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Being
or Nothingness I HEART HUCKABEES: Writer, director, producer David O. Russell. Co-writer, Jeff Baena. Producers Gregory Goodman, Scott Rudin. Executive producer, Michael Kuhn. Cinematography, Peter Deming. Production design, K.K. Barrett. Editor, Robert K. Lambert. Costumes, Mark Bridges. Music, Jon Brion. Starring Jason Schwartzman, Lily Tomlin, Jude Law, Isabelle Huppert, Dustin Hoffman, Naomi Watts and Mark Wahlberg. Fox Searchlight, 2004. R. 105 minutes. One of the funniest and smartest films of the year, David O. Russell's lovably eccentric I Heart Huckabees, defies categories, like Spike Jonze's Adaptation and Being John Malkovich. In the same way you can say Adaptation is about writer's block and Malkovich is about identity crisis, Huckabees is about the meaning (or futility) of life. I laughed out loud a lot, saw myself in every character and came away dying to see the movie again.
My favorite sequence takes place between Albert (Jason Schwartzman) and Tommy Corn (Mark Wahlberg). Let's call it the Red Balloon scene. The men — opposites by every obvious standard of looks, occupation, personality and intellect— have bonded in defiance of the Existential Detectives, Bernard (Dustin Hoffman) and Vivian Jaffe (Lily Tomlin), each has hired. The guys no longer believe everything is connected to everything else as Bernard and Vivian do. They don't find life wonderful. Instead, Albert and Tommy have taken up the teachings of the Jaffes' nemesis and former student, Caterine Vauban (Isabelle Huppert). Caterine sees life as a cruel, meaningless exercise. Besides, she's sexy. Caught in a vise-grip between the Jaffes and Caterine's polarized positions, Albert and Tommy have tried hard to resolve the thoughts that race through their minds. They've nearly driven themselves crazy. Now, they resort to brute force. Albert smashes the Red Balloon into Tommy's face. "Again," Tommy demands. Albert hits him harder. "Again," he begs, and "Again." Tommy stares into space, with a goofy smile. Now it's Albert's turn. "Hit me," he cries, milliseconds before Tommy bangs the balloon into Albert's smug puss so hard Albert falls over backward onto the ground. He picks himself up. "Again," Albert orders. Repeatedly, Tommy slams Albert. When enlightenment dawns, a stupefied Albert struggles for words. It's great, he says; for a minute, my thoughts stopped. Tommy and Albert figure they can knock each other batty every few hours to experience a moment of mental stillness, which will help them figure out if everything is irredeemably fucked or not. This ploy is not the only way the film's characters try to calm their anger and paranoia, but repetitive bashing works as a metaphor for what the film is getting at. Don't ask me to be any more specific. For a fuller explanation, you'll have to see the film. Other good reasons to see the film include the excellent cast, with Naomi Watts as Dawn Campbell, the Huckabee's super store model, and Jude Law as Brad Stand, an ambitious corporate suck-up, who takes over the environmental coalition Albert founded, Open Spaces. On his way up the corporate ladder, Brad acquires Dawn. Schwartzman plays Albert as an annoying whiner, a big-time bore, who imagines himself a deep, mature poet. Albert's scene with his mother is a true gem. It's not as edgy as the reluctant reunion in Vincent Gallo's Buffalo 66 (1997), but Vivian and Bernard notice mother sheds a lot of light on Albert's existential dilemma. Wahlberg plays Tommy as a buff firefighter whose vision of the world changed after 9/11. Trapped inside his head, Tommy can't connect emotionally with his wife and daughter, who've left him. This role is a good stretch for Wahlberg, with its combination of seriously questioning reality, self-examination and crude slapstick. Wahlberg worked with Russell on Three Kings (1999), in which he gave another memorable performance. It's divine to see the ever-excellent Tomlin onscreen again. She's a class act: a liberated comic actress. Tomlin and Hoffman make a surprising, pleasant couple. When Vivian asks Bernard, "What are we doing tonight?" and he answers, "Korean barbecue," you know their relationship is hot. This film is a hoot. If you don't need everything to make sense in the "real" world, this film's for you. Like Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, another of the year's best films, give yourself over to I Heart Huckabees' reality, and you'll feel better! Opens Oct. 22 at the Bijou, with my very highest recommendations.
