Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 39

sf triday, August 30, Wl The Arizona Wcpiihlic tW 'Gold' mines rich human elements a ViV A 1 Don't (yawn) come to 'Daddy' French movie is a screening bore By Bob Fenster The Arizona Republic Considering its odd title, I thought Daddy Nostalgia was going to be about a sentimental beatnik. I also thought it was going to be good. Wrong on both counts. Daddy Nostalgia is a French family drama about an aging father and his grown-up daughter growing to like each other at last. And it's boring in the extreme.

British actor Dirk Bogarde plays Daddy, a seriously ill retired businessman living on France's Cote d'Azur. His daughter Caroline (Jane Birkin) comes to stay with him during his recuperation. The daughter is whimsical and fond. Her mother is nervous and glum. The father is sophisticated and sad.

"They have endless talks about his health, her career and their past. He recalls how wonderful his life was, while she remembers how neglectful he was as a father. These conversations have much in common with a leaky faucet, drip-drip-dripping through an endless night Occasionally, we get picture-postcard shots of the Mediterranean, although a postcard would have contained more action than the movie. At one point, Daddy hides in the kitchen from his wife's friend, claiming, "She is so boring." I suggest you hide in your own kitchen, for the same reason. Many three-character, one-set mov Western gets point across in quiet way By Bob Fenster The Arizona Republic Thousand Pieces of Gold isn't so much part of the Western revival as a challenge to see how much the Western has revived.

Set in an Idaho gold-mining town in the 1880s, this non-traditional Western chronicles the struggles of one young Chinese woman to survive on her own terms. It contains none of the trademarks of Western movies: no gunfights, cattle drives, Indian wars or tough heroes. It does contain a fine story that pays tribute to the endurance of the human spirit under adversity. Rosalind Chao stars as Lalu, a young Chinese woman whose father sells her to a marriage broker so his family can survive a famine. Lalu is shipped to America, where she is sold again to become the property of an ambitious Idaho saloonkeeper.

Hong King (Michael Paul Chan). King intends to use Lalu as a prostitute to service the rough mining crew in the remote mountain town. But Lalu threatens to kill herself before she will lie down with white "demons." With the help of King's partner, Charley (Chris Cooper), Lalu manages to avoid prostitution. Instead, she becomes a servant, a position close to slavery. Charley falls in love with Lalu, but she refuses his advances, insisting on pursuing her own path in her quest for freedom.

Through Lalu's story, we see the American West from an immigrant's perspective. If Chinese immigrants Avenue Pictures British actor Dirk Bogarde plays a seriously ill retired businessman who renews his relationship with his daughter in Daddy Nostalgia. MOVIE REVIEW DADDY Nostalgia Director: Bertrand Travernicr. Cast: Dirk Bogarde, Jane Birkin. Rated PG.

Masterpiece A A A A A Terrific A A Good A-A-A- So-So AA Stinker "A- Bob Marsha Dennis Dun plays a packhorse operator leading Rosalind Chao into the Rockies in Thousand Pieces of Gold. MOVIE REVIEW were treated badly, Chinese women were treated twice as bad, suffering abuse not only from the whites but from their own men. Based on a true story. Thousand Pieces of Gold shows us how Lalu's indomitable spirit triumphs over all suffering and persecution. Thousand Pieces of Gold is a fine film, but it somehow fails to add up to greatness.

Perhaps it is a little too slow or a little too obvious or a little too cool emotionally. The movie's long, episodic nature may make it better suited for a PBS miniseries, which is probably where it will end up after its theatrical release. Still, for people who appreciate serious historical drama. Thousand Pieces of Gold is a fine addition to the cinematic legacy of the Old West. Thousand Pieces of Gold is unrated.

It contains some minor nudity, but is generally inoffensive. The movie plays through Sept. 19 at the Valley Art Theatre in Tempe. deck that included five aces. Director Bertrand Tavernier has made such intriguing films as Coup dc Torchon, A Sunday in the Country and Round Midnight.

