Little Voice is a magical and enchanting adaptation of the hit London play written by Jim Cartwright with the actress Jane Horrocks in mind. Horrocks, best known to American audiences as Bubble in the British sitcom Absolutely Fabulous, won rave reviews for her stage performance as LV-or Little Voice-a reclusive woman who refuses to speak, but in the privacy of her room can sing uncannily like Judy Garland, Marlene Dietrich, Marilyn Monroe, and Shirley Bassey.

In a small seaside town, Little Voice lives in the attic of a dingy house, trying to keep away from her over-bearing, uncomprehending mother (Brenda Blethyn). Her only solace is her late father's record collection, she has developed a remarkable talent for impersonating the singing voices of recording divas. Two men enter LV's life-. Ray Say (Michael Caine), a sleazy talent agent out to exploit her talents-, and Bill, a shy telephone repairman (Ewan McGregor).

Like Mark Herman's previous film, Brassed Off, also a play adaptation, Little Voice is an atmospheric blend of comedy, tragedy, and music. It also has the magical quality of a fairy tale - Herman has succeeded in blending these different tones, and in capturing an astonishing performance by Jane Horrocks. - David Schwartz


With Friends Like These
Philip F. Messina

USA, 1998, 105 mins.
Producer Robert Greenhut
Screenwriter Philip F. Messina
Director of Photography: Brian J. Reynolds
Production Designer: Beth DeSort
Music Producer: Hans Zimmer
Principal cast: Adam Arkin, Laura San Giacomo, Jon Tenney, Elle Macpherson, David Strathairn, Lauren Tom, Robert Costanzo, Amy Madigan, Beverly D'Angelo, Bill Murray.

Would you betray your closest friend to audition for a movie role? No?! What if the role in question was Al Capone, and the director was Martin Scorsese, and you were tired of taking bit parts as "goombah hit men"? This delicious premise describes the plot of Philip F. Messina's charming comedy, With Friends Like These. With a surprisingly sympathetic touch, writer-director Messina has created a knowing, bittersweet tale of life on the outskirts of Hollywood glitter. With appealing performances by an all-star ensemble (and cameo appearances by Bill Murray, Garry Marshall, and Marty himself) the movie almost feels like a guilty pleasure. Yet, beneath its sunny L.A. veneer is a touching story of hard-working actors trying to rise above the limitations of ethnic typecasting. -David Schwartz


Tango
Carlos Saura



Spain/Argentina, 1998, 115 mins.
Producers: Jose Maria Calleja de la Fuente, Alejandro Bellaba, Luis A. Scalelia, Carlos L. Metasti, Juan C. Codaggi
Screenplay: Carlos Saura
Director of Photography: Vittorio Storaro
Editor: Julia Juaniz
Production Designer: Emilio Basaidua
Costume Designers Milena Canonero, Beatriz De Benedetto
Principal cast: Miguel Ange So a, Ceci ia Narova, Mia Maestro, Juan Carlos Copes, Julio Bocca, Juan Luis Gallardo.

When Mario Suarez, a director whose wife has left him, is thrown into a mid-life crisis, he immerses himself in a new obsession and decides to make a film about the tango. And so the stage is set for Carlos Saura's sensual, passionate, music-filled drama, Tango, which combines a fiery love story, an exploration of the workings of memory (Saura's favorite subject), and perhaps above all, a full-bodied celebration of the art of tango dancing. A sumptuous cinematic feast, Tango features the vibrant cinematography of Vittorio Storaro, eye-catching costumes by Milena Canonero, and an inspired musical score by Lalo Schifrin. This splendidly made film captures the almost religious intensity of tango. - David Schwartz