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Cold
War Calamity
Emergency
grips nuclear sub.
BY
LOIS WADSWORTH
K-19
THE WIDOWMAKER:
Produced
and directed by Kathryn Bigelow. Written by Christopher Kyle, based
on a story by Louis Nowra. Produced by Joni Sighvatsson, Christine
Whitaker, Edward S. Feldman. Executive producers, Harrison Ford, Nigel
Sinclair, Moritz Borman, Guy East. Cinematography, Jeff Cronenweth.
Production design, Karl Juliusson, Michael Novotny. Editor, Walter
Murch. Costumes, Marit Allen. Composer, Klaus Badelt. Executive music
producer, Joel Sill. Sound supervisor, Pat Jackson. Starring Liam
Neeson and Harrison Ford, with Peter Sarsgaard, Christian Camago.
Paramount Pictures, 2002. PG-13. 138 minutes.
Being submerged in the untested, prototype
K-class Russian nuclear submarine under the Arctic Ocean or afloat
at the North Pole or waiting for help off the coast of North America,
crippled and contaminated, is no fun. K-19's 138 minute run
under the helm of director Kathryn Bigelow only slows down for formal
intervals, such as the sub's launching. And when the champagne bottle
doesn't break, the crew says there's a curse on the ship. The last
truly joyous moment in the film is sailors frolicking on the ice at
the pole and posing for their portrait.
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CAPTAIN
ALEXI VOSTRIKOV (HARRISON FORD) AND EXECUTIVE OFFICER MIKHAIL
POLENIN (LIAM NEESON) ONBOARD THE K-19 NUCLEAR SUBMARINE.
|
That said, K-19 is an important contribution
to the submarine drama genre, which includes the superb Das Boot,
Wolfgang Petersen's 1981 realistic treatment of life aboard a WWII
German U-boat, and The Hunt for Red October, John McTiernan's
1990 Cold War defection classic based on Tom Clancy's bestseller.
K-19 is "inspired" by actual events, as the credits admit, but
if you've watched the History Channel's version of events, you know
how much has been left out, changed or cleaned up for mass consumption,
especially scenes of radiation-poisoned sailors. Perhaps American
audiences can't handle too much reality in this gung-ho period. At
any rate, the fate of the first nuclear ballistic missile submarine
the Russians put into service is a cautionary tale.
The ship's two captains experience a combative personality
clash. Captain Alexi Vostrikov (Harrison Ford) was put in place by
the political and intelligence arm of the Soviet state, when former
captain, now Executive Officer, Mikhail Polenin (Liam Neeson) fought
the establishment over safety issues. Each is a dedicated officer,
but the men love Polenin, who sees his role as that of a kind father,
while the stern Vostrikov drives them and the ship too hard. Despite
serious differences, however, each man realizes the grave danger their
ship and men are in when one of the nuclear reactors fails, and a
meltdown begins. Now everyone must do his duty, because that is the
only way catastrophe can be averted. And that calls for a kind of
courage and selflessness most of us are never required to show.
In the Cold War climate of 1961, what began as a test
of "mutually assured destruction" could easily slip into becoming
the opening salvo of World War III. Although Armageddon was averted,
not even the families of the men involved knew what happened to their
loved ones for 30 years. The men were not allowed to talk about it,
and only after the breakup of the Soviet Union were the officers and
sailors of the boat recognized for their sacrifice and dedication.
Ford and Neeson carry their roles with grace and sobriety,
but Neeson has the more human part to play as the advocate for the
men's safety, while Ford's character comes to that position only after
much deliberation. Both show the terrible toll that making life-and-death
decisions takes from a man. Because the traditional submarine picture
tells an all-male story, no female presence lightens its tension.
Interestingly, Neeson's paternal feelings for the men is the movie's
only softness, although his character exhibits no feminine characteristics.
Likewise, when the untested nuclear engineer, Reactor Officer Vaduz
Radtchenko (Peter Sarsgaard), is overcome by fear, he also tones down
the film's hardy masculinity a notch or two.
In addition to Bigelow's terrific direction, the film
owes its stark beauty to cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth (Fight
Club, The Game) and its lucidity and pacing to editor Walter
Murch (Apocalypse Now Redux), the best editor still working
in film. K-19 is now playing at Cinemark and Cinema World.
Recommended.
Back to Top
Cambodia's
Shame
Good people, bad people.
