NEW FILMS FRIDAY

THE BROTHERS — The title characters of this romantic comedy, which is being described as "Refusing to Exhale," are lifelong pals whose friendships are tested by new relationships. Bill Bellamy and D.L. Hughley star. Not screened for local critics; reviewed in this section. R (sex, profanity, vulgarity, racial epithets). (Carmike 12, Century, Jordan Landing, Midvalley, Ritz.)

HEARTBREAKERS — Dark comedy starring Sigourney Weaver and Jennifer Love Hewitt as the title characters, a mother/daughter con team that targets wealthy men — including Gene Hackman, Ray Liotta and Jason Lee. PG-13 (profanity, vulgarity, sex, violence). (Broadway, Carmike 12, Century, Gateway, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Midvalley, Ritz.)

IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE — Period drama examining the relationship between next-door neighbors (Hong Kong stars Tony Leung and Maggie Cheung) who discover their spouses are having an affair. Directed by Wong Kar-Wai ("Chungking Express"). In Cantonese and Shanghainese, with English subtitles. PG (mild profanity, mild vulgarity). (Exclusive, Broadway.)

POLLOCK — Both Marcia Gay Harden and star/director Ed Harris have both received Academy Award nominations for their performances in this biographical drama about infamous American painter Jackson Pollock. R (profanity, violence, vulgarity, nude artwork, brief drug use). (Exclusive, Tower.)

SAY IT ISN'T SO! — The Farrelly brothers produced this comedy about two would-be lovers (Heather Graham and Chris Klein) who try to resist each other because of the mistaken belief they are brother and sister. Sally Field co-stars. R (vulgarity, profanity, slapstick violence, sex, brief nudity, brief drug use). (Carmike 12; Century; Gateway; Jordan Commons; Jordan Landing; Midvalley; Redwood, with "Dude, Where's My Car?"; Ritz; Trolley Corners.)

SNEAK PREVIEW

SOMEONE LIKE YOU — Based on the novel "Animal Husbandry," this romantic comedy stars Ashley Judd as a woman who begins a study of the male "animal" after her latest heartbreak. Greg Kinnear, Hugh Jackman and Marisa Tomei co-star. To be reviewed when it opens next week. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, sex, brief partial nudity). (Saturday: Jordan Commons.)

MIDNIGHT MOVIES

DRUGSTORE COWBOY —*** 1/2 — Gus Van Sant's acclaimed 1989 drama is harrowing, uncompromising look at drug addiction, punctuated by Matt Dillon's fine performance as a junkie forced into a life of crime to support his increasing habit. Hard to watch, but worth the time. R (profanity, violence, drug use, vulgarity, sex, nudity). (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.)

BIG JAKE — *** — One of John Wayne's better later-period movies, this 1971 western features the Duke as the tough-as-nails title character, who tries to rescue his grandson from kidnappers. Good action and performances, especially from Richard Boone, but there isn't enough interaction between Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, who plays his estranged wife. PG (violence, gore). (Jordan Commons.)

CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: JOURNEY OF MAN —*** 1/2 — A vista of sheer beauty, the kind that mesmerizes your children and seduces adults into a warm visual bath. The images wash over you for 38 minutes — and the less you think and analyze, the better. Three routines by the Montreal-based circus troupe, which symbolize the birth of mankind. Narrated by Ian McKellen. Shown in the large-screen format. G (nothing offensive). (Jordan Commons.) (March 2, 2001) — Diane Urbani

EPIC JOURNEYS: THE GREAT MIGRATIONS — The makers of the large-screen documentaries "Africa: The Serengeti" and "Alaska: Spirit of the Wild" return with this 40-minute feature about animal migrations across the globe. Shown in the large-screen format. Not rated, probable G (animal violence). (Jordan Commons.)

SEA HAWK — **** — One of the best big-screen collaborations between director Michael Curtiz and star Errol Flynn, this 1940 adventure film is a nifty piece of swashbuckling, benefiting from Flynn's performance as the title character, an English buccaneer. In black and white. Made before ratings, probable PG (violence). (Jordan Commons.)

