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Appearance
and Reality
GIRL WITH THE PEARL EARRING: Directed by Peter Webber. Written by Olivia Hetreed, based on the novel by Tracy Chevalier. Executive Produced by Andy Paterson, Anand Tucker. Cinematography, Eduardo Serra. Production design, Ben van Os. Editor, Kate Evans. Costumes design, Dien van Straalen. Music, Alexandre Desplat. Starring Colin Firth, Scarlett Johansson, with Tom Wilkinson, Judy Parfitt, Cillian Murphy, Alakina Mann and Essie Davis. Lions Gate Films, 2003. PG-13. 99 minutes The opening sequence in this fictional film is set in the Dutch city of Delft in the mid-1600s, in the orderly Protestant home of a local craftsman, a tile maker. The tile maker has been blinded by an accident at his kiln, and his 17-year old daughter, Griet (Scarlett Johansson), must earn enough money to support the family. Unsentimentally, Griet is sent to work as a servant in the chaotic household of painter Johannes Vermeer (Colin Firth). Vermeer's wife, Catharina (Essie Davis), is high-strung, jealous and nasty to the girl, who's also resented by the other maid. But the real power in the household rests with Vermeer's mother-in-law, Maria Thins (Judy Parfitt), who owns the house and secures Vermeer commissions from a wealthy patron and art collector, Pieter Van Ruijven (Tom Wilkinson). Van Ruijven has noticed the new servant girl. Aware of Catharina's jealousy of the girl and the husband's interest in her, he tells Maria he wants a painting of Griet for his personal collection. In the past, Maria has clandestinely supported Vermeer's need to have models, keeping such machinations secret from her own daughter. After the older woman observes Vermeer looking at the girl in a particular, close manner, Maria orders the reluctant Griet to model for the painter. Maria does not know Griet has been mixing paints, running errands for the painter, and keeping her activities secret for the past few months. The actual 1656 painting by Vermeer, Girl With a Pearl Earring, has mysterious origins. Most of Vermeer's work was done in a corner of his studio, as is this one, but his models came from family and friends. The model for this famous painting is unknown. Novelist Tracy Chevalier had a print of the painting in her bedroom for many years. One morning, the writer began wondering about the model and artist, how the model's facial expression showed such variety of emotions and what her relationship to the artist was really like. Chevalier's book achieved best-seller status. Lately, I've read two other excellent fictional treatments of artists and models. Larry Watson's novel, Orchard (Random House, 2003), is imaginatively based on American painter Andrew Wyeth and his oft-painted model, Helga. The other novel imagines a story about American impressionist painter and French expatriate, Mary Cassatt, and the extraordinary series of portraits she painted of her ill sister, Lydia. The book is called Lydia Cassatt Reading the Morning Paper by Harriet Scott Chessman (Seven Stories Press, 2001). Both are highly recommended. Modeling for an artist, from the model's point of view, is an experience of being seen, being deeply looked at and understood by another person. I don't doubt Vermeer's unknown model had such a nonverbal experience. The emotions in her face speak to both the joy and sadness of such an intensely private encounter. Unlike many critics of Girl With the Pearl Earring, I whole-heartedly love the film, maybe because I first saw Lost in Translation, which is also a unique love story starring the marvelous Scarlett Johansson. Here Johansson gives a nearly wordless performance, but at the end of her part in the film, the viewer knows her character intimately. Johansson has the maturity to contain her emotions but let them find expression in her face and demeanor. Likewise, Colin Firth makes the brooding, intense Vermeer come alive in his passion for art, his drive for perfection and his silent appreciation for the artistic sensibilities of the young servant girl who understands him. Girl With the Pearl Earring opens at Cinema World Friday. Very highest recommendations.
Temptation THE BIG BOUNCE: Directed by George Armitage. Written by Sebastian Gutierrez, from a novel by Elmore Leonard. Produced by Steve Bing, Jorge Saralegui. Executive producers, Zane Weiner, Brent Armitage. Cinematography, Jeffrey L. Kimball. Production design, Stephen Altman. Editors, Brian Berdan, Barry Malkin. Music, George S. Clinton. Starring Owen Wilson and Morgan Freeman, with Gary Sinise, Sara Foster and Charlie Sheen. Also, Willie Nelson, Vinnie Jones, Bebe Neuwith, Harry Dean Stanton. Warner Bros. Pictures, 2004. PG-13. 107 minutes.
This feel-good, surfin' movie attracted me for two reasons: The Big Bounce is based on a novel by Elmore Leonard, one, and Willie Nelson and Harry Dean Stanton make rare movie appearances here, that's two. Like many other readers, I find Leonard's taut dialogue and the generous affection he holds toward small-time criminals endearing. And although many of his works have been made into movies, only a few of the movies are memorable: Get Shorty, Jackie Brown or Out of Sight. I'm sorry to report that writer Sebastian Gutierrez (Gothika) and director George Armitage (Grosse Point Blank) have made a botch of things here with the second Hollywood movie based on The Big Bounce, Leonard's first crime novel that's not also a Western. Bounce's dialogue includes a few funny bits, but none occur to me now. The bush-league crooks are relatively harmless but not indelible characters. The emphasis is decidedly on girls in bikinis, guys on surfboards, big waves and vacation houses — a cynical but smart marketing decision. The downside: Everyone at the party in Hawaii has more fun than anyone in the audience. Maybe you think, well, the actors were good, right? Wrong. Owen Wilson plays the Owen Wilson character he's made a career out of — a laid-back, fast-talking, criminal-leaning dude. No substance. What happened to the actor who played the Owen Wilson character in The Royal Tennenbaums or Zoolander? He showed promise. Now Wilson promises more of the same. If you're a big Wilson fan, his likeability may be enough for you, but if you entertain higher expectations, you're out of luck. Morgan Freeman shows the same whimsical sparkle as an island judge he's shown in other bad movies but little of the thoughtful awareness that marked better performances (Driving Miss Daisy, Shawshank Redemption, Amistad). Sara Foster plays the girl in the bikini. Gary Sinise, as the shady developer of a beachfront hotel, is barely present as a character at all. Bebe Neuwirth landed one of the better supporting roles as Sinise's bitch-wife, with murder in her heart. She flounces around with a silly parasol and is rude to everyone. Charlie Sheen is miscast as the developer's strong man. He looks ineffective, with facial hair that fails to instill confidence. Sheen is suitably oily, however. Willie Nelson and Harry Dean Stanton play themselves at a poker table. Offscreen pals, they must have flown in for a pleasant weekend to make the movie. The only way this picture is going to get good press is if the studio flies the critics to Oahu for a long weekend to rest up for the rigors of writing about the scenery. The North Shore does look tempting. The Big Bounce is a Big Flop. I fear it is an omen of more of the same to come. So far, 2004 films are dismal. Wintertime is the right time to stay home and read a good book. Elmore Leonard has a new one: Mr. Paradise. According to critics, it's hot. The Big Bounce, now playing at Cinema World and Cinemark, isn't.
