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Freewheeling
Mutation
ADAPTATION: Directed by Spike Jonze. Written by Charlie Kaufman, based on the book, The Orchid Thief, by Susan Orlean. Producers, Edward Saxon, Vincent Landay, Jonathan Demme. Executive producer, Peter Saraf. Cinematography, Lance Acord. Production design, KK Barrett. Editor, Eric Zumbrunnen. Visual Effects Supervisor, Gray Marshall. Music composer, Carter Burwell. Costumes, Casey Storm. Starring Nicolas Cage, Meryl Streep and Chris Cooper, with Tilda Swinton, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Brian Cox. Columbia Pictures, 2002. R. 112 minutes. Screenwriter Charlie Kaufman's romp through the terrors of writing an adaptation of The New Yorker writer Susan Orlean's non-fiction book about orchid fever, The Orchid Thief, is a hoot. Kaufman wisely splits his writing persona into twin brothers, Charlie (Nicolas Cage) and Donald Kaufman (Nicolas Cage). Charlie is a worry-wart screenwriter with one big hit (Being John Malkovich). He's anxious and self-lacerating to a fault. Gloomy over his efforts to fulfill his contract to adapt The Orchid Thief, Charlie fears hackneyed expressions. He drives himself crazy demanding original thought and a quest for the Truth. He is brought low by a case of nearly terminal writer's block. He has bad luck with women. Shallow Donald, however, is both high-spirited and focused; everything comes easy for him. Donald, who lives free in Charlie's house, decides to become a screenwriter, too. He attends a writing class taught by Hollywood writing guru Robert McKee (Brian Cox), and within days turns out a script that earns him $600,000. Donald attracts women. The actual Susan Orlean is played with great comic timing and delicate irony by Meryl Streep, and the wild-man orchid hunter Orlean describes in the book, John Laroche, is vividly fleshed out by Chris Cooper, minus his front teeth. An unlikely pair, they are terrific together. Cooper's never been better, and it's delightful to have Streep in a role this good. Look for small acting gems from Cara Seymour as hapless Charlie's would-be girlfriend; Tilda Swinton (Orlando) as a film executive, Valerie; and Maggie Gyllenhaal (Secretary) as a wacky film makeup artist who parties with Donald. As always, the multitalented Brian Cox delivers the goods in an inspired impersonation of Robert McKee. Swapping stories between the "real world" of publishing and filmmaking and Kaufman's wildly inventive fictions, director Spike Jonze plays with time, fiddles with fate and builds the whole shebang to a fever pitch with utterly improbable car crashes, night-time chases through a swamp, and related smoke and mirrors tricks. By the end of this outlandish comic display, the audience was roaring. It's important to notice that the people whose actual lives are tortured and twisted by Kaufman and Jonze in the name of art have nothing but good things to say about the movie. Writer Orlean, who took her parents to see the film in a private screening, told The New York Times that she loves the movie, which "goes from very faithful to crazily unfaithful." What finally persuaded her to give the filmmakers permission to use her real name was that both Laroche and McKee had done so. Leave your rational personality at home and hop on this antic bandwagon. It takes real smarts to make a film this courageously un-formulaic. If you love inspired madness on the screen, Adaptation, now playing at Cinemark, is for you. Very highest recommendations.
A Guy Thing: Selma Blair, Julia Stiles and Jason Lee star in this film directed by Chris Koch. Lee's character has to iron out the truth to tell his fiancé (Blair), but doesn't seem to know himself. PG 13. Cinema World. Cinemark. Drumline: Directed by Charles Stone, this tale of a talented street drummer who goes to college expecting to lead its marching band stars Nick Cannon, Zoe Saldana and Orlando Jones. PG-13. Movies 12. Eight Crazy Nights, Adam Sandler's: Animated holiday musical stars Adam Sandler. Other voices include Jon Lovitz, Kevin Nealon, Rob Schneider and Tyra Banks. Directed by Seth Kearley. PG-13. Movies 12. Erotic Tales: Twenty-four short films by international filmmakers offers unique opportunity to see really creative and compelling cinema. Jan. 15th — 17th showing are Sambólico, The Elephant Never Forgets, and The Waiting Room. Jan. 18th & 19th bring Dream a Little Dream, On Top Down Under and The Night Nurse. Jan. 20th — Jan. 22nd brings The Summer of My Deflowering, Powers and Why Don't We Do It in the Road?. NR. LateNite Bijou. Online archives. Gallipoli (Australia, 1981): Peter Weir's memorable film about a notorious WWI battle between Australia and German-led Turks at Gallipoli. Early Mel Gibson film. PG. At 7 pm on 1/16 in 180 PLC. Free. Go: Director Isao Yukisada adapted the story of a teenage Japanese-Korean trying to find his identity in Japan from the award-winning novel by Kazuki Kaneshiro. Not rated. 