, Umberto Raho. James Bond clone about agent Gordon (Browne) who is assigned to stop smuggling syndicate run by Ressel. Tame, with lots of poorly staged fist fights, nowhere near the Connery originals. Only passable things are Piero Umiliani’s score and Neri’s see-through underwear. Strictly for fans. English title: PASSWORD: KILL AGENT GORDON.

Past Midnight (1992, USA) C-100m. ** D: Jan Eliasberg. Starring Rutger Hauer, Natasha Richardson, Clancy Brown, Guy Boyd, Ernie Lively, Tom Wright. Mediocre thriller about social worker Richardson’s romantic involvement with ex-con Hauer, who may or may not have killed his pregnant wife fifteen years ago. Manages to create some suspense, and charismatic Hauer lends credibility, but film is marred in unnecessarily stupid conclusion. First screen credit (associate producer) for Quentin Tarantino.

Patch Adams (1998, USA) C-115m. Scope *** D: Tom Shadyac. Starring Robin Williams, Monica Potter, Daniel London, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bob Gunton, Irma P. Hall, Josef Sommer, Peter Coyote, Michael Jeter, Harve Presnell, Richard Kiley, Harold Gould. Endearing, outright funny drama about the real-life Patch Adams (Williams), who turns himself into psychiatric care and finds he wants to become a doctor, making sick people not only healthy but also happy along the way. He meets resistance in the university's dean (Presnell), but doesn't refrain from trying out his unconventional (and very successful) methods. Williams is once more brilliant and makes you forget about some plot incongruencies and the false (Hollywood) endings. In fact, this spirited film, based on Hunter "Patch" Adams' book Gesundheit: Good Health Is a Laughing Matter, might also have been titled THE WORLD ACCORDING TO PATCH, or DEAD DOCTOR'S SOCIETY, bearing resemblance to Williams' best work of his career.

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973, USA) C-122m. Scope ***½ D: Sam Peckinpah. Starring James Coburn, Kris Kristofferson, Richard Jaeckel, Katy Jurado, Chill Wills, Barry Sullivan, Jason Robards, Bob Dylan, R.G. Armstrong, Luke Askew, John Beck, Richard Bright, Matt Clark, Rita Coolidge, Jack Elam, L.Q. Jones, Slim Pickens, Charles Martin Smith, Harry Dean Stanton, Rudy Wurlitzer, Elisha Cook, Jr. Perhaps the ultimate portrayal of the dying Wild West, presented by none other than Sam Peckinpah. Disenchanted Pat Garrett (Coburn), having corrupted his own code of ethics and working as a lawman now, goes after ruthless Billy the Kid (Kristofferson), whose wild world of shoot-outs and killings is crumbling. Film follows Garrett’s increasingly reluctant chase of the gunslinger, whose violent days seem numbered. Mesmerizing, intermittently very violent western drama is top in all compartments. Lush photography by John Coquillon, melancholy score by Bob Dylan, who plays the role of Alias, a hanger-on who doesn’t care which side he is on. Black-and-white frame narrative (which shows Garrett’s death 28 years later) renders film all the more depressing (and fascinating). Exceptional cast, perhaps Coburn and Kristofferson’s finest hours. Beware of 103m. version, which may still be in circulation.

Paths of Glory (1957, USA/GER) 86m. **** D: Stanley Kubrick. Starring Kirk Douglas, Ralph Meeker, Adolphe Menjou, George Macready, Wayne Morris, Richard Anderson, Timothy Carey, Suzanne Christian, Bert Freed, Joseph Turkel. Harrowing, lightning-paced account of the fate of a bataillon during World War One as they fail to accomplish a mission given to them by fanatic general Macready. Excellent cast, ingenious direction in drama that shows how little human life is worth in a war, and that personal fates are disregarded completely. Kubrick adapted Humphrey Cobb’s novel, which was based on a true incident.

Patrick (1978, AUS) C-87m. *½ D: Richard Franklin. Starring Susan Penhaligon, Robert Helpmann, Rod Mullinar, Bruce Barry, Julia Blake. Unspectacular horror thriller about a young man, who kills his mother and her lover (brutally) and subsequently falls into a coma. Nurse Penhaligon discovers that Patrick has psychic powers that he uses to kill. Poorly plotted and directed, a waste of time. Boring in shortened 85m. version, quite possibly unbearable in 96m., 105m. or even 115m. versions that reportedly exist out there. Goblin rescored film for European release, original music was by Brian May. Remade as PATRICK VIVE ANCORA in 1980.

Patrick Vive Ancora (1980, ITA) C-93m. M D: Mario Landi. Starring Sascha Pitoeff, Gianni Dei, Mairangela Giordano, Carmen Russo. Splatter remake of Richard Franklin’s PATRICK (1978) is about a comatose patient at a private clinic, who kills the residents with telekinetic powers. Absolutely dreadful, even horror fans will be bored (although the ultra-gross iron stake scene has to be seen to be believed). Alternative titles: PATRICK STILL LIVES or PATRICK IS STILL ALIVE.

