Kino Biff

Happy Death Day 2U

Jessica Rothe is menaced yet again in Happy Death Day 2U

Christopher Landon's Happy Death Day 2U is a better than average sequel to a better than average teen slasher flick. The Groundhog Day premise of the first film is expanded utilizing the campus science nerds and the theory of relativity. Invention never flags even if the action is, by definition, formulaic. Even while working with cheesy scenarios, Landon's direction displays, once again, a winning sweetness. Jessica Rothe, a little long in the tooth to be playing a college student, delivers a disciplined performance that holds together the wispy plot threads and propels the action forward. Landon's films tend to be better constructed and paced than most bigger-budgeted Hollywood fare.

A Cold Wind in August

Lola Albright

Alexander Singer's A Cold Wind in August, from 1961, is an impactful B picture that illustrates a May to September romance. Shooting on location in New York, Singer uses the story of mismatched lovers to picture the cultural dislocation of urban America in the early 60s. The premise borders on that of a pornographic short. During a heat wave, teenaged Vito, whose father is the building's super, goes to the apartment of Iris, an upscale stripper and prostitute. Spark fly and after a couple of Bloody Marys, so does Vito's virginity. Soon he is skipping stick ball with his pals to tryst with Iris. Eventually, he learns The Truth and thus the lesson endeth.

The film verges on exploitation, but Singer's skill with his cast lifts the picture above the routine. There are no jarringly bad performances. Scott Marlowe is fine as Vito. He is ten years too old for the role, but captures the youthful awkwardness of his character. However, Lola Albright, as Iris, is the cynosure of the film. Iris is punished by society, but Singer films her with empathy. It is easy enough to evoke this as Iris bumps and grinds in front of elderly, slobbering yahoos, but Singer also views her transgressive desire for Vito with sympathy. After all, are women not equally attracted to the young and beautiful. As a bald, elderly, slobbering Wahoo, I think the answer is obvious. Singer views Iris as a woman and not a cautionary figure.

Herschel Bernardi gives an understated and effective performance as Iris' sugar daddy. Joe De Santis also gives a deft performance as Vito's father. He avoids any marinara slathering and hits notes of rueful wisdom. Singer's talent seems to have been submerged in television, but a scanning of his impressive credits indicates he kept his hand in the game.

Best of 1997

L.A. Confidential Curtis Hanson
Gattaca Andrew Niccol
Jackie Brown Quentin Tarantino
My Best Friend's Wedding P. J. Hogan
Henry Fool Hal Hartley
The Wings of a Dove Iain Softley
Taste of Cherry Abbas Kiarostami
Chasing Amy Kevin Smith
The Sweet Hereafter Atom Egoyan
The Eel Shohei Imamura

Honorable Mention

Boogie Nights -- PT Anderson, Washington Square -- Agnieszka Holland,

Titanic -- Cameron, The Swindle -- Chabrol

Films I Enjoyed

Winter Sleepers, Live Flesh,

The Fifth Element, Open Your Eyes,

Year of the Horse, The Apostle,

Perdita Durango, Mr. Jealousy,

Starship Troopers, Con Air,
Face/Off, Amistad,

Happy Together, The Spanish Prisoner,

Romy and Michele's High School Reunion, Hercules,
The Devil's Advocate, The Day Trippers,

As Good As It Gets, Grosse Point Blank,
Air Force One, Breakdown,

The Game, The Rainmaker,
Alien Resurrection, Donnie Brasco,

Kundun,

Lost Highway, Funny Games,

Scream 2, Wag the Dog,
Good Will Hunting, Cop Land,

Cure, Mimic,

Orgazmo

Below the Mendoza Line

Twilight of the Ice Nymphs, Two Girls and a Guy,
George of the Jungle, Liar, Liar,

In & Out, The Full Monty,

Lolita, Lawn Dogs,

The Jackal, Contact,
Men in Black, An American Werewolf in Paris,

Austin Powers, Seven Years in Tibet,
The Ice Storm, Kiss the Girls,

GI Jane, Two Orphan Vampires,

Anaconda, Tomorrow Never Dies,
Conspiracy Theory, Dante's Peak, The Saint,

So Bad It's Almost Good

Batman and Robin