          |
|
 |
 |
People mingle on wintry sidewalks, while city streets bustle with horse and carriage traffic. Evidently the artist had painted the scene from a rooftop with a view down onto the street for several blocks. Objects and individuals were represented by colorful dabs of paint of varying sizes and shapes that my brain effortlessly turned into meaningful images. While movies have accustomed us to crane shots or aerial views from airplanes, in the 1870s, people and cameras were earth-bound. The ubiquity of the image in our lives today is so assured that none of us can imagine how it felt to the people who viewed the first photograph or the first motion picture. Collectively, we have learned to see these complex patterns and fill in the missing visual and cultural information. The Impressionists showed me that such seeing is a learned response, and this little film gently reminds us of that fact. Chinese American filmmaker Ann Hu's beautiful movie is set in 1902 Peking, shortly after a violent uprising against foreigners called the Boxer Rebellion. China's subsequent humiliation had left a bitter taste. The people who come to see the jerky black-and-white, silent images that Raymond Wallace (Jared Harris) and Liu Jinglun (Xia Yu) illuminate and project on a screen are wary. At first, they don't understand what they are seeing, but like motion picture audiences the world over, they learn quickly a new way to process such attractive visual input. Wallace, a down-at-the-heels British impresario, is a fictional character. But the young Chinese photographer Liu is based on an historical figure who worked at a Peking photo shop at the beginning of the Chinese film industry. Liu first tries to hide his friendship with the Westerner from his father, Old Liu (Wang Jingming) and from his boss, Master Ren (Liu Peiqi), but it's more difficult to hide his affection for Ling (Xing Yufei), the daughter of Lord Tan (Li Yusheng), a Peking Opera singer. Liu's infatuation with Western technology makes him especially vulnerable to Wallace, who urges him to become his partner and break with the old ways. The first thing I like about Hu's film is that she respects all the characters, even those who do not rush to embrace the new thing. Period films depend so much on the generosity of the filmmaker to help us form empathic bonds with the people of a distant time and place. For me, that moment comes toward the end of the film. Two men stand up during a shadow magic show and spontaneously keep up a running, comic commentary to the images on the screen, which disarms and delights the audience. At this instant the technology loses its foreign taint and becomes their own. Shadow Magic opens Friday at the Bijou, and it's heartily recommended.
Chocolat: Re-release. Lasse Hallström's film stars Juliette Binoche (best actress nom), Johnny Depp and Judi Dench (supporting actress nom). A sexy, free spirited woman causes a scandal in a small church-going town when she opens a chocolate shop. PG-13. Cinemark. See review. Germinal: Claude Berri's 1993 epic adaptation of Zola's novel about a 19th century coal strike stars Gerard Depardieu and Miou-Miou. R. 7 pm 5/15 in 122 Pacific. Free. Inherit the Wind: Stanley Kramer's 1960 courtroom drama over Darwin's Theory of Evolution stars Spencer Tracy and Fredric March. NR. 7 pm 5/16 in 180 PLC. Free. Knight's Tale, A: Aimed at 12-year-olds, this medieval adventure fantasy stars Heath Ledger, Shannyn Sossamon, Mark Addy, Rufus Sewell. Directed by Brian Helgeland, co-writer of L.A. Confidential. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark 17. Say It Isn't So: Heather Graham and Chris Klein fall in love but discover they have the same set of parents. Oops. Bobby and Peter Farrelly's comedy also stars Sally Field and Orlando Jones. R. Movies 12. Shadow Magic: Ann Wu's beautiful film about a Westerner and a Chinese man who bring moving pictures to Peking in 1902, which both disturbs and charms those who come see this Shadow Magic. Stars Jared Harris, Xia Yu and Xing Yufei. Heartily recommended. PG. Bijou. See review. Tailor of Panama, The: Critics say John Boorman's film, based on a John le Carré novel, shows how hard it is to make a good espionage thriller since the end of the Cold War. Stars Pierce Brosnan as a bored British agent (married to Jamie Lee Curtis) who tries to put the moves on Catherine McCormack while tying his fate to a British ex-con (Geoffrey Rush). R. Cinemark 17. Traffic: Steven Soderbergh's acclaimed film stars Michael Douglas, Benicio Del Toro, Don Cheadle, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Erica Christensen. Academy Awards for Soderbergh's direction, Del Toro's acting, Gaghan's screenplay and Mirrione's film editing. Best film of 2000. R. Movies 12. See review. You Can Count on Me: Kenneth Lonergan's beautifully understated and generous film about family ties stars Laura Linney and Mark Ruffalo, Rory Culkin, Matthew Broderick, and Jon Tenney. Funny and real, with wonderful performances by Linney and Ruffalo, it's very highly recommended. Movies 12. See review .
