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Power
of the Camera BORN INTO BROTHELS (Documentary, 2004): Directed, produced and filmed by Ross Kauffman and Zana Briski. Executive producer Geralyn White Dreyfous and Pamela Tanner Boll. Editors, Nancy Baker and Ross Kauffman. R. 83 minutes. HBO/Cinemax. ThinkFilm, 2004. Winner 2004 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. Audience Award, 2004 Sundance. Audience Award, 2004 Amnesty International Film Festival.
Beginning in 2000, London-born, New York-resident documentary photographer Zana Briski began holding photography workshops with children of prostitutes living in the brothels of Calcutta, India. In 2001, documentary film editor and cinematographer Ross Kaufman joined her. They won grants from the Sundance Institute, the Jerome Foundation and the New York State Council on the Arts to finish the film. Many sources of funding were necessary for this years-long project. While ultimately bearing Briski and Kaufmann's imprint, the film belongs to the amazing children you meet. Briski lived in the dangerous slums that make up Sonagachi, the red-light district of North Calcutta, where she photographed the lives of the women sex-workers. But after meeting the kids, Briski brought cameras for them and taught them to use the cameras to shoot pictures on the street, in their rooms and hallways and rooftops. She ran a workshop where the kids learned everything about photography she could teach them. They shared their pictures, evaluated them, learned from their mistakes. And the work they created is very good. Briski selected some of the best work to go into an exhibit she took to New York, London and eventually to Calcutta, where the kids saw their own work on the walls of a gallery. The sale of prints goes into a fund to help the young photographers. Briski found schools to take the eight most talented boys and girls. She advocated on behalf of the kids with their families, who were often reluctant to put them in boarding schools and spent uncounted hours assembling the necessary documents for the schools. Along with a growing sense of a photographer's way of seeing the world, the children come to believe in possibilities for a different life. It is doubly hard to hear the most talented among them, 12-year old Avigit, say that hope is not in his future. Yet against formidable familial, economic and class-related odds, a few children who received cameras from Briski are now pursuing their education. Some say there is an ethical question about whether any person outside the culture should come into a community and actively help disadvantaged children to aspire to a better life. It's asking a great deal of both the child and the family. But neither Briski nor Kaufman seem to have unrealistic expectations for the children. Briski shows respect to the kids' mothers and grandmothers — prostitution often spans generations within a family — and she does not alienate them. But the girls, ages from 10 to 14, are vulnerable to being swept into being "in the line." As boys Avigit, 12, Gour, 13, and Manik, 10 have difficult economic expectations laid upon them. Avigit, the most promising natural artist, has a terrible time emotionally when his mother dies. He has developed a maturity that belies his age at the cost of having a childhood. With a big smile and a big heart, Gour wants to attend college. He has tender feelings for his best friend Puja, an 11-year-old tomboy, and wants to get her out of Sonagachi. Puja's photographs are mostly of her room, which she shares with her mother, great-grandmother and pet parrots. Manik is a quiet boy who loves to fly kites. He lives with his sister Shanti and their mother. Shanti, 11, is a budding cinematographer, who filmed one of the classroom scenes. Kochi, 10, is a shy girl who takes pictures of her family, animals, gardens and parks. She says she wants to change her environment. Suchitra, 14, the most gifted girl photographer, is also the most at-risk. Her photo of her sister's friend was chosen as the cover of the Amnesty International 2003 calendar. Tapasi, 11, photographs the hard reality of her life and dreams of being a teacher and taking her younger siblings out of the red light district. Born Into Brothels shows children finding within themselves a creative force that liberates them, however briefly, from a life they seem fated to live. These youngsters use the experience of discovering self-expression to show us their world. They are joyous and utterly unforgettable. Film opens Friday at the Bijou with my very highest recommendations.
Fresh-Squeezed
Pulp SIN CITY, Frank Miller's: Directed by Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez and Quentin Tarantino. Written by Robert Rodriguez, based on stories from Sin City, Frank Miller's graphic novel series: "The Hard Good-Bye," "The Big Fat Kill," and "That Yellow Bastard." Cinematographer, Robert Rodriguez. Editor, Robert Rodriguez. Music, John Debney, Graeme Revell, Robert Rodriguez. Special effects, CafeFX; The Orphanage. Starring Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson, Elijah Wood, Bruce Willis, Benicio Del Toro, Michael Clarke Duncan, Carla Gugino, Josh Hartnett, Michael Madsen, Jaime King, Brittany Murphy, Clive Owen, Mickey Rourke, Nick Stahl, Marley Shelton, Powers Booth, Devon Aoki, Alexis Bledel and Rutger Hauer. Produced by Elisabeth Avellan, Frank Miller, Robert Rodriguez. Executive producers, Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein, Andrew Rona, Brad Weston. Dimension Films, 2005. R. 126 minutes.
