Thursday, February 26, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Mercury

Film shorts

Against the Ropes

2 stars (PG-13, 111 min.) Charles S. Dutton's drama is "inspired by" the life of Jackie Kallen (played by newly reconfigured Meg Ryan), who discovers street thug Omar Epps and sees her chance to crash the male-dominated world of boxing management. Cheryl Edwards' script aggrandizes its tough-talking star, who blows this attention on "I am woman" speeches while Epps and Dutton scowl from the sidelines.--JC

Along Came Polly

2 stars (PG-13, 90 min.) John Hamburg's "sparkless" romantic comedy is as risk-averse and unamusing as Ben Stiller's overly cautious character, who falls for flaky free spirit Jennifer Aniston.--TM

Barbershop 2: Back in Business

3 1/2 stars (PG-13, 106 min.) Kevin Rodney Sullivan's sequel improves on Tim Story's 2002 talkfest, targeting the galloping Starbuckization of the planet. With Calvin Palmer (Ice Cube) still running his Chicago barbershop, the arrival of a chain haircuttery sparks conflict and comedy. With Cedric the Entertainer, Queen Latifah.--AA

Big Fish

2 1/2 stars (PG-13, 125 min.) Billy Crudup tries connecting with dying father Albert Finney, who weaves fanciful stories about how as a young man (Ewan McGregor) he conquered the world. Tim Burton's film of Daniel Wallace's sentimental novel sinks into a treacly lake of whimsy. With Helena Bonham Carter, Danny DeVito.--AA

The Butterfly Effect

2 stars (R, 113 min.) Like the chaos theory concept (the flapping of a butterfly's wings in China might cause a hurricane in Florida), Eric Bress and J. Mackye Gruber's debut is a dark mindbender about reality's nature. But this convoluted work, about a man exorcising traumatic memories by traveling back in time, suffers due to Ashton Kutcher's inadequacy. With Amy Smart.--TM

Catch That Kid

Not reviewed (PG, 92 min.) Kristen Stewart is the 12-year-old who, with help from buddies Corbin Bleu and Max Thieriot, robs a high-tech bank to get the cash for an operation to save her ailing dad (Sam Robards). Jennifer Beals and James LeGros co-star in Bart Freundlich's kids caper.--AA

Cheaper by the Dozen

Not reviewed (PG, 98 min.) Steve Martin stays home in Illinois to care for his 12 children when wife Bonnie Hunt leaves for New York to promote her new book. Hilary Duff and Piper Perabo co-star in Shawn Levy's comedy.--AA

Cold Mountain

3 1/2 stars (R, 155 min.) Nicole Kidman's incipient romance with field hand Jude Law is interrupted by the Civil War, but she's comforted by plain-spoken Renée Zellweger. Anthony Minghella's devastatingly beautiful film of Charles Frazier's novel balances the folksy and the horrifying.--JC 7 Oscar noms: actor Jude Law, supporting actress Zellweger, cinematography, editing, score, song "Scarlet Tide", song "You Will Be My Ain True Love."

Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen

Not reviewed (PG, 86 min.) New York teen Lindsay Lohan (Freaky Friday) copes with the ultimate indignity when she moves with her family to suburban New Jersey. Sara Sugarman's comedy, adapted by Gail Parent] from Dyan Sheldon's novel, also stars Adam Garcia, Glenne Headly and Carol Kane.--AA

The Cooler

3 stars (R, 101 min.) In Wayne Kramer's faux noir William H. Macy, employed to bring his chronic bad luck to gamblers, falls in love with cocktail waitress Maria Bello. More interesting is the backstory, with old-school casino boss Alec Baldwin clinging to his traditionalist ways in the face of corporate Vegas. A film awash in moral ambiguity and contradictions.--MP Oscar nom: supporting actor Baldwin.

EuroTrip

1/2 star (R, 90 min.) Jeff Schaffer's sophomoric weapon of movie denigration sends Scott Mechlowicz, buddy Jacob Pitts and "twins" Michelle Trachtenberg and Travis Wester on a madcap ride around Europe. Assumes viewers will accept a hero so dumb he thinks his longtime German e-mail correspondent (Jessica Boehrs) is a guy. Vacuous crud. With Vinnie Jones, Joanna Lumley.--AA

Everest

3 1/2 stars (NR, 44 min.) Co-directed by David Breashears, this superb 1998 Imax film chronicles the disastrous 1996 climbing season when eight climbers perished in a freak storm on the world's highest peak. Narrated by Liam Neeson.--AA

