Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert review four new movies and examine the new movie rating, NC-17. Two thumbs down for
Pacific Heights (1990). It's "a cheap thriller with high-priced actors," says Siskel. Ebert decries the clichés, including It Was Only a Cat. Two more thumbs down for Abel Ferrara's
King of New York (1990): it has good performances, a nice visual style -- and a preposterous plot. Two thumbs up for the Coen brothers'
Miller's Crossing (1990), although Siskel praises it more highly; Ebert felt the plot was overcomplicated and implausible. Two thumbs up for
Texasville (1990), Peter Bogdanovich's sequel to
The Last Picture Show (1971). It's not up to the class of the first movie, but they agree it's well worth seeing. They hope the new movie rating, NC-17, will usher in movies, such as
Henry & June (1990), that can deal with adult subjects in mature ways. Finally, they recommend "The Last Picture Show", which will be coming to video soon.
—J. Spurlin