Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, May 21, 1994 TAG: 9405230113
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: B-12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Mike Mayo
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
He's in the middle of Wyoming nowhere, sleeping in his rust bucket Caddy, out of work because of a bad knee and out of money after he spends his last $5 on gas. He's not a typical hero for a Hollywood movie, but then, ``Red Rock West'' isn't a typical Hollywood movie.
It's an independent production, a movie made outside the studio system. As the film industry becomes more conservative and averse to risky material, these independents are often the most interesting stories. ``Red Rock West'' is one of two new independents that just hit video stores, and an ``indie'' hit from the early 1980s is about to be re-released.
From that curious beginning, ``Red Rock West'' becomes a quirky thriller that's consistently surprising. The other major characters are a suspicious husband (J.T. Walsh), his seemingly faithless wife (Lara Flynn Boyle) and a hitman (Dennis Hopper) with a poor sense of timing. What happens among the four of them is simultaneously so goofy and so inevitable that you really don't want to know anything more about the story.
By now, mystery fans will have noticed several similarities in plot and setting to another fine independent production, ``Blood Simple.'' But the Dahl brothers - producer/writer Rick and writer/director John - aren't trying to be quite as intense as the Coen brothers. This film, like their earlier effort, ``Kill Me Again,'' is more complexly plotted than ``Blood Simple'' and relies less on the shock effect of individual scenes.
Videophiles who lack a taste for the unusual may not be completely taken by this wild tale, but ``Red Rock West'' has already developed a strong following in its curiously checkered release pattern. The film has been shown on cable TV; it was a last-minute replacement at last year's Virginia Festival of American Film; and it's even enjoying a limited theatrical run. Now it's in your favorite video store, too.
``Ruby in Paradise'' was also a welcome last-minute addition at the Charlottesville festival.
In the fullest sense of the term, it's a ``women's picture'' about young Ruby Gissing (Ashley Judd) who leaves her no-account Tennessee husband and takes off on her own. She winds up in Panama City, Fla., the self-described ``redneck Riviera.'' The rest of the story might be summed up as ``girl finds job; girl loses job; girl gets job back'' or something to that effect.
But the plot is less important than pace and sensibility. Writer-director Victor Nunez lets the story spin itself out in a leisurely way, revealing character slowly. For some tastes, the action will seem slow, but this isn't a movie to hurry through. The performances are first rate all the way through. Bentley Mitchum is a fine bad guy, but the film belongs to Ashley Judd who appears to do an effortless job of non-acting.
Discovering a rare talent like hers is one of the real joys of independent productions.
When it was first released back in 1981, no one realized how popular and influential John Carpenter's ``Escape from New York'' would be. After all, it's just a low-budget ($6 million) s-f adventure flick. Who knew that in the 1990s those little entertainments would be inflated into huge blockbusters?
That's exactly what happened and in the new ``Director's Special Edition,'' due in stores next Wednesday, Carpenter explains how it all came about. In a fairly long interview, he talks about the contributions that people like Nick Castle and future ``Terminator'' director James Cameron made to the film. He also goes into considerable detail about the actual filming, much of it done in downtown St. Louis after a fire.
Watching the film itself again, it's clear that Carpenter's tight plot structure, relentless pace and his bleak vision of the future had a strong effect on other filmmakers. Today's s-f shoot-'em-ups may have larger explosions, more highly paid stars, more baroque special effects and more graphic violence, but they're not any more enjoyable than ``Escape from New York.'' It's an independent production that's well worth a second look.
By the way, this edition also contains the original trailer and some footage from an introductory scene cut from the film.
Next week: It was a very good year ...
New releases this week:
The War Room ***
Starring James Carville, George Stephanopoulous. Produced and directed by D.A. Pennebaker and Chris Hegedus. Vidmark. 93 min. Unrated, contains some strong language.
This fly-on-the-wall view of the inner workings of the Clinton presidential campaign is a fascinating political documentary. Rabid Clinton-bashers and bleating ``dittoheads'' won't find much to enjoy here. For everyone else, though, it's a terrific look back at a hard-fought and dramatic campaign.
The Piano **
Starring Holly Hunter, Harvey Kietel, Sam O'Neill. Written and directed by Jane Campion. LIVE. 121 min. Rated R for nudity, sexual content, violence.
This is just the kind of artful, beautifully made, sexy picture that plays well with some audiences and turns off others. The story involves a mute woman in a love triangle in 19th century New Zealand. It's too slow, too posed and too different for casual entertainment. And despite the quality of the production, it's emotionally cool and distant. As for the ending, some of us think that Wile E. Coyote did it better.
Rudy **
Starring Sean Astin. Directed by David Anspaugh. Columbia TriStar. 112 min. Rated PG for some mild language, athletic violence.
Here's another cliched, heart-warming sports movie based on a true story. Compared to others in the genre, it's better than most, but that's also the problem. There are a lot of sports movies out there and this one does little to separate itself from the pack. Sean Astin does a good job as an undersized, dyslexic kid who fights his way onto the Notre Dame football team but there are no surprises here.
Ghost in the Machine **
Starring Karen Allen. Directed by Rachel Talalay. FoxVideo. 92 min. Rated R for graphic special effects, violence, strong language.
This fair little low-budget science-fiction horror movie is working with some of the same concepts that were used in ``The Lawnmower Man'' and ``Shocker.'' Like those two, it has some interesting special effects, but it's never very involving or frightening.
THE ESSENTIALS:
Red Rock West *** 1/2 Columbia Tristar. 97 min. Rated R for violence, strong language, sexual content.
Ruby in Paradise *** Republic.115 min. Rated R for sexual content, strong language, brief nudity.
Escape From New York *** New Line Home Video. 106 min. Rated R for violence, strong language.
by CNB