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Surrealistic DOWNFALL: Directed by Oliver Hirshbiegel. Written and produced by Bernd Eichinger, based on Inside Hitler's Bunker by Joachim Fest and Until the Final Hour by Traudl Junge and Melissa Muller. Cinematography, Rainer Klausmann. Edited by Hans Funck. Music, Stephan Zacharias. Production design, Bernd Lepel. Costumes, Claudia Bobsin. Starring Bruno Ganz. With Alexandra Maria Lara, Juliane Kohler, Corinna Harfouch, Ulrich Mattes, Also, Heino Ferch, Christian Berkel, Thomas Kretschmann, Ulrich Noethen, Gotz Otto, Andre Hennicke and Donevan Gunia. Newmarket Films, 2004. R. 148 minutes. 2004 Academy Award nomination for foreign language film.
Downfall creates a memorable, claustrophobic impression of what took place in Adolf Hitler's bunker 60 feet below the German Chancellery in Berlin, 1945, as Russia's Red Army approached the city center. As a medium, film offers us vivid images that embody historical figures, and we observe realistic re-enactments of events, complete with the rich and pedestrian details of daily life. Film grants immediacy to long ago events and turns the famous or infamous into participants. Here Swiss actor Bruno Ganz (Wings of Desire) indelibly characterizes Adolf Hitler, making him personally repulsive, shallow and needy, and yet expressing his vulnerability and rare kindness. Image and performance tempt us to identify with the movie's sympathetic characters and to recognize as human the machinations of those Nazis who spent the last days of the Third Reich trying to save their own skin (or their reputations). Should movie audiences see such monsters as human even briefly? Artistic freedom says yes; we are all flawed. Should the filmmakers or audience extend sympathy to the historic murderers who embraced Nazism and the Final Solution? No. We can and should see portrayals such as this, yet we must never forget the monumental culpability of the criminal Nazi regime nor forgive its participants for the evil they did to millions of people. Under the right conditions each of us can behave monstrously. Murderers reflect human nature's shadow side. But being human also means resisting such impulses. In Downfall, the state has marshaled its paranoid power impulses against those perceived as enemies. For the ones who implemented Nazism's policies of genocide, there is no clean place to stand. For those who watched, going along to get along demands a price be paid. Downfall is an excellent war film set amid the battered ruins of Berlin and its scattered battles. As the Allies closed in on the citadel of power, Hitler and his generals in the gray-walled bunker knew they would receive no mercy from the Russians, who would reach the city before the other armies. Hitler's terminal madness — a pathetic attempt to hold onto the remnants of his empire — speaks to the times, as does the relentless, haphazard murder of German citizens by fervent SS in the streets. Inside the bunker and outside mirrored the same pathology. Both were trapped between the pincers of advancing armies. The story is narrated by Traudl Junge (Alexandra Maria Lara), Hitler's secretary from late 1942 until April 1945. She took his last statement and testimonial. Junge herself speaks in a documentary segment near the end of the film. She does not ask for forgiveness nor understanding, although she reminds us she was just 22 when her Fuehrer selected her. Junge acknowledges that she could have learned what was going on if she had wanted to know. In our heavily mediated culture it's hard to believe one could live in wartime Germany and not know, especially someone in her privileged position. Junge gives us the key to the puzzle: You know something is wrong, but you don't know what, exactly. And you don't ask. Eva Braun (Juliane Kohler) expresses disappointment when she's unable to persuade her husband to spare the life of her sbrother-in-law, Herman Fegelein (Thomas Kretschmann). Minister of the Interior Heinrich Himmler (Ulrich Noethen) sees his boss has lost his mind and starts negotiating with Supreme Allied Commander Dwight Eisenhower for surrender terms. Hitler entrusts his personal aide, Otto (Gotz Otto), with disposing of his and Eva's bodies by fire following their suicides. Otto also fires the bodies of Hitler's malefic, influential Minister of Propaganda, Josef Goebbels (Ulrich Matthes), and his icy, party loyalist wife Magda (Corinna Harfouch), a murderer herself. We first meet 13-year-old Peter Granz (Donevan Gunia) as a Hitler Youth pinched on the cheek by the Fuehrer. Peter makes several quick appearances in the film, including one very near the end.
