 |
  |
 |
|||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||||||||
|
THE GOOD THIEF: Written and directed by Neil Jordan. Produced by Stephen Woolley, John Wells, Seaton McLean. Executive producers Neil Jordan, Kristin Harms, Thierry De Navacelle. Cinematography, Chris Menges. Production design, Anthony Pratt. Editor, Tony Lawson. Costumes, Penny Rose. Music composed by Elliot Goldenthal. Starring Nick Nolte, with Tcheky Karyo, Said Taghmaoui, Nutsa Kukhianidze, Emir Kusturica, Gerard Darmon, Marc Lavoine, Ouassini Embarek and Mark Polish and Michael Polish. Alliance Atlantis, Fox Searchlight Pictures, 2003. R. 109 minutes.
Neil Jordan's complex, character-driven retelling of Bob Le Flambeur, a highly regarded 1955 French noir by Jean Pierre Melville, proves just the right vehicle for Nick Nolte's shambling, seedy film persona. Nolte has burnished this late middle-age has-been in recent films, including Paul Schrader's Affliction, for which he won the Academy Award, and Alan Rudolph's last good film, Afterglow. Nolte's character, Bob Montagnet, has seen better days. Ravaged by heavy heroin use and financially ruined by compulsive gambling, old Bob looks to be on his last legs. But early in the film, Bob saves the life of Roger (Tcheky Karyo), a cop with whom he has an ambivalent relationship. Roger has tailed Bob for years, hoping to keep him straight. These guys like one another, so Roger warns him that another conviction puts him away for the rest of his life. Bob's moral center, buried deep within his hulking exterior, is awakened by the plight of a lovely young Eastern European immigrant named Anne (Nutsa Kukhianidze). Like many other girls, Anne has been lured to the French Riviera by a dirty club owner, Remi (Marc Lavoine). Remi's a good looking rogue with ties to the Russian Mafia. Bob sees that Anne's headed for prostitution, so he forcibly intervenes. He gives Anne a safe place to stay but will not sleep with her, which makes him more attractive to her, of course. They are actually very well suited for one another, but not as lovers. Bob shares the house with Paulo (Said Taghmaoui, Three Kings). Paulo's a young guy who looks up to Bob, because he was his father's friend long ago. Paulo falls in love with Anne, of course. When Bob runs into a heist idea he cannot pass over, he comes back to his flat, handcuffs himself to the bed, and detoxes. Paulo and Anne take care of Bob during the worst of his withdrawal, but she is disgusted by him. You get the sense that Bob's been down this path before, too. It's a challenging act to pull off credibly, and Nolte and Jordan don't make anything about it look glamorous. When he's sober and well, Bob starts planning the daring robbery of a well-fortified Monte Carlo casino on the night of the Grand Prix. The casino's big attraction is the wonderful paintings that hang on its walls, which include original Picassos. Well, not quite originals. The originals, it turns out, are kept in a safe in another place; the pictures on the wall are fakes. This gives Bob the idea of planning two heists: A fake heist that will draw all the attention, while the real one goes after the originals. Among the crew are Anne, Paulo and Vladimer (filmmaker Emir Kusturica). Vladimer is a weird dude, a security software mastermind — every film needs one nowadays — who calls himself the "stratocaster." Also in on the heist is Raoul (Gerard Darmon), who's been Bob's partner in thievery for years. The inside guy, Said (Ouassini Embarek), is a disgruntled former dealer. And there's Philppa (Sarah Bridges), a bulked-up transsexual who hates spiders, and the twins, Bertram (Mike Polish) and Albert (Mark Polish), who fill an important slot in the plan. The Good Thief is a great deal brainier than The Italian Job, which is lighter and flashier. Nolte is fabulous, and Kukhianidze is a real find. It's great to see Jordan, this multi-talented Irish filmmaker, reinvent this hoary heist film. Outstanding work by cinematographer Chris Menges and the gritty vocals of Leonard Cohen on "A Thousand Kisses Deep" add to the pleasure. Very highly recommended.
