Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 51

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1994DETROIT FREE PRESS 13c Directors debutis afresh, touching Mk4 Dan AYKIIOYI) Rosie O'DONNELL Dana DELANY BP! DINNED TtlEATQE PACKAGE PACKAGE INCLUDES: "PDIME THEATBE SEATING SIX COURSE MEM StlliUE (TAX GRATUITY INCLUDED) CALL (313) 872 5110 oamsfl UUIWJ The River Wiid'B A Movie Thrilling! A personal triumph for Meryl Streep. I wouldn't be surprised if she is nominated for a raft of honors." Gene ShaHt, THE TODAY SHOW "A Lean, Mean ML BY Anderson Jones Free Press Staff Writer Just don't call it a Cinderella story. even though "I Like It Lite That" turns on the heroine's cojning into her own, Lisette Linares, played- with an emotional earthiness and Vigor by Lauren Velez, is no doormat. Her husband, Chino (Jon Setfa), is no Prince Charming. And eyn if Chino were, he'd more likely slip a Timberland boot on Lisette's foot if she'd let him than any glass slipper, because Lisette's on the move.

The couple's too young to be married and too old for the bickering and one-upmanship that lands Chino in jail after an attempt to prove his chivalry. Move, maybe, the two are struggling toj maintain traditional read: outdated family values and gender roles while trying to raise three rambunctious children in the South Bronx. With Chino in jail, Lisette, to raise bail and feed her family, must endure a hmt of racism, welfare and the scorn of Magdelana, a trashy woman who desperately wants Chino. Lisette even mikes a pitiful attempt, with the help of; her brother, Alexis, to become a model. He loans her a pair of falsies but she instead lands a job, just barely, with arf independent record label.

The headiness of her renewed self-esteem inspires the entire household to' get its act together. Even the baby seems to cry less. With Lisette gone during the day, Chino finds a night job. Slowly they begin to listen to each other after the noise stops, but they fail to block out a ptying neighborhood where idle gossip helps to sink their marriage. '( Darnell Martin, who directs from tjie ceiling, upside down and breezing through crowds, delivers an ambitious, vital debut.

Martin pries spirited performances from her young cast. She shepherds the striking Velez winningly from her stage work into an inspired film performance, and she wrenches both machismo and vulnerability from Seda. Rita Moreno also does a fine turn as Lisette's meddling mother-in-law. Yet the supporting character to watch is Jesse Borrego as Alexis. A pre-op transsexual, Borrego moves through Lisette's orbit with a sublime dignity that warrants nary a notice from his community the one person on whom his sister can depend.

Martin's storytelling is considerably more refined and sophisticated than that of some of her peers deftly sidestepping cinematic conventions to create a stingingly funny and poignant film fresher than, say, "Fresh." mm mm1 mM Mil Smart and Meryl Stop reminds audiences that she is the best American actress of her generation." -Janet Maslin, NEW YORK TIMES "A Smart, Spunky Meryl Streep Trimphs: -TIME MAGAZINE "A Superior I TT" iiuaiiiM TP "THEMRWP' TXres your Breath Away TwoMes OlTR. So vivid and realistic we just about feel the spray. Meryl Streep gives a rip-roaring performance." Kenneth Turan, LOS ANGELES TIMES "Tense, SifflSFYING Entekiaevment. The fun and the power comes from Meryl Streep's newly robust heart." David Arisen, rU XITtoJDEN In Every Way, with brilliant performances by Meryl Streep and Kevin Bacon." Michael Mcdved, SNEAK PREVIEWS SAVOY FIGURES WEStimAti ALEX R0S17HENDERS0H reoounion "EXIT TO EOEH OAKA DELANY PAUL MERCURIO HEClOt BIZOKDO ROSIE O'DONNELL DAN AYKROYO II ml UH NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE RESTRICTED hSSa. A SAVOY PICTURE RELEASE lunwiiiLiiva SSajJOHES Starts Today NOW SHOWING AMC ABBEY 8 AMC AMERICANA WEST I Like it Like That AMC BEL-AIR 10 AMC LAUREL PARK amc SOUTHFIELD CITY Rated very mature themes, profanity.

amc STERLING CTR.10 glENNEEMRAAsLCANTON BEACON EAST 3 SHOWCASE DEARBORN SHOWCASE fiVf "SN THE NEW YORK TIMES, Janet Maslin SHOWCASE westlano SHOWCASE HEIGHTS PONTIAC 3: Worthy effort 1: A bomb 4: Outstanding i 2: So-so STAR GRATIOT AT 15 MLE STAR ROCHESTER HILLS STAR LINCOLN PARK 8 NO PASSES OR COUPONS ACCEPTED STAR TAYLOR artistsWEST RIVER A work of blazing originality! places Quentin Tarantino in the front ranks of American filmmakers!" NEW YORK MAGAZINE, David Denby "EcsrmimLYEfmmMiimG! One of the great wild rides of recent cinema!" 12 ROLLING STONE, Peter Travers INDISPUTABLY FEROCIOUS Fwil There's a special kick that comes from watching something this thrillingly alive!" ONLY Will ui 'i i 5 St 'Ml i Ui 'm Vlk'l: MrH: if- NOW SHOWING 4:00 7:00 9 50 5 20 7:50 10 20 1 40 5:15 7 50 10 20 1 30 5 30 8 00 10 30 7 00 00 7 30 10OO I uu ju zJ iu iu i 43 dw rju iuw if is 5uu ju rnj 2 10 4 30 7 10 945 2 10 4 35 7 10 940 1-30 4 30 7 30 10 30 2 00 5:15 8 30 2:00 6:20 9 30 1:00 4:00 7 10 10:15 5 25 8 30 1. 2, 4, 5. 7:10 8, 10 15 11 1, 2, 4. 5, 7:10 8, 10:15 11 1, 2, 4. 5, 7:10 8, 10:15 11 11-40 3 20 6 40 10 10 11 12 30 0 HO 5 10 12:00 4 00 7:30 10 30 12 30 3 50 7 00 10 10 12 00 3 00 7 00 10 00 12 30 3 45 7 05 10 15 12 30 3 45 7 05 10 15 pqiVE-IN 1 "5 3 15 5 25 7 35 9 45 11 55 12 55 3 10 5 20 7 35 9 55 12 11 50 2 35 4 50 7 20 9 40 11 45 2 15 4 4 5 7 00 9 45 12 00 2 30 4 50 7:15 9 40 VIS 4 00 7:20 9 30 1 20 4 30 7 30 10 00 12 20 2 40 5.

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