Biking,
Hiking, Waking Up MOTORCYCLE DIARIES: Directed by Walter Salles Jr. Screenwriter, Jose Rivera, based on the published diaries of Alberto Granado and Ernesto Che Guevara. Produced by Edgar Tenembaum, Karen Tenkhoff and Michael Nozik. Executive producers, Robert Redford, Rebecca Yeldham, Paul Webster. Cinematographer, Eric Gautier. Editor, Daniel Rezende. Production design, Carlos Conti. Costumes, Beatriz du Benedetto, Marisa Urruti. Musical score, Gustavo Santolalla. Starring Gael Garcia Bernal and Rodrigo de la Serna. With Mia Maestro, Gustav Bueno, Jorge Chiarella and Igo Calvo. Focus Features, 2004. R. 128 minutes. Set in 1952 in a continent of mostly poor people living in dirty, overcrowded cities surrounded by stunning, empty landscapes of breathtaking natural beauty and generous-hearted Metizo people, Motorcycle Diaries is a buddy movie, a road trip and a coming of age story.
To enjoy what the film has to offer, which is considerable, I had to give up the need for an overarching focus or for contextual continuity. None of that exists. Instead, Walter Salles Jr. has pieced together a number of anecdotal episodes and travel notes from a life-altering trip 23-year old Ernesto Che Guevara (Gael Garcia Bernal) took with his 29-year old friend, Alberto Granada (Rodrigo de la Serna), through the interior heart of South America: Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia and the Andes, the Amazon, Machu Pichu. Alberto and Ernesto spend important time at a remote leprosarium run by Catholic sisters. By the 1950s, the treatment for leprosy had advanced from the Dark Ages, but affected people were still shunned and quarantined for their own protection, although the disease is not contagious. Ernesto insists on breaking down barriers and dismantling the fascinating customs around the treatment of the patients. The two men, despite being good friends, are dissimilar personalities. They fight and call each other names, storm off and pout for the next 100 miles. I like this, because I cannot imagine sharing a grueling travel experience without some times when everyone blows off steam. Both come from comfortable backgrounds, are well-educated — Alberto is a chemist, Ernesto a medical student. Until this trip, they have had no idea how the poor live. Ernesto is reserved, brutally honest, soft-spoken. Alberto is bombastic, pragmatic — not rigid — about truth-telling, and worried about whether they have enough food and money. The image of Ernesto is a young man who becomes more serious and quietly observant as their journey reveals more about the suffering of impoverished, unemployed indigenous people. I don't detect Ernesto with a martyr complex, as some in the West have portrayed him, but he does recognize the disparity between his privileged life and that of others. Alberto takes people as they are and likes most of them, especially the women. You, too, may be captivated by the faces of the people who call this southern continent "America." You will be enchanted by its beauty and humbled by its vastness. And maybe some of the negative hype surrounding the historical figure of Che Guevara may be toned down, at least in your heart. He died an undeserved, brutal death at the hand of thugs hired by our CIA, when he was only 33. But when he was younger, Che took a trip into the landscape of his people and saw hope.
