The Miami Herald from Miami, Florida • 55

Tbc Miami Herald Friday June 10 1988 Weekend at the Llovies 5D Connery stars in listless Presidio Movie Review The Presidio (R) CAST: Sean Connery Mark Harmon Meg Ryan Jack Warden Dana Gladstone CREDITS: Directorcinematographer: Peter Hyams Producer: Constantine Conte Writer: Larry Ferguson Music: Bruce Broughton A Paramount Release Running time: 120 minutes Protamty sexual situations violence By HALBOEDEKER Herald Stag Writer Now get this: Sean Connery playing a gruff by-the-book soldier detests Mark Harmon a hot-headed police inspector in The Presidio And Harmon detests Connery his former superior in the Army Meg Ryan playing Connery's unhappy daughter dislikes militaristic upbringing and has never forgiven him for her suicide And Connery dislikes Ryan's free-spirited ways and her choice in men You see Ryan likes Harmon a lot She even tries to disrobe him on the trunk of her car And he likes her back which only gives Connery more reason to detest him Which brings us to the point of The Presidio which when you come down to it really is pointless The movie is ostensibly a thriller about the slaying of a military policewoman at the Presidio the compound on San Francisco Bay Sean and Mark are supposed to be tracking the killers But the mystery gets shunted aside for long stretches as the Sean-Mark-Meg saga unfolds and they whine about the past noted Only a few bits work: A chase on foot through Chinatown invigorates the listless movie and the lusty dialogue between Harmon and Ryan is crudely entertaining sloppiness at weaving mystery is matched by his bungling of characterization Harmon and Ryan are done in by their shallow roles and Jack Warden playing old comrade is wasted But Connery registers delivering dramatic speeches worthy of a new Oscar winner Of course those speeches have nothing to do with the mystery The Presidio marks the second teaming of Connery and director Peter Hyams (Running Scared Capricorn One) Their first film 198 Outland a High Noon set in outer space was a letdown The Presidio is an even bigger disappointment Hyams also served as photographer and the cinematography is fine but the movie is empty If movies were ranked like the military The Presidio would be a hapless recruit It just marches off in too many directions You know a in trouble when the characters babble on about long ago In The Presidio they have to happening on-screen is dull and predictable The highlights car chases up and down the San Francisco inclines pale in comparison to those in Bullitt The real culprit here is Larry script What should have been a slick thriller turns into a clumsy mixture of trite crime drama and soap-opera psychology riddled with ridiculous dialogue and unnecessary scenes notably a bar brawl and a fight at a military dance Two policemen die early on but their passing is never Dana Gladstone and Mark Harmon play suspect and cop in The Presidio Peck and Fonda complete shooting of Old Gringo FHm Briefs Tragedy haunts Poltergeist III By DESMOND RYAN KmgJif-KtdderVews Service In the summer of 1986 20th Century-Fox found itself with a movie that had suddenly lost its market It was called Spacecamp an innocuous fantasy about teens accidentally launched on the space shuttle and it was released several months after the Challenger disaster To no surprise this unintentionally macabre exercise in art imitating death quickly succumbed at the box office Its shots of the NASA shuttle roaring into orbit collided with the all too painful memories of a national tragedy Movies are almost invariably hindered when their story coincides with real-life calamity (one noteworthy exception was 1 The China Syndrome which opened two weeks before Three Mile Island in 1979) Those in which a star died during or after the filming face insurmountable problems Consider but do not envy the difficulties of MGM which is releasing Poltergeist III today (The film playing in several South Florida theaters was not