THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, April 16, 1996 TAG: 9604160028
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Craig Shapiro
LENGTH: Long : 139 lines
ROWAN ATKINSON has held a special place in our hearts ever since the British comedian turned his Black Adder character loose in Medieval England.
The attachment only grew when the nasty cur reappeared in the court of loony Queen Elizabeth I (Miranda Richardson), then as confidante to the loony Prince Regent (Hugh Laurie) and, finally, in a World War I bunker.
Skewed, barbed and seasoned with vinegar, the series, which made its way to these shores via PBS and has been on video for a while, is a panic.
Atkinson has been sharp on the big screen, too, playing the acidic top banana (to Jeff Goldblum's second) in ``The Tall Guy'' (1989) and the harried hotelier in ``The Witches'' (1990). Put both on your must-see list.
First, though, pick up a copy of ``Mr. Bean.'' Some of you may remember when HBO imported the series a few years back. Some of us around here subscribed just so we could tape it. Now, PolyGram has collected it on two cassettes that list for about $15 a pop.
In the same career-defining way that Basil Fawlty was John Cleese and Reginald Perrin was the late Leonard Rossiter, Mr. Bean is Rowan Atkinson.
After that, it gets tricky, because Mr. Bean is practically impossible to describe. Charlie Chaplin with a chip on his shoulder? Marcel Marceau with a mean streak? Atkinson was even hard-pressed to explain the paradox.
``I always see him as a 9-year-old boy,'' he told The Los Angeles Times. ``He appears to be at first sight sort of sweet and innocent, this man on the sidelines of society, but actually when you get to know him, he is a terribly vindictive and nasty man and so selfish. . . .''
Mr. Bean doesn't talk much; when he does, he croaks a few words like a frog with a cold. A day of shopping is cut short because his hand gets stuck in another man's pants. Steak Tartare is not what he expected. Was staying awake for the vicar's sermon ever this challenging?
But not everything happens to Mr. Bean. Pity the soul who shares his table during an exam, occupies the hotel room next door or gets in the way when he's at the wheel of his Morris Minor.
Trust us on this one. ``Mr. Bean'' is just as funny the fourth and fifth time through as it is the first.
Robyn Redux
(Editor's note: This is TPFKATWFR - The Portion Formerly Known as The Word from Robyn.)
Being a huge fan of Joel and Ethan Coen (they call us Coenheads on the Internet), I was naturally excited to read that their latest film, ``Fargo,'' is ripe with the visual splendor and dark wit that made ``Raising Arizona,'' ``Barton Fink'' and ``Miller's Crossing'' personal favorites.
``Fargo'' has also garnered hardcore raves for its cast, notably the simply awesome Frances McDormand, who starred in the Coens' stunning neo-noir debut, ``Blood Simple.'' She played the unfaithful wife of sleazy bar owner Dan Hedaya, who hires private dick M. Emmet Walsh to bump off her and her hapless lover. Things just get weird from there.
Like Hitchcock, the Coens are keenly aware of how hard it is to kill someone. The way they linger over the details is mesmerizingly cinematic and, yes, grimly comic. Like every Coen film, ``Blood Simple'' relies heavily on atmosphere and imagery, but the capable cast delivers some sterling performances. See for yourself.
The Couch Report
``To Die For'' (Columbia TriStar, 1995). Proof positive that the Oscar folks are clueless. At the least, Nicole Kidman deserved a nomination as Suzanne Stone, a local girl who sees her future in TV. ``What's the point of doing anything worthwhile if no one's watching?'' she asks. Directed by Gus Van Sant and written by Buck Henry, here is satire at is best - sharp, focused and topical. Videomatic says: A
(CAST: Nicole Kidman, Matt Dillon, Joaquin Phoenix, Alison Folland. RATED: R for language, situations, implied violence; 107 mins.)
``The Scarlet Letter'' (Hollywood, 1995). Take the last credit as a caveat: ``Freely adapted from the novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne.'' Director Roland Joffe and Demi Moore were so intent on giving Hester Prynne a '90s 'tude that her illicit tryst isn't shocking at all. Instead, it's a tedious affair that the throaty star can't carry. Good thing Gary Oldman is on hand as the tortured cleric. Videomatic says: D
(CAST: Demi Moore, Gary Oldman, Robert Duvall. RATED: R for nudity, situations, violence; 135 mins.)