FINDING NEMO: Directed by Andrew Stanton. Co-directed by Lee Unkrich. Written by Stanton, Bob Peterson, David Reynolds. Original story, Stanton. Produced by Graham Walters. Executive producer, John Lasseter. Music, Thomas Newman. Production design, Ralph Eggleston. Cinematography, Sharon Calahan, Jeremy Lasky. Supervising animator, Dylan Brown. Story supervisors, Ronnie del Carmen, Dan Jeup, Jason Katz. Supervising technical director, Ralph Eggleston. Voices, Albert Books, Ellen DeGeneres and Alexander Gould, with Willem Dafoe, Geoffrey Rush, Barrie Humphries, Austin Pendleton, Allison Janney, John Ratzenberger, Stephen Root, Joe Ranft, Brad Garrett., Vicki Lewis, Andrew Stanton, Elizabeth Perkins, Eric Bana and Walt Disney Pictures/Pixar Animation Studios, 2003. G. 104 minutes.
Once again, Pixar's brilliance is illuminated by taking a story that is familiar to all kids and parents — like Toy Story, my favorite American animated film — and turning it into an adventure story populated by exotic, interesting characters with real emotions. In this case, the story is about a dad and his only son on the first day of school. They are fish, brightly colored Clownfish, to be precise. And what happens to them does not happen to all kids and dads: They get separated from each other that day. And the rest of the story is how they both struggle to get back together again. Dad is Marlin (Albert Brooks), an overprotective dad who worries about his son starting school and would consider putting it off for a year or two. Son is Nemo (Alexander Gould), who's ready to have a little adventure of his own. They have lived peacefully and safely inside the waving fronds of a large sea anemone on the Australian Great Barrier Reef. Nemo, born with one fin smaller than the other, is not a great swimmer. But egged on by his school friends, he swims out to a boat at anchor — past the reef's dramatic "drop-off" point to the deep sea waters. Suddenly Nemo is hauled up to the boat in a net. The boat's powerful motor kicks in, and Nemo is taken away from his father, teacher and friends. Gone. Marlin pursues the boat but loses it. He connects with a Regal Blue Tang named Dory (Ellen DeGeneres), who talks a lot, forgets everything, and is relentlessly upbeat and cheerful. Dory wants a friend like Marlin and immediately chooses to go on his quest to find Nemo. Dory can read, and through her Marlin learns the address of the boat owner in Sydney. Dory takes Marlin to meet her new pals, a group of sharks that includes an enormous white shark named Bruce (Barry Humphries), a hammerhead named Anchor (Eric Bana) and a mako named Chum (Bruce Spence). They hold 12-step meetings where Bruce tries hard to remember that "Fish are friends, not food." The movie is full of such monsters of the deep, and the ocean itself holds peril for Marlin and Dory. Meanwhile, Nemo finds himself in a fish tank in a dentist's office, doomed to be a birthday present to the dentist's horrible little niece, Darla. Whenever Darla's picture or presence is evoked, the shrieking timbres of "Psycho (The Murder)" by Bernard Herrmann resound. Gill (Willem Dafoe), a black-and-white-striped Moorish Idol, also longs to be back in the ocean again. Gill comes up with an escape plan that puts Nemo in great danger. Their unwitting savior is a gossipy pelican, Nigel (Willem Dafoe). One way these stories work is: move one step closer to the goal; meet an overpowering enemy or a physical obstacle; take two steps backward. It requires great patience for children 4-years and under to remain interested for the film's 104-minute duration, despite the gradual building of suspense that older kids and adults expect. One of the film's most enjoyable experiences is when Marlin and Dory meet up with a giant green sea turtle, Crush (Andrew Stanton), who helps Marlin learn to relax. Crush may be an old dude — he's 150, after all — but he's picked up the jive talk of the young'uns and made it his own. Have fun is Crush's message, and traveling with him and his entourage through the wild rush of the East Australian Current is a blast. The whole film is quite beautiful and a memorable achievement in computer animation. Highly recommended, Finding Nemo is now playing at Cinemark and Cinema World.
