Thursday, January 02, 2003
Copyright © Las Vegas Mercury

Film shorts

8 Mile

3 1/2 stars. Rated R. 118 minutes. Purports to be loosely based on the life of Eminem, who plays Bunny Rabbit, a Detroit rapper looking to rise above his surroundings and make a name for himself. Addresses friendship, family, betrayal, race and the poetry of rap music and has the ring of authenticity. A good mix of comedy and urban reality. Also stars Kim Basinger.--FMC

Analyze That

1 1/2 stars. PG-13. 95 minutes. Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal return for some more wacky Mafioso humor, and the results are even lamer than the first time around. De Niro's mobster fakes insanity to get out of prison, is released into Crystal's care, and Italians get slandered for a bad cause. At least "The Sopranos" is good, high-quality slandering. This stuff blows. Also starring Lisa Kudrow.--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

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

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

Eight Crazy Nights

No stars. Rated PG-13. 76 minutes. Not only one of the worst animated holiday films ever put to celluloid...it is, unquestionably, the worst animated holiday film ever made. Adam Sandler stars in this hackneyed, unfunny, moronic sludge that makes Santa Claus vs. The Martians look like Citizen Kane. He plays a drunken loser who goes on a vandalism rampage to help destroy his town's holiday spirit. Reaches new lows in crudity and vulgarity.--GC

Empire

2 1/2 stars. Rated R. 100 minutes. This is a run-of-the-mill, curiously demure crime drama that is just barely held together by actor John Leguizamo. He stars as a drug dealer who tries to go legit, with predictably tragic results. The problem with this film is that the writing is on the wall in every scene, and it offers no surprises. Leguizamo is worth seeing in this movie that feels quite less than imperial in its scope and ambition.--FMC

Evelyn

2 1/2 stars. Rated PG. 94 minutes. Some might find this well-meaning child custody film, based on a real father's struggles with the Irish courts back in 1953, to be good, pleasant moviemaking. Others might throw up. Pierce Brosnan does well with the Irish brogue as the beleaguered dad trying to get his kids back, but his singing voice leaves much to be desired. Stereotypical treatment of nuns and routine courtroom stuff drag down the proceedings to the point that the movie feels like a retread. Still, the performers almost make the experience worthwhile. Also starring Aidan Quinn as a lawyer wearing one of those silly courtroom wigs.--BG

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

Frida

2 1/2 stars. Rated R. 103 minutes. Selma Hayek plays legendary Mexican painter Frida Kahlo in this eager-to-please biopic that rarely serves its audience, least of all Kahlo's legacy. While Hayek nails some moments of fire, agony and wit, her precocious treatment of Kahlo's idealistic side is nearly ham-fisted. Also stars Alfred Molina.--MP

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

Half Past Dead

3 stars. Rated PG-13. 98 minutes. A direct derivative of The Rock, with a little bit of Under Siege thrown in for good measure. Steven Seagal plays an undercover FBI agent sent to "New Alcatraz," where there is plenty of gunplay and explosions. The action is quite good, although the film is not very original. Also starring Morris Chestnut.--FMC

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

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 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 meets the man of her dreams (John Corbett) and they have a big, wacky wedding. This one's cute, but it's hard to believe the level of box office success it has achieved.--BG

The Santa Clause 2

3 stars. Rated G. 90 minutes. This sequel picks up a few years after the 1994 original, with Tim Allen returning as Santa, who needs to find a bride or lose his Santa privileges. The movie could be considered one of the fall's more politically charged films, addressing the dangers of cloning and neo-Nazism and the sticky issue of church-state separation. Yeah, and it also has a farting reindeer.--GS

Star Trek: Nemesis

3 stars. PG-13. 116 minutes. One of the better Star Trek movies, this one has Picard (Patrick Stewart) and crew facing off against evil clones with the capacity to destroy Earth. It's a good one because, like Trek IV, it stands on its own, full of humor and much-needed emotional touches. It has its share of cheesy moments, but this being a Trek film, that is to be expected.--MP

Treasure Planet

4 stars. Rated PG. 95 minutes. An often thrilling work, this animated sci-fi update of the Robert Louis Stevenson classic Treasure Island is a winner for Disney, its first traditional animation film worth seeing since 1999's Tarzan. This project was 17 years in the making, and the results are captivating. Features the voices of David Hyde Pierce (Frazier) and Martin Short.--MP

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

The Wild Thornberrys

3 stars. Rated PG. 87 minutes. Another Nickelodeon cartoon comes to the big screen, this time with decent results. The picture follows the adventures of the Thornberrys, a family of adventurers exploring Africa. Daughter Eliza can speak to the animals, and she finds herself on a mission to rescue a kidnapped baby cheetah. The soundtrack is fantastic, including Peter Gabriel, Paul Simon, and Dave Matthews. Voice talent includes Tim Curry, Lacey Chabert and Marisa Tomei.--BG