13 Ghosts (PG-13) 21st century remake of the old William Castle spookfest about a family trapped in the haunted house they've just inherited. Stars F. Murray Abraham, Tony Shalhoub and Shannon Elizabeth.
(Not Reviewed)
Amazing Journeys (PG) IMAX films are about scale, size — from the unfathomably huge (the oceans, the cosmos themselves) to the microscopically small — and this latest IMAX production gives us a little bit to look at from both ends of the spectrum. Amazing Journeys examines the migration habits of various creatures.
Amelie (NR) Plucky, quintessentially quirky Amelie (saucer-eyed Audrey Tautou) spends her time choreographing good deeds and love connections for her neighbors and, eventually, herself. Amelie, which is as much a fairy tale as it is a cartoon, brims with imagination and emotion, and the impossibly fetching Montemartre neighborhood in which it's set is as much a dreamscape as it is an actual physical location. As is his stylistic want, director Jean-Pierre Jeunet crams every inch of the film with marvelously composed shots of bric-a-brac and arcane doodads, lavishing equal, fetishistic attention upon a kitschy garden gnome and the sensual pleasure of cracking open the crust on a well-turned creme brulee. Also stars Mathieu Kassovitz. Held over at Tampa Theatre. Call theater to confirm.
Bandits (PG-13) Director Barry Levinson mixes buddy-crime-flick shtick and romantic comedy (a la Ally McBeal) and peppers it with the stylish verite camera moves and music video-style montages he employed in his TV show Homicide. The combination makes for an entertaining, though unevenly paced and overly quirky, two hours of madcap caper fun. Stars Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton and Cate Blanchett.
—Julie Garisto
Behind Enemy Lines (R) This film was completed before 9-11, so instead of jihad-crazy Muslims, the nasty bad guys here are the murderous Serbs who shoot down bored Yankee fly-boy Owen Wilson during a routine reconnaissance mission over Bosnia. Wilson then spends the entire movie on the run from his vicious pursuers while his NATO superiors bicker over the delicate particulars of his rescue. The movie has all the depth of a Little Lulu comic, but director John Moore shoots the action in such a blatantly visceral, hyper-kinetic manner that we just can't look away. Even at its most disposable, Behind Enemy Lines is undeniably exciting, and some of the special effects sequences are amazing. Also stars Gene Hackman.
Black Knight (PG-13) Martin Lawrence plays a medieval theme park employee who gets dunked in a funky looking moat and finds himself magically transported back to the actual 14th Century. The movie's too lacking in energy to bother developing a few decent jokes (not to mention characters), and simply goes through the motions of telling its story, not exactly incompetently, but certainly as if it had been written on autopilot.
Cirque du Soleil: Journey of Man (G) Multimedia performance artists/acrobats/ magicians Cirque du Soleil find their way to the big screen — the really big screen — in this visually spectacular IMAX 3-D experience. The film's astonishing imagery constitutes an authentic document of Cirque du Soleil in motion, as well as a beautifully poetic tribute to the glory of the human body. At IMAX Channelside.
Don't Say a Word (R) A slickly made but only modestly interesting thriller in which a child psychologist (Michael Douglas) races against time to meet the ransom demanded by his daughter's kidnappers. There's much less here than meets the eye, but there are some passable moments of suspense, and the film is skillfully crafted enough to occasionally give the thin storyline the illusion of substance.
Everest (PG) The best IMAX movie to date returns. Everest chronicles an expedition to the world's tallest peak. As with most other IMAX films, breathtaking, vertigo-inducing cinematography and nifty science facts abound. But unlike most other IMAX films, there's an actual narrative here, complete with humor, suspense, real human characters and mythic scope. At MOSI's IMAX Dome Theater. Call theater to confirm.
From Hell (R) Ye Old London Town comes off as a cross between something out of a vintage Hammer flick and a Marilyn Manson horrorshow, with Johnny Depp starring as an absinthe-swilling, opium-smoking inspector on the trail of history's first and, arguably, most notorious serial killer, Jack the Ripper (depicted here as a predictable blend of Lecter and Dracula). The moody atmosphere in this most explicit and goriest of mainstream Ripper movies is so thick you could cut it with a bloody scalpel.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (PG) A wizard, a true star. Living up to the hype in almost every way, Chris Columbus' big screen adaptation of the first Harry Potter book is a rousing blend of fantasy, mystery, action and pure charm that puts the film in a league with modern adventure classics like Raiders of the Lost Ark or the original Star Wars trilogy. The movie creates a genuine sense of wonder and its 2 1/2 hours practically fly by, bolstered by a strong script, amazing sets and special effects, a classic John Williams score, and some great performances by a well chosen cast of young newcomers and seasoned pros, all of whom strike just the right tone. Stars Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrane, Richard Harris, Alan Rickman and Maggie Smith.
