NEW FILMS FRIDAY
THE COCKETTES — Documentary of the infamous Bay area performance troupe of the late '60s, which included straight, gay and cross-dressing members. Featuring interviews with surviving members, as well as John Waters and others. Review in this section. Not rated, probable R (vulgarity, profanity, nudity). (Tower.)
PINOCCHIO — Roberto Benigni stars as the title character in this live-action, non-musical adaptation of Carlo Collodi's oft-filmed fantasy tale. Dubbed with the voices of Breckin Meyer, Glenn Close and others. Released Wednesday; review in this section. G (slapstick violence, mild vulgarity). (Broadway, Carmike 12, Century, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Ritz.)
NEW FILMS WEDNESDAY
ANTWONE FISHER — Denzel Washington makes his directorial debut with this drama, based on the autobiography of a U.S. Navy sailor who sought treatment for his violent outbursts. Newcomer Derek Luke stars as Fisher. To be reviewed when it opens next week. PG-13 (profanity, violence, racial epithets, vulgarity, rape, brief gore)
RE-RELEASES
THE LION KING — **** — Disney's most popular animated film, the 1994 musical comedy/drama starring the voices of Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane and Jeremy Irons, is being re-released exclusively in theaters with 70mm screens. It's still good stuff, filled with top-notch animation, voice performances and musical numbers. Shown in the large-screen format. Running time: 89 minutes. G (animated violence). (Jordan Commons.)
MIDNIGHT MOVIE
NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION — ** — The third time's not necessarily the charm with this 1989 comedy, which sees the Griswold family again visiting their wacky relatives. The material's already tired, but here it's also mean-spirited, and star Chevy Chase doesn't look to happy to be a part of it. Running time: 97 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, slapstick violence). (Tower, Friday and Saturday.)
CONTINUING FILMS
ADAM SANDLER'S EIGHT CRAZY NIGHTS — turkey — Sandler's worst film to date is a crass, tasteless, Christmas-themed animated musical about a party animal having to perform community service. Running time: 79 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, slapstick violence, brief nudity, brief drugs) (Jordan Landing.) (Nov. 27, 2002)
ANALYZE THAT — ** 1/2 — Robert De Niro has never been as humiliated as he is in this lame sequel to the 1999 mobster comedy hit. Even usually shameless star Billy Crystal looks embarrassed by this one. Running time: 104 minutes. R (profanity, violence, vulgarity, drug use, sex, torture, ethnic slurs). (Carmike 12, Century, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Ritz, Trolley Corners.) (Dec. 6, 2002)
BARBERSHOP — ** — This ensemble comedy, starring Ice Cube as the owner of a failing Chicago barbershop, gets too serious and often the characters are stereotypes. Running time: 102 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, violence, racial epithets, vulgarity). (Sugar House.) (Sept. 13, 2002)
THE BOURNE IDENTITY — *** — This engrossing suspense-thriller benefits from a strong performance by Matt Damon as a man who discovers he may be a secret agent. Running time: 117 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, gore). (Sandy, Sugar House.) (June 14, 2002)
BOWLING FOR COLUMBINE — *** 1/2 — Documentarian Michael Moore's latest — which is more thoughtful and somber than his usual work — investigates the root causes of the Columbine High School tragedy and takes on the NRA. Very powerful. Running time: 122 minutes. R (violence, profanity, gore, racial epithets). (Broadway.) (Nov. 8, 2002)
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN — *** 1/2 — Steven Spielberg's latest is also his lightest, most enjoyable movie in many years, a cheeky comedic-thriller about the most successful con man in U.S. history (a never-better Leonardo DiCaprio). Running time: 140 minutes. PG-13 (brief sex, vulgarity, profanity, violence). (Carmike 12, Century, 5-Star, Gateway, Holladay, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Megaplex 12, Ritz.) (Dec. 25, 2002)
DIE ANOTHER DAY — ** 1/2 — Pierce Brosnan's indifferent performance nearly sinks the latest James Bond adventure, but Halle Berry livens things up as a beautiful female spy who teams with 007 to stop a madman. Running time: 132 minutes. PG-13 (violence, torture, vulgarity, sex, profanity, veiled nudity, brief drugs, brief gore). (Carmike 12, Century, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Megaplex 12, Ritz.) (Nov. 22, 2002)
