Photo Altiia Dory NICK Nolte is up for a Best Actor Oscar for his performance in Affliction. Affi & Affliction * kk 1/2 Starring Nick Nolte, James Coburn, Sissy Spacek and Willem Dafoe. Julie Crawford Film Reviews A bad seed bears rotten fruit. The old adage has no truer proof than Nick Nolte as Wade Whitehouse, the explosive product of a violent alco- holic father. Anyone with any sense has escaped the depressing little town of Lawford, New Hampshire. Wade’s ex-wife has remarried and his brother, Rolte, reaches in the big city. Even his young daughter (a mature Brigid Tierney as Jill) has bad feelings abour the town: “Don’t worry, Daddy, I love you. but I want to go home.” Wade vows to gain custody of Jill, and proposes to his gitlttiend Margic (Sissy Spacek) in the hopes of speeding the process along. But an impending custody battle is only one of Wade’s problems. There's the lack of respect he commands as the town’s part-time policeman/crossing guard. Then there’s this tishy shooting death of a wealthy tourist. Looking to increase his stature among the townspeople and his family, Wade decides that there was more to the hunting accident than meets che eye. His best friend jack acted as the dead man’s guide and claims to know nothing, but there’s blood on his iction is affecting sleeve. And Wade's boss and the dead man’s family seem to be buying up all the real estate in the town... Conjecture turns fo conviction, and Wade starts a blind crusade to bring his friends and enemies to justice. To top it all off, Wade has this toothache that’s getting more unbearable by the day. It's a nice litle metaphor for the small things in his life that go unresolved, eventu- ally reaching a bloody climax. ‘The plot is really secondary to the emo- tional downslide of Wade. who naively thinks he can keep his temper and his boozing under control, and escape the violent iegacy of his father (convincingly played by James Cobura, nominated in the Supporting Actor category for his role). Nick Nolte is superb in the role of Wade, and may surprise everyone by winning this year’s Best Actor Oscar. He ts every inch the tormented soul trying to redeem himself. We root for him trom the very beginning even though he is a walking checklist of a killer's symptoms: history of violence, substance abuse, low self-esteem, broken relationship, lost job. Director Paul Schrader has tackled the subject betore in his sereenplays for Taxi Driver, Raging Bull and The Mosquite Coast. All deal with men whose volatile mix of self: doubt and machismo leads to their downfall. The plot is plodding at times, but the timing and intensity leading to Wade's breaking point is perfeer. Affliction is a very good film that makes a streng statement about domestic violence in our culture. “CINEMA SHOWTIME! B Park & Tilford Cineplex 200 - 333 Brooksbank, North Vancouver (985-391 } a Simply Irresistible (PG) — 2, 7:15 p.m. Stepmom (PG). ~ 9:20 p.m. Shakespeare in Love (14A}-~- 1:15, 6-45, 9:30 p.m, Waking Ned Devine (PG) -- 1:55, 7:30, 9:40 pam. She’s All That (PQ) — 1:45, Prince