Films Review September
61* (NR)
Billy Crystal directed this winning docudrama about the race by New York Yankees superstars Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris to beat Babe Ruth’s single season record of 60 home runs. Crystal and his splendid cast hit a home run, delivering a film that takes a well known event and infuses it with great dramatic highs. Thomas Jane and Barry Pepper personify Mantle and Maris, who take their quest to beat the record in stride. Even though there’s little personal conflict between the two players, the media circus and public sentiment surrounding the race help divide fans and the nation in general. Crystal faithfully recaptures the time and place, while the actors bring the baseball legends vividly to life. Great supporting cast includes Richard Masur, Bruce McGill, Christopher McDonald, Renee Taylor, and Anthony Michael Hall. (HBO)
BLOW (R)
I’ve never heard of George Jung, but at one time he was responsible for 85% of the cocaine that dusted through the West Coast during the late 70’s and early 80’s. As a personal distributor of the Colombian cocaine cartel, Jung made more than $60 million. He lived like a king, throwing extravagant parties and buying his Colombian trophy wife Mirtha anything she wanted. Jung’s quick ride to the top is the basis of the new film “Blow,” a dry and overlong cautionary tale on the evils of drug dealing. It’s an unconvincing argument, weighted down by cliched dialogue and see-through acting. “Blow” ultimately feels like a high school public service announcement. Every action and reaction is projected to the back row. The film was obviously written for a demographic that was too young to really remember what it was like. Please click title for complete review. (New Line)
DEAD SIMPLE (R)A winning cast and enough twists and turns to keep even the most jaded viewer glued to the screen keep this dark comedy-thriller alive. Daniel Stern is excellent as a henpecked hotel owner who dreams of becoming a country western singer and songwriter. His dreams are constantly questioned by his wife Helen (Patricia Richardson), who believes more in the Bible than her husband. When Frank (Stern) gets the opportunity to sing one of his songs at a local amateur hour, he runs into semi-celebrities Roy Baker (James Caan) and his girlfriend Julie Mitchell (Lacey Kohl). The chance meeting turns into something more sinister when Frank comes to Julie’s rescue, only to set off a chain of events that leave Helen dead and Frank scrambling to make sense of his life. Nothing is what it seems in this fun house ride. One moment you think you know where the plot is headed, the next you’re just as lost as Frank. (Artisan)
EXIT WOUNDS (R)
Ultra violent crime drama stars Steven Seagal as a disgraced cop whose renegade style has landed him duty in one of Detroit’s worst precincts. Even though he has just saved the Vice President of the United States life, Orin Boyd (Seagal) is demoted to street duty. Boyd finds himself under the constant watch of female captain Annette Mulcahy (Jill Hennessey), who even suggests that he attend anger management classes to get his emotions in check. When Boyd suspects corruption in his precinct, he doesn’t know who he can trust. He finds an ally in new partner George Clarke (Isaiah Washington), who helps Boyd in his quest to uncover the truth. Director Andrzej Bartkowiak paints handsome pictures, but the script isn’t anything to get excited about. Seagal seems at home in the tough guy role, and he’s given plenty of opportunity to flex his muscle. The rest of the cast are much better, helping balance the absurd action with human emotion. Fans of this genre will best appreciate the effort. (Warner)
HEARTBREAKERS (R)
Chop shop owner Dean Cumanno (Ray Liotta) never knew what hit him. One day he’s marrying the woman of his dreams, the next day he’s giving her $300,000 in a quickie divorce settlement. That’s what happens when you get caught the day after your wedding having sex with your secretary. What poor, sweet, trusting Dean doesn’t know is that his new bride and secretary are actually a mother-daughter con team who have just played him to the tune of $300,000. Unfortunately, they took much more than his money. They stole his heart, leaving him miserable. Forget a woman scorned. There’s nothing worse than a Jersey chop shop owner whose heart has been ripped out in front of his friends and family. Please click on title for complete review. (MGM)
JUST VISITING (PG-13)