7 pm on 1/17 in 207 Chapman. Free. Hours, The: This complex and critically acclaimed movie stars Nicole Kidman, Julianne Moore and Meryl Streep in a story based around Virginia Woolf's life and writings. Based on a book by Michael Cunningham's, the New York Times calls the movie "Clear eyed and austerely balanced ..." PG 13. Cinemark. Italian for Beginners (Danish, 2000): Lone Scherfig wrote and directed this touching and realistic love story, set in a wintry and gloomy Denmark. The lonely and put-upon characters find a little joy in an Italian language class. This film is not rated. 7:30 pm on 1/21 in 122 Pacific. Free. National Security: Martin Lawrence and Steve Zahn star as LAPD wannabes who end up as security guards, yet still manage somehow to nab the bad guys. PG 13. Cinema World. Cinemark. Princess Mononoke: Animation and story by the great Japanese filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki. Beautifully accomplished. Not for very young children. Highly recommended. PG-13. 7:30 pm on 1/22 in 100 Willamette. Free. Rebro Adama (Adam's Rib) (Russian, 1990): Three generations of women, and their love lives, crowd in a Moscow apartment. 8:15 pm on 1/20 in 115 Pacific. Free. Ring, The: Gore Verbinski finds a solid cast in Naomi Watts (Mulholland Drive), Chris Cooper and Brian Cox for this remake of Hideo Nakata's 1998 Japanese horror film. PG-13. Movies 12. Standing in the Shadows of Motown: Director Paul Justman has made a documentary on Motown's history. The story is told well, especially by two of the Funk Brothers, the keyboardist Joe Hunter and the percussionist Jack Ashford. PG. Bijou. Tadpole: A slightly dissonant comedy in which Aaron Stanford plays a teenager with sophisticated tastes who trys to woo his step mom, played by Sigourney Weaver. PG 13. Movies 12.
CONTINUING: About Schmidt: Jack Nicholson stars in Alexander Pain's (Election) film about a just-retired man who feels adrift. His only daughter, Jeannie (Hope Davis) is about to marry unwisely, and his wife of 42 years dies suddenly. He goes on the road to find himself. R. Cinemark. Online archives. Adaptation: Director Spike Jonze again teams with writer Charlie Kaufman (Being John Malkovich) for a film that blurs the boundaries between reality and fictional representations of it, such as movies. Nicolas Cage plays Charlie Kaufman trying to hold back the terrors of writer's block while writing a screenplay of Susan Orlean's book, The Orchid Thief. Meryl Streep plays Orleans, and Chris Cooper's an avid orchid collector. R. Cinemark. See review this issue. Antwone Fisher: Denzel Washington directs and stars in the true story of an alienated African American sailor (Derek Luke) and the Navy psychiatrist who helps him find himself. Critics say Washington and Luke overcome sentimentality to create an enduring work. PG-13. Cinemark. Bowling for Columbine: Michael Moore takes on America's love for guns in his usual abrasive, in yo' face manner. He covers the Columbine High School shootings, and doesn't let national chain gun sellers off lightly. He also goes toe-to-toe with Charlton Heston, in an abrasive and bullying manner. A major hit documentary at Cannes, it's been rightly challenged for its sloppy journalism in this country. R. Bijou. Online archives. Catch Me If You Can: Steven Spielberg and Leonardo DiCaprio have fun in this chase movie about Frank Abagnale Jr., an actual con man of the 1960s who passed himself off as a pilot, a doctor, a lawyer and a college professor and forged millions in checks while still in his teens. Christopher Walken plays his father, and Tom Hanks plays the F.B.I. agent determined to capture him. Highly recommended. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. Online archives. Eight Mile: Set on the gritty streets of Detroit, Curtis Hanson's greatly anticipated film stars Eminem in his first screen role, Kim Basinger as his mom. Also, Brittany Murphy, Mekhi Phifer and Taryn Manning. Recommended. R. Movies 12. Online archives. Extreme Ops: Extreme sports athletes accidentally photograph a war criminal hiding out in the Austrian Alps and must out- ski and snowboard his avengers. Stars Devon Sawa, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras, Rupert Graves and Rufus Sewell. Directed by Christian Duguay. PG-13. Movies 12. Far From Heaven: Director Todd Haynes and cinematographer Edward Lachman deliver an exceptionally beautiful, emotionally resonant film. Excellent performances by Julianne Moore, Dennis Quaid, Dennis Haysbert and Patricia Clarkson. One of the very best pictures of the year. Very highest recommendations. PG-13. Bijou. Online archives. Gangs of New York: Martin Scorsese's epic film about New York gangs in the mid-1800s. Leonard DiCaprio plays an Irish Catholic hoodlum seeking vengeance from his father's killer, played by Daniel Day-Lewis as the leader of the Protestant gangsters. Both are caught up in the notorious Civil War draft riots that rock the city. Also stars Cameron Diaz, John C. Reilly and Jim Broadbent. Written by Steven Zaillian, Kenneth Lonergan and Jay Cocks, this is one of the year's great films. Very highest recommendations. R. Cinema World. Online archives. Harry Potter: Chamber of Secrets: Again directed by Chris Columbus, Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson) try to uncover a dark force terrorizing Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. G. Cinema World. Cinemark. Online archives.. I Spy 2: CIA super agent (Owen Wilson) and undefeated boxer (Eddie Murphy) hate each other at first sight, but they have to track down a missing stealth bomber. PG-13. Movies 12. Jackass: The Movie: Based on the MTV series, more dangerous and silly stunts. R. Movies 12. Just Married: This honeymoon from hell is directed by Shawn Levy and stars Ashton Kutcher, Brittany Murphy and Christian Kane. