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Celebrated
Father MY ARCHITECT: A SON'S JOURNEY: Documentary written, directed and narrated by Nathaniel Kahn. Produced by Kahn and Susan Rose Behr. Executive producers Behr, Andrew Clayman, Darrell Friedman, Edited by Sabine Krayenbuhl. Cinematographer, Bob Richman. Music, Joseph Vitarelli. Appearances include Phillip Johnson, Nathaniel Kahn, I.M. Pei, Jack MacCallister, Anne Tyng, Edmund Bacon, Frank O. Gehry, Robert Boudreau, Harriet Pattison, Priscilla Pattison, Edwina Pattison Daniels, Sue Ann Kahn, Alexandra Tyng, and Shamsul Wares. New Yorker Films, 2003. NR. 116 minutes. 2003 Academy Award nominee best documentary feature; winner of 2003 Director's Guild Award for outstanding achievement in documentary feature.
Nathaniel Kahn approaches making a nonfiction film about his father, architect Louis Kahn, as a writer might undertake the creation of a memoir: He wants to find out who his father was, what in his work is of lasting importance, and why the man who referred to himself as "Daddy" never came to live with him and his mother. Kahn tells how he felt about his father at different times in his life, as a young child when his father spent a whole day outside with him; or when he was 11 and learned of his father's death from a newspaper story that did not list his name among Louis Kahn's surviving family. Eldest daughter Sue Ann is from the "official" family. Nathaniel is Kahn's only son, and was raised by his mother, Harriet Pattison. Alexandra Tyng grew up with her mother, architect Anne Tyng. Neither woman was married to Kahn, and the three half-siblings had not met until Nathaniel asked them to come together during the making of the film. The film is concerned with the view of Kahn held by his architectural associates, friends and enemies, and by both the impressive and not-so fine buildings he created. But the heart of the film remains the question of family. Nathaniel avoids self-pity, keeping a warm, curious but undisturbed tone even as he interviews his own mother and disagrees with her heartfelt belief that at the time of his death, Louis was planning to come live with them. Kahn comes close to anger over his father's neglect, yet at another time he is proud of his father's accomplishments. He bears the coolness and distance his father's brother, a Jewish rabbi, shows toward him. He endures Edmund Bacon's verbal repugnance of Louis Kahn's work with grace, although Bacon rejected his father's redesign for downtown Philadelphia. These scenes could not have been easy for the filmmaker. Yet in his deeply held intention to discover the real man who was his father, Nathaniel takes the bitter with the better. A more generous view of Kahn comes from I.M. Pei, like Kahn one of the great architects of the 20th century but a much more widely known and prolific giant in the professional world. Pei says Kahn was a great artist who would not compromise his vision to pursue wealth or to make buildings he did not respect. Dismissing his own 50 or 60 buildings, Pei confidently says, "It's quality, not quantity that counts." One of the joys the film affords is seeing Kahn's great buildings: the Salk Institute for Biological Studies in La Jolla, Calif. (1959-67), the delightful Kimbell Art Museum in Ft. Worth, Texas (1967-72), and the monumental Capital Complex at Dhaka, Bangladesh, begun in 1962 but completed nine years after Kahn's death. Kahn died of a heart attack in the men's room at Philadelphia's Penn Station after returning from Bangladesh in 1974. In the film's final scenes, Nathaniel is shooting interiors of the Capital Complex, where he is approached by Shamus Wares, a Bangladeshi architect who worked with his father. Wares tells Nathaniel that the building his father created for the "poorest country in the world" has taught its people about democracy. Wares' impromptu elegy to Kahn's work provides a touchstone that reflects the passion of the film. I was deeply moved. If you loved Rivers and Tides: Andy Goldsworthy Working with Time, you don't want to miss My Architect, opening Friday, April 23 at the Bijou with my very highest recommendations.
Cross-Genre
Saga KILL BILL VOL. 2: Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. Co-written by Uma Thurman. Produced by Lawrence Bender and Tarantino. Executive producers Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, Erica Steinberg, E. Bennett Walsh. Cinematography, Robert Richardson. Editor, Sally Menke. Original music, the RZA and Robert Rodriguez. Production design, Cao Jui Ping, David Wasco. Costume design, Kumiko Ogawa, Catherine Marie Thomas. Martial arts adviser, Yuen Wo-Ping. Special effects supervisor, Jason Gustafson. Starring Uma Thurman, David Carradine, Gordon Liu, Daryl Hannah, Michael Madsen, Michael Parks and Bo Svenson. Miramax Films, 2004. R. 136 minutes.
