Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert review four new movies and the recent winner of the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. Two thumbs down for
Lost in Space (1998), the boring, murkily photographed movie adaptation of the 1960s TV series. Two thumbs up for David Mamet's intricately plotted mystery,
The Spanish Prisoner (1997), which has a great cast speaking great dialogue. Two thumbs down for the implausible action thriller,
Mercury Rising (1998), which wastes Bruce Willis and the rest of the cast. A split decision on Nick Broomfield's documentary,
Kurt & Courtney (1998). Ebert found it fascinating; Siskel thought the investigative reporting was lacking. Another split decision for the Oscar-winning
Character (1997). Ebert compares it to Dickens; Siskel found it to be nothing special. Ebert's "Video Pick of the Week" is the documentary,
A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies (1995).
—J. Spurlin