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The
Maverick THE AVIATOR: Directed by Martin Scorsese. Written by John Logaa. Produced by Michael Mann, Sandy Climan, Graham King, Charles Evans Jr. Executive producer, Chris Brigham. Cinematography, Robert Richardson. Editor, Thelma Schoonmaker. Production design, Dante Ferretti. Costume design, Sandy Powell. Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, with Cate Blanchett, John C. Reilly, Alec Baldwin, Kate Beckinsale and Jude Law. Also with Matt Ross, Adam Scott, Gwen Stefani, Ian Holm, Danny Huston, Alan Alda and Kelli Garner. Miramax Films, 2004. PG-13. 169 minutes.
Poor little rich boy: Orphaned by age 18, Texas-born Howard Hughes inherited Hughes Tool, the lucrative company his late father had built. He immediately began spending his fortune on the production of a film epic called Hell's Angels, which cost $3.8 million and took years to make. Hughes continued to make films while escorting a number of film beauties around town, but all along, flying was his one true passion. In one of the film's sweetest scenes, Hughes (Leonardo DiCaprio) invites Kate Hepburn (Cate Blanchett) for a late night spin above Los Angeles in a plane from the private fleet he built for filming Hell's Angels. Kate is game. Here, take the wheel, Hughes says, and she does. Two odd birds, their mutual attraction bonds them in a friendship that lasts long after the affair cools. Their relationship resonates because Hughes allows Kate to see his unstable inner life. She understands his demons, and her recognition of them makes her one of the few people he can trust. Noah Dietrich (John C. Reilly) is another. When Hughes founds Hughes Aircraft in 1932, "Diet" becomes his life-long "second in command," the one who always tells him the truth and always does what he wants in regard to his businesses. As a young man, Hughes was so full of ideas that he needed a well-grounded, solid business partner to manage his financial affairs. Dietrich always understood the boundaries of their relationship. Another right-hand man was Glenn Odekirk (Matt Ross), the aeronautical engineer who created prototypes of major developments in aviation of the 20th century from Hughes's futuristic designs and specifications. "Ode" tried to keep Hughes' risk-taking behavior to a minimum, but no force on earth could keep the guy from flying. It was his life and nearly his death. Stepping in for a brief appearance, Jude Law captures the devil-may-care reputation of action movie star Errol Flynn in a scene at the Cocoanut Grove, Hollywood's '40s hangout. Gwen Stefani, known as the lead singer for No Doubt, plays the blonde bombshell, Jean Harlow. And Ian Holm plays a slightly befuddled Professor Fitz, who gets the ride of his life in the Hercules' only flight. The film's most thrilling sequences is Hughes' 1946 plane crash of the experimental XF-11 into residences in Beverly Hills, in part because it perfectly explores his incredible will to live in the face of near-certain death. The trajectory of the film narrative requires DiCaprio to age 20 years or so, and he does so gracefully, the older man gradually coming into possession of the exuberant younger man's personality and demeanor. His award-worthy performance will be noted. Hughes's long descent into madness was not diagnosed during the 20-years period of the film — the late 1920s through the late 1940s. His breakdowns began in the mid-1940s. He suffered from what is now recognized as obsessive-compulsive behavior with paranoia, and the episodes became both more debilitating and more frequent. In the early phases of his mental illness, Howard could recover enough to work. But by the mid-'60s, he became a reclusive eccentric. He died in April of 1976, recognizable only from his fingerprints. Scorsese brought along two of his long-time collaborators: editor Thelma Schoonmaker, who has worked on all his pictures, and production designer Dante Ferretti, who collaborated on The Age of Innocence, Casino, Kundun, Bringing out the Dead and Gangs of New York. Costume designer Sandy Powell also worked on Gangs. Cinematographer Robert Richardson worked with the director on Casino (1995) and Bringing out the Dead (1999). The quality of technical support they bring to The Aviator help make the project "a Scorsese film," even though the director was hired by DiCaprion and the script was written by John Logan. A four-star film by any cinematic standard, The Aviator is a beauty. Critics who assert the film doesn't show enough of Hughes' dark side wanted a different picture, one that didn't get made. This portrait of the young aeronautical designer, business entrepreneur, maverick filmmaker and futurist can stand on its own, strong merits. Now showing at Cinemark and Cinema World, The Aviator receives my very highest recommendations. Footnote: The Spruce Goose resides in an aviation museum in McMinnville. The
Phantom Lover THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA: Composer, producer, writer Andrew Lloyd Webber. Writer, director Joel Schumacher. Executive producer Austin Shaw, Paul Hitchcock. Cinematographer, John Mathieson. Production design, Anthony Pratt. Editor, Terry Rawlings. Alexandra Byrne. Visual effects supervisor, Nathan McGuinness. Choreographer, Peter Darling. Music co-producer, Nigel Wright. Music supervisor, Simon Lee. Starring Gerard Butler, Emmy Rossum and Patrick Wilson, with Miranda Richardson and Minnie Driver. Warner Bros., 2004. PG-13. 113 minutes.
