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From: owner-movies-digest@lists.xmission.com (movies-digest) To: movies-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: movies-digest V2 #92 Reply-To: movies-digest Sender: owner-movies-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-movies-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk movies-digest Thursday, September 17 1998 Volume 02 : Number 092 Re: [MV] pretty woman tangent Re: [MV]Ultimate sacrifices.... -Reply [MV] Screen It Newsletter (September 17, 1998) Re: [MV]Ultimate sacrifices.... -Reply -Reply [MV] Movie News - 09/17/98 [MV] Depressing movies...... [MV] The Movie Report#158, 9/17/98 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1998 07:31:34 +0800 From: Blacknight <rvchua@ntep.nec.co.jp> Subject: Re: [MV] pretty woman tangent Honwa Chau wrote: > I just saw "My Best Friend's Wedding" and I really enjoyed it. I've > never been a fan of Julia Roberts but she does a great job in this > film. > She does some rotten things but I was still sympathetic to her cause. > > I really liked Cameron Diaz, especially in the karaoke bar scene, and > Rupert Everett was fantastic. He and Roberts had terrific chemistry. > After that movie, all I could think was Rupert Everett, never mind if he is gay. blacknight [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1998 06:28:54 +0100 From: "Gerald Taylor" <geeg@vossnet.co.uk> Subject: Re: [MV]Ultimate sacrifices.... -Reply This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_003D_01BDE204.7176CE80 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Bruce, don't get me wrong......I am not saying I want all films to end = with the hero being selfish and just thinking of his own = happiness.....it's just that what you stated that you want to see = already happens frequently....there is no film I can think of that has = ever had a sympathetic hero (or main character) who has left his = perfectly nice family for another woman without some tragedy descending. = Every film in which a man/woman has an affair always ends with them = seeing the light and returning to their original partner and family, or = if they don't it's because his original partner is a nasty piece of work = which doe'nt count! I would just like to see one film which breaks = these rules! As stated before "Breif encounter" would fit all your = criteria as the main characters tempted by an affair only get as far as = a kiss. - -----Original Message----- From: Bruce Bridges <Bruce@SABAN.COM> To: movies@lists.xmission.com <movies@lists.xmission.com> Date: 16 September 1998 18:44 Subject: Re: [MV] Re:Pvt Ryan +Ultimate sacrifices.... -Reply >Concerning romantic films, we'll just have to agree to disagree on how >we want to see our romantic heroes behave. > > > >I think that since the film is told from the perspective of an >american soldier that the german's would naturally come off badly.=20 >How could the american soldiers see them any other way? I'm sure it >was the same from the other side as well. =20 > >As far as the scene in the staircase, I didn't buy that for a second. > I think he would have killed him immediately. I probably would have. >=20 > >bb > >[ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] >[ movies (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] >=20 - ------=_NextPart_000_003D_01BDE204.7176CE80 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"> <HTML> <HEAD> <META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-1 = http-equiv=3DContent-Type><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 = HTML//EN"> <META content=3D'"MSHTML 4.72.2106.6"' name=3DGENERATOR> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff> <DIV>Bruce, don't get me = wrong......I am not=20 saying I want all films to end with the hero being selfish and just = thinking of=20 his own happiness.....it's just that what you stated that you want to = see=20 already happens frequently....there is no film I can think of that has = ever had=20 a sympathetic hero (or main character) who has left his perfectly nice = family=20 for another woman without some tragedy descending. Every film in = which a=20 man/woman has an affair always ends with them seeing the light and = returning to=20 their original partner and family, or if they don't it's because his = original=20 partner is a nasty piece of work which doe'nt count! I would just = like to=20 see one film which breaks these rules! As stated before = "Breif=20 encounter" would fit all your criteria as the main characters = tempted by an=20 affair only get as far as a kiss.