WEZO TO AMEDEKA (A PEACE CORPS JOURNEY IN AFRICA) — A sneak preview of this 86-minute video documentary, focusing on the reunion of local director Barbara Zapotocky Athens and her son, Scott, a Peace Corps volunteer helping reforest Ghana. On video. This film is not rated but may contain some PG-rated material. (Salt Lake Art Center, Friday only, 8 p.m.)

CONTINUING FILMS

BEFORE NIGHT FALLS —** 1/2 — This biographical drama about late Cuban poet Reinaldo Arenas reveals next to nothing about him, but Academy Award nominee Javier Bardem single-handedly makes the material better with his on-fire performance as Arenas. A mixed bag to be sure, but watchable. In English and Spanish, with English subtitles. Running time: 133 minutes. R (nudity, violence, profanity, sex, drug use, vulgarity). (Brewvies, must be 21 or older.) (Feb. 16, 2001)

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). (Brewvies, must be 21 or older; Sugar House.) (Oct. 13, 2000)

CAST AWAY —*** 1/2 — Oscar nominee Tom Hanks is superb in this dramatic adventure, which gives him what's possibly his most demanding role to date, that of an obsessive career man who has to reassess his priorities when his plane goes down and he winds up stranded on a desert island. Riveting, though it starts to stumble toward the end. Running time: 132 minutes. PG-13 (gore, profanity, brief vulgarity, brief partial nudity). (Carmike 12, Century, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Midvalley, Ritz.) (Dec. 22, 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). (Sugar House.) (Nov. 3, 2000)

CHOCOLAT —** 1/2 — Filling but unsatisfying comedy/fantasy from director Lasse Hallstrom, adapting the acclaimed novel about a mysterious woman (the always luminous Juliette Binoche) who rankles some in a small French village when she opens a chocolate shop. A good cast helps, but the sometimes inappropriate tone is a distraction. Nominated for five Academy Awards. Running time: 121 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, sex, violence, brief vulgarity, brief partial nudity). (Broadway, Carmike 12, Century, Gateway, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Midvalley.) (Dec. 22, 2000)

CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON — **** — More than "just" a martial-arts film, director Ang Lee's acclaimed period fantasy is a beautiful-looking, breathtaking and ultimately heartbreaking piece that finally puts veteran Hong Kong performers Michelle Yeoh ("Tomorrow Never Dies") and Chow-Yun Fat ("Anna and the King") on the screen together. Easily the best film of 2000, and arguably the best in the history of the underappreciated genre. Nominated for 10 Academy Awards. In Mandarin, with English subtitles. Running time: 120 minutes. PG-13 (violence, gore, brief sex). (Broadway; Century; Jordan Commons; Jordan Landing; Redwood, with "Vertical Limit.") (Jan. 12, 2001)

DR. SEUSS' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS —** 1/2 — 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). (Sandy.) (Nov. 17, 2000)

DOWN TO EARTH — ** — Even Chris Rock can't save this misbegotten remake of "Heaven Can Wait," in which he stars as an unsuccessful comedian who dies and then is reborn into the body of a rich Manhattan mogul. The only time it comes to life is when Rock is onstage. Running time: 88 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, violence, vulgarity, brief sex, racial epithets). (Jordan Landing, Midvalley.) (Feb. 16, 2001)

DUDE, WHERE'S MY CAR? — turkey — This screwball comedy, about two stoners (Ashton Kutcher and Seann William Scott) who wake up to find that their auto is missing, is strenuously unfunny, weak even by the low standards of the genre. Running time: 83 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, slapstick violence, brief partial nudity). (Redwood, with "Say It Isn't So!") (Dec. 17, 2000) — Chris Hewitt, Knight Ridder

