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Sexual
Politics
Then
and now.
BY LOIS WADSWORTH
POSSESSION:
Directed by Neil LaBute. Written by LaBute, David Henry Hwang and
Laura Jones, based on the novel by A.S. Byatt. Produced by Paula Weinstein,
Barry Levinson. Executive producers, David Barron, Len Amato. Cinema-tography,
Jean Yves Escoffier. Production design, Lucianna Arrighi. Editor,
Claire Simpson. Music, Gabriel Yared. Costumes, Jenny Beavan. Starring
Gwyneth Paltrow, Aaron Eckhart, Jeremy Northam and Jennifer Ehle.
With Lena Headey, Holly Aird, Toby Stephens and Tom Hickey. Focus
Features, 2002. PG-13. 102 minutes.
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 |
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TOP:
MAUD BAILEY (GWYNETH BAILEY) AND ROLAND MICHELL (AARON ECKHART).
BOTTOM:
MAUD LAMOTTE (JENNIFER EHLE) AND RANDOLPH ASH (JEREMY NORTHAM).
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We live in an age where images of sexuality
pervade the media, advertising, television, film, theater, performance
art and music. Political life is certainly no refuge. Academia has
been obsessed with gender-based studies and theories for years now,
with sexual persuasion the subtext of many a postmodern thesis and
dissertation. In such a mediated culture as ours, sex is everywhere
and nowhere.
Sex also informs Neil LaBute's foray into A.S. Byatt's
Possession. LaBute's great interest in contemporary sexuality
is evident in all three of his previous films — In the Company
of Men, Your Friends and Neighbors and Nurse Betty.
Here, Byatt's densely layered tale of two academic researchers who
fall into a literary mystery they must solve is much less passionate
and sexy than are the poets of the Victorian era whose love affair
they uncover.
Roland Michell (Aaron Eckhart) is an American in London,
doing research for an expert on the great Victorian poet, Randolph
Henry Ash (Jeremy Northam). Maud Bailey (Gwyneth Paltrow) is a young
professor bent on making a name for herself as the biographer of an
ancestor, Christabel LaMotte (Jennifer Ehle), a mid-19th century poet
and feminist. (These are not historical but fictitious characters.)
When Michell discovers what he believes to be a love
letter written in Ash's hand, he deftly pockets the goods and starts
sleuthing. He finds that Ash and LaMotte met at a dinner party in
1859, and he hopes to learn more from Bailey, who is far from encouraging.
LaMotte, it turns out, lived in the country with a woman companion,
Blanche Glover (Lena Headey), and is believed to have been a lesbian.
As for Ash, he was a married man, faithful to his beloved wife, Ellen
(Holly Aird).
But slowly the pieces begin to fall together, so Michell
and Bailey set aside their differences — he's brash and impulsive,
she's methodical and restrained — and work to solve the mystery.
The more they are drawn to these individuals who had everything to
lose by giving in to passion, greater affection and attraction grow
between them. Instead of embracing their desires, however, Michell
and Bailey turn opportunities for intimacy into uncomfortable, neurotic,
near-misses. LaBute is the master of making the audience feel awkward
about his characters' desire, and we have to endure these thorny experiences
he so deftly captures.
LaBute has grown in his filmmaking abilities. While
telling an interesting story has not been his problem, making the
story cinematic has not been his strength. Here he shoots the Victorian
lovers in a warm, welcoming light that makes their encounters —
often only an intercepted glance or smile — seem intimate even
when they are with others. The modern couple are shot in a more distancing
blue light, a little colder. Only when the barriers are down between
Michell and Bailey, as in the scene in LaMotte's childhood bedroom,
do we feel drawn into their presence.
The result for the viewer is the realization that
the Victorian poets lived their feelings more wholly and freely than
the contemporary couple is willing to do. Maud and Roland are self-conscious
and analytic, not spontaneous and generous as Maud and Randolph are.
Love itself seems more elusive, even though we know more about sex
than ever before.
Performances by all four principals are excellent,
especially the luminous beauty, Ehle. You leave the theater with the
sense that you have been with four interesting, intelligent characters.
That's rare. Highly recommended, Possession is now playing
at Cinema World.
The
Family
Whaddya
gonna do?
BY
LOIS WADSWORTH
THE
SOPRANOS (1999-2002):
Created by David Chase. Directed by 15 directors including Daniel
Attias, Henry Bronchtein, Steve Buscemi, David Chase, Alan Coulter,
Nick Gomez, John Patterson, Lee Tamahoori and Timothy Van Patten.
