NEW FILMS FRIDAY
DUNGEONS & DRAGONS — Inspired by the popular role-playing game, this fantasy-adventure follows two thieves (Justin Whalen and Marlon Wayans) who must help stop an evil sorcerer (Jeremy Irons). Thora Birch and Zoe McLellan co-star. PG-13 (violence, torture, mild profanity, brief gore, mild vulgarity). (Carmike 12, Century, Holladay, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Midvalley, Ritz, Trolley North, Trolley Square.)
HUMAN RESOURCES — French drama following a fast-rising corporate intern whose new business strategies backfire and threaten to put his factory-worker father out of work. In French, with English subtitles. Not rated, probable R (profanity, vulgarity, brief violence). (Exclusive, Tower.)
INTO THE ARMS OF STRANGERS: STORIES OF THE KINDERTRANSPORT — Co-produced by the U.S. Holocaust Museum, this acclaimed documentary takes a look at some of the nearly 10,000 Holocaust victims who survived because they were shipped from their homes to safe houses in England. Dame Judi Dench narrated. Not screened for local critics; reviewed in this section. PG (adult themes). (Exclusive, Broadway.)
PROOF OF LIFE — Off-screen lovers Meg Ryan and Russell Crowe star in this dramatic thriller about an American (Ryan) who falls for the hostage negotiator (Crowe) hired to recover her kidnapped husband (David Morse). Directed by Taylor Hackford ("The Devil's Advocate"). R (violence, profanity, drugs, torture). (Carmike 12, Century, Cottonwood, Gateway, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Midvalley, Ritz, Trolley Square.)
PSYCHO BEACH PARTY — Sendup of the teen beach-comedy genre, with a cast that includes television stars Thomas Gibson ("Dharma and Greg") and Nicholas Brendon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer"). A selection of the 2000 Sundance Film Festival. Not rated, probable R (violence, profanity, gore, vulgarity, sex, nudity). (Exclusive, Tower.)
VERTICAL LIMIT — Director Martin Campbell ("The Mask of Zorro") and star Chris O'Donnell take on K2 in this mountain-climbing action-thriller, about a retired climber who has to rescue his stranded sister (Robin Tunney). Watch for scenes shot in Moab. Co-stars include Bill Paxton and Scott Glenn. PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, drugs, brief gore). (Carmike 12, Century, Gateway, Holladay, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Midvalley, Ritz, Trolley Corners.)
SNEAK PREVIEWS
THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE — David Spade voices the title character in Disney's latest animated musical about a spoiled king who is transformed into a llama. Other voices include John Goodman and Eartha Kitt. Featuring original songs by Sting. To be reviewed when it opens next week. G (animated violence, mild vulgarity). (Saturday: Gateway, Jordan Commons, Ritz.)
THE FAMILY MAN — Shades of "It's a Wonderful Life," this fantasy stars Nicolas Cage as a self-centered stock broker who awakes to find himself in a different reality — one where he's married with kids. Tea Leoni co-stars. Directed by Brett Ratner ("Rush Hour"). PG-13 (profanity, veiled nudity, vulgarity). (Friday and Saturday: Broadway, Holladay, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing.)
RE-RELEASES
THE EXORCIST — ** — Adding footage to director William Friedkin's overblown, overrated 1973 horror film, the so-called "scariest movie ever" has only made it longer, not better. Good performances by Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow and Linda Blair (in her big-screen debut), though. Running time: 130 minutes. R (profanity, gore, violence, vulgarity, drugs). (Cinemas 5, Sandy 9, Sugar House, Valley Fair.)
THE LEGEND OF DRUNKEN MASTER —*** 1/2 — It's been slightly tinkered with for this reissue, but this 1994 action-comedy is still Jackie Chan's best film, a fast-and-funny piece about Chinese hero Wong-fei Hung, who must stop English terrorists from stealing a national treasure. Wall-to-wall action and some great stunt work, and the gags are terrific. Dubbed. R (violence, profanity). (Brewvies, must be 21 or older; South Towne.)
