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Sisters IN HER SHOES: Directed by Curtis Hanson. Written by Susannah Grant, based on the novel by Jennifer Weiner. Produced by Ridley Scott, Carol Fenelon, Lisa Ellzey, Curtis Hanson. Executive producer, Tony Scott. Cinematogarphy, Terry Stacey. Production design, Dan Davis. Editors Craig Kitson, Lisa Zeno Churgin. Costume design, Sophie de Rakoff. Music, Mark Isham. Starring Cameron Diaz, Toni Collette, Shirley MacLaine, with Mark Feurstein, Richard Burgi and Brooke Smith. Twentieth Century Fox, 2005. PG-13. 130 minutes. If you've avoided seeing In Her Shoes because you thought it might be a piece of chick-lit sentimentalized irony or because you have grown weary of the "cute" oldie roles played by Shirley MacLaine or that it's been way too long since Cameron Diaz did anything challenging on the screen: Think again. Director Curtis Hanson has avoided these pitfalls, rejected sticky sweet clichés and elicited fabulous performances from all three of his stars.
Hanson has created a naturalistic, layered tale of two sisters whose relationship needs to change, and a courageous grandmother who helps them find their way. He achieves this feat by generously caring about each character, which is especially important when the sisters show each other their most unlovable sides. Writer Susannah Grant adapts Jennifer Weiner's novel liberally, including new scenes but apparently hewing closely to the book in structure. In a deliciously painful last-straw scene between the sisters, uptight workaholic lawyer and responsible older sister, Rose (Toni Collette), kicks out slutty, live for-the-moment sister Maggie (Diaz), following an unpardonable incident with a man. No longer welcome at the home of her father and wicked stepmother, destitute and pitiful, Maggie pieces together a childhood mystery to find a woman she thinks is her long-lost grandmother, Ella (MacLaine). Ella has secrets of her own, but well before she divulges them to Maggie, she has to sort out Maggie's motives for coming to her in the first place. Meanwhile, Rose takes a long look at herself for the first time in her adult life. The first thing she sheds is her demanding job and work persona, then pounds. Rose's former co-worker she ignored at the law office, Simon (Mark Feuerstein), wants to be Rose's friend. Actually, he wants them to be more than friends. Simon homes in on Rose's hidden sexuality and woos her with just the right degree of restraint, insistence, devotion and daring. Shoes play a major role in Rose's life. She owns dozens of gorgeous, spiky shoes and has an entire closet where they rest on display in their original boxes. Of course, bad sister Maggie helps herself whenever, because Rose doesn't actually wear them often. The shoes are an idiosyncratic detail the film keeps returning to. I remember the powerful feeling I got in my 20s by wearing high heels, and I recall a pair of silver lamé backless shoes with three-inch metal heels I thought were sexy. Are such shoes feminine code for sexual power, I wonder, and will Rose have to wear stilettos forever if she becomes self-empowered? Yikes! Something's wrong with this picture. Performances are excellent all around. Collette is so real she's easily able to show Rose's late blooming as a natural process of self-awareness, not just a case of the right man at the right time. Diaz is devastatingly good as the bad girl with low self-esteem and soberly wonderful as Maggie grows up. MacLaine models for us the tough love and long view that grandparents need to have to be good at their job of unconditionally loving their grandchildren. Its clear-eyed view that the relationship between grown up siblings works best when each has done or is doing the hard work of self-actualization spells the film's triumph. Of course this axiom fits marriage partners as well as siblings, because the threads that tie us to childhood may work themselves into knots in adult relationships. Take your friends to see this movie because it presents its subtle life lessons in a non-preachy way that will please all. Hanson's benevolent sensibilities enliven this perfect little film just as his inclusiveness enhanced one of the great films of 2000, Wonder Boys. Mainstream though In Her Shoes may be, you will not regret spending time with it. Playing now at Cinemark, this film gets my very highest recommendations.
