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Sagebrush
and Coyote OFF THE MAP: Produced and directed by Campbell Scott. Written by Joan Ackermann, based on her play. Produced by George Van Buskirk. Executive producers: Paul E. Cohen, David Newman, Jonathan Filley, Nesim Hason, Ron Gell, Sezin Hason. Cinematographer, Juan Ruiz Anchía. Editor, Andy Keir. Production design, Chris Shriver. Composer, Cary DeMichele. Costume design, Amy Westcott. Artwork by Stan Bening. Starring Joan Allen, Valentina de Angelis, Sam Elliott, J.K. Simmons, Jim True-Frost and Amy Brenneman. Holedigger Films, 2005. PG-13. 111 minutes.
In 1974, the year Richard Nixon resigned the presidency to avoid impeachment, a small family living on ranch land outside of Taos, N.M., melted down in its own way. Charley (Sam Elliott), a Vietnam veteran, has descended into a deep depression from which he cannot extricate himself. His wife, Arlene (Joan Allen), tries to coax Charley out of his desolation, meanwhile taking up his chores and cajoling his best buddy, George (J.K. Simmons), to help her fix the car. Charley and Arlene's headstrong, home-schooled 11-year-old daughter Bo (Valentina de Angelis), reacts to her father's withdrawal through hunting with her bow or practice-shooting an old rifle she lugs around. Amy Brenneman ("Judging Amy") plays Bo as an adult. She is the film's narrator — a device leftover from the story's theater days that could have been scrapped. Then one day, a stranger wanders up to the house. Bo watches from a platform near the windmill where she can't be seen. The man seems disoriented. Arlene is working in her garden, starkers. A coyote skulks nearby, hoping to catch a hen or a baby goat without being seen by the humans. In this cinematically layered sequence of hide and seek, only Bo sees it all. Arlene freezes so as not to scare the coyote into splitting, and the stranger, William (Jim True-Frost), freezes so as not to scare Arlene into putting on her clothes. Arlene is golden tan like the tall corn she stands among, clothed only with a clear, intelligent gaze and an uncomplicated sense of herself. William turns out to be an IRS agent, who has spent a couple of days trying to find their isolated place. It's his new job, and he's not comfortable that he has come to audit their taxes. In fact, he's sick from a bee sting and soon crashes on their couch, where a fever lays him low. Arlene and Bo give him food, water, kindness and rest. When he recovers, William realizes he has a lot in common with Charley, having been depressed all his life. The narrative focus stays on Bo, who's too smart for her britches. While the girl comes up with a number of scams to get her dad well again, she also acts out and is too bratty for my taste. This is de Angelis's first film, and she may learn the actor's restraint practiced in Finding Neverland by 10-year-old Freddie Highmore's character, Peter, who needed to grieve for his recently deceased father. When William begins painting, any notion of being a government man leaves his mind. If it follows that later William is "discovered" as a great artist, well that is one of the trendy Southwest fictions that haunts even the best of such films as this, made as they are by people who've never lived off the grid like this self-sufficient family. Nevertheless, the film works its special enchantment, and the exquisite high desert land of northern New Mexico is as lovely as you would expect. This is a movie experience to be cherished, despite its flaws, primarily because of Allen's performance. Unlike the neurotic, alcoholic character she played flawlessly in The Upside of Anger, her Arlene is a gentle force of nature, earthy and genuine. She reminds me of the earth mothers I knew when I lived near Taos in the early 1970s with my children. Director, producer Scott Campbell is also an actor I admire (The Secret Lives of Dentists), which helps him with the trio of men in the film. Elliott (The Hulk) makes Charley a man at the mercy of his inner demons but his wry humor keeps him from being an object of pity. Likewise, True-Frost (HBO's "The Wire") plays William as a nearly broken man who discovers a new way to overcome his past. Simmons ("Oz" and "Law and Order") shows George as a faithful vassal of the king who finally chooses the good things of life for himself. Off the Map continues at the Bijou. Highly recommended.
Enroned ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM: Documentary written and directed by Alex Gibney. Based on The Smartest Guys in the Room by Fortune reporters Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind. Produced by Gibney, Jason Kliot, Susan Motamed. Executive producers Mark Cuban, Todd Wagner, Joana Vicente. Cinematography, Maryse Alberti. Editor, Alison Ellwood. Original score, Matt Hauser. Narrator, Peter Coyote. With Andrew Fastow, Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling as themselves. HDNet Films Production. Magnolia Pictures release, 2005. NR. 110 minutes.