MIDNIGHT MOVIES
BLUE VELVET — *** — David Lynch's surreal fantasy-thriller doesn't seem quite as outrageous now as it did when it was originally released in 1986, though it still features good performances by Kyle MacLachlan, Laura Dern, Isabella Rossellini and, especially, Dennis Hopper, as one of Lynch's most demented creations. R (profanity, violence, drug use, nudity, sex, vulgarity). (Tower, Friday and Saturday.)
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
AFRICA'S ELEPHANT KINGDOM — Aussie filmmaker Michael Caulfield directed this 40-minute documentary about the huge mammals, which was originally shown in 3-D. Featuring narration by Avery Brooks. Shown in the large-screen format. Not rated, probable G. (Exclusive, Jordan Commons.)
DOLPHINS — *** — A 44-minute underwater dream, suffused with sunlight. Sting (the soundtrack's composer) and Pierce Brosnan (the narrator) are the big names apparently booked to bring crowds to this movie, but a few minutes in and it's clear that they're superfluous. The dolphins are the stars. Shown in the large-screen format. Not rated, probable G (nothing offensive). (Exclusive, Jordan Commons.) (Nov. 24, 2000) — Diane Urbani
MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET — **** — Hollywood has tried to remake this classic Christmas tale more than once, but no one has ever done it better than with this sentimental but sweet comedy-drama about a little girl (the late Natalie Wood) who believes the seemingly wild claims of a department store Santa Claus (Edmund Gwenn). Wonderful performances, and the message about the meaning of Christmas make this one essential for families. Made before ratings (1947), probable G (nothing offensive). (Jordan Commons.)
OLYMPIC GLORY — Producers Frank Marshall and Kathleen Kennedy join forces with Utahn Scott Swofford for this large-format documentary, shot during the 1998 Nagano Winter Games. Among those profiled is the first Kenyan to participate in the Winter Games. Directed by Kieth Merrill. Not rated, probable G. (Exclusive, Jordan Commons.)
RETURN TO THE SECRET GARDEN — ** — Unofficial sequel to "The Secret Garden," featuring a worthwhile message about the value of friendships. But it's a pretty uncompelling piece about a 9-year-old American girl who works together with her sickly British cousin to solve a mystery. Running time: 90 minutes. G. (Ritz, Saturday and Sunday only.) (Aug. 25, 2000)
THE ROBE — *** — Well-acted but episodic epic drama about Marcellus Gallio (Richard Burton), the Roman centurion who presided over Christ's trial. A good supporting cast (which includes Jean Simmons, Victor Mature and Michael Rennie) helps, though the pacing's a bit sluggish. Made before ratings (1953), probable PG (violence). (Jordan Commons.)
CONTINUING FILMS
ALMOST FAMOUS — **** — Filmmaker Cameron Crowe returns to his days as a teenage journalist with this warm and funny ode to rock music — the best film so far this year. He's helped by a terrific ensemble cast that includes Salt Lake native Patrick Fugit, Billy Crudup and Kate Hudson. Running time: 122 minutes. R (profanity, drug use, vulgarity, brief sex, brief nudity). (Sandy 9, South Towne, Sugar House.) (Sept. 22, 2000)
BEDAZZLED—* 1/2 — Unfunny remake of the 1967 Faustian satire that starred Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. Brendan Fraser is miscast as a nerd who makes a deal with the devil (the even-more-miscast Elizabeth Hurley) to win the woman of his dreams. Running time: 93 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, violence, profanity, brief drug use, partial nudity). (Brewvies, must be 21 or older; Cinemas 5; Kaysville; Sandy 9; Sugar House; Valley Fair) (Oct. 20, 2000)
BEST IN SHOW — *** — Filmmaker Christopher Guest's long-awaited follow-up to "Waiting for Guffman" has some very funny sequences, but it also has some mean-spirited notions about dog owners, who are spoofed in this mockumentary. Fred Willard steals the show as a befuddled color commentator. Running time: 89 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity). (Broadway, South Towne.) (Oct. 13, 2000)