Patriot, The (2000, USA) C-164m. Scope *** D: Roland Emmerich. Starring Mel Gibson, Heath Ledger, Joely Richardson, Jason Isaacs, Chris Cooper, Tchéky Karyo, Rene Auberjonois, Donal Logue, Adam Baldwin. The American War of Independence, as seen through the eyes of peaceful but patriotic Gibson, who is disowned and swears revenge when one of his sons is killed. Lavishly filmed epic, whose point-of-view is a matter of discussion, but terrific (and violent) battle scenes make film worth watching. A smash-hit in the tradition of THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS (1992) or BRAVEHEART (1995). Score by John Williams.

Paulie (1998, USA) C-91m. *** D: John Roberts. Starring Gena Rowlands, Tony Shalboub, Cheech Marin, Bruce Davison, Trini Alvarado, Jay Mohr, Buddy Hackett, Matt Craven. Inoffensive, enjoyable family film about speaking parrot Paulie and his odyssey, when is whisked away from his owner, a little girl. He is discovered by a Russian janitor (Shalboub), who then listens to his life story. Amusing comedy from DreamWorks Pictures with good performances and colorful art direction.

Paura in Città (1976, ITA) C-99m. *½ D: Giuseppe Rosati. Starring James Mason, Raymond Pellegrin, Maurizio Merli, Silvia Dionisio, Fausto Tozzi, Cyril Cusack. Trivial, tired actioner about tough cop Merli, who is reinstated to battle crime lord Pellegrin. Merli shows some charisma, but pace is a disaster. It’s anyone’s guess why Mason appeared in garbage like this. Edited by Franco Fraticelli. English titles: HOT STUFF, STREET WAR.

Paura nella Città dei Morti Viventi (1980, ITA) C-89m. **½ D: Lucio Fulci. Starring Christopher George, Catriona MacColl, Venantino Venantini, Michele Soavi, Janet Agren, Lucio Fulci. Medium MacColl has visions of a city of zombies and swoons in one of her sessions. She is presumed dead, and buried, but journalist George rescues her from the coffin. Together they investigate the mysterious going-ons in town of Dunwich, where a priest has hung himself and the dead walk the earth. Atmospheric, well-directed horror shocker with many delirious ideas (bleeding glass shards, flying maggots, brain-squashing, guts-spewing zombies) wreaks terror in parts, plods in others. Understandably a cult favorite among horror buffs. Score by Fabio Frizzi is a good imitation of Goblin’s theme for DAWN OF THE DEAD (1978). Also known as CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD, FEAR IN THE CITY OF THE LIVING DEAD, THE GATES OF HELL, and TWILIGHT OF THE DEAD.

Payback (1999, USA) C-102m. Scope *½ D: Brian Helgeland. Starring Mel Gibson, Gregg Henry, Maria Bello, David Payner, Bill Duke, Deborah Kara Unger, John Glover, William Devane, Kris Kristofferson, James Coburn. Completely superfluous remake of POINT BLANK, like the 1967 classic based on Richard Stark's novel The Hunter. Film wavers uncomfortably between action and comedy (the latter obviously a commercial must due to Gibson's LETHAL WEAPON image), as crook Gibson is left for dead after a hold-up and tries to get revenge on his partner. The asset of the original was not the story but the stylish, surreal presentation, and Helgeland (screenwriter of L.A. CONFIDENTIAL) fails expectedly.

Paycheck (2003, USA) C-119m. Scope **½ D: John Woo. Starring Ben Affleck, Aaron Eckhart, Uma Thurman, Paul Giamatti, Colm Feore. Science-fiction thriller about special engineer Affleck, who steals corporate secrets from other companies and sells them, always getting a huge paycheck in return for having his memory erased. His latest job goes awry and he finds himself pursued – what happened in the last three years of his life? Some expected Wooish action set-pieces, interesting story (from a short story by Philip K. Dick), but plot never really catches fire (or creates credibility). And what’s with those PSYCHO references? Thurman is wasted in a minor role. Woo also coproduced.

Peace Hotel, The (1995, HGK) C-89m. ** D: Wai Ka-Fai. Starring Chow Yun-Fat, Cecilia Yip, Chin Ho, Lau Shun, Annabelle Liew. Strange eastern-western mix about ex-killer Chow, who runs title establishment, which houses exclusively former gangsters who want to go straight. When a lying, cheating and stealing woman arrives, Chow must decide if he wants to protect her from the hordes that want to lynch her. Well-produced (by John Woo) and quite well-made but action scenes are rare and Chow’s story is hardly interesting or at least too slowly paced.

Peacemaker, The (1997, USA) C-124m. Scope ** D: Mimi Leder. Starring George Clooney, Nicole Kidman, Marcel Jures, Alexander Baluev, René Medvesek, Gary Werntz, Armin Müller-Stahl. Action thriller about two U.S. special agents (Clooney and Kidman) who have to retrieve stolen atom bombs, which might be on their way to the Iran. Film is obviously a commercial enterprise (some eight or nine producers are credited!), its quick pace can hardly offset the illogical and completely incredible plot. Car chase sequence in Vienna is the only good sequence. Produced by Steven Spielberg’s Dreamworks studios.