American remake of the 1993 French comedy hit “Les Visiteurs” finds original stars Jean Reno and Christian Clavier recreating their roles of a 12th Century Count and his faithful servant. Reno stars as Count Thibault, who is engaged to marry the beautiful Julia (Christina Applegate). When the Count’s rival hires a witch to cast a spell to stop the wedding, Thibault finds himself imprisoned for murdering Julia. Desperate to help his boss, servant Andre (Clavier) finds a wizard who can send Thibault back in time to make things right. When things go wrong, Thibault and Andre find themselves in modern day Chicago. With the help of a distant relative who is a dead ringer for Julia (Applegate again), Thibault and Andre try to adjust to their new time zone while trying to find a way back home. Like most American remakes, “Just Visiting” isn’t nearly as witty as the original, relying more on special effects and slapstick humor to get the point across. Reno and Clavier seem like shadows of their former characters, while the rest of the cast just goes along for the ride. Kids will like the slapstick, but the film’s PG-13 rating might frighten their parents away. (Touchstone)
MEMENTO (R)
Memory can be a tricky thing. Just ask Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce). The victim of a vicious attack, Shelby has lost his short term memory. He has no problem remembering events before the attack, but can’t tell you what happened ten minutes ago. That means every time Shelby goes to sleep, he wakes up a stranger in a strange land. Welcome to “Memento,” the first really great film of 2001. The sophomore effort of writer- director Christopher Nolan, “Memento” is the sort of film that grabs you by the throat and goes for the jugular. It leaves you little time to breathe, much less catch your breathe. Hold on for the mind game of your life. Please click title for complete review. (Columbia-TriStar)
ME, YOU, THEM (PG)
Regina Case is a delight in this Brazil drama about a woman who marries one man but finds romantic solace in the arms of others. Case stars as Darlene, a single mother who leaves home to get married, but finds herself alone and abandoned. When she returns home three years later, Darlene finds her choices very limited. She agrees to marry local farmer Osias (Lima Duarte) in order to provide a home for her child, and finds herself attending to the goats while her new husband watches from his hammock. Things heat up when Zezinho (Stenio Garcia), the cousin of Osias, comes to visit. In time Darlene has another child, obviously not the byproduct of her husband. Then Darlene meets an amorous stranger, and eventually another child arrives. Too dense to understand that he is not the father, Osias is forced to come to the realization that in order to keep his wife, he must also keep her lovers. The drama is real and human, the complications unexpected and dealt with in a mature and occasionally funny manner. You don’t have to be a fan of foreign films to appreciate the life of Darlene and her men. (Columbia-TriStar)
SHADOW MAGIC (PG)
Director Ann Hu has created a loving tribute to the spirit of progress and the cinema in “Shadow Magic,” a handsome recreation of 1902 China. Jared Harris stars as Englishman Raymond Wallace, who arrives in Peking with a hand-cranked projector and some early motion pictures. Not everyone is thrilled with the new technology, but young photographer Liu Jinglun (Xia Yu) embraces Wallace and his device, and offers to serve as his link to the people of China. “Shadow Magic” is filled with many memorable images and handsome production values, plus enough emotional drama to make all of this matter. Even though the film lacks historical accuracy, it does provide a rare glimpse of a time and place that no longer exist. The cast, especially Yu as a man who wants to embrace true love over tradition, are excellent. (Columbia-TriStar)
Whoever coined the term “Honor Among Spies” obviously never met Andy Osnard, a British agent who is always on the make. A cad and a rogue, Osnard finds himself exiled to Panama after his gambling and sexual indiscretions catch up with him. Doesn’t matter. As long as Osnard can find a patsy he’s happy. He finds one in fellow countryman and tailor Harry Pendel, whose connections to the rich and infamous make him the perfect contact. Poor Harry. A former convict who has reinvented himself in Panama, Harry has no choice but to help Osnard. God forbid should his perfect family learn the truth about him. Harry can also use the money. The bank is ready to call in his loan if he can’t make a payment. Please click on title for complete review. (Columbia-TriStar)
WIT (R)
The Pulitzer-prize winning play becomes an equally brilliant HBO Cable Movie, starring Emma Thompson as a strict and stuffy literary professor whose regiment is sidetracked when she learns she has terminal ovarian cancer. Directed by Mike Nichols, this filmed adaptation captures all of the emotion and pain of the stage play, delivering not just one punch but many. Thompson is riveting as a strong woman who becomes vulnerable as the disease begins to take its toll. Watching Thompson go through the emotions reminds us of what great acting is all about. Christopher Lloyd co-stars as her doctor. (HBO)
