ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, June 8, 1996 TAG: 9606090013
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 10 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: it came from the video store
SOURCE: MIKE MAYO
This week, we have video suspense - four new releases that range from pretty good to decidedly non-nail-biting.
It seems that every legal thriller you see these days eventually climbs onto the high board, throws logic away, dives off and dares you to follow it into the pool. I suspect that's because the work of real lawyers is so tedious. And filmmakers know that it's better to be unbelievable than boring. (On screen anything's better than boring.) So, attorneys hop into the sack with clients, withhold evidence and wander alone into threatening places late at night.
In "Portraits of a Killer," Elaine Taylor (Jennifer Grey) does all that and more to prove that artist George Kendall (Costas Mandylor) didn't kill those young hookers even though his photographs of them are about to be published in a book and this development certainly won't hurt his sales at all. Toss in a politically ambitious D.A. (Patricia Charbonneau) and a tough seen-it-all cop (Michael Ironside), stir vigorously and boil the pot until it's done to an appropriately nutty turn.
This Canadian effort has polished production values and the cast does fair work. Curiously, though, Jennifer Grey's facial features seem somehow to have softened and become less distinct. She doesn't look like the same young woman we saw in "Dirty Dancing."
"Terrified" is one of those quirky suspense films that defies easy categorization or review. It's a guessing game.
The audience knows that Olive (Heather Graham) is a troubled young woman. But when she claims that she's being stalked by a stranger and is attacked in her apartment, is she fantasizing or telling the truth? Are director James Merendino and co-writer Megan Heath taking Roman Polanski's "Repulsion" as their model? Or is it "Psycho"? Or are they up to something else entirely?
Balancing that elliptical uncertainty, much of the dialogue seems absolutely authentic. Despite some narrative lapses and a conclusion that won't sit well with all viewers, this one still earns a recommendation for fans of psychological puzzles.
"The Wharf Rat" gets off to a strong start but runs into the usual cliches and never recovers.
Petey (Lou Diamond Phillips) is the boss waterfront smuggler in an unnamed city. Doc (Judge Reinhold) is a corrupt cop who's trying to steal the same stuff Petey moves. Dexter (Rachel Ticotin) is a reporter looking for a story. For a time, the three characters' moral ambiguity and conflicting goals make for an interesting, unpredictable story.
What are they going to do? Who's going to be betrayed?
The second half turns into a moderately engaging caper flick. Overall, the performances are good and writer/director Jimmy Huston has created colorful characters. He also keeps things moving quickly, even when his plot is retracing familiar territory.
"The Takeover" is a low-octane gangster movie that attempts to do more than its budget will allow. The central problem here is pace. It's so slow you may wonder if there's something wrong with your VCR. Maybe the belts need tightening.
Ex-cons Jonathan (David Amos) and Mickey (Gene Mitchell) are caught in the middle when Chicago gangsters (Billy Drago and John Savage) move in on the L.A. cocaine business, and the local boss (Nick Mancuso) objects. Though the film's debts to John Woo are obvious, the plot is still fairly inventive, but unlike Woo, director Troy Cook shows no affinity for physical action.
Next week: Dwight Yoakam on video!
Have a question about home video or film? Contact your favorite video columnist at P.O. Box 2491; Roanoke, VA 24010, or by e-mail at 75331.2603@compuserve.com.
New releases this week:
Sabrina **
Starring Harrison Ford, Julia Ormond, Greg Kinnear. Directed by Sidney Pollack. Paramount. 127 min. Rated PG for subject matter.
A romance like this ought to be vintage cinematic champagne, a celluloid fantasy of glamour, wealth and sexy elegance. The 1954 film starring Humphrey Bogart and Audrey Hepburn came close to perfection. While it's tempting to dismiss this remake with Harrison Ford and Julia Ormond as cheap California fizzy water, that's not fair. It's better than that, but still not quite good enough.
- Mike Mayo
Father of the Bride Part II **
Starring Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, Kimberly Williams. Directed by Charles Shyer. Buena Vista/Touchstone. 106 min. Rated PG for subject matter.
This sappy schmaltz makes "Free Willy" look like "Natural Born Killers." As a sequel to a remake, it's a tepid comedy about parenthood with the stars taking over roles played by Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett and Elizabeth Taylor in 1951's "Father's Little Dividend."
- Mike Mayo
Lawnmower Man 2: Beyond Cyberspace ** 1/2
(On video it's called Lawnmower Man 2: Jobe's War)
Starring Patrick Bergin. Directed by Farhad Mann. Turner/ New Line. 90 min. Rated PG-13 for violence, strong language.
This one's less a sequel than a cinematic videogame. The pace, thin characters, simple plot and whiz-bang computer effects make it more game-like than such recent releases as "Mortal Kombat" and "Street Fighter." As such, it's a good s-f adventure for teen audiences.
- Mike Mayo
Sudden Death *
Starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, Powers Booth. Directed by Peter Hyams. MCA/Universal. Rated R for violence, strong language, locker room nudity.
Like the uninspired premise - terrorists taking the vice president hostage at a hockey game - this action flick has all the flaws of a played-out formula. One fight scene pits our hero against a team mascot, a guy dressed up in a big penguin suit. It's not supposed to be funny, but moments like that venture close to "Naked Gun" territory. So does the special-effects conclusion.
- Mike Mayo
Two If By Sea **1/2
Starring Sandra Bullock and Dennis Leary. Warner. Rated R. 105 minutes.
Bullock and Leary create some sparks but not enough fire to change the predictable shape of this romantic comedy. He's a thief, she's his resourceful girlfriend, and they're trying to make this heist his last. Surprise! (not). Things get complicated.
- Katherine Reed The Essentials:
Portraits of a Killer ** LIVE Entertainment. 93 min. Rated R for strong language, violence, subject matter, drug use.
Terrified *** A-Pix. 95 min. Rated R for subject matter, violence, strong language, sexual content, brief nudity.
The Wharf Rat ** 1/2 Paramount. 88 min. Rated R for violence, strong language, some sexual content.
The Takeover * 1/2 LIVE. 91 min. Rated R for violence, strong language, brief nudity.
LENGTH: Long : 133 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Heather Graham is on the run in A-Pix Entertainment'sby CNBR-rated "Terrified."