Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, April 15, 1995 TAG: 9504170012
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
For my money, this Hong Kong import is the best and most ambitious action film since ``The Wild Bunch.'' In fact, the two are distinctly similar in style and theme, though Woo's work has a more complex moral dimension than Peckinpah's. Where Peckinpah's outlaws are at the end of their lives - and know it all too clearly - Woo's policemen are caught in Byzantine schemes that are played out in a bizarre, no-limits plot.
The film revolves around Tequila (Chow Yun-Fat), a brash police detective, and Tony (Tony Leung) who's working undercover with a gang that's smuggling guns into Hong Kong. The cassette version released last year was dubbed into English, and the sides of the widescreen image were trimmed to fit the TV screen. This new Criterion laser disc from Voyager contains both dubbed and subtitled soundtracks, and it's letterboxed to include the entire frame.
In short, the people at Voyager, particularly producer Mark Rance and audio coordinator Mark C. Brems, have done their usual fine work. Watching this version is almost like seeing a completely new film. It's so engrossing that I ignored the commentary soundtrack by director Woo, producer Terrence Chang and others. These asides are always fascinating, unless you simply want to watch the movie.
In her liner notes, film scholar Barbara Scharres suggests that the wild ending - an extended shootout and evacuation of a hospital - is a metaphor for the coming Chinese takeover of Hong Kong. She makes a good case for that interpretation. Woo's violent vision is so complicated that ``Hard Boiled'' is worth yet another look, perhaps with Woo's comments, to find out if she's right.
Moving from disc to tape, we find ``The Advocate,'' which was the source of some controversy last year when it received an NC-17 rating. The home video version being released this week has an R rating, the offending bawdy bedroom scene having been trimmed slightly.
This BBC production is a curious legal thriller with a medieval setting. Writer-director Leslie Megahey says that all of the cases referred to in the film are real. Despite their bizarre quality - even when compared to legal matters being thrashed out in Los Angeles now - it's not hard to accept their reality.
The setting is France, circa 1400. The story begins when Courtois (Colin Firth), an idealistic young lawyer, leaves the hectic pace and political games of Paris for a new practice in a small town. His more worldly and skeptical assistant, Mathieu (scene stealer Jim Carter), doesn't believe things will be so simple. The town already has a lawyer (Donald Pleasance), and the courts have to answer to both church and secular authorities whose jurisdictions sometimes overlap and conflict.
The central mystery concerns the murder of a Jewish boy and the arrival of a group of gypsies. The other key players are the local priest (Ian Holm), magistrate (Michael Gough), lord (Nicole Williamson) and his ditzy daughter (Lysette Anthony).
The production values are not the most lavish ever seen, but there's nothing wrong with them. The film doesn't have the dense historical texture of ``The Name of the Rose'' or ``The Return of Martin Guerre,'' and Courtois's mindset seems to be more 20th century than 15th. At the same time, it's a joy to watch such a talented cast of character actors working with good material, and the plot is so tricky and intriguing that ``The Advocate'' is never boring. Recommended.
``Deconstructing Sarah'' begins strong, ends weak.
The title character (Sheila Kelley) is a hotshot advertising executive with a secret life. To those who know her, she's a proper businesswoman who's good at her job, dates suitable men and seldom orders anything stronger than Perrier and lime to drink. But Sarah also has a taste for the wild side. Some nights she dyes her hair red, slinks into tight dresses and heads for the closest biker bar, where her drink of choice is tequila with Johnnie Walker back.
The two sides remain separate until she picks up Kenny (A Martinez) who wants something more than a one-night stand. Sarah's best friend, Elizabeth (Rachel Ticotin), knows something is wrong but can't get Sarah to confide in her.
While they're setting up the conflicts, writer Lee Rose and veteran director Craig Baxley keep things moving with admirable trickiness. The characters are realistic and properly enigmatic. But just when the story should build on that premise, it falls back on silly visual cliches - the guy hiding in the backseat of the car - and such lame dialogue as ``Sometimes you never know anyone.'' Also, mystery fans will figure out the surprise ending much too soon.
NEW RELEASES THIS WEEK:
Ed Wood *** 1/2
Starring Johnny Depp, Martin Landau, Sarah Jessica Parker, Bill Murray, Patricia Arquette. Directed by Tim Burton. Buena Vista. 127 min. Rated R for strong language, subject matter.
Despite its unorthodox subject matter, Tim Burton's film is a winning comic drama with genuine heart. Essentially, it's the true story of the first years of Ed Wood Jr.'s Hollywood career, and his friendship with aging horror star Bela Lugosi (Oscar-winner Landau). Fine supporting work from an ensemble cast; crisp black and white photography. One of the year's best that never found the audience it deserved in theaters.
(Wood's fans can also find the master's original work in a new series of low-priced tapes ($9.95) from Rhino Home Video.)
Quiz Show *** 1/2
Starring Ralph Fiennes, Rob Morrow, John Turturro, Paul Scofield. Directed by Robert Redford. Buena Vista. Hollywood Pictures Home Video. 128 min. Rated PG-13 for language.
Director Robert Redford's look at the 1958 scandal behind the primetime game show "Twenty-One" is driven by an emotional coolness that's rare in American movies. Turturro gets a bit wild as the contestant who's forced to make room for golden boy Charles Van Doren (Fiennes). Morrow is the congressional investigator who uncovers the fix. It's an absorbing story until the end, when it pins blame on the NBC president whose involvement has never been proved.
Double Dragon *** (for kids)
Starring Robert Patrick, Julia Nickson. Directed by James Yukich. MCA/Universal. 93 min. Rated PG-13 for violence.
This is an entertaining little martial arts comedy based on a video game and aimed at younger audiences. The pace moves along at a nice clip; the action scenes are well-staged and choreographed without graphic violence; the language is clean. Just the thing for kids who have outgrown Ninja Turtles and Power Rangers, but aren't ready for John Woo films.
THE ESSENTIALS:
Hard Boiled ****
The Criterion Collection. Voyager. 126 min. Unrated, contains graphic violence, strong language.
(For Woo fans who haven't made the great leap to laser, the Orion tape version of "Hard Boild" has just been repriced at $14.95.)
The Advocate ***
Miramax Home Entertainment. 112 min. Rated R for nudity, sexual content, strong language, some violence.
Deconstructing Sarah **
MCA/Universal. 92 min. Rated R for subject matter, brief nudity, language, violence.
by CNB