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Show B4 Tribune CALENDAR Friday, February TheSalt 14. 199 Eastwood Steals ‘Absolute Power’ appoliee Powe: BY SEAN PL MEANS Clint Bastwood doesn't pla down his age in Absolute Po he plays itup. And while hi character ma Oke VARP eligibility, why he, at G6. Bast stillis ‘ 1} \ more ly watehable than most upaind onner Kastwood, who also dir plays ace thief Luther Whitt acat burglar so sharp hi been caught in 80 years. One night he breaks into the mansion of po Patti Randall (Christina Ricci) and her tomcat D.C. (Elvis) in “That Darn Cat litical kingmaker Walter Sullivan (KG. Marshall) and seems about “That Darn Cat’ Enjoys a New Life anhat Darn Cat An the Je 1s rework an off BY SEAN P. MEANS | TILAK At first glance That Darn ( 1965 Disney caper, by and more like Twin Peaks all the wackos coming out to be routine case you don’t remember the There's the lovelorn butcher (Me: Jan Cavanagh, from “A League of Their Own’) who dons leather an after hours. Or the fe chanies (Mark Christo. film That Darn Cat” re around Patti (now ‘played Christina Ricei), ne le town is less like May ght the oddball townsfolk who its spice That Darn Cat teen who hate loves Zeke Kelso played by comie Doug E Doug). ou'd expect remake of the formula volves FBI to send to investigate. But in following Patti and Zeke discover this BUNE body poured Tabasco sauce in the old pe ade the Boston its most inept agent, And you'd be realize that the some Disney formula, right intil somewhere along In Patti’s par s (Bess Armstrong and Michael McKean) don’t be lieve her story, but Patti is able tc her a and “Cheers John Ratze rger) who sabotage each other's ears. Or the old lady stelle Parsons) making crank free cat becomes a kidnappin hound-and-gagged couple (played by who starred in the and Dyan Cannon pher Lawrence maid of rich Dean J original filt to pizza ter joints, Or the nice iple who run the malt Boyle and Wings’ hull), yom who dress dancing shop (Pe Rebecca up for ball when the place Se By reigeslapalbsae DET] ihe araPeary closes. Whowent nuts at the Disney studios? Maybeit’s the screenwrite rott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski, who wrote this years ago, before becoming famous for “Ed Wood” and “The People vs. Larry Flynt.” (They have sort of disownedthis script, which ran through several rewrites after them.) The main culprit, though, ap- pears to be director Bob Spiers making his U.S. debut after directing three seasons of thecult British sitcom ‘Absolutely Fabu- lous.” Spiers seems to knownot to take this stuff too seriously, and he infuses the whole moviewith a manic what-the-heck? attitude that almost makes you forget you're watching a Disney movie. Never fear, parents, it’s still a kids-safe PG, for abit of gunplay and a mild bit of sexual innuendo.) It’s that kind of happysub: version that makes “That Darn Cat” pretty darn enjoyable to get away with $5 million in cash and jewels. But there's a noise and Luther hides behind a two: way mirror, through which he sees (in long andlurid detail) Sul livan’s young wife having rough sex with an older man, until things get too rough and two Se cret Service agents burst in to shoot the woman dead ‘Turns out the older guy (Gene Hackman) is the president of the United States, and Lutheris the sole witness of a murder and a cover-up orchestrated the White House chiefofstaff (Judy Clint Eastwoodas thief Luther Whitneyin ‘Absolute Power.’ The movie gets downright laugh ing with Eastwood, “Unforgiv- Davis). Luther must choose be- able in some sequences, such as en”) plays the president as equal tween running away or facing down the Secret Service agents (Seott Glenn and Dennis Haysbert). With an earnest homicide cop (Ed Harris) and Luther's es when Luther delivers a message to Davis’ character at (nudge, nudge) the Watergate Hotel Eastwood saves his own bacon. parts opportunistic weasel and though, with oneof those quietly ter (Laura Linney) in his corner encesalmosttake for granted. He wayLuther decides. Eastwoodlargely papers over when he needs to — when the tranged-but-sympathetie daugh it's not too tough to guess which the more gaping plausibility lapses in the screenplay (by Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” writer William Goldman adapting Daniel Baldacci forceful performances that audi- emits smooth control and even an ingratiating sense of humor. And president exploits the murder for political gain — Eastwoodgives off perhaps the most intense slow burn in his career Eastwood also makes his co stars raise their game. Hackman (who won an Osear in his last pair. pampered pet. Davis is deliciously oily as the chief of staff (though her character is underidentified so at first you may think she’s spoofing Hillary Clinton). Harris and Glenn(who appearedtogeth- er as astronauts in “The Right Stuff”) are sympatheticas consci- entious lawmenonopposite sides of the cover-up. Absolute Power” (rated R for violence, sexuality and language) doesn’t pack the intensechills ofa Hitehcockian thriller. But does Eastwoodstill deliver the goods? Absolutely “HYSTERICAL! EASILY A THOUSAND LAUGHS!” — louise Palanker, PREMIERE RADIO “SHINE 1S A GREAT FILM.” “>, A“WONDERFUL! Winning Cast. Elegantly Directed.’ Janet Maslin, The New York Times ~ Joel Sieg 6000 MORNINGAMERICA 4:50 4:40 7:35 9:50 LAY STERE OTRET aoamtuly Marvelously entertaining, romantic and utterly charming: aL were 4:30 4:05 7:20 9:55 DOLBY STEED COOTMCTIREL Sa 742 West 10800 South 4:45 4:00 7:45 10:00 TIME MAGAZINEsays: “YOUMUSTSEE: 9) Richard Corliss ACADEMYANARD NOMINATIONS BESTCINEMATOGRAPHY BESTARTDIRECTION BESTSONG BIST ILMEDTING BESTSOUND eno Sos aoe eeeni ot ReisHe Ga aaa TG GEORGE LUCAS TS SJ ied eet) AL yy wow atarwary com [EM ADONIS 4:46 9:45 10:15 RUSAT 14:45 2:20 4.55 7:45 10:30 ae ML ee | \ Ta Uy iM i} ria 9:20 ip 7:30 FOR MOVIES & S' HPOWTIMES CALL 36-FILMS Now RONDWAY CENTRE Pt SOUTH TOWNE CTR, AYING Wut carewar FOR MOVIES & SHOWTT MES CALL 36-FILMS om |