 |
  |
 |
||||||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||
|
Bad
Luck THE COOLER: Directed by Wayne Kramer. Written by Wayne Kramer and Frank Hannah. Produced by Sean Furst, Michael A. Pierce. Cinematography, Jim Whitaker. Editor, Arthur Coburn. Music, Mark Isham. Production design, tony Corbett. Costumes, Kristin M. Burke. Starring William H. Macy, Alec Baldwin and Maria Bello. With Ron Livingston, Shawn Hatosy, Estella Warren, Paul Sorvino and Joey Fatone. Lions Gate Films, 2003. R. 101 minutes.
Even though no one smokes in theaters anymore (thanks be), I left this film feeling as if I had been stuck in a dark Vegas smoke 'n' booze factory, where under flashy neon, oily men and lurid women lived and died by the ker-ching of the slots. The Shangri-La is definitely a throwback to the bad old days, a "gambler's casino" run by a cocky Shelly Kaplow (Alec Baldwin), who finds his way of life, and his casino's, hanging in the balance. New suits have weaseled their way into becoming advisors for the mob guys he works for. Squeaky-clean looking guys like Larry Sokolv (Ron Livingston), an efficiency man whose eye is always on the bottom line. Bernie Lootz (William H. Macy) is a sad, lonely man who's been working off a gambling debt he owed Shelly by being the casino's cooler. Bernie is such bad luck, all he needs to do is appear at a winner's table, and the guy starts losing. Benny puts out a winning streak faster than the fire truck squelches a grass fire in the rain. Bernie starts getting some attention from a good-looking cocktail waitress, Natalie (Maria Bello), which surprises him, and before long they become an odd couple. Natalie seems as lonely in her own sexy, beautiful way as Bernie, and they do ordinary, everyday things as well as have sex. But like a bad penny, Mikey (Shawn Hatosy), Bernie's kid he abandoned years earlier, turns up with his very pregnant wife Charlene (Estella Warren) in tow. Of course the con in Mikey hits up the old man for some dough for the baby, which he builds into a huge pile of cash at the tables of the Shangri-La. Let's say Mikey's scam has serious side-effects and leave it at that. Everyone gets involved, and it's a very bad scene. I have many complaints with this movie, although I recognize that some people will like the show and tell others to see it. But the movie's violence is the kind I particularly hate to see, you know, like torture. And the sex between Natalie and Bernie turned me off. Both the sex and the violence are graphic in crude ways, unlike a much more worthy film that was briefly in town two weeks ago, In the Cut. That film has plenty of explicit sex and sex talk, but the director, Jane Campion, knows how to direct actors. Even Meg Ryan — I've wanted to slap her in every movie she's been in except In the Cut — gives a mature, vulnerable performance that has nothing to do with being cute. In The Cooler, the actors are mis-directed, and the tone of the intimacy is lost. Bernie's groans and crotch shots may be what some young dude imagines sex is like for an older man, but audiences don't need to hear it, or see it, for god's sake. Who knows? With a more professional writer and director, this movie could have crawled a few notches higher up the scale of Vegas-type movies. But with Goodfellas and Croupier occupying the top spot, no way The Cooler could end up anywhere near them. The movie is conditionally redeemed by its strange ending, but I was still glad to get out of the smoky bar, go home, shower, wash my hair and curl up with a good thriller. Dirty in a purely amateur, mobbed-up way, The Cooler opens Friday at the Bijou.
