ALL THE PRETTY HORSES (PG-13)

Beautifully realized drama based on Cormac McCarthy’s best-selling novel about a young man searching for himself and a fading way of life. Matt Damon is outstanding as John Grady, ready to take on the world after his mother sells their ranch. With his best friend Lacey Rawlins (Henry Thomas), Grady heads down to Mexico with dreams of adventure. They find jobs as horse wranglers on a ranch, but when Grady begins an affair with the owner’s daughter (Penelope Cruz), his love sets into motion a series of events that will lead Grady down a dark and dangerous path. Director Billy Bob Thornton and writer Ted Tally have done a splendid job of evoking time and place, and the cast approach the material with honesty. The supporting cast includes such heavyweights as Bruce Dern, Ruben Blades and Sam Shepard, plus impressive turns by Cruz and Lucas Black. (Columbia-TriStar)

ANTITRUST (PG-13)

Tim Robbins is the reason to see this techno-thriller, playing a megalomaniac with certain resemblance’s to Bill Gates. Robbins plays Gary Winston, the billionaire owner of a tech company called NURV. Ryan Phillippe plays Milo Huffman, a computer whiz kid who has just been welcomed into the NURV family. It doesn’t take long for super smart Milo to figure out that something isn’t right, and suspects that Winston is using his power and technology for evil purposes. Okay, it’s a story as old as the hills, yet director Peter Howitt manages to squeeze enough go-go juice out of the familiar script to make all of this matter. Some decent thrills and a timely story line keep the film alive, while the cast is okay, especially female co-stars Rachael Leigh Cook and Claire Forlani. (MGM)

CUT (R)

Pedestrian slasher film from Down Under features American actress Molly Ringwald as the star of a legendary 80’s horror film that was shut down after the director was murdered. Every time someone screens the film, someone dies. When two film students decide to revive it, the killings continue. Okay, so you’ve seen all of this before. So have I, yet “Cut” didn’t turn out to be one of those movies you watch with your hand on the fast-forward button. Director Kimble Rendall does a decent job of creating a suspenseful mood, while the cast seem to be in tune with the material without winking at the camera. Gore fans will best appreciate the effort that features a masked killer and lots of screaming victims. (Trimark)

DOWNWARD ANGEL (R)

Lackluster debut from director/co-writer Kevin Lewis, who proves he knows his way behind a camera, but has a hard time creating anything original in front of it. The story is weak and filled with the sort of dialogue that makes you wince, especially when it’s delivered by actors who must have had a hard time keeping a straight face saying it. Matt Schulze stars as John, yet another undercover cop trying to get the goods on a gang known as “The Guild.” We eventually learn that John has a personal debt to settle, killing the man who murdered his parents, but before he can complete his vendetta, he has to prove himself. That means becoming a hit man, which really plays havoc with his inner psyche. As John struggles with his inner demons, the audience must struggle through pedestrian plot devices and bad acting. Obvious “The Guild” wasn’t the Screen Actor’s Guild. (Studio)

DUETS (R)

Even though it tanked at the box office, fans of Gwyneth Paltrow will want to catch this sparkling musical comedy about a group of Karaoke singers on their way to a big contest in Omaha, Nebraska. Director Bruce Paltrow does his daughter right, creating fun, breezy passages of wit and honest emotion, and giving the cast enough breathing room to give their characters dimension and motivation. Exciting cast includes Huey Lewis, Maria Bello (“E.R.”), Andre Braugher, and Paul Giamatti. The Karaoke numbers are done with respect and a sense of fun, and provide the cast with excellent opportunities to show off their vocal talents. Not much back-story, but the road trip is well worth the ride. (Hollywood Pictures)

EMPEROR’S NEW GROOVE, THE (G)

Fall down funny! One great joke after another, with clever animation and outstanding vocal talent. David Spade is hilarious as the greedy and selfish Inca Emperor who is turned into a Llama and forced to flee from his kingdom as he searches for allies. John Goodman lends his voice to a good hearted peasant who helps the Emperor regain his throne, even if it means losing his home. Toss in Eartha Kitt as a wicked sorceress who wants to rule the kingdom and Patrick Warburton as her earnest flunky and you have a film that constantly tickles your funny bone. Kids will love the colorful animation and characters, while their parents will appreciate the clever and witty screenplay that is filled with all sorts of unexpected surprises. “The Emperor’s New Groove” began life as a dramatic epic, so whoever gave the order to turn the film into a comedy deserves a raise. The perfect blend of animation and vocal talent, with enough attitude and humor to last several movies. (Walt Disney)

MISS CONGENIALITY (PG-13)

