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Woman To Love SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE: Written and directed by Nancy Meyers. Produced by Nancy Meyers and Bruce A. Block. Cinematography, Michael Ballhaus. Music, Hans Zimmer. Production design, Jon Hutman. Editor, Joe Hutshing. Costumes, Suzanne McCabe. Starring Jack Nicholson (Harry Sanborn) and Diane Keaton (Erica Barry). With Keanu Reeves (Dr. Julian Mercer), Frances McDormand (Zoe), Amanda Peet (Marin), Jon Favreau(Leo), Rachel Ticotin (Dr. Martinez) and Paul Michael Glaser (Dave). Warner Bros. Columbia Pictures, 2003. PG-13. 110 minutes.
I needed senseless, entertaining comedy after a 12-day period of watching six exceptional but intense movies (Sylvia, Elephant, My Life Without Me, The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, Twenty-One Grams and In America). To make it seven movies in 13 days, I chose Something's Gotta Give, despite reservations based on the trailer, which shows Jack Nicholson at his smirking, womanizing worst, his screen (and movie star) persona I am oh, so tired of seeing. Diane Keaton, one of my faves, looks way fabulous as an older woman, but she appears to be in love with him. Yikes! Spending most of my waking life in a theater or in front of a terminal writing about what I'd just seen wore me down. A slick, commercial Hollywood romantic comedy was the only thing I wanted. Harry Sanborn (Jack Nicholson) has a yen for young women, and everybody knows it. Young beauties like Marin (Amanda Peet) date him for awhile. But they understand he doesn't go out with women over 30, and they're okay with it. So when Marin brings Harry to her mother's house in the Hamptons, she has no idea her mother, Erica Barry (Diane Keaton), and her Aunt Zoe (Frances McDormand), who gets off some devilish lines, will be at the house for the weekend, too. All that follows is set up in the first meeting and dinner party. Harry knows he's getting body-language "Hit the Road, Jack" messages from Erica, while Zoe's women's studies professor intellect shreds whatever dignity Harry had left after greeting them in his underwear. Underwear, pajamas and robes make up much of the wardrobe of the stars in this movie. And yes, we do get a bare-top frontal of Keaton, and a bare-bottom rear view of Nicholson (or their stand-ins). They both look pretty good, but, hey, they're movie stars. In the movie, she's a successful playwright, divorced, and he's the bachelor owner of a string of record companies. They all get to know the young local doctor Julian Mercer (Keanu Reeves), who, riffing on Reeves' Matrix-character's penchant for an older woman, is attracted to Erica. He's seen all her plays and thinks she hung the moon. So it goes. The surprises come along, and the expected arrives. This is a conventionally structured film, with a definable first, second and third act. Predictability was part of the comfort I derived from laughing with delight. Keaton gets to use her loquacious comic gift, and Nicholson gets to charm like the old roué we believe him to be, while Keanu plays the decent guy and hungry lover, a role that suits him well. Women writers aren't a demographic filmmakers pay much attention to, but within that group many will relish Keaton's character's revenge. It's a lovely, inspiring idea. And who better than Keaton to play such a gal? I mean for years we've seen Woody Allen, who seems to always play a writer in his movies, turn the tables on his lovers and exact tit-for-tat by writing about them. Come to think of it, Allen and Nicholson, I mean Harry, have a lot in common: cradle robbers. Or maybe the film is about successful, divorced, writer, producer and director Nancy Meyers, a woman of a certain age herself. Meyers' movie contains many references to both the characters and the movie stars who play them, creating a self-referential feedback loop that makes the film much more interesting. Of course, it's great as pure hokum too. Something's Gotta Give is now playing at Cinemark, at least through Dec. 31. Catch it if you can. Highly recommended for laughs.
Brother (Russian New Wave, 1997): Alexi Balabanov directs film. Danila comes back from the army to join his brother on St. Petersburg's dark streets and struggles to maintain a sense of integrity. At 8:15 pm on 01/05 in 115 Pacific Hall, UO. Free. Cat in the Hat, The: Mike Meyers stars as the outrageous feline who visits a couple of kids and wreaks havoc in the house while mom's away. Live-action comedy based on beloved Dr. Seuss book. Many parents and many kids can recite it by heart. With Alec Baldwin, Kelly Preston. PG-13. Cinemark. Looney Tunes: Mixed animation/ live action directed by Joe Dante, stars Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Brendan Fraser, Jenna Elfman, Steve Martin, Timothy Dalton, Joan Cusack, Heather Locklear. PG. Movies 12. Scary Movie 3: Horror spoof satirizes movies such as The Ring, Signs, The Matrix Reloaded, Eight Mile. Stars Anna Faris, Charlie Sheen, Denise Richards, Eddie Griffin and Queen Latifah. Directed by David Zucker. R. Movies 12. Under the Tuscan Sun: Diane Lane plays writer Frances Mayes in this screen adaptation of her best selling book about buying a run-down villa in Italy and creating a new life. Escape from real life — beautiful people, gorgeous scenery, everybody's got money. PG-13. Movies 12. Online archives. Underworld: Brought back for Halloween. Set in a world where vampires are a clan of aristocratic moderns, and lycans (werewolves) are a gang of street thugs, Len Wiseman's film stars Kate Beckinsale and Scott Speedman. When they fall in love, they trigger an ancient feud. R. Movies 12..