Where is Baz Luhrmann when you need him? If ever a movie needed the sure hand of the Australian master film stylist and self-described "mythomaniac," it is this screen version of Andrew Lloyd Webber's successful, long-running stage production of his hoary chestnut, The Phantom of the Opera. Lloyd Webber wrote the score in 1986, when the play debuted in London, where it is still running. Harold Prince brought it to Broadway in 1988, and now Joel Schumacher (Batman Forever, 1995) brings it to the screen. Unlike Luhrmann's lush, pop-operatic Red Curtain trilogy, Strictly Ballroom (1992), Romeo and Juliet (1996) and Moulin Rouge (2001), Schumacher's vision is pure kitsch. Luhrmann astonished the audience as Romeo walked through the opulent, candle-light saturated tomb where Juliet lay. Unlike Luhrmann, Schumacher creates a smothering atmosphere, overusing candles as the Phantom (Gerard Butler) poles the gondola bearing his captive lover (Emmy Rossum) to his underground lair. One creates a Baroque, Catholic awe with the multitude of candles, while the other uses CGI to bring lighted candles up from the water! Although I never saw the Lloyd Webber/Prince stage production, Jorge Morales, writing for the Village Voice, did. "Prince's magic covered the show's many flaws — thin plot, pedestrian lyrics, and schmaltzy derivative score — like so much mechanical fog. Schumacher enlarges them," Morales wrote. Aye, that's the problem. Everything in the movie is overblown but underwhelming — the costumes, the singing, the dancing, the love songs. Lloyd Webber's music for Phantom is often called earworms in reviews, and it is an apt description for the sensibility of much of the music, with inane, repetitive lyrics of longing, with no consumation in sight. In Moulin Rouge Luhrmann made a straightforward, brilliant decision. He took rock favorites and reimagined them as love songs. Powerful. Original. Third point: The characters in Luhrmann's work are full of life and love. Even the minor characters celebrate their passions — think of the show-stopper "Roseann," danced as blood-lust tango by fully fleshed supporting characters, not the stars. But little or no chemistry flares between the Schumacher's major characters — Butler, Rossum and Patrick Wilson (as Raoul de Chagny), with the exception of the sword fight between the men, which stirs up something intense. But Rossum appears hypnotized when she's in Butler's presence, and he is a perfect ghostly lover, pale and cruel. Wilson comes across as a determined but not too romantic lover. The minor characters, while bizarre, at least kept me interested. Miranda Richardson is haunting as Madame Giry, while Carlotta, played over-the-top by Minnie Driver, is a sly buffoon. Those who saw the play on stage and loved it, will probably like the screen version more than I did. I wanted to see what all the fuss was about and was disappointed. Now playing at Cinemark, the film is too schmaltzy to recommend.
OPENING
OR RETURNING: Plan 9 from Outer Space: Ed Wood's 1958 sci-fi classic makes everybody's worst films ever list, but a movie this bad is worth seeing. Bela Lugosi stars, although he died months before the filming. He appears by virtue of silent film snippets. Hilariously awful. Plays at 6 pm at DIVA; discussion follows. Russian Ark (Russia, 2001): Alexander Sokurov's cinematic achievement — one 96-minute, uninterrupted shot — is a tour of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, long the repository of Russian (and European) art and history. This fantasy journey through 300 years of Russian history is hosted by a 19th century aristocrat. NR. Plays at 7 pm on Jan. 4 in 115 Pacific, UO campus. In Russian with English subtitles. Free. Online archives. Films open the Friday following EW publication date unless otherwise noted. See archived reviews at www.eugeneweekly.com
CONTINUING: Blade: Trinity: Vampire hunter Blade (Wesley Snipes) is back. Meanwhile, vampire leaders are bringing back the rejuvenated Dracula, their progenitor, who's now called Drake (Dominic Purcell). Yikes! Written and directed by David Goyer and based on the Marvel Comics character, the film also stars Kris Kristofferson, Ryan Reynolds, Jessica Biel, Parker Posey and Natasha Lyonne. R. Cinemark. 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. Movies 12. Aviator, The: Martin Scorsese's 169-minute film about lover, aviation pioneer and eccentric billionaire industrialist Howard Hughes stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Hughes, with Cate Blanchett, Kate Beckinsale, John C. Reilly, Alec Baldwin, Jude Law, Alan Alda, Frances Conroy and Ian Holm. DiCaprio is brilliant in the role, and Scorsese makes the film his own. One of the best films of the year. Very highest recommendations. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. See review this issue. Blade: Trinity: Vampire hunter Blade (Wesley Snipes) is back. Meanwhile, vampire leaders are bringing back the rejuvenated Dracula, their progenitor, who's now called Drake (Dominic Purcell). Yikes! Written and directed by David Goyer and based on the Marvel Comics character, the film also stars Kris Kristofferson, Ryan Reynolds, Jessica Biel, Parker Posey and Natasha Lyonne. R. Cinemark. 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. Movies 12. Online archives. 