Pearl Harbor (2001, USA) C-184m. Scope *** D: Michael Bay. Starring Ben Affleck, Josh Hartnett, Kate Beckinsale, Cuba Gooding Jr., Jon Voight, Alec Baldwin, Tom Sizemore, William Lee Scott, Jennifer Garner, Dan Aykroyd, Mako, Tom Everett, John Diehl, Matt Damon. Big-budget blockbuster from the team that brought you ARMAGEDDON (1998). Film recounts cute love triangle, which is given a spin by ravaging WW2 and the surprising, devastating attack by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor in 1941. Typical war movie script portrays the effects of war on a personal basis and offsets this by furious bomber attack sequences. Despite some glorification of war heroism, film scores on the emotional level, and is extremely well-photographed. Hartnett does not fit in 1940s context, but period flavor isn’t film’s main asset. Good score by Hans Zimmer.

Peau d’Âne (1970, FRA) C-90m. *** D: Jacques Demy. Starring Catherine Deneuve, Jean Marais, Jacques Perrin, Micheline Presle, Delphine Seyrig, Fernand Ledoux, Henri Crémieux, Sacha Pitoeff, Coluche, Rufus, narrated by Jean Servais. A fairy tale, Jacques Demy style. When her mother dies and her father, the King, might just choose her as his second wife, princess Deneuve flees from his kingdom and becomes Donkey Skin, using a donkey costume to keep anyone from discovering her. Her life is lonely, however. Outstanding color cinematography (by Ghislain Cloquet) makes this very interesting, though story tends to be too low key. Extensive use of songs, fine score by Michel Legrand. English titles: DONKEY SKIN, MAGIC DONKEY, and ONCE UPON A TIME.

Peau d’Espion (1967, FRA/GER/ITA) C-84m. ** D: Eduard Molinaro. Starring Louis Jourdan, Senta Berger, Edmond O’Brien, Maurice Garrel, Bernard Blier, Anna Gael, Paul Muller. Berger’s attraction to independent novelist Jourdan leads to his involvement with her husband, a newspaper editor, who wants to take the man to Heidelberg with a scientist. The characters’ intentions remain a mystery for a long time in this drama about espionage, but that’s also what keeps you watching in a way. After an hour film runs out of steam. Based on the novel by Jacques Robert. English title: TO COMMIT A MURDER.

Pecker (1998, USA) C-86m. **½ D: John Waters. Starring Edward Furlong, Christina Ricci, Martha Plimpton, Lili Taylor, Bess Armstrong, Mark Joy, Mary Kay Place, Brendan Sexton III, Mink Stole. Amusing - if slight - satire by 'bad-taste' icon John Waters, with Furlong playing a young photographer who shoots photos of everyone living in the neighborhood of his suburban home in Baltimore. One day he is discovered by gallery owner Taylor and he becomes a star. However, this changes his and his friends' and family's life more for the worse than for the better. Wonderful assortment of characters can't camouflage aimless plot, which peters out without a satisfying resolution.

Peeping Tom (1960, GBR) C-101m. *** D: Michael Powell. Starring Carl Boehm (=Karlheinz Böhm), Moira Shearer, Anna Massey, Maxine Audley, Brenda Bruce, Martin Miller. Unsettling psycho drama about disturbed photographer Boehm, who murders young women and films them at the moment of death. Score, art direction are first-rate, and Boehm is almost too good as psychopath suffering from a childhood trauma. A scandal when originally released, film is less potent today but obviously still too gruesome for German TV stations, who show the film in a cut version(!).  

Peking Opera Blues (1986, HGK) C-105m. Scope *** D: Tsui Hark. Starring Lin Ching-Hsia, Sally Yeh, Chrie Chung, Mark Cheng, Po-Chih Leong, Wu Ma. Well-produced action comedy from one of Hong Kong's most prolific filmmakers. A group of revolutionary guerillas attempt to steal a valuable document and become entangled in street fights, comic situations and romance. Well-made historical eastern is very entertaining, if not terribly plot-wise. Martial arts sequences directed by Ching Siu-Tung, director of the SWORDSMAN series.

Pelle Svanslös (1981, SWE) C-81m. *** D: Stig Lasseby, Jan Gissberg. Simple but cute animated feature about tailless cat Pelle, who goes to the big city where he is scorned and has to earn his respect. This true-to-life cartoon is so funny, adults will like it as much as kids.

Pelts (2006, USA) C-58m. n/r D: Dario Argento. Starring Meat Loaf Aday, Ellen Ewusie, Link Baker, Emilio Salituro, John Saxon. Second of Argento’s episodes for TV’s Masters of Horror (2005) series about a fur-maker (Meat Loaf), who learns of quite exceptional raccoon furs and plans to prepare and sell them. However, the creatures have a way of getting their revenge on everyone that comes in contact with the pelts. Meat Loaf brings conviction to his role but plot is only so-so. Ewusie’s flawless physique and Attila Vaski’s really gruesome effects attract attention, though look in vain for an Argento trademark other than the gore. Claudio Simonetti (Goblin) was inspired by older Argento movies for his rather odd score. Veteran actor Saxon had worked with Argento on the 1982 TENEBRE.

Pembalasan Si Pitung (1977, INES) C-95m. *½ D: Nawi Ismail. Starring Dicky Zulkarnaen, Sandi Suwardi Hasan, A. Hamid Arief, Rina Hasyim, Grace Simon, Billy Chong. Indonesian war movie, with their hatred for the Dutch more than evident. Plot vaguely centers around commando, who are battling the Dutch. Nothing worth your time. Third in a series of films made by the director. English translation of title is REVENGE OF PITUNG (an Indonesian hero/legend). International title: TIGER COMMANDO.