</DIV> <DIV>-----Original Message----- From: = Bruce Bridges=20 <<A href=3D"mailto:Bruce@SABAN.COM">Bruce@SABAN.COM</A>> To: <A = href=3D"mailto:movies@lists.xmission.com">movies@lists.xmission.com</A> = <<A=20 href=3D"mailto:movies@lists.xmission.com">movies@lists.xmission.com</A>&g= t; Date:=20 16 September 1998 18:44 Subject: Re: [MV] Re:Pvt Ryan +Ultimate=20 sacrifices.... -Reply </DIV>>Concerning romantic films, = we'll=20 just have to agree to disagree on how >we want to see our romantic = heroes=20 behave. > > > >I think that since the film is = told from=20 the perspective of an >american soldier that the german's would = naturally=20 come off badly. >How could the american soldiers see them any = other=20 way? I'm sure it >was the same from the other side as = well. =20 > >As far as the scene in the staircase, I didn't buy that = for a=20 second. > I think he would have killed him immediately. I = probably=20 would have. > > >bb > >[ To leave the = movies=20 mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] >[ movies = (without the=20 quotes) to <A=20 href=3D"mailto:majordomo@xmission.com">majordomo@xmission.com</A> &n= bsp; =20 ] > </BODY></HTML> - ------=_NextPart_000_003D_01BDE204.7176CE80-- [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1998 08:37:37 -0400 (EDT) From: reviews@screenit.com Subject: [MV] Screen It Newsletter (September 17, 1998) Welcome to the Screen It! Newsletter (September 17, 1998). This week at the movies, Ben Stiller goes deep off the wagon, Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker team up as a comedy action duo, and a tearjerker with Oscar worthy performances also hits the big screen. On home video, another wide variety of releases -- none of which did particularly well in their theatrical runs -- hit the shelves this Tuesday. PLEASE NOTE: The new movie reviews WILL NOT be publicly posted until LATE Thursday night (EDT) to comply with the studios' wishes/demands. Next week, reviews of "Clay Pigeons" (Joaquin Phoenix, Vince Vaughn), "Ronin" (Robert De Niro, Jean Reno), "Urban Legend" (Jared Leto, Alicia Witt) and other new releases. __________________________________________________ NEW MOVIE REVIEWS FOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18TH: "ONE TRUE THING" (1998) (Meryl Streep, Renee Zellweger) (R) Drama: An ambitious, career-minded young woman (Zellweger) returns home to care for her sick mother (Streep) and learns a thing or two about her parents, and herself. Featuring a trio of Oscar worthy performances, this is the sort of film you'll love if you enjoyed "Terms of Endearment." The R rating comes from profanity (seven uses of the "f" word). (National Release) http://www.screenit.com/movies/1998/one_true_thing.html __________________________________________________ "PERMANENT MIDNIGHT" (1998) (Ben Stiller, Elizabeth Hurley) (R) Drama: A TV writer (Stiller) falls prey to his growing addiction to drugs. Featuring a good performance from Stiller, the rest of the film is too disjointed and offers nothing new to the theme of addiction to make the film more than marginally interesting. Consistent drug use, profanity, and sexually related material give the film its R rating. (Limited Release) http://www.screenit.com/movies/1998/permanent_midnight.html __________________________________________________ "RUSH HOUR" (1998) (Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker) (PG-13) Action/Adventure: A reckless and arrogant American detective (Tucker) reluctantly joins forces with a Hong Kong inspector (Chan) to find a kidnaped girl. Chan's first Hollywood picture in twelve years, the film delivers the laughs and action, but the physical stunts aren't as impressive as in Chan's previous efforts. The PG-13 rating comes from martial arts violence, lethal gun related violence, and profanity. (National Release) http://www.screenit.com/movies/1998/rush_hour.html __________________________________________________ NEW VIDEO REVIEWS FOR TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22ND: "DANGEROUS BEAUTY" (1998) (Catherine McCormack, Rufus Sewell) (R) Drama: A 16th century courtesan (McCormack) must deal with her unattainable love for a nobleman (Sewell), as well as the admiration and then disdain of the public toward her profession. Despite a few minor problems, the film comes off as an enjoyable look at a determined lady, and should please those who manage to see it (as long as they don't mind the subject matter). The film -- which grossed around $4.5 million domestically -- gets its R rating from profanity, nudity, and sexual encounters. (http://www.screenit.com/movies/1998/dangerous_beauty.html) __________________________________________________ "MERCURY RISING" (1998) (Bruce Willis, Alec Baldwin) (R) Suspense/Drama: An FBI agent (Willis) must protect a nine-year-old autistic child from government officials (including Baldwin) who want the boy eliminated after he unknowingly breaks a top-secret military code. A tepid thriller that works on the most basic level, this movie surprisingly feels rather flat throughout most of the production despite a few standard-issue action set pieces. Grossing around $33 million domestically, the film's R rating comes from violence and profanity. (Moved