Core, The: Jon Amiel directs this adventure to the center of the earth. Scientists played by Aaron Eckhart, Hilary Swank and Bruce Greenwood journey deep into the earth to detonate a device to reactivate the planet's core. An unintentional comedy, it's a great break from reality. PG-13. Movies 12. Online archives. Frida: Salma Hayak plays Frida Kahlo, the feminist painter and wife of Mexico's great muralist and painter Diego Rivera (Alfred Molina) and lover of Leon Trotsky (Geoffrey Rush). Directed by Julie Taymor. 2002 Academy Award to the late Elliot Goldenthal for original score and for makeup. Underrated film is one of the most visually lush films of 2002. R. Movies 12. Good Thief, The: Neil Jordan directs the great Nick Nolte in this remake of a French heist movie that incorporates some amazing characters and a smart double plot that sneaks right past you if you don't pay close attention. Highly recommended. Bijou. See review this issue. Hollywood Homicide: Fast-paced action comedy directed by Ron Shelton stars Harrison Ford and Josh Hartnett as cops, with Isaiah Washington, Lena Olin, Bruce Greenwood, Master P., Lolita Davidovich, Dwight Yoakum, Keith David and Martin Landau. PG-13. Sneak 6/7 at 7:30 pm. Cinemark. House of a 1000 Corpses, The: Think this might be a horror film? R. LateNite Bijou. Malibu's Most Wanted: Jamie Kennedy, Taye Diggs and Anthony Anderson in an urban comedy about hip-hop culture. PG-13. Movies 12. Two Fast, Two Furious: John Singleton directs this sequel action adventure about street racing. Stars Paul Walker, Tyrese Gibson, Cole Hauser, Eva Mendes. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. What It Takes: A 13-minute documentary film subtitled "A Ride with the Prime Alliance Cycling Team," was made by UO graduating student Jim Anderson, a racer himself. Anderson shot the picture in Bend at the Cascade Cycling Classic and in LA at the team's training camp. At 3:30 pm on 6/11 at the Bijou. Free. World is Not Enough, The: Directed by Michael Apted (42 Up, Thunderheart), the 19th episode in this lucrative franchise stars Pierce Brosnan as 007 here playing security guard to a mega-rich heiress, Elektra King (Sophie Marceau). Bond must keep the villain (Robert Carlyle) from jamming up the oil supply, while also finding time for other things. With Robbie Coltrane and Judi Dench. PG-13. Shows at 7 pm on June 6 in International Lounge, EMU, UO campus. Free.
