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Abandoned HOTEL RWANDA: Directed, produced and written by Terry George. Co-written by Keir Pearson, in consultation with Paul Rusesabagina. Produced by A. Kitman Ho. Executive producers, Hal Sadoff, Duncan Reid, Martin F. Katz. Cinematographer, Robert Fraisse. Editor, Naomi Geraghty. Production design, Johnny Breedt, Tony Burrough. Costumes, Ruy Filipe. Composers, Rupert Gregson Williams, Andrea Guerra, Afro Celt Sound System. Starring Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Nick Nolte, with Joaquin Phoenix, Jean Reno, Fama Mokoena, Desmond Dube, Cara Seymour, Mothusi Magano and Leleti Khumalo. United Artists, 2004. R. 121 minutes.
Filmmaker Terry George is not neutral about the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. More than 800,000 Rwandans were brutally murdered in 100 days, while the West twiddled its collective thumbs. And George puts it out there just that bluntly. The Hutu waged war with machetes against the Tutsi, especially targeting children. If you don't believe these facts, George's film, Hotel Rwanda, will persuade you. I was reduced to angry, ashamed tears, and perhaps you, too, will weep. Few people will leave this film unaffected, although some (but not I) may feel manipulated. George is a very efficient, no-nonsense director who knows what he's doing. His central characters are vulnerable and idealistic, like many of us in the audience. We experience the unfolding human tragedy primarily through the eyes of Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle), in a quietly brilliant performance. In an early scene, Paul tells his wife's brother and wife the U.N. peacekeepers would not allow to happen the indiscriminate butchery they have heard is planned. He tells them not to worry. He lives to regret his words. Paul's wife, Tatiana (Sophie Okonedo), worries about safety in their neighborhood after they watch a man beaten and taken away by armed men. Paul puts a good face on things and reassures her it was a mistake that will get settled in the morning. But when they drag their oldest son home covered in blood from the next-door neighbors' yard, Paul realizes his only recourse is to put up his family in the upscale hotel, Mille Collines, where he works as the house manager. Paul is a peaceful Hutu; his wife is Tutsi. Worried about losing his job, Paul's reluctant to take in friends and neighbors. When the Westerners pull out of Kigali, essentially leaving an open field for the Hutus to rampage and kill with impunity, Paul is appointed by the Belgian hotel owner (Jean Reno) to be in charge. Based on a true story, Hotel Rwanda makes the most of such ironies. As an ambitious businessman, Paul has cultivated powerful men among the Westerners as well as Rwandans, plying them with Cuban-made cigars and precious single-malt Scotch. Once violence breaks out, Paul bribes a local military leader (Fama Mokoena) with Scotch and money from the hotel safe. The hotel owner does what he can from Europe to help, and a Red Cross aid worker (Cara Seymjour) asks Paul to take in orphaned children. Paul's relationship with U.N. Colonel Oliver (Nick Nolte) officer offers him some comfort until orders from above stop Oliver's efforts. Nolte's piercing, passionate performance here is galvanizing. Set against a background of a city gone mad, the excellent soundtrack from composers Afro Celt Sound System, Rupert Gregson Williams and Andrea Guerra, also includes snippets of chilling, hate-filled radio broadcasts from a Hutu-controlled station directing the armed mobs roaming the streets to places where Tutsis are hiding. As in the former Yugoslavia's ethnic cleansing, the media plays an ignominious role in the bloodbath. Without U.N. protection and no hope for evacuation, Paul is left with few choices and fewer resources to keep alive the more than 1,200 refugees he has taken in. The effects of one individual against overwhelming events cannot give the viewer a larger picture. That must wait for another time, a different story. But if this is the only film you watch about Rwanda's nightmare, you will not be misled. Paul Rusesabagina idealized the West, but he learned what victims from other recent conflicts have discovered: No one on a white horse is coming to rescue you. Filmmaker Terry George comes by his passions honestly. Born in Northern Ireland, George spent time in a British prison, which fueled his trio of screenplays for The Boxer, Some Mother's Son, which he also directed, and In the Name of the Father. Hotel Rwanda is now playing at Cinemark and Cinema World. Very highest recommendations.
