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Brit Guy Ritchie (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels) has made a second feature film rife with rich characters. The plot is double-twisted, snarled beyond belief around twin strands: a diamond heist that yields a whopping 84-carat jewel and a fixed, illegal boxing match. Somehow the low-lifes from one scam and the scum from the other become inextricably bound to one another. It all begins with Franky Four Fingers (Benicio Del Toro), who's barely recognizable in the intro sequence with several dark-bearded men dressed in the black clothes worn by the Orthodox Jews who run the New York diamond business. The disguises work, the heist works, and the boys walk out of a wholesaler's with the giant diamond, setting in motion an elaborate chain of events that will occupy the movie until the last scene. The other storyline opens with Turkish (Jason Statham), a lower echelon boxing promoter who's looking to move up in London's tough underworld. He sends his sidekick Tommy (Stephen Graham) to buy a decent trailer for them, but Tommy gets taken in by a bunch of Irish Gypsys, including the sparkling-eyed Mickey and his best friend, Darren (Jason Flemyng). This sets up the other series of connections that play out. Other characters include London pawn shop owners Vinny (Robbie Gee) and Sol (Lennie James), and their rotund get-away driver, Tyrone (Ade). Vinny's dog, Bo, is a runaway from the Gypsy camp who swallows a squeaky toy and makes a funny noise when he's squeezed. Avi, the New York kingpin of the diamond heist, is played to smarmy perfection by Dennis Farina. Avi's London cousin, Doug the Head (Mike Reid), is a jeweler. London's also home to Boris the Blade (Rade Sherbedgia), a former KGB assassin who now deals arms. The most menacing character is Brick Top (Alan Ford), an unhinged gangster with teeth you won't believe. He takes Turkish and Tommy on a tour of his pig farm, where his lackeys get rid of surplus human parts. Brick Top's henchman is Bullet Tooth Tony (former soccer star Vinnie Jones). Once the storylines are launched and the characters introduced, Ritchie's genius as a music video director takes hold, and action, jump cuts, weird camera angles, cartoon-like violence and pop music (including wife Madonna's "Lucky Star") take over. If Snatch had as much coherence as style, it would be a great film. But even as a rhinestone in the rough, it will attract and entertain the same young men who flocked to Lock Stock and to Fight Club. Even if that's not your demographic, you may want to check it out. Ritchie's clear cinematic talent puts him in the company of new directors to keep an eye on. Now playing at Cinema World and Cinemark.
Along with the cheerfully shabby Guild Theatre, we can now vicariously travel the globe at Whitsell Auditorium in the recently renovated Portland Art Museum, the Regal Broadway Cinemas and the Regal Fox Cinemas in the newly erected Fox Tower looming above the neon ghost of the Fox Movie Palladium. The resultant downtown scramble to catch as many off-beat flicks as February allows is the latest urban adventure. Here's a sample: Yi Yi, a Taiwanese film directed by Edward Yang, shows Saturday, Feb. 10. Yang won Best Director Award at the Cannes Film Festival for this comedic, sweet portrait of a Taiwanese family, their friends and neighbors. Yi Yi in Chinese means "one-one" or "individuality," which is the overarching theme of this delightful film. Characters include a middle-aged man encountering the woman he first loved, a wife facing her empty life, a daughter undergoing her first crush and an engaging young son who takes snapshots of the back of people's heads to show off "the half we can't see." Brother II, playing Feb. 18 and 20, is a taut sequel to Brother, a wildly popular mobster coming-of-age film with posters still dominating half of Russia. Set in Moscow and Chicago, Alexei Balabanov's film examines the world-weary lifestyle of a crime dabbler and his contract-killer bro. Recognized as a searing indictment of the uneasy merger of the Russian Mafia and "New Russian" entrepreneurial opportunists, this movie is art imitating corruption. Prize-winning German film, Oskar Roehler's No Place to Go, tells the grim story of a fiercely anti-capitalist Munich writer who talks the leftist talk yet lives in a fast lane that would make Karl Marx blanch. Depressed by the fall of the Berlin Wall, a symbol of all she believes, drug-addled and broke, she returns to Berlin to confront her illusions. The film airs Feb. 16, 17. A time jaunt to the '60s, Costas Kapakas' Peppermint is Greece's best foreign film entry. Forty-something Stefanos recalls better days while attending his dying mother and reunites at her funeral with others who shared that happy childhood, including Marina, a sweetheart who had slipped through his arms. Film dates are Feb. 10,12. 101 Reykjavik, an Icelandic film showing Feb. 10 and 11, should win the wildest plot award if there is one. Callow wastrel Hlynur lives with his mom in downtown Reykjavik, goofing, sucking brews and surfing for porn. After a one-nighter with a flamenco dancer, he discovers she's his mother's lesbian lover and is pregnant with his child. Oedipal variables of this sort suggest Pedro Almodovar at his silliest. Other films of interest include a metaphysical thriller, The Adventures of God (Argentina), directed by Eliseo Subiela (Man Facing Southeast) on Feb. 10, 11; a comic comedy of manners, The Taste of Others (France) directed by Agnès Jaoui, shows Feb. 14, 15; an unconventional love story, The Widow of St. Pierre (France), directed by Patrice Leconté (The Girl on the Bridge) shows Feb. 16, 17; Ingmar Bergman's autobiographical The Faithless (Sweden), directed by Liv Ullman, shows Feb. 10, 11; Chunhyang (South Korea), best foreign film nominee directed by Im Kwon Taek, shows Feb. 16, 18; Calle 54 (Spain), directed by Fernando Trueba (Belle Epoque), shows Feb. 10, 11; and In the Mood for Love (Hong Kong), directed by Wong Kar-Wai (Chungking Express), shows Feb. 17, 19. Elvis Mitchell (The NY Times ) calls it the "most breathtakingly gorgeous film of the year." Festival passes and advance tickets are on sale daily 10 am - 7 pm, February 1-24, in the lobby of the Portland Art Museum North Wing (Masonic Temple), 1119 S.W. Park Avenue at Madison, or at the theater 30 minutes before showtime. For more information, call Northwest Film Center at 503-221-1156 or check its website at www.nwfilm.org.