Penitentiary (1979, USA) C-99m. ** D: Jamaa Fanaka. Starring Gloria Delaney, Badja Djola, Leon Isaac Kennedy, Chuck Mitchell. Rough prison thriller (a classic for some) about Kennedy who unjustly goes to prison, where he acquires respect by winning boxing bouts. Some tense sequences may make it worthwhile for prison fanatics, but plot is trivial. Followed by two sequels.

Penitentiary II (1982, USA) C-108m. *½ D: Jamaa Fanaka. Starring Leon Isaac Kennedy, Ernie Hudson, Gerald Berns, Mr. T, Dennis Lipscomb. Sequel to PENITENTIARY has Kennedy return to the ring, when former nemesis Hudson brutally rapes and kills his girlfriend. Some intense scenes (especially the one after the murder), but film lacks the authenticity of the first and treads a much too familiar path. Followed by PENITENTIARY III in 1987.

Pentito, Il (1985, ITA) C-119m. **½ D: Pasquale Squitieri. Starring Franco Nero, Tony Musante, Erik Estrada, Max von Sydow, Rita Rusic (=Cecchi Gori), Ivo Garrani, Claudine Auger, Rik Battaglia, Venantino Venantini. Another one of director Squitieri’s mafia dramas (one wonders why they never knocked him off). Quite unexceptional, earnest film that is based on the real-life judge Falcone, who battled the Cosa Nostra, with Nero playing the title character. Despite the performances and Ennio Morricone’s unsettling score, the two hours can be difficult to sit through. English title: THE REPENTER.

People Under the Stairs, The (1991, USA) C-102m. *** D: Wes Craven. Starring Brandon Quintin Adams, Everett McGill, Wendy Robie, A.J. Langer, Ving Rhames, Sean Whalen, Bill Cobbs. Original, ambitious movie is a fairy-tale disguised as a horror film with a social conscience. On his 13^th birthday, a little ghetto boy (Adams) is persuaded to break into the house of a rich couple (McGill and Robie). Once inside there seems to be no escape, as the two landlords turn out to be crazy maniacs who keep zombie-like ‘people under the stairs’. Unusual horror movie is exhilarating, edge-of-your-seat entertainment for over an hour but then undermined by a stupid twist which makes it overly bizarre and incredible. Writer-director Craven delivers great shocks and adds a twisted sense of humor; this could have been his best film. McGill and Robie deliver performances of a lifetime. The booby-trapped house, brimming with gadgets and secret passages between the walls is the archetypal sinister (or haunted) house. Recommended to fans.

People Vs. Larry Flynt, The (1996, USA) C-129m. Scope *** D: Milos Forman. Starring Woody Harrelson, Courtney Love, Edward Norton, Brett Harrelson, Donny Hanover, James Cromwell, Crispin Glover, Vincent Schiavelli, Oliver Reed. Screen bio of a very American "hero", Hustler editor Larry Flynt. His fight for freedom of speech and his unconventional, rebellious behavior towards the authorities gives him enough public attention to sell more and more copies of his magazine. Dramatic treatment of his public and private life makes this a fine film, though it's much more compelling to U.S. Americans than other audiences. Good performances all around.

Perdita Durango (1997, MEX/SPA/USA) C-124m. Scope *½ D: Alex de la Iglesia. Starring Rosie Perez, Javier Bardem, Harley Cross, Aimee Graham, James Gandolfini, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Harry Porter, Don Stroud, Alex Cox. Gratuitious road movie about two violent individuals touring through California and Mexico, kidnapping two teenagers on the way and torturing them to near madness. Poor characterization in an attempted epic that remains without a point and tortures its audience with unrelenting grimness. Some good scenes can't save this incoherent movie. Fine score by Simon Boswell seems to belong to a much better movie. Based on the novel 59 Degrees and Raining: The Story of Perdita Durango by Barry Gifford. Original version runs 136m.

Perfect Friday (1970, GBR) C-94m. *** D: Peter Hall. Starring Ursula Andress, Stanley Baker, David Warner, Patience Collier, T.P. McKenna. Diverting caper about conservative bank manager Baker, who teams up with beautiful Andress and her husband, count Warner in plotting to steal money from the safe on a ‘Perfect Friday’. Interesting narrative structure, direction in film that is a bit too talky but ultimately worthwhile. Central heist idea used later in Richard Brooks’ $ (1971).

Perfect Man, The (2005, USA) C-100m. ** D: Mark Rosman. Starring Hilary Duff, Heather Locklear, Chris Noth, Mike O’Malley, Ben Feldman, Vanessa Lengies. Teenager Duff, frustrated by her single mom’s boyfriend choices, dreams up the perfect man and initiates a romance, using unknowing Noth’s ideas about how to treat her. Guess how this is gonna end. Rather weak, predictable romantic comedy.