While Kill Bill 2 does not regale viewers with the relentless blood-letting of Kill Bill 1, the movie doesn't shortchange on Tarantino's lusty relish for grisly detail, deliberate cruelty, agonizing death and useless, self-absorbed conversations. His characters remain emotionally flat, two-dimensional like the comic-book killers and chopsockey heroes he so admires. There is no moral center in either film or in the filmmaker's hype about the film. Making Uma into Mommy doesn't change her. The Bride aka Beatrix Kiddo is still intent on murder. And by the time she catches up with Bill, the audience can't wait to see how ingeniously she will make him suffer as she kills him. Cheese is cheese. If you want to worship at the temple of Tarantino, by all means, celebrate his shallowness and toast your own pop sensibilities. Tarantino is adept as a film technician, especially in action sequences, but he has no human feeling. "I'm good," his ego crows with each camera movement. "Impressed yet?" he wonders with each new exercise in escalating carnage. "Ready for this?" he inquires with each regrettably beautiful but soul-less image. Here's the thing about Tarantino's flash. He tries to put down the tricks he uses to cinematically violate the body and diminish the spirit, but he's clumsy. The result is a crass, vapid gesture — not emotional warmth, passion or tenderness, but gooey, slurpy sentimentality, that cheap, fakey substitute for feeling. The film's simplistic motivation — find Bill and kill him — is saved from total banality by solid performances here and there. Michael Madsen is surprisingly good once he gets his character, Budd, out of his bouncer-at-the-sleazy-club mode. Madsen takes Tarantino's non-sparkling dialogue and imparts to it a gravitas the words alone don't deserve. Likewise, the best things the Bride has going are not her kung-fu moves and sword sense but Thurman's line delivery. The velvet in her voice holds a shred of hope that almost makes you care about her character. Almost, but not quite. David Carradine rustles up the ghost of the wandering Chinese American Shaolin monk he played in TV's 1970 series, "Kung Fu," to play Bill, who handles Tarantino's bullshit colloquies with a creepy kind of reverence. Even in their best moments, these characters are unable to transcend the indecent view of human nature that conceived them. The dispirited ambiance of the film is almost as smug as Tarantino's ideas about what he thinks he has created here. Almost, but not quite. Kill Bill 2 is now playing at Cinema World and Cinemark. Caveat emptor.
Dreams (1993): Karen Shaknazarov directs. Fresh look at Russia's cultural and social troubles shown through a woman's experience of sexuality. At 9:45 on 4/27 in 115 Pacific, UO. Free. Feminist Film Festival: Films include Body: The Value of Women, Writing Desire, and My Left Breast. From 6:30 - 10 pm on 4/23 in 102 Owen Hall, OSU, Corvallis. Grave of the Fireflies (1988): Videohound says, "Stunning animated testimony to the human spirit." Isao Takahata wrote and directs story of a boy and his little sister in post-WWII Japan, who struggle but fail to survive. Based on Akiyuki Nosaka's novel. At 7 pm on 4/28 in 180 PLC, UO. Free. Greendale: Experimental film by Neil Young sings and narrates story through lip-synching actors about environmental and social change and how people living in rural America respond. Ten selections in full from Young and Crazy Horse's new album. NR. Bijou. Kill Bill Vol. 1: Quentin Tarantino's first of two films was called the most violent film ever made in Hollywood. Stars Uma Thurman as the Bride, a woman with a mission: Kill Bill (David Carradine), her former boss and lover who betrayed her and murdered her family. With Lucy Liu, Daryl Hannah, LaTanya Richardson, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen and Samuel L. Jackson. R. Movies 12. Man on Fire: Denzel Washington as a security guard for a child who is kidnapped on his watch. He will have revenge. R. Cinema World. Cinemark. Microcosmos: Directed by Claude Nuridsany and Marie Perennou, a delightful summer day spent with meadow and pond insects stars such minute creatures as an Argyronet Spider with its diving bell and an Eucera bee in love with an Ophrys orchid. Stunning micro-photography. G. At 7 pm on 4/28 in 123 Pacific, UO. Free. My Architect: Documentary written, directed and narrated by Nathaniel Kahn about his late father, renowned architect Louis Kahn. A true memoir, the film is the son's effort to discover who his father was and to understand his own loss. Very highest recommendations. NR. Bijou. See review this issue. Purple Rose of Cairo, The (1985): Written and directed by Woody Allen, film stars Mia Farrow as a waitress who escapes into a film and falls in love. Also with Jeff Daniels, Danny Aiello, Dianne Wiest. PG. At 7 pm on 4/28 in 30 Pacific Hall, UO. Free. Romance Languages Film Festival: Three-day film festival in Auditorium, Agate Hall. Begins Thurs. 