DTH Omnibus Page II
Thursday September 7, 1989
C II INI EM A
NAT -..'
This week at the movies
Chapel HiU
Carolina Blue and White, East
Franklin St. 942-3061
Plaza Mil, Eliot Road Ext.
967-4737
Ram Triple, NCNB Plaza
967-8284
Varsity Theatres, East Franklin St.
967-8665
Durham
South Square Mall Cinemas, South
Square Mall 493-3502
Willowdaile Cinemas, Willowdaile
Shopping Center 47 7-468 1
Yorktowne Twin, Durham-Chapel
HiUBlvd 489-2327
PARENTHOOD
Ron Howard's comedy-drama
about the joys and woes of family life
is truly an ensemble affair, focusing
on three very different families. It's
hardly surprising that the movie even
tually gives two thumbs up to pro
creation, but it's a close-run thing,
and provides much food for thought
as it roller coasters to its conclusion.
Featuring an excellent cast, includ
ing Steve Martin, Rick Moranis, Mary
Steenburgen, Tom Hulce, Dianne
Wiest, Jason Robards and Keanu
Reeves. Varsity Theatre, Willowdaile
DEAD POETS SOCIETY
The wonderful story of an unor
thodox schoolteacher who inspires
his young students with the passion
and spirit of poetry is one of the year's
finest films. It is joyful, tragic, and
totally inspiring. Robin Williams gives
his finest, most controlled perform
ance to date. Directed by Peter Weir
("Witness"). Ram Theatre, South
Square
THE ABYSS
James Cameron's underwater spe
cial effects extravaganza has come
under some criticism, and while it's
true that it is probably too clever for
it's own good, Cameron didn't make
"The Terminator" and "Aliens" in
order to change tack now. "The
Abyss" has the tension and drama
you expect from one so well-versed
in the medium of suspense. Carolina
Blue and White, South Square
Hollywood
From Associated Press Reports
HOLLYWOOD With a record
$2.05 billion in ticket sales, Holly
wood posted its best summer ever
mainly on the strength of such films
as Batman and the family comedies
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and Parent'
hood.
Memorial Day to Labor Day box
office revenues were up 20 percent
from last summer's record of $1.7
billion, with Batman emerging as at
least the sixth most successful film in
movie history on ticket sales in ex
cess of $240 million.
The top five movies alone com
bined for more than $750 million in
sales, according to figures released
Tuesday.
TURNER AND HOOCH
Tom Hanks proved that he could
still star in total drivel with the abys
mal "The 'Burbs," but here, even
though another cop-and-his-dog
movie seems dubious entertainment,
he comes out on top. In any case, its
not his dog; the hound's owner has
been murdered and Hanks is assigned
to look after it. There's something to
be said for comedy. Plaza, Willow'
daile
WHEN HARRY MET SALLY
Rob Reiner doesn't believe that
men and women can be friends with
out sexual tension cropping up. More
over, he suspects that men and women
cannot sleep together and still be
friends the following morning. And
that's what this delightfully-adult
comedy is all about. Billy Crystal gives
the performance we have come to
expect from such a genius, and Meg
Ryan is growing up nicely. With
Carrie Fisher. Ram Theatre, South
Square
sex, lies, and videotape
Steven Soderburgh won the top
prize at the Cannes Film Festival with
this exploration of, well... sex, lies
and videotape. See it quick, because
it's the one everyone is talking about.
It's sensual, erotic, painful, hysteri
cally funny and very important. This
one will be around for a while - a real
coup for intelligent, low-budget in
dependent film-making. With stun
ning acting from James Spader, Andie
MacDowell, Peter Gallagher and
Laura San Giacomo. Varsity Theatre
RELENTLESS
He couldn't be a cop, so he be
came a serial killer. Judd Nelson stars.
Ram Theatre, Willowdaile
HEART OF DIXIE
A college civil rights drama - see
review on page 11. Plaza, Yorktowne
CASUALTIES OF WAR
A Vietnam drama - see review on
page 1 1. Carolina Blue and White, WiU
lowdaile
UNCLE BUCK
John Candy plays an obnoxious
uncle who babysits his nieces and
nephews. John Hughes directs the
unfunny fat man once again. Plaza,
South Square
summer box
"Nobody in the business can pre
dict how big a movie goes once it
goes big," Rob Friedman, president
of worldwide advertising and public
ity for Warner Bros., said of Batman's
spectacular summer. "Did we know
Batman was going to be a big movie?
Yes. Did we know how big? You never
know."
John Krier, president of Exhibitor
Relations Co., which compiles box
office figures, said that Batman's smash
showing encouraged audiences to
explore the entire summer slate.
"And once people arrived, there
. was a little bit of everything out there,
great variety," he said.