Perfect Murder, A (1998, USA) C-108m. **½ D: Andrew Davis. Starring Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow, Viggo Mortensen, David Suchet, Sarita Choudhury, Michael P. Moran. Stockbroker Douglas learns that his wife Paltrow is cheating on him, so he hires her lover (!), a man with a shady past it turns out, to kill her. Needless to say, the perfectly planned crime goes awry. Variation on Hitchcock’s DIAL M FOR MURDER is nice to look at, and Douglas’ character has some great lines, but overall it’s too predictable to really thrill its audience. An okay view, if nothing better is on TV.

Perfect Storm, The (2000, USA) C-129m. Scope **½ D: Wolfgang Petersen. Starring George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg, Diane Lane, Karen Allen, William Fichtner, Bob Gunton, John C. Reilly, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Allen Payne, John Hawkes, Christopher McDonald, Michael Ironside, Cherry Jones, Rusty Schwimmer. Big but disappointing action drama takes fisherman Clooney and his crew out to sea for a last time before the end of the season. Just then, quite unexpectedly, a major storm is brewing. Will it take their lives? Longish, rather uninteresting introduction is redeemed by some exciting (albeit computer-animated) action footage. Overall, this movie has little dramatic impact. Based on a real-life incident documented in a book by Sebastian Junger. Score by James Horner.

Perfect Stranger (2007, USA) C-109m. Scope ** D: James Foley. Starring Halle Berry, Bruce Willis, Giovanni Ribisi, Richard Portnow, Gary Dourdan, Florencia Lozano, Patti D’Arbanville, Heidi Klum. Cardboard thriller about ad exec Willis, who may have killed Berry’s old childhood friend and got away. She sneaks into his firm, intending to find out the truth, and gets closer to the guy than she may have wished. Performances are okay, it’s the characters that are clichéd. Three different endings were filmed.

Performance (1970, GBR) C-105m. *** D: Donald Cammell, Nicolas Roeg. Starring James Fox, Mick Jagger, Anita Pallenberg, Michele Breton, Ann Sidney, John Burdon. Cult film, an artful exploration of the drives of a generation, starring Fox as a cold-blooded criminal who is at odds with his boss and moves into the flat of Jagger, Pallenberg and Breton. Soon the man is drawn into their psychedelic world. Plot is not important in this often bizarre drama that is fascinating to watch. Fox outdoes his costar in coolness. Script by Cammell, cinematography by Roeg. The direction of both is appropriately impressionistic.

Peril en la Demeure (1985, FRA) C-101m. *** D: Michel Deville. Starring Christophe Malavoy, Nicole Garcia, Michel Piccoli, Richard Bohringer, Anémone, Anaïs Jeanneret, Jean-Claude Jay. Subtle, well-directed drama about guitar teacher Malavoy, who accepts to teach the daughter of Garcia and Piccoli. The woman soon entices him and they have an affair. Will Piccoli find out? And what does professional killer Bohringer have to do with him? Fine score by Brahms, Schubert and Enrique Granados carries this to a satisfying conclusion. Written by the director. English title: PERIL

Perros Callejeros (1976, SPA) C-105m. **½ D: José Antonio de la Loma. Starring Victor Petit, Frank Brana, Xabier Elorriaga, Angel Fernández Franco. Tough drama about adolescent Franco, whose ‘career’ is crime is followed in semi-documentary fashion. He spends some time in a reform school but breaks out and resumes his criminal ways. Rather trivial but fast-paced, with a jarring finale. Reportedly, many of the actors were real-life delinquents. Followed by a sequel in 1983. English title: STREET WARRIORS.

Perry Grant, Agente di Ferro (1966, ITA) C-86m. Scope ** D: Lewis King (=Luigi Capuano). Starring Peter Holden, Giacomo Rossi-Stuart, Marilù Tolo, Seyna Seyn, Umberto D’Orsi, Franco Balducci, Geoffrey Coplestone. Typically talky Italian spy movie, a far cry from James Bond: Agent Holden investigates evildoers’ plans to cause a blackout in New York City and the rest of the world. Too little action in this C-movie. Nice 60s score, though. English title: THE BIG BLACKOUT.

Persecution (1974, GBR) C-91m. *½ D: Don Chaffey. Starring Lana Turner, Trevor Howard, Ralph Bates, Olga Georges-Picot, Suzan Farmer. Quite bizarre but off-putting horror about Bates’ weird relationship to his mother Turner, whose pet cat he killed when he was a child. It seems Turner has bought pet cats again and again – all named Sheba – and the latest feline seems to be very hostile. Tired, boring attempt at suspense, only the aging stars maintain a feeble interest. From the director of ONE MILLION YEARS B.C. (1966). Alternatively known as SHEBA, THE TERROR OF SHEBA, THE GRAVEYARD.

Persona (1966, SWE) 85m. ***½ D: Ingmar Bergman. Starring Bibi Andersson, Liv Ullmann, Margaretha Krook, Gunnar Björnstrand. Demanding psycho drama by one of cinema’s most important auteurs. Actress Ullmann refuses to speak and is hospitalized. Film follows nurse Andersson’s attempt to approach her, break her silence. Difficult to watch but masterfully directed and photographed (by Sven Nykvist). Excellent, bizarre score by Lars Johan Werle.