Then he made Daddy Nostalgia. Daddy Nostalgia is rated PG. There is no sex, nudity or profanity. Also very little to keep you awake. The movie is partially in English and partially in French with English subtitles.

Thousand Pieces of Gold Director: Nancy Kelly. Cast: Rosalind Chao, Chris Cooper. Unrated. MasterDfece A A A A A Terrific Good A-A-A- So-So AA Stinker ies work better as stage plays. I don't know whether Daddy Nostalgia would have worked better as a play, but at least then I wouldn't have had iSIIlil to sit through it.

AMERICA IS ON The movie does feature an interest ing special effect. In the flashbacks, when Daddy was supposed to be young, they shoot Bogarde headless, from the shoulders down. Its I also enjoyed Caroline's game of solitaire, because she played with a 44th Stregt and Thomas Road BILL. TED'S BOGUS JOURNEY 1:00, 3:10. 5:15, 7:20.

9:30 (PG) WHAT ABOUT BOB? 1:15, 3:25. 5:30. 7:40. 9:50 (PG) MOBSTERS 5:30, 7:45. 10:00 (R) BACKDRAFT 1:45, 4:30, 7:15, 10:00 (R) DONT TELL MOM THE BABYSITTERS DEAD 12:45, 3:00 (PG-13) "THE BEST FILM OF THE YEAR.

Brilliant! A Perfect '10'." Bud Wilkinson, KTSP-TV (PHOENIX) IT WILL LEAVE 32nd iteet and Srie ByytevardV WHAT ABOUT BOS? ISO, BILL TED'S BOGUS JOURNEY tr-vj) JuobSYerS 510, 0:20 fR). tP. ti iri. rif j.tt jj.i i $3.00 BARGAIN MATINEE DAILY ALL SHOWS BEFORE 6:00 P.M. I tMlld: Fit vr YOUBREATHLE SUNDAY IS POSTER OA VI tiCMWOIMIOWCinCTiiKUCTlMiOf MOW HUM (R)Dolby Stereo POINT BREAK 2:10, 6:20.

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8:00. 10:05 SHOWDOWN IN LITTLE TOKYO (RlDolby stereo 1:30. 3:30, 6:30, 7:30, 8:30 (R)Dolby Stereo DOUBLE IMPACT 1:45, 5:00, 7:20, 8:40 (R)Dolby Stereo V.I. WARSHAWSKI 2:20. 5:15.

7:45. 8:45 General Cinema 3 I feOOO Alt SHOWS STARTING BEFORE 6 PM DAILY 3 SNOWDOWM IN LOTUS TOKYO 1:001: Ml 1:10 1:25 5:40 7:50 t-M 1 a LUCK 1:00 J.OJ 5:15 7:15 HOT SHOTS 1:15 3:30 5:30 7:30 1:30 PC13 ma 101 DALMATIAN 1:403:405:40 0 TERMINATOR 2- 1:30 4:10 7:15 10:00 lour THE ROCKETEER 1:00 3:10 5:20 7:35 0:45 MOOD 1:103:05 5:050) CHILD'S PLAY 1:45 3:43 5:45 7:45 I uur AST CACTUS ond TATUM W-76U SHOWDOWN LrTTLE TOKYO 7:450:251 LUCK 12:45 3:00 5:10 7:20 9:30 np ftou Wlin 12:35 2:50 5:15 7:30 0:55 MOT SHOTS 1:003:205:35 7:40 10:05 013ou lOI DALMATIANS 1:15 3:30 5:25 0 2. 1:054:10 7:109:301 12:50 2:55 PG HOOD 4:15 7:00 9:45 KSH CHILD'S PLAY 1:10 3:25 5:30 7:50 10:00 1 7Ml AVt. A W. THOMAS St.

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Bell Rd. HARKINS FASHION SQUARE 7 423-1 400 THX STEREO Scottsdale Rd. Camelback Rd. MANN SUPERSTITION AMC BELL. PLAZA 8 MANN CHRIS-TOWN iPtWaiCSUI- 13:304:35 me 834-5767 IN STEREO 971-8888 IN STEREO 249-2843 TUX STEREO PKATURE I POWT TCU.

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