OPENING
OR RETURNING: First Daughter: Presidential daughter (Katie Holmes) just wants a normal college life. When she falls for her dorm's resident advisor, she finds out what it's like to fit in. PG. Movies 12. Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence: Mamoru Oshii's sequel to his huge animé success of nine years ago. Set in the year 2032, when humans and machines have become the same, this is the story of a solitary cyborg who wants desperately to hold onto what's left of humanity. PG-13. LateNite Bijou. Go Further: Award-winning documentary filmmaker Ron Mann followed Woody Harrelson and friends on an eco-consciousness-raising trip down the Pacific Coast Highway, a 1,300 mile spiritual and physical odyssey-on-wheels. Harrelson will be present for the film's sneak previews at 5 pm and 7 pm on 10/28 at the Bijou. It's a get-out-the-vote event. For ticket information, www.bijou-cinemas.comor (541) 686-2458. Grudge, The: The curse of one who dies in the grip of a powerful rage kills and is passed like a virus from victim to victim. PG-13. Cinemark. I Heart Huckabees: The delirious, new laugh-out-loud comedy from David O. Russell (Three Kings, Flirting with Disaster) stars Jason Schwartzman, Lily Tomlin, Dustin Hoffman, Isabelle Huppert, Mark Wahlberg, Naomi Watts and Jude Law. One of 2004's top films, it gets my very highest recommendations. R. Bijou. See review this issue. Impact: Warren Miller's extreme sports spectacular shows at 8 pm on 10/28 in McDonald Theatre. Tickets are spendy. See review in Sports, this issue. Inside U.S. Secret Service: Documentary goes on duty with Special Agents on the front lines and behind closed doors, showing the intricate precautions taken to protect the President. At 9 pm on 10/24 and 10/31 on National Geographic Cable Channel. Lost Prince, The: Second half of the story of Prince John, current Queen Elisabeth's uncle, who was shut away as a child because of epilepsy and a learning disability. Written and directed by Stephen Pliakoff, the film stars Matthew Thomas as the teenage prince, Miranda Richardson, Michael Gambon, Gina McKee, Tom Hollander and Bibi Anderson. On "Masterpiece Theater," OPB, Oct. 24. Check listings for times. Manchurian Candidate, The: Psychologi-cal thriller stars Denzel Washington as an ex-career officer disturbed by his experiences in Desert Storm. Liev Schreiber plays a former squad sergeant, now a vice-presidential candidate and son of a powerful senator (Meryl Streep). An especially fine performance from Jeffrey Wright as a damaged vet suffering hallucinations. Very highest recommendations. R. Movies 12. Online archives. Monumental: David Brower's Fight for Wild America: The Eugene premiere of a new documentary chronicling activist Brower's life and work is the feature film at the Mountain Film Festival, which also includes a number of shorter films on kayaking, base-jumping, climbing and hiking. At 7 pm on 10/28 in 180 PLC. $6 members of Cascadia Wildlands Project/$8 general public. Surviving Christmas: Ben Affleck, James Gandolfini, Christina Applegate and Catherine O'Hara star in this holiday comedy, in which Ben wants so badly to spend Christmas with a family, he goes to his boyhood home, meets the people now living in the house, and buys Christmas with them. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. Town of Rosi: Igor Dobrolyubov's 1983 film about the transformation of a small town into "an arid corridor of high rises and conveniences." In Russian with English subtitles. At 7 pm on 10/26 in 115 Pacific, UO campus. Free. Yu-Gi-Oh: Japanese, animation for the kiddies. Yugi and friends play a new game called Dual Monsters. Movies 12. PG. Films open the Friday following EW publication date unless otherwise noted. See archived reviews at www.eugeneweekly.com
CONTINUING: Anchorman: Subtitled "The Legend of Ron Burgundy," this comedy stars Will Ferrell as an unctuous, untalented newscaster who's a legend only in his own mind. Funny moments. Recommended. PG-13. Movies 12. Online archives. Bourne Supremacy, The: Paul Greengrass (writer, director of Bloody Sunday) directs Matt Damon as assassin Jason Bourne in the second installment of Robert Ludlum's espionage thrillers Also stars Joan Allen, Brian Cox, Julia Stiles, Kurt Urban and Franka Potente. One of the summer's best films. Highly recommended. PG-13. Cinemark. Online archives. Cellular: This Phone Booth-like thriller stars Kim Basinger, William H. Macy, Chris Evans and Jason Statham. A carefree young man (Evans) receives a phone call from a woman (Basinger) imploring