4/22 at 8:15 pm with Like Water for Chocolate. Continues Fri. 4/23 at 8:15 pm TBA and at 10 pm Life is Beautiful. Concludes Sat. 4/24 at 6 pm, Il Postino; at 8:15 pm, La Femme Nikita; and 10:30 pm, All About My Mother. $3 general, free UO students. Thirteen Going On 30: Jennifer Garner goes to bed 13, wishing she were older. Wakes up 17 years later, and she is. Directed by Gary Winnick, also stars the always excellent Mark Ruffalo, Andy Serkis and Kathy Baker. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. Tokyo Godfathers (2004): Anime director Satoshi Kon's new, acclaimed animated feature. The New York Times called it "a kind of neorealist cartoon, a heartfelt urban fable about human decency among the down-and-out," and "a love letter to modern Tokyo." LateNite Bijou. Twisted: Philip Kaufman directs Ashley Judd, Samuel L. Jackson and Andy Garcia in a policier involving a female serial killer. R. Movies 12. Films open the Friday following EW publication date unless otherwise noted. See archived reviews at www.eugeneweekly.com
CONTINUING: Agent Cody Banks 2 Destination London: Frankie Muniz returns as spy Cody Banks. This time he's undercover in London as a student at an elite boarding school. PG. Movies 12. Alamo, The: The famous 13-day battle of 1836 in a San Antonio mission pitted 200 men against an overwhelming Mexican army. Stars Patrick Wilson, Jason Patric, Billy Bob Thornton, Dennis Quaid and Emilio Echevarria. Directed by John Lee Hancock as understated drama. Highly recommended. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. Online archives. 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. Ewan McGregor, Helena Bonham Carter, Danny DeVito, Jessica Lange, Alison Lohman and Steve Buscemi co-star. Truly wonderful film; highest recommendations. Academy Award nom for original score. PG-13. Movies 12. Online archives. 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. 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. Movies 12. Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen: Stars Lindsay Lohan (Freaky Friday). Welsh director Sara Sugarman's first movie. PG. Movies 12. Connie and Carla: Nia Vardalos and Toni Collette observe a Mafia hit, head for LA and become drag queens until Connie meets Jeff (David Duchovny). PG-13. Cinemark. Dawn of the Dead: Remake of George Romero's 1978 cult classic about a shopping mall taken over by those trying to survive a zombie plague. Unlikely stars: the excellent Sarah Polley (My Life Without Me) and Ving Rhames. R. Movies 12. Ella Enchanted: Anne Hathaway is a perfectly obedient girl. She does what she's told, literally. Based on Newberry-winning novel. PG. Cinemark. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind: Highly acclaimed film directed by Michel Gondry from screenplay by Charlie Kaufman (Adaptation). Stars Jim Carrey, Kate Winslet, Tom Wilkinson, with Mark Ruffalo, Elijah Wood, Kirsten Dunst. Carrey discovers Winslet had memories of their relationship erased. Now he wants to do the same. Or does he? The best new film of '04. Very highest recommendations. R. Cinema World. Online archives. Girl Next Door, The: Emile Hirsch and Elisha Cuthbert (Kim Bauer of "24") star in Luke Greenfield's teen comedy, romance. R. Cinemark. Havana Nights, Dirty Dancing: Re-telling of Dirty Dancing set in 1958 in the Cuban capital, where an American woman (Romolo Garai) and Cuban man (Diego Luna, Y Tu Mama Tambien) dance at a steamy local hot spot, La Rosa Negra, on the eve of the revolution. PG-13. Movies 12. Hellboy: Based on Mike Mignola's Dark Horse Comics series, this supernatural action adventure stars Ron Perlman, John Hut, Selma Blain and Doug Jones and is directed by Guillermo del Toro. Highly entertaining, sweet film. Don't be afraid; see it. