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@ An Ideal Husband
kkk KY Starring Rupert
Everett, Jeremy Northam,
Cate Blanchett, Julianne
Moore and Minnie Driver.
Directed by Oliver Parker.

Julie Crawford

Filin Reviews

I know what you’re
thinking: hasn’t the well
from which filmmakers
draw period pieces run
dry yet?

But Aw Ideal Husband is a
gem of a film: it is crafted with
attention to Oscar Wilde's
original genius, with some
subde improvements by direc-
tor Oliver Parker, who makes
the story more accessible to a
film audience.

The film is set at the turn
of the century, in 1895. Wilde
would have shaken his head in
amazement that hus plav
would be as relevant at the
turn of our own century: with
all our prejudices, vices and
morality litle changed from
his day.

We are first introduced to

@ Park & Tilford Cineplex

Lord Gonng (Rupert Evereet)
whose principal interests are
the hedonistic pursuits of
bachelorhood, and filial dis-
obedience.

This rogue has the lion's
share of witty lines in the nln,
many of which transpire ina
kind of monologue he has in
front of his mirror, with his
manservant nodding obedient-
ly. “To love oneselfis the
beginning of a litclong
romance,” Goring insists,
summing up his philosophy.

When not exchanging
quips with the lovely Mabel
Chiltern (Minnie Driver),
Lord Goring spends much of
his time shirking his father’s
commands to get himself'a
wife. When the Earl of
Caversham points out that
he’s 36, a suitable age to be
married, Goring is mortified,
and tells him to keep his voice
down: he pretends to the
world to be 32, with all the
vanity of a woman.

One thing Goring cannot
be accused of is disloyalty to
his friend, rising political star

"Sir Robert Chiltern (Jeremy

Northam). Sir Robert and his
wife Gertrude (Cate
Blanchett) are the toast of

200 — 333 Brooksbank, North Vancouver (985-3911)

Big Daddy (PG) — 1:30, 1:50, 3:50, 4:25, 6:30, 7:20, 9, 9:35

London society and are deeply
in love. Their ideal marriage is
threatened by a scandal in Sir
Robert’s past that could
destroy them both.

Mrs. Chevely (Julianne
Moore), recently returned
trom Vienna, has evidence of
the scandal in her possession,
and wants Sir Robert to make
a great political concession in
return for her secrecy. Moore
executes the role of the
scheming Mrs. Chevely to per-
tection, English accent and all.

It’s up to Goring to help
get his fhend out of this mess,
but will he sacrifice his bache-
lorhuod?

Ait of the cast members are
beyond reproach. Both lead-
ing and supporting players are
excellent: they seem to have
more than a firm grasp on the
period and the razor-sharp dia-
logue, which they do proud.

Buoyed by Wilde’s wit,
sumptuous set and costume
design and Parker's well
fleshed-out characters, the film
gallops through an obstacle
course of plot nvists but is
remarkably contemporary and
easy to follow. An ideal
Husband is one of the must-

Allance Atlantis

see films of 1999. CATE Blanchett stars as Gertrude in Oliver Parker's new film An ideal Husband.

Besieged (PG} — 7:15, 9:25 p.m. plus Sat/Sun/Thu 2, 4:30
p.m. and Tue 4:30 p.m. with Mark Sawers’ Shoes Off!
Notting Hill (PG) — 7, 9:30 p.m. plus Sat/Sun/Thu 1:30,

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New releases from Bantam Books

p.m. 4:10 p.m. and Tue 4:10 p.m. (no 7 p.m. show Mon, June 28)
Austin Powers 2 (PG) — 1:20, 1:40, 3:35, 4:15, 6:45, 7:30,

9:15, 9:45 p.m. .
Notting Hill (PG) — 1:10, 3:45, 7:19, 10 p.m. (no 7:10 p.m.
show on Sun

An Ideal Husband (PG) — 7 p.m. Sun only .
Star Wars-The Phantom Menace (G) — 1, 4, 7, 9:50 p.m.

@ Esplanade 6 Cinemas

200 W. Esplanade, North Vancouver (983-2762)

The General’s Daughter —Fri/Sat/Sun/Tue 1:10, 4:10, 7, 1Q
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Wild Wild West Wed/Thu 12:15, 2:35, 4:50, 7:30, 10 p.m.
Instinct — Fri /Sat/Sun/Tue 1:15, 3:55, 7:10, 9:45 Mon 7:10,
9:45 p.m. Wed/Thu 1:20, 4, 7, 9:45 p.m.