DRUMLINE — ** 1/2 — This urban comedy-drama about a street drummer who joins a college marching band plays like a college version of "Bring It On," replacing gymnastics and cheers with snare drums and step drills. Running time: 119 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, sex). (Jordan Landing, Ritz.) (Dec. 16, 2002) — Sean Axmaker, Seattle Post-Intelligencer
8 MILE — *** — Rapper Eminem impresses in his feature-film debut — a rap music-heavy drama loosely based on the life of the "real Slim Shady." Surprisingly smart and affecting. Running time: 106 minutes. R (profanity, racial epithets, violence, vulgarity, sex, drug use, brief nudity, brief gore). (Brewvies, must be 21 or older.) (Nov. 8, 2002)
FAR FROM HEAVEN — *** — Julianne Moore shines as a housewife who discovers her husband is gay in writer-director Todd Haynes' glossy '50s-period piece, essentially a soap opera with racial overtones as well. Running time: 107 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, mild vulgarity, racial epithets, brief sex, brief violence, nude artwork). (Broadway.) (Nov. 22, 2002)
FRIDA — ** 1/2 — Salma Hayek is very good as Frida Kahlo in director Julie Taymor's biography about the life of the influential, 20th-century Mexican painter. But the material is extremely superficial. Running time: 118 minutes. R (nudity, sex, profanity, violence, brief gore, brief drugs, vulgarity). (Broadway.) (Nov. 8, 2002)
GANGS OF NEW YORK — ** 1/2 — Daniel Day-Lewis's stellar performance is the reason to see director Martin Scorsese's otherwise sketchy 19th-century crime drama — about warring factions trying to seize control of the city. Running time: 160 minutes. R (violence, gore, profanity, racial epithets, nudity, sex, torture, vulgarity, brief drug use). (Carmike 12, Century, Holladay, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Megaplex 12, Ritz.) (Dec. 20, 2002)
GHOST SHIP — * — This gory but yawn-inducing horror movie about a haunted passenger ship may be the anchor that finally sinks star Julianna Margulies's career. Running time: 88 minutes. R (violence, gore, profanity, nudity, vulgarity). (Sandy, Showcase, Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (Oct. 25, 2002)
HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS — ** 1/2 — This darker, scarier sequel to last year's blockbuster hit is an improvement over its predecessor. But it still lacks the magic of its source material. Good performances by the young stars as supporting performer Kenneth Branagh, though. Running time: 161 minutes. PG (violence, vulgarity, mild profanity, brief gore) (Carmike 12, Century, Gateway, Holladay, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Megaplex 12, Ritz.) (Nov. 15, 2002)
THE HOT CHICK — * — Ten minutes' worth of material stretched past the breaking point, this unfunny comedy stars Rob Schneider as the title character, a self-centered teenage girl who is transformed into a thirtysomething male. Running time: 104 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, slapstick violence, profanity, brief sex, brief nudity, brief drugs). (Carmike 12, Century, Gateway, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Megaplex 12, Ritz.) (Dec. 13, 2002)
IGBY GOES DOWN — *** — Kieran Culkin shines as the title character of this dark comedy, or "tragi-comedy" about a young man rebelling against his parents. Terrific support from Susan Sarandon, Claire Danes and Ryan Phillippe as well. Running time: 98 minutes. R (profanity, drug use, violence, sex, vulgarity, brief nudity, brief gore). (Brewvies, must be 21 or older.) (Oct. 11, 2002)
I SPY — ** — Stars Eddie Murphy and, especially, Owen Wilson make this mediocre spy comedy/thriller (very loosely based on the hit 1960s television series) better than it has any right to be. Running time: 95 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, brief torture). (Kaysville, Sandy, Showcase, Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (Nov. 1, 2002)
JACKASS: THE MOVIE — * 1/2 — Possibly the most irresponsible thing ever released by a major motion-picture studio, this feature-length movie follows Johnny Knoxville and pals as they attempt questionable stunts and pull pranks on unsuspecting victims. For fans only. Running time: 80 minutes. R (violence, profanity, vulgarity, nudity). (Sandy, Showcase, Sugar House, Valley Fair.)
