nea

1998

Foreign film rewiew

BY DAVID MACDONALD

As | write this particu- lar review, please bear with me and my poor memory, as | viewed this film before Christmas, and between then and now it is only a clouded memory helped only by my incoherent notes.

The film shrouded in lost me isa French film called 36 Fillette, and it is a quite depressing story of a young teenage girl, one of those wild, partying sorts that a self-righteous individual would probably describe as a" slut" or "trailer-trash.”

The actual plot of the story takes place in the space of a few days, starting off one night when the girl and her older brother are able to go toa bar with the help ofa middle-aged playboy of sorts. As the drive to the bar occurs, the middle-aged man says to his friend some- thing to the effect that women are like cars and that if one gets tired of them, get rid of at any price. That's about the extent of the warm, fuzzy feeling we get from watching people; in other words, we don’t find them to be very nice at all.

man seems to be baffled the energy of the girl, while at the same time the girl is

and of what he is le of. There is a long argu- ment along these lines, and — eventually what happens is | most clearly a rape.

Yet the very next day, the girl is back to her o tricks, taunting and flirting | this man even after for a_ time at least he doesn’t want to have anything more todo | with her. Just as the man | has no for women, she has no respect for her- | self.

The film is a bit more psychologically complex than I could ever make it out tobe. It may turn off le Scamioncetiee siileare well as the grim treatment | of it, which isn’t helped by | the poor technical quality of | the film; obviously made on | avery low budget, with faulty sound and cinematography, | and unflashy direction.

The ending is rather di ing. It tome as if she has learned some- Son tieeaaaeit not very poe mne te point o story. is viewed as shameful, so of course she becomes inter- ested in the most undesir- | able, and threatening of part- ners. One is either trauma- tized at the experience or

after it with heartless,

| intentions, both of which to her as the film . The endi doesn’t suggest that she wi break out of this trap ime soon.

The Cadre

DEFINATLY NOT CLASSIC CINEMA

BY MARKO PERIC

Mystery Science Theatre 3000: The Movie (1996) Colour and B&W, B&W and Colour

Let me begin with an apology. | haven't written my Cinema column in some time, and my return is marked with a film that must go under the “Definitely Not” column, if only because it

is too recent to be called a classic. However, this week's movie is most certainly one that almost

everyone will enjoy. If you've never heard of Mystery Science Theatre, you're in for a treat. The series ran in syndication in the US for several years in the early 90s, and culminates in this movie (and

| hopefully more to follow). The premise of Mystery Science Theatre is that a mad scientist has

marooned a man, Mark Nelson, on a satellite, and is forcing him to watch old, and usually bad, movies, to torture him. The poor fellow only has a few robots for company.

Okay, | know the premise sounds alld tacky, and the opening scenes are somewhat cheesy. But the real fun comes from the actual movie that Mark and his metal companions watch. The film is an early sci-fi from the mid 50s, called This /sland Earth, But its plot doesn’t matter. You see Mark and the robots in a theatre watching the movie, and for the duration of the film they make smart comments. The result is hilarious. They poke fun at bad visuals, weak dialogue, poor plotting, and even the names in the credits. A personal favourite of mine is at the very end of the credits, when “Printing and Developing by Eastman Kodak” appears. One of

| the robots announces in a big voice “East Man. He came out of the East to do battle with the

great Rando” (but that refers back to an earlier joke).

Have I convinced you yet? No? This is one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. It's one to watch with a few friends, when you're ready to laugh. If Mystery Science Theatre won't amuse you, probably nothing will.

Availability. You shouldn't have much trouble finding MST 3K. Plaza, Blockbuster, Jumbo, and That’s Entertainment all have copies, and so should most of the smaller stores.

Next: Cary Grant as a Frenchman. Yes, | know that’s a stretch. Did I mention that he also wears a dress in / Was a Male War Bride?

CIMN Top 20

For the week ending January 16th, 1998

This Week = Artist Album

: Various Trainspotting #2 (Soundtrack)

2 Leonard Cohen More Best of Leonard Cohen

3 Headstones Smile and Wave

4 Led Zeppelin BBC Sessions

5 Various Popcan

6 The Mumble Ducks North of the Ridges

7 Lovecanal Where is Canada?

& Econoline Crush The Devil You Know

9 Whatever Whatever

10 The Smugglers Buddy Holly Convention

i Ozzy Osbourne Back on Earth (Single)

12 Catherine Wheel Adam and Eve

13 Various Scream 2 (Soundtrack)

14 Portishead Portishead

15 Various Playing God (Soundtrack)

16 Various Grosse Pointe Blank 2 (Soundtrack) 17 Golden Lake Diner Letters Home

18 David Bowie The Best of David Bowie

19 David Johannesson Hard Times ; 20 Soul Coughing Made Especially for You by Soul Coughing —

om A Riche 2° —

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