Cries and Whispers: Ingmar Bergman's 1972 classic stars Harriet Anderson, Ingrid Thulin, Liv Ullman and Kary Sylway. One is dying, and her two sisters and a servant help and don't help her. Bergman is master of the cinematic art, and cinematographer Sven Nykvist is at his beautiful best. R. 7 pm on 2/13 at 121 Pacific Hall. Free. Family Man: Brett Ratner (Rush Hour) directs Nic Cage, Téa Leoni and Don Cheadle in this fantasy of an unmarried investment banker who sees what his life could have been had he married his only love. PG-13. Late night Bijou. Hannibal: Ridley Scott (Gladiator) chronicles Hannibal Lector's inevitable return in this sequel to Silence of the Lambs. Suspense thriller stars Julianne Moore as Clarice Starling and Anthony Hopkins reprising his role as the infamous cannibal. Script by Steven Zaillian (Schindler's List). R. Cinemark. Cinema World. Leo Tolstoy: Recreation in Russian of the last days of the great Russian novelist's life. 6:30 pm on 2/14 at 115 Pacific Hall. Free. Paragraph 175: Opening film at UO Queer Film Festival, 9/15-9/17. 8 pm 2/15 in 180 PLC. Pecker: John Waters comedy stars Edward Furlong as Pecker, a young man with a camera who makes Baltimore, his family and friends the subject of his art. Co-stars Christina Ricci, with Mary Kay Place, Martha Plimpton, Lili Taylor and others who make the ensemble cast work beautifully. If you love Waters' weirdness and surprising sweetness, this one's for you. Highly recommended. R. 8 pm 2/9 in 180 PLC. $2 students, $3 general. Saving Silverman: Buddies Steve Zahn and Jack Black try to prevent their
best friend (Jason Biggs) from marrying a woman he doesn't love (Amanda Peet) when
he should be marrying his high school sweetie (Amanda Detmer). PG-13. Cinema World.
Cinemark. Charlie's Angels: Elite private investigators Natalie (Cameron Diaz), Dylan (Drew Barrymore), and Alex (Lucy Liu) can handle anything on land, sea or air with up-to-the-minute martial arts skills, futuristic vehicles, high-tech tools and toys, and a raft of crafty disguises. Also stars Bill Murray. PG-13. Movies 12. Chocolat: Directed by Lasse Hallström (Cider House Rules) and starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp, this confection is about the scandal in a small town when a sexy, free spirited woman opens a chocolate shop. Sinful! PG-13. Cinemark. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Ang Lee's cinematic masterpiece, this romantic fantasy set in ancient China involves intrigue, poison darts, a pirate of the dunes, a witch, a magic sword, fabulous women fighters and beautiful, ballet-like martial arts that transcend gravity. Stars Michelle Yeoh, Chow Yun Fat, Zhang Ziyi and Chang Chen. Superlative! PG-13. Bijou. Cinemark. Dude, Where Is my Car?: Danny Leiner's one-joke comedy is about a couple of dudes who get too drunk to remember where they parked the car. PG-13. Movies 12. Dungeons and Dragons: Fantasy adventure stars Jeremy Irons and Thora Birch (American Beauty), based on the popular game. Courtney Solomon directs. PG-13. Movies 12. Emperor's New Groove, The: Disney animation, Sting's music, and the voices of David Spade, Eartha Kitt and John Goodman enliven this tale of a young emperor who is turned into a llama and learns to be nicer to others. G. Cinemark. Finding Forester: Gus Van Sant's latest film is badly written by Portlander Mike Rich. Sean Connery plays a reclusive novelist and 16-year old newcomer Robert Brown plays the super-bright teen who brings him back to the world. With Anna Paquin and Busta Rhymes. Film reprises themes of Good Will Hunting without adding anything new, but audience loved it. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. Head Over Heels: Single woman who lives with four models gets a makeover and a new boyfriend. Then the other women discover him committing a crime. Stars Monica Potter and Freddie Prinze Jr. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Madcap Jim Carrey brings to life Dr. Seuss's green grinch who wants to keep Christine Baranski, Molly Shannon and Bill Irwin and others from celebrating Christmas. Directed by Ron Howard. PG. Movies 12. Jungle Cat: Local filmmaker Jason Crum presents his independent feature for a limited run. It's the story of a bouncer (Crum), a dancer (Mindy Nirenstein), the club owner (Jerry McGill), and a bad tempered used car dealer (Lewis Dreyfuss). They're all looking for lost gold. Not rated. 