Femme Fatale (DVD)
Director Brian De Palma returns to familiar terrain with FEMME FATALE, a loopy, sexy thriller that plays like a greatest hits of the controversial director`s tics, tricks, and obsessions. Here the story follows a beautiful seductress (Rebecca Romjin-Stamos) who betrays her cohorts during an elaborate diamond heist at the Cannes Film Festival, then disappears to America under the stolen identity of a dead French girl to whom she bears an uncanny resemblance. Seven years later she returns to Paris when her American husband (Peter Coyote) accepts a position as French ambassador. That`s when Antonio Banderas, as a goofy photographer, enters the picture and becomes her lover and dupe in another elaborate scheme. Along the way there`s steamy lesbianism, misogynistic violence, split-screens, double-crosses, time loops, VERTIGO-style stalking, a hot striptease, and plenty of dark comedy and sly homage to other films, all in the classic De Palma tradition. His fans should be thrilled, as this harkens back to the director`s DRESSED TO KILL, BLOW OUT, and BODY DOUBLE days. Novices should prepare to throw credibility to the wind and just enjoy the stylistic bravado, the twists and turns, and the ravishing Stamos--who backs up her beauty with a captivating, enigmatic performance.R"
Director: Brian De Palma
ACTORS: Rebecca Romijn-Stamos, Antonio Banderas, Peter Coyote, Gregg Henry, Rie Rasmussen
Buster & Chauncey`s Silent Night (DVD)
When mischievous mice Buster and Chauncey chew through the pipes of an old church organ, and new and timeless hymn is born-- Silent Night. G"
Joseph: King of Dreams (DVD)
This animated charmer is the biblical story of Joseph, retold in fascinating bright colors and the magic of song. Joseph`s amazing talent of foretelling the future, as revealed to him in dreams, lands him a job with the pharaoh of Egypt, whom he protects from disaster. Soon, however, he is cast back into the presence of his jealous brothers, who threw him out in the first place. Three years in the making (and a follow-up to THE PRINCE OF EGYPT), this animated musical features songs performed by Jodi Benson (of Disney`s THE LITTLE MERMAID) and Maureen McGovern.NR"
Operation Condor 2: The Armour of the Gods (DVD)
A fortune hunter`s ex-girlfriend is kidnapped by an evil cult. Her fiancee enlists his help in finding and delivering the ransom - the priceless and powerful Armour of the Gods. With the help of a sexy woman and a wacky sidekick, the mission begins...R"
Director: Jackie Chan
ACTORS: Jackie Chan, Alan Tam, Rosamund Kwan, Bozidar Smiljanic, John Ladalski
The French Connection (DVD) Five Star Collection 2-Disc Set Released the same year as Clint Eastwood`s DIRTY HARRY, William Friedkin`s THE FRENCH CONNECTION marked the beginning of a new era of gritty, urban police dramas. Here, the theme of tough-cop amorality s...
Released the same year as Clint Eastwood`s DIRTY HARRY, William Friedkin`s THE FRENCH CONNECTION marked the beginning of a new era of gritty, urban police dramas. Here, the theme of tough-cop amorality serves a conservative demand for a police-state crackdown on the domestic chaos and subversive youth culture of the Vietnam War period. Based on the true story of two New York City police detectives and their investigation into a French heroin smuggling operation, this film is best known for its infamous, masterfully filmed chase scene (influenced by Peter Yates` BULLITT) in which the lead policeman, Popeye Doyle (Gene Hackman), recklessly drives a stolen car through oncoming traffic in pursuit of a sniper escaping by elevated train. The exciting thrill of this crime drama is accentuated by director William Friedkin`s early European influences, perhaps best represented by the handheld documentary-style visuals and Friedkin`s claims that the Oscar-winning screenplay was frequently disregarded in favor of improvisation. THE FRENCH CONNECTION is the first film Friedkin made after announcing to Variety that he would abandon his European influences in favor of genre entertainment. The film not only marked a significant change of course for his career, but also signified a stylistic shift that all of Hollywood would soon follow.
R"
Director: William Friedkin
ACTORS: Gene Hackman, Fernando Rey, Roy Scheider, Tony Lo Bianco, Bill Hickman