OPENING
OR RETURNING: Archaeology Mini Film Festival: The final program includes three films: Kurtal Snake Spirit (Australia, 28 min.), Secrets of the Dead: Search for the First Human (USA, 57 min.) and Sastun: My Apprenticeship with a Maya Healer (USA, 20 min.). Films play at 12 noon on 10/30. $6. Bijou. Brothers Grimm, The: Terry Gilliam directs this tale of the legendary brothers who brought fairytales to the world, Will Grimm (Matt Damon) and Jake Grimm (Heath Ledger). Set in the Napoleonic countryside, the brothers have to wrestle with the demons and magical characters their imaginations have brought to life. Also stars Jonathan Pryce, Lena Headey, Peter Stormare and Monic Bellucci. PG-13. Movies 12. Crimen Perfecto, El: "Antic and outrageous black comedy" by young Spanish director Álex de la Iglesia shows Pedro Almodóvar's influence in the "film's crisp, almost cartoonish visual style; its bright, pulsating colors; and its generous use of slapstick"(The New York Times). R. Bijou. Cry Wolf: Yet another teen horror flick, this one's about high schoolers who spread the rumor that a murdered woman found near their school was killed by "the Wolf," a serial killer. Then the lie comes true. Stars Julian Morris, Lindy Booth and Jared Padalecki. PG-13. Movies 12. Exorcism of Emily Rose, The: Scott Derrickson directs this unusual film, which incorporates horror with a compelling courtroom drama. Stars Laura Linney as an ambitious attorney, Jennifer Carpenter as a murder victim. With Tom Wilkinson, Colm Feore, Campbell Scott and Shohreh Aghdashloo. PG-13. Movies 12. Freddie vs. Jason: The ultimate celebrity death match: Freddie Kruger (Robert Englund) takes on Jason "The Face Mask" Voorhees (Ken Kerzinger), in this film directed by Ronny Yu. Fred's powers to kill on Elm Street are thwarted by dream-suppressing drugs, but he tries to manipulate Jason's dreams so that he continues the killing spree. When Jason realizes he's been playing the pawn, all hell breaks loose. R. Midnight 10/28 – 10/31. Movies 12. Godzilla: King of the Monsters (1964): Godzilla wakes from a 1000 years-long nap and sets about destroying Tokyo. This big daddy sired a raft of sequels. At 8 pm on 10/28 at DIVA. Free. Haunters, The: Documentary about people who make really scary Halloween houses. Co-produced and –directed by Bryd McDonald and Brian Johnson, who will be present. At 8 pm on 10/29 at DIVA. $2-$5. Häxan: Multi-media presentation includes a 1920s documentary about witchcraft through the ages, with a live soundtrack by Jnx of Nommo Ogo. At 11:45 on 10/29. Bijou. Also In Void of Reverence. At 11:45 pm on 10/30. Bijou. Hope In My Heart: The story of May Ayim (29 min.), followed by Litany for Survival: The Life and Work of Audre Lorde (90 min.) At 7 pm on 11/2 in 180 PLC, UO. Free. Legend of Zorro, The: The original masked man again played by Antonio Banderas is now working to gain statehood for California. (Huh?) Catherine Zeta-Jones and director Martin Campbell from the original return as well. Action adventure with a flair. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark. March of the Penguins: Documentary director Luc Jacquet's film chronicles the oft-repeated survival of the species in the wind-strewn wilderness of Antarctica. Film tracks a pair of Emperor Penguins across continent. Includes intimate scenes of the big birds mating. The female lays one egg, passes it to the male and takes off for a three months round trip to the sea and food. Meanwhile, the male penguins don't eat but focus exclusively on keeping the eggs alive for the gestation period. This unique film has now played in every theater in Eugene/Springfield. G. Movies 12. Neptune: Director Anthony Marchitiello's post-apocalyptic nature film set in the near future was shot on the Northern California coast. "A work of meditative brutality and mutant genius." Also In Void of Reverence. At 11:45 pm on 10/30. Bijou. Prime: Therapist (Meryl Streep) helps a client (Uma Thurman) involved with a younger man (Bryan Greenberg), who is the therapist's son. Comedy written and directed by Ben Younger. PG-13. Cinemark. Reserve, The (Russian, 