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. Cinemark. Closer: Director Mike Nichols (Angels in America) looks at the relationships of four strangers, played by Julia Roberts, Jude Law, Natalie Portman and Clive Owen. Outstanding performances by all four make this a film not to be missed. Shows the anger, resentment and folly that result from such high-voltage matters as fidelity, sexuality and relationship. Ignore the negatives and see it. Very highest recommendations. One of 2004's top movies. R. Cinemark. Online archives. Darkness: Fright-filled horror movie written and directed by Jaume Balagueró, it's about a family that moves into a haunted house where horrible things happened. Stars Anna Paquin, with Lena Olin, Iain Glen and Giancarlo Giannini. Depite mild rating, film is reported to be nightmare-material. PG-13. Cinemark. Fat Albert: Bill Cosby character debuts in a live-action and animated film based on Cosby's stand-up routines about growing up in Philly. Directed by Joel Zwick. PG. Cinemark. Finding Neverland: Johnny Depp stars as British playwright J.M. Barrie, based on Allan Knee's play, The Man Who Was Peter Pan. Directed by Marc Foster, it also stars Kate Winslet, Julie Christie, Radha Mitchell and Dustin Hoffman. Winslet and Depp's performances are radiant, but the real star of the show is 12 year-old Freddie Highmore, playing the actual child, Peter Llewelyn Davies, who inspired Barrie's play. The picture is heartbreaking, gorgeous and probably too complicated for young children. PG. Cinema World. Online archives. Flight of the Phoenix: Using Robert Aldrich's 1965 adventure film as his base, John Moore updates the main story, in which crash survivors in the vast, remote Gobi Desert attempt to put their fractured plane together and fly out. Stars include Giovanni Ribisi, Dennis Quaid and Jacob Vargas. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. 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. Movies 12. 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. Movies 12. 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. Online archives. Kinsey: Bill Condon's excellent film about human sexual researcher Alfred Kinsey stars Liam Neeson, Laura Linney and Peter Sarsgaard. Frank, open-hearted and genuinely humorous, this is a must-see movie. An entertaining and enlightening antidote to the bedroom politics of the religious right and one of 2004's best, the film gets my highest recommendations. R. Bijou. Online archives. Ladder 49: Stars John Travolta and Joaquin Phoenix) as Baltimore firemen. PG. Movies 12. Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events: The New York Times calls the Lemony Snicket books "mordantly funny," but the stories of the misadventures of three orphans who fall into the hands of an evil count are popular with children and adults. Jim Carrey plays said count, three game kids bedevil him, and Meryl Streep, Timothy Spall, Billy Connolly, Luis Guzmán, Jennifer Coolidge, Jane Adams and Catherine O'Hara help. Directed by Brad Silberling and written by Robert Gordon. PG. Cinema World. Cinemark. Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou: Wes Anderson's new ensemble comedy stars Bill Murry as a famed underwater adventure filmmaker who's run into some big waves and is going under. Co-stars Owen Wilson, Anjelica Huston, Cate Blanchett, Michael Gambon and Willem Dafoe. R. Cinema World. Cinemark. Meet the Fockers: Jay Roach follows Meet the Parents (2000) with Ben Stiller's bride and in-laws to-be Teri Polo, Robert De Niro and Blythe Danner meeting his rather eccentric parents, Dustin Hoffman and Barbara Streisand. Culture clash writ small. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. 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. Movies 12. 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. Cinemark. Ocean's Twelve: Director Steven Soderbergh returns with the gang: George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle, Bernie Mac, Andy Garcia, Julia Roberts and newby Catherine Zeta-Jones. A recent group interview in Premiere makes reveals they had a blast making this sequel. Highly recommended for its unabashedly confident entertainment value. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. Online archives. Phantom of the Opera, The: The Andrew Lloyd Webber musical is brought to the screen by Joel Schumacher. It stars Emmy Rossum, Gerard Butler and Patrick Wilson. Unfortunately, under Schumacher's insipid direction, kitsch dominates. If you already love the work, you may enjoy the film, but the too-sweet sentimentality is too much for me. PG-13. Cinemark. See review this issue. Polar Express, The: Robert Zemeckis 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. 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. Movies 12. Online archives. 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. Movies 12. 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. Movies 12. 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. 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. Movies 12. Online archives. Spanglish: James L. Brooks's comedy/drama stars Adam Sandler, Tea Leoni, Anne Bancroft and Paz Vega. A non-English speaking woman goes to work for an upscale LA family. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. SpongeBob SquarePants: Animated feature starring one of Nickelodeon's most absorbing characters. Voices by Alec Baldwin, Scarlett Johansson and others. PG. Cinemark. 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.
MOVIE
THEATERS Bijou
Art Cinemas Regal
Cinemas Cinemark
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