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Second
Chances
Self-importance
bites the dust.
BY
LOIS WADSWORTH
THE
EMPEROR'S NEW CLOTHES:
Directed
by Alan Taylor. Produced by Uberto Pasolini. Executive producers,
Paul Webster, Hanno Huth and Roberto Cicutto. Written by Kevin Molony,
Alan Taylor and Herbie Ware, from the novel by Simon Leys, The Death
of Napoleon (Editions Hermann, France). Cinematography, Alessio Gelsini
Torresi. Music, Rachel Portman. Production design, Andrea Chrisanti.
Editor, Masahiro Hirakubo. Costumes, Sergio Ballo. Starring Ian Holm
and Iben Hjejle, with Tim McInnerny, Nigel Terry, Hugh Bonneville
and Tom Watson. Paramount Classics, 2002. PG. 107 minutes.
 |
| EUGENE
(IAN HOLM) IS DISCOURAGED WHEN HIS FORMER TROOPS DON'T RECOGNIZE
HIM IN CIVILIAN GARB. |
Alan Taylor's picture is based on a fantasy explored
in Simon Leys' novel, The Death of Napoleon. Suspend your disbelief,
and cozy up to what might have been had the former emperor of France
and half the civilized world eluded death on Elba. The film's central
conceit is that Napoleon is taken off the island of Elba by loyalists
who want to restore him to power. He assumes the role of a deckhand
onboard a ship, while a common swabbie lookalike passes himself off
as Napoleon in exile. But when the real Napoleon arrives in Paris,
disguised, his contacts fail to show up. And on the island, the pseudo-emperor
refuses to give up his pampered life.
Apparently, the second premise requires too much of
some people, including big-city film critics. The filmmakers ask us
to believe that a man of such arrogance, one so accustomed to wielding
great power, a man of legendary earthly appetites and carnal pleasures,
a brilliant tactician and one of history's great military geniuses
can learn to live the life of an ordinary man. Moreover, one who meets
and falls in love with a pretty but practical, ordinary woman.
The splendid dual role Ian Holm plays as the faux-Napoleon
and also as the ordinary French citizen, Eugene, makes it all work
for me. Luminous Iben Hjejle brings to life the widowed, 19th century
melon merchant, Pumpkin. Hjejle (the Danish actress from High Fidelity
and Mifune) is a natural on camera. She keeps Pumpkin and Eugene's
love affair grounded in the everyday world, which is lovingly detailed
in the film. After Eugene saves her business and the livelihood of
those who depend on her, Pumpkin buys him a formal bed, which she
shares. The ornate bed might even have belonged to the royal couple
Napoleon and Josephine, with its great carved eagles on the bedposts
and other pomposities. It's the only moment in the film where I wondered
if maybe Pumpkin sees Eugene's resemblance to Napoleon.
One of Eugene's most sobering moments comes when he
slips undetected onto the grounds of an asylum for mental patients.
There he sees numerous individuals who claim to be him, Napoleon,
and realizes for the first time why no one believes him.
Maybe my taste has been warped by living so long in
Eugene, where really good movies come along ever so seldom, but I
think this is a smart, witty comedy, somewhat like the fantasy offered
by Shakespeare in Love. No one went away from that film believing
that it was more than an artful fantasy, but because it was so enjoyable,
people loved it. Being lovable, it turns out, is asking a lot of film
today. But if you open your heart to The Emperor's New Clothes,
it makes you glad to be alive, as Eugene himself discovers.
Highly recommended, the film opens at the Bijou Friday,
August 2.
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.
Emperor's New Clothes, The: Romantic comedy
about Napoleon in love, a what-if film that has the great Ian Holm
in a dual role and Iben Hjejle as the melon merchant who makes him
forget the past. Directed by Alan Taylor. Highly recommended. PG.
Bijou. See review this issue.
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. Movies 12. Online archives.
Martin Lawrence Live: Runteldat: New routines
by the Bad Boy of Comedy include personal anecdotes as well as social
commentary. R. Cinemark.
Master of Disguise: Dana Carvey plays Pistachio
Disguisey, a waiter who turns into whatever he thinks of next - a
cherry pie, a rockstar, a sports hero. PG. Cinemark. Cinema World.
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.
Signs: Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan
and starring Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix, this supernatural thriller
about crop circles looks like a boxoffice bonanza. Also stars Rory
Culkin and Abigail Breslin. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark.
Spy Kids 2: Island of Lost Dreams: Robert Rodriguez
says his sequel has lots of action, is fun and nobody dies. Stars
Antonio Banderas, Daryl Sabara and Alexa Vega. Cinemark. Opens Wed.
Call for times.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. Online archives.
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. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Business of Strangers, The: Praised for the
excellent performances by Stockard Channing and Julia Stiles as corporate
climbers, The New York Times review notes that "Patrick Stettner's
chilly corporate nightmare ...makes you feel the acute loneliness
of it all, the empty pit-of- your-stomach feeling of being lost on
the road in a world of masks with only your own ambition and gnawing
paranoia for companionship." Never played Eugene theater. R.
Chelsea Walls: Ethan Hawke's directorial debut
romanticizes NYC's legendary Chelsea Hotel where musicians, writers
and abstract expressionist painters. Great cast includes Rosario
Dawson, Vincent D'Onofrio, Kris Kristofferson (Bud), Natasha Richardson,
Uma Thurman and Steve Zahn. R.
Deuces Wild: Set in 1958 Brooklyn, Scott Kalvert's
retro gang rumbles stars Stephen Dorff, Brad Renfro, Fairuza Balk
and many others. Trailer looks derivative of everything from Westside
Story through the Summer of Sam. R.
Dogtown and Z-Boys: Stacy Peralta's great documentary
on the scrappy street kids who invented vertical skateboarding as
we know it. Includes early shots of the antics of skating superstars
Jay Adams, Tony Alva and others who learned the tricks of great surfers
and adapted them to the sport. Highest recommendations. PG-13.. Online
archives.
Legend of 1900, The: Giuseppe Tornatore directs
his first English-language film in this tedious story a man born on
an ocean liner who never leaves it. Named Nineteen Hundred (Tim Roth),
he becomes a piano player of some repute. Phony at every level. NR.
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. For sale, but
hold out for definitive edition in weeks to come. PG-13. Online
archives.
Man of the Century (1999) : Nostalgic for old
movies? Adam Abraham made this film for you. What if you took an adventurous
newspaper reporter from the 1920s and plunked him down in today's
New York? Only this guy thinks it is the 1920s. Shot in black-and-white.
R.
Repli-Kate: Frank Longo directs this pseudo
sci-fi comedy about a cloning machine. R.
Women in Film: Bruce Wagner's film stars Beverly
D'Angelo, Portia De Rossi, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, who live out some
of Hollywood's most enduring scandalous clichés. R.
Next week: Accidental Spy, Birthday Girl, Carmen:
A Hip Hopera, Clockstoppers, In the Bedroom, Last Orders, The New
Guy, Pauline and Paulette, Race to Space, Shiner and Showtime.
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