BILLY ELLIOT — *** — This low-key British comedy-drama is a showcase for newcomer Jamie Bell, who impresses as the title character, a coal miner's son who must conceal his love of ballet dancing from his financially strapped family. Some harsh language, but a rousing, feel-good movie. Running time: 110 minutes. R (profanity, violence, vulgarity, brief partial nudity). (Broadway, South Towne.) (Nov. 10, 2000)
BOOK OF SHADOWS: BLAIR WITCH 2 — turkey — Laughably bad sequel to the surprise horror hit, this one about twentysomethings taking a "Blair Witch reality tour." The only thing scary is the awful performances. Running time: 89 minutes. R (violence, profanity, gore, nudity, drug use, brief sex, vulgarity). (Sandy 9.) (Oct. 27, 2000)
BOUNCE — ** — Even the natural chemistry between on-again, off-again celebrity couple Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow can't save this contrived romantic drama about the unlikely romance between a widow and the a womanizer who feels responsible for her husband's death. Running time: 104 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, sex, vulgarity). (Broadway, Carmike 12, Century, Cottonwood, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Midvalley, Ritz, Trolley North.) (Nov. 17, 2000)
BRING IT ON — *** — Surprisingly clever comedy starring Kirsten Dunst as a cheerleader who panics when an inner-city squad "steals back" her team's routines. A little crude at times, but there are some howlingly funny moments. Running time: 100 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, violence). (Cinemas 5, Kaysville, Sandy 9, Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (Aug. 25, 2000)
THE CELL —* 1/2 — An uninvolving, "style over substance" rip-off of "The Silence of the Lambs." Jennifer Lopez is awful as a psychologist who journeys into the mind of a serial killer. Running time: 107 minutes. R (violence, gore, profanity, nudity, torture, rape, brief drug use, brief sex). (Sandy 9, Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (Aug. 18, 2000)
CHARLIE'S ANGELS — *** — More fun than it has a right to be, this campy TV-to-big-screen adaptation is a fast-paced action-comedy about three sexy P.I.s — Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu — hired to rescue a kidnapped computer genius. Bill Murray steals the show as their goofy mentor. Running time: 92 minutes. PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, partial nudity, profanity). (Carmike 12, Century, Gateway, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Midvalley, Ritz, Trolley Square.) (Nov. 3, 2000)
THE CONTENDER — *** — Joan Allen is terrific as the title character, a vice presidential nominee. But the script fails her. Jeff Bridges steals the movie in a showy role as the president. Running time: 132 minutes. R (profanity, vulgarity, brief nudity, brief sex). (Brewvies, must be 21 or older; South Towne.) (Oct. 13, 2000)
COYOTE UGLY —* 1/2 — Almost entertaining because of its sheer cheesiness, this "Flashdance" wanna-be gets laughs when it's trying to be dramatic and yawns when it's trying to be funny. Lead Piper Perabo is awful, too. Running time: 94 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, violence, vulgarity, partial nudity). (Sandy 9, Sugar House.) (Aug. 4, 2000)
DANCER IN THE DARK — ** — Director Lars Von Trier's latest is a noble but failed experiment, a downbeat, musically based drama about a factory worker with fading eye sight (musician-turned-actress Bjork) who retreats into fantasy. Great performances, but there's not enough concentration on the characters. Running time: 140 minutes. R (violence, gore, mild profanity). (Brewvies, must be 21 or older.) (Oct. 20, 2000)
DINOSAUR —** 1/2 — Digitally animated prehistoric adventure about the title character. The story's a rip-off of "The Land Before Time," and the characters are surprisingly shallow, but kids will probably eat it up. Running time: 82 minutes. PG (violence). (Sandy 9, Valley Fair.) (May 19, 2000)
DISNEY'S THE KID —* 1/2 — A sappy comedy-fantasy about a self-absorbed image consultant (Bruce Willis), who is visited by his 8-year-old alter-ego (Spencer Breslin). Manipulative and unfunny. Running time: 101 minutes. PG (brief violence, mild vulgarity). (Kaysville.) (July 7, 2000)
DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS — *** — As the title character, Jim Carrey steals the show, or more accurately, saves this live-action version of the holiday classic from becoming too overbearing. Despite some imaginative designs, his one-man-show is the real draw here. Running time: 102 minutes. PG (slapstick violence, mild vulgarity, one profanity). (Carmike 12, Century, Holladay, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Midvalley, Ritz, Trolley Corners, Trolley North.) (Nov. 17, 2000)
THE LADIES MAN — ** — This "Saturday Night Live" skit gone widescreen has a couple of guilty laughs, though Tim Meadows is irritating as a radio host who believes he's God's gift to women. Running time: 87 minutes. R (vulgarity, nudity, violence, sex, profanity). (Sandy 9, Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (Oct. 13, 2000)
THE LEGEND OF BAGGER VANCE — ** — Director Robert Redford's latest is a good-looking but shallow fantasy about a mysterious caddy (Will Smith) who aids a once-promising golfer (Matt Damon) in a huge tournament. Not nearly as deep as it thinks it is, and nothing really jells here. Running time: 127 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, brief sex). (Holladay, Jordan Commons.) (Nov. 3, 2000)
LITTLE NICKY — * — Dumb and just plain bad, even by Adam Sandler's usual "standards," his latest is a lame comedy about a demon who heads to Earth to stop his brothers from creating Hell on Earth. A few guilty chuckles, but otherwise awful. Running time: 93 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, violence, profanity, brief nudity, brief sex, brief drug use). (Carmike 12, Jordan Landing, South Towne.) (Nov. 10, 2000)
THE LITTLE VAMPIRE — *** — The first horror film with more "moo" than "boo," this fun and warm children's fantasy, about a small boy who befriends a family of vampires, isn't meant to be scary. Running time: 94 minutes. PG (violence, vulgarity). (Kaysville.) (Oct. 27, 2000) —Bruce Westbrook, Houston Chronicle
MEET THE PARENTS —** 1/2 — Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro are great as, respectively, a would-be groom and his hard-to-please, would-be father-in-law. But too often the makers of this comedy stoop to cheap gags to get laughs. Running time: 108 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, drugs, sex, nude photos). (Broadway, Carmike 12, Century, Gateway, Holladay, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Midvalley, Ritz.) (Oct. 6, 2000)
MEN OF HONOR — ** — Cuba Gooding Jr. and Robert De Niro are good in this highly fictionalized drama about Carl Brashear, the U.S. Navy's first black Master Diver. But the script is horrid, and the all-star supporting cast is reduced to cameos. Running time: 128 minutes. R (profanity, violence, racial epithets, gore, vulgarity). (Carmike 12, Century, Holladay, Jordan Landing, Midvalley, Ritz, South Towne.) (Nov. 10, 2000)
NUTTY PROFESSOR II: THE KLUMPS —* 1/2 — Crude sequel starring Eddie Murphy in several roles — including those of Professor Sherman Klump and his monstrous alter-ego Buddy Love. Few of the jokes hit the mark. Running time: 110 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, sex, violence, racial epithets). (Valley Fair.) (July 28, 2000)
102 DALMATIANS — ** — Pretty listless, even dull sequel to the 1996 live-action hit, with Glenn Close reprising her role as the evil Cruella De Vil. Her animal co-stars are cute, but the film's not nearly funny or fun enough. Running time: 101 minutes. PG (slapstick violence, mild vulgarity). (Carmike 12, Century, Gateway, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Midvalley, Ritz, Trolley Square, Villa.) (Nov. 22, 2000)
PAY IT FORWARD — ** — Perhaps the year's biggest disappointment so far, a too-sentimental drama about a teacher (Kevin Spacey) who challenges his students (including Haley Joel Osment) to make the world a better place. The heavy-handed ending is particularly awful. Running time: 122 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, violence, drug use, vulgarity, sex, racial epithets). (Jordan Commons.) (Oct. 20, 2000)
