Chicago Tribune from Chicago, Illinois • 158

Chicago Tribune, Friday, March 13, 1992 Section 7 Friday Siskel's Flicks Picks By Gene Siskel 'Mambo Kings' fails to ignite 1 -flu ft -j' Tk a he Mambo Kings" doesn't happen despite an attractive cast, invigorating music, handsome period production The verdict is in: Sharp writing carries 'Vinny' ur Flick of the Week is "My Cousin Vinny," a surprisingly offbeat situation comedy in which Dale Launer's script is the real star and Joe Pesci and Marisa Tomei are actor-vehicles who support it. The Vinny of the title (Pesci) is an amateurish New L.IIJL.HL.LJJJJ 1 til if i York lawyer called down South to defend two college kids, one his cousin, wrongly accused of murder. The comic premise is that while Vinny is totally inexperienced in court he just passed the bar his New York street smarts serve him well. The film's secret weapon is Vinny's girlfriend, an even tougher New Yorker, who dresses garishly and has a toilet mouth as well as an encyclopedic knowledge of automobiles. The latter skill figures critically in the boys' defense.

"My Cousin Vinny" works best when it isn't about plot but, rather, simply has Vinny and his girlfriend talking to each other. They are brutally honest and aggressive and funny. The big laughs that we get from them are testament to both Launer's writing (he also wrote "Ruthless and to the generally pallid quality of most American film comedies. "My Cousin Vinny" is playing at the Water Tower, Webster Place and outlying theaters. Rated for foul language.

Flicks Picks guide Armand Assante and Antonio Banderas in The Mambo fx" Hfc. 1 design and a Pulitzer Prize-winning source novel. The fault largely seems to lie with director Arne Glimcher, originally an art dealer, later a producer Good and now a filmmaker with no detectable feel for the medium. The movie is rich in those qualities that money can buy. The story of two mambo-play-ing Cuban brothers the ex- troverted ladies' man Cesar (Ar-mand Assante) and the shy, romantic Nestor (Antonio Ban-deras, from the stock company of Spanish director Pedro Almo-dovar) who immigrate to New York in 1952 in search of personal freedom and artistic fulfillment, "The Mambo Kings" comes with magnificent nightclub sets (by designer Stuart Wurtzel) and a highly atmo-spheric lighting plan (by cinematographer Michael Ballhaus).

But Glimcher isn't able to impose an emotional shape on the story, and his rapport with actors is such that the members of the cast, though perfectly competent as individuals, never seem to be connecting with each other. The movie is all solo turns, with no relationships. Which is unfortunate, given that the heart of the material, as adapted by Cynthia Cidre from Oscar Hijuelos' novel "The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love," lies with the passionate love-hate relationship between the two brothers. Unknown to Nestor, Cesar has insisted they leave Havana in order to save Nestor's life. Had they stayed behind, Nestor would have been killed by the vicious gangster, who was his rival, for the affections of Maria (Talisa Soto), the impossibly beautiful woman who remains the movie's symbol of a lost Cuban paradise.

In New York, the ambitious knuckle under to an all-powerful booking agent (Roscoe Lee Browne) assures that the band will only play minor clubs in the outer boroughs. While still writing and rewriting his signature tune, "Beautiful Maria of My Soul," Nestor allows himself to be diverted by Delores Fuentes (French actress Maruschka Detmers, of Godard's "First Name: a domestic worker who wants to go to school and become a teacher. They marry and multiply, but Nestor, still lost in the fog of the unattainable Maria, treats her badly. Cesar resents Nestor for his churlish neglect of Dolores, while Nestor resents Cesar for his stubborn, self-destructive independence. The movie's great reversal comes with an ingenious, audacious deus ex machina in the person of Desi Arnaz (played by Desi Arnaz who, dazzled by the brothers' music, invites the pair to appear on "I Love See 'Mam bo', page BUQSY (Esquire, Pipers Alley and outlying).