made available on time for reviewing) Heather the little girl who gave such an eerie spin to the lines and was 12 years old when she died in February after the third film was completed The cause of death was septic shock stemming from an intestinal condition Her death added to the jinx that seems to have dogged the participants in Poltergeist Dominique Dunne who played older sister in Poltergeist was murdered by her boyfriend in 1982 Julian Beck the rancorous and villainous Reverand Kane in Poltergeist II died of cancer at 60 after finishing the movie in 1985 death presented the studio with a dilemma: Poltergeist III gives her a prominent role as she tries to persuade a cynical psychiatrist about her past ghostly experiences Happily this sort of ghastly development come along too often The most noteworthy in the have involved Vic Morrow Natalie Wood Adolph Caesar and David Niven Morrow was killed by a helicopter rotor blade in lives of her family Scheduled for publication in October Breathing Lessonswas brought to the studio by producer Phyllis Carlyle who is the co-executive producer of The Accidental Tourist the movie version of another novel by Tyler The Accidental Tourist stars John Malkovich production Because of the faster-than-a-speeding-arrow pace of Rambo III once those windy speeches by Afghan freedom fighters are over you may be vague about just how many bodies fall in the carnage So we went to work for you: We conservatively counted 133 fatalities (at least they were showing no signs of life the last time we saw them) Most ere Commies blasted to the collective beyond but there were also some innocent civilians (we did not include toppled animals) Top billing Peter O'Toole plans his feature directing debut with Sean Juno and the Paycock the tale of a Dublin family whose life is changed by the prospect of money also will re-create his London stage role of Capt Boyle Filming is planned for early 1989 with Vanessa Redgrave considering the part of long-suffering wife Juno Albert Brooks will be a triple threat (writer-director-actor) in an untitled film for the Geffen Co It squelches rumors that he was to do Comeback Kid based upon Avery 50 From Herald Wire Sendees Old Gringo starring Jane Fonda and Gregory Peck has completed principal photography on locations in Mexico with Louis Puenzo directing The dramatic film set during the Mexican Revolution became controversial before production when Peck replaced Burt Lancaster The cast change involved problems with insuring Lancaster who had undergone heart surgery Fonda plays a prim American governess caught in a love triangle between an American expatriate (Peck) and a fiery young general Oimmy Smits) in Pancho army back After a four-year hiatus John and Bo Derek will start production on a romantic comedy Ghosts Can 't Do It in August for Trans World Entertainment It will film in Hong Kong Sri Lanka and the Maidive Islands What is it about? John said to show people that we have a sense of humor about the difference in our ages If I were watching what was going on be ticked off too that this old man has been married to three beautiful John who will direct promised a comedy of errors sweetly funny situations" Wise director Robert Wise who won Academy Awards for The Sound of Music and West Side Story returns todirecting with Rooftops a contemporary ur- Robert Wise: The sound of Rooftops Heather The young actress died after filming Poltergeist III ban musical drama to be filmed in New York City The movie will be produced by Howard Koch Jr for New Visions Pictures from an original screenplay by Terry Brennan based on a story by Tony Mark and Allan Goldstein The story follows a band of streetwise kids whose turf and battleground are the rooftops of abandoned buildings in the tenements of the South Bronx Novel movies Columbia Pictures has acquired movie rights to Anne new novel Breathing Lessons the story of a persistent efforts to impose her dreams of love on the 1982 while filming