THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 5, 1995 TAG: 9512050040
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Craig Shapiro
LENGTH: Long : 119 lines
MOST OF THE TIME, Team Videomatic's CEO-for-life is the perfect boss - out of sight and out of mind. But once in a while, he gets a hair where hairs can be ticklish and just has to ride herd.
That's why, before writing another thing about ``VideoHound's Complete Guide to Cult Flicks and Trash Pics,'' we have to say:
We are not shareholders in Visible Ink Press, the Detroit outfit that puts out the guide.
No one here is on the dole.
We've never been to Motown.
``RoboCop'' was OK, but the other two stunk.
Besides Grant Hill, we don't even like the Pistons. (Doug Collins is a big crybaby.)
Why the denial? Because we've written about the `` `Hound'' line before. The encyclopedic ``Golden Movie Retriever.'' The ``Family Video Retriever.'' The cool mini-guides: ``Worst Nightmares,'' ``Golden Bone Awards,'' ``Pocket Movie Guide'' and ``That's Amore!''
``People will think something's fishy,'' the Chief said.
``But Chief,'' we said, ``our readers know we play fair. They know we're on the up-and-up and would never shoot from the hip. Besides, until someone comes along and does `VideoHound' one better, what can we do?''
After reminding us who signs our paychecks, he said we can do what he says.
So, now that you know what you already knew - we gots integrity - we can tell you that ``Cult Flicks and Trash Pics''
($16.95) is a blast, a worthy addition to the editions.
It collects and rates ``a mondo haul of 1,100 bizarre but brilliant flicks,'' everything from ``I Dismember Mama'' and ``Fat Guy Goes Nutzoid'' to two Videomatic faves - ``Ilsa, She-Wolf of the SS'' and ``Flesh Gordon.'' It even includes ``Taxi Driver,'' ``Duck Soup'' and ``King Kong.''
Hey, one guy's cult flick is another's classic.
And all are written in the distinct ``VideoHound'' style that appeals to the wisenheimer in us. Check this from ``Vampire's Kiss'': ``Nicolas Cage fans will enjoy his facial aerobics; Jennifer Beals fans will appreciate her extensive sucking scenes.''
The new book salutes Godzilla, B-queens Mamie Van Doren and Linda Blair, and filmmakers Roger Corman, John Waters and Tod Browning. ``The Ghoul Tube'' lists such horror-show hosts as Vampira and Sinister Seymour.
There's also cast and director indexes, a distributor guide and a category index that's worth it for the headings alone.
``Cult Flicks and Trash Pics'' is perfect bathroom reading. But put it under the Christmas tree first.
TOP VIDEOS (in Billboard):
Sales: ``Batman Forever,'' ``Casper,'' ``The Santa Clause,'' ``Star Wars Trilogy,'' ``Cinderella''
Rentals: ``Batman Forever,'' ``While You Were Sleeping,'' ``The Santa Clause,'' ``Pulp Fiction,'' ``French Kiss''
The Couch Report
``The Secret of Roan Inish'' (Columbia TriStar, 1995). Writer/director John Sayles creates magic with this touching story about a little girl who goes to live with her grandparents in western Ireland and, through faith and determination, is reunited with her long-lost brother. Sayles frames it in a chapter from Celtic folklore, but the greater theme is reconciliation. His straightforward narrative and the down-to-earth cast keep it on course. If you liked ``Into the West,'' add this to your list. Videomatic says: A
(CAST: Jeni Courtney, Mick Lally, Eileen Colgan, Richard Sheridan, John Lynch. RATED: PG, but may be too esoteric for the wee ones; 102 mins.)
``Species'' (MGM/UA, 1995). Where's the drive-in when you need it? This ``Alien'' ripoff is a hoot, a big-budget B-flick with lots of skin and good FX. A genetically engineered alien needs to mate bad, and pity the man who doesn't deliver. Forest Whitaker, as an empath who states the obvious, and Ben Kingsley, the leader of the team tailing the creature, share the Smithfield Award as hammiest actor. Videomatic says: B-
(CAST: Ben Kingsley, Forest Whitaker, Michael Madsen, Natasha Henstridge. RATED: R for violence, language, nudity; 108 mins.)
``Amateur'' (Columbia TriStar, 1995). A nymphomaniac ex-nun, an amnesiac with a brutal past and a vengeful porn star. Plus accountants-turned-hitmen and high-level corruption. Hal Hartley's (``The Unbelievable Truth'') latest is a delightfully droll spin on love and deception with insights that are laugh-out-loud funny. A unique vision for sure, but one in which everyone, in their skewed way, is perfectly in synch. Videomatic says: B+
(CAST: Isabelle Huppert, Martin Donovan, Elina Lowenstein, Damian Young. RATED: R for language, violence; 105 mins.)
``Forget Paris'' (Columbia TriStar, 1995). Except for a funny scene in an in vitro clinic and an ending that doesn't quite cop out, this Billy Crystal-Debra Winger romantic comedy, about what happens after the honeymoon, is old hat. He's an NBA ref, she's an airline exec. They marry after a quick courtship. The problem is his shtick has become tired and predictable. And using narrators is gimmicky. Videomatic says: C
(CAST: Billy Crystal, Debra Winger, Joe Mantegna, Richard Masur, Julie Kavner. RATED: PG-13 for language; 101 mins.)
``Love After Love'' (Fox Lorber, 1994). Isabelle Huppert is luminous as a novelist whose up-and-down romantic life, and those of the men she loves, becomes material for her books. ``I have to invent my life instead of relating to it,'' she says. This nuanced little French film - the kind so often bastardized by ham-handed American directors - addresses the vagaries of love. (Subtitled) Videomatic says: B
(CAST: Isabelle Huppert, Hippolyte Girardot, Bernard Giraudeau. Unrated: language, nudity; 104 mins.)
Also: Action with Pierce Brosnan in ``Detonator II: Night Watch'' and Peter Weller in ``Decoy'' (both R); ``Red Firecracker, Green Firecracker,'' a Chinese entry in the mold of ``Ju Dou'' (unrated); ``Body Language,'' a steamy thriller starring Tom Berenger (R); horrors in ``Witchboard: The Possession'' (R); and Jeff Daniels and Lea Salonga in the drama ``Redwood Curtain'' (PG)
Next Tuesday: ``Judge Dredd,'' ``The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill but Came Down a Mountain,'' ``First Knight,'' ``Probable Cause,'' ``The Nostradamus Kid,'' ``Mutant Species,'' ``Twin Sitters'' ILLUSTRATION: ON THE SHELF
[For a list of this week's videos, see microfilm for this date.]
OVERSEAS FILMGROUP
Jeni Courtney plays the fearless Fiona, who forms a bond with her
grandfather (Mick Lally) in ``The Secret of Roan Inish.''
by CNB