BY LOIS WADSWORTH
BUTTERFLY
MAN:
Produced, directed and co-written by Marlin Darrah. Co-written by
Candy Davis. Executive producers, Mika Sunago, Skye Fitzgerald. Assoc.
producers, Jeff Blenkarn, Sanford Friedman. Music, Steven Chesne.
Cinematography, Rick Cullis. Editors, Marlin Darrah, Jerry Pratt.
Production design and art direction, Anna Gadsby. Costumes, Ciara
Duncan. Starring McGeorge Robinson, Steve Boss, Constance Frenzen,
Linda Shing and Rob Stockton. Living Dangerously Films, 2002. NR.
100 minutes.
Marlin Darrah grew up in Eugene and lived
here until 1976, when he began making running films and shooting for
Runner's World. Then he graduated to travel/adventure films
set anywhere "from the Amazon to Zanzibar," as he puts it. "Everywhere,
I saw American culture grafted onto indigenous culture," he said in
a recent interview. "But I love Southeast Asia and these gentle, tropical
people with Buddhist backgrounds."
So after many years in nonfiction filmmaking, Darrah
traveled to Cambodia in January 2000 to look for locations to shoot
his first feature film, Butterfly Man. They shot 120 scenes
in 28 days — some four to five scenes a day — in different
locations in the capital city of Phnom Penh and in the ancient Buddhist
temple ruins at Angkor Wat. They shot without permits, because the
government is not really functional. "It's a guerrilla movie," Darrah
said. "Hit and run."
The film has its Oregon premiere at 8 pm July 26 in
the Baker Downtown Building (the former Register-Guard building)
at 10th and High. The show is open to the public, and Darrah will
be present for Q&A after the film, followed by a reception. Tickets
are $4.
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FILMMAKER
MARLIN DARRAH.
|
In Cambodia, foreign men who flit from prostitute
to prostitute are known as "butterfly men," and American expatriate
Thomas McIntyre (McGeorge Robinson) used to be one. But now he lives
with a Cambodian single mom, Teeda (Linda Shing), and her shy preteen
daughter, Ani, in a more stable environment. Teedy works in a factory,
and Ani sells the watercolors Thomas paints. But like many men whose
adolescence is artificially prolonged, Thomas isn't ready to commit
to Teedy. In part his resistance comes from still thinking about Crystal
(Constance Frenzen), the girlfriend who planned to join him in Cambodia
but didn't.
This cautionary tale about the dangers of Cambodia
as a lawless mecca for prostitution and cheap drugs really starts
cooking when Crystal shows up in Phnom Penh married to Thomas's college
friend, Cliff Townsend (Rob Stockton). Cliff wants to see the sights
after midnight, which means he wants to go to the brothels where girls
as young as 10 are available for hire, without Crysatl.
Meanwhile, an expat friend of Thomas's named Marty
Travers comes to Thomas, desperately needing money to pay off debts.
When Cliff offers Thomas $5,000 to be his tour guide through the "massage
hotels," Marty pressures Thomas to accept and help him out of his
hole. Lurking everywhere are utterly indifferent, armed men, who will
kill for a few dollars.
The film includes some documentary footage shot entirely
inside Cambodian brothels, which Darrah says are worse than Thailand's
notorious ones. "For $5 you can have any girl, any age," he said,
"and all these girls [in the brothel] are working girls." Men will
come up to tourists on the street, he said, and offer to give them
a tour; then they'll offer them a girl, often a relative. "It's a
frontier, nearly lawless, where justice is for hire," Darrah said.
He devoted two year to making this "heartfelt work."
Cambodia's many problems arise from the military anarchy
of the Khmer Rouge, who created the country's killing fields between
1975-1979. "They would kill anyone wearing glasses," Darrah said.
Since then, a renegade spirit of "get what you can for today" has
ruled. There's been no formal education since 1979. Cross-cultural
misunderstandings come up for Americans who want to see the real Cambodia.
"We want authenticity," Darrah said, "while they want gadgets." Poverty
hits women hard, and many become prostitutes to send money home to
their families in the country.
The goodness of the ordinary people of Cambodia and
its Buddhist cultural roots show in Butterfly Man, particularly
through the character of Teedy, the heart of the film. The movie's
pivotal scene occurs when Thomas returns home feeling degraded after
taking Cliff to brothels. He comes into his room to find both Teedy
and Crystal asleep in his bed. Thomas may still be uncertain about
what he wants and who he wants to be with, but this image forces him
to come to terms with his desires and grow up.