The Twilight Zone which was released the next year Wood drowned in a boating accident in 1981 when she had almost finished filming Douglas Brainstorm Trumbull did some ingenious editing but the film was held up for almost two years and proved to be a commercial failure In 1986 two weeks into the shooting of Tough Guys starring Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas Adolph Caesar died of a heart attack It was early enough in the shooting to allow Eli Wallach to take over as the villain without a major disruption A gravely ill Niven died in 1983 while making The Curse of the Pink Panther a dreadful afterthought to a once fine series Impressionist Rich Little dubbed the ailing voice in several scenes Aatiwakw Herald movie reviewers rale movies from zero to four stars AAA Excellent AAAVfe Very Good AAA Good: A itxh Worth Seeing AA Fair Poor 0 Worthless DUNDEEII Paul Hogan repeats his role as a wily Australian fighting crime in the streets of New York The Miami Herald (BillCosford) continues to have fun with the part but in gets more action and less gawking-at-the-city folk" Openings BIG BUSINESS Tomlin and Bette Midler are swell together as two sets of identical twins mismatched at birth (Vulgar language) Multiple theaters POLTERGEIST III (PG-13) (unreviewed): The late Heather O'Rourke (who died after finishing work on the film) and tiny exorcist Zelda Ruben-stetn reprise their rotes in the shadow of the ghost that just quit Multiple theaters THE PRESIDIO (R) AA: Conflict between a San Francisco cop (Mark Harmon) and the provost marshall at a military base (Sean Connery) is aggravated when akiller strikes on army turf co-stars Meg Ryan Jack Warden (Profanity violence sexual situations )Multipletheaters PROMISED LAND (R) (unreviewed): Comlng-of-age tale about former high school classmates who gather for a reunion stars Kiefer Sutherland Meg Ryan executive producer Robert Bedford In DADE: Riviera Intracoastal Westbird Paul Hogan is Dundee Meg Ryan Kiefer Sutherland Tracy Pollan and Jason Gedrick star in Promised Land opening today The film was not made available for The New York Times (Janet Maslin) earlier one had novelty to keep it going and this time the novelty has begun to wear thin even if Mr Hogan remains generally The Washington Post (Desson Howe) Hogan has an easy plan: Simply be Mick 'Crocodile' Dundee and the rest will follow The rest follow so much asdrag itself along likean alligator on dry LosAngelesTimes (KevinThomas) adventure nothing special yet an inspired and good-humored presentation of one of the freshest most likable screen personalities to emerge in the past decade" Opening Wednesday BULL DURHAM (R): Kevin Costner as a washed-up minor-league catcher and Susan Sarandon as a baseball groupie Multiple theaters Watch tor review on Wednesday THE MILAGRO BEANFIELD WAR (R) Director Robert Redford finds magic In this drama about a native New Mexican who stands up to greedy developers in control ot local water stars Ruben Blades Richard Bradford Sonia Braga (Vulgar language brief violence) In DADE: Bay Harbour MOONSTRUCK (PG) A Romantic comedy with Cher as a young widow who is engaged to a stuffy bachelor then falls madly tn love with his younger brother Nicolas Cage co-stars Vincent Gardenia Danny Aiello (Vulgar language Multiple theaters PARAMEDICS (PG-13) (unreviewed): Two uninhibited womanizing uptown paramedics are banished to the urban hellhole of downtown by the captain but in the end become heroes Multiple theaters RAMBO III (R) Sylvester Stallone returns as John Rambo whose mentor Colonel Samuel Trautman(Richard Crenna) is kidnapped and held by the Russians in Afghanistan Mmed on location in Israel (Vulgar language violence Multiple theaters SALSA (PG) Salsa buffs who hang out at the popular La Luna Salsa Club dream of winning the annual dance contest (Profanity strong sexual innuendo Multiple theaters SHAKEDOWN (R) A Clumsy violent comedy based on a true story of a lawyer and renegade