Thursday, February 06, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Mercury

Film shorts

25th Hour

3 1/2 stars. Rated R. 134 minutes. A man is faced with his last hours of freedom as he prepares to enter prison for seven years after a drug bust. Spike Lee's film is a devastating take on dealing with fatal mistakes, and Edward Norton couldn't be better as Monty, a man who has effectively destroyed his life. A distracting soundtrack and occasional sloppy editing hurt the film, but the overall impact is still a big one. Also stars Philip Seymour Hoffman as a schoolteacher lusting after a student (Anna Paquin) and Barry Pepper as Monty's friend, constantly eyeing his buddy's lover (Rosario Dawson) and bitter about his friend's remarkable stupidity.--BG

A Guy Thing

Not reviewed. Rated PG-13. 101 minutes. Jason Lee and Julia Stiles star in a romantic comedy about a groom-to-be who screws up at his bachelor party, waking up the morning after next to a beautiful girl, no memories of the night before. Lee stars as the affable bachelor who should stay away from parties, Stiles is the beauty in the bed, and Selma Blair is on hand as the clueless bride.

About Schmidt

5 stars. Rated R. 125 minutes. Jack Nicholson is getting better with age. As Warren Schmidt, a newly retired insurance salesman looking back on his life and not liking what he sees, he loses most of his Jackisms to supply a frighteningly real character. Full of great supporting performances, including Dermot Mulroney as a mullet-sporting waterbed salesman, and Kathy Bates as a free-spirited divorcee, the film is both funny and scary. Director Alexander Payne is a maestro of dark comedy, as he proved with Election. Also starring Hope Davis and Howard Hessman.--BG

Adaptation

5 stars. Rated R. 114 minutes. A mind-bender starring Nicolas Cage as twin brothers, Charlie and Donald Kaufman, both screenwriters with entirely different sensibilities. The film, directed by Spike Jonze and written by the actual Charlie Kaufman, is in some ways a true story as Kaufman was supposed to adapt Susan Orlean's book The Orchid Thief for the movies but ran into some creative difficulties. The result is the most unusual take on writer's block and creative hardship since the Coen brothers' Barton Fink. Also stars Meryl Streep as Orlean and Chris Cooper as a toothless orchid poacher. An amazing movie.--BG

Antwone Fisher

3 stars. Rated PG-13. 120 minutes. Denzel Washington, in his directorial debut, tells the true story of Antwone Fisher (an impressive Derek Luke), a naval officer with a bad temper due to a messed up past. While the film feels conventional at times, with all of the protagonist's problems getting solved in miraculous time, the film is a sweetheart of a movie. Washington is able to bring some of the same warmth detectable in his acting to his directing style, and the results are quite charming. Washington also acts the supporting role of Fisher's therapist.--BG

Biker Boyz

1 1/2 stars. Rated PG-13. 110 minutes. Whereas being in a bike gang used to mean being an outlaw on some level, the motorcycle clubs depicted in this film are as rowdy as competing suburban softball leagues. Those expecting a film where they will be immersed in the thrills of the motorcyclist's lifestyle will surely come away disappointed. The motorcycle action is secondary to the melodrama, indifferently filmed by director Reggie Rock Blythewood. Stars Laurence Fishburne, Derek Luke and Kid Rock.--GC

Catch Me If You Can

5 stars. Rated PG-13. 140 minutes. Leonardo Di Caprio is as charming and charismatic as he's ever been as Frank Abagnale Jr., the famous scam artist who bilked millions out of businesses with false checks, impersonating everything from doctors to airline pilots. Steven Spielberg directs a cast that includes Tom Hanks as the man pursuing Abagnale, and Christopher Walken as Abagnale's loyal father. The film is a real find, flamboyant without being hammy, expressive without the melodrama.--MP

Chicago

4 stars. Rated PG-13. 113 minutes. After last year's Moulin Rouge, a film some consider the musical comeback kid of film, this taut, flashy spectacle starring Renee Zellweger, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Richard Gere should propel that sentiment further. Bob Fosse's musical comes to the big screen packed with 14 song-and-dance numbers that are often brilliantly envisioned. The stars might not be ready for the stage, but their capable voices shine within the constructs of a motion picture. It might be too tidy and slick, but it is never too entertaining.--MP

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind

5 stars. Rated R. 113 minutes. Based on Chuck Barris' "unauthorized" biography, this directorial debut from George Clooney is bold, bizarre and hysterically funny. Sam Rockwell stars as Barris who, on top of creating television game shows such as "The Dating Game" and "The Gong Show," claimed to be a CIA assassin. This is a daring choice for a first-time director, and Clooney pulls it off in a major way. Rockwell is a talent to be reckoned with, a phenomenal actor. Also starring Clooney, Julia Roberts and Drew Barrymore.--BG