CONTINUING: Adaptation: Director Spike Jonze and writer Charlie Kaufman blur boundaries between reality and fictional representation. Nicolas Cage plays Charlie Kaufman, stuck while writing a screenplay of Susan Orlean's book, The Orchid Thief. Meryl Streep gives a fabulous, comic turn as Orleans, and Chris Cooper's an avid orchid collector. 2002 Academy Award to Cooper. Very highest recommendations. R. Movies 12. Online archives. Bend It Like Beckham: Soccer-crazy girls in London suburb drive their respective families crazy because they'd rather play soccer than think about marriage and shopping. Warm-hearted, generous film is likely to be a big hit. Get onboard early and enjoy!. Highly recommended. PG-13. Bijou. Online archives. Bringing Down the House: Domestic comedy starring Steve Martin and Queen Latifa is directed by Adam Shankman. PG-13. Movies 12. Bruce Almighty: Jim Carrey, Morgan Freeman and Jennifer Aniston star in this tale of a at TV reporter, who has a really bad day, rages against God and receives more than he expected. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. Daddy Day Care: Eddie Murphy and Jeff Garlin lose their jobs and can't afford day care for their sons, so they open their own facility. Comedy directed by Steve Carr also stars Anjelica Huston, Steve Zahn and Regina King. PG. Cinemark. PG. Down With Love: Peyton Reed re-invents the look and feel of a 1962-era Doris Day, Rock Hudson musical with Renee Zellwegger and Ewan McGregor. Also stars David Hyde Pierce, Tony Randall and Sarah Paulson. Entertaining froth. PG-13. Cinemark. Online archives. Finding Nemo: Pixar (Toy Story) presents this computer-animated fantasy of two Clownfish, Marlin and his son Nemo, who get separated in the Great Barrier Reef. Written and directed by Andrew Stanton (A Bug's Life), with voices by Albert Brooks, Ellen DeGeneres, Willem Dafoe, Geoffrey Rush, Allison Janney. Very highly recommended. G. Cinema World. Cinemark. See review this issue. Gangs of New York: Martin Scorsese's bloody epic set in mid-1800s N.Y. stars Leonard DiCaprio and Daniel Day-Lewis as rival gang leaders. Co-stars Cameron Diaz, John C. Reilly and Jim Broadbent. One of 2002's great films, with many Academy Award nominations. Very highest recommendations. R. Movies 12. Online archives. Head of State: Chris Rock directs, co-writes and stars in this tale of a D.C. alderman who runs for the presidency. Also stars Bernie Mac, Dylan Baker, Robin Givens, James Rebhorn. PG-13. Movies 12. Holes: Adventures digging holes at Camp Green Lake for Stanley, who comes from a strange family that's been cursed for generations. Embarrassingly, Jon Voight, Sigourney Weaver and Tim Blake Nelson co-star. PG. Cinema World. Cinemark. Online archives. How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days: Magazine columnist Kate Hudson and ad agency professional Matthew McConaughey try to get the other to fall in love, but things go awry. High-energy romantic comedy. PG-13. Movies 12. In-Laws, The: Andrew Fleming directs Michael Douglas and Albert Brooks as the reluctant fathers of the bride and groom. PG-13. Cinema World. Italian Job, The: Mark Wahlberg leads a heist that's double-crossed by one of his crew. Charlize Theron plays a safecracker in this cool revenge movie. Also stars Edward Norton, Mos Def and Donald Sutherland. Highly recommended for its pure entertainment value. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. Online archives. 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. Movies 12. Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers: Directed and re-imagined by Peter Jackson, part two of J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy continues. New characters, a surprise return and great battles. Director Peter Jackson's second masterpiece. Very highest recommendations. 2002 Academy Awards for sound editing, visual effects. PG-13. Movies 12. Online archives. Matrix Reloaded: Second chapter brings Neo (Keanu Reeve), Trinity (Laurence Fishburne) and Trinity (Carrie-Anne Moss) closer to solving the enigma but also puts them in greater danger. Written and directed by Andy and Larry Wachowski, it also stars Hugo Weaving, Jada Pinkett Smith and Gloria Foster. R. Cinemark. Cinema World. See review this issue. Mighty Wind, A: Christopher Guest's (Best in Show) pseudo-documentary narrative about a folk music reunion show of folk is one of his craftiest satirical offerings, critics say. Stars the usual suspects: Eugene Levy, Parker Posey, Bob Balaban. Harry Shearer, Michael McKean and Guest himself. PG-13. Cinema World. Online archives. Old School: From Road Trip, Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn try to recapture the fun of their college years by starting their own off-campus frat house. R. Movies 12. Russian Ark (Russia, 2001): Cineastes who have heard about this film for months now have the opportunity to enjoy Alexander Sokurov's cinematic achievement — one 96-minute, uninterrupted shot — a tour of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, long the repository of Russian (and European) art and history. NR. Bijou. Online Archives. Shanghai Knights: Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson are out to settle a score in Victorian London in this comedy directed by David Dobkin. PG-13. Movies 12. Spun: Eugene premiere of film co-written by former UO student Creighton Vero and former Eugene resident, William De Los Santos. Stars Jason Schwartzman, who plays a meth freak, and Mickey Rourke, who plays a meth dealer. Other stars include John Leguizamo, Mena Suvari, Patrick Fugit and more. NR. LateNite Bijou. What a Girl Wants: Teen Amanda Bynes is "trying to fit in, born to stand out." She wants a fairy tale relationship with her absent dad and is tired of living with her unconventional mom, played by Colin Firth and Kelly Preston. Oliver James plays her love interest. PG. Movies 12. Wrong Turn: Jeremy Sisto, Eliza Dushku, Desmond Harrington and Emmanuelle Chriqui are trapped in the West Virginia wilderness and pursued by cannibalistic mountain men. Help! R. Cinema World. Cinemark. X-Men 2: The next link in the evolutionary chain? Directed by Bryan Singer, stars Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, Halle Berry, Famke Janssen, James Marsden and more, lots more. PG-13. Cinemark.