Well worth your time, Butterfly Kiss provides
a great opportunity to see truly independent filmmaking at its best.
Back to Top
OPENING
OR RETURNING:
Films open the Friday following date of EW publication
unless otherwise noted. See archived reviews at www.eugeneweekly.com.
Austin Powers in Goldmember:
If the third time is charmed, here is Mike Myers, back in multiple
roles as Austin Powers. Michael Caine plays his secret-agent dad and
Beyoncé Knowles is Foxxy Cleopatra. Directed by Jay Roach. PG-13.
Cinema World. Cinemark. Starts Wednesday.
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. Movies 12.
Butterfly Man: Formerly of Eugene, filmmaker
Marlin Darrah gives his first feature film its Oregon premiere at
8 pm on 07/26 in the Baker Downtown Building (former R-G building),
10th and High. Q&A, reception follow. $4. See review this issue..
Country Bears, The: An 11-year old bear decides
to reunite his favorite bear rock ban for a benefit concert. Musical
performances or appearances by Don Henley, John Hiatt, Elton John,
Queen Latifah, Willie Nelson,. Bonnie Raitt and Brian Setzer. G. Cinemark.
Cinema World.
Jwanna Mann: Miguel Nunez stars in this cross-dressing,
romantic, basketball comedy, with Vivica A. Fox, Kevin Pollak, Kim
Wayans and Lil' Kim. Directed by Jesse Vaughan. PG-13. Movies 12.
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. Movies 12.
Waco: The Rules of Engagement: Director William
Gazecki's 1997 documentary on the FBI siege of the Branch Davidian
compound near Waco, Texas, "maintains the detached, scholarly tone
of a courtroom inquiry," according to The New York Times review.
It also notes that the final assault on the Davidians and the resulting
fire "are as horrifying as newsreels of war-torn Beirut." At 9:15
on 07/28 at Cosmic Pizza, 1433 Willamette. Free.
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. Movies 12. Online archives.
Bourne Identity, The: Matt Damon, Franka Potente,
Chris Cooper, Clive Owen and Brian Cox star in Doug Liman's character-based
spy thriller based on Robert Ludlum's best seller. A man with amnesia
(Matt Damon) sets out to discover who he is and why everyone wants
to kill him, and along the way he discovers love (Franka Potente).
A subtle skewing of the genre, it's highly recommended. PG-13. Cinemark
17. Online archives.
Changing Lanes: Starring Ben Affleck and Samuel
L. Jackson as, two men who meet in a minor car accident and set out
to destroy each other's lives. Directed by Roger Mitchell and produced
by Scott Rudin. R. Movies 12.
Crocodile Hunter, Collision Course: In this
comedy of errors, undercover CIA agents suspect Steve and Terri Irwin
of information theft and go to Australia to prove it. PG. Cinemark.
Eight Legged Freaks: Stars David Arquette,
Scarlett Johansson and others in this campy sci-fi movie about really
big, poisonous, mutating spiders. "Let the squashing begin!" PG-13.
Cinema World Cinemark.
Enough: Jennifer Lopez tries to get away from
her abusive husband, played by Billy Campbell ("Once and Again"),
in Michael Apted's drama. Also, Juliette Lewis, Noah Wyle. PG-13.
Movies 12.
Halloween Resurrection: For the seventh time
already, this sucker still isn't really dead. At age 50, he can still
terrorize Busta Rhymes, Jamie Lee Curtis and lots of screaming teens.
R. Cinema World.
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.
Importance of Being Earnest, The: Romantic
farce by Oscar Wilde brought to the screen by Oliver Parker stars
Rupert Everett, Colin Firth, Reese Witherspoon, Judi Dench, Frances
O'Connor, Tom Wilkinson and Anna Massey. Gorgeous and very funny.
Recommended for your summertime pleasure. PG. Bijou. Online archives.
K-19: The Widowmaker: Based on a true story
about a Cold War Russian nuclear submarine that has a near-meltdown,
the film shows the courage of the sailors and their officers to stave
off what would have been an international nuclear disaster. Stars
Harrison Ford, Liam Neeson and Peter Sarsgaard. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema
World. See review this issue.
Like Mike: Lil Bow Wow plays an orphan who
dreams of playing pro basketball. When he finds a pair of magic sneakers,
he makes the team. Also stars Morris Chestnut, Jonathan Lipnicki,
Crispin Glover and Eugene Levy. PG. Movies 12.
