Super Spacey by MATTHEW HAYS Watching The Big Kahuna, it's terrifically obvious that Kevin Spacey deserved both his Oscars (for The Usual Suspects and American Beauty). The determination, the nuance, the comic sensibility, the dramatic instinct--they're all here and in full force. Spacey plays a money-grubbing salesman who, while stuck in a hotel room with fellow salesmen Danny DeVito and Peter Facinelli, prepares for a key shmoozing opportunity at which they'll try to secure a major deal. Spacey condescends to the neophyte Facinelli, who makes the mistake of confessing his deeply-held Christian beliefs. This makes him ripe for Spacey's verbal slams, as the actor chews up all the scenery with a rant about the virtues of religious faith and getting into heaven. There are many great Spacey moments here and while the film is clearly adapted from a play, its staginess doesn't hurt it too much. DeVito's turn is also noteworthy; though I still think of him primarily as a comic actor, he's obviously quite capable of tackling more dramatic roles as well. The Big Kahuna opens Friday, May 19. Not to be missed: my picks for most excellent repertory screening begin and end at the Cinéma du Parc. First, there's David Lynch's Blue Velvet, always best savoured on the big screen. Also, Friday night's lineup includes the beautiful Harold and Maude (useful trivia: this film was originally written as a romance between two gay men, but the filmmakers realized they could never get it made unless the romance was made heterosexual). Now that's quality viewing! The fact that another film is being shot in Montreal may not seem like news, but screenwriter Emil Sher's latest project, Café Olé, holds the distinction of being a movie shot in NDG that isn't pretending to be set in Boston, New York or a thousand years in the future (think Battlefield Earth). Sher, who describes the film as a romantic comedy with a solid ensemble cast, refers to it as a bit of NDG pride. The acting entourage includes Stephanie Morgenstern (The Sweet Hereafter), Macha Grenon (Pharmaprix) and Laia Marull, one of Spain's top actors who is making her North American debut with this project. The Goethe-Institut is presenting another celebrated Hun this week. Animator and director Joehen Kuhn will be in town this weekend for screenings of his '98 film, Fisimatenten. Though I don't know what the title means, the film is a biting satire of the art world and stars one of my favourites, Maximilian Schell, in the lead role. It screens tonight (May 18) at 8 p.m. and Friday, May 19 at 6:30 p.m. at the Goethe-Institut. Good news on the comedy front: gay standup comic Jason Stuart has been confirmed to perform at this summer's Just For Laughs festival. Those of us who've caught Stuart's act, as well as his performances in films like Gia and TV shows like The Drew Carrey Show, know the man can be extremely funny. : COMMENTS: matt_hays@babylon.montreal.qc.ca