him to save her life. She's been kidnapped, and he's her only chance. PG-13. Movies 12. Cinderella Story, A: Teen romance comedy stars Hilary Duff, Jennifer Coolidge, Chad Michael Murray and Regina King. Mark Rosman directs. PG. Movies 12. Collateral: Michael Mann's thriller stars Tom Cruise as an LA hitman and Jamie Foxx as his taxi driver, who's surprised to discover he's a hostage. Together, they're like fire and ice, feeling and nothingness. A character study in action, the film is one of the best movies of the year. Very highest recommendations. Don't miss. R. Movies 12. Online archives. Exorcist: The Beginning: In 1940s Africa a disillusioned Father Merrin (Stellan Skarsgard) meets the demon Pazuzu. The film was bedeviled, running through directors John Frankenheimer and Paul Schrader before Renny Harlin came in and basically reshot the whole shebang. With James D'Arcy and Izabella Scorupco. R. Movies 12. Forgotten, The: Julianne Moore is a grieving parent. She learns from her psychiatrist (Gary Sinese) and others that her 8-year-old son never existed. Directed by Joseph Ruben, the film also stars Dominic West, Alfre Woodard, Linus Roache, Anthony Edwards. PG-13. Cinemark. Friday Night Lights: High-school football is a big deal in 1988 Odessa, Texas, and director Peter Berg has fun with the fictional locals played by Tim McGraw, Billy Bob Thornton and Jay Hernandez. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. Garden State: Zach Braff wrote, directed and stars in this funny, resonant romantic comedy, which co-stars Natalie Portman, Peter Sarsgaard and Ian Holm. Braff and Portman help the film get to a truth about what it is to be 20-something in the early years of the 21st century. Highest recommendations. R. Cinema World. Online Archives. Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban: Brilliantly directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), now teenagers, return to Hogwarts, where they confront an escaped prisoner, Sirius Black (Gary Oldham), who poses a great threat to Harry. They must also contend with the Dementors, who are sent to protect them from Black. PG. Movies 12. Online archives. Hijacking Catastrophe: 2004 documentary covers two decades of neo-conservative Republicans such as Paul Wolfowitz, Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney setting the stage for the so-called Bush Doctrine (of American imperialism). Must-see viewing, the film features commentary by Noam Chomsky, former Chief UN Weapons Inspector Scott Ritter, Daniel Ellsberg, Norman Mailer, Jody Williams and others. Written and directed by Jeremy Earp and Sut Jhally, it's an excellent, cogent political film. Plays Sat. and Sun. at 1 pm. NR. 68 minutes. Bijou. Ladder 49: When Fire Chief Mike Kennedy (John Travolta) takes rookie firefighter Jack Morrison (Joaquin Phoenix) under his wing, the probationary firefighter matures into a seasoned, veteran at a Baltimore fire station. But after years of risking his life and watching his relationship with his wife and kids deteriorate, Jack is at a crossroads and questions whether or not it's worth it. PG. Cinema World. Cinemark. Motorcycle Diaries: In 1952, Ernesto Guevara de la Serna (Gael García Bernal) and pal Alberto Granado (Rodrigo de la Serna) take a motorcycle trip through the poverty and natural wonder of Latin America. Che Guevara, who had become famous from his association with Fidel Castro, was murdered at the hands of Bolivians in the pay of the CIA a few years later. R. Bijou. See review this issue. Napoleon Dynamite: Jared Hess' indie comedy stars Jon Heder as a high schooler, who lives in Idaho with his grandmother. The Village Voice says, "the film is an epic, magisterially observed pastiche on all-American geekhood, flooring the competition with a petulant shove." PG. Cinema World. Raise Your Voice: Sean McNamara this predictable coming of age movie about a talented girl (Hilary Duff) who runs away from her hometown to attend an LA performing arts school. Also stars Oliver James, John Corbett and Rebecca De Mornay. PG. Cinemark. Shall We Dance: American remake of the sublime Japanese film of the same title. Sorry to report it, but Jennifer Lopez plays the dance teacher and Richard Gere the shy man who learns to dance. See the original to compare to this all-Hollywood effort. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. Shark Tale: In this computer-animated feature, a lovable tropical fish with the voice of Will Smith takes on the underwater Mafia when he assumes responsibility for killing the godfather of the Great White Sharks. Other voices include those of Jack Black, Robert De Niro, Renée Zellweger, Angelina Jolie and Martin Scorsese; Eric Bergeron. Directed by Vicky Jenson. PG. Cinema World, Cinemark Shaun of the Dead: When zombies invade North London, under-achiever Shaun and best friend Ed must fight for their for their lives, attempt to save Shaun's girlfriend, and escape. R. Cinemark. Shrek 2: Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz and Eddie Murphy return. The newlyweds face Queen Lillian (Julie Andrews) and King Harold (John Cleese). Fairy godmother (Jennifer Saunders), Prince Charming (Rupert Everett) and the ferocious Puss in Boots (Antonio Banderas). Sequel is so-so. PG. Movies 12. Online archives. Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow: Starring Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow and Angelina Jolie, this digital special effects sci-fi action film was shot without sets and locations. Brainchild: writer/director Kerry Conran in collaboration with producer Jon Avnet. Other stars include Giovanni Ribisi, Michael Gambon and Bai Ling. PG. Cinemark. Online archives. Spider Man 2: Peter Parker aka Spidey (Tobey Maguire) returns as a college student by day who still loves Kirsten Dunst and a superhero when needed against his new nemesis, Otto Octavius (Alfred Molina). Sam Raimi directs. Excellent film! See it. PG-13. Movies 12. Online archives. Taxi: If you've seen the trailer for Tim Story's movie, you'll recognize the inept police detective (Jimmy Fallon) who takes a taxi to work on his cases. Of course, with Queen Latifah behind the wheel, anything can happen. PG-13. Cinemark. Team America: World Police: With animated wooden marionettes, Trey Parker and Matt Stone (South Park) create an action adventure film about an international police force devoted to global stability and battling bad guys. R. Cinema World. Cinemark. Terminal: Steven Spielberg directs Tom Hanks as a tourist who has to live at Kennedy airport because his homeland disappeared in a civil war. He falls in love with Catherine Zeta-Jones, whose comic talent is wasted in a dumb-dame role, while Hanks only works part-time. Too long and too cute. PG-13. Movies 12. Online archives. Village, The: M. Night Shyamalan's new suspenseful film stars Joaquin Phoenix, Bryce Dallas Howard, Adrien Brody, William Hurt and Sigourney Weaver. PG-13. Movies 12.
MOVIE
THEATERS Bijou
Art Cinemas Regal
Cinemas Cinemark
Theaters
NEW
RELEASES ON VIDEO China Syndrome, The: (1979) Released just before the explosion at Three Mile Island, the film earned a deservedly prophetic aura, but the original still holds up well. British director James Bridges did a smashing job with the story of a nuclear power plant meltdown, ably assisted by Jane Fonda as a dedicated journalist pursuing the truth with Jack Lemmon. DVD extras include deleted scenes and two documentaries, one featuring recent interviews with Fonda and Michael Douglas. PG. Dawn of the Dead: (2004) 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. Includes two segments created for DVD release and lots of other creepy stuff. R. Mulan: New animated Disney feature about a young Chinese woman who secretly disguises herself as a man and joins the army to save her father's life. She becomes a true warrior. Voiced by Ming-Na Wen, Eddie Murphy, B.D. Wong, George Takei, Pat Morita, Miguel Ferrer. New digital transfer for DVD 2-disc set. Includes deleted scenes and alternate endings, G. Thing Called Love, The: (1993) Last completed film made by River Phoenix, who with Samantha Mathis, Dermot Mulroney and Sandra Bullock play single singers and songwriters trying to break in to the country music world. The stars did their own singing. Directed by Peter Bogdanovich. PG-13. White Chicks: (2004) Keenen Ivory Wayans directs himself, Shawn Wayans, Marlon Wayans, Jaime King and Frankie Faison. DVD extra includes commentary by the Wayans brothers, featurettes including "A Wayans Comedy" on the idea, process and humor of creating a comedy and a STARZ! Encore behind-the-scenes featurette. Next Week: Around the World in 80 Days (2004); California Split (1974); Dazed and Confused (1993); Dr, Strangelove (1964); Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1993); Facing Windows (2004); Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982); Festival Express (2004); A Home at the End of the World (2004); Looney Toons Golden Collection 2; Mulholland Falls (1996); Philadelphia (1993); Proof (1991); and Shrek 2 on Nov. 5. |
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