he tee “29 = Wednes sey, December 29, 1993 - North Shore News Abe The Pelican Brief & (Universal) Rated Mature (at the Esplanade, Capi- tol, Dunbar, Station Square, Richmond Centre, Eagle Ridge, Guildford, Willowbrook, Scott 72 ‘and Towne Cinema) ULIA, JULIA, Julia... you should have stayed in the tabloids — at least there you were interesting. Here’s the lowdown on this long-winded thriller. Two Supreme Court justices are killed by person or persons unknown. Now, with all the latest high tech gadgetry and combined man- power of the FBI, CIA and a dozen police forces, do you think the villains can be brought to justice? _ Orcana 24-year-old law student named Darby (Darby?) Shaw (Julia Roberts) do the job and save the taxpayers a bundle? (Hint: who's the star?) Not only does she crack the case simply armed with a personal _ computer and some spare time, but she never has a bad hair day. Credibility crumbles fram the strain as Darby’s paper, the Peli- can Brief, attracts the attention of “her professor (Sam Shepard) who _-unwisely passes it to his friend, CIA operative Gavin Verheek, “-(fohn Heard). He passes it along FILM REVIEW until, within 24 hours, the simple-minded president (Robert Culp) stops teaching his dog tricks long enough to read the report that implicates him in a conspiracy and cover-up, Darby dashes about the country, dedging assassins and looking for a man with an equally unlikely name to rescue her. Mie Mab Beas FoR te ‘ade tN De i eS Bae rief lays an e What luck! She finds one, Washington journalist Gray Gran- tham (Denzel Washington). We never do get to know just who all the mysterious people running around are. Roberts acts like she’s still on vacation from her two-year screen absence. The sparks between her and co-star Denzel Washington never fly, partly because Washington plays it so unflappably in control. His emotional expression is largely one of calm, which is hardly ideal for a thriller, Even though director Alan ). Pakula is an old hand at political shenanigans, The Pelican Brief can’t come close to All the Presi- dent’s Men or The Parallax View. The attempts at suspense are not only amateurish, but put the duh in dumb. A professional killer, stalking prey, is put off by a barking dog? (Chalk one up for Fido.) You've cracked the nation’s big- 926-4913 Open New Year’s gest puzzle, bul when you're in hiding you use credit cards and don’t even draw the hotel room drapes? Give me a break. Better yet, give me a better movie. Peppermint Soda * (New York Video) Rated Mature A Simnte slice of Japanese books, THE TRADITIONAL crafts of Japan, as depicted in eight large- format books and accompanying videos, ‘are now available for bor- rowing from the West Vancouver Memorial Library. The collection, donated by the Soroptimist International of North and West Vancouver, _ includes photographs and films of such cre- ations as lacquer ware, textiles, autobiographical Parisian life as director Diane Kurys recalls tyran- nical teachers, skipping classes, divorces and adolescent crushes -- you know, the usual crises fac- ing all 13-year-olds. SHOWTIME HOTLINES: Famous Players ........... 681-4255 - Cineplex Odeon .......... 687-1515 videos available altars, furnishings, stoneware, tiles and dolls, Upon accepting the donation at the library’s annual awards dinner in April, Cheryl McGregor, head of the library’s Adult Services Department, stated that the collec- tion would prove a valuable resource for students, designers, artists, collectors, travellers: and anyone interested in Japanese art and culture. "Doors Onen 6: 30pm ‘Dinner Served 7: 30pm. 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