Per Un Pugno di Dollari (1964, ITA/SPA/GER) C-100m. Scope *** D: Sergio Leone. Starring Clint Eastwood, Gian Maria Volonté, Marianne Koch, Wolfgang Lukschy, José Calvo, Sieghardt Rupp. Eastwood, in his star-making performance, plays a gunslinger, who comes to a small town, where two families are at odds with another. He manipulates them and plays tricks on them, hoping that he will leave the town a rich man. Rather weak plotwise, which shows most in first half of the picture but Leone’s stylish approach and Ennio Morricone’s exceptional score make this an exciting spaghetti western, the first of its kind. Based on Akira Kurosawa’s YOJIMBO. English title: A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS. Followed by PER QUALCHE DOLLARO IN PIU (FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE).

Per Qualche Dollaro in Piu (1965, ITA/SPA/GER) C-130m. Scope ***½ D: Sergio Leone. Starring Clint Eastwood, Lee van Cleef, Gian Maria Volonté, Mario Brega, Klaus Kinski, Josef Egger, Mara Krup, Rosemarie Dexter, Luigi Pistilli. Sequel to the above is a triumph of style, pitting ‘the man with no name’ Eastwood and sinister van Cleef against outlaw Volonté, who is planning to steal money from the El Paso bank. Plot is overwhelmed by stylish, almost melancholy mise-en-scene. Ennio Morricone’s score is brilliant, one of his best. Flashback sequences are especially stunning. Climactic duelling prefigures legendary ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST-showdown. Volonté is superb as the villain, who has more on his mind than just robbing banks. Second in director Leone’s ‘dollar trilogy’, followed by IL BUONO, IL BRUTTO, IL CATTIVO (THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY).

Peter Pan (1953, USA) C-76m. ***½ D: Clyde Geronimi, Wilfred Jackson, Hamilton Luske. Starring the voices of Bobby Driscoll, Kathryn Beaumont, Hans Conried, Bill Thompson, Heather Angel, narrated by Tom Conway. Endearing Disney feature about the boy who never grows up and his involvement with girl Wendy, who learns a great deal about growing up and helps him fight the evil Captain Hook. Marvelous animation makes this a classic, although some of the slapstick action is a little too comic-bookish. The second film version of the J.M. Barrie classic, filmed many more times since.

Peter Pan: Return to Never Land (2002, USA/CDN/AUS) C-72m. ** D: Robin Budd, Donovan Cook. Starring (the voices of) Harriet Owen, Blayne Weaver, Corey Burton, Jeff Bennett. Sequel to the charming Disney classic can’t hold a candle to the original. Wendy’s daughter is whisked away to Peter Pan’s island, where she must help him do battle with Captain Hook. All the (beloved) characters are there, drawn like in the original, but story lacks charm and is just so ordinary. Fans of the original PETER PAN (1953) should reject this.

Peter Pan (2003, USA/AUS) C-113m. Scope ** D: P.J. Hogan. Starring Jason Isaacs, Jeremy Sumpter, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Lynn Redgrave, Richard Briers, Olivia Williams, Ludivine Sagnier, Bruce Spence, narrated by Saffron Burrows. Needlessly updated version of the children’s tale by J.M. Barrie, about the boy who never grows up and his “normal” girlfriend Wendy, who battle the evil Captain Hook in Never-Never Land. There is hardly any charm in this effects-ridden kids’ movie, where the kids seem to have lost their innocence already. But maybe this is what the new generation of children is looking for. Older viewers should prefer the 1953 Disney version or the numerous adaptations for TV.

Pete's Dragon (1977, USA) C-128m. **½ D: Don Chaffey. Starring Helen Reddy, Jim Dale, Mickey Rooney, Red Buttons, Shelley Winters, Sean Marshall, Jane Kean, Jim Backus, Jeff Conaway, Charlie Callas (voice of Elliott). Amusing Disney musical in the tradition of MARY POPPINS and CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, although not as plot-wise and not as magical. A little boy escapes from his foster family thanks to a temporarily invisible (animated) dragon called Elliott. In a nearby town he meets some new friends and enjoys himself, until the family comes there to look for him. Overlong, but filled with nice songs and funny vignettes with the amiable dragon, this cartoon should please kids, if no one else. Originally released at 134m., and later reissued in shorter versions.

Petit Monde de Don Camillo, Le (1952, FRA/ITA) 108m. **½ D: Julien Duvivier. Starring Fernandel, Gino Cervi, Sylvie. Popular comedy about the feud between priest Don Camillo (Fernandel) and Communist mayor Peppone (Cervi). Film is pretty slim plotwise but palatable thanks to some likeable star performances. Its success led to four sequels. Based on a novel by Giovanni Guareschi. English title: THE LITTLE WORLD OF DON CAMILLO.

Pet Sematary (1989, USA) C-103m. M D: Mary Lambert. Starring Dale Midkiff, Fred Gwynne, Denise Crosby, Brad Greenquist. Stephen King. Doctor Midkiff and his family move into their new home and learn of a strange graveyard for pets nearby. When their pet cat dies, neighbor Gwynne shows Midkiff how to resurrect the feline… will this work for humans too? Cruel horror film scripted by Stephen King (from his own novel) loses credibility early on and becomes stupid and offensive. Midkiff turns in a Razzie-award-caliber performance. Especially parents should stay away from this one. Still, it was followed by a sequel in 1992.

