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Demented
City BATMAN BEGINS: Directed by Christopher Nolan. Characters by Bob Kane. Story by David S. Goyer. Screenplay by Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer. Produced by Larry J. Franco, Charles Roven, and Emma Thomas. Executive Producer Benjamin Melniker. Starring Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, Liam Neeson, Katie Holmes, Gary Oldman, Cillian Murphy and Tom Wilkinson. Warner Brothers, 2005. PG-13. 141 minutes. With Batman Begins director Christopher Nolan returns the Batman franchise, if not to respectability, than at least to the first tier of movies based upon comic books. The last two Batman movies were so limp, so full of tepid neon and pastel that they were good only for the opportunities they afforded for making jokes about the bat-suit's articulated nipples. But merely making a favorable comparison between Batman Begins and its immediate predecessors would be damnation by faint praise. Nolan has made a genuinely entertaining movie that reminds us why we were interested in Batman to begin with.
The most widely known villains having already been mined for use in recent Batman movies, Batman Begins lacks a familiar antagonist. However, this limitation is a fruitful one. Rather than another tired iteration of a demented super-criminal's creation/destruction cycle, we are given an extended elaboration on the Batman creation story — boy watches parents shot by mugger; powerless to help them, he vows to strike fear into Gotham's criminal class. Focus on the man behind the cowl places more emphasis on the Bruce Wayne character than in the previous films, and Christian Bale excels at the role. Bale has the sort of cheekbones that hardly need a bat mask to look lethal, and his natural intensity conveys Wayne's inner torment far more convincingly than any of his predecessors. The film begins in the Far East, where a young Wayne has gone to immerse himself in the criminal world and thereby learn how to fight it. There he meets Henri Ducard (Liam Neeson), a member of the secret brotherhood the League of Shadows. Ducard brings Wayne to the League's headquarters and trains him in the art of being a ninja. And why not? What better way to incorporate sword fighting and mountaintop redoubts? We've seen this master/apprentice story before, and Nolan deserves credit for making Wayne's development under Ducard's tutelage seem necessary. After Wayne abruptly severs relations with Ducard and the League and returns to Gotham, we watch as he slowly pieces together his new identity. The wait pays off when the action finally comes in the form of an extended chase through and above the streets of Gotham. The Batmobile that Wayne crashes through buildings and concrete barriers is not the waspish, aerodynamic car of the earlier movies. Instead, it resembles something that the road warriors in Mad Max might have driven if they only had spare tank parts and oversized tires with which to work. Less effective is Katie Holmes, playing an assistant district attorney who was in love with Bruce Wayne as a child. Although there is little spark between Holmes and Bale, this being Batman Begins we know that eventually Wayne will encounter Kim Bassinger and Michelle Pfeiffer, so feeling pity for his lack of a worthy romantic counterpart is somewhat out of the question. The rest of the cast is excellent. Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine are wonderful as always. And with all respect to Jack Nicholson, Cillian Murphy's performance as a psychiatrist with a few mental issues of his own is so assured and sly that he is easily the most interesting villain in any of the Batman movies. Despite his successes, Nolan allows the movie to drag in the last quarter. The action sequences take over and much of the fighting feels incoherent. Nolan also tends to simply invoke the rainy, blighted atmosphere of Blade Runner (but with tenements) when he wants to establish Gotham's menace rather than imbue the city with its own particular dementia. Nevertheless, Batman Begins is entertaining, and the pleasures it affords give one hope for high-standard sequels.
Bothered BEWITCHED: Directed by Nora Ephron. Written by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron, based on the television series created by Sol Saks. Produced by Douglas Wick, Lucy Fisher, Penny Marshall, Nora Ephron. Executive producers James w. Skotchdopole, Steven H. Berman, Bobby Cohen. Cinematography, John Lindley. Production design, Neil Spisak. Editor, Tia Nolan. Costume design, Mary Zophres. Music, George Fenton. Starring Nicole Kidman and Will Ferrell, with Shirley MacLaine, Michael Caine, Jason Schwartzman, Kristin Chenoweth. Also with Heather Burns, Jim Turner, David Alan Grier, Stephen Colbert, Michael Badalucco Carole Shelley and Steve Carell. Columbia Pictures, 2005. PG-13. 90 minutes. This is a twisted big-screen version of the TV series from the 1960s, an homage to Elizabeth Montgomery's twitchy nose, actually. Much of the film's action takes place on a set where actors playing the writer, producers and TV crew are shooting the pilot for an upcoming series. Other actors on and off the set include Jack Wyatt (Will Ferrell), who plays Darrin, and Isabel Bigelow (Nicole Kidman), who plays Samantha. Iris Smythson (Shirley MacLaine) plays Endora, and Michael Caine is Isabel's father, Nigel.
