News Record from North Hills, Pennsylvania • Page 36

Qoi w. to the roots Tombstone' resurrects gunfight at O.K. Corral By Marshall Fine Gannett News Service Despite negative advance word, Tombstone" turns out to be a solid western that retells an old story in interesting ways. Directed by George Cosmatos, Tombstone" is sturdy if long. Though its characters seem too modern at times and its script doesn't know when to call it quits, it still entertains on a basic level.

Tombstone" is the latest movie to depict the gunfight at the O.K. Corral of October 1881, between the Earp brothers (Wyatt, Morgan and Virgil, assisted by Doc Holliday) and the Clanton gang. Tombstone" uses the O.K. Corral as its centerpiece, then follows Review up with the aftermath. As a result, it stretches an intriguing tale a little too far.

The Earp brothers arrive in Tombstone, with their wives, in hopes of going into business for themselves. Wyatt (Kurt Russell), Morgan (Bill Paxton) and Virgil (Sam Elliott) all have retired from law enforcement The Earps take over the card game at one saloon and begin to clean up. They're joined by Holliday (Val Kilmer). None of them likes the town's wildness; a gang called the Cowboys, led by Curly Bill (Powers Boothe), Johnny Ringo (Michael Biehn) and Ike Clanton (Stephen Lang), seem to run Tombstone with a disregard for common decency. There are run-ins, then a drunken Curly Bill kills the town marshal.

The Earps put on the badges. That leads to the encounter at the O.K. Corral Clanton, Ringo and Curly Bill survive; the Cowboys begin to exact retribution. Wyatt is named a U.S. marshal and begins to wipe out the Cowboys.

The analogy to contemporary times is obvious. For example, all of the Cowboys wear red sashes, much as gang members wear colors to denote membership. As a result, Tombstone" seems not to know whether it is telling a period story or a modern one. 'Grumpy' pairs Lemmon, Matthau By Jack Garner Gannett News Service Old pros Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau probably could get laughs out of a shared reading of a Fortunately, they have more to work with as the tide characters in "Grumpy Old Men," an original and likable comedy directed by Donald Petrie. Lemmon and Matthau play John Gustafson and Max Goldman, next-door neighbors for 56 years in frigid Wabasha, Minn.

For reasons nearly everyone has forgotten, Gustafson and Goldman supposedly have hated each other for a half-century, but their daily Review feudiug lias become a bizarre and" playful form of friendship. Both are retired widowers, and only two things interest them -ice fishing on the nearby frozen lake and continuing their wildly inventive enmity. But John and Max need something to jump-start their lives. Her name is Ariel Truax. Do! Get Top rentals 1.

Cllffhartger" 2. "Silver" 3. "Indecent Proposal" 4. "Free Willy" 5. "Made in America" 6.

"Rising Sun" 7. "Dennis the Menace" 8. "Bom Yesterday" From the moment Ariel (Ann- Margret) moves into the house across the gtf pet- Inhr scover a new arena in which to compete. But it's not until their mutual friend. Chuck (Ossie Davis), --becomes a gentleman caller that John and Max decide to follow their instincts.

Virtually looking out of the corner of their eyes at each other, they run for Ariel's door, flowers in hand. The red-haired, free-spirited artist barely has a chance to unpack her art supplies before gnitnrg whn'H Qrumpy like to take her ice fishing. Ariel becomes the catalyst for changes in the volatile relationship between John and Max. Clearly, "Grumpy Old Men" stands or falls directly on the contribution of its top-billed pair of veteran actors (and real-life old friends), and Lemmon and Matthau are in superb form. GOLFERS COME VISIT PINE CREEK GOLF HEATED TEKS Winter Training Donald Petrie Who's tote Jack Lemmon, Walter sexual humor and profanity Worth atatog: Yes.

This is a refreshingly original and Ilkabto comedy. Wnefee pteyHIQ! Opens Saturday at Showcase Cinemas North, Waterworks Cinema, Cinema World, Cranberry. SHOWCASE CINEMAS urt NORTH 9JMJ70. 9J53385 UUflVlVlTMOTOOttt trnwcMi 7M 1000 IMO ViTVIVM vmut mi NU mi Mil SUPER SAVER CINEMAS i S2.00 9. "Ufa With Mikey" 10.

"Groundhog Day" Cull for more informnton 492 9990-2279 Aicmic Siwth "I Rt nn the lirri Rilt) 'irmor Ijtam anil Junior ru JfUMCMII IMIHTOOtlS Mil mnsiunstu i Tembetom Hollywood Pictures Kurt Russell stars as U.S. Marshal Wyatt Earp in 'Tombstone George Coematos WhoftnltKurt Rating: profanity, violence Worth MtlM; Yes. This western is soraty entertaining. Wtwre'a ft playing: Opens Saturday at Showcase Cinemas East, Showcase Cinemas North, Waterworks Cinema, Cinema World, Cranberry. MARIETTE CAROLINE CHARLES HARTLEY AARON CIOFFI TlnrSIslers Roseosweio BY WENDY WASSERSTEIN DIRECTED BY DANIEL SULLIVAN.