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Talking
Heads SIDEWAYS: Directed by Alexander Payne. Written by Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor, based on the novel by Rex Pickett. Produced by Michael London. Cinematography, Phedon Papamichael. Production design, Jane Ann Stewart. Editor, Kevin Tent. Costume design, Wendy Chuck. Music supervisor, Dondi Bastone. Composer, Rolfe Kent. Starring Paul Giamatti and Thomas Hayden Church, with Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh. Fox Searchlight Pictures, 2004. R. 124 minutes.
A delightful character-driven film and one of the best of the 2004 awards season, Alexander Payne's modest social comedy is set in central California wine country — the Santa Ynez Valley in Santa Barbara County — with its beautiful, sere rolling hills, lush vineyards, unpolished vintner's tasting rooms and trendy restaurants. Miles Raymond (Paul Giamatti, American Splendor) is a middle school teacher who would like to be thought of as a writer. He's been depressed since his divorce two years earlier, but as the film opens, his latest novel, The Day After Tomorrow, is being considered by a low-end publisher. Miles' best friend, Jack Lopate (Thomas Hayden Church, "Wings"), is getting married in a week. For Jack's last bachelor fling, best man Miles has arranged for them to take a week's trip to visit wineries and play golf. Jack is a pleasure-seeker, a simple guy who is open to life and set on having as much sex as he can before he settles down with his beautiful Armenian bride. He's not an intellectual. Miles is a wine connoisseur. When he describes wine or says what he loves about wine or speaks of its aroma, color or taste of wine as he swirls a wine glass, he is transformed from his crabby nebbish persona. Miles loves a good Pinot noir, but it's a difficult wine to get right. Miles reveals himself when he talks about the wine's characteristics. Jack is a more eclectic wine drinker — loves merlot but has no idea what Miles is talking about when he rhapsodizes over a special vintage Pinot. Jack just opens the bottle, pours and drinks, but he is a television actor. And as the vacation includes going through lots of bottles, he picks up the wine lingo and tasting techniques. He also picks up every willing, attractive woman they meet. He urges Miles, ever reluctant to commit, to do the same. Then one night Jack persuades tasting room pourer, Stephanie (Sandra Oh), and her wine-loving friend, Maya (Virginia Madsen), to join them. Stephanie is a gorgeous single mother, sexy and playful. Maya is a smart, good looking waitress at the Hitching Post, one of Miles's regular stops in wine country. Stephanie and Jack catch fire, while Maya and Miles quaff wine and talk. Sex is played mostly for comic effect and at least once rather crudely. In contrast, tender love scenes are bathed in warm colors and soft lights. The story unfolds from the two couples' first night forward. Filmmaker Alexander Payne (Election, Citizen Ruth, About Schmidt) and co-writer Jim Taylor (same films) have created a winning pair of near-opposites in Miles and Jack. Giamatti makes Miles a man who may succeed in love despite himself, while Church endows lovable rascal Jack with a hedonist's true belief in the power of his appetites. The demands of friendship are as real and complicated as in any other relationship. Contrary as an old married couple, these former freshman roommates know things about each other they have not wanted to recall. Recognizing their differences initially puts Miles in a snit, but eventually leads him to soul-searching and self-discovery. Jack indulges in every whim, no matter how dumb, then seeks help and vows repentance. Like Payne and Taylor's other films, Sideways is also about the modern muddle most middle-agers struggle to make sense of. To paraphrase a famous David Byrne and Talking Heads song, we may ask ourselves: What do I want in my life? A promising career? A healthy love relationship? Parenthood? The perfect Pinot? These are not trivial questions. But Jack and Miles (like Payne and Taylor) don't find such introspection easy. Like most of us, they fill up their days and nights, staying too busy to ask such questions. If the movie presents a partial answer it's that friendship isn't risk-free. Maybe that's a good place — even a great place — to begin. Sideways opens at the Bijou Friday, Nov. 19 with my very highest recommendations.