Darkness Falls

3 stars. Rated PG-13. 75 minutes. A woman wrongfully hanged 150 years ago comes back to haunt the town of Darkness Falls as the Tooth Fairy in this horror film that borrows a bit from the likes of The Blair Witch Project and A Nightmare on Elm Street. It's a good horror movie in that it keeps up the suspense at all times. Perhaps it is somewhat lacking in originality, but if you are looking for a good fright, it will do the trick.--FMC

Die Another Day

4 stars. Rated PG-13. 123 minutes. Pierce Brosnan is the best movie Bond since Sean Connery. This latest installment in the Bond franchise features fantastic special effects, hot women (the main one being Halle Berry) and beautiful action scenes. The 20th Bond film has all the usual accoutrements, including sexual innuendo and the occasional stilted dialogue. It also has a great story.--FMC

Drumline

3 stars. Rated PG-13. 118 minutes. An inspiring film about a university marching band that focuses on the drumline, referred to in the film as "the pulse of the band, and without a pulse you're dead." Astounding camerawork, lighting displays, excellent choreography and a group of unknown faces make this film come alive. A good movie that generally says that artistry and loyalty are more important than individual fame or glory.--MP

El Crimen Del Padre Amaro

3 stars. Rated R. 118 minutes. A film controversial on so many fronts, it's hard to turn a blind eye to it. The Mexican film portrays its Catholic Church subject as rife with money laundering, smoking, drinking, abortion and adultery. Nearly every scene in this film, starring Gael Garcia Bernal (Y Tu Mama Tambien), exposes church employees as not exactly practicing what they preach. This film qualifies as Mexico's candidate for this year's Best Foreign Film Oscar, disqualifying Y Tu Mama Tambien, a film that was popular in the U.S. last year, but excluded because of its earlier Mexican release date.--MP

Far From Heaven

5 stars. Rated R. 107 minutes. An homage to the four-hankie dramas of the '50s. A wife (Julianne Moore) discovers her husband (Dennis Quaid) is having an affair, and she receives innocent, conversational solace from a black man (Dennis Haysbert). The film addresses subjects that were once too taboo for public discussion. Oscar would be remiss to ignore Moore's performance, and Quaid displays a bold depth missing from much of his previous work.--MP

Final Destination 2

Not reviewed. Rated R. 100 minutes. Characters escape death, only to be singled out for even grislier demises for screwing with death's plan. The key word that seems to be popping up in descriptions of this film is "gory." Ali Larter and Tony Todd return from the first film, with actress A.J. Cook getting a starring role.

Friday After Next

2 stars. Rated R. 85 minutes. This Christmas-themed second sequel to 1995's Friday is funny out of the gate, but loses gas. Ice Cube and Mike Epps star in what is essentially a gag machine that feels like it's repeating itself, to the point where it becomes tedious. There are some laughs to be had, especially during the duo's stint as top-flight security guards, but most of the proceedings are stale. Almost a good time, but not quite.--BG

Gangs of New York

5 stars. Rated R. 168 minutes. Martin Scorsese directs his best film since Goodfellas with this sprawling epic about the clash of rival gangs in 19th century New York. Daniel Day-Lewis is a marvel as Bill the Butcher, a knife-wielding "Nativist" who has zero tolerance for immigrants. Leonardo Di Caprio is excellent as Amsterdam, a greasy hoodlum seeking revenge for the death of a loved one. The film looks fantastic, and shows that Scorsese remains one of cinema's best directors. Also starring Cameron Diaz and Henry Thomas.--BG

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

4 stars. Rated PG.161 minutes. The second filmed adventure of J.K. Rowling's boy wizard is a pure delight. Daniel Radcliffe has come into his own as Harry, as this sequel tells a darker and more interesting story than the first film. Harry returns for a second year at Hogwarts, and evil forces are causing some entertaining trouble. A superior sequel. Also starring Kenneth Branagh and Rupert Grint.--BG

The Hot Chick

1/2 star. PG-13. 101 minutes. Rob Schneider stars in this abysmal comedy about a high school girl (Rachel McAdams) who inadvertently switches bodies with a small-time crook (Schneider), and many lame penis jokes ensue. While it's not completely void of laughter, the sickening groaners far outweigh the good times. Has a decent shot at being 2002's worst comedy.--BG

The Hours

5 stars. Rated PG-13. 113 minutes. Three compelling stories set in three different times comprise this staggeringly beautiful adaptation of the Michael Cunningham novel. Nicole Kidman (winner of the Golden Globe for best actress in a drama) is heartbreaking as author Virginia Woolf, with Julianne Moore and Meryl Streep equally brilliant as two women cosmically tied to her writings. While the movie takes place in separate time periods, the direction and editing make the storytelling and time switches seamless. A great piece of filmmaking, and winner of the Golden Globe for best picture (drama).--BG