Lilo and Stitch: Animated Disney comedy about
Lilo, a lonely Hawaiian girl, and her small, ugly dog named Stitch.
The dog is an alien experiment that's crashed to earth. Six by Elvis
on the soundtrack. PG. Cinema World. Cinemark.
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.
Men in Black 2: Jay (Will Smith) drags a reluctant
Kay (Tommy Lee Jones) back into the agency with the mission of "Protecting
the earth from the scum of the universe." Directed by Barry Sonnenfeld,
it also stars Lara Flynn Boyle as Serleena, an alien masquerading
as a Victoria's Secret model. With Rosario Dawson, Johnny Knoxville,
Tony Shalhoub and Rip Torn. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. Online
archives.
Minority Report: Steven Spielberg directs Tom
Cruise in this sci-fi where killers are arrested and convicted before
they commit murder. In 2054, Cruise heads the Pre-Crime unit until
he's accused of the murder of a man he hasn't yet met. Based on a
short story by the genre's master, Philip K. Dick. One of Spielberg
and Cruise's best. Highest recommendations. PG-13. Cinemark. Online
archives.
Mr. Deeds: Adam Sandler plays an ordinary guy
who inherits $40 billion in this remake of Frank Capra's 1936 comedy,
Mr. Deeds Goes to Town. Also stars Winona Ryder, Peter Gallagher,
Steve Buscemi, Jared Harris and John Turturro. PG-13. Cinemark.
My Big Fat Greek Wedding: Based on Nia Vardalos's
one-woman stage show, it's about the 30-year old, unmarried daughter
(Vardalos) in an engaging, passionate but demanding Greek family in
New York. She meets the man she wants to marry (John Corbett), and
he isn't Greek. Yikes! Another humorous reminder that weddings are
also a family and community affair, this sweet romantic comedy entertains.
Recommended. PG. Bijou. Online archives.
New Guy, The: DJ Qualls plays high school senior
who has a chance to wipe the slate clean and reinvent himself. Comedy
directed by Ed Decter also stars Eliza Dushku, Zooey Deschanel, Lyle
Lovett and Eddie Griffin. PG-13. 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.
Reign of Fire: After a slumbering fire-breathing
critter wakes up, all hell breaks loose, and the world descends into
Medieval times. Matthew McConaughey comes as savior, Christian Bale
is fire chief. Rob Bowman directs. Violent. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema
World.
Road to Perdition: Sam Mendes (American
Beauty) directs this fathers-and-sons drama set in Chicago during
the Depression. It stars Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Tyler Hoechlin, with
Jude Law, Daniel Craig, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Stanley Tucci and Liam
Aiken. R. Cinema World. Online archives.
Rookie, The: Dennis Quaid stars as baseball
coach who makes a deal with his team and ends up trying out for a
minor league contract. Also with Rachel Griffiths. Received good reviews.
G. Movies 12.
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. Cinemark. Online
archives.
Stuart Little 2: Stuart goes to school now,
and he has big brother George and baby sister Martha to play with.
But a mysterious bird named Margalo involves everyone in an adventure.
Voices of Michael J. Fox, Melanie Griffith, Nathan Lane, Geena Davis
and more. PG. Cinema World. Cinemark.
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. Movies 12.
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. Movies 12.
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. See archived movie
reviews at www.eugeneweekly.com
Collateral Damage: Andrew Davis's film about
a firefighter who loses his wife and son in a L.A. terrorist attack
stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Elias Koteas, Francesca Neri, John Leguizamo
and John Turturro. R. Online archives.
Contract Killer: 1998 Hong Kong martial arts
adventure directed by Wai Tung stars Jet Li and Eric Tsang. Crime
boss is assassinated, and the family offers $1 million reward to those
who find the killer. R.
Dinotopia: Television miniseries adventure
about brothers who crash into an island co-inhabited by dinosaurs
and people. Some 360 minutes long. NR.
Resident Evil: Milla Jovovich and Michelle
Rodriguez play commando leaders trying to save the world in this action
thriller based on the video game. R.
Next week: Adventures of Tom Thumb and Thumbelina,
The Business of Strangers, Chelsea Walls, Deuces Wild, Dogtown and
Z-Boys, Legend of 1900, Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Rings,
Man of the Century, Repli-Kate and Women in Film.
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