In Robert Rodriguez's highly stylized version of three linked stories, the noir sensibility of Frank Miller's graphic novel is never absent. None of the film's killers suffer remorse. The male heroes — a used-up, renegade cop, John Hartigan (Bruce Willis); a beserk street fighter hell-bent on revenge, Marv (Mickey Rourke); and a physically altered former physician, Dwight (Clive Owen) — kill, torture and dismember with impunity. The bad guys — The Man (Josh Hartnett), a suave lover/killer; the demented Jackie Boy (Benicio Del Toro); and a nutcase named Kevin (Elijah Wood) — also murder, torment and tear bodies apart. In addition, they also hurt women. Some women are their victims, such as Marley Shelton, The Man's first prey; Nancy (Jessica Alba), who was abducted as a child; Lucille (Carla Gugino), Marv's parole officer; Shellie (Brittany Murphy), a bar maid; and Goldie (Jaime King), Marv's prostitute lover. Some women aren't victims. They do all of the same things the men do but with more flair: Gail (Rosario Dawson), Miho (Devon Aoki) and Becky (Alexis Bledel). They relish killing. Welcome to the world of Sin City, where everybody is a potential killer or worse. In this black-and-white world, you're either with the good guys (and gals) or else you're dead or soon gonnabe. There's no middle ground, no second chances, no way out. The rules are: There are no rules. If this sounds suspiciously like an adolescent fantasy,
well, there you have it. But if you think that means it isn't entertaining,
you're dead wrong. This flick entertains even when it repulses, which
is frequently. Shed blood is most often a silvery, wet looking puddle,
occasionally white, yellow or even red. But it never looks like blood.
Likewise, most of the film's minor thugs, villains and heroes look and
sound Only gravelly voiced Marv (Rourke) stands out. Although he's sorely lacking ethics, Marv's a simple guy. Someone killed his girl. He's going to find out who did it and kill him slowly. Don't get in his way. From the time he wakes up in a heart-shaped bed with the beautiful, dead blonde, Goldie, Marv's on a mission. He helps Goldie's twin sister, Wendy, settle things with the political family behind the killings, the Roarks. It's an ugly business, but Marv's willing to wade in and set things right with the morally lapsed Senator Roark (Powers Booth) and Bishop Roark (Rutger Hauer), but he saves the good stuff for a nasty piece of work, Roark Jr. aka the Yellow Bastard (Nick Stahl). Gruesome, yes. Extreme, right. But deserved. Well, you see how easy it is to be corrupted by a piece of clever filmmaking. We gave up our collective cherry for Pulp Fiction and have been rewarded by the various Tarantino blood baths that followed. Righteousness wears thin. To be a mega-popular hit, we only ask that our vicious killers and brave victims be cool and look good. Sin City is now playing at Cinema World and Cinemark. Don't hurry. It's going to be around for awhile.
OPENING
OR RETURNING: Agony and the Ecstasy, The (1965): Carol Reed's film about the painting of the Sistine Chapel with Charlton Heston as Michelangelo and Rex Harrison as Pope Julius II. At 7:30 pm on 4/12 in 177 Lawrence, UO campus. Free. Baraka (1992): Ron Fricke's time-lapse photography "transforms a fascinating array of scenic panoramas into a thought-provoking experience," says Videohound. Shot in 70mm in 24 countries. At 7 pm on 4/13 in 180 PLC, UO campus. Free. Born Into Brothels: 2004 Academy Award winning documentary feature about children growing up in the red-light district of Calcutta and a photographer who gives them cameras and teaches them a way out. The kids are joyous and unforgettable. Very highest recommendations. R. Bijou. See review this issue. Circus (1936): One of Grigori Aleksandrov's delightful musical comedies about an American circus star — the human cannonball — who goes to the Soviet Union to find a better life for her multiracial baby. At 7 pm on 4/12 in 115 Pacific. Free. Fever Pitch: The Farrelly brothers direct a Lowell Ganz screenplay based on a Nick Hornby novel about a fanatic Red Sox fan (Jimmy Fallon) who may have to choose between the team and a woman (Drew Barrymore) he loves. Cinemark. Cinema World. Film Forum with Sharon Sherman: Documentary videographer will show her recent work as a producer. Her work includes Videos: Spirits in the Wood; Passover: A Celebration; and Portland Cityfolk Festival. At 8 pm 4/8 at DIVA. $2-$5. Good Kurds, Bad Kurds (2004): Strong documentary feature by freelance telejournalist Kevin McKiernan about the Kurds in northern Iraq and southern Turkey, an ethnic group vital to the conflict in Iraq. At 7 pm 4/11 at Cozmic Pizza. Free. 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. 2004 Academy Award nominations for original song, art direction and John Mathieson cinematography. PG-13. Movies 12. Online archives. Sahara: Penelope Cruz, Matthew McConaughey and Steve Zahn team up to look for a long-lost Civil War battleship that protects a secret cargo. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. Spike and Mike's Sick and Twisted Animation: No one under 18 will be admitted. LateNite Bijou. Storm Riders, The (Hong Kong, 1998): Action, adventure fantasy about orphan boys taken in by a soothsayer and raised as his own. At 4 pm on 4/7 in 115 Pacific, UO campus. In Mandarin Chinese, English subtitles. Free. Stroll, The (Russia, 2003): Aleksei Uchitel's film tracks three exuberant young people looking for St. Petersburg's youth-friendly edge. At 7 pm on 4/14 in 115 Pacific. Free. 