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Daydreams 13 GOING ON 30: Directed by Gary Winick. Written by Josh Goldsmith and Cathy Yuspa. Produced by Gina Matthews, Susan Arnold, Donna Arkoff Roth. Executive producers, Todd Garner, Dan Kolsrud. Cinematography, Don Burgess. Production design, Garreth Stover. Editor, Susan Littenberg. Music, Theodore Shapiro. Music supervision, John Houlihan. Starring Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo, with Jane Greer, Andy Serkis, Kathy Baker, Christa B. Allen and Sean Marquette. Columbia Tri Star, 2004. PG-13. 97 minutes.
Borrowing heavily from teen flicks of this and other eras, 13 Going on 30 lacks originality and yet is a surprisingly heartfelt film, well liked both by teenage girls and their moms in the audience with me. Although I fit neither category, I found the picture relaxing and thoroughly entertaining, especially because of performances by Jennifer Garner as the irrepressible Jenna and Mark Ruffalo as the quiet but sexy Matt. We first meet next-door neighbors and best friends Jenna (Christa B. Allen) and Matt (Sean Marquette) just before Jenna's 13th birthday. At school, the popular girls, known as Six Chicks, bully and torment girls like Jenna as well as non-jock boys like Matt. Jenna wants badly to belong with the in-crowd, but Matt sees the girls' meanness and tries to warn her. Children turning into teens go through this rough time — boys because they aren't cool, and girls because they think they want a more developed body and the self-confidence that comes with being sexy. At her birthday party, Matt brings Jenna a present he made and some magical wishing dust, but Jenna says hateful words to Matt that she can't take back. Frustrated Jenna wishes to be "Thirty, Flirty and Thriving." When she wakes up in an adult body with her barely teen sensibilities, Jenna doesn't remember her wish. She doesn't remember anything that's happened since her 13th birthday. This plot synopsis is less than you'd know if you'd seen the trailer, but it's all you need to know to figure out what comes next. Humor comes because she's in a fantastic body she doesn't know how to handle and because she has a boyfriend, who's a jerk. She's way out of her skill set as an editor for a New York fashion and lifestyle magazine. Her boss (Andy Serkis) needs her creative energy to beat the competition. Her co-worker and best friend, Lucy Wyman (Jane Greer), is a former Six Chicks and just as competitive as ever. And her once best friend Matt isn't even her friend anymore. They haven't kept up, he explains. Maybe if Jenna had known Matt would turn out to look like Mark Ruffalo, she would have stayed in touch. Women like this actor. Why doesn't someone smart write him a great leading man role instead of offering him the crumbs of situation comedies more suitable for the small screen? Ruffalo's name in the credits is the major reason I went to see the film. A cautionary tale for young women, the film misses its chance to show how even well-balanced guys can be scarred by a careless remark during adolescence. Grown Jenna's dilemma is that she discovers that she has become as mean spirited as the girls who manipulated her teen longings. Grown Matt's dilemma is that because he internalized Jenna's rejection as an adolescent, he set his aspirations lower than he deserved. A refreshing fantasy that offers an up-beat reason to mind your manners, 13 Going on 30 isn't your typical movie hybrid. Sure it borrowed from Big, Freaky Friday and all the funny amnesia movies ever made, but the film leaves you feeling good. It's a long time between movies that accomplish that. Now playing at Cinemark and Cinema World, this springtime movie gets my recommendation.
Fall
of the Wall GOODBYE, LENIN: Directed, co-written by Wolfgang Becker. Co-written by Bernd Lichtenberg. Produced by Stefan Arndt. Cinematography, Martin Kukula. Editor, Peter R. Adam. Starring Daniel Bruhl, Katrin Sass, Chulpan Khamatova, Maria Simon, Alexander Beyer, Florian Lukas and Michael Gwisdek. Sony Pictures Classics. R. 118 minutes.
It's October 1989. The German Democratic Republic (East Germany) is falling apart, and the Berlin Wall is falling down. Living in East Berlin, Alex (Daniel Bruhl) has been raised by his mother, Christiane (Katrin Sass), a dedicated Socialist. Alex and his sister, Ariane (Maria Simon), believe their father defected to the West when they were younger. When their mother has a heart attack, Daniel and Ariane take care of her. Alex works for a Berlin satellite TV sales company with mixed crews from pre-reunification East and West Germany. Alex's partner is a creative videographer from the other side of the city, Denis (Florian Lukas). Together, the two men launch an elaborate scheme to keep Christiane from knowing that the country she worked tirelessly to support has disappeared. Alex allows nothing to stop his charade, not even the common sense of his girlfriend, Lara (Chulpan Khamatova). This is a complicated but sweet movie about the confusions and convulsions experienced by former GDR residents, as seen through the lives of a family. The power of the media to influence ordinary life gets an appropriately comedic spin, which doesn't weaken the more serious issues underlying the use of images and edited interviews, such as those concocted by Alex and Denis. Opening at the Bijou April 30, Good Bye, Lenin gets my recommendation.
Take
Me to the River THE SAME RIVER TWICE: Documentary by producer, director, cinematographer Robb Moss. Editor, Karen Schmeer. Associate producer, Linda Morgenstern. Not rated. 78 minutes.