Not just another gangster picture. James Toback's sparkling script as interpreted by director Barry Levinson and producer-star Warren Beatty is both a rare love story between equals and a portrait of a dreamer. Mobster Benjamin Siegel was a louse, to be sure, but he did dream up Las Vegas, and he did love mob camp follower Virginia HHI (Annette Bening). Beatty, who has been too cute and self-protective In many of his performances In recent years, finally lets go here with some raw anger, and It's exhilarating. Annette Bening's role has been written large, and she Is equal to it.

Director Levinson Natural," "Rain Main," has made another great-looking picture and has populated his supporting cast of mobsters with impressive acting talents Ben Kingsley as Meyer Lansky, Harvey Kertel as Mickey Cohen and Joe Mantegna as George Raft. "Bugsy" leads this year's Oscar race, garnering 10 nominations, including best picture and best actor for Beatty, and nods to Levinson, Kingsley andKeitet. R. Vi CAPE FEAR (outlying). Martin Scorsese's remake of "Cape Fear," which turns that stylish good-versus-evH drama Inside out by presenting its good figure as a flawed man and its evil figure as a wronged man.

Nick Note's lawyer character in "Cape Fear" is looking for the same kind of redemption sought by Travis Bickle in "Taxi Driver" and Jake La Motta in "Raging BuH." His sins: He has flirted with cheating on his wife (Jessica Lange); he Is confused about the Inflamed sexuality of his daughter (Oscar-nominated Juliette Lewis), and most Important he sinned as a professional when he didn't give a man accused of a vicious sexual assault (Robert De Nlro) his very best defense In a trial years ago. De Nlro went to jail for 14 years; now he's out and wtH try to get even by messing with Note's property and his family members. Scorsese's swift camera movements are as threatening as De Niro glaring glances and the film's graphic violence. R. Vi DAUGHTERS OF THE DUST (Fine Arts).

A beautifully filmed historical drama about an extended family of African-Americans who have lived Isolation in South Carolina since slavery. The tension within their community is whether they should remain a tribe unto themselves. The Aim does not offer an easy answer; instead It honors both options. Not rated. FATHER OF THE BRIDE (outlying).

A sweet and sometimes funny remake of the 1950 Spencer Tracy-Elizabeth Taytor yam about a father who has trouble letting go of his daughter. Steve Martin, underrated as an actor, is very good as a modem dad, but the script here is ultimately a one-note affair. Diane Keaton as the bride's mother just smiles. And the young man the bride is marrying Is such a fine guy from a nice New this week THE ADDAMS FAMILY (outlying). A disappointing big-screen version of the TV show.

What's wrong Is that this is basically a collection of gag tries that take place wholly within the Addams family household. That's a mistake, because the humor of the original New Yorker cartoons Involved placing the creepy characters next to straight characters and observing the difference. Here there is no surprise to the gags. Additionally, the jokes dominate any relationship that might develop between the leads In the film, played by Raul Julia and Anjelka Huston. The picture looks great; the makeup is fine, but there's no heart in the picture.

PG-13. AMERICAN ME (Bumtiam Plaza, Chestnut Station and outlying). Edward James Olmos' hard-edged look at the Latino culture in the States where a sense of dislocation is reflected In the split personality of his leading character, a sensitive man up to his eyeballs In drugs and gang violence. The fHm works because he Isn't afraid to show the intoxication of macho behavior. R.

ARTICLE 99 (Biograph, Esquire and outlying). A silly social justice drama about an evN veterans' hospital administrator (John Mahoney) who serves himself and the bureaucracy rather than his patients In need. A renegade young doctor (Ray Uotta) leads the rebellion. But the deck is so stacked against the administrator that the film loses any wider meaning. R.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST (Water Tower and outlying). The first animated feature in Oscar history to be nominated for Best Picture, Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" revives the American movie musical, building on the success of the Oscar-winning "The Little Mermaid." Both feature Broadway-caliber show tunes by the team of Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman. Singing their hearts out In "Beauty and the Beast" are the characters of Belle, the most Independent young woman in her 18th Century French village, and the Beast, a selfish young man turned into a raging animal until he can control his anger and fall in love with a woman and have her fall In love with him. The beast's castle Is populated by a cute assortment of anthropomorphic household Items. "Beauty and the Beast" also features a marvelous supporting character, a smug stud named Gaston who is determined to marry Belle, after he finishes hunting.

