films of the year 1998:Two

Visit the gallery


Hard Rain (Dir: Mikael Salomon, 1998 US) Moist action thriller
Mikael Salomon is a bloke who doesn't mind getting his feet wet.
Ten years ago he spent months underwater filming The Abyss for Titanic director James Cameron and picked up more than a few tips on how to make cracking action thrillers.
At the time he was a mere director of photography, but now he's turned action director and his debut is a cliched but enjoyable thriller with Christian Slater as a fed up security guard on a money run with uncle Ed Asner.
Alas, on this particular night, the weather is so foul it would give Michael Fish nightmares.
A torrential downpour turns a small American town into waterworld and before long, Christian and Ed are held up by a gang of hackneyed robbers.
Only Morgan Freeman (as good as ever) appears to be anything approaching two dimensional as the leader of the bad guys.
Anyway, the rest of the film is a cat and mouse chase between Christian, Morgan and the redneck cops - led by a manic Randy Quaid.
There's many a twist and turn thanks to Graham (Speed) Yost's screenplay and the whole thing looks splendid - as long as you forget the hilariously bad miniature effects.
Watch with wonder as a doll's house - doubling for Minnie Driver's residence - is swept away during the finale.
Gasp as the Thunderbirds-style damn collapses.
Blighty's own Driver is wasted as the feisty love interest but unlike her splendid turn in Good Will Hunting, this is more a film for lovers of jet bikes and watersports than anything approaching an acting masterclass.
If you liked this try these: The Abyss *** UK: 96 mins (US: 95mins)

  • Dark City (Dir: Alex Proyas, 1998 US)Gothic sci-fi thriller
    When Rufus Sewell awakes in a bathtub with a murdered blonde in his apartment, things don't look good for our confused hero.
    However, his apartment is not what it seems. And neither is the city surrounding it.
    Buildings contort, houses shift like elastic and everyone sleeps through the procedure . Everyone except Sewell and The Strangers - led by Richard O' Brien and Ian Richardson.
    Welcome to Dark City, a stylish thriller from Alex (The Crow) Proyas. Lifting inspiration from the films Kafka, Hellraiser, Scanners and The City of Lost Children, this is visually one of the most stunning films of the year. It starts off a little too in your face with few scenes lasting longer than 30 seconds - an annoying trait of many film-makers who cut their teeth on pop promos. Once you get past the erratic introduction, things really get going with Sewell drawn into The Strangers' mysterious plan. Staggering set design, some mediocre model work and a great finale make this a must see and it's bound to attract a cult following in the years to come. A pity Kiefer Sutherland proved so irritating and Jennifer Connelly was wasted as the hero's wife but they are merely there to flesh out the elaborate visuals. While William Hurt is as good as ever, it's difficult to take Sewell seriously, especially after seeing him on fine form in Martha - Meet Frank Daniel and Laurence a week earlier. However, he makes a refreshing change from the usual Hollywood leading men who often look good but have little to offer. See it for the last half hour alone and you won't be disappointed. If you liked this try these: Hellraiser; The City Of Lost Children; Delicatessen; Kafka. 100mins. ****