Written by 12 writers, including Mitchell Burgess, David Chase, Robin
L. Green, Todd A. Kessler, Frank Renzulli and Terence Winter. Produced
by Henry Bronchtein, Ilene S. Landress. Cinematography, Phil Abraham,
Alik Sakharov. Editors, Joanna Cappuccilli, Conrad M. Gonzalez, Sidney
Wolinsky. Production design, Edward Pisoni. Art direction, Harry Darrow,
Dann Duthie, Scott P. Murphy. Set decoration, Jessica Lanier. Costumes,
Ane Crabtree, Juliet Polcsa. Starring James Gandolfini, Lorraine Bracco
and Edie Falco, with Robert Iler, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Nancy Marchand,
Aida Turturro, Michael Imperioli, Dominic Chianese, Vincent Pastore,
Steve Van Zant, Tony Sirico, David Proval, Jason Cerbone, Joe Pantoliano,
Michael Rispoli, Oksana Babiy, John Ventimiglia, Federico Castelluccio,
Paul Schulze. Home Box Office Cable Television. Three seasons, 39
one-hour episodes now available on VHS, DVD. Fourth season begins
Sept. 15 on HBO TV.
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TONY
SOPRANO (JAMES GANDOLFINI) SURROUNDED BY THE MOTHER WHO MADE
HIM CRAZY (NANCY MARCHAND), THE WIFE WHO'S TRIED TO DOMESTICATE
HIM (EDIE FALCO), AND THE SHRINK WHO WANTS TO CURE HIM (LORRAINE
BRACCO).
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The very first episode of HBO's massive hit
original series, 'The Sopranos," sets in motion the indelible plot
lines still active at the beginning of the fourth season Sept. 15.
The most complicated (and arguably the most significant) narrative
arc involves Tony Soprano's (James Gandolfini) ongoing analytic relationship
with Dr. Melfi (Lorraine Bracco), the psychiatrist he sees weekly.
Tony, the head of a branch of a La Cosa Nostra-like mob, is having
blackouts. Dr. Melfi recognizes that he's having anxiety attacks,
prescribes medication and therapy. Why she accepts Tony as a client
is a big question, but we get why Tony doesn't want any mob guys to
know he's seeing Melfi.
Driving Tony over the edge is his relationship (until
her death in the 2000 season) with his mother, Livia (Nancy Marchand).
Livia is not only mean but also deadly serious in her mob manipulations
through Uncle Junior Soprano (Dominic Chianese). The more we learn
about Tony's dysfunctional childhood family, the more we marvel that
he survived. Livia you might not get over.
Because he's a philanderer, Tony's relationship with
his wife Carmela (Edie Falco) is also difficult. He vows to straighten
up, but marital fidelity doesn't last long. Tony keeps his mistresses
separate from his family life, but that's just one more psychological
compartment to keep some parts of his life from others. Carmela's
religious beliefs don't countenance divorce, so she turns to Father
Phil (Paul Schulze) for comfort. Tony is alternately either too permissive
or verbally abusive and interfering with his children, Meadow (Jamie-Lynn
Sigler) and Anthony Jr. (Robert Iler).
Tony also tries to keep order in his other family
— the thugs who hang out at the Bada Bing!, Tony's topless bar,
the front for his criminal enterprises. Tony's hot-headed, arrogant
nephew, Christopher Moltisanti (Michael Imperioli), brings Tony lots
of grief while working toward being a made man. In episode one, Christopher
and an accomplice burn down Artie's (John Ventimiglia) family restaurant
on Tony's orders. He learned a hit was going down there, and this
way he "saves" the restaurant's reputation. Go figure. When Big Pussy
(Vincent Pastore) is fingered as a wire-wearing fed snitch, Tony puts
Paulie Walnuts (Tony Sirico) on the case. Silvio (Steve Van Zandt)
supplies comic relief with his impersonations of The Godfather
characters.
Christopher's live-in babe, Adriana (Drea du Matteo),
who works as the hostess at Artie's new restaurant, picks up pointers
on being a Mafia wife from Carmela. Tony's estranged sister, Janice
(Aida Turturro), shows up to see Livia and make life harder for Tony.
Gangster Richie Aprile gets out of prison and picks up with Janice
where they left off years before. That really burns Tony, because
Richie is a loose cannon who wants back in the game, big time. Ruthless
Furio (Federico Castelluccio) comes back from Sicily to work for Tony.