OPENING
OR RETURNING: A Lot Like Love: Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet are opposites who keep running into each other over the years after an initial disaster. Are they friends or is this love? Directed by Nigel Cole (Calendar Girls). PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. Artemisia (1997): Intelligent, fictionalized biography of Italian Baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi, directed by Agnes Merlet. Beautiful cinematography captures the trials of this real-life artist, played by Valentin Cervi, but critics said story is largely undocumented, particularly the rape of Artemisia as pupil by her art teacher, played by Mike Manojlovic. R. At 7:30 pm on 4/26 in 177 Lawrence, UO campus. Free. 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 and Blanchett are brilliant, and Scorsese makes the film his own. Very highest recommendations. 2004 Academy Awards to Blanchett; Robert Richardson, cinematography; Sandy Powell, costumes; Thelma Schoonmaker, editor. PG-13. Movies 12. Online archives. Beyond These Narrow Borders: Also, talk by Peter Hwosch. At 7 pm on 4/21 in World Café, UO campus. Donations. Bubba Ho-Tep (2003): Written and directed by Don Coscarelli, based on a Joe Lansdale short story, film stars Bruce Campbell as Elvis Presley and Ossie Davis as John Fitzgerald Kennedy. Elvis and JFK, residents of an East Texas nursing home, join forces to dispatch an Egyptian mummy who sucks the soul from fellow patients. NR. At 7 pm on 4/27 in 180 PLC. Free. Online archives. Downfall (Germany, 2004): 2004 Academy Award nominee best foreign language film. Oliver Hirshbiegel and Bernd Eichinger's memorable, claustrophobic impression of events in Adolf Hitler's bunker 60 feet below the German Chancellery in Berlin, 1945, is set during the last days when Russia's Red Army approached the city center. Stars Bruno Ganz as Hitler, wiith Alexandra Maria Lara, Juliane Kohler. Complex, morally complicated and riveting film. Highest recommendations. R. Bijou. See review this issue. EWEB Earth Day: Films include The End of Suburbia (oil depletion and the collapse of the American Dream) at 11 am and Oil on Ice (wildlife, communities, issues of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge) at 4 pm on 4/23 in EWEB Training Room, North Building. Free. Interpreter, The: Nicole Kidman, Sean Penn, and Catherine Keener star in Sydney Pollack's assassination-threat film set inside the actual United Nations building in New York. Kidman is a UN interpreter; Penn's a Secret Service agent. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. Ivan Vasilievich Changes Careers (USSR, 1973): Leonid Gaidai's comedy follows the misadventures of the inventor of a warped time machine. At 7 pm on 4/26 in 115 Pacific, UO campus. Free. King's Ransom: Multiple cockeyed kidnapping schemes run through this crazy comedy, which stars Anthony Anderson, Joy Mohr, Kellita Smith, Nicole Parker, Regina Hall. PG-13. Cinemark. Kung-Fu Hustle: In pre-revolutionary China, a small-time thief aspires to belong to an underworld gang. Stephen Chow's satiric send-up of kung-fu movies has garnered positive reviews. LA Weekly calls it a "slapstick martial-arts masterpiece." R. Cinema World. Cinemark. LCC Earth Week: Final film of the series, Blue Vinyl, plays at 3 pm on 4/21 in Building 3 Boardroom at Lane. Free. Magic Kitchen (Hong Kong, 2004): Romantic comedy dir by Lee Chi Ngai about a chef (Sammi Cheng) who celebrates Chinese New Year by creating her "food of love." Andy Lau, Jerry Yan love her, and Maggie Q, Nicola Cheung are her girlfriends. At 4 pm on 4/21 in 115 Pacific, UO. Free. Man of the House: Tommy Lee Jones stars as a Texas Ranger whose job is to protect cheerleaders who witnessed a murder. Action comedy directed by Stephen Herek. PG-13. Movies 12. Oil on Water: At 6 pm on 4/22 at Knight Law Center. Free. Ong Bak Muay Thai Warrior: Trained warrior Yony Jaa arrives in Bangkok to find a stolen head of a Buddhist statue only to realize he must not use his skills to harm people, so he uses his head, arms and legs. NR. Bijou. Subdivide and Conquer: A Modern Western plays at 7 pm on 4/25 in Cozmic Pizza. Free. UO Disability Film Festival (April 21- 23): On April 21 in 175 Knight Law Center: 7 pm panel on "The Law and Access" at 7pm, followed at 7:30 by films Scary Lewis Yell-A-Thon, The Mayor of West Side and Annie Dearest, followed by panel on media portrayals at 8:30 pm. On April 22 in Knight Law Center at 7 pm: Independent Little Cuss, Loud, Proud and Prosperous, Fe Fe Stories, Birds of a Feather, followed by a panel on "Women, Imagery and Media." On April 23 at 7 pm at DIVA, a panel of community activists discuss "Film Talk about Million Dollar Baby and Terry Schiavo. ASL interpreted, hearing loop, audio description available. Free. Films open the Friday following EW publication date unless otherwise noted. See archived reviews at www.eugeneweekly.com
CONTINUING: Amityville Horror, The: Ryan Reynolds and Melissa George star in this psychological horror about a family's dream home turned nightmare. A remake of the 1979 blockbuster and based on a true story, this suspenseful film directed by Andrew Douglas is sure to chill you. R. Cinema World. Cinemark. 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. Boogeyman: Horror, terror and violence await you as Barry Watson, Emily Deschanel and others confront the boogeyman. PG-13. Movies 12. Cursed: Wes Craven's twist on classic monster fables stars Christina Ricci, Joshua Jackson, Judy Greer, Portia de Ross. Gaining supernatural powers after a near-accident, a brother and sister face a heavy price and ancient omens make their way into the modern world. R. Movies 12. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Melinda and Melinda (2005): Parallel stories about Melinda (Radha Mitchell) and her adventures in alternate New York City adventures. Ensemble comedy by Woody Allen also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor, Will Ferrell, Jonny Lee Miller, Amanda Peet, Chloë Sevigny and Wallace Shawn. Highly recommended. PG-13. Bijou. 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. 2004 Academy Awards for best picture, Eastwood director, Swank actress, Freeman supporting actor. PG-13. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Cinema World. Cinemark. Online archives. Spike and Mike's Sick and Twisted Animation: No one under 18 will be admitted. LateNite Bijou. 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. Cinemark. Online archives.
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THEATERS Bijou
Art Cinemas Regal
Cinemas Cinemark
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