50 First Dates

1/2 star (PG-13, 96 min.) The problem is all inside Drew's (Barrymore) head, you see; Her short-term memory loss is screwy, can't take it logically; I'd like you to escape this travesty; (Adam) Sandler's motto: it's lucrative to be crude, his non-character misconstrued; Director Peter Segal, writer George Wing have been so cruel; There must be 50 ways to leave this loser. Just avoid (Dan) Aykroyd; Make a new plan, (Sean) Astin; Don't need to be a slob, Rob (Schneider), just listen to me; Hop on the bus, (Lusia) Strus; Don't need to discuss much; Just channel E.T., and get yourself free.--TM

The Fog of War

4 stars (PG-13, 95 min.) With his portrait of Robert S. McNamara, Errol Morris attempts to unearth a conscience. The ex-defense secretary reiterates that we should have withdrawn from Vietnam in 1963, and passes the moral buck so slickly to JFK and Lyndon Johnson that even the most skeptical may feel beguiled by his smooth rhetoric. True remorse or impressive acting? He seems both sincere and self-serving. A troubling and cautionary film, showing the elusiveness of truth and the limitations of our critical reasoning.--JC

Girl With a Pearl Earring

4 stars (PG-13, 99 min.) Peter Webber's film of Tracy Chevalier's bestseller uses the mystery of Johannes Vermeer's titular portrait as his driving force. Colin Firth is subtly unhappy as the 17th century Dutch painter whose muse is poor housemaid Scarlett Johansson. Cinematographer Eduardo Serra delivers frame after frame of sumptuously detailed imagery. The result is a glowing, moving work of art.--JC

In America

3 1/2 stars (PG-13, 103 min.) Irish immigrants Paddy Considine and Samantha Morton move to New York with daughters Sarah and Emma Bolger. The adults in Jim Sheridan's autobiographical story are great, but the Bolger sisters' heart-melting guilelessness sets this far above average.--AA 3 Oscar noms: original screenplay, actress Morton, supporting actor Djimon Hounsou.

The Last Samurai

2 stars (R, 154 min.) After Edward Zwick's unoriginal sushi Western, with Tom Cruise as a disillusioned U.S. soldier learning the way of the Samurai in 1870s Japan, one wonders--will Tom now honorably commit career hara-kiri?--AA 4 Oscar noms: supporting actor Ken Watanabe, art direction, costumes, sound mixing.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

3 1/2 stars (PG-13, 200 min.) Frodo and Sam (Elijah Wood, Sean Astin) are led to Mordor by the duplicitous Gollum (Andy Serkis); Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli (Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies) awaken the Army of the Dead; and Gandalf (Ian McKellen) heads for Minis Tirith. With scandalously beautiful images, Peter Jackson's single-handed resurrection of the epic fantasy is an astonishing achievement.--JC 11 Oscar noms: picture, director, adapted screenplay, art direction, costumes, makeup, editing, sound mixing, visual effects, score, song.

Lost in Translation

4 1/2 stars (R, 105 min.) Sofia Coppola's Tokyo drama observes the chance connection of two dislocated souls: fiftysomething actor Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson, wife of workaholic photographer Giovanni Ribisi. A film about how traveling alone encourages introspection.--JC 4 Oscar noms: picture, director, original screenplay, actor Murray.

Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World

3 1/2 stars (PG-13, 138 min.) Russell Crowe stars in Peter Weir's splendid maritime adventure, based on Patrick O'Brian's novels. But not even his presence turns a shallow sea story into an epic of depth. With Paul Bettany.--AA 10 Oscar noms: picture, director, cinematography, art direction, costumes, makeup, editing, sound editing, sound mixing, visual effects.

The Matrix Revolutions

3 stars (R, 129 min.) Neo, Morpheus, Trinity and Niobe (Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jada Pinkett Smith) battle the Machines while Agent Smith (Hugo Weaving) continues his infestation. The Wachowski brothers deliver the expected elements in their trilogy's dull finale. [Also in cut Imax version.]--JC

Miracle

2 1/2 stars (PG, 135 min.) In Gavin O'Connor's lengthy crowdpleaser, about the U.S. ice hockey team's bid to beat the mighty Soviets at the 1980 Olympics, Kurt Russell passably impersonates Minnesota coach Herb Brooks. But O'Connor puts viewers through seemingly endless, painful endurance training. With Patricia Clarkson.--AA

Monster

3 stars (R, 108 min.) To appreciate Patty Jenkins' feature about serial killer Aileen Wuornos, you must negotiate the shock and awe of Charlize Theron's monstrous appearance, and her performance that steamrollers everything including Christina Ricci's magnificent turn as her gay lover.--JC Oscar nom: actress Theron.

