THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, October 19, 1994 TAG: 9410190075
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Craig Shapiro
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
WHAT SAY we disepense with the formalities and get to The Couch Report?
``CROOKLYN'' (1994, MCA/Universal). Spike Lee's excellent comedy-drama is a change of pace in several ways. Set in Brooklyn of the 1970s, Lee directs with a noticeably gentler, nostalgic touch. The structure is different too: Instead of a linear story, Lee simply turns his camera on the Carmichaels and shares the family's joys and sorrows. Alfre Woodard is the no-nonsense mom; Zelda Harris is wonderfully wise as 10-year-old Troy.
(CAST: Alfre Woodard, Delroy Lindo, Zelda Harris. RATED: PG-13 for language)
``SIRENS'' (1994, Miramax). Like Ulysses, a vicar and his wife are tempted when they visit remote Australia to dissuade a renegade artist whose erotic paintings offend the church. There's lots of arguing over the role of art and the like, all tempered by enough good-natured naughtiness to keep it fun. Hugh Grant turns in another likable performance as the stuffed-shirt clergyman; Tara Fitzgerald, as his wife, simmers, then boils.
(CAST: Hugh Grant, Tara Fitzgerald, Elle MacPherson. RATED: R for nudity, language)
``THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT III'' (1994, MGM/UA). What's not to like? Fred Astaire. Gene Kelly. Cyd Charisse. June Allyson. Esther Williams. Elvis. Lena Horne. The new chapter in the popular series also includes never-seen-before outtakes, including ``Mr. Monotony,'' a song Judy Garland did for ``Easter Parade'' that was dropped. They truly don't make them like this anymore.
(CAST: You name it. RATED: G)
``CLEAN SLATE'' (1994, MGM/UA). Can't understand the critical beating this Dana Carvey comedy took. He's so darned likable, and he's easily up to leading-man demands as a P.I. struck with a rare type of amnesia: Whenever he goes to sleep, he forgets everything. There are enough plot turns to keep you guessing. OK, it isn't ``The Maltese Falcon,'' but you could do worse with 90 minutes.
(CAST: Dana Carvey, Valeria Golino. RATED: PG-13 for language, mild violence, innuendo)
``NO ESCAPE'' (1994, HBO). A 21st century take on ``Papillon'' and ``The Road Warrior,'' with Ray Liotta unjustly sent to an island prison split between the bloody Outsiders and peacenik Insiders. The action sequences are quite good, and Liotta gives his character an appeal way beyond the usual lunkheaded superman.
(CAST: Ray Liotta, Stuart Wilson, Lance Henriksen. RATED: R for violence, language)
``SODBUSTERS'' (1994, Republic). Except for a snippet or two of dialogue, this spoof of Westerns shoots blanks. Too bad, because it's directed by Eugene Levy and features his ``SCTV'' cronies and some decent character actors. Kris Kristofferson is the stranger who rallies the settlers against a ruthless land baron.
(CAST: Kris Kristofferson, Fred Willard, John Vernon. RATED: PG-13 for mild violence, language)
Also: ``A Better Tomorrow,'' the 1986 John Woo gangster flick (unrated); family fare: ``Monkey Trouble'' and ``White Fang 2: The Myth of the White Wolf'' (both PG); Jack Wagner ``Trapped in Space'' (PG-13); ``The Regenerated Man,'' a sci-fi Jekyll and Hyde (unrated), and two with familiar story lines: ``Guyver 2: Dark Hero'' and ``Phantasm 3'' (both R).
Next Wednesday: ``The Hudsucker Proxy,'' ``The Cowboy Way,'' ``Guarding Tess,'' ``Jimmy Hollywood,'' ``George Balanchine's The Nutcracker,'' ``Crush,'' ``Clifford,'' ``Plughead Rewired: Circuitry Man 2,'' ``Shrunken Heads''
Oct. 28: ``Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs''
TOP TAPES (in Billboard):
Sales: ``The Nightmare Before Christmas,'' ``The 3 Tenors in Concert 1994,'' ``Sleepless in Seattle,'' ``D2: The Mighty Ducks,'' ``Beethoven's 2nd''
Rentals: ``The Crow,'' ``Four Weddings and a Funeral,'' ``Schindler's List,'' ``Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult,'' ``The Ref'' by CNB