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Rogue
Operations
Secret
agent with amnesia.
BY
LOIS WADSWORTH
THE
BOURNE IDENTITY:
Directed by Doug Liman. Written by Tony Gilroy and William Blake Herron,
based on the novel by Robert Ludlum. Produced by Doug Liman, Patrick
Crowley, Richard N. Gladstein. Executive producers, Frank Marshall,
Robert Ludlum. Cinematography, Oliver Wood. Production design, Dan
Weil. Editor, Saar Klein. Music, John Powell. Music supervisor, Julianne
Jordan. Costumes, Pierre-Yves Gayraud. Starring Matt Damon, Franka
Potente and Chris Cooper, with Clive Owen, Brian Cox, Adewale Akinnoye-Agbaje,
Julia Stiles and Gabriel Mann. Universal Pictures, 2002. PG-13. 113
minutes.
A character-driven spy thriller sounds impossible
on the face of it. But that's what you get in director Doug Liman's
au courant, cinematic re-imagining of the late Robert Ludlum's
master spy, Jason Bourne, as depicted in The Bourne Identity
(1980), The Bourne Supremacy (1986) and The Bourne Ultimatum
(1990). Screenwriters Tony Gilroy and William Blake Herron make the
focus of the film a guy who doesn't remember who he is (Matt Damon)
and the woman he meets - Marie Kruetz (Franka Potente) - while on
the run from unknown assailants who are trying to kill him.
 |
| MARIE (FRANKA
POTENTE) AND JASON (MATT DAMON) GROW CLOSE AS THEY LEARN TO EVADE
DANGER TOGETHER. |
The film is compelling, which is enough to make me
rethink my objections to the spy genre. As in con-man/scam artist
movies, only a unique talent can convincingly assume the character
of an amnesiac spy. He must unblinkingly make split-second decisions
that require sophisticated knowledge of weapons, fighting tactics,
languages and self-preservation; and it needs to look as if he's surprised
at himself. Damon is an inspired choice. That slightly uncertain look
he specializes in is an asset here, as his character comes to believe
that he is indeed Jason Bourne, a spy, an assassin and a killer —
while also falling in love. And just to be clear, this is persuasive
love and respect, not some James Bond-like, perfunctory sexual performance.
Compare The Bourne Identity to the other spy
thriller currently showing, The Sum of All Fears, which stars
Damon's friend and writing partner, Ben Affleck. The films are different
in every respect - one a standard Hollywood action flick, the other
featuring the more personal, independent twist we've come to expect
from Liman's earlier work in Swingers and Go. Yet both
Sum and Bourne acknowledge the requirements of the genre
- one-on-one physical combat; thrilling narrow escapes; fascinating
minor characters; a riddle to untangle, a maze to traverse and special
effects.
However, Sum's characters are shallow, the
romance is pedestrian and the mystery to be solved is based on the
politically conservative, paranoid perspective that war is inevitable.
Supporting actors give good performances, but Affleck just plays himself,
with his trademark goofy, aw-shucks grin. Sum's special effects
are eye-popping.
On the other hand, Bourne is smart about people,
and its central mystery - "Who am I?" - is a question we all ask at
some time in our lives. An urban car-chase scene that's entertaining
if archaic is the film's primary concession to genre, although a secret
training school for spies is also a cliché. Bourne's fireworks
are relatively muted, and its violent, hand-to-hand engagements don't
involve innocent bystanders. No mass attack collateral damage here.
The film also stars Potente, the Lola of Tom Tykwer's
Run Lola Run (1999). This screen role showcases Potente's uncanny
ability to be authentic and mysterious at the same time. The camera
loves her, and the audience trusts her because Potente suggests more
about Marie than the film reveals. Good work includes Brian Cox (The
Boxer, L.I.E.) and Clive Owen (Croupier, "Second
Sight" BBC series), but not Adewale Akinnoye-Agbaje, who plays a stereotype
that detracts from the film.
It's a good-looking movie, with magnificent cities
such as Paris (and Prague standing in for Zurich), and a luscious
island in the Aegean called Santorini. The Bourne Identity
is now playing at Cinemark and Cinema World. Highly recommended.
Back to Top
Eat,
Drink and Marry Greek
One-woman
show.
BY LOIS WADSWORTH
MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING:
Directed by Joel Zwick. Adapted for the screen by Nia Vardalos, based
on her one-woman show. Produced by Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson and Gary
Goetzman. Executive producers, Norm Waitt, Paul Brooks and Steven
Shareshian. Cinematography, Jeffrey Jur. Production design, Gregory
Keen. Editor, Mia Goldman. Starring Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, Michael
Constantine and Lainie Kazan. With Andrea Martin, Joey Fatone, Gia
Carides, Louis Mandylor, Bess Meisler, Fiona Reid, Bruce Gray and
Ian Gomez. IFC Films Release, 2002. PG. 95 minutes.