Pettson och Findus 3: Tomtemaskinen (2005, SWE/DAN/GER) C-79m. *** D: Jorgen Lerdam, Andres Sörensen. Starring (the voices of) Tord Peterson, Lukas Larsson, Gunnar Uddén. Charming animated feature, the third in the Petterson (Pettson) and Findus series, which in turn was based on a book by Sven Nordqvist (which also inspired a TV series). This one has festive flavor as the old eremite and his talking cat prepare for Christmas. Findus wants to see Santa Claus, so Pett(er)son decides to invent a Santa machine. Sub-standard animation is completely outdone by movie’s old-fashioned charm. German title: MORGEN, FINDUS, WIRD’S WAS GEBEN.

Peur Sur la Ville (1975, FRA/ITA) C-120m. *** D: Henri Verneuil. Starring Jean-Paul Belmondo, Charles Denner, Adalberto-Maria Meril, Lea Massari, Rosy Varte. A serial-killer is roaming the streets of Paris and it’s up to rough cop Belmondo to track him down. Fast-paced action-thriller plays like a cross between SE7EN and SPEED. Released in the U.S. as NIGHT CALLER (at 91m.).

Phantasm IV: Oblivion (1998, USA) C-87m. ** D: Don Coscarelli. Starring A. Michael Baldwin, Reggie Bannister, Bill Thornbury, Angus Scrimm, Heidi Leigh. Fourth installment in the series doesn't bother with a plot and uses scenes from the 1979 original to set up Baldwin and Bannister's continuing battle against the "Tall Man" and his army of midget's from hell. Quite well-made sci-fi/horror film mix proves that a self-perpetuating premise is sometimes better than a ludicrous plot. Fans will embrace this sequel, others be warned: this vague, one-dimensional (!) flick may well be considered a waste of time.

Phantoms (1998, USA) C-96m. **½ D: Joe Chappelle. Starring Peter O'Toole, Joanna Going, Rose McGowan, Liev Schreiber, Ben Affleck, Clifton Powell, Nicky Katt. When two sisters find a small town totally deserted - apart from a few terribly looking corpses - hell breaks loose, as an ancient, shape-shifting monster attacks them and a few local sheriffs, who have come for help. Scientist O'Toole may know the answer to the question of its existence. Fast-paced, thrilling and suspenseful horror thriller that bogs down in the second half due to unsatisfying plot development. Still worth a look, especially for horror aficionados. Based on the bestseller by Dean R. Koontz, who also wrote the screenplay.

Phase IV (1973, GBR) C-86m. *** D: Saul Bass. Starring Nigel Davenport, Lynne Frederick, Michael Murphy, Alan Gifford, Helen Horton, Robert Henderson. Two scientists set up a laboratory in an Arizona desert to study the strange behavior of local ants. It turns out these insects are unusually intelligent, but their intentions, as they besiege the camp, remain a mystery. Enigmatic science-fiction film, highlighted by fascinating photography. Title designer Bass’s only film as a director.

Phenomena (1983, ITA) C-110m. *** D: Dario Argento. Starring Jennifer Connelly, Daria Nicolodi, Donald Pleasence, Dalia di Lazzaro, Patrick Bauchau, Fiore Argento, Michele Soavi. Horror thriller about a 14 year-old American girl who comes to live in a school for girls in Switzerland. A mad killer is roaming the country at night, and as sleepwalking Connelly witnesses one of the murders, she soon becomes the prime target. The same night she befriends etymologist Pleasance, a wheelchair-bound professor who studies insects, to which the girl proves to have a telepathic tie! All classic Argento motifs are present: the protagonist witnessing a murder by an elusive, gloved assassin (L'UCELLO DALLE PIUME DI CRISTALLO), PROFONDO ROSSO), a seemingly harmless and yet disquieting setting (SUSPIRIA), lavish, disturbing camera moves. Above-average plot makes this one of the best of Argento's films. Watch out for the climax! Cut down to 82m. for U.S. release (as CREEPERS).

Phone Booth (2002, USA) C-81m. Scope *** D: Joel Schumacher. Starring Colin Farrell, Kiefer Sutherland, Forest Whitaker, Radha Mitchell, Katie Holmes. Snappy, fast-paced thriller based on a contrivance: Would-be P.R. manager Farrell picks up the phone in a booth on Manhattan and finds himself terrorized by a mysterious stranger, who seems to know a lot about his love affairs and dubious deals. The stranger threatens Farrell to kill him if he hangs up… a psycho-battle begins. Whose nerves will be the first to snap? If you buy into this premise, you will have a good time watching it. Written by Larry Cohen (an expert on B-material like this).

Pi (1998, USA) 84m. **½ D: Darren Aronofsky. Starring Sean Gullette, Mark Margolis, Ben Shenkman, Pamela Hart, Stephen Pearlman, Samia Shoaib, Ajay Naidu. Computer and mathematics genius Gullette is homophobic, paranoid and slowly losing his mind. He works on a universal code that explains the entire universe. When he discovers a formula that can predict the rates at the stock market, he is soon a wanted man. Is there God to be found in the formula? Disturbing, unconventional experimental drama shows style in direction, camerawork and score, but surreal plotline doesn’t take you into the heart of the matter and treats you somewhat as an outsider. Well-worth a look, but not for all tastes.