JACK WEYLAND'S CHARLY — ** — Newcomer Heather Beers impresses in this manipulative adaptation of the best-selling LDS novel about a free-spirited New Yorker who becomes involved with a return missionary. For fans of the book only. Running time: 104 minutes. PG (mild vulgarity, brief violence). (Kaysville, Sandy, Showcase, Sugar House.) (Sept. 27, 2002)
JONAH: A VEGGIETALES MOVIE — ** 1/2 — The first theatrical feature starring the popular kids video characters would have been better with more music and less preaching. Still, it's got a good message — one sorely needed these days. Running time: 83 minutes. G (animated violence) (Sandy, Showcase, Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (Oct. 4, 2002)
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS — **** — Even better than its predecessor, the second part of director Peter Jackson's ambitious adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien's trilogy is a constantly enthralling, but decidedly much darker adventure, as the Fellowship of the Ring is scattered and is facing a series of different threats. The cast (which includes returning stars Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen and Viggo Mortensen) is exceptional. Running time: 179 minutes. PG-13 (violence, gore, mild vulgarity). (Carmike 12, Century, 5-Star, Gateway, Holladay, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Megaplex 12, Ritz, Villa.) (Dec. 18, 2002)
MAID IN MANHATTAN — ** — Bland and utterly forgettable, the latest Jennifer Lopez stars J-Lo as a single mother being pursued by a senatorial candidate (Ralph Fiennes). There's no chemistry whatsoever between the two stars. Running time: 108 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, vulgarity, brief nudity, brief sex). (Carmike 12, Century, 5-Star, Gateway, Holladay, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Megaplex 12, Ritz.) (Dec. 13, 2002)
MINORITY REPORT — ** 1/2 — This science-fiction thriller, teaming director Steve Spielberg and actor Tom Cruise, does have some dazzling action sequences. But what starts out smart gets progressively dumber in the final third. Running time: 140 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, drug use, gore, brief sex, vulgarity). (Kaysville.) (June 21, 2002)
MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING — *** — It's pretty much a filmed sitcom, but this romantic comedy has its charms. Screenwriter Nia Vardalos stars as a thirtysomething Greek woman who decides to marry a non-Greek. Running time: 95 minutes. PG (profanity, vulgarity, brief sex, brief violence). (Jordan Landing, Trolley Corners.) (May 10, 2002)
REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES — *** 1/2 — Newcomer America Ferrara shines as a bright Mexican-American teen clashing with her tradition-minded mother (Lupe Ontiveros) in this rousing, feel-good comedy-drama. In English and Spanish, with English subtitles. Running time: 89 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, brief sex). (Broadway.) (Dec. 20, 2002)
RED DRAGON — ** 1/2 — An excellent cast (including Anthony Hopkins) bolsters this unnecessary prequel to "The Silence of the Lambs," which was already made better as 1986's "Manhunter." Running time: 126. R (violence, gore, profanity, vulgarity, nudity, brief sex). (Sandy, Showcase, Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (Oct. 4, 2002)
THE RING — *** 1/2 — This terrific, Americanized remake of the Japanese cult suspense/horror film — about a mysterious videotape that brings death to anyone who watches it — starts creepily but turns frightening over the final fourth. Running time: 115 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, brief violence, brief gore). (Trolley Corners.) (Oct. 25, 2002)
THE SANTA CLAUSE 2 — ** — Not as bad as it could have been, this obligatory sequel to the 1994 hit does have a few modest charms, and star Tim Allen seems more energized here than he's been for quite some time. Running time: 98 minutes. PG (slapstick violence, vulgarity). (Carmike 12, Century, Gateway, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Megaplex 12, Ritz.) (Nov. 1, 2002)
SIGNS — *** — Director M. Night Shyamalan's newest thriller is more akin to his "Unbreakable" than "The Sixth Sense." But it's still creepy, and Mel Gibson is nicely restrained. Running time: 106 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, brief gore). (Sandy, Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (Aug. 2, 2002)