This sweet little film follows the recent run of wedding
movies at the Bijou -Monsoon Wedding (India), Son of the
Bride (Argentina) - and now, My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
The Greek family at the center of Joel Zwick's film adaptation of
Nia Vardalos's one-woman play is less numerous and less complicated
than the vast traditional family in Monsoon Wedding. But in
many ways, the Greek immigrant family is similar to the Indian family
-engaging, passionate but demanding. Unlike Son of the Bride
's family, which is fractured by old age, disease and divorce, the
Portokalos clan is intact. But in all three films, problems arise
from unfulfilled expectations and lost opportunities.
 |
| TOULA (NIA
VARDALOS) AND HER MOTHER, MARIA (LAINIE KAZAN). |
I like family stories, but even in the most accomplished
hands (such as Monsoon director Mira Nair's), it's hard to
show idiosyncrasy without stumbling into sentimentality or cliché.
It's a truism that we are more alike as families than we are different,
but each family's particular differences are the most fun to show,
see and hear. By striving too earnestly for universality, rather than
just letting the family weirdness hang out, My Big Fat Greek Wedding
occasionally stumbles.
This film begins when the oldest daughter, Toula (Nia
Vardalos), decides at age 30 to have a life. An attractive man, Ian
Miller (John Corbett), comes into her parent's restaurant, Dancing
Zorba's, where she works. He seems interested, but she is struck dumb.
Her father, Gus (Michael Constantine), always tells Toula how old
she looks and how she needs to get married. But her mother, Maria
(Lainie Kazan), takes her daughter's side when Toula wants to take
computer classes instead of spending her life seating people and cashiering
at the restaurant. Maria remembers the reason she came to this country
was to give her children the freedom to choose the life they want.
From the first moment when Ian looks at her to the
moment when they finally talk, Toula transforms herself physically
and psychologically. She becomes more self-confident, dresses more
appealingly and changes jobs. All her dreams come true when Ian asks
her to marry him. Until she tells the family, that is.
Carefully observed moments make this romance film
memorable, even as it climbs that often traveled highway between conflict
to resolution. As the wedding plans accelerate, the film reminds us
that the wedding itself is also a family and community affair, not
only a personal ceremony between two people. The film is not strikingly
original, but it provides an genuinely enjoyable interlude before
summer movie madness strikes in July. Opens at the Bijou Friday. Recommended.
Back to Top
OPENING
OR RETURNING:
Films open the Friday following date of EW
publication unless otherwise noted.
Bourne Identity, The: Matt Damon,
Franka Potente, Chris Cooper, Clive Owen and Brian Cox star in Doug
Liman's spy thriller based on Robert Ludlum's best seller. A man with
amnesia sets out to discover who he is and why everyone wants to kill
him. PG-13. Cinemark 17. Cinema World.
Cat's Meow, The: Peter Bogdanovich returns
to the screen with this classy thriller set in the 1920s and based
on a notorious death aboard William Randolph Hearst's yacht. Stars
Kirsten Dunst, Edward Herrmann and Eddie Izzard as a love triangle.
Highly recommended. PG-13. Bijou. See review this issue.
Clockstoppers: Johnathan Frakes directs this
teen movie about a boy who finds a way to stop time. Starring Jessie
Bradford, French Stewart and Paula Garces. PG. Movies 12.
Panic Room: David Fincher directs Jodie Foster,
Forrest Whitaker and Dwight Yoakam in this creepy thriller about a
woman and her child, who are stuck in a room in their own home. R.
Movies 12.
Rachel's Daughters: The Search for the Causes of
Breast Cancer: Documentary filmmakers Allie Light and Irving Saraf
made this moving documentary in 1997 after their daughter was diagnosed
with breast cancer at age 39. Title refers to Rachel Carson (Silent
Spring), who died of the disease, and also to the filmmaker's
search for environmental causes. Highly recommended. At
7 pm on 6/14 in Sacred Heart Auditorium. Free.
Scooby Doo: TV's 1969 Great Dane, Scooby, returns
as a computer-generated detective dog in this comedy starring Freddie
Prinze Jr., Sarah Michelle Gellar, and Matthew Lillard. PG. Cinema
World. Cinemark.