Mystic River

4 stars (R, 137 min.) A brutal murder forces a reunion between boyhood Boston buddies Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon and Tim Robbins. Clint Eastwood's dark film of Dennis Lehane's novel illuminates a close-knit community poisoned by its bitter history. With Marcia Gay Harden, Laura Linney.--JC 6 Oscar noms: picture, director, adapted screenplay, actor Penn, supporting actor Robbins, supporting actress Harden.

Ocean Wonderland 3D

Not reviewed (NR, 44 min.) Filmed in the Bahamas and on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, the latest IMAX documentary features rays, sharks, dolphins and other marine life in glorious 3D.--AA

The Perfect Score

2 1/2 stars (PG-13, 93 min.) Six high schoolers plan to steal the SAT answers. Director Brian Robbins tweaks the "Aftershool Special" template to stick it to the Man. Earns most of its points by ranting about economics, race, sexism and the idea one test should decide your professional destiny. With Chris Evans, Erika Christensen, Scarlett Johansson.--MP

Pride & Prejudice: A Latter-Day Comedy

(PG, 104 min.) Elizabeth Bennet's determination to ignore the frenzied dating scene in her college town is tested when she meets charming womanizer Jack Wickam and wealthy businessman Darcy. Andrew Black's Mormon reworking of Jane Austen is the latest offering from Excel Entertainment (Brigham City, God's Army, The Other Side of Heaven). With Kam Heskin, Henry Maguire, Orlando Seale.--AA

Something's Gotta Give

3 1/2 stars (PG-13, 136 min.) Aging playboy Jack Nicholson (masterfully sarcastic) has a heart attack and is nursed by Diane Keaton. Combining 1970s Woody Allenesque wit with compelling passion, Keaton proves there's hope for older actresses, in Nancy Meyers' comedy. With Frances McDormand, Keanu Reeves.--TM Oscar nom: actress Keaton.

Tibet: Cry of the Snow Lion

4 stars (NR, 104 min.) Tom Peosay's compelling documentary paints a picture of the historical and political realities of the Tibetan tragedy as intricate as a multicolored Mandala sand painting. The agitprop tone is underscored by direct comparisons with clips from old Chinese propaganda films, but this is "good" propaganda. Narrated by Martin Sheen.--AA

Touching the Void

(NR, 106 min.) In 1985, British climbers Joe Simpson and Simon Yates tried to scale the unclimbed west face of Siula Grande, a 21,000-foot deathtrap in the Peruvian Andes. Kevin MacDonald's docudrama, which intercuts interviews with reenactments of the journey, is a terrifying saga of snow, wind, willpower and transformation. Photographer Mike Eley stunningly captures the deadly seductiveness of latticed icescapes and fragile flutings of fresh snow.--JC

The Triplets of Belleville

4 stars (PG-13, 80 min.) French-Canadian animator Sylvain Chomet's enchanting 2002 debut follows the adventures of a racing cyclist, his feisty Portuguese grandmother and their faithful dog. Imagine an anarchic mix of Amélie and Wallace & Gromit, that blends traditional animation and digital effects as seamlessly as Beno”t Charest's eclectic score mixes "hot" jazz with bits of Bach and Mozart. Deliriously daffy, darkly humorous.--AA 2 Oscar noms: animated feature, song.

21 Grams

4 stars (R, 124 min.) Alejandro González Iñárritu arranges three strangers (mathematician Sean Penn, recovering addict Naomi Watts, born-again ex-con Benicio Del Toro) around an obliterating car accident, juggling his scenes in seemingly random order. The actors are off-the-charts remarkable and Iñárritu's bravura is justified.--JC 2 Oscar noms: actress Watts, supporting actor Del Toro.

Welcome to Mooseport

2 stars (PG-13, 110 min.) Maine hardware store owner Ray Romano gets a wake-up call when retired U.S. President Gene Hackman takes a lustful shine to his girlfriend Maura Tierney and opposes him in the mayoral race. The lame Romano shtick doesn't work, in Donald Petrie's political comedy, because he's supported by cringe-inducing caricatures (from Hackman, Marcia Gay Harden and Christine Baranski).--TM

You Got Served

Not reviewed (PG-13, 93 min.) In Christopher B. Stokes' musical drama, Marques Houston and Omarion set out to win a street dance contest. With Raz B, J Boog and Lil' Fizz.--AA

The Young Black Stallion

Not reviewed (G, 50 min.) Simon Wincer's Imax prequel to Carroll Ballard's 1979 adventure, set in postwar north Africa, stars Biana Tamimi as a girl separated from her family who bonds with a wild horse.--AA

Reviews by: AA: Anthony Allison; JC: Jeannette Catsoulis; MP: Mike Prevatt; TM: Tammy McMahan