1954): Semen Timoshenko directs theis film about a trade union football team whose best forward's brother, the reserve, gets to play in the final game. English subtitles. At 7 pm on 11/2 in 111 Pacific, UO. Rocky Horror Picture Show: With The Forbidden Fruit live cast. At 11:30 on 10/28, 10/29. Bijou. Saw 2: Bloody sequel to James Wan's grisly 2004 thriller stars Donnie Wahlberg. Cinema World. Cinemark. Separate Lies: Anne (Emily Watson) and James (Tom Wilkinson) have an ideal marriage that unravels when Bill (Rupert Everett) arrives and a tragic accident happens in their idyllic country village. Drama written and directed by Julian Fellowes. R. Bijou. Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The (1974): Videohound calls it "the movie that put the 'power' in power tools." Tobe Hopper directs this tongue-in-cheek "saga of gore, flesh, mayhem , and vilence." R. Midnight 10/28 – 10/31. Movies 12. Valiant: Vanguard Animation's first film includes voices by Ewan McGregor as Valiant, John Cleese, Jim Broadbent and Ricky Gervais. Set in WWII, the film's about the competition between brave English carrier pigeons (the good guys) and German falcons. Computer animation looks great. G. Movies 12. Weather Man, The: Chicago TV Weather Man (Nicolas Cage) finds successful career no match for family life. Directed by Gore Verbinskin, film also stars Michael Caine, Hope Davis and Michael Rispoli. R. Cinemark. Zathura: Brothers (Josh Hutcherson, Jonah Bob) are launched on an adventure when their house takes off for space, where they meet up with an astronaut (Dax Shepard) and others. Dad is played by Tim Robbins, and film is directed by Jon Favreau. PG. Sneak at 5 pm on 10/29. Cinemark.
CONTINUING: 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. Movies 12. Online archives. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Tim Burton's reimagining of Roald Dahl's perennial children's favorite dark chocolate treat stars Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka with Freddie Highmore, his child co-star from Finding Neverland, along with Helen Bonham Carter. Loved it! Highest recommendations. PG. Movies 12. Online archives. Corpse Bride, Tim Burton's: Stop-motion animated film set in a 19th century European village is voiced by Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham-Carter and Emily Watson. PG. Cinemark. Doom: Loosely based on the game by the same name, this sci-fi horror flick from Andrzej Bartowiak takes us to a research station on Mars to hunt down the nasties inadvertently released. Although the film is live action, the angles and visuals are very like a video game – without the joystick. R. Cinemark. Cinema World. Dreamer: Inspired By a True Story: Drama about a father (Kurt Russell) who, for the love of his daughter (Dakota Fanning), sacrifices almost everything to save the life of an injured racehorse and bring the filly back to her former glory. Also stars Kris Kristofferson, Elizabeth Shue. PG. Cinemark. Cinema World. Elizabethtown: Cameron Crowe (Vanilla Sky, Almost Famous) directs Orlando Bloom as a young man who's just lost his job, his girlfriend and his father. This romantic comedy-drama tells his story of returning home to Kentucky and finding new meaning in his life. PG-13. Cinema World. Cinemark 17. Flightplan: Jody Foster stars in this Brian Grazer-produced psychological thriller about a woman whose 6-year old daughter disappears without a trace mid-flight in a state-of-the-art aircraft. Directed by Robert Swenke, film also stars Peter Sarsgaard and Sean Bean. PG-13. Cinemark. Online archives. Fog, The: Remake (and slight re-write) of John Carpenter's horror flick by the same name, this version tells the story of ghostly lepers returning to take their revenge on a small town's descendants. Stars Tim Welling, Maggie Grace and Selma Blair. PG-13. Cinemark 17. Four Brothers: After their mother is murdered, four brothers reunite to avenge her death. From the director of 2 Fast 2 Furious. Stars Mark Wahlberg, Tyrese Gibson, Andre Benjamin and Garrett Hedlund. R. Movies 12. Grizzly Man: Werner Herzog's documentary about grizzly activist