Friday, February 7, 1997
"Hotel de Love"
Directed by Craig Rosenberg
Starring Aden Young, Saffron Burrows, Simon Bossell
From "Priscilla: Queen of the Desert" to "Strictly Ballroom" to
"Muriel’s Wedding," small-budget comedies from Down Under are
making their way back into mainstream audiences’ favor. The newest
import, "Hotel de Love," hopes to ride on these previous successes
with its story about young Australian lovers and their romantic
entanglements.
Teenagers Rick (Aden Young) and Stephen Dunne (Simon Bossell)
are Australian fraternal twin brothers who fall in love with the
young, spirited Melissa (Saffron Burrows). Rick is the lucky one
that gets to romance Melissa until she leaves the twins to go home
to England. Ten years later, Melissa returns and finds a bitter
Rick running a tacky honeymoon hotel called "Hotel de Love" and a
successful Stephen who is still in love with her.
The actors, who are relatively unknown to American audiences,
are adorably neurotic in their own unique characters. Young is
appealing as the droll and more sarcastic twin who is still in love
with his high school sweetheart. Burrows, departing from her
seductive vamp role in "Circle of Friends," is quietly charming as
the intelligent, but confused young woman who captures both the
hearts of the Dunne brothers.
But the standout performance comes from Bossell as Rick’s
hopelessly romantic, starry-eyed twin brother. Bossell makes the
most of his character’s silly attempts at finding true love,
charming the audience as a melodramatic fool who always wears his
heart on his sleeve.
"Hotel de Love" is a promising debut for Rosenberg and should
find an eager audience filled with romantic-comedy lovers.
Aimee Phan
Grade: B+
"SubUrbia"
Directed by Richard Linklater
Starring Giovanni Ribisi, Amie Carey
After his less-than-stellar attempt at going abroad with "Before
Sunrise," Richard Linklater has wisely returned to the small town
American milieu which spawned him. With "Slacker" and "Dazed and
Confused," Linklater exhibited a dead-on ear for the mannerism and
speech patterns of the young, aimless and unordinary.
Set within 24 hours in middle American-burg Burnfield, U.S.A.,
the story centers on a group of 20-somethings, including the
intelligent but ineffectual Jeff (Giovanni Ribisi), his best girl
and budding art maven Sooze (Amie Carey), and their brooding,
cynical friends.
The performances are the highlight of "Suburbia," its theatrical
pedigree allowing each of the actors to shine or have a moment to
take center stage. Linklater and his troupe have successfully and
hilariously reproduced many of the awkward moments such a situation
can produce, as well as making the characters articulate and
self-aware without seeming forced or artificial.
At two hours, the film feels a good deal longer, mainly thanks
to a dragging third act, but the characters and their realization
by the actors, make "Suburbia" a welcome return to form for one of
America’s most understated young directors.
Brandon Wilson
Grade: B+
"Dante’s Peak"
Directed by Roger Donaldson
Starring Pierce Brosnan, Linda Hamilton
If "Dante’s Peak," which is an ultra-expensive piece of
special-effects wizardry, is any indication of whether the success
of the disaster film will last, this genre is in luck. This film
will "oooh" and "aaah" with its spectacular effects sequences. And
combined with Leslie Bohem’s terse script, "Dante’s Peak" is savvy
enough to know it is a cliche, and never takes itself completely
seriously.
The film has impressive characterization  well above-par
for an action flick. Considerable energy is set aside to make
Pierce Brosnan’s geologist and Linda Hamilton’s mayor/single mother
a truly likeable pair. It really pays off later when our beloved
stars are in peril.
And the film’s first hour not only serves as a prelude to the
breathtaking action of the climactic explosion  director
Roger Donaldson ("No Way Out") manages to wring tension out from
the very first scene. He layers it on slowly and effectively.
"Dante’s Peak" is much more a suspense film than the
lightning-speed-paced "Twister."
Entertainment industry buzz has centered on the race between
this film and 20th Century Fox’s "Volcano"which has yet to complete
production. With Universal’s entry in the can well before the
second flick, 20th Century now finds itself in an uphill battle.
Donaldson’s adventure captures a self-knowing, campy spirit,
delivers truly masterful special-effects, and does this all with
likeable characters. "Volcano" had better do the same. Otherwise,
"Dante’s Peak" will leave it in the ash.
Ash Steffy
Grade: B