While we've seen lots of the play-within-a-play gimmick the last 400 years or so, there is a disconnect, a glitch, over how to merge the separate story-lines for Jack and Isabel. She's a witch who's giving up her supernatural talents for a "normal" life, and he's a washed-up actor whose ego takes over whenever he's onstage. He's not too bright, and she's smart. On the set, the fawning sychophants who b.s. Jack ignore Isabel until she gets enough of being treated badly, even though she loves being an actor playing a normal person who's secretly a witch. A couple of times Ferrell rises above the SNL-ish caricature he's playing, and Jack become an attentive, sweet lover to Kidman's lovable Isabel. Those scenes are all that save the film from being at best a series of sketches. Ferrelll has to be careful at this stage of his career not to become typecast, like Jim Carrey, who breaks out seldom if memorably (Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind). Poor Kristin Chenowith, the short blonde press person from "The West Wing." As Isabel's neighbor, Maria, her role calls for her to overact all the time. It's degrading. Bad writing plagues other characters as well. Caine doesn't have to stretch to be a convincing if stereotypical roué, but at least he doesn't embarrass himself. No such luck for MacLaine as Endora (originally played by the great character actor, Agnes Morehead), who flutters around the stage for her adoring fans in the audience. But as Iris, MacLaine turns out to be a shrewd little witch herself. This summer silliness depends on Nicole, and she comes through like a trouper. From flighty to enraged, Isabel is delightful as a sensitive woman who's never fitted in and desperately desires the normalcy she imagines others enjoy. Mary Zophres designed or found fabulous clothes to dress her, including a fitted, front buttoned, blue, beaded sweater that could have come from the '60s or today. It's romantic, cozy and, well, normal. Bewitched has a great soundtrack, including "And She Was" by Talking Heads, "Everybody Hurts" by R.E.M., "Witchcraft" by Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald singing a fabulous "Ding-Dong, the Witch is Dead." Now playing at Cinemark and Cinema World, it's a show worth seeing if instantly forgettable. Fine for a summer night.
OPENING
OR RETURNING: 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. Great fun! PG. Movies 12. Online archives. 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 is one of the best films of 2005 so far. Highly recommended. LA Weekly calls it a "slapstick martial-arts masterpiece." R. Movies 12. Online archives. Make it Funky: Documentary directed by Michael Murphy is anchored by an all-star concert in New Orleans and tells the stories of the city's legendary musicians. Performers include Fats Domino, Little Richard, Lloyd Price, the Neville Brothers. At 10 pm on 7/2 outdoors at Waterfront Blues Festival, Portland. Nina Simone Love Sorceress: Singer, pianist, arranger and composer, Nina Simone was called the High Priestess of Soul. Rene Letzgu's documentary of her concert in Paris, 1976, is considered by many to be her best performance of all time. At 10 pm on 7/3 outdoors at Waterfront Blues Festival, Portland. Rebound: Martin Lawrence plays a jaded, benched college basketball player who takes on teaching the fundamentals of the game to the hapless players at a junior high school. Directed by Steve Carr, also stars Breckin Meyer. PG. Cinema World. Cinemark. 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. Highly recommended for style. R. Movies 12. Online archives. Street Fight: The turbulent career of a 32-year old lawyer running for mayor of Newark NJ against a four-term incumbent twice his age. Documentary by Marshall Curry raises questions about democracy, power, poverty and race. POV on 7/5; check OPB listings for time. Suicide Circle: Waves of schoolgirls' suicides sweep Tokyo in this unusual film that blends horror, satire and crime genres for "a one-of-a-kind" cinematic brew. LateNite Bijou. War of the Worlds: Directed by Steven Spielberg, this retelling of H.G. Well's seminal sci-fi adventure thriller about an invasion of Earth by Martians, as seen through the eyes of ordinary people played by Tom Cruise, Dakota Fanning, Justin Chatwin, Miranda Otto, and Tim Robbins. Opens Wednesday. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. White Heat (1949): James Cagney in one of his greatest performances as a criminal sociopath with a mother complex. Plays at 6 pm on 7/3 at DIVA. Discussion follows. Free.
