Our Flick of the Week is the hilarious “In & Out,” a classic comedy that also manages to have a point of view, attacking the notion that homosexual teachers represent a menace to society. Inspired by Tom Hanks’ Oscar acceptance speech for “Philadelphia” in which he thanked a gay teacher, screenwriter Paul Rudnick imagines what might have happened if the teacher Hanks thanked was engaged to be married . . . to a woman.
Kevin Kline, possibly our best light comic actor right now, plays a high-school English teacher who is thanked on national TV by a former student, now a Hollywood heartthrob (Matt Dillon), for inspiring his Oscar-winning performance as a gay soldier. Claiming that Kline’s character is gay throws a wrench into his upcoming marriage to an old girlfriend (Joan Cusack, possibly our best female light comedian).
The teacher becomes a national news story, and a macho tabloid TV reporter (Tom Selleck in wonderful casting) figures into the action. A conclusion worthy of Frank Capra’s films adds just the right all-American note to a story that is funny and thoughtful. Rated PG-13. (star) (star) (star) 1/2
– FIRE. An Indian film that undoubtedly would cause a stir there but is less than shocking here. Sisters-in-law enter into a sexual relationship in part out of frustration with the traditional role of women in Indian society. No MPAA rating. Subtitles. (star) (star) 1/2
– L.A. CONFIDENTIAL. An exceedingly well-photographed and directed “Chinatown”-like yarn set 20 years later, in Hollywood in the ’50s, combining violent police corruption, dissolute actors and tabloid magazines. Kevin Spacey plays a detective who moonlights as an adviser to a “Dragnet”-like TV show; Danny DeVito is perfectly cast as the tabloid publisher; and new faces Guy Pearce and Russell Crowe are standouts as cops with private agendas. A rich entertainment. R. (star) (star) (star) 1/2
– = New this week