Hearts in Atlantis (PG-13) Based in part on a Stephen King novel, and much in the mold of Stand by Me, Hearts in Atlantis takes adorable children with loads of character and jolts their humdrum lives with a dose of adventure — this time of a rather cosmic sort. The film trucks in quiet suspense and genuine human interaction, and is imbued with a pervasive sweetness, all of which should play well to the current national mood. Stars Anthony Hopkins.
—Eric Snider
Iron Ladies (NR) The Thai import Iron Ladies is shallow, manipulative, badly made and almost completely predictable. It's also an awful lot of fun. Iron Ladies is the true story of a Thai male volleyball team composed almost entirely of gay men, cross-dressers and even a bona fide transsexual. Outside of the exotic Asian trappings and the outsider sexuality of the characters, the story here will seem all-too familiar to anyone who's ever seen a Hollywood movie about a team of misfit athletes, Bad News Bears not excluded. The movie is uncomplicated but relatively lively, with all of the essential building blocks of traditional drama included — humor, of course, but also heart (struggling and bonding abound), pathos (much is made of the Ladies' assorted unhappy relationships), suspense (will our guy-gals win the big game? Gosh, I wonder!), and an assortment of super-macho villains. There's a long, slow middle section overloaded with earnest speeches (mostly amounting to variations on Why can't we all just get along?) and some minor squabbling between the various team members. Never fear, though. Everyone eventually kisses and makes up. Held over at Channelside Cinemas. Call theater to confirm.
Island of the Sharks (PG) Another intriguing, typically beautiful IMAX underwater feature, this one taking us eyeball to eyeball with the denizens of the waters around the Cocos Islands off the coast of Costa Rica. At Channelside IMAX.
K-PAX (PG-13) Kevin Spacey stars as an enigmatic mental patient who befuddles and eventually charms everyone in sight, and ultimately even teaches his shrink (Jeff Bridges) to be a better person. Director Iain Softley creates a genuine sense of wonder for most of K-PAX's running time, although the magic dissipates a bit during the movie's second half, which dwells more on the history and psychology of Spacey's character. Also stars Mary McCormack.
The Last Castle (R) Robert Redford stars as a legendary three-star general sentenced to a maximum security military prison ruled with an iron fist by the cruel, heavy-breathing warden (James Gandolfini). Redford's character endures all sorts of abuse, becoming a hero to the other inmates in the process, and eventually orchestrates a plan to take over the prison. The Last Castle feels a bit like a watered-down cross between Cool Hand Luke and one of Hollywood's vintage POW movies, but the movie never rises above the sum of its parts.
Life as a House (R) Kevin Kline stars as a terminally ill man who decides to spend his last few months building himself a swanky home by the sea, while simultaneously attempting to build bridges with his estranged son (Hayden Christensen) and ex-wife (Kristin Scott Thomas). Director Irwin Winkler's ham-fisted approach often makes it feel like the movie might have been better expressed on a greeting card.
The Man Who Wasn't There (R) From its very title to its blackmail and murder-laced plot, The Man Who Wasn't There is about as close to classic film noir as the Coen Brothers have ever come (Blood Simple included) albeit with a few flying saucers and Lolita-esque nymphets thrown in, just to screw with our heads. Billy Bob Thornton is just about perfect as a milquetoast husband trapped in a loveless marriage and a joyless job, while Roger Deakins' black-and-white photography is lush and mesmerizing. Also stars Frances McDormand, Scarlett Johansson, Tony Shalhoub and James Gandolfini. Held over at Channelside Cinemas. Call theater to confirm.
Monsters Inc. (G) Imagination runs rampant in the best possible way in this latest animated treat from the folks at Pixar Studios (Toy Story 1 & 2, A Bug's Life). The movie's a vaguely screwballish comedy of errors, a bit like Three Men and a Baby, except that the men are actually monsters. Cute, likable monsters that is, who belong to a community of multishaped beasties who accidentally come into contact with one of the adorable little children they're charged with scaring. If the material isn't quite up to the trend-setting brilliance of the Toy Story movies, that's only a minor stumbling block in an otherwise clever and endearing entertainment. Featuring the voices of John Goodman, Billy Crystal, James Coburn and Steve Buscemi.
Not Another Teen Movie (R) A spoof of all those teen-of-the-month movies, from the spoof specialists responsible for Scary Movie, and pretty much in the same mold. Just about every convention and cliche of every teen movie of the last few years is skewered, with humor that veers from the extremely raunchy boobs and bodily function variety. Some of the jokes hit home, but the movie takes aim exclusively at easy targets and after 45 minutes or so we're ready for it to be over. Not Another Teen Movie is so stuffed to the gills with dead-end sarcasm it's like the film's ODed on the stuff and gone to Irony Heaven, where rigor mortis has already set in. Stars Chris Evans, Chyler Leigh, Mia Kirshner, Jaime Pressly. Opens Dec. 14 at local theaters.