Gaffe
Queen BRIDGET JONES THE EDGE OF REASON: Directed by Beeban Kidron. Written by Andrew Davies, Helen Fielding, Richard Curtis, Adam Brooks. Produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Pellner, Jonathan Cavendish. Executive producers, Debra Hayward, Liza Chasin. Cinematography, Adrian Biddle. Editor, Greg Hayden. Production design, Gemma Jackson. Music by Harry Gregson-Williams. Costumes, Jany Temime. Starring Renée Zellwegger, Colin Firth and Hugh Grant, with Jacinda Barrett, Jim Broadbent, Gemma Jones, Sally Phillips, Shirley Henderson, James Callis, Jessica Stevenson and Neil Pearson. Universal Pictures, 2004. R. 108 minutes.
If it's true too many cooks spoil the broth, look no further for that "off" taste than director Beeban Kidron (To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar) and the quartet of writers who created this disappointing sequel, based on Helen Fielding's less than fabulous followup novel. Andrew Davies, Helen Fielding and Richard Curtis were the writing team for the charming, original Bridget Jones' Diary, but this time nothing works for them. Adam Brooks (Wimbledon) came in but didn't improve the flavor. Let's imagine everyone added a little something to the pot and spread the blame. While the first movie loved Bridget despite or because of her failings, the sequel attempts to show what a cow she is by displaying her overweight body in the worst possible light. Every pound is up there on the big screen, and it isn't pretty. Her face is sweaty and blotchy. This movie is not a labor of love. And actually, that pisses me off. A mere six weeks after Bridget Jones' Diary left her standing in the middle of a London street during a big snowfall, locked in a divine clinch with Mr. [Mark] Darcy (Colin Firth, who had just delivered a series of major blows to Daniel Cleaver's (Hugh Grant) massive ego, Bridget (Renee Zellwegger) is a mess. Love-dazzled by her ongoing relationship with Mark, Bridget vacillates between comforting urges and unforgiving fears. She eats, feels too fat, smokes, tries to quit, drinks. Same old. Her television journalism has turned out to be a series of even cheaper cheap stunts. Her endearing trait of saying the wrong thing in public has stopped being funny and now is embarrassing. Likewise, the foibles of Bridget's mom (Gemma Jones) and father (Jim Broadbent) feel weird, and her pals have turned into snide "friends." So when Bridget meets Mark's new assistant, Rebecca (Jacinda Barrett), a leggy, slender, dark-haired beauty, Bridget's body-image whiplash turns seriously neurotic. At about the same time, Cleaver (Grant) re-enters Bridget's life. He's now producing a self-absorbed television travel program called "The Smooth Guide," and he wants Bridget to join his team. I've always been a sucker for serials. If I like a character, I enjoy seeing him or her more than once on the screen or on the page. It's one of the reasons I loved "Sex and the City" all those years. I liked those dirty-talking women. And I still watch "ER." I don't miss an episode of "The West Wing," which got me through W's first cock-up as president. Defined, unique characters are a large part of why Tolkien's epic story is so compelling. We want to see how the characters change over time, learn from life. Or don't. Unfortunately, Bridget's creators have decided she is a slow learner. We easily tire of her shenanigans and her seeming desire to spoil everything with Mark because she is too immature to trust him and too insecure to believe him. Soon enough the plot goes haywire, taking Bridget to exotic destinations, where she gets into real trouble. It should be obvious that how to make a successful screen sequel is not a matter of repeating old tricks but of bringing in a creative team who can re-imagine the main character in new ways. Look how Spidey changes for Spider Man 2. Same good guy, new challenges from outside and inside. It's too bad no one loved Bridget enough to give her a worthy second chance. There are still funny moments in Edge of Reason, including a juicy water fight between Darcy and Cleaver. But good scenes for Bridget are few. Bridget Jones 2 is now playing at Cinemark and at Cinema World. Diehard fans may love it.
