Apocalypse then Hearts: of Darkness: A Filmmaker’s Apocalypse * & & (Cineplex Odeon) Rated 14 years (at the Granville Cinema) Heart of Darkness, a project that eluded several big- | fe ABOUT the horrar. Try tackling Joseph Conrad's name directors (including Orson Welles). Imagine updating the locale to Vietnam, the war America wanted to forget. Now add on filming it in the middle of the Philippine jungle during a typhoon and a civil war, then having to fire your lead actor only to have the replacement col- lapse from a heart attack. And we haven't even mentioned Marlon Brando arriving un- prepared and about 200 pounds heavier than his character is sup- posed to be. Sound tike a money maker? Only Francis Ford Coppola could have turned the disaster- prone Apocalypse Now into a triumph as this fascinating behind-the-scenes documentary vividly illustrates. Using footage shot by Cappola’s wife, Eleanor, directors Fax Bahr and George Hickenlooper (love those nares) have added pres- ent-day reflections from the major participants to recreate the 16 . months the fiim staggered on until Francis calied it a wrap. FILM REVIEW Surprisingly, most of the actors and crews have fond memories. (A tribute to the rampant drug use.) Co-writer John Milius tells an hi- larious tale of sadly going to in- form Coppola that the movie had to be terminated and walking out 90 minutes later convinced that they were going to have the first Nobel! Prize-winning film. Dennis Hopper recalls how grateful he was just to be offered a job. (Although, at the time, he was so loaped on chemicals he couldn’t memorize dialogue, forc- ing Coppola to rewrite the charac- ter to match the actor's limita- tions). Some cf Cappala’s resource- fulness has rubbed off on the directors. Not only do they use Eleanor reading insights from her journal but they weave snippets of Orson Welles’ 1938 uncannily appropriate radio adaptation of Conrad's novel. If this documentary whets your appetite for the real McCoppola, Apocalypse Nowis playing at the Granville as well. And 13 years haven't softened its impact. Monsieur Hire * * * (Orion Home Video/Image Laserdisc) Rated Mature Murder in Paris and the key suspect is a balding, cold-eyed Peeping Pierre (Michel Blanc) in- fatuated with his lovely neighbor across the courtyard. The intrigue deepens when the object of his nocturnal viewings realizes she’s -not alone — and encourages his spying. . The satisfying and well-acted French thriller relies on three- dimensional characters and their cloudy motives for generating suspense. ; Showtime Hotlines: Famous Players... Cineptex Odeon.. Restaurant’s fare expertly prepared From page 24 Layerect Chocolate Mousse ($4.50), it was superl>. La‘ Toque’s wine list ($14 up to $35) is also concise. But many good bottles are offered from most of the major wine-producing countries. , . We sampled a 1988 Bourgogne Passe-tout-grains ($24), an ex- tremely enjoyable blend of pinot ’ noir and gamay. ; From La Toque’s appetizer sec- * ’. tion | chose the Carpaccio and " Proscuitto ($5.75), which included a half dozen slices of the raw beef and the excellent Italian ham sprinkled fightly with olive oil, ground black pepper and chopped chives. The plate was dressed in a rain- | bow of deep purple kale, bright scarlet radicchio lettuce and pale yellow endive. An excelfent Dijon mustard cream sauce sprinkled with __ blackened sesame seeds provided ~ aspirited accompaniment for the two Itatian meats. - . - Breast of Duckling Calvados ($15.75) followed. The entree was outfitted with . baby asparagus beneath hollan- daise sauce, whipped potatoes, “julienned carrots prepared with fennel seeds and cauliflower top- — ped with a cheese roux. The duck breast came sliced and crowned with crisped curls of duck skin and small bullets of ap- plein a savory Calvados sauce. The meat was pink, juicy and suf- fused with apple and cider brandy flavors. . The package was at once color- ful, varied and expertly prepared, as is the entire La Toque Blanche experience. Wieser, a former BCIT chef in- structor, has establisned a showcase for precision prepara- tion of modern continental cuisine. la Toque Blanche is a joyous gastronomic education for former students, all those interested in the finer flourishes of the culinary arts and anyone else with a hunger for good food. eee Table Hopping staff have track- ed down the services of an asute oenologist to provide readers with information about wines and wine bargains. Behold his first contribution: YOUR WINE Steward recom- mends: : Butterfly Ridge Chardonnay/ Colombard 1990. $6.95 {Australia}. Aussie winemakers love to mix ‘n match grape varieties in ways that cause wine “experts” to spit on their shoes in exasperated satisfaction. - . Here the Colombard, an un- distinguished grape used mainly for blending in California, adds surprising size ‘and an austere, metallic echo of. Chablis to the Chardonnay, which can be a bit too fruity and simple on its own in Oz. This wine will knock the tastebuds off ‘just a glass of dry white wine” guests, and you can afford te pass on the litre of plonk siphoned off the E.E.C. .“‘wine lake.” us . Santa Carolina Cabernet Sauvignon Special Reserve 1982. . $8.40 (Chile). Best value for money in B.C. li- quor stores for the past two years, now in limited supply and running cut fast. Fully mature, an elegant balance of fruit and tannin that puts all ge- neric “Bordeaux” to shame, not to mention most smaifl chateaux costing twice as much. . Very drinkable now, but by no means on its last legs. ‘ Given a couple more years in a cool dark place, it will reward pa- tience. if you can find it, buy as much as your bank card can carry. Wednesday, February 12, 1992 - North Shore News ~ 37 PARK ROYAL ... Far the largest selection of NATURALIZER shoes under one roof. Your piace for & 4 wide range of sizes, the best selection...J ind personalize : service! < PARK ROYAL’. SO SOT, SOP BF Van y ~ YOUR SECO Choose your first pair at the regular price and your FF second pair from our specially tagged collection is 4 FREE! Or buy a pair of Pearle Soft™ contact * lens at the regular price and get a spare pair FREE! Itsa great deal. Po og fy ; Bur you'd better hurry. a ay Saesd Ao The future is closer than you think! —————— VIS EE: #. pont — le GLASSES It ONE HoUR™ PARK ROYAL SOUTH |= HAVE YOU GOT YOUR PEARLES ON? NEAR THE BAY . * Offer vatid on complete glasses or contacts, same prescrigeion ~- meat single vision 925-9515 irate and thfocal precnpcons. reumicnons apgte. bens cprions, prsien peibe eet red citi cep prea irl ore ae of immurance benefits apply with this coffe, “ : . : Enjoy our royal restoration : ; fora idedly modest sum. | FROM We've spent a king's ransom restoring The Empress— an impressive $45 million, to be exact. And now were re- room; maximum two children.) Come dive intoThe Empress’ © new pcol and health club. Sip afternoon tea in her refurbished storing our Breakaway special, so you can stay at this magnificent waterfront heritage hotel from only $79* per night, any night until Feb. 29, 1992. (Children 18 and under free in parents’ lobby. Dine in her handsomely redecorated restaurants. And discover all of Victoria's charm, right on her doorstep. Just contact your travel agent or call the hotel directly at (604) 384-8111 or 1-800-268-9411. per room/per night ° ANY DAY Canadian Pacific 8&4 Hotels & Resorts The Empress 721 Government Street, Victoria, British Columbia V8w 1W5 (604) 384-8111 or 1-800-268-9411. “Single or double occupancy, plus tax, based on avallability and selected accommodation. Other standards of rooms are avallable, including Business Class, for an additional cost. Discount cannot be applied to existing discounts (individual travel only}. Offer subject to change without notice.