Scorpion King, The: Inspired by The Mummy
Returns, this thriller stars WWF's The Rock and is directed by
WWF's The Mask, aka Eraser Chuck Russell. The Rock plays a hired assassin
trying to stop the evil ruler of the city of Gomorra. Our bets are
on him. PG 13. Movies 12.
Son of the Bride, The: Ricardo Darín (Nine
Queens), Héctor Alterio and Norma Aleandro (both of The
Official Story) star in this Argentine nominee for 2001 best foreign
language film. Directed by Juan José Campanella, the film is
about mid-career crisis and the healing power of love. R. Bijou. See
review this issue.
UO Student Film and Video Festival: All projects
created by UO students: documentary, dramatic short, music video,
evergreen, hard news, advertisement, public service announcement,
animated, experimental. First prize $100. At 7 pm on 6/14 in 100 Willamette.
Free/$1 donation accepted.
Windtalkers: Nicolas Cage and Adam Beach star
in director John Woo's WWII drama about a US Marine ordered to protect
a Navajo code talker during the Battle of Saipan in the Pacific against
Japan. Also stars Noah Emmerich, Mark Ruffalo, Christian and Peter
Stormare. R. Cinema World. Cinemark.
CONTINUING
About a Boy: Nick Hornby's popular British novel
about a rich London rake (Hugh Grant) who invents an imaginary son
to meet women who are single parents. But instead he finds a troubled
boy (Nicholas Hoult), who teaches him to grow up. Directed by Chris
and Paul Weltz, it also stars Toni Collette, Rachel Weisz. Highest
recommendations. PG-13. Cinemark. Online
archives.
Bad Company: The unlikely duo of Anthony Hopkins
and Chris Rock in a spy action/comedy. Directed by Joel Schumacher,
it also stars Peter Stormare and Kerry Washington. PG-13. Cinemark.
Cinema World.
Beautiful Mind, A: Inspired by the true story
of a mathematical genius who battles mental illness, Ron Howard's
film stars Russell Crowe, Ed Harris and Jennifer Connelly. Academy
Awards for supporting actress, directing, best picture, and writing.
Highly recommended. PG-13. Movies 12. Online
archives.
Big Trouble: Barry Sonnenfeld directs Tim Allen,
Renee Russo and a host of other recognizable names in this Elmore
Leonardesque comedy based on Dave Barry's first novel. PG 13. Movies
12.
Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood: Sandra
Bullock plays a NY playwright who'd like to keep some distance from
her eccentric mother, played by Ellen Burstyn. Also stars Fionnula
Flanagan, Shirley Knight, Maggie Smith and Ashley Judd. PG-13. Cinema
World. Cinemark.
Frailty: Matthew McConaughey tells an FBI agent
he knows the God's Hand serial killer. Bill Paxton plays the fanatical
dad, who believes God's mission for him and his young sons is to destroy
demons on Earth. Paxton's directing debut is strong evidence of his
ability. Chilling and graphic but excellent. R. Movies 12. Online
archives.
I Am Sam: Sean Penn plays a mentally-challenged
single parent raising his daughter. Michelle Pfeiffer plays an attorney
who takes his case when the girl is put in foster care by social services.
Extraordinary performance by Penn, who received an Academy nod. PG-13.
Movies 12. Online
archives.
Ice Age: Chris Wedge directs the voices of
Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary, and Goran Vizjnic in this
digitally animated story of prehistoric creatures trying to save a
human child. G. Movies 12.
Insomnia: Christopher Nolan (Memento)
explores sleep deprivation in this remake of a 1998 thriller from
Norway. Set in Alaska, it stars Al Pacino and Robin Williams, Hilary
Swank, Martin Donovan, Maura Tierney, Nicky Katt and Paul Dooley.
Highly recommended thriller. R. Cinemark. Cinema World. Online
archives.
Lord of the Rings, The: The Fellowship of the Ring:
The first book in J. R. R. Tolkien's literary trilogy, directed by
Peter Jackson stars Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, Liv
Tyler, Sean Astin, Christopher Lee. Academy Award winner for cinematography,
makeup, and visual effects. Highest recommendations. PG-13. Movies
12. Online archives.
Monsters Inc.: From Pixar, the creators of
Toy Story, comes a new computer-animated feature about a scare
factory, Monsters Inc., and its top monster, Sulley (voice of John
Goodman). Also voices of Billy Crystal, James Coburn, Jennifer Tilly,
Steve Buscemi and Mary Gibbs. G. Movies. 12. Online archives.
Murder by Numbers: Sandra Bullock stars in
this detective thriller which pits her against two clever teens (Ryan
Gosling and Michael Pitt). Produced by Bullock herself, and directed
by Barbet Schroeder. R. Movies 12.