from Sept. 15) (http://www.screenit.com/movies/1998/mercury_rising.html) __________________________________________________ "MY GIANT" (1998) (Billy Crystal, Gheorghe Muresan) (PG) Comedy: A second-rate talent agent (Crystal) learns some valuable lessons about life after discovering a 7'7" Romanian giant (Muresan) he hopes to put in the movies. Although it's not a great picture by any means, as long as you don't expect it to be outrageously funny, you'll probably find it agreeably enjoyable. Grossing just $8 million domestically, the film's PG rating comes from profanity, some violence and brief crude humor. (http://www.screenit.com/movies/1998/my_giant.html) __________________________________________________ "NIGHTWATCH" (1998) (Ewan McGregor, Nick Nolte) (R) Horror: A series of serial murders begins to point to a law student (McGregor) who has just taken a job as a night watchman in a medical examiner's building. Although it delivers some "fun" and spooky moments early on, the movie eventually turns into a lackluster and decidedly less than frightening production. Barely released after many delays, the film managed a minimal $1 million domestic return, and gets its R rating from horror movie violence, profanity, sexually related material, and brief drug use. (http://www.screenit.com/movies/1998/nightwatch.html) __________________________________________________ "THE PLAYERS CLUB" (1998) (Lisa Raye, Chrystale Wilson) (R) Drama/Comedy: A college student (Raye), who's taken a job as a stripper to make ends meet, must contend with the other dancers, as well as her younger cousin who's been seduced by the high paying, fast paced lifestyle. Although occasionally, but only mildly interesting, this simply isn't a very good film. Grossing $23 million domestically, the film's R rating comes from profanity, sexually related material and violence. (http://www.screenit.com/movies/1998/the_players_club.html) __________________________________________________ "RIDE" (1998) (Melissa DeSousa, Malik Yoba) (R) Comedy: An aspiring music video director (DeSousa) and an inner city activist (Yoba) take a group of young street talents on a bus trip from Harlem to Miami to appear in a music video. Much like the real life road trip down Interstate I-95 that it portrays, "Ride" feels much longer than it actually takes to sit through, is rather uneventful and not very funny, and is filled with a group of people who become more annoying as the event wears on. Rated R for profanity, including sexually related dialogue, the film grossed nearly $5.5 million domestically. (http://www.screenit.com/movies/1998/ride.html) __________________________________________________ Do you find the Screen It Website useful? If so, contact your local newspaper, TV or radio station, or favorite magazine and ask that they do a story about our site so that others in your community or country may benefit from this information. Contact information can be found at the following address: http://www.screenit.com/press.html __________________________________________________ Remember, before you and/or your kids see it, buy it , or rent it, make sure that first you Screen It! Screen It! Entertainment Reviews for Parents http://www.screenit.com __________________________________________________ Since we respect your privacy and time, we'll always keep these messages brief and we'll never sell or give your e-mail address to anyone. If at any time you no longer wish to receive these updates, simply let us know at reviews@screenit.com and we'll remove you from our list. [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1998 08:47:37 -0700 From: Bruce Bridges <Bruce@SABAN.COM> Subject: Re: [MV]Ultimate sacrifices.... -Reply -Reply Gerald et al, Of course I'm not calling for all future romantic flicks to have dudley doorights as the lead but in my previous post I was really trying to explain why I did not connect with the leads "The English Patient". For me that tact is overused and meant to illustrate "Passion that breaks all boundaries!" when it could just as easily mean two losers that are just horny. Don't get me wrong, I'm just as eager for Bounds breaking passion as the next guy but I can't really cheer for it in the theatre. I'm not even a huge fan of the genre to be honest. I think I will try "Brief Encounter" though. How about "Wings of a Dove"? I thought that film was a great example of a tragic love in which you could sympathize with the leads. bb [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1998 15:10:06 -0600 (MDT) From: The Reporter <gregorys@xmission.com> Subject: [MV] Movie News - 09/17/98 Universal and Imagine Films have landed "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" for a live-action feature starring Jim Carrey (to be directed by Ron Howard), sources tell Variety. The sale has the potential to be among the richest rights deals ever made in Hollywood, with an