This brief sketch of the characters can't show how
beautifully put together this show is. After some episodes, you realize
that what you've just seen is one of the best programs you've ever
seen on television. No joke. It's funny, scary, violent and tender.
The English language is challenged in hilarious new ways. The writing,
directing, cinematography and editing are so smart. Highest recommendations.
Opening
or Returning:
Barbershop:
Comedy about a day in the life of a south side Chicago barbershop
stars Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer, Sean Patrick Thomas, Troy
Garity, Eve. PG-13. Cinemark.
Have You Seen Clem?: Feature film by Legacy
Film about Jaymo, a wannabe filmmaker living out of his car, and Clem,
a strange homeless man he encounters. Includes some documentary footage
about homeless people, but the annoying plot involving Jaymo and Clem
wears thin. Shot in Eugene, Portland and elsewhere. Soundtrack by
street musicians is the best the film offers. Benefit showing at 7
pm on Sept. 13 at McDonald Theatre. Free, but bring canned food or
donation to benefit the homeless.
K-19: The Widowmaker: Based on a true story
about a Cold War Russian nuclear submarine that has a near-meltdown,
courageous sailors and their officers stave off what would have been
an international nuclear disaster. Stars Harrison Ford, Liam Neeson
and Peter Sarsgaard. PG-13. Movies 12. Online archives.
One-Hour Photo: The New York Times calls
writer/director Mark Romanek's debut film "gripping but not wholly
successful psychodrama." Focused performance by Robin Williams, who's
a photo shop employee without a life of his own. When he falls in
love with the "perfect family," he really needs them to be perfect.
Chilling. Also stars Connie Nielson, Eric La Salle. R. Bijou.
Stealing Harvard: Tom Green, Jason Lee, Leslie
Mann and Megan Mullaly star in this tale of a clean-living, hardworking
guy who dabbles in crime and gets caught. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark.
Films open the Friday following date of EW publication
unless otherwise noted. See archived reviews at www.eugeneweekly.com.
Continuing:
Austin Powers in Goldmember:
Third time is charmed as Mike Myers comes back in multiple roles as
Austin Powers. Michael Caine plays his secret-agent dad and Beyoncé
Knowles is Foxxy Cleopatra. Directed by Jay Roach. Mini-Me takes the
cake! PG-13. Cinemark. Online archives.
Blood Work: Clint Eastwood's film
adaptation of a sensational crime novel by Michael Connelly stars
Eastwood as a retired FBI agent with a heart condition who chases
down a serial killer. Connelly's book lends itself to the Eastwood
treatment. Also stars Anjelica Huston, Jeff Daniels, Wanda De Jesus,
Paul Rodriguez. R. Cinema World. Online archives.
Blue Crush: Directed by John Stockwell, this
romantic surfer adventure stars Kate Bosworth, Michelle Rodriguez
(Girlfight) and Matthew Davis. PG-13. Cinemark.
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. Movies
12. Online archives.
City By the Sea: Robert De Niro plays a detective
looking for his estranged son (James Franco). Also stars Frances McDormand.
Tag: "When you're searching for a killer the last suspect you want
to see is your son." Directed by Michael Caton-Jones, based on a true
story from Esquire by Michael McAlary. R. Cinemark. Cinema
World.
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. 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 Fionnula Flanagan,
Shirley Knight, Maggie Smith and Ashley Judd. Made for women and girls
to enjoy. Leave the men at home. PG-13. Movies 12. Online archives.
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.
Movies 12.
Fear Dot Com: Thriller/horror flick stars Stephen
Dorff, Natascha McElhone and Stephen Rea. Includes grisly images of
torture; nudity; violence. No one under 17 admitted. R. Cinemark.
Good Girl, The: Jennifer Aniston, Zooey Deschanel,
Jake Gyllenhaal, John C. Reilly, Tim Blake Nelson and Mike White star
in Michael Arteta's blue collar romantic comedy. Highly recommended,
despite its flawed ending. R. Bijou. Online archives.
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.
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.
Lovely and Amazing: Catherine Keener, Brenda
Blethyn, Emily Mortimer and Raven Goodwin star in Nicole Holofcener's
comedy about a family of women (and one girl) who're dissatisfied
with their looks. Also stars Dermot Mulroney, Jake Gyllenhaal and
James Legros as the men who do or don't put up with them. Highly recommended.
R. Bijou. 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. 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.
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.
Movies 12.
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. Cinemark. Online archives.
Possession: Adapted from A.S. Byatt's 1990
novel, Neil LaBute's new film is a romance starring Gwyneth Paltrow
and Aaron Eckhart as scholars who discover a secret romance between
two great Victorian poets, played by Jennifer Ehle and Jeremy Northam.
