HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1996-01-03, Page 22O
By John Schedler
As another new year begins it's time to look back at my choices for the
best home video releases of 1995.
I. Leading off my list is Second Best (Warner), a wonderfully moving
drama starring William Hurt as a middle-aged small town postmaster who
wishes to adopt an angry young boy from the city. In the hands of the
director Chris Menges (A World Apart) the story pulls us convincingly
into their lives and touches our hearts with the resilience of the human
spirit. (Rated PG)
2. I also loved My Family (Alliance), the sprawling and passionate epic
that focuses on three generations of a Mexican American family. This
emotional rollercoaster of a film is one of the few American movies to
present Mexicans as real people and not the commonly stereotyped
villains and illiterates. My Family is a rich and compelling film that
features a first rate cast including Jimmy Smits, Esai Morales and Edward
James Olmos. (Rated 14A)
3. What more can be said about Forrest Gump (Paramount) last year's
big Oscar winner and box office phenomenon? This delightful film
seemed to touch a nerve with audiences around the world turning this tale
of a loveable simpleton into an instant classic. (Rated PG)
4. Like most of my picks this year Murder in the First (Warner) failed
to cause a big stir in theatres, but I implore you to check it out on home
video. This powerful and exciting film tells the true story of an Alcatraz
convict whose three years of brutal solitary confinement ultimately lead to
the closure of American's most famous prison. Murder in the First also
boasts excellent performances from Christian Slater, Gary Oldman and
Kevin Bacon, who is absolutely amazing and my pick for an Oscar
nomination for best actor. (Rated R)
5. Another prison drama that failed at the box office is The Shawshank
Redemption (Columbiaffristar), a highly enjoyable film that seems to
have found an appreciative audience on video. The story involves a man
wrongly convicted of murder who for over 20 years is able to maintain his
sanity amid this often brutal environment. (Rated R)
6. Ruby in Paradise (Republic) is an exceptional drama about a young
woman played by Ashley Judd who leaves her dead end life in rural
Tennessee for a hopefully more fulfilling one in Florida. Ashley Judd is an
absolutely engaging presence and director Victor Nunez gives this low
budget movie a warmth and heart that so many glossy Hollywood films
lack. (Rated R)
7. In the tradition of Farewell My Concubine and The Blue Kite another
great film from China which I can highly recommend is To Live
(Alliance). This sweeping drama follows one family through Civil war,
the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution. (Rated PG - English
subtitles)
8. The Wonderful Horrible Life of Leni Riefenstahl (Kino) is a
remarkable three hour documentary that focuses on the career of one of
this century's most controversial filmmakers. Among Riefenstahl's best
know films are Triumphs of the Will a mesmerizing record of the 1934
Nazi Party Congress and Olympia the breathtaking documentary of the
1938 Berlin Olympics. Now a feisty 92 she has spent much of her long
life trying to live down the close association with the Nazis especially her
personal relationship with Hitler and Goebbels which is still in question
even as she declares being politically blind to the horrible events
unfolding around her. (Unrated)
9. Another amazing documentary is Hoop Dreams (Alliance) which
follows two inner city youths over a period of several years as they
struggle to achieve their dream of playing for the NBA. Thoroughly
involving even for non-basketball fans. (Rated PG)
10. The Art of Buster Keaton (Kino) is a great collection that includes
all of the comedians surviving titles from his prime years as an
independent filmmaker. Featuring 11 features and 19 short subjects
originally released between 1920 and 1927 this grouping represents one of
the last great silent film caches to be made available on home video.
Receiving honourable mention arc these wonderful laserdisc titles from
the Voyager Company's Criterion Collection. A Night to Remember
(1958), The Red Shoes (1948). Orson Well's Othello (1952) all featuring
magnificent digital video transfers plus an outstanding selection of
supplementary material. I was also glad to discover a beautiful widescreen
edition of The Brave One (1956) from Lumivision a small and prolific
company with many highly anticipated releases scheduled for 1996.
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PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 1996
Blyth PS Gazette
Grade ls humming with letter 'H'
The Grade is were really
humming recently. They were busy
studying the letter "h" and building
houses out of logs.
They traced their hands and made
a Christmas tree. Our paper houses
are decorated with our favourite
candies.
They made goldfish mobiles.
Snakes and ladders was a great
game.
Their favourite activity was
acting out the Three Billy Goats
Gruff.
