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Show CALENDAR Friday ‘Baby-Sitters Club’| Syrupy,Not Smart— ‘Little Odessa’ Hints at tor Major Talent The Baby-Sitters Ciub Silly meets sentimental in this chidren's movie, based onthe popular book series. BySean P. Means xxle as tae ittle Odessa THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE “The Baby-Sitters Club” is an after-school special pumpedupto feature-film status, a disjointed + movie, aided by a fine cast By Sean P. Means LAKETRIBUNE but pleasantly goofy mix of slap- Writer- director James Gray's ambitions are loud and clear: He wants to be the next Martin Scorsese, or the next Francis Ford Coppola or the next Quentin Tarantino. The downbeat gangster thriller “Little Odessa” shows that Grayis not there yet, but he’s stick and sociai-mindedness that probably appeal to the pre-teen girls who snapped up Ann M. Martin’s Baby-Sitters Club books by the millions. The Baby-Sitters Club, for those not in the know, is made up of seven girls ranging in age from 10 to 18. Their well-crganized baby-sitting services are a hit with the parents of Stoneybrook, while their funky demeanor and boundless reservoir of friendship make them popular with all the other kids (excepting the snooty Cokie, wheplots to break upthe club.) Each girl is alioted one, and only one, per ee trait: Kristy (Schuyler the president, is Stacey (Bre Blair) is ary Anne (Rachael is the serious one; Dawn (Larisa Oleynik) is earthconscious; Claudia (Tricia Joe) is an artist; Jesse (Zelda Harris) dances; Mallory (Stacey Linn Ramsower) wants to be a writer. The film’s plot centers on the club's efforts to mount a summer day campfor their youngclients —and how Kristy is distracted by the surprise arrival of her derelict dad (Peter Horton). Subpiots involve Claudia’s efforts to pass herscience class, Stacy’s crush on an exchange student who doesn’t getting close. Patrick (Peter Horton) tries to re--establish a bond with his daughter, Kristy (Schuyler Fisk) in “The Baby-Sitters Club.” know that Stacey is 13 and a diabetic, Cokie’s attempts to steal Mary Anne’s boyfriend (Austin O’Brien), and a snooty neighbor (Ellen Burstyn) who despises the noise created by ail those kids. Director Melanie Mayron, Horton’s old “thirtysomething” costar, creates what could be called “tengomething,” mixing broad comedy with sentimental group hugs. The result is occasionally sweet buttoo often syrupy. The young actresses aren't too obnoxious — quite a feat consideringthe cloying potential of most child stars. In addition to Horton and Burstyn, other grownups in attendance here include Brooke Adams and an uncredited Bruce Davison as Kristy’s mom and stepfather. The young fans of the book series wili probably enjoy seeing their favorite characters brought to life in “The Baby-Sitters Club” (rated PG for brief mild language). Parents mayopttolet the babysitter take them to seeit. The movie's title refers to Brighton Beach, the Brooklyn neighborhood nicknamed “Little Odessa” becauseofits population of Jewish Russian immigrants. The film focuses on the Shapira family and its many woes: Mother (Vanessa Redgrave)is bedridden with a brain tumor, while Papa (Maximilian Schell) carries on an affair with another woman;their teen-age son Reuben (Edward Furlong) is a dropout; and their oldest son, Josh (Tim Roth), is an outcast — a hitman for hire who has been disownedbyhis father. Josh returns to the neighborhoodto see his mother,despite his father’s protests. Joshalso tries to reconnect with Reuben and with an old girlfriend (Moira Kelly). But his “business” —- a contract on a jeweler — runs him afoul of the local crime boss (Paul Guilfoyle), with tragic consequences Tim Roth as Joshua Shapira in JamesGray's “Little Odessa.” for Josh’s relations. Gray has written a densely detailed script, so rich that one can almost smell the borscht. Gray also is lucky enough to have great actors working in his debut — Roth, Redgrave, Furlong and Schell all give solid performanees, so attuned to each other thatit’s easyto believe they’re related. Gray doesn’t yet show the traits of the great modern gangster movies — the bold camera moves of Scorsese's “GoodFellas,” the epic sweep of Coppola's “Godfather” series or the ironic humor of Tarantino’s ‘‘Pulp Fiction.” He does demonsirate a nihilistic streak, in which viclence happens abruptly and indiscriminately. “Little Odessa” (rated R for violence, sex and nudity) isn’t a great film, but it is an intriguing one. When James Gray makes his mobster masterpiece, ‘‘Little Odessa” will be remembered as his first draft. ” WAKE-UPJANETCALL TO THE WORLD.” MASLIN, THE NEW YORK TIMES “ MASTERPIECE. The kind of film that pulls the groundoutfrom under you." ‘AMY TAUBIN, VILLAGE VOICE “ THUMBS UP” SISKEL & EBERT Slavip eaten FLICK-TROLLEY SQUARE TirEast AStHSoUth 4866266 BoumtulExt, +15 292-7979 Independent CGinerrark ‘THE REEL THEATRE SANDY MOVIES 9 RedwoodAd. 4th South 96646266 9588 Rednood Rd, 973-7088 B225Wesl 3500South 575-3878 9859South 7th East 571.0601 CHECK THEATRE DIRECTORY ORCALL FOR SHOWTIMES - NO PASSES OF DISCOUNT COUPONS ACCEPTED! IN OW on SHOWIN G! one Highland 466-6266 cmke mare 3 Independent SPEUS. ihy0KMAD aeaaT ‘ecanpihed Te ye eae juli roberts robert duve duvall atdennis anis qual “Smart, fresh, highly enieriaining comedy.” oiavid Ansee, wee cntt “Funny, exuberantly juicy, smart and full of surprises. Truly original.” ‘Jot Margene, rae mas sro: amma, “Fresh and enjoyabie. “Sensational! A gem that touches the hesrt and seul. Julia Reberts icart csBEST noc OF eyria eerenn aseasrs Soaae me TaOa AONi ui atide femininity, Handed with big hearted fumien” and Dennis Quaid velMaslov rae eer light up the screen.” “Two Thumbs Upt” SiSKEL 6 OCT “Funny. Engaging. Enjoyable. One of the summer's gam,” “Julia Roberts gives her best performance. Simarl, frequently arsil) Fint, caverns wrt canes hilarious, marvelously acted. The year's best ensemble of caaractersbursting to life.” “The classiest romantic comedy Gi the summer” Sach Maik, eer Petrik Stent, rs uees (OGCrRRS STGLAAT BEDL GAUSSDSQD vert HSTAY GMREET LARL aaerGPL AreCL pwTEATATPLETE SE LS Re sar te teet NOW ‘M0 7:40 al HALAOMNI, I PLS Sci AO 9 * [A290 250 605 7:35 Pb Soe Eos eee Guile fri“RT Ai a THE Hen y A} Dd ry eTty RASA Cantury Theatres om TUNY Gt Ind Coat 8 30 Sewn NG4659 Cineplex Odeon ue COTTONWOOD MALL 5001 S Highland 276-4719 |