
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 9, 1990                   TAG: 9003091709
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: E-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: Chris Gladden
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

FILMS OF SUBSTANCE OFFER MOVIEGOERS A RARE CHOICE

Winter is generally a time of deep discontent for moviegoers looking for the unusual, the ennobling, the provocative and the intelligent. But the winter months of 1990 have been blessed with an astonishing richness that far surpasses the hype and disappointments of the past Christmas season and - for that matter - much of last year.

Just consider what's playing at your nearest theater: "Born on the Fourth of July," the powerful saga of a Vietnam veteran's disillusionment with the war; "Driving Miss Daisy," the touching story of the decades-long friendship between a black chauffeur and the Jewish woman he works for; "My Left Foot," a wonderfully-acted character study of the severely handicapped Irish author and painter Christy Brown; "Enemies: A Love Story," Paul Mazursky's fine movie about the romantic entanglements of Holocaust survivors; "Roger and Me," Michael Moore's unusual and darkly funny documentary about the financial woes of Flint, Mich.; and "Glory," a handsome and moving story about a black union army regiment's march into history during the Civil War.

Recently here, but now gone were "The Big Picture," an affable insider's comedy about the movie business; "Let's Get Lost," the intriguing documentary about doomed jazzman Chet Baker; and "Drugstore Cowboy," one of the most inventive and street-smart movies to come along in a while.

Oscar momentum accounts for some of this. "Fourth of July," "Miss Daisy" and "Left Foot" are major contenders. But the others aren't caught up in the Oscars sweepstakes and seem to have arrived here simply out of good fortune.

As a movie reviewer, I can scarcely remember when so many good movies blanketed local theaters in so short a time.

The theme of this fall's Virginia Festival of American Film will be music in the movies, festival organizers have announced. The festival - scheduled to begin Oct. 24 in Charlottesville - has also added another day to the festivities, making it a five-day event. Last fall's festival drew an estimated 15,000 people over four days.

The Governor's Screenwriting Competition - which includes cash awards and a chance to catch the eye of working filmmakers - will also be part of the festival. Aspiring filmmakers can obtain the rules for the competition by calling Margo Millure at the Virginia Film Office at (804) 371-8204.

by CNB