CONTINUING: Bad Santa: Directed by Terry Zwigoff. The story of two con men who go on a road trip to malls dressed as Santa and his elf. Rather than spread good cheer, the duo robs each establishment — a strategy that becomes complicated when they encounter an 8-year-old who teaches them the true meaning of Christmas. Stars Billy Bob Thornton, Bernie Mac, Lauren Graham, John Ritter. Cinemark. Brother Bear: Disney tale of young man who is transformed into a bear and his adventures in the great Northwest. He picks up a bear cub and runs into a pair of misguided moose, or is that meese? Six new songs from Phil Collins, including one with Tina Turner. G. Movies 12. Cheaper By the Dozen: A remake of the Clifton Webb classic from the 1950s, Shawn Levy's version boasts a new screenplay and stars Steve Martin as the father of 12, who moves his family to the city. Bonnie Hunt plays the kids' mother. PG. Cinema World. Cinemark. Cold Mountain: Anthony Minghella's screen rendition of Charles Frazier's Civil War best-seller stars Jude Law as a wounded Southern soldier walking home across the mountains, Nicole Kidman as his pre-war sweetheart, and Renee Zellweger as a young drifter who teaches her to farm and survive. R. Cinema World. Cinemark. Elf: Jon Favreau directs Will Ferrell as a human child raised as an elf. Mr. Claus (Ed Asner) and his chief assistant (Bob Newhart) send the lad to New York to find his biological father (James Caan). With Zooey Deschanel and Mary Steenburgen. PG. Cinemark. Freaky Friday: Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan, Mark Harmon, Harold Gould, Chad Michael Murray, Stephen Tobolowsky, Christina Vidal, Ryan Malgarini. Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan play a quarreling mother and daughter who accidentally switch bodies. Ooops! Mark Harmon plays the mom's fiancé. Directed by Mark Waters. Highly recommended. PG. Movies 12. Online archives. Haunted Mansion: Eddie Murphy stars in Rob Minkoff's (Stuart Little) ghost comedy, with Jennifer Tilly, Don Knotts, Terence Stamp PG. Cinemark. Honey: Directed by Bille Woodruff. Stars Jessica Alba as a music video choreographer and Li'l Romeo, Mekhi Phifer. PG-13. Movies 12. In America: Jim Sheridan's memoir of living in New York in 1981 with his wife and two daughters. Stars Samantha Morton, Paddy Considine, Sarah Bolger and Emma Bolger. Highest recommendations. PG-13. Bijou. Online archives. Last Samurai: Directed by Edward Zwick. Stars Ken Watanabe and Tom Cruise. In Japan, Civil War veteran Nathan Algren (Cruise) trains Emperor Meiji's troops in the way of the gun as they prepare to defeat the last of the country's samurais. But he is captured by the samurai (Watanabe) and learns about their traditions and code of honor. R. Cinemark. Cinema World. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King: Peter Jackson completes the film version of Tolkien's trilogy, seven years in the making. Stars Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Ian McKellen, Billy Boyd, Orlando Bloom, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett. Frodo (Wood) and Sam (Astin) plan to cast the One Ring into the fires of Mount Doom, but Gollum — and the Ring itself — test Frodo's allegiances and his humanity. Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) humbly accepts his kingship. Cinema World. Cinemark. Love Actually: Written and directed by Richard Curtis (Bridget Jones's Diary), this romantic comedy stars Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Colin Firth, Laura Linney, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Keira Knightley, Martine McCuthcheon, Bill Nighy. Great moments, fine ensemble cast. R. Movies 12. Master and Commander The Far side of the World: Peter Weir brings the late Patrick O'Brian's best-selling nautical adventures to the screen with Russell Crowe as Captain Jack Aubrey and Paul Bettany as Dr. Stephen Maturin, ship surgeon and naturalist. Set during the Napoleonic Wars. Highest recommendations. PG-13. Cinemark. Online archives. Mona Lisa Smile: Julia Roberts is an idealistic teacher and nonconformist at Wellesley in the 1950s. Julia Stiles, Kirsten Dunst and Maggie Gyllenhaal are her students. Mike Newell directs. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. Once Upon a Time in Mexico: Directed by Robert Rodriguez. Antonio Banderas as El Mariarchi, now involved in international espionage. Costars Salma Hayek, Johnny Depp and Mickey Rourke. R. Movies 12. Paycheck: Based on a Philip K. Dick sci-fi short story and directed by John Woo, film stars Ben Affleck, Uma Thurman Aaron Eckhart, Paul Giamatti, Colm Feore, Michael C. Hall. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. Peter Pan: Yet another version of J. M. Barrie's classic adventure story of the best bad boy ever, Peter Pan, makes its way to the big screen. Directed by P.J. Hogan, movie stars Jason Isaacs, Jeremy Sumpter, Richard Briers, Olivia Williams, Lyn Redgrave, Ludivine Sagnier and Rachel Hurd-Wood. PG. Cinema World. Pirates of the Caribbean: Non-stop adventure directed by Gore Verbinski stars Johnny Depp, Geoffrey Rush, Orlando Bloom and Keira Knightley. Depp sashays, Rush dissembles, Bloom fences and Knightley swashbuckles. Depp and Rush's over the top performances are great. Recommended. PG-13. Movies 12. Online archives. Radio: High school football coach (Ed Harris) shocks a Southern town by taking on a mentally challenged youth (Cuba Gooding Jr.) and developing a decades-long friendship with him. Also stars Alfre Woddard and Debra Winger; directed by Mike Tollin. PG. Movies 12. School of Rock: Faking it as a substitute teacher, wild guitarist Jack Black turns elementary musical prodigies into a high-voltage rock band. Directed by Richard Linklater, it also stars Joan Cusack, Mike White and Sarah Silverman. PG-13. Movies 12. Something's Gotta Give: Directed by Nancy Meyers. Harry Sanborn (Jack Nicholson) is a New York music mogul with a libido much younger than his years. Also stars Diane Keaton, Amanda Peet and Keanu Reeves. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. Spy Kids 3D, Game Over: Alexa Vega and Daryl Sabara continue to embrace the family business — spying — but this time the Toymaker (Sylvester Stallone) may be their nemesis. Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino co-star. 3-D viewing glasses required. Written and directed by Robert Rodriguez. PG. Movies 12. Stuck on You: The Farrelly Brothers (Something About Mary) direct this story of conjoined twins Bob (Mat Damon) and Walt (Greg Kinnear), who move to L.A. so one can become an actor. They become a hit on a TV show starring Cher, but success threatens to drive the twins apart. Eva Mendes, Seymour Cassel and big-name cameos. Cinemark. Texas Chainsaw Massacre: Remake of Tobe Hooper's1974 horror classic is directed by Marcus Nispel, music video guru. Backwoodsy killer clan runs amok. Stars Jessica Biel, Eric Balfour and Andrew Bryniarski as Leatherface. R. Movies 12. Twenty-one Grams: Mexican director Alejandro González Iñárritu's second feature has astounded critics. Telling three linked stories, Iñárritu again works magic with narrative structure. Sean Penn, Benicio Del Toro and Naomi Watts, star in a film The New York Times says reaches a "Faulknerian idea of old-fashioned grace." Also stars Charlotte Gainsbourg, Clea DuVall, Danny Huston and Melissa Leo. R. Online archives.
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RELEASES ON VIDEO American Wedding: Jim (Jason Biggs) and Michelle (Alyson Hannigan) are getting married. Now if their friends and family will just stay on their best behavior. Right. American Pie's crude humor lives on. Also stars January Jones, Fred Willard, Eugene Levy, Thomas Ian Nicholas, Seann William Scott. R. Stanley and Iris (1990): Directed by Martin Ritt, stars Jane Fonda as a recently widowed blue collar worker who teaches co-worker Robert De Niro to read and write. PG-13. Babylon 5: Complete 4th season, 6-disc DVD set, all 22 episodes. Cary Grant Collection includes Born to Be Bad (1934); I Was a Male War Bride (1949); Kiss Them For Me (1957); and People Will Talk (1951). Cheers: Complete 2nd season (1983-84), 4-disc DVD, all 22 episodes and lots of extras. Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde: Two versions on one DVD disc. 1932 version directed by Rouben Mamoulian, stars Frederic March, Miriam Hopkins, Ed Norton. 1941 version directed by Victor Fleming, stars Spencer Tracy, Ingrid Bergman, Lana Turner and Donald Crisp. Frazier: Complete 2nd season, 4-disc set. Ikuru (1952): Highly acclaimed film directed by Akira Kurosawa; 2-disc DVD set. Videohound says it's a "heartbreaking drama from the usually restrained Kurosawa; possibly his most 'eastern' film." My Darling Clementine (1946): Classic Western chronicles the events leading up to the famous gunfight at the OK Corral, including the showdown John Ford directs Henry Fonda as Wyatt Earp, Linda Darnell, Victor Mature, Walter Brennan, Tim Hold and Ward Bond. Enhanced, restored, lots of extras. National Film Registry, 1991. Out of Time: Directed by Carl Franklin, stars Denzel Washington as a Florida small-town police chief where a double-homicide is discovered. He must solve the killings before he is suspected of the crimes himself. Also stars Eva Mendes, Sanaa Lathan and Dean Cain. PG-13. Uptown Girls: Brittany Murphy stars as the freewheeling daughter of a late rock legend, but when her inheritance is stolen, she's forced to get a job as a nanny to precocious Ray Schleine (Dakota Fanning), an "eight-year-old going on forty." In a comedic battle of wills, each discovers in the other a true friend. Directed by Boas Yakin. Also stars Heather Locklear. PG-13.
Next week: And Now Ladies and Gentlemen; Annie (1982); Buffalo Soldiers; Daddy and Them; Lost in Space; Lucia, Lucia; Out of Order; Strawberrys and Chocolate; and Swimming Pool. |
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