Spider Man: Tobey Maguire stars in Sam Raimi's
film about one of the most popular comic book superheroes to come
to the screen. Also stars Willem Dafoe as the Green Goblin, Kirsten
Dunst, James Franco, Cliff Robertson, Rosemary Harris and J.K. Simmons.
PG-13. Cinemark. Online archives.
Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron: Animated
Western adventure with the voices of Matt Damon, James Cromwell and
Daniel Studi is an action picture, not a comedy. Co-directed by Kelly
Asbury and Lorna Cook. G. Cinema World. Cinemark.
Star Wars: Attack of the Clones: George Lucas'
second of three Star Wars' prequels comes to the screen with
Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor, Ian McDiarmid
and Samuel Jackson doing all the heavy lifting. PG. Cinema World.
Cinemark.
Sum of All Fears: Ben Affleck and Morgan Freeman
are Central Intelligence agents trying to prevent terrorists from
getting weapons of mass destruction. Also stars James Crowmell, Liev
Schreiber, Alan Bates and Philip Baker Hall. Based on Tom Clancy's
bestseller. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. Online
archives.
Sweetest Thing, The: Looking for love on the
road, Cameron Diaz and Christina Applegate star in this romantic comedy.
Thomas Jane stars as Mr. Right, directed by Roger Kumble. R. Movies
12.
Undercover Brother: Action comedy directed
by Malcolm D. Lee and written by John Ridley stars Eddie Griffin,
who adopts the garb of blaxploitation era private detectives to go
undercover. PG-13. Cinemark.
Unfaithful: From director Adrian Lyne (Fatal
Attraction) comes a film that plays on the fears of married people.
Diane Lane plays a married woman who has an affair (Oliver Martinez)
that leads her husband (Richard Gere) to become suspicious. Violence
lurks. R. Movies 12.
Y Tu Mamá También: Two teens and
an unhappily married woman in a sexy Mexican road movie that also
has a political subtext. Director Alfonso Cuarón, writer Carlos
Cuarón and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki create a fabulous
movie for stars Maribel Verdu, Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal.
Highest recommendations. NR Bijou. Online
archives.
MOVIE
THEATERS
Use the links provided below for specific show times.
Bijou
Art Cinemas
Bijou Theater 686-2458 | 492 E. 13th
Regal
Cinemas
Cinema World 342-6536 | Valley River
Center
Springfield Quad 726-9073 |
Cinemark
Theaters
Movies 12 741-1231 | Gateway
Mall
Movies before 12:30 are Sat. Sun. only. $1.50 all shows all days.
Cinemark 17 741-1231 | Gateway Mall
NEW
RELEASES ON VIDEO:
Releases subject to change. Available the Tuesday following
date of EW publication, sometimes sooner:
Air Bud 4: Buddy is back, and he plays baseball!
But his now grown puppies are disappearing. Is it Rocky the Raccoon?
Only one way to find out. G.
I Am Sam: Sean Penn plays a mentally-challenged
single parent raising his daughter. Michelle Pfeiffer plays an attorney
who takes his case when the girl is put in foster care by social services.
Extraordinary performance by Penn, who received an Academy nod. PG-13.
Online archives.
Majestic, The: Jim Carrey plays a blacklisted
Hollywood writer who loses his memory after a car crash but finds
a new life in a 1950s small town. Directed by Frank Darabont (The
Green Mile). Bob Balaban is a Commie-hunter with HUAC, Martin
Landau is the owner of the local movie theater, and Laurie Holden's
the girl. Eugene's David Ogden Stiers also stars. PG.
Max Keeble's Big Move: Seventh grader Alex
D. Linz thinks he's moving in a week so he concocts sweet revenge
against classmates, only to discover that the family's not moving
after all. Oops. Directed by Tim Hill. PG.
Orange Country: Colin Hanks and Jack Black
star in Jake Kasdan's teen comedy about a transcript mix-up. PG-13.
Rollerball: John McTiernan directs this action
thriller starring Chris Klein, LL Cool J and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos
as players that Rollerball creator (Jean Reno) puts in danger on the
court. PG-13.
Shipping News, The: Lasse Hallström directed
screen version of Annie Proulx's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel set
in Newfoundland. It stars Kevin Spacey and Julianne Moore, with Cate
Blanchett and Judi Dench. The New York Times critic said despite
Hallström's "unfailing warm-hearted humanism," Spacey is wrong
for the idiosyncratic main character, Quoyle — "far too calculated
and self-conscious for the actor to disappear into his role." Never
played Eugene. R.
Next week: The Affair of the Necklace, A Beautiful
Mind and Gosford Park.
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