THE EMPEROR'S NEW GROOVE —** 1/2 — Boasting one of the most unmemorable story lines and one of the most unlikable heroes (David Spade, as the lead voice) in Disney's history, this animated comedy mines a few laughs in the tale of a spoiled king who is transformed into a llama. But it's still something of a disappointment. Running time: 78 minutes. G (animated violence, mild vulgarity). (Midvalley.) (Dec. 15, 2000)

ENEMY AT THE GATES — ** — This fact-based World War II sets us up for a nifty cat-and-mouse game between a Russian marksman (Jude Law) and his German counterpart (Ed Harris). But then it abandons it for a contrived Hollywood love triangle. Disappointing. Running time: 135 minutes. R (violence, profanity, gore, sex, nudity, vulgarity). (Broadway, Century, Gateway, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Midvalley, Ritz.) (March 16, 2001)

EXIT WOUNDS — * — There are movies that aim for the stars. Then there are movies whose stars seem to be aiming at you. This dopey thriller, the latest Steven Seagal vehicle, falls into the latter category as if dropped from a great height. Running time: 117 minutes. R (violence, profanity, gore, vulgarity, racial epithets). (Carmike 12; Century; Gateway; Jordan Commons; Jordan Landing; Midvalley; Redwood, with "3000 Miles to Graceland"; Ritz; Trolley Corners.) (March 17, 2001) — Jay Carr, Boston Globe

THE FAMILY MAN — ** — Despite a terrific performance by Tea Leoni, this fantasy is no "It's a Wonderful Life." Instead, it's a holiday classic wanna-be, a treacly fantasy about a self-centered stock broker (Nicolas Cage) who awakes to find himself in a different reality — one where he's married with kids. Running time: 124 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, veiled nudity, vulgarity). (Sandy, Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (Dec. 22, 2000)

15 MINUTES —* 1/2 — Thinly veiled rip-off of "Natural Born Killers," pairing Robert De Niro and Edward Burns as a homicide detective and an arson investigator who team up to stop a pair of fame-obsessed killers. Irresponsibly violent and rather hypocritical, considering its attack on the media. Running time: 120 minutes. R (violence, profanity, gore, nudity, brief sex, brief vulgarity). (Broadway; Carmike 12; Century; Cottonwood; Jordan Commons; Jordan Landing; Redwood, with "Hannibal.") (March 9, 2001)

FINDING FORRESTER — *** — Producer/star Sean Connery enlivens this tale about the unique friendship between a reclusive author (Connery) and an inner-city athlete (newcomer Robert Brown) with a surprising talent for creative writing. The ending's a little weak, but the performances are good and the dialogue is sharp. Running time: 137 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, vulgarity, brief violence, racial epithets, brief sex). (Kaysville, Sandy, Valley Fair.) (Jan. 12, 2001)

GET OVER IT — ** — This new teen comedy may be halfhearted, but it's not entirely without heart, most of it supplied by its adorable central couple, Kirsten Dunst and Ben Foster. Martin Short is amusing as a fluttery, egomaniacal high school drama teacher. Running time: 89 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, sex, slapstick violence). (Carmike 12, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Ritz.) (March 12, 2001) — A.O. Scott, New York Times

HANNIBAL — ** — Nauseating and surprisingly dull sequel to "The Silence of the Lambs," with Anthony Hopkins reprising his Oscar-winning role as the serial-killing title character. Hopkins is fine, but the emphasis is on gore, and Julianne Moore seems to be imitating Jodie Foster, whom she replaces in the role of FBI Special Agent Clarice Starling. Running time: 133 minutes. R (gore, violence, brief profanity, brief vulgarity, nude artwork, brief drug use). (Century; Jordan Commons; Jordan Landing; Midvalley; Redwood, with "15 Minutes"; Ritz.) (Feb. 9, 2001)

HEAD OVER HEELS — * — Ho-hum, what else is new? Freddie Prinze Jr. stars in yet another painfully unfunny comedy, this one a laughless mess about a woman (Monica Potter) who falls for a man she believes is a serial killer — but who turns out to be something different. Running time: 91 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, violence, profanity, brief sex). (Sandy, Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (Feb. 2, 2001)

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). (Sugar House.)

