FREEZE FRAMES

THE GANG OF FOUR - Jacques Rivette is one of Europe's greatest and most undervalued filmmakers. This drama, about a group of young actresses and their teacher, deals with two of his favorite themes: the danger of conspiracies, and the thin line between life in the world and life on the theater stage. The cinematic style is too attenuated for this to be called a Rivette masterpiece, but it periodically recalls such brilliant works as his ``L'Amour fou'' and ``Out One: Spectre.'' (Not rated) SHE-DEVIL - She's an ordinary homemaker at first, but when her husband runs off with a glamorous author, she starts lusting for revenge. Meryl Streep gives her ditziest performance ever, and Roseanne Barr does a good job of letting her character's personality grow during the story. Still, the movie is little more than a comic strip in motion, directed with commendable vigor by Susan Seidelman. (Rated PG-13)

THE WAR OF THE ROSES - Mrs. Rose falls out of love with Mr. Rose, and their relationship turns into full-scale combat, with their fashionable home as the battleground. The story is slight, but director Danny DeVito keeps it hopping from first shot to last, and Stephen Burum's cinematography gives a velvety atmosphere to the ridiculous goings-on. The ending is especially inventive, managing to be sour, cynical, sentimental, and upbeat at the same time. (Rated R)

You've read  of  free articles. Subscribe to continue.
QR Code to FREEZE FRAMES
Read this article in
https://www.csmonitor.com/1989/1222/lff22.html
QR Code to Subscription page
Start your subscription today
https://www.csmonitor.com/subscribe