"Beauty and the Beast" is one of the year's most entertaining films for both adults and chUdren. BLAME IT ON THE BELLBOY (Esquire, Pipers Alley and outlying). A promising but ultimately empty farce set In Venice Involving three cases of mixedup identity. Dudley Moore is shopping for a villa; Bryan Brown is looking to kill someone and oafish Richard Griffiths Is looking for extramarital sex. When their appointments are mixed up, a few funny slapstick momenta ensue.

But the picture abruptly ends after minor shuffling ii Its-comld decks' and bne leaves ehlfW-fW tV'i? 1l Nag- it 1 Dave Kehr "The Mambo Kings" Directed by Ame Ortimcher; written by CyntMa Cidre; photographed by Michael Ballhaus; production dealgned by Stuart Wurtiel; edited by Claire Simpeon; mualc produced by Robert Kraft; produced by Amon Milchan and Qtimcher. A Warner Bros. releaee; opens March 13 at tha Water Tower, Lincoln village and outlying theaters. Running time: MPAA rating: R. Strong language, adult etaiatkms.

THE CAST Cesar Castillo Armand Aaaante Nestor CaatMo Antonio Banderae Lanna Lake Cathy Moriarty Detoree Fuentee Detmere DealAmai8r. Deal Arnai Jr. Cesar builds the brothers' career, quickly assembling a topflight band that earns the admiration of the real mambo king, Tito Puente (in a charming cameo). But Cesar's refusal to Movie review By Dave Kehr "My Cousin Vinny" Directed by Jonathan Lynn; written by Dale Launen photographed by Pater Darning; production designed by Victoria Paul; edited by Tony Lombardo; mualc by Randy Edelman; produced by Launer and Paul Schllt. A Twentieth Century Fox releaae; opena March 13 at the Water Tower, Webater Place and outlying thaatera.

Running lime: 1:59. MPAA rating: R. Strong language, adult situation. THE CAST Vinny Qamblni Joe Peed Bill Gambim Ralph Macchio Mona Llaa Vtto Marisa Tomei Stan Rothenstem Mitchell Whitfield Judge Chamberlain Haller Fred Qwynne so sure. It appears that Cousin Vinny has been practicing law for all of six weeks, having taken six cracks at the bar exam before finally earning a passing grade.

'Cousin Vinny a good-hearted comedy It's unfortunate, too, that the evidence against the two boys is circumstantial but overwhelming, and the stuffy, Yale-educated Judge Haller isn't partial to defense lawyers who show up in his courtroom wearing black leather jackets and accompanied by gum-popping girlfriends. As directed by Britisher Jonathan Lynn on the "My Cousin Vinny" is a good-hearted comedy of clashing cultures. The film finds great fun in coaxing out and mocking a range of regional differences, from mutally impenetrable accents to radical variants in dress codes, but miraculously never descends to broad, dismissive caricatures. Lynn is not the most crafts- See 'Vinny', page hat is a 'yoot'?" asks an Alabama judge named Chamberlain Haller (Fred Gwynne), having just been intro duced to the concept by New York attorney Vinny Gambini (Joe Pesci). A "yoot," it turns out, is how "youth" is pronounced in Vinny's rich Brooklynese, and he has been summoned to the South to defend two of them his young cousin Bill (Ralph Macchio) and Bill's roommate Stan (Mitchell Whitfield), who have been arrested for the murder of a convenience store clerk while driving through on their way to college in California.

From his cell in an overcrowded state prison, Bill expresses confidence in his relative's ability to get them off, but Stan isn't lSetFlcks Ticks, ij inn nivl tv vn.