detective investigating the murder cf an undercover cop stars Peter Weller Sam Elliott (Vulgar language nudity sexual situations considerable violence adult themes Multiple theaters STAND AND DELIVER (PG) AAA: Edward James Olmos stars in this stand-up-and-cheer movie with the unlikeliest of heroes based on a true story of a heroic teacher in East Los Angeles co-stars Andy Garcia (Vulgar language) Multiple theaters THREE MEN AND A BABY (PG) A Tom Sei-leck Ted Dan son and Steve Guttenberg star as three bachelors who suddenly find themselves taking care of a baby Multiple theaters WHITE MISCHIEF (R) AAA: A gripping murder drama (and true story) set in 1940 Kenya about a wealthy Englishman's wife whose affair with an Eart is ended by his mysterious death (Profanity nudity sexual situations drug use In DADE: Riviera WILLOW (PG) A A George epic fantasy about a heroic person on a quest to save an infant princess from an evil queen spectacular special effects (Some violence may be too intense for younger children Multiple theaters Also Showing HAIRSPRAY (PG) AAAVi: John Waters' musical comedy extravaganza is set in 1962 Maryland where rivalries escalate among teen celebrities on a local dance show stars Debbte Harry Sonny Bono Divine (Brief vulgar language In DADE: Grove Art PINK FLAMINGOS (U): From John Waters and Divine tn DADE: Grove Art MAN WITH A MOVIE CAMERA: Dziga Vertov's kaleidoscopic city symphony followed by lecture by Bruce Posner illustrating Vertov's theories 7 30 Thursday Miaml-Dade Public Library 101 Flagler St Mami 375-5191 $5 SALO or THE 120 DAYS OF SODOM (U): Pwf Paolo Pasolini's controversial disturbing adaptation of the Marquis de Sade novel set in World War II Italy where Fascist rulers brutalize and degrade adolescents (Contains sad-sm scatoiogy and debauchery) In Italian with subtitles Midnight tonight and Saturday Arcade 4120 Laguna St Coral Gabies 447-0323 55 the big city with his wife to what they mistakenly believe will be an idyllic rural utopia (Profanity) Multiple theaters GOOD MORNING VIETNAM (R) AAA Robin Williams in a great performance stars as a disc jockey for Armed Forces Radio in Saigon (Vulgar language brief violence gore) Multiple theaters HOUSEKEEPING (PG) AAA: A poignant fascinating tale of two orphaned teen-agers raised by their eccentric aunt (Christine Lahti) in the Pacific Northwest (Adult themes In BROWARD: Fox Sunrise in PALM BACK (R) AAA Schfocky Imaginative thriller about a Jack-the-Ripper copycat who stalks the prostitutes of modern day Los Angeles (Violence profanity JMultiole theaters JUDGMENT IN BERLIN (PG) A East Berliners who hijacked a plane to West Germany are tried by an American judge based on a true story badly told co-stars Sean Penn Martin Sheen and Sam Wanamaker (Profanity In BROWARD: Corat Ridge Palm Aire Coral Square THE LAST EMPEROR (PG-13) A Bernardo Bertolucci's epic on the life of Pu Yi whose ill-fated dynasty saw the end of the Dragon throne and the rise of modern China stars Peter (Nudity) In DADE: Movies of Kendall in BROWARD: Coral Ridge in PALM BEACH: Village Green THE LAST MINUTE (U) Pupl Avail Intriguing film stars Ugo Tognani as the beleaguered manager ol a soccer team (Nudity obscene language) In Italian with subtitles In DADE: Arcadia THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE (PG-13) A A Vi: John Frankenhermer's brilliant 1962 political thriller based on Richard Condon's story ot brainwashed Korean POWs Frank Sinatra and Laurence Harvey with Angela Lansbury as Harvey's scheming mother (Violence In DADE: Normandy in BROWARD: Fox Sunrise MIDNIGHT CROSSING (R) Mystery thriller filmed in South Florida of two couples in a chartered sailboat cruising the Caribbean a fortune buried on an island oft Cuba figures in the plot: stars Faye Dunaway Daniel Travsnti John Laugh-Itn (Vulgar language nudity sexual situations violence BIG (PG) AAA: A wonderful comedy about a 13-year-old fast-forwarded to manhood by a wishing machine co-stars Tom Hanks Elizabeth