FREEZE FRAMES

HOUSEKEEPING - After their mother's death, two girls are raised by an aunt who's very attractive, but also eccentric enough to raise eyebrows in the small, isolated town where they live. The drama was written and directed by Scottish filmmaker Bill Forsyth, who shows his usual refreshing disdain for the mechanics of storytelling. Unfortunately, he doesn't realize that Christine Lahti's performance, strong as it is, can't carry the whole film almost by itself. Michael Coulter did the rich cinematography. (Rated PG) JEAN RENOIR, THE BOSS - An informative and entertaining interview with the towering French filmmaker, centering on the creative decisions he made while directing ``The Rules of the Game,'' one of his greatest masterpieces. Many excerpts from that film are also included. Directed by Jacques Rivette, perhaps the most underrated filmmaker in Europe today, and Andre S. Labarthe. (Not rated) NUTS - Barbra Streisand turns off most of her usual glamour to play a high-priced prostitute charged with killing one of her clients. Although the story takes place mostly in courtrooms, it deals not with her guilt or innocence, but with her effort to be judged competent for trial. Her father would rather see her committed straight off to a mental hospital so nasty secrets won't be aired in public. The action is neither compelling nor boring. It's often sleazy, however, despite the presence of a distinguished cast. Martin Ritt, a specialist in Hollywood-style social realism, directed. (Rated R) PLANES, TRAINS & AUTOMOBILES - Traveling from New York to Chicago for Thanksgiving, a button-down businessman and a good-natured slob suffer the torments of a flight that gets canceled, a train that breaks down, a car that burns up, and other indignities. The story, a sort of ``Odd Couple on the Road,'' isn't very original. All-out performances by Steve Martin and John Candy give it some comic flair, though. Written and directed by John Hughes, who's trying to graduate from teen-age movies but still thinks four-letter words are automatically hilarious. (Rated R) SIESTA - Melodrama about an American woman who finds herself in Spain with only a dim idea of why she's there, or how her dress got covered with blood. The movie veers between her frantic efforts to get home and her fitful memories of what led to this situation. The first half is imaginative and surprising. Then the sex and gore become grotesque, leading to a howlingly foolish ending. Directed by Mary Lambert, who shows more promise than the pretentious screenplay lets her realize. (Rated R) THE WANNSEE CONFERENCE - Using historical documents as their source, director Heinz Schirk and producer Manfred Korytowski have reproduced as accurately as possible a horrifying Nazi meeting at which the ``final solution'' was discussed, approved, and set in motion. There's not much story in the usual sense, but the dialogue builds a bone-chilling momentum, and the performances are frighteningly convincing. A unique, courageous, and important film. (Not rated) RATINGS: Films with ratings other than G may contain varying degrees of vulgar language, nudity, sex, and violence.