Mother Night (DVD)
Keith Gordon`s darkly comic film version of Kurt Vonnegut Jr.`s highly original novel stars Nick Nolte as Howard J. Campbell Jr., an unusual antihero with a twisted story to tell. The tale begins in a Israeli prison cell, where Campbell is on trial for WWII war crimes. Campbell is given a typewriter and enough paper to recount his bizarre memoir, which appears as a series of black-and-white and color scenes that shift between 1940s Germany, 1950s New York, and 1960s Israel. The American Campbell and his parents relocate to Germany between the two world wars and live a happy life. Campbell grows up to be a playwright and marries a beautiful German actress, Helga Noth (Sheryl Lee). On a day like any other, Campbell`s life takes a bizarre turn as he is offered a top-secret assignment by a U.S. government official (John Goodman in an unbilled role)--to pose as a Nazi sympathizer while relaying secret American code via the radio. Campbell successfully accomplishes his mission by starting an anti-American, anti-Semitic radio program that is revered in Nazi Germany and deplored in America. In a strange twist of fate, the unknown American playwright becomes a well-known German celebrity. After the war, Campbell escapes Germany and flees to New York, preferring to remain anonymous in the booming city. Years later, Campbell`s life is turned upside down when he is recognized and pursued by Holocaust survivors, eager white supremacists, neo-Nazis, and U.S. law enforcers, leading to his incarceration in the Israeli prison where he awaits his fate. As Campbell, Nolte gives one of the finest performances of his career. A nightmarish maze of one man`s misadventures, MOTHER NIGHT is an ironic and deeply stylized tribute to the one-of-a-kind dark humor of Vonnegut`s writing.R"
Director: Keith Gordon
ACTORS: Nick Nolte, Sheryl Lee, Alan Arkin, Kirsten Dunst, Arye Gross
Love Come Down (DVD)
Recovering drug addict Neville (Larenz Tate) is a standup comedian. His girlfriend, Niko (R&B singer Deborah Cox) is a singer. The two have an on-again/ off-again relationship which is deeply affected by their damaged family lives. Neville`s mother (Barbara Williams) is in jail, having been convicted of murdering his father, an event which weighs even heavier on his white brother, Matthew (Martin Cummins), an aspiring boxer. Neville`s world is also intertwined with Sister Sun (Sarah Polley), a nun with a past who understands his addiction. This acclaimed Canadian romance/drama presents an ultimately inspiring view of overcoming the past.R"
Director: Clement Virgo
ACTORS: Larenz Tate, Deborah Cox, Sarah Polley, Martin Cummins, Jennifer Dale
Night Shift (DVD)
This early breakthrough comedy by Ron Howard is a rowdy, raunchy surprise from a Hollywood star known more for his wholesome fare. A mismatched pair of New York City morgue workers, hopelessly stuck working the night shift, decide to make a little extra cash during those long, late-night hours--they set up a call-girl service, becoming the funniest love brokers in the Big Apple. Henry Winkler stars as Chuck Lumley, a downtrodden pushover who unhappily endures a whining girlfriend (Gina Hecht) and a dead-end job at the morgue. But after meeting congenial hooker Belinda (Shelley Long), Chuck decides to help her and her friends organize their nightly endeavors. Michael Keaton, in his film debut, steals the movie as Bill Blazejowski, Chucks manic, crazed assistant at the morgue. Chuck and Bill perfect their new roles as pimps until Chucks romantic feelings for Belinda cause him to rethink his new career. NIGHT SHIFT was a HAPPY DAYS reunion of sorts for Howard: Former costar Henry Winkler (Arthur Fonzarelli) stars in the film, and HAPPY DAYS producers Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel wrote the screenplay. NIGHT SHIFT also marked Howards first collaboration with his longtime producing partner, Brian Grazer.R"
Director: Ron Howard
ACTORS: Henry Winkler, Michael Keaton, Shelley Long, Kevin Costner, Bobby Di Cicco
The Education of Little Tree (DVD)
The compassionate tale of 8-year-old Little Tree, an orphaned youth whose sojourn at his grandparents` backwoods Smoky Mountains cabin sparks a legacy of learning about his Cherokee roots and the oppressive government that seeks to assimilate him. Based on Forrest Carter`s controversial novel.PG"
Director: Richard Friedenberg
ACTORS: James Cromwell, Tantoo Cardinal, Graham Greene, Joseph Ashton
The List (VHS)
High-class prostitute Gabrielle (Amick) gets herself arrested in order to blackmail her wealthy and powerful clients, by introducing her list of names into court. The judge (O`Neal) must decide whether to deal the list or make it public and embarrass many of his friends and colleagues. But a series of murders and attacks change the playing field, and soon the list is causing more trouble than Gabrielle had counted on.R"
Director: Sylvain Guy
ACTORS: Ryan O`Neal, Roc Lafortune, Madchen Amick, Ben Gazzara, Romano Orzari