``Now and Then'' (New Line, 1995). The idea of Christina Ricci growing up to be Rosie O'Donnell isn't only scary, it's the problem with this ``Stand By Me'' knockoff - the adults get in the way. Set in their coming-of-age summer of 1970, Ricci and company create a camraderie that vanishes when the present-day mannequins pick up the story. Videomatic says: C
(CAST: Gaby Hoffman, Christina Ricci, Thora Birch, Ashleigh Aston Moore, Demi Moore, Rosie O'Donnell, Melanie Griffith, Rita Wilson. RATED: PG-13 for language, frank talk about sex, boys' butts; 97 mins.)
``CutThroat Island'' (Live, 1995). At $90 million it's a pricy lesson, but maybe Renny Harlin has learned that explosions and stunts do not a pirate tale make. It takes character. With his wife, Geena Davis, and miscast Matthew Modine stiff as planks, this over-dressed ``Treasure Island'' never sets sail. We'll take Robert Newton. Videomatic says: F
(CAST: Geena Davis, Matthew Modine, Frank Langella. RATED: PG-13 for violence; 118 mins.)
``Unstrung Heroes'' (Hollywood, 1995). With his rigid father committed to the purity of science, young Steven takes his mother's words to heart - a hero is anyone who can find their way through this life - when she takes ill. Moving, funny in a knowing way and perfectly cast, Diane Keaton's first feature as a director is a gem waiting to be discovered. Find it. Videomatic says: A+
(CAST: John Turturro, Andie MacDowell, Michael Richards, Nathan Watt, Maury Chaykin. RATED: PG for mild language, themes; 94 mins.)
``Smoke'' (Miramax, 1995). Another of those familiar ``little'' films that could pass as theater. Harvey Keitel runs a Brooklyn cigar shop; the people who patronize it come from all walks but are inevitably connected. Tap into the rhythm of director Wayne Wang's richly textured character study and you'll feel the same way. Videomatic says: A
(CAST: Harvey Keitel, William Hurt, Stockard Channing, Forest Whitaker, Ashley Judd. RATED: R for language; 112 mins.)
``Last of the Dogmen'' (HBO, 1995). Tom Berenger is a modern-day bounty hunter who comes across a Cheyenne tribe living untarnished by time in the remote Rockies. While the man vs. modern world premise isn't new, the solid characters and intimate story ensure that the message is no less relevant. Videomatic says: B-
(CAST: Tom Berenger, Barbara Hershey, Kurtwood Smith, Steve Reevis. RATED: PG for mild language, violence; 118 mins.)
Also: Eddie Murphy in Wes Craven's ``Vampire in Brooklyn,'' Kelsey Grammer in the comedy ``Galaxies Are Colliding,'' action in ``Terminal Impact,'' suspense in ``Baja'' and laughs - so they claim - in ``National Lampoon's Favorite Deadly Sins'' (all R)
Vids for Kids
``Magic in the Water'' (Columbia TriStar, 1995). The young'uns will have no problem believing a mythical creature lives in a Canadian lake. Grownups won't need to: The film has plenty to say outside its fairy-tale context. Mark Harmon is a cynical shrink who rediscovers his childhood and reconnects with his kids once he's ``inhabited'' by Orky. Think ``Puff the Magic Dragon,'' with a solid environmental statement mixed in. Videomatic says: B-
(CAST: Mark Harmon, Sarah Wayne, Joshua Jackson. RATED: PG for tension, language; 100 mins.)
Also: ``Journey to the Magic Cavern,'' the fifth title in the series, ``Josh Kirby . . . Time Warrior!'' (PG)
Next Tuesday: ``Waiting to Exhale,'' ``The Bridges of Madison County'' ``Steal Big, Steal Little,'' ``Ice and Asphalt,'' ``The Boys of St. Vincent,'' ``Beyond Desire,'' ``Highlander: The Adventure Begins''
April 24: ``The Aristocats'' by CNB