SOLARIS — ** — Steven Soderbergh remakes Andrei Tarkovsky's 1972 science-fiction fantasy about a scientist (George Clooney) haunted by his past as he investigates a mystery aboard a space station. Running time: 98 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, sex, brief nudity, brief drugs, brief gore, brief violence). (Brewvies, must be 21 or older.) (Nov. 27, 2002)
SPY KIDS 2: THE ISLAND OF LOST DREAMS — ** — Whatever rough-hewn, gee-whiz charm "Spy Kids" offered last year is lost in this ill-conceived sequel. In its place is a slick, bombastic sense of desperation. Running time: 100 minutes. PG (violence, vulgarity). (Kaysville, Sandy, Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (Aug. 7, 2002) — Christy Lemire, Associated Press
STANDING IN THE SHADOWS OF MOTOWN — *** 1/2 — A captivating documentary following the career of the Funk Brothers, a group of musicians who backed several noted Motown performers on their biggest hits. Great anecdotes and the music's terrific, to put it mildly. In color and in black and white. Running time: 108 minutes. PG (vulgarity, violence, brief drugs). (Broadway.) (Dec. 20, 2002)
STAR TREK: NEMESIS — ** — A half-hearted medley of "hits" from better sci-fi films (as well as other "Trek" films), this disappointing sequel finds Capt. Picard (Patrick Stewart) facing a threat from an even more aggressive race of Romulans and his evil clone. Running time: 116 minutes. PG-13 (violence, brief sex, rape). (Carmike 12, Century, Gateway, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Megaplex 12, Ritz.) (Dec. 13, 2002)
STUART LITTLE 2 — ** 1/2 — This sequel to the 1999 smash hit is another fanciful, joyously unbelievable, feel-good film about the orphaned mouse adopted by a loving human family (based on the books by E.B. White). Running time: 83 minutes. PG (violence, mild vulgarity, mild profanity). (Sandy.) (July 19, 2002) — Krisy Gashler
SWEET HOME ALABAMA — ** 1/2 — Reese Witherspoon is charming as a socialite torn between her big-city life and the husband she left behind. But the film's not nearly funny enough. Running time: 102 minutes. PG-13 (profanity, vulgarity, brief violence). (Kaysville, Sandy, Showcase, Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (Sept. 27, 2002)
THE TRANSPORTER — *** — Big dumb fun that actually gets the "fun" part right, this action-thriller recalls several Hong Kong action movies. Running time: 91 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, vulgarity, brief gore, brief sex). (Sugar House.) (Oct. 11, 2002)
TREASURE PLANET — *** — Handsome animation helps salvage Disney's latest, an animated update of Robert Louis Stevenson's oft-filmed "Treasure Island" with science-fiction overtones. The voice cast includes Emma Thompson, Martin Short and others. Running time: 90 minutes. PG (animated violence, mild vulgarity, mild profanity). (Carmike 12, Century, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Megaplex 12.) (Nov. 27, 2002)
THE TUXEDO — * 1/2 — Jackie Chan's worst U.S. effort is a surprisingly low-brow action-comedy about a cab driver who becomes a secret agent. Lame, and there's not nearly enough fighting. Running time: 99 minutes. PG-13 (violence, vulgarity, profanity, brief gore). (Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (Sept. 27, 2002)
TWO WEEKS NOTICE — *** — Cuter than it is funny, this slight but charming romantic comedy finally pairs Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant as, respectively, a fussing-and-feuding employee and employer who discover they have feelings for each other. Running time: 105 minutes. PG-13 (vulgarity, profanity, slapstick violence). (Carmike 12, Century, 5-Star, Gateway, Holladay, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Megaplex 12, Ritz.) (Dec. 20, 2002)
THE WILD THORNBERRYS MOVIE — *** — The hit Nickelodeon cartoon comes to the big screen with style. It's a charming animated adventure that sees Eliza Thornberry losing her power to talk to animals. The voice performers (who include Rupert Everett) sound like they're having fun. Running time: 85 minutes. PG (animated violence, vulgarity). (Carmike 12, Century, 5-Star, Holladay, Jordan Commons, Jordan Landing, Ritz, Trolley Corners.) (Dec. 20, 2002)
XXX — ** — As stupid as it is thrilling, star-in-the-making Vin Diesel's break-out vehicle may feature terrific stunts but also has one of the dumbest plots ever. A guilty pleasure at best. Running time: 124 minutes. PG-13 (violence, profanity, drugs, vulgarity, brief torture, brief gore). (Sandy, Sugar House, Valley Fair.) (Aug. 9. 2002)