Sandra Bullock shines in this winning comedy about an FBI agent who goes undercover in a beauty pageant. Bullock has a lot of fun in this “Pygmalion” story, seamlessly going from one extreme to the next. She’s perfect as a woman whose instincts are better than her grooming habits. One part suspense, one part romance and 100% funny, “Miss Congeniality” takes home the crown for anyone looking for a great, entertaining film. Filled with marvelous jokes (they even go back 30 years to “Midnight Cowboy” for one of the film’s funniest jokes) and a great supporting cast, “Miss Congeniality” never takes itself too seriously. That wouldn’t be any fun. The action takes place in a make-believe world where the writers are free to unleash their wicked brand of humor. None of this is real, but it is a lot of fun to watch. Benjamin Bratt makes an engaging love interest, while Candice Bergen and William Shatner are hysterical as pageant veterans on their way out. Warner Home Video has priced the video at sell-through, so you will be able to own your own copy of one of 2000’s biggest surprises. (Warner)

QUILLS (R)

Wickedly decadent, the film version of Doug Wright’s play is everything one could hope for. Geoffrey Rush is outstanding as the Marquis de Sade, whose illicit stories have landed him in an insane asylum. Much to the chagrin of the priest in charge (Joaquin Phoenix), the Marquis still manages to get his stories published. Determined to stop the Marquis, Napoleon sends a no-nonsense psychiatrist (Michael Caine) to keep him in line. Standing in the line of fire are Kate Winslet as an asylum chambermaid who helps the Marquis smuggle his stories out in exchange for private readings, and the psychiatrist’s lovely wife, who prefers the touch of a much younger man. Wright’s script is a battle of wills, and under Kaufman’s strong yet playful direction, the principal players make admirable foes. The dialogue is ripe with irony and double entendre, plus just enough moralizing to make all of this relevant. (Fox)

SUNSHINE (R)

Three generations of a Hungarian Jewish family unfold in this epic yet intimate portrait of human perseverance. Directed by Istvan Szabo (the stunning “Mephisto”), “Sunshine” is filled with lush period details and potent performances. Ralph Fiennes delivers not one but three powerful performances, playing grandfather, father and son, all facing persecution during the 20th Century. In the first segment, Fiennes plays Ignatz Sonnenschein, trying to keep his family together after the turn of the century. In order to keep his job as a judge and further his career, Ignatz changes the family name to Sors. In segment two, Fiennes plays Ignatz’s son Adam, who coverts to Christianity in order to compete in the Olympics as a fencer. Adam’s talent doesn’t save him from Hitler’s campaign, and he winds up in a Nazi prison camp. Adams’ son Ivan (Fiennes) becomes a Communist in the third segment, bringing the story full circle. Leisure in its pace, “Sunshine” is riveting drama. The characters are well defined and emotionally satisfying. You feel like you’re taking this trip with them. The outstanding supporting cast includes Rosemary Harris, Rachel Weisz and William Hurt. The scene of Adam in the prison camp is possibly one of the most haunting images I’ve seen in a film this year. (Paramount)

WHAT WOMEN WANT (PG-13)

Mel Gibson smartly plays against characters and comes up a winner in this delightful romantic comedy about a man who can reads women’s thoughts. Advertising executive Nick Marshall is at the top of his game. He’s handsome, works hard, and believes he has a way with the ladies. He’s wrong. He’s really a pig. All that changes when Marshall takes a spill in the bathroom, accidentally electrocuting himself in the bathtub. The result? He can read what women think. Not just some women, all women. Women on the street, women at the gym, and most of all, the woman who stole his promotion, Darcy McGuire (Helen Hunt). Marshall uses his new found powers to get to know women and what they really want, plus to torpedo McGuire by stealing her ideas. Gibson is funny and charming as a man who tries to get in touch with his feminine side, while Hunt is sweet as the woman who polarizes him. Director Nancy Meyers (“The Parent Trap”) does an excellent job of mixing social commentary and comedy, creating a film that entertains and informs at the same time. I especially appreciated the strong supporting cast and subplots, which really elevate the film from just a standard piece of fluff into something more substantial. It’s easy to see why the film grossed more than $180 million in theaters. (Paramount)

ALSO NEW THIS WEEK:

ANGELS DON’T SLEEP HERE (R/Avalanche)

CARMAN: THE CHAMPION (PG-13/GoodTimes)

INCUBUS (NR/Winstar)

INTERVIEW, THE (NR/New Yorker)

JET LI: THE LEGEND 2 (NR/Dimension)

YI YI (NR/Winstar)

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 1st, 2001 at 3:01 am and is filed under Film Review. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.