Big Bounce: Owen Wilson, Morgan Freeman, Gary Sinise, Willie Nelson, Vinnie Jones, Bebe Neuwirth and Charlie Sheen star in this comedy based on an Elmore Leonard novel. Directed by George Armitage. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. Black Sabbath in Concert: (12/20/1970) Extras! One week only. LateNite Bijou. Cooler, The: William H. Macy, Maria Bello and Alec Baldwin star in this Vegas-set romance thriller directed by Wane Kramer. Sex and violence, a few sweet moments. R. Bijou. See review this issue. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986): John Hughes directs this high-school classic starring Matthew Broderick, Jennifer Grey, Charlie Sheen, and many others. PG-13. LateNite Bijou. Lost in Translation: Directed by Sofia Coppola (The Virgin Suicides), this highly acclaimed film was shot entirely on location in Japan. It stars Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson as lonely Americans in a Tokyo hotel who become friends. With Giovanni Ribisi. Very highest recommendations. R. Cinema World. Online archives. Miracle: The: 1980 US Ice Hockey team beat the greatest team in the world (the Russians) at the Olympics. Stars Kurt Russell as the coach of this inspiring tale of a sports-world miracle. PG. Sneak at 7:30 on 01/31. Cinemark. Cinema World. Network (1976): Sidney Lumet directs this award-winning never-more-timely, searing indictment of the television industry. Stars Peter Finch, Faye Dunaway, William Holden, Robert Duvall, Ned Beatty, Beatrice Straight. Written by Paddy Chayefsky. R. At 7 pm on 02/04 in 214 McKenzie Hall, UO campus. Free. Paths of Glory (1957): Stanley Kubrick's WWI film set in France and starring Kirk Douglas and Adolphe Menjou is a wrenching anti-war classic. A great film. At 7 pm on 01/29 in 180 PLC. Free. Perfect Score, The: Cast includes Erika Christensen and Scarlett Johansson in this tale of six high-school students who band together to heist the SAT. PG-13. Cinemark. Power of Conscience: The Danish Resistance and the Rescue of the Jews: At 4 pm on 02/01 at Portland's Mittleman Jewish Center. (503) 244-0111, ext. 260. Roger Beebe and Tony Gault Head to Head film Duel: Award-winning national filmmakers Beebe and Gault show their experimental films at 8 pm on 01/02 at DIVA. $3 cover; all ages event. Ruthless Romance (1984): Eldar Riazanov directs. Idealistic young woman wants to marry for love and appreciation but finds disappointment and violence. At 8:15 on 01/02 in 115 Pacific, UO campus. In Russian with English subtitles. Free. Uncovered: The Whole Truth about the Iraq War: Video by MoveOn, facilitated by Mary O'Brien. At 7 pm on 02/04 in EWEB Training Room. Free. You Got Served: In competitive street dancing, crews battle each other for money and respect. Cast includes Marques Houston, Omarion, Raz B, J boog and Lil' Fizz. PG-13. Cinemark.
CONTINUING: Along Came Polly: Ben Stiller plays Reuben, a hapless husband whose bride dumps him. Then he meets up with a childhood friend, Polly (Jennifer Aniston). Also stars Philip Seymour Hoffman, Hank Azaria, Bryan Brown and Alec Baldwin. John Hamburg directs. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. Big Fish: Tim Burton's film about a son (Billy Crudup) who tries to figure out his father's (Albert Finney) life through the wild stories he's told. Also stars Ewan McGregor, Helena Bonham Carter, Danny DeVito, Jessica Lange, Alison Lohman and Steve Buscemi. Truly wonderful film; highest recommendations. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. Online archives. 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. Butterfly Effect: The trailer is about a young man (Ashton Kutcher) who time travels back to the past to fix the broken lives of a childhood girlfriend (Amy Smart) and his friends, Lenny (Eldoen Henson) and Tommy (William Lee Scott). R. Cinema World. Cinemark. Calendar Girls: Spunky members of a woman's club in Yorkshire, England poses naked to raise money for medical research after one's husband gets leukemia. Stars Helen Mirren, Julie Walters and John Alderton. Based on a true story. Nigel Cole directs. PG-13 Cinemark. Online archives. 