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). (Sandy, Sugar House.) (Oct. 6, 2000)

THE MEXICAN —*** 1/2 — Not the romantic comedy it appears to be, but a violent, darkly comic thriller starring Brad Pitt as a small-time crook trying to recover a cursed revolver and recover his kidnapped girlfriend (Julia Roberts). Some very funny moments, though some may be put off by the violence and language. In English and Spanish, with English subtitles. Running time: 123 minutes. R (violence, profanity, gore, vulgarity). (Carmike 12; Century; Gateway; Jordan Commons; Jordan Landing; Midvalley; Redwood, with "The Wedding Planner"; Ritz; Trolley Corners; Villa.) (March 2, 2001)

MISS CONGENIALITY — ** — Sandra Bullock is funny as an FBI agent who goes undercover at a national beauty pageant. But the film can't decide whether it wants to be a comedy, a thriller or "Pygmalion," and co-star Michael Caine is woefully underused. Running time: 110 minutes. PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, profanity). (Jordan Landing, Kaysville, Sandy, Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (Dec. 22, 2000)

O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU? —*** 1/2 — The Coen brothers bounce back nicely from some recent disappointments with this hysterically funny Depression-era comedy, based very loosely on "The Odyssey." The period bluegrass music is terrific, and George Clooney has never been better than he is here, as the fast-talking leader of three prisoners on the lam after escaping escape from a chain gang. Running time: 103 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, torture, racial epithets). (Century, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing.) (Jan. 12, 2001)

102 DALMATIANS — ** — Listless, even dull, sequel to the 1996 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). (Kaysville, Sandy, Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (Nov. 22, 2000)

THE PLEDGE — ** — It features yet another terrific performance from Jack Nicholson, but this dramatic thriller from actor-turned-filmmaker Sean Penn is a disappointing, contrived character piece about a just-about-to-retire detective (Nicholson) trying to solve his final case. Running time: 124 minutes. R (profanity, violence, gore, vulgarity, nude artwork). (Sandy, Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (Jan. 19. 2001)

RECESS: SCHOOL'S OUT —** 1/2 — This animated feature, based on the popular Saturday morning cartoon, is acceptable kids fare, though adults may be bored. In it, the elementary school students try to foil a madman's plan to end the summer vacation. The voice cast includes Dabney Coleman and James Woods. Running time: 83 minutes. G (violence, mild profanity). (Carmike 12, Cottonwood, Gateway, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Midvalley.) (Feb. 16, 2001)

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) (Kaysville.) (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). (Valley Fair.) (Nov. 17, 2000)

SAVE THE LAST DANCE — ** — Formulaic drama about a talented white teen (Julia Stiles) who finds love and rediscovers her love for dance at an all-black Chicago high school. Stiles and co-star Sean Patrick Thomas give it their all, but the material is too heavy-handed, and there's not enough dancing to save it. Running time: 114 minutes PG-13 (profanity, violence, vulgarity, racial epithets, brief sex). (Jordan Landing; Redwood, with "Traffic"; Ritz.) (Jan. 12, 2001)

SAVING SILVERMAN —** 1/2 — It's crude and mean-spirited, but this farce benefits from funny performances by Steve Zahn and Jack Black, playing two losers trying to prevent their best friend (Jason Biggs) from marrying the wrong woman (Amanda Peet). Running time: 93 minutes. PG-13 (slapstick violence, vulgarity, nudity, profanity, brief drug use). (Jordan Landing.) (Feb. 9, 2001)

