Always

For many years now, Steven Spielberg has been talking about doing a "small" film--one that was people, rather than special-effect, oriented. In Always, Richard Dreyfuss stars as Pete Sandich, a hotdog firefighting pilot who has an uneasy relationship with his girlfriend Dorinda (Holly Hunter). As far as Dorinda is concerned, Pete takes too many unnecessary chances. While trying to save a friend whose plane is on fire, Pete buys the farm, and ends up in quasi-Heaven: i.e., Audrey Hepburn is giving him a haircut. As Pete's guardian angel, the ever radiant Hepburn tells him that he's being sent back to Earth to "inspire" another pilot. His assignment turns out to be Ted (Brad Johnson), a would-be pilot who happens to fall in love with Dorinda. Out of this sentimental concoction, Spielberg has fashioned a winning and, yes, moving story, as Pete the ghost, struggles to give up his hold on Dorinda, who is still in the land of the living. And, surprisingly, the people do win out over the special effects (although it must be said that the aerial sequences through raging forest fires are some of the finest ever put to film--heightened by the letterboxing which Spielberg insisted on for the video release). Recommended.(R. Pitman)