Among those contributing to the
record season were adult moviego
1
Andie MacDowell takes a
A NIGHTMARE ON ELM
STREET 5
Freddy is back to do it all over
again one more time. Finger-flickin'
good. Willowdaile
BATMAN
. Holy $240 million! Some loved it,
some hated it, some wondered what
all the fuss was about. But let's face
it, we all went. Fat checks on their
way to Michael Keaton as the hooded
one, and Joker Jack. Directed by Tim
"Beetlejuice" Burton. WiUowdaile
LETHAL WEAPON 2
Mel Gibson and Danny Glover are
back in buddy-land. Richard Don
ner once again directs. The only se
quel of the summer that deserved to
make more money than its
predecessor. Willowdaile
YOUNG EINSTEIN
Australia's current comedy sensa
tion, Yahoo Serious, stars in the off
beat story of Einstein's unknown early
life. Yahoo also wrote and directed.
Yorktowne
office shatters all records
ers, who in recent years have stayed
at home. Although exact figures are
unavailable, it is believed older pa
trons boosted the grosses of Dead Poets
Society, Parenthood and Honey, I
Shrunk the Kids.
The healthy summer season makes
it likely that 1989 will break last year's
record of $4.46 billion.
Five summer movies surpassed the
$100 million mark: Batman, Indiana
Jones and the Last Crusade ($189.5
million); Lethal Weapon 2 ($131.3
million); Honey, J Shrunk the Kids
($119.1 million) and Ghostbusters IJ
($109.9 million). Their combined
$788 million accounted for 40 per
cent of all summer tickets sold.
Rounding out the top 10 were Dead
I
z L
J
v
turn with the camera in Steven Soderbergh
At The Union
THE SEARCHERS
John Ford's Western was copied
over and over, it's that good. John
Wayne stars as the man who's lost
his niece (Natalie Wood) to the
Indians and goes in search. A large
scale film that features on many a
critic's all-time top ten list. Thurs
day, Sept. 7 at 7 and 9:30 pm.
THE ACCIDENTAL TOUR
IST The daffy story of a travel writer
who hates to travel makes for a glori
ously literal film, but be warned that
they blow the lid on the big meta
phor at the end. William Hurt and
Geena Davis put in excellent per
formances. Also with Kathleen
Turner. Friday, Sept. 8 at 7, 9:30 pm
and Midniglit. Admission $1 .50.
TORCH SONG TRILOGY
Harvey Fierstein recreates his
Broadway role of Arnold Beckoff, a
female impersonator so passionate in
Poets Society ($86.4 million); When
Harry Met Sally... ($66.6 million);
Parenthood ($64.1 million); Turner
and Hooch ($57.1 million) and Star
Trek V: The Final Frontier ($50.5
million).
Among the high-powered flops
were Clint Eastwood's Pink Cadillac
($12.1 million); Sylvester Stallone's
Lock Up ($19 million); Michael J.
Fox's and Sean Penn's Casualties of
War ($14 million) and Dennis
Quaid's Great Balls of Fire ($13.7
million).
Several industry observers have
pointed out that the summer record
was sparked by higher ticket prices,
with some theaters in New York and
Los Angeles charging $7 for single
Ill
A
1
till
's 'sex, lies, and videotape'
his quest for respect that he almost
bursts out of the screen. Anne Ban
croft gives the most grisly perform
ance of 1988, but Matthew Broder
ick, as Arnold's lover, is good. Satur'
day, Sept. 9 at 7 and 9:30 pm.
SWING TIME
A Fred AstaireGinger Rogers clas
sic, with dance routines that leave
you breathless and songs that are still
lauded today, including "A Fine
Romance" and "The Way You Look
Tonight." Sunday, Sept. 10 at 7 and.
9:30 pm.
THE KILLING FIELDS
The Union's Human Rights Film
Festival kicks off with the highly
acclaimed story of NY Times corre
spondant Sidney Schanberg (Sam
Waterston) and his Cambodian friend
Dith Pran (Haing S. Ngor), as they
try and escape the atrocities of the
Khmer Rouge. A second chance to
see this supremely affecting film on
the big screen. Directed by Roland
Joffe ("The Mission").
admissions. But, the studios counter,
today's movies must struggle for au
diences in a more competitive mar
ketplace, fighting the broad appeal
of pay cable television and videocas
sette rentals. -
Among the studios, Warner Bros,
led all comers during the summer,
with its Batman and Lethal Weapon 2
helping the studio account for 24
percent of all tickets sold.
Disney, with no sequels and no
over-publicized epics, quietly claimed
the No. 2 spot with its Honey, I Shrunk
the Kids and Dead Poets Society.
Among the major studios, Tri-Star
and MGM-UA had the most miser
able summers, finishing last and next-to-last,
respectively.