THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 15, 1995 TAG: 9502150054
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: CRAIG SHAPIRO
LENGTH: Medium: 94 lines
TIMING REALLY is everything, even in the video business. Take ``Natural Born Killers,'' which was originally set for release last month.
Oliver Stone's indictment of the culture of violence, and the media that feed it, is about as subtle as a flying mallet. It's a black joy ride not for the faint-hearted. Critics crowed; moviegoers shelled out a cool $50 million. So why wait? Timing. Warner pushes the due date back to Valentine's Day and Bam! You've got a punchline that can't miss.
The young romantics here are Mickey and Mallory Knox, mass murderers who become media darlings as they burn their way through the American Southwest. It's based on a story by Quentin Tarantino, who took his name off the script because of Stone's rewrites, and stars Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis.
But there's no question that Stone and his editing-room cronies deserve most of the kudos. ``Natural Born Killers'' (R for extreme violence, language and brief nudity) is nothing less than visionary: Angles and technique switch in an instant. Images jump from color to black and white. Sometimes, they're animated. Mallory's childhood becomes a sitcom co-starring Rodney Dangerfield. There is simply no way to absorb it all during one sitting.
Sure, Stone rubs it in your face, but that's his M.O. And yeah, ``NBK'' had more oomph on the big screen. Seeing it on video, though, is a natural.
Other movies have done the lovers on the lam thing, too. Here are some to keep in mind next time you're feeling romantic.
``Bonnie & Clyde'' (1967). One of the great movies ever, with Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty as real-life, Depression era outlaws Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. It was nominated for the four top Oscars.
``Badlands'' (1974). Martin Sheen gives a terrific performance as Charlie Starkweather, who, with a 15-year-old schoolgirl (played by Sissy Spacek), went on a killing spree in the 1950s. Genuinely disturbing.
``True Romance'' (1993). A mix of violence and black humor that rivals ``Natural Born Killers.'' Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette star; Tony Scott directs from a script by Tarantino.
``The Sugarland Express'' (1974). Steven Spielberg's first feature film is based on a true story about a young woman who helps her husband break out of prison to save their son from adoption.
``The Getaway'' (1993). There's little to recommend this Alec Baldwin-Kim Basinger remake because the 1972 original with Steve McQueen and Ali MacGraw wasn't so hot for starters.
Haven't seen ``Wild at Heart'' or ``Kalifornia,'' so you're on your own.
TOP TAPES (in Billboard):
Sales: ``The Mask,'' ``Speed,'' ``Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,'' ``The Land Before Time II,'' ``Jurassic Park''
Rentals: ``True Lies,'' ``The Client,'' ``The Mask,'' ``Blown Away,'' ``Renaissance Man'' THE COUCH REPORT
``A Good Man in Africa'' (MCA/Universal, 1994). Director Bruce Beresford uses a broad stroke, but his satire covers every corner from African politics to British protocol. Too bad it didn't get more notice in the theaters. Colin Friels is quite funny as the diplomat in over his head.
(CAST: Sean Connery, Colin Friels, Louis Gossett Jr., John Lithgow. RATED: R for nudity, language)
``Barcelona'' (New Line, 1994). A witty romantic-comedy that will play to fans of ``Four Weddings and a Funeral.'' Two Yankee cousins argue over life, love and emotional and national exile. The music and pace help set the mood. From writer/director Whit Stillman (``Metropolitan'').
(CAST: Taylor Nichols, Chris Eigeman, Tushka Bergen. RATED: PG-13 for mild language, themes)
``In the Army Now'' (Hollywood, 1994). Surprise! Pauly Shore is good for a giggle. Still, this comedy - ``Stripes'' in the desert - doesn't answer the big question: How does this guy keep getting work?
(CAST: Pauly Shore, David Alan Grier, Lori Petty, Andy Dick. RATED: PG-13 for mild language)
Also: Albert Brooks and Brendan Fraser in ``The Scout'' (PG-13); ``Remote Control,'' a comedy from Iceland (unrated); the thriller ``American Yakuza'' (R), and serious sequelitis: ``The Next Karate Kid'' (PG), ``Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love'' (unrated), and ``Night Siege Project: Shadowchaser 2'' (R)
Tuesday: ``Fresh,'' ``Timecop,'' ``Mi Vida Loca,'' ``There Goes My Baby,'' ``Carnosaur 2,'' ``Dangerous Indiscretion,'' ``8 Man,'' ``Dream a Little Dream 2,'' ``Blue Tiger,'' ``Sleep With Me,'' ``Warriors,'' ``Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer'' ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis in Oliver Stone's ``Natural Born
Killers.''
Photo
SIDNEY BALDWIN/Warner Bros.
Tabloid TV star Wayne Gale (Robert Downey Jr., center) interviews
murderer Mickey Knox (Woody Harrelson) in ``Natural Born Killers.
by CNB