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. Movies 12. Be Cool: Picks up where Get Shorty leaves off. Chili Palmer (John Travolta) quits the movie industry to try the music industry and woos a music exec's widow (Uma Thurman) on the way. PG13. Movies 12. Beauty Shop: Hair stylist Queen Latifah leaves a posh salon with shampoo girl Alicia Silverstone to open her own shop. Also stars Alfre Woodard, Mena Suvari, Andie MacDowell and Djimon Hounsou. Directed by Billy Woodruff. PG-13. 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 negative reviews and see it for yourself. Very highest recommendations. One of 2004's top movies. R. Movies 12. Online archives. Coach Carter: Based on a true story. 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 (Save the Last Dance). PG-13. Movies 12. Guess Who: Bernie Mac stars as the father of Zoe Saldana, who brings her boyfriend, Ashton Kutcher, home, and he's white! Comic retake on the 1967 Sidney Poitier movie. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. 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. Cinemark. Hostage: Former LAPD hostage-negotiator Bruce Willis moves his family to a low-crime town in Ventura County where criminal teenagers hold them hostage, and he must take over the crime scene investigation. A film by Florent Siri. 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. Three 2004 Academy Award nominations: Cheadle, best actor; Okendo, supporting actress; original screenplay. Very highest recommendations. PG-13. Movies 12. Online archives. Ice Princess: Fantasy about a smart high-school student who must choose between a career in physics (and a chance to go to Harvard) and a career as an ice skater. Hmm. Stars Michelle Trachtenberg as Casey, Joan Cusack as her mother, and Kim Cattrall ("Sex and the City") as a former ice skater. G. Cinemark. 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. 2004 Academy Award Animated Feature. PG. Movies 12. Online archives. Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events: The misadventures of three orphans who fall into the hands of an evil count are popular with children and adults. Jim Carrey stars, with many co-stars. Directed by Brad Silberling. PG. Movies 12. Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou: Wes Anderson's new ensemble comedy stars Bill Murray 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. Movies 12. Online archives. 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. Movies 12. 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. 2004 Academy Awards for best picture, Eastwood director, Swank actress, Freeman supporting actor. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. Online archives. Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous: Lucky FBI Agent Sandra Bullock has an outspoken partner (Regina King) who calls her "Barbie" and keeps her straight. Also stars Enrique Murciano, William Shatner, Heather Burns, Treat Williams. Directed by John Pasquin. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. 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. Movies 12. Pacifier, The: Disgraced Navy SEAL Shane Wolf (Vin Diesel) is given a new assignment to protect 5 kids from enemies of their recently deceased father – a government scientist whose top secret experiment is still in the house. Thriller? Drama? Tear-jerker? Nope, it's a comedy. PG. Cinemark. 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. Movies 12. 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: Frankie Muniz, Dustin Hoffman, Whoopi Goldberg, Snoop Dogg. PG. Movies 12. Ring 2: Sequel to Gore Verbinski's remake of Hideo Nakata's 1998 Japanese horror film is directed by Nakata this time. Naomi Watts stars again, seeking the truth behind a videotape that kills people who watch it. Rated PG-13 for violence/terror, disturbing images, thematic elements and language. PG-13. Cinemark. Robots: Animator Chris Wedge's (Ice Age) amusing tale of a robot lad who dreams of being an inventor. This creative world of mechanical beings is never dull because these endearing, pieced-together, talking tin cans convey comfort and safety. Voices by Ewan McGregor, Halle Berry, Robin Williams, Mel Brooks, Amanda Bynes, Stanley Tucci, Greg Kinnear. Not preachy, but a good teaching tale about differences. Warmly recommended. PG. Cinemark. Cinema World. Online archives. Schultze Gets the Blues: Laid-off German salt miner and traditional accordion player falls in love with zydeco music and makes a daring trip to the US. Endearing but not sentimental film directed by Michael Schorr reminds us to take the time to taste life. PG. Bijou. Shogun Assassin: Assembled in 1980 from a patchwork of 1970s films that were released as Lone Wolf and Cub adventures. Nexflix says it's "bathed in blood." Skilled, renegade Samurai and his 5-year-old son do a lot of killing for various kin of the Shogun. LateNite Bijou. 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. 2004 Academy Award to Alexander Payne and Jim Taylor for adapted screenplay. R. Movies 12. Online archives. Sin City: Based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller and directed by Miller, Robert Rodriguez (and "special guest director" Quentin Tarantino), film stars a host of players including Jessica Alba, Rosario Dawson, Elijah Wood, Bruce Willis, Benicio Del Toro, Clive Owen and Josh Hartnett. R. Cinemark. Cinema World. See review this issue. Upside of Anger, The: Joan Allen stars as an angry, abandoned wife with four daughters, and Kevin Costner is her bachelor neighbor in this "spiky, indie comedy" (New York Times). Directed by Mike Binder, film co-stars Erika Christensen, Evan Rachel Wood, Keri Russell and Alicia Witt. R. Cinema World. Cinemark.
MOVIE
THEATERS Bijou
Art Cinemas Regal
Cinemas Cinemark
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