In the summer of 1978, Robb Moss took a month-long trip down the Colorado River with 16 others, many of whom were also river guides, as he was. Moss took along a movie camera, with which he shot the group in camp at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, kayaking white water, rafting, climbing, hiking, cooking, eating, dancing and singing. In almost everything they did, these people shunned clothing. The group being comfortably naked together shows the viewer that in this remote canyon paradise, they trusted one another enough to share their vulnerability. Later Moss made a short movie, Riverdogs, from the footage he shot. To make The Same River Twice, Moss has interwoven select scenes from the trip with contemporary portraits of five of his comrades. The contrast is interesting. I was surprised by some responses people had to seeing themselves in the bloom of youth. It's hopeless vanity to expect anyone — especially yourself — to look the same after 25 years. Youth is beautiful. Naked, young bodies are glorious to look upon. But real people change. They grow up. In the best of cases, we love whom we have become and embrace the record of our journey as it is etched in our faces and designed by gravity's claim on our bodies. If not, bitterness awaits. Fortunately, most people had their values straight. Many have families, others careers, a few both. Only one is still a river guide. The film documents the year between when honcho riverdog Jim prepares the plot for his gardener's cottage and when the slab is poured. As Jim puts it, "procrastination is vastly underrated." Lovely film. Highly recommended. Opens 4/30 at the Bijou.
Unique
Feminist I'M TOO MUCH: Experimental, autobiographical video created by Johnnie J. Mazzocco. Thesis project, UO Master of Art degree in English, with Film Studies emphasis. Shot in black and white, with voice over, music, still and moving imagery, onscreen text, direct address, interviews, fictionalized scenes and re-enactments. 47 minutes.
A candid, overtly personal work about her life, Johnnie Mazzocco's self-portrait must be seen in its entirety. While I was uncomfortable during the recovered memory part of the project, later interviews with her relaxed and genial ex-husband and three children were delightful and built a fuller picture. Like anyone's life, Mazzocco's has been a series of learning experiences. The more I work with memoir, the more I understand that what happens to you matters so much less than what you make of those events or situations. Mazzocco seems to have made the best of an early life trauma. She comes across as genuine, but I would have liked more thoughtful commentary from her throughout. I hope making this video has furthered her real project: self-realization. Plays at noon on Saturday, May 1, at the Bijou. Free.
Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius: Jim Caviezel stars as golf hero who retired at age 28. Directed by Rowdy Herrington, pic also stars Malcolm McDowell, Claire Forlani, Jeremy Northam and Aidan Quinn. "His passion made him a legend." PG. Cinema World. Cinemark. Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989): Martin Landau, Alan Aldaa and Woody Allen star in Allen's serious tale of the moral dilemma of a filmmaker. Daryl Hannah cameo. PG-13. At 7 pm on 5/5 in 30 Pacific Hall, UO. Free. Envy: Ben Stiller, Jack Black star in Barry Levinson's film about kooky inventor (Black), who suddenly becomes wealthy from a spray that makes dog poop disappear. Neighbor (Stiller) grows murderously envious. Christopher Walken co-stars. PG-13. Cinemark. Eurotrip: Teens from USA invade Europe. Crass commercialism. R. Movies 12. Frida: Salma Hayak plays Frida Kahlo, feminist painter married to Mexico's great muralist and painter, Diego Rivera (Alfred Molina), and Leon Trotsky's (Geoffrey Rush) lover. Directed by Julie Taymor. 2002 Academy Awards for original score, makeup. Underrated. One of the most visually lush films of 2002. R. Plays at 7 pm on 5/5 in 180 PLC, UO. Free. Godsend: Experimental cloning thriller stars Robert De Niro, Greg Kinnear and Rebecca Romijn-Stamos; directed by Nick Hamm. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. Good Bye, Lenin: Complicated but sweet movie about the confusions and convulsions experienced when the Berlin Wall came down, as seen through the lives of an East German family. Bijou. See review this issue. I'm Too Much: Master's thesis project, video is a work of autobiographical feminism by Johnnie Mazzocci. At noon on 5/1 at Bijou. Free. See review this issue. Laws of Attraction: Julianne Moore and Pierce Brosnan play high-strung New York divorce attorneys who square off with their famous clients (Parker Posey and Michael Sheen) during a nasty divorce, and fall in love. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. Mean Girls: Lindsay Lohan plays a high-school student raised by zoologist parents in the African bush, who falls for a popular girl's ex-boyfriend. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. One Giant Leap: Multicultural song, music, dance and spoken word documentary from 25 countries. At 7 pm on 5/5 in 123 Pacific Hall, UO. Free. Same River Twice, The: In 1978 documentary filmmaker Robb Moss and 16 river guides and friends took a month-long Grand Canyon trip down the Green River, which became his film Riverdogs. 25 years later, Moss revisits five of them. Lovely film about youthful ideals and mid-life reality. Highly recommended. NR. Bijou. See review this issue. Secret Window: Psychotic (John Turturro) stalks writer (Johnny Depp), accusing him of stealing the ending to his story. David Koepp directs, story by Stephen King. Also stars Maria Bello, timothy Hutton, Charles S. Dutton. PG-13. Movies 12. Steamroller and the Violin (Andrei Takovskii, 1960) and Chekov (Nikita Mikhalkov, 1993): Short films double bill plays at 8:45 pm on 5/4 in 115 Pacific, UO. Free. In Russian with English subtitles. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Online archives. 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. 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. 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. 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. Cinemark. Scooby Doo 2 Monsters Unleashed: Some scary action, rude humor and language. PG. Cinemark. 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. See review this issue. 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. 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. 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. MOVIE
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