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. Kangaroo Jack: Taking mob money to Australia, two New York doofuses loose it to a kangaroo. Stars Jerry O'Connell, Anthony Anderson, Christopher Walken and Dyan Cannon. David McNally directs. PG. Sneak at 7 pm on 1/11, 3 pm on 1/12. Cinemark, Cinema World. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: Directed and re-imagined by Peter Jackson, part two of J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy follows the ring-bearer Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) deeper into enemy territory, with Gollum (Andy Serkis) as their guide. Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and Gimli (John-Rhys Davies) try to rescue Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd). New characters, a surprise return and great battles. Director Peter Jackson's second masterpiece. Very highest recommendations. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. Online archives. Maid in Manhattan: Ralph Fiennes is a well-off politician staying at a swank New York hotel. Jennifer Lopez is a single-mother maid working there. He sees her dressed in a guest's clothing and falls for her, like Richard Gere fell for Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. Not too enlightened nor original an idea. PG-13. Cinemark. My Big Fat Greek Wedding: It's about the 30-year old, unmarried daughter (Nia Vardalos) in a passionate but demanding Greek NY family, who meets the man she to marry (John Corbett), but he isn't Greek. Recommended. PG. Movies 12. Online archives. Narc: The New York Times' Elvis Mitchell says writer, director Joe Carnahan's second movie is "a believable, fleshed-out film where men's worst impulses lead to their ruin" and notes that it's about "a guilt-ridden cop who has nowhere to turn." Stars Jason Patric and Ray Liotta. R. Cinemark. Santa Clause 2: Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) begins looking for the perfect Mrs. Claus, because if he doesn't get married by Christmas Even, he'll stop being Santa forever. G. Movies 12. Signs: Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan and starring Mel Gibson and Joaquin Phoenix in this supernatural thriller about crop circles. Also stars Rory Culkin and Abigail Breslin. PG-13. Movies 12. 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. Movies 12. 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. Movies 12. Sweet Home Alabama: Andy Tennant directs the fabulous Reese Witherspoon in this comedy about a hot fashion designer who returns to the South to get a divorce from scruffy hubby #1 (Josh Lucas) so she can marry rich Patrick Dempsey. PG-13. Movies 12. Treasure Planet: Robert Louis Stevenson's classic adventure set on a spaceship. Animated film directed by Ron Clements and John Musker includes voices of Emma Thompson and Martin Short. PG. Movies 12. Tuck Everlasting: The story of a teenager (Alexis Bledel) who wants to get away from her mother (Amy Irving). Lost in the woods, she meets a boy named Jesse Tuck (Jonathan Jackson). His family (William Hurt, Sissy Spacek, Scott Bairstow) has a secret spring that makes one immortal, and they're trying to keep it safe from Ben Kingsley. PG. Movies 12. Two Weeks Notice: Hugh Grant and Sandra Bullock star as a very, very rich man and his lawyer. When she quits, and he replaces her with Alicia Witt, she reconsiders. Written and directed by Marc Lawrence (The Out-of-Towners). PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. Wild Thornberrys, The: In this animated film, Eliza Thornberry (Lacey Chabert), a girl who talks to and understands animals, goes to Africa with her parents, nature filmmakers, and her best friend, a chimp. Other voices: Rupert Everett, Marisa Tomei, Tim Curry, Brenda Blethyn, Lynn Redgrave and Obba Babatunde. PG. Cinemark. MOVIE
THEATERS Bijou
Art Cinemas Regal
Cinemas Cinemark
Theaters
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 tries to discover who he is and why everyone wants to kill him. A subtle skewing of the genre, it's highly recommended. PG-13. Online archives. Dinner Rush: This drama set in a TriBeCa restaurant mixes food and firearms. Staring Danny Aiello, Edoardo Ballerini and many more. R. 101 Dalmations II: Patch's London Adventure: Direct-to-video animated story following the continuing adventures of Patch, the dalmation puppy. NR. Ordinary Decent Criminal: Kevin Spacey stars in this comedy as a crime boss in a Dublin neighborhood. Also with Linda Fiorentino, Helen Baxendale, as his two wives, Colin Farrell and Steven Dillane. R. Tadpole: A comedy in which Aaron Stanford plays a teenager with sophisticated tastes who trys to woo his step mom, played by Sigourney Weaver. PG 13. Next week: Serving Sara and Master of Disguise.
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