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. Online archives. Home on the Range: Disney animated feature features voices by Roseanne Barr, Judi Dench, Jennifer Tilly, Cuba Gooding Jr., Randy Quaid, Steve Buscemi, Carole Cook and Governor Ann Richards., while singing comes from k.d. lang, Bonnie Raitt, Tim McGraw and The Beau Sisters. PG. Cinemark. Jersey Girl: Written and directed by Kevin Smith, film's about a music publicist (Ben Affleck) trying to balance work and fatherhood as a single parent. Also stars Jennifer Lopes, George Carlin, Liv Tyler, Jason Biggs. Raquel Castro is his independent daughter. PG-13. Cinemark. Kill Bill 2: The Bride (Uma Thurman) pursues her next foes, Budd (Michael Madsen), Ellie Driver (Daryl Hannah) and finally, Bill (David Carradine). Bound to be bloody. R. Cinemark. Cinema World. See review this issue. Ladykillers, The: Based on the 1955 British comedy starring Peter Sellers and Alec Guiness, Ethan and Joel Coen's adaptation stars Tom Hanks and Marlon Wayons. When these bank robbers move into "no hip-hop" house of a Southern church-going woman, anything goes. R. Cinema World. Cinemark. Lord of the Rings: Return of the King: Peter Jackson's stunning work stars Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Ian McKellen, Billy Boyd, Orlando Bloom, Liv Tyler, Cate Blanchett. Frodo and Sam make it to Mount Doom as Aragorn leads the warriors of Middle Earth in the final battle against Sauron. 2003 Academy Award sweeps for Best Picture; Director, Peter Jackson; adapted screenplay; art direction; sound mixing; original score; original song; costume design; film editing; makeup; and visual effects. Very highest recommendations. Movies 12. Online archives. Master and Commander The Far side of the World: Peter Weir brings Patrick O'Brian's best-selling nautical adventures during the Napoleonic era to the screen, with Russell Crowe as Captain Jack Aubrey and Paul Bettany as Dr. Stephen Maturin, ship surgeon and naturalist. Very highest recommendations. Academy Awards for cinematography, sound editing; nominated for picture; director; art direction; sound mixing; costume design; film editing; makeup; visual effects. PG-13. Movies 12. Online archives. Mystic River: Clint Eastwood directs Brian Helgeland's adaptation, based on Dennis Lehane's dramatic tragedy. Stars Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburne, Marcia Gay Harden, Laura Linney and Emmy Rossum. Very highest recommendations. 2003 Academy Awards for Penn and Robbins; nominations for picture, supporting actress Marcia Gay Harden; director Eastwood; adapted screenplay, Helgeland. R. Online archives. Movies 12. Online archives. Passion of Christ, The (2004): Mel Gibson film opens amid charges (denied) of anti-Semitism. A..O. Scott of The New York Times writes, "'The Passion of the Christ' is so relentlessly focused on the savagery of Jesus' final hours that this film seems to arise less from love than from wrath, and to succeed more in assaulting the spirit than in uplifting it." Others call the graphic torture unwatchable. R. Cinemark. Prince and Me, The: Stars Julia Stiles, Luke Mably. She's a pre-med student. He's the Crown Prince of Denmark. Also stars James Fox and Miranda Richardson. PG. Cinemark. Punisher: Marvel comic book character Charles Bronson (Thomas Jane) pursues with a vengeance after his family is murdered. Also stars John Travolta and Laura Harring. R. Cinema World. Cinemark. Scooby Doo 2 Monsters Unleashed: Some scary action, rude humor and language. PG. Cinemark. Walking Tall: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson returns home after military career to find his hometown overrun with crime, drugs and violence. He's elected sheriff to shut down his former rival's criminal biz. Directed by Kevin Bray. PG-13. Cinemark. What the Bleep Do We Know? Through interviews with cutting-edge scientists and spiritual teachers, a brand new way of thinking about consciousness, intentionality and the ability to make a difference in the world emerges. But it begins with Amanda (Marlee Matlin). Highly recommended. NR. Bijou. Online archives. Whole Ten Yards, The: Bruce Willis, Matthew Perry, Amanda Peet and Natsha Henstridge star in this comedy sequel. Willis is a retired hitman living the life of a happy homemaker until Mafioso mayhem ensues. 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. Movies 12.
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