Monthly Archives: December 1996

The People vs. Larry Flynt - * * *

Posted on December 25, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

Director Milos Forman delivers an effective Free Speech plea along with an entertaining movie. The film follows the true life story of Larry Flynt (Woody Harrelson), a low class guy who panders to the baser needs of people in order … Continue reading →

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Mother - * * *

Posted on December 25, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

Mother is a rather typical Albert Brooks comedy, enhanced by the enjoyable performance of Debbie Reynolds. John Henderson (Albert Brooks) has horrible luck with women, and he traces his problems back to his relationship with his mother, Beatrice (Debbie Reynolds). … Continue reading →

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Hamlet - * * * *

Posted on December 25, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

Kenneth Branagh delivers an excellent uncut adaptation of William Shakespeare’s most famous play. Branagh directs and stars as Hamlet, the Danish prince. Julie Christie plays Queen Gertrude, and Derek Jacobi is Claudius, Hamlet’s uncle, now king. The casting follows the … Continue reading →

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Evita - * * * 1/2*

Posted on December 25, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

Director Alan Parker’s version of Evita tells the musical story of Argentinian First Lady Eva Peron. Antonio Banderas narrates the story as the acerbic Che, an everyman who wryly comments on the political goings on. Madonna stars as Eva, who … Continue reading →

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Michael - * * 1/2*

Posted on December 25, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

Michael is a slight little romantic comedy that is enjoyable, but has little lasting impact. William Hurt is Frank Quinlan, a once respected journalist, who is now lowered to writing for a supermarket tabloid, the Weekly Mirror. He and a … Continue reading →

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The Evening Star - * *

Posted on December 25, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

This extra sappy sequel to Terms of Endearment just doesn’t fly. The film follows the further life of Aurora Greenway (Shirley MacLaine), who, after the death of her daughter (in the prior film), is left to raise her three grandchildren … Continue reading →

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Portrait of a Lady - * *

Posted on December 24, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

The Portrait of a Lady is a distant and chilly adaptation of the Henry James novel that never gets off the ground. Nicole Kidman stars a Isabel Archer, an American in Europe who, at the film’s outset, she dismisses a … Continue reading →

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Ghosts of Mississippi - * *

Posted on December 20, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

Rob Reiner’s latest film takes the tragedy of the murder of Medgar Evers and turns it into a watered down Grishamesque southern lawyer story. In very quick opening scenes, we learn that the racist Byron De La Beckwith (James Woods) … Continue reading →

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Scream - * 1/2*

Posted on December 20, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

Scream is Wes Craven’s latest horror film with a gimmick that just doesn’t quite work. It opens, in traditional slasher film fashion, with the young, pert, and alone Casey (Drew Barrymore) having a terrifying encounter with a homicidal caller. The … Continue reading →

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One Fine Day - * * 1/2*

Posted on December 20, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

A formulaic romantic comedy is helped along by the good chemistry of its stars. Michelle Pfeiffer stars as Melanie Parker, a working single mother, a control-freak with an uncontrollable son, Sammy (Alex D. Linz). George Clooney is Jack Taylor, a … Continue reading →

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