MOVIE
THEATERS Bijou
Art Cinemas Regal
Cinemas Cinemark
Theaters
NEW
RELEASES ON VIDEO Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season 4 on DVD, a 6-disc set with all 22 episodes and lots of extras. Frida: Salma Hayak plays Frida Kahlo, the feminist painter and wife of Mexico's great muralist and painter Diego Rivera (Alfred Molina) and lover of Leon Trotsky (Geoffrey Rush). Directed by Julie Taymor. 2002 Academy Award to the late Elliot Goldenthal for original score and for makeup. Underrated film is one of the most visually lush films of 2002. R. Giant (1956): George Steven directed a dream cast of teen heart-throb James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, Carroll Baker, Mercedes McCambridge and Dennis Hopper in this stylish adaptation of Edna Ferber's runaway best seller. Texas cattle rancher Hudson and wildcat oilman Dean fall out in a big way, and it isn't all about land and money. Or is it? Dean's last picture. DVD 2-disc special edition, with all the extras. Jungle Book 2: Same song, second verse from Disney. Voices include John Goodman, Haley Joel Osment, Phil Collins. G. Movies 12. Medea: Lars von Trier's critically acclaimed, experimental 1987 film made for Danish television was adapted from Euripides via Carl Dreyer's never-made screenplay. Stars Kirsten Olesen as the scorned and furious Medea, Udo Kier as the adventurer, Jason, who abandons her. Hell hath no fury. It's a must-see for von Trier fans. NR. Released by Facets Video. Old School: From Road Trip, Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell and Vince Vaughn try to recapture the fun of their college years by starting their own off-campus frat house. R. Cinemark. Once Upon a Time in America (1984): Sergio Leone's saga of five young men growing up in Brooklyn in the 1920s who become mobsters. Videohound says it's "told with a sweeping and violent elegance." Stars Robert DeNiro, James Wood, Treat Williams, Joe Pesci, Danny Aiello, Elizabeth McGovern, Tuesday Weld and Jennifer Connelly. R. DVD 2-disc special edition, with all the extras. Right Stuff, The (1983): Philip Kaufman's compelling adaptation of Tom Wolfe's best-seller. The film spans the US space program from breaking the sound barrier through the Mercury space missions. Stars Ed Harris, Dennis Quaid, Sam Shepard, Scott Glenn. Fred Ward, Kathy Baker, Levon Helm, Charles Frank and Kim Stanley. DVD 2-disc special edition, with all the extras. Tears of the Sun: Bruce Willis is a Navy SEAL sent to rescue a US citizen who runs a mission, but she (Monica Bellucci) won't leave her charges. Directed by Antoine Fuqua. R. Movies 12. Next week: The Chinese Box, The Erich von Stroheim Collection, Happiness, Pipe Dream, Sebastiane, Songcatcher and What's Cooking?
|
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
|
||||||||