Blow: Ted Demme directs Johnny Depp as George Jung, now in prison, but in the 1970s the first American to import cocaine from Carlos Escobar's Colombian cartel to the U.S. Based on book by Bruce Porter, movie also stars Penelope Cruz, Ray Liotta, Rachel Griffiths and Paul Reubens. R. Cinema World. Cinemark. Bridget Jones' Diary: Renée Zellwegger plays the neurotic but witty Londoner on the prowl for a man. Hugh Grant's her boss, and Colin Firth is an old friend. Sharon Maguire's directorial debut. Script by Helen Fielding, Andrew Davies and Richard Curtis. Fun movie, highly recommended. R. Cinemark. Cinema World. See review. Cast Away: Tom Hanks learns to survive when his plane crashes and he washes up on a remote tropical island. Helen Hunt is the girlfriend he left behind. Intimate direction by Robert Zemeckis, a lean script by William Broyles Jr., and an edgy performance by Hanks. Highly recommended. PG-13. Movies 12. See review. Crocodile Dundee in L.A.: Simon Wencer directs the return of the old Aussie fave played by Paul Hogan, with Linda Kozlowski as the love interest. PG. Cinemark. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Ang Lee's cinematic masterpiece, romantic fantasy set in ancient China garnered 4 Academy Awards: best foreign film, art direction, cinematography and original score. Stars Michelle Yeoh, Chow Yun Fat, Zhang Ziyi and Chang Chen. Superlative! PG-13. Cinemark. See review. Double Take: It's Trading Places for the new century as NY investment banker (Orlando Jones) switches identities with a petty thief (Eddie Griffin). George Gallow directs. PG-13. Movies 12. Driven: Sylvester Stallone in a racetrack action picture directed by Renny Harlin. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. 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's turned into a llama and learns to be nicer to others. G. Movies 12. Enemy at the Gates: During the siege of Stalingrad during WWII, a Soviet sniper (Jude Law) is pursued by a Nazi assassin (Ed Harris). Also stars Joe Fiennes, Bob Hoskins and Rachel Weisz. Flawed, but well worth seeing for Harris' performance. R. Cinemark. See review. Hannibal: Ridley Scott chronicles Hannibal Lector's inevitable return in this gruesome sequel starring Julianne Moore and Anthony Hopkins. Script by David Mamet, Steven Zaillian. Bloodsoaked, creepy movie earns its rating. R. Movies 12. See review . Heartbreakers: Sigourney Weaver and Jennifer Love Hewitt play mother/daughter con artists. Ray Liotta and Gene Hackman are marked men. David Mirkin directs. PG-13. Movies 12. See review. Memento: Written, directed by Christopher Nolan, based on his brother Jonathan's story. Stars Guy Pearce as a man whose memory loss following a crime in which his wife was raped and killed propels him toward vengeance. With Carrie-Anne Moss, Joe Pantoliano. Question the film's skewed reality at every opportunity. R. Bijou. See review. Mexican, The: Comic road movie stars Brad Pitt, Julia Roberts and James Gandolfini in a mobbed-up escapade south of the border. Has its moment, but murder isn't really all that funny. R. Movies 12. See review. Miss Congeniality: Comedy stars FBI agent Sandra Bullock posing as a beauty contestant, Miss New Jersey. Directed by Donald Petrie, it also stars Benjamin Bratt, Michael Caine and William Shatner. PG-13. Movies 12. Mummy Returns, The: Starring Brendan Fraser and Rachel Weisz star in this thriller directed by Stephen Sommers. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. O Brother, Where Art Thou?: Ethan and Joel Coen's feel-good Depression-era comedy and homage to old timey music is their best ever. Stars George Clooney, John Turturro and Tim Blake Nelson, with Holly Hunter, Charles Durning, John Goodman. Highest recommendation. Fabulous screenplay, cinematography and CD. PG-13. Cinema World. See review. One Night at McCool's: Crime/sex comedy stars Matt Dillon, Paul Reiser, John Goodman and Liv Tyler playing one-note characters. She's trouble. Directed by Harald Zwart. R. Cinemark. See review. Spy Kids: Robert Rodriguez directs this youth-oriented tale about superspies (Antonio Banderas, Carla Gugino) who leave the life to marry and have kids. When they're kidnapped, only their kids can save them. PG. Cinemark. Cinema World. Thirteen Days: Roger Donaldson's political thriller set in 1962 Cuban missile crisis as the Kennedy brothers scramble to avert Armageddon. Kevin Costner plays Kenny O'Donnell, Bruce Greenwood is JFK, and Steven Culp is Robert Kennedy. Very exciting, excellent film. PG-13. Movies 12. See review. Town & Country: Peter Chelsom directs Michael Laughlin and Buck Henry's comic script about marriage, friendship and love. Stars Warren Beatty, Diane Keaton, Goldie Hawn and Garry Shandling. R. Cinema World. Cinemark. What Women Want: Mel Gibson as an accident victim who can
suddenly hear the private thoughts of women -- Helen Hunt, Marisa Tomei and Lauren
Holly. PG-13. Movies 12. Bijou
Art Cinemas Regal
Cinemas Cinemark
Theaters
Best in Show: Christopher Guest (Waiting for Guffman) directs and stars in this faux docu about dog-lovers whose goal is to win the annual kennel club show. Michael Hitchcock and Parker Posey are hilarious as a neurotic couple who're afraid they've traumatized their Weimaraner. Also stars Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara. Very funny movie. PG-13. See review. Next week: Before Night Falls, Bongwater, Dungeons and
Dragons, Requiem for a Dream, Some Like It Hot and Vertical Limits.
|