South Park Wed/Thu 1, 3, 4:55, 7:05, 9:15 p.m.

Tarzan — Fri/Sat/Sun/Tue 12:45, 2:45, 4:45, 7:20, 9:20 p.m.
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The Matrix — Fri /Sa/Sun/Tue 1,3:50, 7:05, 9:50 p.m. Mon
7:05, 9:50 p.m.

Tea with Mussolini — Fri/Sat/Sun/Tuc12:55, 3:45, 7:15,
9:40 p.m. Mon 7:15, 9:40 p.m. Wed/Thu 12:55, 3:45, 7:10,
9:35 p.m.

@ Caprice Park Royal South
West Vancouver (926-6599)

The Mummy (14A) — 7, 9:20 p.m.
Lite is Beautiful (PG) — 7:05 p.m.
Hideous Kinky (PG) — 7:10 p.m.
13th Floor (14A) — 9:10 p.m.
Entrapment (PG) — 9:15 p.m.

ICN IMAX

201-999 Canada Pace (682-4629)

Extreme -—- 1:15, 3:30, 4 a

Alaska: Spirit of the Wild — noon, 6, 8 p.m. daily

Island of the Sharks — 2:15, 4:45, 7 and 10 p.m.

Special screenings of T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous in IMAX 3D
are set for June 12, 20 and 27 at 11 a.m.

2 Fifth Avenue Cinemas

2110 Burrard at 5th, Vancouver (734-8700)

Run Lola Run (PG) — 7:20, 9:15 p.m. plus Sat/Sun/Thu
2:10, 4:40 p.m. and Tue 4:40 p.m.

The Winslow Boy (G) —- 7:15, 9:20 p.m. plus Sat/Sun/Thu
1:50, 4 p.m. and Tue 4 p.m. (no 7:15 p.m. show Wed, June 30)
Tea with Mussolini (PG) — 7:05, 9:35 p.m. plus Sat/Sun/Thu
1:40, 4:20 p.m. and Tue 4:20 p.n.(no 7:05 p.m. show Mon,
Junc 28)

Look What's In Store For You

“dynamic pop with blues and jazz influences” Stuck Up Marys
Saturday June 26 * 8pm

Galleria Ambleside

1545 Marine Drive
922 4694» 913-3449:

B Park Theatre MAEVE The Return Journcy a

3440 Cambie at 18th, Vancouver (876-2747)
An Ideal Husband (PG) — 7, 9:15 p.m., Sat/Sun 1:45, 4 p.m.

@ Varsity Theatre
4375 West 10th at Trimble, Vancouver (222-2235)
Three Seasons (PG) — 7, 9:20 p.m. plus Sat/Sun 1:30, 4 p.m.

@ Hollywood Theatre

3323 West Broadway, Vancouver (738-3211)
Blast from the Past (PG) — 7:30 p.m.
Payback (18A) — 9:30 p.m.

@ Pacific Cinematheque

1131 Howe St., Vancouver (684-3456)

Divorce Italian Style (Great Britain 1998) Directors Kim
Longinotto, Ziba Mir-Hosseini — Fri, June 25, 7:30 p.m., Sat,
June 26, 9:20 p.m., Sun, June 27, 7:30 p.m., Mon, June 28,
9:20 p.m. British documentary filmraaker Longinotto collaborat-
ed with London-based Iranian anthropologist Hosseini on this
surprise hit of the film festival circuit. The film follows three
Tehran women as they seck to end their marriages in Iran’s
Family Law Courts.

The Gypsies of Svinia (Canada 1998) — Director John
Paskievich Fri, June 25, 9:05 p.m., Sat, June 26,7:30 p.m., Sun,
June 27, 9:05 p.m., Mon, June 28, 7:30 p.m. Vancouver pre-
micre of documentary which explores the terrible plight of the
Roma, culture of post-communist Central and Eastern Europe.

tay Shi
Miriam E. Nebon

Notes from a

Big Country

Bill Bryeon
handcover '

Alone At Sea
Ann Spencer

fim
hock ‘ke

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1545 Marine Drive
West Vancouver 922 4694 © 913-3449