James Woods

American art movies rarely come fancier or emptier than Northfork, a down-home arabesque made of angel fluff. It's set in 1955, in a small Montana town about to be flooded for a hydroelectric dam. But the picture actually unfolds in an ethereal time-space continuum known only to the moviemaking Polish Brothers, Michael and Mark, who co-wrote it; Michael also directed, and Mark co-stars with James Woods. They envision Montana as a place where cherubim roamed as freely as bison. Now the magic has evaporated and middle-class security and conformity have arrived, epitomized by a half-dozen archetypal organization men (among them Woods and Polish, as a father and son team)

HOLLYWOOD -- When actor James Woods got the role of former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani for a TV film, his mother warned him. "She said, `Jimmy, this guy is the biggest American hero -- regardless of what the liberal press says -- since Franklin Roosevelt. Don't let them screw this up.'" The actor didn't let it happen in the USA Network production of Rudy!: The Rudolph Giuliani Story, he told critics in Los Angeles last week. "I mean, there's virtually nothing about Rudy Giuliani that I don't unequivocally admire."

Don't expect ancient in Disney's "Hercules." Forget your tattered copy of Bulfinch's mythology. Disney's 35th animated motion picture has more to do with Nike the sneaker than Nike the Greek goddess. The references are thoroughly contemporary, from hostile takeovers to mega-theme parks to Rolling Stones lyrics.Yup, Disney does a Disney on Greek mythology. It takes what little it needs from the original and ditches the rest.It is heavenly as well as devilishly ironic. "Hercules" is a cautionary tale about celebrity from Disney, the premier manufacturer of the stuff.

President Clinton isn't in the credits of the new Hollywood blockbuster, "Contact." But then, he didn't even know he was in the film.The White House said yesterday producers of the sci-fi movie, which opens nationally today, never notified Clinton they were using his image.The $90 million Warner Bros. film, which concerns the first communication from extraterrestrials, contains recurring footage of the president. He is not an actor in the film -- the filmmakers spliced existing news shots of him into their movie, making him seem to address the American people about the existence of the aliens.

'Watchmen' returns : Watchmen, the big-screen adaptation of Alan Moore's graphic-novel exploits of a group of outlawed superheroes, will return this weekend for a limited run at Bengies Drive-In Theatre, 3417 Eastern Blvd. Showtime through Sunday is 10:45 p.m. on what is not only the last surviving drive-in screen in Maryland but also the biggest screen in the U.S., at 52 by 120 feet. Information: bengies.com, 410-687-5627 or 410-391-1956. Free 'Millionaire' : Reigning Oscar champion Slumdog Millionaire, director Danny Boyle's tale of undying love and unexpected riches among India's poor, will be shown at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institute's Mountcastle Auditorium, 725 N. Wolfe St. Admission is free.

For Olympics watchers, tonight's biggest draw probably is the ice dancing compulsories, but the men's 1,000-meter speed skating is bound to provide the most drama. It's the last shot at these Olympics for American Dan Jansen to earn a medal.* "The 1994 Winter Olympic Games" (8-11 p.m., WBAL, Channel 11) -- In addition to the sports named above, there's coverage of men's doubles luge. Which reminds me: During Pat O'Brien's nightly rock 'n' roll selection on CBS, why doesn't he use that classic Beatles winter-sports song?

Jeff LiBerge set a new school record in the pole vault and was a part of the winning team in four events at the Linganore Relays Monday in Frederick County. The event had been postponed Saturday because of bad weather.LiBerge vaulted 14-foot-0 to set the new mark. He teamed with T.J. Bowers, who turned in a 9-6 effort, to win the team competition. (All events, including field events, are scored as a relaysin the Linganore meet.)Coach Bill Hill said the effort by LiBerge was the second-best vault ever made by a Carroll County high school student.

Two weeks after Wimbledon tennis, Saturday morning again brings live sports action weighty with English tradition. At night, movies offer the most interest -- including lengthy classics from American mythology.* "British Open" (10 a.m.-2 p.m., WMAR, Channel 2) -- Golf's oldest tournament, launched in 1860, enters the third round at the game's oldest links: the Old Course at St. Andrews in Fife, Scotland. Oddly enough, a former champion is drawing the most attention. Arnold Palmer, winner in 1961 and 1962, launched his round Thursday by announcing this would be his final British Open.

The August issue of Buzz assures that "Screaming at `D subordinates is one of the archetypal behaviors that defines Hollywood."Perhaps, the monthly suggests, show-biz ranting began sneaking into the 21st century at about the time a "snack-loving producer," Scott ("The Addams Family," "The Firm") Rudin, "programmed the digital readout on his office phone system to in form his assistant, 'String Cheese NOW!' at the push of a single button."The magazine is not totally convincing that corporate downsizing and less money for perks such as cocaine have had the effect of softening many screams.

The ABC telecast of "The American Comedy Awards" ought to be good for a few laughs -- but other than that, if you want some good first-run entertainment, put on your sneakers and first run. TV's got very little to offer, except on cable.* "Hart to Hart: Secrets of the Hart" (9-11 p.m., Channel 11) -- Lionel Stander, whose long, blacklist-interrupted career was revived by the original "Hart to Hart" series, died two weeks after this latest "Hart to Hart" telemovie completed production. Not only does he appear here, but so do many other familiar faces: Marion Ross of "Happy Days," Jason Bateman of "The Hogan Family," Pat Morita of "Mr. T & Tina," and Michael Parks of "Then Came Bronson."