2 pm Feb. 10 and late night Feb. 14. Bijou. Legend of Bagger Vance, The: A down-and-out former golf star (Matt Damon) finds the girl of his dreams, again, (Charlize Theron). A guardian-angel (Will Patton) helps him remember his former glory. Directed by Robert Redford. PG. Movies 12. Little Nicky: Adam Sandler plays the shy, awkward son of the Devil who loves heavy metal but has two older brothers who are bullies. When they make trouble in New York, Nicky and a foul-mouthed talking dog go to the city to restore the balance between Good and Evil. PG-13. Movies 12. Meet the Parents: Ben Stiller plays the unfortunate prospective son-in-law to Robert Di Niro's overly protective father. Directed by Jay Roach, the film also stars Teri Polo and Blythe Danner as the engaged daughter and her mother. PG-13. Movies 12. Miss Congeniality: Dubious comedy stars Sandra Bullock as an FBI agent posing as a beauty contestant, Miss New Jersey. Directed by Donald Petrie, flick also stars Benjamin Bratt, Michael Caine and William Shatner. PG-13. Cinemark. O Brother, Where Art Thou?: Ethan and Joel Coen's feel-good Depression-era comedy is their best ever. This Odyssey stars George Clooney, John Turturro and Tim Blake Nelson as chain-gang escapees in Mississippi, and the whole wild show is an homage to old timey music and the folk traditions from which it springs. Also with John Goodman. One of the very best films of the year, it gets the highest recommendation. PG-13. Cinema World. Pay It Forward: Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense) star in this drama about a boy whose class project turns into phenomenon taken up by lots of people. Directed by Mimi Leder. PG-13. Movies 12. Pledge, The: Sean Penn directs this Jack Nicholson detective thriller that also stars Sam Shepard, Helen Mirren and Vanessa Redgraves. Nicholson's a nearly-retired cop who's looking for the murderer of an 8-year old girl when he stumbles on something bigger. R. Cinemark. Proof of Life: Russell Crowe is a special agent for kidnap and ransom who gets involved with the wife (Meg Ryan) of a hostage (David Morse) in this romantic drama set in South America. Directed by Taylor Hackford (Dolores Claiborne, The Devil's Advocate). R. Movies 12. Remember the Titans: Football movie based on the true story of a 1971 Virginia high school falling apart from racial conflict until a black coach (Denzel Washington) from out of town pulls them together. Directed by Boaz Yakin, it also stars Will Patton and Kip Pardue. PG. Movies 12. Save the Last Dance for Me: Talented white girl from small town (Julia Stiles) enrolls in an inner city high school in New York where she falls for a popularAfrican American boy (Sean Patrick Thomas) who also loves to dance. She has a chance to dance ballet, but he prefers hip-hop. PG-13. Cinemark. Snatch: Writer, director Guy Ritchie's (Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels) comedy features an ensemble cast in the wild tale of a diamond heist gone sideways. It's a rollicking ride through London's gangster world starring Benicio Del Toro (Traffic), Brad Pitt, Dennis Farina, Vinnie Jones, Jason Statham and Stephen Graham. R. Cinema World. Cinemark. See review this issue. Sugar and Spice: Cheerleader comedy shows girl power united to help one of their own, even if it means breaking the law. Directed by Francine McDougall, it stars Mena Suvari (American Beauty) and ensemble cast. PG-13. Cinemark. Traffic: Steven Soderbergh's acclaimed new film takes a hard look at the complexities of drug interdiction programs. With an all-star, ensemble cast that includes Michael Douglas, Benicio Del Toro, Don Cheadle, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Erica Christensen. Brilliant directing, excellent script and dynamite performances make this the best film of 2000 (so far). R. Cinemark. Cinema World. Valentine: Strong horror and gratuitous violence are offered by Jamie Blanks' offering, which stars Denise Richards, David Borenaz, Marley Shelton and Katherine Heigl. R. Cinemark. Cinema World. Vertical Limit: Action adventure tale of a former mountain climber who has to save a sibling trapped at 26,000 feet. Chris O'Donnell is the traumatized ex-climber, Robin Tunney is his sis. Directed by Martin Campbell. PG-13. Movies 12. Wedding Planner, The: Jennifer Lopez and Matthew McConaughey star in this romance about a San Francisco wedding planner (Lopez) who meets the man of her dreams when a handsome pediatrician (McConaughey) saves her from a near-fatal collision with a runaway dumpster. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. What Women Want: Mel Gibson stars as an accident victim who can suddenly
hear the private thoughts of women. The women in question include Helen Hunt, Marisa
Tomei and Lauren Holly. PG-13. Cinemark. Bijou
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