of Egypt (G) — 2:10 p.m. Patch Adams (PG; -~ 1:30, 6:55, 9:25 p.m. one G55 pum. show Sun, Feb. 14) October Sky (PG) -~ 7 p.m. (Sun, Feb. 14 only) The Thin Red Line (ISA) —- 7-45 pun. B Esplanade 6 Cinemas 200 W. Esplanade, North Vancouver (983- 2762) Payback -- Fri, Sat, Sun, Tue 1, 3:45, 7:10, 9:50 p.m. Mon, Wed, Thu 7:10, 9:50 p.m. Rushmore - - Fri, Sat, Sun, Tues 12:30 5 4:50, 7:75, 9:45 p.m. Mon, Wed, hu 7: 9:45 pom. Saving Private Ryan --- Fri, Sar, Sun, fee 1:30, 4:40, 8:00 pon. Mon, Wed. Thu & pom. Message in a Bottle — Fri, Sat, Sun, Tue £15, 4:10, 7, 10 pam. Moa, Wed. Thu 7, 10 pom. Blast from the Past — Fri, Sat, Sun, Tue 1:05.04, 7-20, 0:55 p.m, Mon, Wed. Thu P20, O55 po. My Favourite Martian — Fri Sat, Sun, Tue 12:45, 302 10. 7:30, 940 pam. Mon, Wed, Thu 7:30, 9340 pan. @ Caprice Park Royal South West Vancouver (920-0699) You’ve Got Mail (PGi — 9:20 pam. A Simple Plan (14A) -— 7:03 p.m. A Civil Action (PG) - - apm. Life is Beautiful (PGi: — 7:10, 9:25 pam. @ Fifth Avenue Cinemas 2110 Burrare at Sth, Vancouver (734-8700) Waking Ned Devine (PG) — 7:20, 9:20 p.m. plus Sat/Sun 2, 4:15 pam. and Tue 4:15 p.m. Hilary & Jackie (14A) -- 7:05, 9:30 p.m. plus Sat/Sun 1:35, 4:05 p.m. and ‘Tue 4:05 p.m, GLUCOSAMINE 850mg le CHONDROITIN ~ arthritis ST. JOHN’S WORT = Depression OENZYME QIO 30mg J ANDERSONS PHARMACY 23 Lonsdale Ave..@ 3rd North Van. 710, 9:35 pam. Photo Abbot Genser SARAH Michelle Gellar stars in Simply Irresistible at Park & Tilford. Little Voice (14A) — 7:25, 0:25 pura. plus Sat/Sun 1:40, 4:10 pan. and ‘Tue 4:10 pam. Life is Beautiful (MG) —- 7:10, 9:35 pan. plus Sat/Sun 2:45. 4:20 pam. and Tue 4:20 101. E izabeth (144) — 7, 9:30 p.m. plas Sat/Sun 1:30, 4 pm. and Tue 4 p.m. @ Park Theatre 3-HO Cambie at Sth, Vancouver (876-2747) Shakespeare in Love (14A) — 7, 9:30 p.m. plas Sat/Sun 1:30, 4 p.m. and Tue 4 pum. @ Varsity Theatre 4375 West 10th at Trimble, 2235) Central Station (PG) — 7, 9:20 p.m. plus Sat/Sun 1:45, 4 p.m. Vancouver (222- B® Pacific Cinematheque 13231 Howe St., Vancouver (684-3456) Fri, Feb. 12 and Sat, Feb. 13 — The films of Larissa Shepitko (1939-1979): The Ascent (7:30 p.m.) and Wings (9:35 p.m.) Sun, Feb. 14 and Mon, Feb. 15 —- The tilms of Edward Yang: A Brighter Summer Day. 5G Qs on OB 58 BO%F120 rats H ‘ FEO ns 988-5275) 1520 Lonsdale @ {Sth General Store re foe gan nde ang p= og 1437 Clyde Ave. West Van 922-2413 Sp ring Sale! | ht St N.Van 988-2450 1318 Lonsdale Ave. Edgemont Village N. Van 985-2556 DRYCLEANING : $4 99 res Feb. 28 8 Coupon valid with in-coming onder, t mm SOE oe Exotic Rattan Sale Save up to 50% on selected, premium rattan fueniture including dining sets, casual chairs, tables and more! Sate ends Monday, February Z2nd. See the North Shore’s largest furniture collection including uphelstery, leather, rattan and patio: Ginger Jar Interiors 1420 Fell Avenue, North Vancouver... 988-7328 Monday to Saturday 9:30-6.... Sunday 11-5:30 PER ITEM COMFORTER OR $ 99} 4 : SLEEPING BAG 1 0 Swivel Rocker reg 379, sale 269, Stool reg 129, sole 95. ry glass table rea 149, salet9?.