SEE SPOT RUN —* 1/2 — Crude, mean-spirited humor trying to pass itself off as family entertainment, with the painfully unfunny David Arquette starring as a mailman who unwittingly takes in a police dog that's in the witness-protection program. The few sweet moments don't even come close to outweighing the more objectionable ones. Running time: 95 minutes. PG (vulgarity, violence, profanity). (Carmike 12, Cottonwood, Gateway, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Midvalley, Ritz.) (March 2, 2001)

SNATCH —** 1/2 — Director Guy Ritchie's follow-up to "Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels" is a little too similar to its ultra-violent, darkly comedic predecessor. But Brad Pitt is very funny as a Gypsy brawler, and there's some inspired mayhem among the mean-spiritedness. Running time: 103 minutes. R (profanity, violence, vulgarity, gore, ethnic slurs, nudity, torture). (Brewvies, must be 21 or older.) (Jan. 19, 2001)

SWEET NOVEMBER — ** — Dull remake of the 1968 romantic drama, featuring one of Keanu Reeves' worst-ever performances, this time as a career-driven ad exec who is made over by an unorthodox young woman (Charlize Theron). Makes the original look like a masterpiece. Running time: 124 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, sex, brief vulgarity, brief nudity). (Cottonwood, Jordan Landing.) (Feb. 16, 2001)

3000 MILES TO GRACELAND —* 1/2 — Despite the misleading trailers, this caper thriller is more violent than humorous. It also wastes the talents of its all-star cast, which includes Kurt Russell and Kevin Costner, starring as ex-cons who pull off a robbery during an Elvis convention in Las Vegas. There's not nearly enough Elvis music, either. Running time: 125 minutes. R (violence, profanity, gore, sex, vulgarity, brief partial nudity) (Redwood, with "Exit Wounds.") (Feb. 23, 2001)

TRAFFIC — *** — Well-acted, riveting ensemble thriller centering on an Ohio Supreme Court justice (Michael Douglas) who's been nominated as the country's new drug czar. The cast is terrific, and the script is intelligent — at least until the final third, when some rather convenient plotting gets in the way of the story. Running time: 147 minutes. Nominated for five Academy Awards. R (drug use, violence, profanity, sex, nudity, torture, vulgarity). (Broadway; Century; Jordan Commons; Redwood, with "Save the Last Dance"; Ritz.) (Jan. 5, 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). (Kaysville, Sandy, Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (Nov. 22, 2000)

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VERTICAL LIMIT —** 1/2 — Forget the silly plot for this mountain climbing action-thriller and instead concentrate on the action sequences (including one shot in Moab), which make simple acts like breathing and drinking liquids seem dangerous. Chris O'Donnell , Robin Tunney and Scott Glenn star. Running time: 126 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, drugs, brief gore). (Kaysville; Redwood, with "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"; Sandy; Sugar House.) (Dec. 8, 2000)

THE WEDDING PLANNER — ** — Bland, strained romantic comedy starring Jennifer Lopez as the title character, who is torn between love and her career when she falls for the fiance (Matthew McConaughey) of her newest client. Not unwatchable, but not particularly memorable either. Running time: 100 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, nude artwork, slapstick violence). (Carmike 12; Century; Gateway; Jordan Landing; Midvalley; Redwood, with "The Mexican"; Ritz.) (Jan. 26, 2001)

WES CRAVEN PRESENTS: DRACULA 2000 — turkey — In the hands of newcomer Patrick Lussier, Bram Stoker's classic horror tale becomes a thudding, suspense-free montage of unshocking shock effects and more severed heads than were toppled during the French Revolution. Running time: 99 minutes. R (violence, profanity, gore, sex, drugs, partial nudity, vulgarity). (Valley Fair.) (Dec. 26, 2000) — Stephen Holden, New York Times News Service

WHAT WOMEN WANT —** 1/2 — Erratic, somewhat crude and definitely overlong romantic comedy/fantasy that's redeemed somewhat by star Mel Gibson, who's a howl as a male chauvinist who accidentally acquires the power to read women's minds. Running time: 126 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, sex, brief drug use). (Ritz.) (Dec. 15, 2000)

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