A SPECIAL VISITOR
By Devin Shannon and
Sonya Schultz
On Tuesday, Dec. 12, Robert
Munsch came to visit Blyth Public
School for Kindergarten to Grade 6
as a special treat. Some of the
questions that were asked were
Brussels PS
Students
donate
By Amy J. Ross and
Cassie Bootzin
The Brussels Public School's
Christmas bureau box was
overflowing with donations from
students and parents in Brussels.
Mr. Hooftman, the schools
awesome French teacher, happily
volunteered to take the donations to
the Salvation Army in Wingham.
Thank you to anyone who brought
in canned food or other items
On (cable television) channel 19,
there is a new program to keep
parents informed about what is
going on at our cool school. This
program is put together very well;
we are impressed.
Children born in 1991 and 1992
in the school area will be eligible to
register for the kindergarten
program to start in September
1996. Interested parents are invited
to contact the school (887-9361) to
make inquiries. Knowing how
many students will be registering
helps in planning for staffing.
Optimist reps
attend
Rec meeting
Representatives from the Brus-
sels Optimists Club attended the
Dec. 13 meeting of the BMG
Recreation Board to discuss the
new liquor policies put in place by
the board for the community centre.
Gerry Wheeler and George Lan-
glois informed the board that with
the present policy the club would
not be able to host its annual
Valentine's dance at the arena.
After discussion the board agreed
to send a letter to the Optimists
offering to co-host the dance with
the profits being split at 50 per
cent. The consensus was that if the
club was not interested in this pro-
posal the board would continue this
dance on its won.
Consideration for a preferred
rental rate for designated service
groups will be considered at the
next board meeting when the annu-
al review of all community centre
fees takes place
***
The Business and Family Christ-
mas dances' financial reports were
reveiwed by the board. The busi-
ness dance showed a profit of
$2,332.53, with the catering being
donated by the BMG Catering
Group. The Gamily dance showed a
profit of $160.38.
***
The board was informed that the
liquor license board will require a
Continued on page 23
The best resource to learn BSE is a
health professional who has been
trained to teach it. For more
information on how to do BSE,
contact the Canadian Cancer
Society.
"What will the name of your next
book be?", "How do people react
when they see you?" How did you
become interested in writing
children's books?" and "How do
you get your ideas?"
He answered that his next book
would be about a girl who liked
ponytails and her whole class
copies her so she said she would
shave her head the next day so the
whole class shaved their heads and
she didn't. She came with a
ponytail in the back of her hair.
He also said that teachers were
the worst for bugging authors such
as him because they have things for
signing and bragging about their
class.
He likes to write children's books
because he uses repetition because
they like hearing things over and
over. Robert. Munsch gets many of
his ideas from children writing to
him.
His funny manner made this visit
By Amy Barnes, Paul Walker
and Kenny McCracken
GRADE 6/7 NEWS
In gym Grade 6/7 has played
deck tennis and is learning
gymnastic routines.
They are also finishing their
reports on various topics in science.
In math they have nearly completed
the floor plans of their dream
hotises: -
For language, Grade 6/7 watched
a visual novel called "Brothers By
Choice". After each episode they
did an assignment.
Grade 6/7 had a Christmas party
on Friday, Dec. 22. For the
very interesting.
BLYTH ACTIVE LIVING
PROGRAM
By Jolene Coburn and
Karin Schroecker
Here at 1Blyth Public School we
have just finished a gym program
called Blyth Active Living. We
interviewed some students on the
program, Micah Loder's favourite
activity was Hockey Shoot, Charlene
Bromley's was Bean Bag Shuffle
and Scott McLellan's was Basket-
ball Shoot. The program was
started by Mrs. McKee, the 4/5
teacher, who has a great interest in
sports.
Children were awarded according
to their achievements. All
participants enjoyed the program.
Keep up the good work Mrs.
McKee!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Blyth Public School would like
to wish everyone a Happy New
Year!
Christmas party they appointed a
committee to plan the party and a
committee to do special activities,
throughout the week.
GRADE 8 NEWS
The Grade 8s are studying many
different topics. They have just
finished writing short stories about
Christmas, and are beginning a
Shakespearean play entitled Henry
V.
In science they have been
studying matter, and in math they
have been working on ratios.
For fundraising they held a
family dance on Dec. 5, to raise
money for their trip to Quebec.
East Wawanosh PS news
Grade 6/7 pupils
play deck tennis