Ocean's Eleven (PG-13) Steven Soderbergh's briskly entertaining remake of the 1960 Rat Pack vehicle is about as disposable as the original but, as with the original, it's so much fun you'll hardly notice. About all that really happens here is the planning and execution of an elaborate Las Vegas casino heist, but Soderbergh stages and shoots the action with such an appealingly economic style and immediacy that we find ourselves sucked right into the proceedings. The film moves at a breezy clip propelled by the star power of George Clooney and Brad Pitt, but the able supporting cast are quite good as well (particularly co-conspirators Matt Damon and Carl Reiner). It's all very light and jazzy, with a solid romantic core and an appealingly retro soundtrack. Also stars Julia Roberts, Andy Garcia, Bernie Mac and Don Cheadle.
The One (PG-13) Apparently failing to learn any sort of lesson from all those awful Jean-Claude Van Damme flicks where the Muscle from Brussels plays battling twins, Jet Li takes on himself in this vaguely sci-fi-ish action blow-out. The non-stop heavy metal soundtrack is alone enough to drive you from the theater.
Out Cold (PG-13) Skateboarding slackers versus yuppie entrepreneurs in Alaska. Stars Jason London, Flex Alexander and Zach Galifianakis.
(Not Reviewed)
Serendipity (PG-13) Another sticky-sweet and thoroughly uncomplicated romantic comedy about fate and true love, in which the main characters spend the entire movie trying to find each other. The movie is basically harmless but overly long, and its allusions to destiny and mystical connections are just short of pretentious. Stars John Cusack and the chick from Pearl Harbor.
Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure (PG) An engaging mix of history, drama, fascinating archival footage and breathtaking, state-of-the-art photography, Shackleton's Antarctic Adventure tells the incredible true tale of an epic battle for survival in the wake of a failed expedition to cross Antarctica in 1914.
Shallow Hal (PG-13) The notorious Farrelly Brothers are back, with their least gross and, frankly, least funny film to date. Shallow Hal is the unconvincingly sweet story of the redemption of a sexist pig (Jack Black) who is one day magically blessed/cursed with the ability to only see inner beauty — resulting in his falling head over heels with a 300 pound woman (Gwyneth Paltrow, sometimes seen in an elaborate fat suit). A trim of about 20 minutes would have been a considerable help, and most of the best jokes were given away in the movie's trailer. Also stars Jason Alexander.
Sidewalks of New York (R) Even if you're a huge Ed Burns fan you may find Sidewalks of New York hard to take. Burns' Woody Allen fetish has never been so pronounced, and the entire film plays like an uninspired rehashing of any number of Allen's talky tales of modern Manhattanites. There's hardly an appealing or interesting character to be found here, and they all just stand around whining ad nauseam about their love lives and sex lives. The most depressing thing about this altogether pointless film is that Burns really seems to think he's using it as vehicle to say something important. Stars Edward Burns, Rosario Dawson, Heather Graham, Brittany Murphy and Stanley Tucci.
Spy Game (R) Typically slick, hyper-amped Tony Scott production about a retiring CIA officer (Robert Redford) who discovers his one-time protege (Brad Pitt) is about to be executed in China. Despite all the visual gymnastics, Spy Game never develops much real forward momentum, mostly because virtually the entire movie consists of a series of extended flashbacks that simply detail the exploits of Redford and Pitt's characters over a period of 15 years.
Texas Rangers (PG-13) Youth-oriented docudrama about the post-Civil War formation of the Texas Rangers, a group of leathered men who took it upon themselves to battle outlaws terrorizing 1875 Texas. Stars Dylan McDermott, Usher Raymond, Tom Skerritt and Ashton Kutcher.
(Not Reviewed)
Training Day (R) Rookie narc Ethan Hawke gets in way over his head during his first day on the job, when his partner/mentor (Denzel Washington) turns out to be the worst role-model cop since Harvey Keitel's character in Bad Lieutenant.
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust (NR) See Film column.
Vanilla Sky (R) Tom Cruise stars in this remake of a Spanish cult film about a self-obsessed man who finds reality and fantasy blurring after he's involved in a terrible accident. Also stars Penelope Cruz. Opens Dec. 14 at local theaters. The film was screened too late for review in this issue.
(Not Reviewed)
—Reviewed entries by Lance Goldenberg unless otherwise noted.
This article appears in Dec 13-19, 2001.