THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, November 6, 1995 TAG: 9511040065
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E5 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Movie Review
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, MOVIE CRITIC
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
``MUTE WITNESS'' is a twisted little thriller that pits fantasy vs. reality in a macabre game of ``Did she see it, or didn't she see it?''
A British-German-Russian co-production, it was filmed in Moscow, including a brief visit to Red Square.
The heroine, a traditional ``woman in jeopardy'' character who harks back to the heyday of a Joan Crawford or Barbara Stanwyck, is a mute special-effects makeup artist hired to work on a murder-gore movie before the cameras in Moscow. When she's inadvertently locked inside the studio after hours, she witnesses a murder.
A woman is stabbed to death in a scene for a ``snuff movie'' shot in the studio.
Played with open-eyed but level-headed vulnerability by Marika Sudina, the character cannot speak, but she can hear and see quite well. When she reports the murder, she is told that it was merely a scene staged for a film.
There are scenes of gore, but there is also a novel bit of humor. The film makers portray the Americans as rather brash, childish beings who are always calling their Embassy whenever trouble erupts.
As it turns out, Sudina has actually viewed a killing authorized by a big-time crime lord (played by Alec Guinness in a cameo bit). He declares that she, as the only witness, must also die.
This brings about the usual bit of stalk and prey.
Written and directed by Anthony Waller, the movie has several holes but it moves at a brisk pace, with enough twists to keep us guessing as to what is in the real movie vs. what is in the movie-within-the-movie. Fay Ripley is the witness' girlfriend, and seemingly just about the only one in Moscow who knows sign language. Evan Richards is the brash American boy who is directing the movie behind the movie.
As a thriller, it serves - especially when it lets us know it isn't taking itself seriously.
It is at the lower level of the Lynnhaven Mall theaters in Virginia Beach, a locale that has become a place to check lately for unusual bookings. Little gems of films have been sneaking into this theater recently with no advertising and no advance notice. The United Artists chain has apparently decided to, once again, test the Virginia Beach market to see if there is an audience for ``art'' films or foreign language films. There is no question that the audience is there, but they can't be expected to find these films without publicity. ``Blue in the Face'' and ``A Month by the Lake'' are upcoming titles to be watched for at this theater. ILLUSTRATION: MOVIE REVIEW
``Mute Witness''
Cast: Marika Sudina, Fay Ripley, Evan Richards, Oleg Vankowskif
Director and writer: Anthony Waller
Music: Wilbert Hirsch
MPAA rating: R (violence, nudity, language)
Mal's rating: ***
Location: Lynnhaven Mall (lower level)
by CNB