OPENING
OR RETURNING: Alexander: Oliver Stone's action adventure epic stars Colin Farrell as Alexander the Great, with Val Kilmer, Angelina Jolie, Jared Leto, Rosario Dawson and Anthony Hopkins. R. Opens Nov. 24. Call theaters for times. Christmas With the Kranks: Based on John Grisham's Skipping Christmas, this comedy stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Julie Gonzalo and Tim Allen and is directed by Joe Roth. Also stars Dan Aykroyd, Cheech Marin and M. Emmet Walsh. PG. Sneak at 7 pm on 11/20. Cinemark. Ju-On: R. Japanese filmmaker Takashi Shimizu's original 2003 horror film on which the Hollywood remake, Grudge, is based and now playing locally. LateNite Bijou. National Treasure: Directed by Jon Turteltub and producer Jerry Bruckheimer, adventure stars Nicolas Cage searching for treasure George Washington hid during the Revolutionary War. Sean Bean plays his British rival who's anxious to score the treasure first. PG. Cinema World. Cinemark. Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement: Anne Hathaway is being groomed to be queen of Genovia, but she has to land a husband before she can be crowned. Garry Marshall directs. Julie Andrews costars. G. Movies 12. Repo Man (1983): Alex Cox's inventive, perverse comedy misadventure stars Emilio Estevez and Harry Dean Stanton, with a great supporting cast. Hilarious. R. At 6 pm on Nov. 21 at DIVA. Sideways: Fresh social comedy by Alexander Payne follows two guys on a bachelor week in California wine country. Great performances by Paul Giamatti (American Splendor) and Thomas Haden Church ("Wings") sweetens the tale, as do Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh. One of the best films of the year. Don't miss. R. Bijou. See review this issue. SpongeBob SquarePants: Animated feature starring one of Nickelodeon's most absorbing characters. Voices by Alec Baldwin, Scarlett Johansson and others. PG. Cinemark. Cinema World. Superbabies 2: For the tots. Or not. PG. Movies 12. Tycoon: A New Russian (2002): Thriller based loosely on the life of Boris Berzovsky, Pavel Lounguine's film follows a mafia capitalist as he sacrifices all to become the richest man in Russia. At 7 pm on 11/23 in 115 Pacific, UO campus. Free. Without a Paddle: High-speed comedy adventure stars Seth Green, Matthew Lillard and Dax Shepard as clueless adventurers who go into the Oregon wilderness in search of lost treasure. PG-13. Movies 12. Films open the Friday following EW publication date unless otherwise noted. See archived reviews at www.eugeneweekly.com
CONTINUING: After the Sunset: Just one more heist and he'll retire, master thief Pierce Brosnan promises his girlfriend (Salma Hayek). But a pesky FBI agent (Woody Harrelson) comes to his island paradise. Bret Ratner directs; also stars the great Don Cheadle. R. Cinemark. Cinema World. Alfie: One of the true playboys of the movies, Alfie (Jude Law) plows through a swarm of women never thinking of commitment until he lets the love in. Alfie's beauties include Marisa Tomei, Susan Sarandon, Nia Long, Jane Krakowski. R. Cinemark. Anacondas: Hunt for the Blood Orchid: Horror thriller set in a jungle in Borneo where scientists travel down a river looking for a rare orchid said to the be the source of a youth-preserving serum. PG-13. Movies 12. 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. Movies 12. Online archives. Bridget Jones The Edge of Reason: Lackluster Bridget Jones sequel stars Renee Zellwegger, Colin Firth and Hugh Grant again. Directed by Beeban Kidron, romantic comedy also stars Jacinda Barrett, Jemma Jones and Jim Broadbent. R. Cinemark. Cinema World. See review this issue. 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. 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. 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. 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. Hero: Jet Li, Tony Leung, Chiu Wai, Maggie Cheung, Zhang Ziyi and Donnie Yen star in this rousing martial arts epic. Set in a war-torn China at the violent dawn of the Qin dynasty more than 2,000 years ago, three opponents plan to assassinate the king, but one loyal subject stands in their way. PG-13. Movies 12. 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. Online archives. Incredibles, The: Writer, director Brad Bird and Pixar Animation Studios create an action-adventure story set in suburbia where a former top crime fighter, Mr. Incredible, gets the call to jump back into actions. PG. Cinemark. Cinema World. Online archives. 