Small Time is Woody’s worst © Smali Time Crooks **x (out of 5) Written and directed by Woody Allen. Starring Woody Allen, Tracey Ullman and Hugh Grant. I saw Road Trip and Sali Time Crooks in the same week, fully expecting the former to be an wnsophisticat- ed, mildly amusing offering and the latter to be soiid highbrow comedy, but the oppo- site turned out to be true. While I wouldn’t exactly classify Road Trip as highbrow per se, it was a much more satisfying night out than Wocdy Allen's latest. ings were already off to a bad siart when the film ran for kalfan hour out of focus: then they started it from the beginning and, after the mutinous angry hordes had left, we had to watch it all over again. But my fidgeting didn't stop ere. : Small Teme Crooks is notable only because it is probably Woody Allen’s worst film ro date. Allen plays Ray Winkler, who's already done two years for a heist gone sour. His wife Frenchy (Tracey Ullman) stood by him, gathering 2 small ~.. nest egg workiag as a manicurist. Needless to say, she’s livid when Ray appears with a box of chocolates and a scheme to tunnel under a pizza shop and rob a bank. ‘There are some funny moments while Ray and his accom- plices (including Michael Rapaport and Jon Lovitz) fumble their way through the tunnelling job, which, no great sur- prise, is unsuccessful. : ~<-) From an unexpected sSurce, they all end up filthy rich .° anyway, but all their money hasn't bought the Winklers class ~. or happiness. Frenchy wants to be old-money respectable. /.- Ray just wants a big plate of spaghetti and turkey meatballs, With every trip Frenchy makes to 2 museum or to watch avant-garde performance art, she and Ray drift further apart. * Waiting in the wings is David (Hugh Grant), who is cultivat- _ ing Frenchy’s finer points Henry-Higgins-style, with the “+ worst of intentions. oo. : "While the moral fable.offers ample room for reflection, we're distracted by an extraneous jewelry heist in the fast act. “The comedic balance may be thrown off by Uliman, who : displaces Allen as the funniest force of the film. She and “+: Elaine May, who plays Frenchy's dim cousin May, provide the - few highlights. . «Things take a marked turn for the worse when most of the upporting: players mysteriously vanish: the relationship - between’ Ray and Frenchy alone just isn’t dynamic enough to : ary the film. If some characters that seer to be developing “nicely disappear; others (Hugh Grant’s, in particular) which add only passable comedic value to the story, loom larger than they should. et : * The actors seem conscious that the dialogue is bland, but - they soldier on anyway. I suspect that after Small Time vooks, the cachet of appearing in a Woody Allen film will ‘have diminished somew at. the talk, kverch ' «In trying to steer away from the talky, kvetching style - which usually characterizes his films, Allen hus created an entity stripped of most of its wit, self-consciously undecided -Awhich way to run. Saall Time Crocks is part-farce, part “romafice, part crime spoof... all disappointment. ‘NOW OPEN ‘IN WEST VANCOUVER ‘Another TAL 1 U S Gallery of Home Enhancement Ideas Iiving spaces with | , TALIUS Awnings. On sultry summer mene ‘days, you'll appreciate the protection from UV rzys and glaring < sunlight. Your TALIUS Avwning conveniently retracts, manually or electrically, co invite the sunshine “L-when -you want it: or to reveal’ the stariitc night. sky. - TALIUS Awnings provide ideal shelter on your terrace or deck, working with the natural elements to set the scene for stylish entertaining or a quiet escape. Our more than 25 years as a leading manufacturer in the home enhencement industry ensure that you'll get not y the best quality awnings, but also the professional ailation and the reliable, friendly service we've built our 1A rw >. AN OASIS OF CALM. aw B59 Marine Drive, West Vancouver © 913-6777 © talhs.com “yet ey sg, ERS J FRENCHY (Tracey Ullman) enjoys her leszons in class and good taste from David (Hu Allen's new comedy Small Time Crooks. The film is on now at Park & Tilford Cineplex. @ Park & Tilford Cineplex 200 — 333 Brooksbank, North Vancouver (985-3911) Center Stage (PG) — 1, 3:35, 7, 9:35 p.m. U-871 (PG) — 1:15, 3:40, 7:15 p.m. Flintstones: Viva Rock Vegas (G) ~ 12:20, 2:45 p.m. Small Time Crooks (PG) — 12:40, 2:40, 7:10, 9:20 p.m. Screwed (PG) — 9:15 p.m. .@ Esplanade 6 Cinemas 200 W. Esplanade, North Vancouver (983-2762) M:I-2 — 12:45, 1:15, 3:40,-4:10, 7, 7:25, 9:50, 16:10 p.m. Road Trip —1, 3:15, 5:20, 7:30, 9:45 p.m. Shanghai Noon — 1:50, 4:25, 7:20, 10 p.m. Dinosaur — 1:10, 3:10, 5:10, 7:15, 9:20 p.m. E Caprice Park Royal South West Vancouver (926-6699) Bast is East (PG) — 7:10, 9:15 p.m. I Dream of Africa (PG) — 7:05 p.m. 28 Days ry. 7 p.m. Magnolia (14A) — 9 p.m. Erin Brockovich (14A) — 9:10 p.m. @ Fifth Avenue Cinemas 2110 Burrard at Sth, Vancouver (734-8700) Hamlet (subject to classification) — 7:05, 9:40 p.m. Sat/Sun 1:50, 4:30 p.m. Tue 4:30 p.m. Sce Cinema Page 2 salsa! THE CANADIAN HISPANIC CONGRESS B.C. CHAPTER - Requests the honor of your company to the Canadian Hispanic Dance Latin Expression Band at Squamish Nation Recreation Centre 100 Capilano Road, North Vancouver (Capilano Road & Welch Street) Saturday, June 10, 2000 © 7:00-12:00am Tickets $20 Paella $7 Red or White Wine $3 Beer $3 Refreshments $1.50 Raffles : information, reservations and tickets on sale: 980-6621 or at CHC office: 201-122 East 14 St., North Vancouver "Tuesdays 12:30-3:30pm : . : flip, 7 Swing Photo John Cliftord gh Grant) in Woody ?* by . ! A.R. GURNEY. NORM GROHMANN. SHERRY BIE JENNIFER LINES - § ALLAN ZINYK director BILL MILLERD: : # lighting design : MARSHA SIBTHORPE ‘ set & costume design i ALISON GREEN