CONTINUING: Adventures of Shark Boy and Lava Girls in 3D, The: Cayden Boyd stars as a boy whose imaginary superhero friends come to life and join him on a series of adventures. Directed by Robert Rodriguez (Sin City, Spy Kids). PG. Cinemark. Batman Begins: Christopher Nolan (Insomnia, Memento) directs an all star cast to bring you the story of how young Bruce Wayne (Christopher Hale) becomes the Dark Knight. Also stars Michael Caine as Alfred Pennyworth, Liam Neeson, Gary Oldman, Morgan Freeman and Katie Holmes. PG13. Cinema World. Cinemark. See review this issue. Bewitched: Nora Ephron (You've Got Mail, Sleepless in Seattle) directs this story about the remaking of the classic 1960s sitcom "Bewitched" starring Will Ferrell as Darrin and Nicole Kidman as Samantha. Best when it's a sweet love story but always watchable. PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. See review this issue. Cinderella Man: Russell Crowe stars as real-life, Depression Era boxer Jim Braddock; Renee Zellwegger plays his supportive wife, Mae. Directed by Ron Howard, picture also stars the great Paul Giamatti. A complicated, focused and courageous fighter, Braddock not only spars in the ring but also struggles to keep his family together despite the country's widespread, crippling poverty and record unemployment. Very highest recommendations. PG-13. Cinemark. Online Archives. 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. Movies 12. Herbie, Fully Loaded: More hijinx and shennanigans from that animated, but so unlike Christine, VW bug, Herbie as he heads to NASCAR. Starring Linsay Lohan and Justin Long. G. Cinemark. Cinema World. Hitch: Will Smith stars in this romantic comedy as a New York "date doctor" who helps hapless men woo the women of their dreams. Costars Kevin James, Amber Valletta, Eva Mendes, Michael Rappaport and Adam Arkin. Directed by Andy Tennant. PG-13. Movies 12. House of Wax: "Prey. Slay. Display." Elisha Cuthbert, Chad Michael Murray star, Jaume Serra directs, and Paris Hilton's in it. R. Movies 12. Howl's Moving Castle: Another phenomenon by Hayao Miyazaki (Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke) at the top of the charts in Japan, finally makes its way to Eugene. This time he brings us a love story about a young woman cursed into an old woman's body who must, of course, make her way in the world and find a cure. Beautiful animation and powerful stories characterize his films. Don't miss this one. PG. Bijou. 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. Movies 12. 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. Movies 12. Online archives. Land of the Dead: The master of zombie movies, George Romero, brings us another wacky gore-fest in which the undead have taken over the world, closing in on the living holed up in a walled city. Stars Simon Baker, John Leguizamo and Dennis Hopper. R. Cinemark. Longest Yard, The: Lots of world-class athletes from NFL players to kick-boxers and wrestlers star along with Adam Sandler, Burt Reynolds and Chris Rock in this comic tall tale of a group of diverse inmates who team up to play against their guards. PG-13. Cinemark. Mad Hot Ballroom: Directed by newcomer Marilyn Agrelo, this documentary follows 11-year-old public school New Yorkers as they learn the meringue, rumba, tango, foxtrot & swing, transforming from reluctant students into determined competitors. This inspirational story is told by the kids, themselves, filmed in and around their schools, neighborhoods and homes. PG. Bijou. Madagascar: Computer-animated comedy stars voices of Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, David Schwimmer and Jada Pinkett Smith as animals who escape from the Central Park Zoo for a big city adventure. But they are captured and put on a ship headed for Africa, where they must survive in the wild. Directed by Eric Darnell (Antz) and Tom McGrath ("The Ren and Stimpy Show"). PG. 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. Movies 12. Mr & Mrs Smith: An action adventure romantic comedy thriller about a bored married couple (Angelia Jolie and Brad Pitt) who is surprised to learn that they are assassins hired to kill each other. Directed by Doug Liman (Bourne Identity). PG-13. Cinemark. Cinema World. Online archives. 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. Movies 12. Perfect Man, The: Mark Rosnan (A Cinderella Story) directs Heather Locklear and Hilary Duff in this romantic comedy about a teenager inventing the "perfect man" for her single mom. PG. 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. Movies 12. 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. Online archives. Travelers and Magicians: Khyentse Norbu (The Cup) directs this story of two men: one, chasing love, ends up in a dream. The other, chasing a dream, leaves love behind. Filmed in Bhutan, Travelers and Magicians opens a window into this beautiful, tiny Buddhist kingdom and the Bhutanese culture. NR. Bijou. 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, who is planning to overthrow the government. Directed by Lee Tamahori. PG-13. Movies 12.
MOVIE
THEATERS Bijou
Art Cinemas Regal
Cinemas Cinemark
Theaters
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