Synthetic
Charms THE WEDDING DATE: Directed by Clare Kilner. Written by Dana Fox, based on Elizabeth Young's novel, Asking for Trouble. Produced by Nathalie Marciano, Michelle Chydzik Sowa, Jessica Bendinger and Paul Brooks. Executive producers Scott Niemeyer, Norm Waitt, Jim Reeve, Steve Robbins. Cinematography, Oliver Curtis. Editor, Mary Finlay. Production design, Tom Burton. Costume design, Louise Page. Composer, Blake Neely. Starring Debra Messing and Dermot Mulroney. With Amy Adams, Jeremy Sheffield, Sarah Parish, Jack Davenport, Felix Adler, Holland Taylor and Peter Egan. Universal Pictures, 2005. PG-13. 88 minutes. If you've seen the trailer as many times as I have, there's little left to discover in Clare Kilner's romantic comedy, The Wedding Date. The primary roles are played by television veterans Debra Messing (as Kat Ellis) and Dermot Mulroney (as Nick Mercer). Messing as Kat runs hot and cold toward the escort she's hired to accompany her to a wedding in London, and her dithering becomes annoying. For his part, Mulroney isn't sleazy enough to play a sex-worker; he comes off like a reluctant male model, who uses his ersatz sexuality to provoke rather than to please.
Now I've been to a wedding in England, and what I recall is that the bride and all other women at the wedding itself have to wear hats. I don't remember whether the wedding guests in the movie wore hats or not, but I can confirm the requisite tonnage of liquor was sloshed around at the parties and reception. Excessive booze is consumed by all participants, hoping, perhaps, to make palatable the unconvincing emotional attachment between the bride, Kat's half-sister Amy (Amy Adams), and groom, Edward (Jack Davenport). Kat's actual reason to take a gigolo to a family wedding is to incite jealousy in her ex-fiancé Jeffrey (Jeremy Sheffield), Edward's best man. It turns out Jeffrey's moral sense has been eroded by his bad behavior, but Kat has to learn that tidy piece of gossip for herself. Some of the minor characters are disarming, including Kat's mother, Bunny (Holland Taylor), and step-father Victor (Peter Egan), both of whom care terribly about Kat's happiness. Taylor and Egan are recognizable from their lengthy television careers in Britain and the U.S. as well as from movies. Most recently, Taylor played the grandmother in the two Spy Kids movies, and Egan was in the PBS series, "The Inspector Lynley Mysteries." Like most wedding movies, The Wedding Date promises more than it delivers. And like the wedding guests, I was glad when the whole affair was over so I could go home and sit around in my pajamas. Let's get real, people. This wedding fluff is pure, commercial fantasy. No stars for this film, which is now playing at Cinemark.
OPENING
OR RETURNING: Creation of Adam (1993): Yurii Pavlov's film is about a married gay man trying to escape gay bashers, who meets a charismatic businessman. At 7 pm on 2/15 in 115 Pacific. In Russian with English subtitles. Free. Darkness, The: Fright-filled horror movie written and directed by Jaume Balagueró about a family, which moves into a haunted house where horrible things happened. Stars Anna Paquin, Lena Olin, Iain Glen, Giancarlo Giannini. Reputed to be nightmare-material. PG-13. Movies 12. End of Suburbia (2004): Documentary about dwindling oil resources and looming crisis. (78 minutes) And Control Room (2004): Documentary. Inside workings of Al Jazeera in Iraq show differences between Arab television coverage of the war and US control of the media. Makes a case that reporting civilian casualties is more accurate than the view American networks are fed. NR. (86 minutes). At 7 pm on 2/16 in 180 PLC, UO. Free. Escaping Affluenza: Author John DeGraaf present. At 7 pm on 2/16 at Cozmic Pizza. Falling In: Locally produced in Eugene and filmed on campus, Falling In tells the story of best friends who learn about the pains of friendship and what it means to fall in love. NR. LateNite Bijou. Framing An Execution: The Media and Mumia Abu-Jamal: Narrated by Danny Glover, film examines how Sam Donaldson's framing of the Mumia case stands up to available facts. At 7:15 pm on 2/14 in Cozmic Pizza. Harold and Maude (1971): Hal Ashby directs this cult fave about a suicidal young man and a much, much older woman, who share some of the same dreams. Stars Ruth Gordon and Bud Cort. PG. LateNite Bijou. Hitch: Will Smith stars in this romantic comedy as a New York "date doctor" who helps hapless men woo the women of the their dreams. Costars Kevin James, Amber Valletta, Eva Mendes, Michael Rappaport and Adam Arkin. Directed by Andy Tennant. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. Just Hustle: West Coast filmmaker Sage Bannick's homage to the French New Wave is about a private detective who gets involved with a college gambling ring. Stars Samia Doumit, Efrin Ramirez, Marissa Tait, Benji Olson. Feb. 16 –20. Bijou. Lou Harrison: A World of Music: A work in progress discussed by filmmaker Eva Stoles. At 8 pm on 2/17 at DIVA. $5. Lord of the Flies (1963): Director Peter Brook's brilliant film based on William Golding's novel follows a group of English schoolboys stranded on an island during a nuclear conflict. NR. The Chase as an Epic precedes the feature film at 6 pm. Feature at 7 pm on 2/12 in Lorane Grange Hall. $7/$5 children 12 and under. 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. Movies 12. Pooh's Heffalump Movie: Pooh, Piglet and Tigger set out to capture a Heffalump in the Hundred Acre Wood. Voices by Jim Cummings and Brenda Blethyn. G. Cinemark. Promises: Justine Sharp and B.Z. Goldberg's sensitive film about Israeli and Palestinian children in Jerusalem talking about war, peace and growing up. Discussion follows film. At 3 pm on 2/13 in Eugene Public Library downtown. Free. Sunrise (1927): Great silent film directed by F.W. Murnau stars Oscar-winner Janet Gaynor. At 8 pm on 2/12 in DIVA. $2-5. Films open the Friday following EW publication date unless otherwise noted. See archived reviews at www.eugeneweekly.com
CONTINUING: Are We There Yet?: In Brian Levant's new movie, Ice Cube takes his recently divorced girlfriend Nia Long's two kids on a road trip from Portland to Vancouver, BC, on New Year's Eve. Jay Mohr plays his best friend. PG. Cinemark. 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. 11 Academy Åward noms for picture, director, Di Caprio actor, Alan Alda supporting actor, Cate Blanchett supporting actress, John Logan original screenplay, Dante Ferretti art direction, Robert Richardson cinematography, Sandy Powell costumes, sound mixing, Thelma Schoonmaker film editing. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. Online archives. Being Julia: London stage darling (Annette Bening) is bored with theater, her husband (Jeremy Irons), and even her fans. Along comes a young American (Shaun Evans) to brighten her world. Academy Award nomination for Bening as best actress. R. Bijou. Online archives. Blade: Trinity: Vampire hunter Blade (Wesley Snipes) goes after vampire leaders bringing back the rejuvenated Dracula, their progenitor, who's now called Drake.(Dominic Based on the Marvel Comics character. Co-stars Kris Kristofferson, Ryan Reynolds, Jessica Biel, Parker Posey, Natasha Lyonne. R. Movies 12. Boogeyman: Horror, terror and violence await you as Barry Watson, Emily Deschanel and others confront the boogeyman. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. Coach Carter: Samuel L. Jackson stars as a basketball coach in a Richmond, CA high school. His tough-love ethic requires players to keep up their grades and dress right. He makes national news when he benches the whole team for poor academic performance. Directed by Thomas Carter. PG-13. Cinemark. Elektra: Jennifer Garner plays Elektra, a killing machine, based on the Marvel comic book character. Co-stars Goran Visnjic ("ER"), Terence Stamp, Abby Miller. PG-13. Movies 12. 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. Movies 12. 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 co-stars Kate Winslet, Julie Christie, Radha Mitchell, Dustin Hoffman. Winslet and Depp's performances are radiant, but the real star is 12 year-old Freddie Highmore, playing the boy who inspired Barrie's play. Heartbreaking, gorgeous and probably too complicated for young children. 7 Academy Award noms for best picture, Depp actor, David Magee adapted screenplay, original score, Gemma Jackson art direction, Alexandra Byrne costumes, Matt Chesse film editing. 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. Movies 12. 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. Movies 12. Hide and Seek: Robert DeNiro plays a recently widowed father desperate to break through to his daughter (Dakota Fanning), who has an imaginary friend with a terrifying agenda. Directed by John Polson. Co-stars Famke Janssen, Elisabeth Shue, Amy Irving, Dylan Baker. R. Cinemark. Hotel Rwanda: During the Rwandan massacres of 1994, a hotel manager named Paul Rusesabagina offered refuge to more than 1,000 Tutsis fleeing rampaging Hutus. Directed by Terry George, film stars Don Cheadle, with co-stars Sophie Okonedo, Joaquin Phoenix, Nick Nolte. 