Just Married

2 1/2 stars. Rated PG-13. 94 minutes. While this film about two newlyweds having a nightmarish honeymoon is inconsistent, it does score some big chuckles. Brittany Murphy and Ashton Kutcher rise above some routine material that, nevertheless, does provide some belly laughs, including a bout with a cockroach that had me snorting. The film shifts between sweetness and ugliness a few times too many, and the conclusion is about as predictable as these things can get. Still, Murphy and Kutcher make a decent screen pairing, and that cockroach kicked my ass.--BG

Kangaroo Jack

1 star. Rated PG. 87 minutes. This is a delightful journey into an existential world where the innocence of animals is savagely violated by greed, betrayal and lust. It's a story of nobility, with nature defying all attempts to be corrupted by the hands of man, and the victory of intangible forces over raw human evil. Only kidding, folks, this movie about a CGI kangaroo really blows, and you are advised to skip it (After the Full Metal Critic submitted his opinion, America went on to make this movie No. 1 at the box office on its opening weekend).--FMC

Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

5 stars. PG-13. 179 minutes. While this reviewer does have a few "geek" quibbles regarding this continuation of Tolkien's grand adventure, this film still qualifies as the best of the year, and further proof that director Peter Jackson is the right man for the job. Part two is every bit as good as part one, and will leave viewers clamoring for the next and final chapter. Featuring outstanding CGI effects, including an excellent Gollum, this is a terrific cinematic achievement.--GS

Maid in Manhattan

3 stars. PG-13. 105 minutes. Better than your average J-Lo movie, this is yet another Cinderella story delivered with class by the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Ralph Fiennes and director Wayne Wang. Lopez plays a hotel maid who ends up dating a senatorial candidate (Fiennes) under some dishonest circumstances regarding her identity. Nothing new here, but the film is cute enough to make you and your date smile.--BG

My Big Fat Greek Wedding

3 stars. Rated PG-13. 95 minutes. A Greek woman (Nia Vardalos) meets the man of her dreams (John Corbett) and they have a big, wacky, ethnic wedding. This one's cute, but it's hard to believe the level of box office success it has achieved.--BG

Narc

3 1/2 stars. Rated R. 102 minutes. There hasn't been a gritty police drama out for a while now, and for those of you who have been waiting, Narc is for you. There's violence, bloodshed and tortured, driven cops struggling with guilt. Jason Patric stars as an undercover police detective who partners with a cop (Ray Liotta) who is willing to break all the rules in tracking down the murderers of his former partner and friend. No matter how many "Third Watches" and "NYPD Blues" we watch, Hollywood always seems to have a rougher take on the life and work of a cop, and this is a good one.--FMC

National Security

1 star. Rated PG-13. 90 minutes. Martin Lawrence and Steve Zahn play security guards who like to act like cops in ways that are shockingly unfunny. A tired genre film with a racist heart, and very few good laughs. A return to lousy films for Lawrence after his funny concert film, Runteldat, and yet another bad pairing for Zahn and director Dennis Dugan, who worked together on the terrible Saving Silverman. Also stars a white-haired Eric Roberts doing his best Gary Busey.-BG

The Pianist

4 stars. Rated R. 148 minutes. Roman Polanski's latest film, winner of last year's Palm d'Or (Best Picture) at the Cannes Film Festival, is an adaptation of Wladyslaw Szpilman's (played by Adrien Brody) memoirs, the story of a pianist and Holocaust survivor. What gives his story its transcendence is his passion for music. Even in his most malnourished, delirious state, he can still play air piano to some of the more complicated pieces of music ever put to paper. Polanski is a natural to bring this story to the screen, given his own survival of World War II Poland as a child. The film doesn't go into the death camps, but remains focused on Szpilman's singular survival, his dedication to living and his muse.--MP

The Recruit

4 stars. Rated PG-13. 105 minutes. In a movie about CIA recruits, it's good to have some secrets. Unfortunately, the marketing team for this Al Pacino thriller has chosen to give away many its secrets in the preview trailer. If you should come into contact with the commercial before seeing the film, cover up your ears and eyes and break into song. Colin Ferrell is excellent as a CIA recruit getting put through an increasingly hard test, and Pacino delivers a great performance as a CIA trainer.--FMC

Two Weeks Notice

2 stars. Rated PG-13. 100 minutes. Sandra Bullock needs to stop. Not stop making movies. She just needs to stop making the same movie over and over again. This time she stars as an attorney who is chief counsel for a spoiled rich land developer (Hugh Grant) who eventually becomes a love interest in pure Sandra Bullock movie style. If you've seen other Bullock films like While You Were Sleeping and Miss Congeniality, you've already seen this movie.--FMC