Barbershop 2 Back in Business: Ice Cube, Cedric the Entertainer and the barbers are back at Calvin's Barbershop, with hair stylist Queen Latifah next door. PG-13. Cinemark. Beatles, The: Celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Beatles on "Ed Sullivan Show." Includes other performance footage, some never seen before. Weekend LateNite and Sat. matinee, Bijou. Brubaker (1980): Reform-minded prison warden (Robert Redford) on state prison farm. Great cast includes Morgan Freeman, Yaphet Kotto, M. Emmet Walsh. R. At 7 pm on 2/5 in 180 PLC. Free. Catch That Kid: Bart Freundlich directs this caper film about three smark kids on a mission without permission. Stars Kristen Stewart, Corbin Bleu, Max Thieriot, Jennifer Beals, Sam Robards, John Carroll Lynch and James LeGros. PG. Cinema World. Cinemark. Cuckoo (Russia, 2002): Directed by Alexander Ragozhin. Two wounded soldiers, a Russian and a Finn, are cared for by a Lap war widow on her farm. At 8:15 pm on 2/9 in 115 Pacific Hall, UO. In Russian with English subtitles. Free.. Girl With the Pearl Earring: Scarlett Johansson and Colin Firth give consummate performances in this underrated, lovely film about Vermeer and the model for his famous, mysterious painting. Based on Tracy Chevalier's best-selling novel. Very highest recommendations. PG-13. Cinema World. See review this issue. Gothika: Halle Berry plays a criminal psychologist who blacks out and comes to accused of murdering her husband (Charles Dutton). Now she's a patient in his hospital. Directorial debut of Mathieu Kassovitz. Also Penélope Cruz, Robert Downey Jr., Bernard Hill. R. Movies 12. Graduate, The (1967): Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft give stellar performances as bed fellows in Mike Nichols' robust sex comedy. One of American Film Institute's Top 100 Films. Nichols won Academy Award for his excellent direction. PG. At 7 pm on 2/11 in 214 McKenzie Hall, UO campus. Free. 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. Cinemark. Cinema World.
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 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. See review this issue. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Very 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
MOVIE
THEATERS Bijou
Art Cinemas Regal
Cinemas Cinemark
Theaters
NEW
RELEASES ON VIDEO In the Cut: In Jane Campion's grossly underrated psychological thriller from 2003, Meg Ryan plays a credible, lonely woman involved with a tough homicide detective investigating murders in her neighborhood. Ryan's best performance ever is matched by the always excellent Mark Ruffalo and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Explicit sexuality, sex talk. Graphic evidence of violence. Very highest recommendations. R. Ingmar Bergman Special Collection includes Bergman's The Hour of the Wolf 1968, The Passion of Anna ('69), Persona ('66), The Serpent's Egg and Shame ('68) plus bonus disc on Bergman's cinematographer, Sven Nykvist: With One Eye He Cries. Intolerable Cruelty: The Coen brothers comedy about L.A. divorce attorney Miles Massey (George Clooney), who falls for gold-digger Marylin Rexroth (Catherine Zeta-Jones). Also stars Geoffrey Rush, Cedric the Entertainer, Billy Bob Thornton, Edward Herrmann and Richard Jenkins. PG-13. Online archives. Once Upon a Time in the Midlands: Writer, director Shane Meadows' film set in Nottingham stars Robert Carlyle and Rhys Ifans as rivals for Shirley Henderson's love. Briefly played Eugene. R. Returner (Japan, '03): The Village Voice calls Takashi Yamazaki's film "A shamelessly recycled vision of decrepit high tech." Stars Takeshi Kaneshiro, Ann Suzuki, Goro Kishtani in a back-to-the-future tale of battles between humans and robots. Ho hum. Stone Reader: Critically acclaimed 2002 documentary directed by Mark Moskowitz about his search for Dow Mossman, the author of the novel, "The Stones of Summer." DVD includes commentary by director and author as well as interviews, extras. Wonderland: James Cox directs this 2003 biopic of 1970s porno star, John Holmes, aka Johnny Wadd, as played by Val Kilmer. Also stars Kate Bosworth, Lisa Kudrow, Dylan McDermott and Christina Applegate. DVD extras include deleted scenes, LAPD crime scene video, autopsy report, and more on Holmes. Sensationalistic picture didn't wow critics. R.
Next week: Blow Up (1966), City of God, The Damned, Death in Venice, Mambo Italiano, The Pentagon Papers and Runaway Jury.
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