3 Academy Award nominations: Cheadle, best actor; Okenedo, supporting actress; original screenplay. Very highest recommendations.PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. See review this issue. In Good Company: Comedy written, directed by Paul Weitz is about the relationship between an older man (Dennis Quaid) and his much younger boss (Topher Grace). Scarlett Johansson co-stars. Sweet comio insights on workplace changes and what really matters: career or home? PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. Online archives. Meet the Fockers: Jay Roach directs Ben Stiller, Teri Polo, Robert De Niro, Blythe Danner, Dustin Hoffman, Barbara Streisand. Culture clash. Surprisingly funny and heart-warming, with a lovable performance by Hoffman. PG-13. Cinemark. Online archives. Million Dollar Baby: Clint Eastwood, who directed, produced and composed the music for this film, co-stars with Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman in this story of a spunky fighter, a reluctant trainer and an ex-boxer who looks after the gym. One of 2004's best films. Very highest recommendations. 7 Academy Award nominations for best picture, Eastwood director, Eastwood actor, Hilary Swank actress, Morgan Freeman supporting actor, Paul Haggis adapted screenplay and Joel Cox film editing. 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, starring Emmy Rossum, Gerard Butler and Patrick Wilson. Under Schumacher's insipid direction, kitsch dominates. If you already love the work, you may enjoy the film, but its way too-sweet for me. 3 Academy Award nominations for original song, art direction and John Mathieson cinematography. PG-13. Cinemark. Online archives. Racing Stripes: A farmer (Bruce Greenwood) and his daughter (Hayden Panettiere raise a baby zebra to become a champion racer. Live action, computer animation. Voices by Frankie Muniz, Dustin Hoffman, Whoopi Goldberg, Snoop Dogg. PG. Cinemark. Ray: Jamie Foxx plays late, great Ray Charles in this musical, biographical drama directed by Taylor Hackford. Co-stars Kerry Washington, Regina King. Outstanding performance by Foxx. One of the year's finest films. 6 Academy Award nominations for best picture, Taylor Hackford director, Jamie Foxx actor, Sharen Davis costumes, sound mixing and Paul Hirsch film editing. PG-13. Movies 12. Online archives. Shall We Dance: American remake of the sublime Japanese film of the same title. Jennifer Lopez plays the dance teacher; Richard Gere is the shy man who learns to dance. See the original. PG-13. Movies 12. Shark Tale: Computer-animated feature. Lovable tropical fish (Will Smith) takes on the underwater Mafia when he assumes responsibility for killing the godfather of the Great White Sharks. Voices include Jack Black, Robert De Niro, Renée Zellweger, Angelina Jolie, Martin Scorsese; Eric Bergeron. 2 Academy Award nomination for animated feature, original song. PG. Movies 12. Sideways: Alexander Payne's social comedy 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. Academy Award nominations for best picture, director, Church supporting actor, Madsen supporting actress, Payne and Jim Taylor adapted screenplay. R. Cinemark. Online archives. SpongeBob SquarePants: Animated feature starring one of Nickelodeon's most absorbing characters. Voices: Alec Baldwin, Scarlett Johansson. PG. Movies 12. Very Long Engagement, A: Jean-Pierre Jeunet's WWI film stars Audrey Tatou who refuses to believe her lover is dead and persists in unravelling the mystery of what happened to him during the war. Golden scenes from peacetime France contrast boldly with the tortured earth and death-drenched trenches of this horrific war. Free of whimsey and sentiment. Very highest recommendations. 2 Academy Award noms: for Aline Bonetto art direction and Bruno Delbonnel cinematography. Bijou. Online archives. Wedding Date: Debra Messing, Dermot Mulroney and Jeremy Sheffield star in a romantic comedy direted by Clare Kilner. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. See review this issue. White Noise: Stars Michael Keaton as an architect who thinks his dead wife (Chandra West) is talking to him through electronic devices in their home. Geoffrey Sax directs; Deborah Kara Unger, Ian McNeice co-star. PG-13. Movies 12.
MOVIE
THEATERS Bijou
Art Cinemas Regal
Cinemas Cinemark
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