Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 13, 1993 TAG: 9303130267
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: C-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
ROMANCES LIKELY TO BE EVEN BETTER ON TAPE
Today's video market, like the movie industry in general, is divided between slickly made, old-fashioned productions and more experimental independent films. Note three new romances, all popular in theaters and sure to be hits on tape, where they're even more effective.
"Honeymoon in Vegas" is getting most of the publicity in this group because it's the most conventional. Strip away all the references to Elvis and the globe-trotting plot elements, and what you've got left is a highly polished romantic comedy with proven stars playing stock characters. In short, it's an updated Rock Hudson-Doris Day vehicle. That's not meant as criticism or a backhanded compliment; Hollywood can handle that kind of entertainment flawlessly.
If you missed this one in theaters, make a point to find it in the video store. Nicholas Cage is Jack Singer, private detective and compulsive gambler, who finally screws up enough courage to propose to his girlfriend Betsy (Sarah Jessica Parker). Off they go to Las Vegas. But before they get married, they're spotted by professional gambler Tommy Korman (James Caan). He thinks Betsy is the living image of his dead wife and decides to win her. Literally.
It's nothing more than the standard boy-meets-girl-boy-loses-girl plot, but the stars and writer-director Andrew Bergman treat it like it was brand new. "Honeymoon in Vegas" is a thoroughly enjoyable featherweight.
"Singles," on the other hand, is more challenging. It, too, is a romance - three romances, actually - but writer-director Cameron Crowe takes a lot of chances. The key here is the characters. There's not a stereotype in the bunch. They seem as fully human as the high school kids Crowe wrote about in "Fast Times at Ridgemont High." These 20- to 30-somethings are more mature but still quirky, lonely and unsure of themselves.
The setting is Seattle, with a strong emphasis on the rock music that's so important there. Steve (Campbell Scott) is a city planner who meets Linda (Kyra Sedgwick) at a nightclub. Janet (Bridget Fonda) thinks that Cliff (Matt Dillon), a talent-challenged musician, will never settle down with her. Her sights have been lowered to the point where she's looking for someone who'll say "Bless you" when she sneezes. Debbie (Shiela Kelly) is still actively (and constantly) in search of Mr. Right.
Crowe weaves their stories together, mixing drama and comedy in roughly equal measures. If the balance isn't completely comfortable, it is believable. And the ensemble cast is letter-perfect. In keeping with the cool, rainy setting, the actors seem to have been deglamorized. Lacking the conventional Hollywood sheen, the characters and setting are much more realistic.
"Singles" really is one of those movies that's more enjoyable on home video than it was in theaters. The intimate story loses nothing in the intimate medium. Also, some outtakes from the film have been added at the end of the commercial release of the cassette. They were not available on preview copies.
"Mediterraneo," winner of last year's Oscar for best foreign-language film, is a different sort of romance. It manages to combine the best of big-budget production values with a relaxed, independent sensibility.
It's an anti-war story about a squad of Italian soldiers who are stationed on an Aegean island and, apparently, forgotten by their superiors. They're not particularly enthusiastic warriors to begin with, and the film is the story of their "going native."
The ensemble cast is unknown in this country, and no one does a real star turn. That's as it should be. This is a story that's seen through the forgiving haze of memory. Director Gabriele Salvatores tells it at a relaxed, drowsy pace, but he's not sloppy. Notice how those strong colors - the blues of sky and sea, the whites of stucco walls and sand - are balanced in each shot.
For comparative purposes, think of Fellini's "Amarcord." It has the same lyrical sense and a sometimes humorous approach to sexuality. And, most importantly, that indefinable sense of place that's so . . . so Mediterranean, like a glass or two of good wine at lunch on a warm sunny afternoon and then a nap later.
No, that's not what videophiles want from every movie they watch. But if it sounds appealing on a raw, rainy day, take a look at "Mediterraneo." I think you won't be disappointed. It's due in stores next Wednesday.
Next week: the Good, the Bad and the Unrated!
New releases
Candyman: ***
Stars Virginia Madsen and Tony Todd. Directed by Bernard Rose. Columbia Tristar. 101 min. Rated R for graphic violence, brief nudity, subject matter.
On one level, this is a basic gory-effects, blood-'n-guts horror variation on the campfire story of the hook-hand guy. At the same time, it's visually sophisticated and boasts a score by noted minimalist composer Philip Glass. Well-acted by Madsen and Todd.
Mistress: *** Stars Robert Wuhl, Martin Landau, Robert De Niro. Directed by Barry Primus. (Live) 115 minutes. Rated R.
Wuhl plays a screenwriter whose integrity is battered in the wheeling and dealing of Tinsel Town. The movie is at its strongest when it depicts the maddening situations filmmakers on the periphery of the business encounter when trying to launch a project. At its weaker moments, the movie becomes melodramatic and strident about the compromises the business forces on its true visionaries. But it's an ultimately entertaining and involving stroy about how a scriptwriter is buffeted by the unpredictable forces of The Deal.
Mr. Baseball: Stars Tom Selleck, Aya Takanashi, Ken Takakura. Directed by Fred Schepisi. (MCA/Universal). Rated PG-13.
This comedy about a once-famous American first baseman who is forced to play out his career in Japan is a weak attempt to promote a feeling of hands-across-the-water congeniality between the two countries. In short, it strikes out and hits itself in the head with the bat.\ \ What the ratings mean:
**** Memorable. One of the best of its kind; maybe worth owning.
*** Outstanding. An excellent video, worth searching out.
** Average. You've seen better, you've seen worse, but if it sounds interesting . . .
* Poor. This is why your VCR has a fast-forward button.
A waste of time and an insult to your intelligence. More a warning than a rating.
Note: Star ratings are not available for reviews from wire services.
The Essentials:\ \ Honeymoon In Vegas: **1/2 Columbia Tristar. 95 min. Rated PG-13 for subject matter, some strong language, mild violence.\ \ Singles: *** Warner. 100 min. Rated PG-13 for sexual content, subject matter, some strong language.\ \ Mediterraneo: ***1/2 Buena Vista. 90 min. Rated R for some nudity, strong language, sexual material.