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Tea tlmoln ‘Qosford Par£T 1932 and moat- - a group It’s extended family gathers at country manor for a shooting patty Sir William McCondle die host has secrets plans secret housefoe will that lay plans hold bate before the week is through Of course he is not the only one hiding something well I guess it’s just another typical week in the country For his latest film director Robert Altman (“MASH” “The Player”) retraces familiar ground in an all too familiar way We have come to expect certain things from an Altman film and they are all present here From the behe-modi cast (relative to die tale) to die claustrophobic framing to the his requisite catty patty scraps) he appears to have applied his blueprint to this story (far which he is given screen credit with Bob Balaban) ' Altman as ia evident here ' — and in most of his other films — still needs to learn die beauty of the judicious edit The first hour of this film could have been told in less than half die tune and with a film that clocks in at over two hours it would not have been missed Too much time is wasted getting to the realrea-so-n we are there This is not a new problem for did director that also brought us the over-lon-g “Short Cuts” (1993) and rather choppy “The Gingerbread Man” (1998) The length problem is not only the fault of die director but die priire also Julian Fellowes only other writing credit is the BBC “Little Lord Faunderoy” (1994) which precludes any possibility of “short and sweet” While his dialogue is delightful and his characters are beautifully drawn his screenplay would have bene-fittgreatly from about 30 less pages Teaming up with Altman behind die Iras is cinematographer Andrew Dunn CThe re-act- or mini-seri- deserved for a performance though in support that anchors the film A strong complement to Smith’s portrayal is another Oscar nominee in die same category Helen Mirren (The Mosquito Coast” “The Madness of King George”) Smith’s frivolous gossip is tempered by Mirren’s stem taskmaster with stellar results Other supporters in strong character turns come in die forms of Alan Bates (“King of Hearts” “Hamlet”) who offers ’nice texture heading die household staff Equaling him in supporting character turns we find Emily Watson (“Breaking the Waves' “Cradle Will Rock”) Dance (“Michael Collins”) Bob Balaban (“Waiting for Guffman” “Greedy”)and Kelly MacDonald (“Trainspotting” “Elizabeth”) The rest of the cast is littered with amazing talent that is nearly wasted due to their limited focus on screen' Heading this list is Jeremy Northam (“Happy Tfcxas” “An Meal Husband”) who makes die most of his few minutes but ultimately falls by the wayside Joining him on die shoulder are a few of the best lesserJmorai chine- ter acton around today: Richard E Grant ' Story” “Henry & (“LA June”) Derek Jacobi (“Henry V” :Si spy 3 1 IU-- to Love”) who captures the period beautifully oo film His work coupled rath fantastic acting helps to this film beyond mere ' s tu T ffijgif ftfStfffffT ft “Gladiator”) and Eileen Atkins CThe Dresser” “WiT) Altman delivers a film that although overlong recreates a period wonderfully with a cast and strong script dial though a bit stow at die outset offers a satisfying con- elusion Well worth the watch even more so on die big screen considering the cinematography and design but catch it in die afternoon so ' you can make it thrpugh the first half awake One mote thing the banner cast is the always delightful Maggie SmidkCVichard ffl” "The Rime of Miss Jean Brodie”) Her best supporting actress ' Oscar nomination u well ‘ x E I ed Lira AS At SB MO MASaLOsHIttt berkofPiiuM mariiima on Court Of Morta Qfcto ro-- i 447tUM9S4n2flS ui we were aonan CINEMAi3 60Wtf lOONoi re i 4M 9M 7X)Sc4Sin2nO MEM Mb ro-- i 3) 300 North M0M4lnia ISNOWI 258-21- 41 t lllllggg 4 Sun 205 925 Sorority Boys H 2JOO j 1 29SUAJN Y3 Moig Bahindlh FRISAT7MM0 LEWISTON 4 Sun 200 tC ACHEiVALLE 1 o Sc jr lalimiaoaawwiof 437ld0 d"8” among the but inflammatory response Cromolyn eodium a drug and to treat allergic rhiniti ii actually a (GetMoreOutoLLIf® 8411200 Nori Main SHANGRI-L- A ro-- M0S4Sii4S) Gach Malay Tlialn ii nm urtcLr nm managwwdandownNrahip S15Gft an : REELtTIME 5 agent Bioflavonoid! nutrinatural ent! At antioxidant they quen free radical! which promote the 9:30 Singles Wadra 30 700 MoaMflht-famlym- 4 Sun 2:10 Abb m Ohrautf Mst 4ODtysgnd4ONjg0 LEOPOLD Separate Admission S 2000 extracted from the bark of French maritime pine trees In a study Pycnogenol inhibited the production of proinflammatory cytokines suggesting its possible nee m a natural A Beautiful Mind row 30 700 9i30 1 AiaRtAl d ia a complex of antioxidant phenoli and bioflavonoids ftlSS4Sui213 Showtime production in lipopolysaecharide-timulateRAW 2647 cella Tbxicol Appl Pharmacol 168 (1)44-7- 435ftB35S4Si205 lJ m M 15 iy cytokineS interleukin-- 1 MOMS Oiier Sias re Heaven MON7DO American Haart Association Cho KJ Yun CH et al Effect of bioflpronoids extracted from the TODniABRIWXEf (PC-1- Does Your Heart Good PVCNOGDKX® Ttw Time Machine MIINUSHK Tl : Agm Sat 1:00 SB MO ele-va- te ML The fact that this week’s column is a review of an film baits the argument regarding die sad state of affairs in the movie houses of the valley Let’s consider that all of the first-ru- n screens are now owned by the same Company giving them a grand total of 12 screens with mine to follow in'tbe near future Now knowing this why is it seemingly impossible to get these FUNCTIONS AS AN I -- r Gosford PsriT Oscar-nominat- top-not- ch - es ed films up here in a timely man- CN ner? CN “Gosfotd Park” is a film that had to have seen the light CN of day by Dec 25 to be con- CN sidered for this year’s Oscars o Beyond this the nominees were announced over a month 5 ago Feb 12 to be exact I find o it difficult to believe that there was no way they could devote Urn even one screen to this film (D before now — the week before the Oscars o What’s worse is the fact that another best picture nominee “In the Bedroom” beat it into town by a mere week 3 0 and to top it off both films — were only town for one week 2 Of course this is not the E 01 first time I have harped on this — in fact this is a topic I V have visited each year at this as has time it been an ongoing problem As with years past I r assume we will see no change D but we can always hold out CD O hope eh? KMpwm 5 HEALTH FOODS ' 438 12 Noam Main Street Auutjom Swoffim Center L6iM Hours: f ajl-- 4 ia |