Timothy Treadwell who lived among the wild bears of Kodiak, Alaska for 17 summers, including 2003, the year of his death and that of his companion, Amie Hugunard. Part footage shot by Treadwell, part interviews and locations Herzog shot, this is a brilliant but disturbing work. R. Bijou. Online archives. History of Violence, A: After foiling a robbery in his small-town diner, Viggo Mortensen's quiet life with his wife and two children is plunged into a media circus, which attracts unsavory characters who claim they are from his shady past. Directed by the great David Cronenberg, the film also stars Maria Bello, William Hurt and Ed Harris. One of the best films of 2005, despite its violence. R. Cinemark. Online archives. In Her Shoes: Directed by Curtis Hanson. Sisters Maggie (Cameron Diaz) and Rose (Toni Collette) have little in common, but after a major break, they find their way back together with the help of a grandmother (Shirley MacLaine) they didn't know existed. Unsentimental tale of sisters who must find their way to self-awareness, film features great performances by all three principals. Perfect little film deserves highest recommendations. PG-13. Cinemark. See review this issue. 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. Movies 12. North Country: Niki Caro (Whale Rider) delivers this powerful story of Josey Aimes (Charlize Theron) and her struggle against sexual harassment in the mines of northern Minnesota. Also stars Sissy Spacek, Elle Peterson, Woody Harrelson, Sean Bean. R. Cinema World. Cinemark. Proof: John Madden directs Gwyneth Paltrow, Anthony Hopkins, Jake Gyllenhaal and Hope Davis in the story of a young woman who took care of her dying father and now must confront her own strengths and fears. PG-13. Cinema World. Red Eye: You've all seen the trailer: Rachel McAdams is horrified to learn that her father has been kidnapped and the monster (Cillian Murphy) who's in on it is seated right next to her on a red eye to Miami. Directed by Wes Craven. PG-13. Movies 12. Serenity: Cast and crew of the sci-fi cult hit "Firefly" have regrouped for the big screen. Joss Whedon (Firefly, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel) directs the story of the crew of Serenity and their struggles to evade the Alliance while they unravel the mystery of River (Summer Glau). Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Adam Baldwin, David Krumholtz and Chiwetel Ejiofor. PG-13. Cinemark. Online archives. Sky High: Son of superheroes The Commander (Kurt Russell) and Jetstream (Kelly Preston), poor Will (Michael Angarano) must go to Sky High, an elite high school, where he battles a nasty gym coach (Bruce Campbell), a bully, teen angst, parental expectations and girl problems. Wow! PG. Movies 12. Stay: Marc Forster (Finding Neverland) directs psychological thriller about a suicidal young man and his psychiatrist's desperate attempts to help him. Stars Ewan McGregor, Naomi Watts and Ryan Gosling. R. Cinemark. Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit: Nick Park's and Steve Box's outstanding creations, an eccentric inventor named Wallace and his long-suffering, silent but faithful dog, Gromit, finally reach the big screen in their first feature-length film. The mystery of a vegetable-ravaging "beast" must be solved to save the village's Giant Vegetable Competition, and our intrepid hero Wallace (voice by Peter Sallis) is just the man for the job. Lady Tottington (Helena Bonham Careter) and Victor Quartermaine (Ralph Fiennes) co-star. Most excellent, divine comedy. G. Cinema World. Cinemark. Online archives. 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. Riveting, challenging and moving; very highest recommendations. PG-13. Movies 12. Online archives. Wedding Crashers: Hyper pranksters Owen Wilson and Vince Vaghn star in this throwback to a rowdier time in movies. Things go well for the boys until they meet up with Rachel McAdams and Isla Fisher and their parents, Christopher Walken and Jane Seymour. R. Movies 12.
MOVIE
THEATERS Bijou
Art Cinemas Regal
Cinemas Cinemark
Theaters
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