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. With Alec Baldwin, Kelly Preston. Reviewers don't recommend. PG-13. Movies 12. Cheaper by the Dozen: Steve Martin and Bonnie Hunt play the parents of 12 children, including Piper Perabo, Hilary Duff and Tom Welling. Directed by Shawn Levy. PG. Cinemark. Cold Mountain: Anthony Minghella's adaptation 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. Elegaic. Excellent performances, beautiful film. Very highest recommendations. R. Cinema World. Cinemark. Online archives. Elf: Jon Favreau directs and Will Farrell stars as an elf who doesn't look like the other kids, er, elves. The big elf searches for his biological father (James Caan) in New York. PG. Movies 12. In America: Jim Sheridan's memoir of living in New York in 1981 with his wife and two daughters is a heartfelt film that stars Samantha Morton, Paddy Considine, Sarah Bolger and Emma Bolger. Highest recommendations. PG-13. Bijou. Online archives. Last Samurai: Edward Zwick directs. In Japan, US Civil War hero Nathan Algren (Tom Cruise) trains the Emperor's troops in the way of the gun as they take on the last samurais. Algren is captured by Katsumoto (Ken Watanabe) and falls under samurai traditions and codes of honor. R. Cinemark. Online archives. 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. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King: Peter Jackson completes Tolkien's trilogy on film, and the result is stunning. Stars Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Ian McKellen, Billy Boyd, Orlando Bloom, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett. In parallel stories Frodo and Sam make it to Mount Doom as the warriors of Middle Earth under the leadership of Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen) fight the final battle against the forces of the evil Sauron. Very highest recommendations. Brilliant! Cinema World. Cinemark. Online archives. 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. Good fun. Highly recommended. R. Movies 12. Online archives. 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. Matrix Revolutions: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne and Carrie-Anne Moss are back for the third (and final?) Matrix episode. Written and directed by the Wachowski Brothers. Produced by Joel Silver. R. Movies 12. Missing, The: Ron Howard directs Cate Blanchett and Tommy Lee Jones as an estranged daughter and father in this Western set in 1885 New Mexico. Blanchett, seeking to avenge her daughter's (Evan Rachel Wood) kidnapping, reluctantly joins forces with her despised old man. R. Movies 12. Mystic River: Directed by Clint Eastwood; written by Brian Helgeland, based on the novel by Dennis Lehane, this dramatic tragedy stars Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburne, Marcia Gay Harden, Laura Linney and Emmy Rossum. Very highest recommendations. R. Cinemark. Online archives. Peter Pan: Directed by P.J. Hogan, movie stars Jason Isaacs, Jeremy Sumpter, Richard Briers, Olivia Williams, Lyn Redgrave, Ludivine Sagnier and Rachel Hurd-Wood. PG. Movies 12. 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. Cinemark. Online archives. Stuck on You: The Farrelly Brothers (Something About Mary) direct this story of joined twins Bob (Mat Damon) and Walt (Greg Kinear). Walt convinces Bob to move to L.A. so he can become an actor. But success threatens to drive them apart. Also stars Cher, Eva Mendes and Seymour Cassel plus big name cameos. PG-13. Movies 12. Timeline: Richard Donner directs screen adaptation of Michael Crichton's novel about archaeologists on a dig who time travel back 600 years to rescue their teacher, trapped in 14th century France. Stars Paul Walker, Frances O'Connor, Billy Connolly, David Thewlis. PG-13. 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. Win a Date with Tad Hamilton: Kate Bosworth, Topher Grace and Josh Duhamel star in this teen romance comedy directed by Robert Luketic. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World.
MOVIE
THEATERS Bijou
Art Cinemas Regal
Cinemas Cinemark
Theaters
NEW
RELEASES ON VIDEO American Splendor: Cleveland crank Harvey Pekar, writer and file clerk, is celebrated in this excellent film for his ordinary, working-class life and daily gripes, made famous in his illustrated comics. Stars Paul Giamatti, Hope Davis and a host of great supporting actors. Very highest recommendations. R. Bijou. Online archives. Fighting Temptations, The: Cuba Gooding Jr. plays an ad exec who inherits money only if he conducts a rural gospel choir. Co-stars Beyoncé Knowles. Musical comedy directed by Jonathan Lynn. PG-13. Secondhand Lions: Haley Joe Osment is sent to his great uncles' rural Texas farm, where the city boy has much to learn. Robert Duvall and Michael Caine may have been bank robbers. Written and directed by Tim McCanlies (writer, The Iron Giant). PG.
Next week: In the Cut, Ingmar Bergman Special Collection, Intolerable Cruelty, Once Upon a Time in the Midlands, Returner, Stone Reader and Wonderland. |
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
 |
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||
