Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert review six new movies and, for once, agree on all of them. Two thumbs down for
Palmetto (1998), an over-plotted film noir that merely toys with its audience. Two more thumbs down for
Senseless (1998), which wastes a good premise and the talents of Marlon Wayans with unnecessary distractions. Two thumbs up for all the remaining movies. The critics enjoy the seductive historical soap opera,
Dangerous Beauty (1998). They admire the intelligent adaptation of Virginia Woolf's classic novel,
Mrs Dalloway (1997).
Nil by Mouth (1997) is the searing drama about a damaged family; both critics applaud Gary Oldman's directorial debut. They delight over
Live Flesh (1997), directed by the always flamboyant Pedro Almodóvar, who for once is anchored by a good story provided by the thriller novelist, Ruth Rendell.
—J. Spurlin