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. Polar Express, The: Robert Zemeckis (Who Framed Roger Rabbit?) directs a wholly CG animation adventure, starring Tom Hanks in multiple roles in this adaptation of children's book by Chris Van Allsburg. Called "performance capture," the technique uses actors' live-action performances to drive the emotions and movements of the digital characters. G. Cinemark. 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. Movies 12. Ray: Jamie Foxx plays late, great Ray Charles in this musical, biographical drama, directed by Taylor Hackford. Co-stars Kerry Washington, Regina King, Clifton Powell, Harry Lennix, Terrence Dashon Howard, Richard Schiff, Aunjanue Ellis and Sharon Warren. Outstanding performance by Foxx. One of the year's finest films. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. Online archives. Saw: James Wan's bloodthirsty horror tale about a serial killer who commits suicide, leaving would-be victims chained up, stars Cary Elwes, Danny Glover, Monica Potter and Leigh Whannell. R. Cinemark. Seed of Chucky: Deathless demon doll is ready to procreate in the fifth chapter of this horror series. Chucky is voiced by Brad Dourif, while Jennifer Tilley and others act for Don Mancini. R. Cinemark. 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. 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. 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. Movies 12. 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 1492: Conquest of Paradise (1992): Ridley Scott's take on the Columbus Quincentennial aims "to portray Christopher Columbus not as a legend but as an extraordinary though flawed person," according to the Los Angeles Times. French mega-star Gerard Depardieu has the title role. With Sigourney Weaver, Armand Assante, Frank Langella, Tcheky Karyo. PG-13. Before Sunset: Richard Linklater takes Before Sunrise's Celine (Julie Delpy) and Jesse (Ethan Hawke) on a walking tour of Paris nine years later. They've grown but have not forgotten their time together. Special love stays in your heart. A satisfying sequel, the film rates my very highest recommendations. One of the best films of 2004.R. Online archives. Bridget Jones' Diary: Renée Zellwegger plays the neurotic but witty Londoner on the prowl for a man. Hugh Grant's her boss, and Colin Firth is an old friend. All three give excellent performances, especially Zellwegger. Sharon Maguire's directorial debut. Script by Helen Fielding, Andrew Davies and Richard Curtis. Funnier on second viewing, this smart, good-hearted romp is highly recommended. R. Chronicles of Riddick, The: Riddick (Vin Diesel) ends up on a multicultural planet invaded by a despot planning to subjugate everyone with his non-human warriors, the Necromongers. (Named for a bad rock band?) Also stars Thandie Newton, Alexa Davalos, Colm Feore, Linus Roache and Judi Dench. PG-13. Elf: Jon Favreau directs. Accidentally transported to the North Pole when he falls in Santa's bag, a human child grows up to be Will Ferrell, and a little disturbed that he doesn't resemble the other elves. With the help of Mr. Claus (Ed Asner) and his chief assistant (Bob Newhart), he sets out for New York in search of his biological father (James Caan). With Zooey Deschanel and Mary Steenburgen; Jon Favreau directs. PG. Fanny and Alexander (1983) Directed by Ingmar Bergman, this autobiographical film is about a year (1907) in the lives of a family, as seen by the young children, Fanny and Alexander. Videohound says, "Magic and religion, love and death, reconciliation and estrangement are skillfully captured in the carefully observed, lovingly photographed film." Stars Permillia Allwin, Bertil Guve and Gunn Wallgren. DVD 5-disc set includes the original 5-hour Swedish television version as well as the movie released in U.S. Extras: Bergman's feature-length making-of documentary, interviews with the director and actors. Gone With the Wind Collector's Edition (1939) Directed by Victor Fleming and an uncredited George Cukor, the screen version of Margaret Mitchell's best-selling novel, stars Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh in excellent performances, also Olivia de Havilland. Others include Leslie Howard, Hattie McDaniel, Butterfly McQueen, Victor Jory. Best Picture Academy Award, plus a raft of others. DVD 4-disc set, digitally restored print and remastered soundtrack includes five hours of extra features as well as a full-color reproduction of the original 22-page souvenir program. Harry Potter & the Prisoner of Azkaban: Directed by Alfonso Cuarón. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and his friends Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), now teenagers, return for their third year at Hogwarts. There, they are forced to face their darkest fears as they confront an escaped prisoner, Sirius Black (Gary Oldham), who poses a great threat to Harry. The three friends must also contend with the Dementors, who are sent to protect them from Black. Lots of extras on DVD 2-disc set. PG. Jesus of Montreal (1989): R. Canadian director Denys Arcand's film took Special Jury Prize at Cannes '89. Stars Lothaire Bluteau as a vagrant actor picked to play Jesus in an Easter passion play. Also stars Gilles Pelletier, Remy Girard, Catherine Wilkening, Johanne-Marie Tremblay. Haunting, beautiful and brilliantly directed. R. Ju-On The Grudge (2004, Japan: Takashi Shimizu's original 2003 horror film on which the Hollywood remake, Grudge, is based. DVD extras include commentary by Sam Raimi, interview with Shimizu, behind-the-scenes and making-of featurette, outtakes, alternate ending. R. Official Story (1985): Based on real events, this fictionalized but important film directed by Luis Puenzo is the story of an Argentine woman, unforgettably played by Norma Aleandro, who realizes her beloved, adopted daughter was probably born to parents murdered by the regime her husband supports. 1985 Academy Award for best foreign language film. Also stars Hector Alterio, Chunchua Villafane and Hugo Arana. Ragtime (1981) Milos Forman's influential screen adaptation of E.L. Doctorow's groundbreaking novel about racism stars James Cagney, Elizabeth McGovern, Howard E. Rollins Jr., Mary Steenburgen, Brad Dourif, James Olson, Kenneth McMillan. Set in 1906, it's the story of a middle-class American family and one man's determination to stand up to racial attacks. PG. Saddest Music in the World, The (2004): L.A. Weekly columnist and author John Powers says filmmaker Guy Maddin "takes our unruliest passions, douses them in irony and antique film style, then gives the whole thing an acid-house twirl. His enjoyably loopy new movie, The Saddest Music in the World …begins with a hand job and a talking tapeworm, then ends in fiery apocalypse." Film stars Maddin, Isabella Rossellini and Mark McKinney. DVD extras three Maddin short films as well as cast and making-of featurettes. Short Cuts (1993): Robert Altman directs a three-hour collage of nine stories about domestic discord in Southern California, starring Jack Lemmon, Andie MacDowell, Lily Tomlin, Tom Waits, Tim Robbins, Buck Henry, Anne Archer and many others. Highlights of DVD extras is a 50-minute audio interview with the late Raymond Carver, writer of the nine stories and prose poem on which the film is based, and Vintage Books companion volume of Carver's short stories. R. Stepford Wives, The: Frank Oz directs Nicole Kidman, Matthew Broderick, Bette Midler, Christopher Walken, Faith Hill and Glenn Close in this updated comedy-thriller about a perfect, 1950s-era community in Stepford, Connecticut. DVD extras include Oz's commentary, six deleted or extended scenes, numerous featurettes and a gag reel. PG-13. Online archives. Tanner on Tanner (2004): Sequel to director Robert Altman and cartoonist Gary Truedeau's "Tanner '88" stars Michael Murphy as former candidate Tanner, his documentary filmmaker daughter, Cynthia Nixon ("Sex and the City") and Pamela Reed. Four-part series follows Tanner's new adventures and ends up at the Democratic National Convention. DVD extras include interviews with Altman, Trudeau, Nixon and Murphy. Made for cable. Terminal: Steven Spielberg directs Tom Hanks as a tourist who has to live at Kennedy airport because his homeland disappeared in a civil war, so his passport is no good. 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. Online archives. Next Week: Hero (2004), It's All True (1993), The Keep (1983), Luther (2003), and Spider Man 2 (2004).
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