Perkins Robert Loggia John Heard (Mild profanity Multiple theaters BILOXI BLUES (PG-13) A A second in Neil autobiographical trilogy about naive raftee Eugene Morns Jerome commg-of-age in boot camp stars Matthew Broderick Christopher Walken (Vulgar language sexual situations) Multiple theaters COLORS (R) AAA Hotshot detective Sean Penn and his partner Robert Duvall become Involved with East Los Angeles gangs in a disturbing film co-stars Maria Conchita Alonso (Considerable vulgar language nudity implicit sex violence) Multiple theaters CONSUMINGPASStONS(R) AAA: Uproarious British comedy based on the play by Michael Palm and Terry Jones about an inept executive trying to climb his way to the top at Chumbley's Chocolate Factory stars Vanessa Redgrave Jonathan Pryce and Freddie Jones (Profanity sexual situations) In DADE: Dadeland in PALM BEACH: Atlantis CROCODILE DUNDEE 11 (PG) AA 'h: Aussie Paul Hogan returns with journalist Linda Koziowskl for more comedy and romance and now cocaine smugglers in the Big Apple and the Land Down Under (Vulgar language violence) Multiple theaters DA (PG) A A Hugh Leonard's film adaptation of his Broadway hit with winning thoughtful performances by Martin Shen and Barnard Hughes (Profanity In DADE: Grove Harbour in BROWARD: Fox Sunrise THE FAMILY (PG) A AA: A gfonous Mm of a midd le-ciass Roman clan over a period of 60 years stars Vittorio Gassman Fanny Ardant and Philippe Noiret (Nootfenswematenal In Italian with subtitles In BROWARD: Fox Sunrise FRIDAY THE 13TH PART VII: THE NEW BLOOD (R) A Spry corpse Jason the grand oia man of slash bags more (Vulgar language nudity sexual Situations violence and gore Multiple theaters FUNNY FARM (PG) A An enjoyable comedy with Chew Chase as a sportswnter who escapes First Run ABOVE THE LAW (R) AW: Steven Seagal stars as a Chicago narcotics detective who setsoul to bring down well-placed crooks by using extra-legal means co-stars Pam Grier Henry Silva (Vulgar language violence and gore) Multiple theaters sensual compilation of short films set to operatic anas by 10 directors including Jean-Luc Godard Robert Altman and Ken Russell stars Bridget Fonda John Hurt Beverty D'Angelo (Nudity sexual situations adult themes) In PALM BEACH Carefree AU REVOIR US ENFANTS (GOODBYE CHILDREN) (PG) AAA'A: Louis Malles haunting autobiographical memoir of childhood in a French boarding school during the Nazi occupa- Don (Adult themes In French with subtitles In PALM FEAST (G) A AAA: A lovely Mm based on an Isak Dinesen story about the effect of a brlliant French chef upon the dour folk of a tiny Danish village in the 1800s (Adult themes In Danish and French with subtitles In DADE: Cinematheque BEATRICE (R) A AiBertrandTavemler'sgrlmepic drama of a father and daughter in conflict set France during the Hundred War (Nudity obscene language violence in French with subtitles In DADE: Miracle BEETLEJUICE (PG) AA Trendy-type human beings take over the house of a couple of homebody ghosts who summon Beetlejuice toexorctse them stars Michael Keaton (Profanity and gore Multiple theaters BELLMAN AND TRUE (R) AA British thntier based on the novel about a drunken comouter expert who is swept up a darmg bank heist caper (Profanity violence sexual situations) In PALM BEACH: Atlantis Here are the top movies at the box office with distributor last week's gross number of weeks in release and total gross 1 Dundee II Paramount $1272 million two weeks $4764 million 2 Big 20th Century Fox $822 million one week $822 million 3 Rambo III Tri-Star $769 million two weeks $3233 million 4 Funny Farm Warner Bros $566 million one week $5 66 million 5 Willow MGM-UA $5 million three weeks $25 33 million 6 Colors Onon $1 45 million eight weeks $40 01 million 7 Beetlejuice Warner Bros $142 mimon 10 weeks $6387 million 8 Friday the 13th Part VII The New Blood Paramount $900156 four weeks $1718 million 9 Moonstruck MGM-UA $612475 25 weeks $7637 million 10 Good Morning Vietnam Disney $540891 24 weeks $12036 million.