To see for yourself how a brilliant case can be made through non-fiction cinema, watch veteran filmmaker Alex Gibney wade into the Enron debacle with clear-eyed determination. No Michael Moore ranter, Gibney tracks the primary culprits — Andrew Fastow, Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling — as they orchestrate the spectacular demise of a once-respectable natural gas pipeline company into the greediest kid on the block. Damning records of corporate criminality pile up: interviews, news footage, insider documents and videos, congressional hearings, audio recordings mandated by the SEC. The latter includes the cynical voices of Enron traders crowing over California's rolling blackouts and electricity crisis — the very events they have themselves created and exploited for billions of dollars. Enron's greed was contagious, infecting major banks such as Citigroup and major investment companies such as Merrill Lynch, who bought into Enron CFO Andy Fastow's nefarious Ponzi schemes. Enron destroyed a venerable accounting firm, Arthur Andersen, and put 85,000 people out of work. Wearing two hats, Fastow set up a private equity fund, LJM, to both raise money for Enron and make lucrative deals. "The LJM Funds become one of the key tools for Enron to manage its balance sheet and make investors think that it is performing better than it is," reads a 1999 entry to the eight-page "Timeline of Events" thoughtfully provided in the Magnolia Picture's excellent production notes. The most troubling aspect of this outstanding, truly chilling film is the gradual progress of criminality within the corporation. When Enron caught their own oil traders diverting company funds into their private accounts, Ken Lay refused to fire them because they were making too much money for Enron. From Lay's affection for great ideas to make money to an ever-growing desperation to address a negative cash flow, Enron officers lied. They lied to co-workers, telling them to invest all their 401K holdings in the company even when it was tanking. They lied to their stockholders with annual statements that showed totally fictitious profits. And they lied to the SEC. Meanwhile, Lay, Fastow and Skilling were hailed as media darlings and feted with multiple admiring magazine and newspaper stories. But each passing quarter meant more aggressive bookkeeping was required to keep Enron looking good. Investors continued to buy into Enron's great, new ideas, such as Skillings' smoke-and-mirrors "mark-to-market" accounting, which the SEC approved. Skilling was appointed COO four and a half years later. Rewarding criminality was just the beginning. Before the end, the traders, whose desks were one floor below where Lay, Skilling and Fastow had their offices, were euphorically demonic about discovering the holes in California's deregulated energy market. Enron didn't just lay aside its code of ethics, it stomped on them in a hollow victory dance. Back when many Americans worked at jobs that produced products, the criminality perpetrated by Lay, Skilling, Fastow and others might have been more readily detected. But energy shares can be sold by a click on the computer, and the largest state in the country is brought to its knees by the unscrupulous behavior of a few well-placed, ethically challenged employees. And the circus hasn't left town yet. The fraud and conspiracy trial of Kenneth L. Lay and Jeffrey K. Skilling has been set for Jan. 17 2006. Don't miss it. And don't miss Alex Gibney's film, which brings Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind's rigorous research and reporting to the screen. Opens at the Bijou on Friday, May 20 with the very highest recommendations.
OPENING
OR RETURNING: Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, The (1919, silent): Classic German film about a hypnotist and a sleepwalker, expressionist in style, is directed by Robert Wiene and often imitated. At 7:30 pm on 5/24 in 177 Lawrence, UO campus. Free. End of Suburbia: Oil depletion and the collapse of the American Dream: At 7 pm on 5/26 at Hilyard Community Center. Free. Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room: Documentary filmmaker Alex Gibney wades into the Enron debacle and tracks the primary culprits — Andrew Fastow, Ken Lay and Jeff Skilling — as they orchestrate the spectacular demise of a once-respectable natural gas pipe-line company into the greediest kid on the block. Based on Fortune reporters Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind best-seller. Bijou. See review this issue. 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. Movies 12. 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. Movies 12. Life and Times of Harvey Milk, The: Moving documentary about San Francisco city supervisor assassinated by a deranged man who got off with the infamous "Twinkies" defense. Milk was the first gay man elected to office in the country, and his death was mourned by many gatherings across the country. Plays all day on 5/23 in LCC's Multicultural Center, Building 1, Room 20. Drop by. Free. My Universities (Russian, 1940. Subtitled): Mark Donskoi's third film about Gorky's revolutionary development is set at university in Kazan where Gorky was radicalized. At 7 pm on 5/24 in 115 Pacific, UO campus. Free. Oil on Ice: Film about wildlife, communities and other issues pertinent to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Plays at 7 pm on 5/19 at EWEB, followed by a discussion led by Patrick Shannon of the Alaska Coalition. Free. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith: The long-awaited final episode in George Lucas's series stars Hayden Christensen, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman. From Village Voice reviewer Ed Halter: "Lucas packs his latest with physics-defying deep-space dogfights and zhoozhing lightsaber battles, frequently cutting back and forth between two simultaneous melees on separate planets, deploying his signature Flash Gordon wipes." PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. Very British Coup, A (1988): Made for British television, this fictional tale of dirty politics follows a radical British steelworker (Ray Mcnally) elected Prime Minister, which sets a coup in motion. At 7 pm on 5/25 in 180 PLC, UO campus. Free. Zatoichi: Gangster film director, Takeshi Kitano, also stars as the blind samurai under his acting name, Beat Takeshi. Based on the stories of Kan Shimozawa, the film is realistically violent but also humorous. LateNite Bijou. 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. Movies 12. 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. 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. 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. Movies 12. Constantine: Stars Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, Shia LeBeouf, Tilda Swinton, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Djimon Hounsou and Peter Stormare. An epic set in a world of demons and angels. Hmmm. Based on comic, Hellblazer. R. Movies 12. Crash: Paul Haggis (Million Dollar Baby) wrote, directed and produced this urban drama set in Los Angeles, which looks at the complexities of racial tolerance in contemporary America. Stars Sandra Bullock, Don Cheadle, Matt Dillon, Jennifer Esposito, William Fichtner, Brendan Fraser, Terrence Howard, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Thandie Newton, Ryan Phillippe and Lorenz Tate. R. Cinema World. Cinemark. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Irreverent sci-fi comedy based on the late Douglas Adams' cult novel follows the adventures in space of the most ordinary man in the world, Arthur Dent (Martin Freeman). Dent and his best friend (Mos Def) barely make it off the planet before it is demolished to make way for a hyperspace freeway. Directed by Garth Jennings, film also stars Sam Rockwell, Zooey Deschanel, John Malkovich, Warwick Davis, Helen Mirren, Thomas Lennon, Anna Chancellor, Alan Rickman and Bill Nighy; with Stephen Fry as the narrator. PG. Cinemark. Cinema World. Online archives. House of Wax: "Prey. Slay. Display." Elisha Cuthbert, Chad Michael Murray star, Jaume Serra directs, and Paris Hilton's in it. R. Cinemark. 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. Online archives. Kicking and Screaming: Will Ferrell and Robert Duvall as rival youth soccer team coaches. Directed by Jesse Dylan, it also stars Mike Ditka and Kate Walsh. PG. Cinema World. Cinemark. Kingdom of Heaven: Set in the 12th Century, this epic Crusades film is directed by Ridley Scott (Gladiator). It stars Orlando Bloom, Liam Neeson, Jeremy Irons and Eva Green. Highly recommended. R. Cinema World. Cinemark. Online archives. 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. 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. Movies 12. Online archives. Millions: Directed by Danny Boyle (Trainspotting) and written by Frank Cottrell Boyce, this enjoyable fantasy about two brothers who discover a satchel full of money, then find different ways of spending it. Recommended. PG-13. Bijou. Online archives. Mindhunters: A serial killer hides within a group of eight FBI profilers, and they must find the murderer before they fall into his or her net. Directed by Rennie Harlin, the ensemble cast includes Val Kilmer, Christian Slater, LL Cool J, Jonny Lee Miller and more. R. Cinemark. Monster-in-Law: Jane Fonda and Jennifer Lopez duke it out verbally in this comedy directed by Robert Luketic (Legally Blonde). Also stars Michael Vartan and Wanda Sykes. 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. Off the Map: An unusual family lives in the high-desert sagebrush near Taos, New Mexico, in the mid-1970s, when an IRS man comes to audit their taxes but stays and becomes part of the family. Directed by Scott Campbell (The Secret Lives of Dentists) from a play by Joan Ackerman, this offbeat drama stars Joan Allen, Sam Elliot, Valentina de Angelis and Jim True-Frost. Let the film cast its spell. Highly recommended. Bijou. See review this issue. 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. 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. Movies 12. Robots: Chris Wedge's 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. 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. Unleashed: Jet Li stars as a "human pit bull" raised by a Scottish guardian (Bob Hoskins), who runs underground matches. Morgan Freeman is a blind piano teacher who changes Li's life. R. Cinemark. XXX: State of the Union: Samuel L. Jackson takes on the role of the agent who needs a new face (Ice Cube) he calls XXX to track a military splinter group led by Willem Dafoe. The group's planning to overthrow the government. Directed by Lee Tamahori. PG-13. Cinemark.
MOVIE
THEATERS Bijou
Art Cinemas Regal
Cinemas Cinemark
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