RED PLANET —* 1/2 — The second sci-fi movie set on Mars this year is a dull thriller about a NASA exploration team (including Val Kilmer and Carrie-Anne Moss), which winds up stranded on Mars. Inane and not nearly lurid enough to qualify as a genuine "B" movie. Running time: 108 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, gore, brief partial nudity, brief vulgarity). (South Towne.) (Nov. 10, 2000)
REMEMBER THE TITANS — *** — A movie this corny and predictable shouldn't be this involving, but it features a worthwhile core message and another terrific performance by Denzel Washington, who heads up a football team for a newly "integrated" high school. Running time: 113 minutes. PG (sports violence, racial epithets, mild profanity) (Cottonwood, Gateway, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Midvalley, Ritz.) (Sept. 29, 2000)
RUGRATS IN PARIS — THE MOVIE — *** — Surprisingly funny sequel to 1998's surprising animated hit, focusing is on Chuckie Finster's efforts to get a new mom. Too much potty humor, but guest voice Susan Sarandon is a hoot as one particularly evil, potential mother. Running time: 74 minutes. G (vulgarity, slapstick violence). (Broadway, Carmike 12, Century, Gateway, Holladay, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Midvalley, Ritz.) (Nov. 17, 2000)
SCARY MOVIE —* 1/2 — What's really scary about this horror spoof is that the MPAA let it slip by with just an R rating. A handful of guilty laughs at the beginning, but it becomes so crude it makes the "South Park" movie and "American Pie" look tame. Running time: 89 minutes. R (vulgarity, violence, nudity, profanity, sex, drug use, gore, racial epithets). (Cinemas 5, Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (July 7, 2000)
THE 6TH DAY — ** — Essentially a pale copy of all the previous thrillers starring Arnold Schwarzenegger. Some good effects and action sequences, but he's done this material many times before and much better. Running time: 124 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, gore, brief partial nudity, vulgarity, brief sex). (Carmike 12, Century, Cottonwood, Jordan Landing, Midvalley, Ritz, South Towne.) (Nov. 17, 2000)
SPACE COWBOYS —** 1/2 — It fades toward the end, but veterans Clint Eastwood, Tommy Lee Jones, Donald Sutherland and James Garner still have fun as astronaut washouts who go into space to repair a malfunctioning satellite. Running time: 123 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, violence, brief nudity, brief vulgarity). (Avalon.) (Aug. 4, 2000)
TWO FAMILY HOUSE — *** — Recalling Barry Levinson's "Baltimore Stories" movies, this sweetly low-key comedy-drama, set in 1950s New York, depicts the unlikely romance between an Italian-American dreamer (character actor Michael Rispoli) and the single mother he's just evicted (Kelly Macdonald). The two leads are good enough to overcome some rough spots. Running time: 104 minutes. R (profanity, ethnic slurs, brief violence, vulgarity). (Exclusive, Broadway.) (Dec. 1, 2000)
UNBREAKABLE —** 1/2 — A particularly weak ending mars director M. Night Shyamalan's otherwise fascinating follow-up to "The Sixth Sense," a fantasy-thriller about the sole survivor of a train crash (Bruce Willis), who discovers he may have unearthly powers. Running time: 107 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity). (Carmike 12, Century, Cottonwood, Gateway, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Midvalley, Ritz, Trolley Corners.) (Nov. 22, 2000)
WHAT LIES BENEATH — ** — This thriller starts well, but it turns into "Fatal Ghostly Attraction," as a husband and wife (Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer) are haunted by his former lover. Too many cheap scares. Running time: 125 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, violence, sex, gore, brief vulgarity). (Cinemas 5, Kaysville, Sandy 9, Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (July 21, 2000)
X-MEN — *** — The best comic-book-to-film adaptation since "Batman," about the conflict between the title characters and evil mutants trying to subjugate mankind. Exciting, with great performances (especially newcomer Hugh Jackman). Running time: 103 minutes. PG-13 (violence, partial nudity, vulgarity, brief profanity). (Cinemas 5, Sandy 9, Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (July 14, 2000)