PG-13. Cinema World. See review this issue.
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. Movies 12.
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.
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. Movies
12.
Serving Sara: Matthew Perry. Elizabeth Hurley
and Bruce Campbell star in Reginald Hudlin's romantic comedy. Also
stars Cedric the Entertainer and Vincent Pastore. PG-13. Cinemark.
Signs: Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan
and starring Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix, this supernatural thriller
about crop circles looks like a box-office bonanza. Also stars Rory
Culkin and Abigail Breslin. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. Online
archives.
Simone: Writer, director Andrew Niccol
(Gattaca) has high hopes for his new comedy, which stars Al
Pacino, Catherine Keener Jay Mohr, Jason Schwartzman and Pruitt Taylor
Vince. Pacino creates a synthetic star — Simone. She becomes
successful, then everyone wants to meet her. PG-13. Movies 12. Online
archives.
Spider Man: Tobey Maguire stars in Sam Raimi's
film and makes Spidey a comic book superhero we can all appreciate.
Also stars Willem Dafoe as the Green Goblin, Kirsten Dunst as the
girl, James Franco, Cliff Robertson, Rosemary Harris and J.K. Simmons.
Highly recommended. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. Online archives.
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. PG. 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. Movies 12. Online
archives.
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. Movies 12. Online archives.
Swimfan: Fatal Attraction for teens
— just what they need! Romantic attachment of swimmer Jesse
Bradford and his sweetheart Shiri Appleby gets blown apart by the
new girl and obsessive fan, Erika Christensen. PG-13. Cinema World.
Cinemark.
XXX: Vin Diesel and Samuel L. Jackson star
in this athletic spy thriller directed by Rob Cohen. Sony is betting
big on this "Vin Diesel film" to become the next hot franchise. PG-13.
Cinemark.
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
Death to Smoochy:
Robin Williams is a children's TV show actor who is fired and replaced
by Smoochy, a rhino played by Edward Norton. Danny de Vito also stars
in, and directs, this dark satire. DVD extras, bloopers, outtakes,
behind the scenes documentary. R.
Flirting (1991): Set in a boarding school in
1965, John Duigan's young Australians love story stars Noah Taylor
as Danny, Thandie Newton as his beautiful and brainy love interest,
and Nicole Kidman as a snob in one of her first roles. Sweet and enjoyable.
NR.
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. Online archives.
Kissing Jessica Stein: Written by
and starring Heather Juergensen and Jennifer Wesfeldt, this romantic
comedy explores gender issues and intimacy. Jessica meets Helen through
a personals add and is shocked to find a real connection and attraction.
But will that be enough? DVD extras include deleted scenes. R.
Koyaanisqatsi (1983)/Powaqqatsi (1988):
Godfrey Reggio's riveting inquiries into modern life out of balance
and life in transformation are cinematically beautiful experiences.
No dialogue. Philip Glass's music adds depth. Should be spectacular
in DVD two-pack. G.
Moderns, The (1988): Alan Rudolph's
stylish take on the avant garde Paris in the 1920s stars Genevieve
Bujold, Geraldine Chaplin, Linda Fiorentino, John Lone, Keith Caradine,
Wallace Shawn. Now in DVD. R.
Monsters Inc.: Pixar's (Toy Story)
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.
DVD has tons of extras. G. Online archives.
Panic Room: David Fincher directs
Jodie Foster, Forrest Whitaker and Dwight Yoakam in this creepy thriller
about a woman and her daughter stuck in a room in their own home.
R.
Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988):
Philip Kaufman's masterly drama about life in Czechoslovakia on the
eve of the 1968 invasion by the USSR is based on the novel by Milan
Kundera. Stars Daniel Day Lewis as a doctor, Lena Olin as his lover,
and Juliette Binoche as the woman he falls in love with. Erotic. Great
performances. Beautiful. Now in DVD. R.
Valmont (1989): Annette Bening, Colin
Firth and Fairuza Balk star in Milos Forman's adaptation of Dangerous
Liaisons. Set in 1782, members of the French aristocracy play
a dangerous, deadly serious game with one another and innocents on
the side. Gorgeous costumes, splendid performances. Now in DVD. R.
Next week: Amadeus, Big Fat Liar, Enigma, A Hard
Day's Night, History of Beavis and Butt Head, Murder by Numbers, One
Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Rocking Horse Winner, Singin' in the
Rain, Spellbound, Swingers, True Romance and Unforgiven..
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