Pianeta Errante, Il (1965, ITA) C-82m. Scope M D: Anthony M. Dawson (=Antonio Margheriti). Starring Jack Stuart (=Giacomo Rossi-Stuart), Ombretta Colli, Peter Martell. One of those films that gave science-fiction a bad name. Jack Stuart is out to save the Earth from a planet that is speeding towards it. Colorful and naive but cheap, phony effects don’t even qualify it as corny fun. U.S. titles: WAR BETWEEN THE PLANETS and PLANET ON THE PROWL. Mario Bava’s TERRORE NELLO SPAZIO, shot the same year, remains the best (Italian) genre film.

Pianist, The (2002, GBR/FRA/GER/POL) C-148m. *** D: Roman Polanski. Starring Adrien Brody, Thomas Kretschmann, Frank Finlay, Maureen Lipman, Emilia Fox, Ed Stoppard, Julia Ravner. Acclaimed depiction of the Nazi invasion of Poland and the creation of a Jewish ghetto in Warsaw, as seen through the eyes of the main character Brody, a pianist, whose survival throughout the terrors of war can be seen as a miracle. Impressive sets, good performances in war drama that marked Polanski’s return to his own childhood. He won a Best Director Oscar for this work, so did Ronald Harwood for his screenplay (based on the real Wladyslaw Szpilman’s memoirs).

Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975, AUS) C-107m. *** D: Peter Weir. Starring Rachel Roberts, Vivean Gray, Helen Morse, Kirsty Child, Anne(-Louise) Lambert, Karen Robson, Jane Vallis. Australian cult director Peter Weir’s second feature is an atmospheric mood-piece set in 1900, where a group of school girls make a day trip to Hanging Rock in the Australian wilderness. When all their watches stop at noon, they realize something eerie will happen… and indeed four of them disappear without a trace. Weir emphasizes the beauty and naiveté of innocence in this haunting film, making his actors pose like for paintings (recalling Ridley Scott’s 1977 THE DUELLISTS). Excellent score by Bruce Smeaton includes pieces by Mozart, Bach and Beethoven, and an ethereal flute de pan by Gheorghe Zamfir Beautiful photography by Russell Boyd. Based on a novel by Joan Lindsay. The director followed this with the equally fascinating THE LAST WAVE (1978). Originally shown at 115m., re-edited by Weir to present length.

Picture Perfect (1997, USA) C-105m. *** D: Glenn Gordon Caron. Starring Jennifer Aniston, Jay Mohr, Kevin Bacon, Olympia Dukakis, Illeana Douglas, Kevin Dunn. Aniston is a happy single, then gets forced by her firm to get engaged, but her friend has already presented a photograph with her fiancée – a man she has briefly met at a wedding. Just then, her heartthrob (Bacon) seems to fall in love with her. Basically all critics agree: Cute but forgettable romance, which gives the viewer just what he expects. Aniston looks pretty, the romantic entanglements are interesting. Score by Carter Burwell.

Pieces (1981, USA/SPA/PUE) C-85m. ** D: Juan Piquer Simón. Starring Christopher George, Lynda Day George, Frank Brana, Edmund Purdom, Ian Sera, Paul L. Smith, Jack Taylor, Gérard Tichy. Typical slasher horror movie, more violent than most examples of this subgenre. 40 years after hacking up his mother with an axe for being too strict, a psychopath resumes his murderous ways at a university – with a chainsaw. Rather stupid but watchable thriller with some gross-out gore effects. Co-written by – you guessed it – Joe D’Amato (as John Shadow). Also known as ONE THOUSAND CRIES HAS THE NIGHT.

Pierrot le Fou (1965, FRA/ITA) C-110m. Scope *** D: Jean-Luc Godard. Starring Jean-Paul Belmondo, Anna Karina, Graziella Galvani, Henri Attal, Samuel Fuller, Jean-Pierre Léaud, Dominique Zardi. Matter-of-taste art house classic about aimless Belmondo, who takes it on the lam with beautiful Karina after she kills a gangster. Predates many later lovers-on-the-lam pictures, but cannot really be compared to any because of Godard’s unique, artsy presentation. Ultimately, a fascinating experiment that was reportedly shot without a script. Strong, poetic images are more important than the plot here. Based on the novel Obsession by Lionel White. English titles: CRAZY PETE, PIERROT GOES WILD.

Pig Farm, The (2000, USA) C-80m. **½ D: Michael Lee Barlin. Starring Richard Alan Johnston, Jason Hildebrandt, Aaron Waiton, David Orange. Not-bad indie debut feature about two losers who run a pig farm but make hardly any money from it. When a hitman learns that their pigs devour anything, one of them strikes a deal, a deadly one at that. Quite good black comedy, hampered by low budget and odd scoring.

Piglet’s Big Movie (2003, USA) C-75m. **½ D: Francis Glebas. Starring (the voices of) John Fiedler, Jim Cummings, Andre Stojka, Kath Souci, Nikita Hopkins, Peter Cullen, Ken Sansom, Tom Wheatley. Animated feature for small children based on the books of A.A. Milne. Piglet thinks he is of no use and decides to run away, which leads to a search party and flashbacks to some adventures with Piglet. Starts out mildly, improves later. Songs sung by Carly Simon. Followed by POOH’S HEFFALUMP MOVIE (2005).