up-front rights fee approaching $5 million and hefty profit-sharing, merchandising and soundtrack components. -=> * <=- Eddie Murphy is set to star in the futuristic action comedy "Pluto Nash," playing a lunar colonist who fights for the space settlement's freedom. The story, described as an underworld comedy set in the next century, has Murphy playing a character whose checkered past led him to a new start in the funky, somewhat seedy, lunar colony. But when a huge Earth-based corporation attempts to take control of the moon residents, Murphy's character challenges them. -=> * <=- Problems on the set of director Roman Polanski's first feature film in four years have forced the project's backers to take control. Sources tell Variety that "The Ninth Gate," a thriller starring Johnny Depp, Lena Olin, Frank Langella and Emmanuelle Seigner, has fallen behind schedule largely due to unforeseen factors. Accordingly, Artisan Entertainment, which is financing and distributing the picture, and completion bond provider International Film Guarantors have stepped in. "Gate" is said to be Polanski's most ambitious film since the 1988 thriller "Frantic," which starred Harrison Ford. -=> * <=- HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - "Titanic" continues to steam through the record books. The highest grossing film in history has topped "Independence Day" as the bestselling live-action home video release ever. Since its home video launch Sept. 1, "Titanic" has sold 20 million copies, according to insiders. Previous record holder, 1996's "Independence Day," sold roughly 18 million copies. The all-time record holder, the animated "The Lion King," has sold upwards of 30 million copies. The film, produced by Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Fox, has grossed more than $1.8 billion worldwide since its theatrical release in December. -=> * <=- LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Movie studio Universal Pictures has acquired the film rights to two classic children's books by Dr. Seuss, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "Oh, the Places You Go," a studio spokeswoman said Wednesday. Universal, the film unit of Canadian entertainment and drinks giant Seagram Co. Ltd., agreed to pay up to $9.0 million for the two stories. Imagine Films, producer of movies like "Apollo 13" run by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, will make the live-action movies, according to published reports. Comic actor Jim Carrey, coming off highly successful movies "The Truman Show" and "Liar, Liar," has been picked to star as the Grinch, a grumpy creature who plots to steal all the Christmas gifts in the town of Whoville. [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1998 22:30:39 +0100 From: "Gerald Taylor" <geeg@vossnet.co.uk> Subject: [MV] Depressing movies...... This is a multi-part message in MIME format. - ------=_NextPart_000_0016_01BDE28A.CC424020 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Anybody care to share their opinion on films that they thought = depressing? I am not talking about bad films but films that are good = but also very bleak.......the type that make you think of reaching for a = razor blade because there's no hope for mankind! Off the top of my head = I can think of four......two are T.V movies one is from the sixties = called "Cathy come home" by the director ken Loach and the other is a = tale of nuclear war called "Threads"......the other two are a russian = film called "Come and see" and "Henry potrait of a serial = killer".......anyone got any more? ~ Gerry T ~~~~~ I think I could turn and live with animals, they are so placid and self = contained, I stand and look at them long and long. They do not sweat and whine about their condition, They do not lie awake and weep for their sins, they do not make me sick discussing their duty to God, not one is dissatisfied, not one demented with the mania of owning = things, Not one kneels to another nor to his own kind that lived thousands of = years ago, not one is respectable or unhappy over the whole earth. Walt = Whitman. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ - ------=_NextPart_000_0016_01BDE28A.CC424020 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 HTML//EN"> <HTML> <HEAD> <META content=3Dtext/html;charset=3Diso-8859-1 = http-equiv=3DContent-Type><!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD W3 = HTML//EN"> <META content=3D'"MSHTML 4.72.2106.6"' name=3DGENERATOR> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff> <DIV>Anybody care to share their = opinion on=20 films that they thought depressing? I am not talking about bad = films but=20 films that are good but also very bleak.......the type that make you = think of=20 reaching for a razor blade because there's no hope for mankind! = Off the=20 top of my head I can think of four......two are T.V movies one is from = the=20 sixties called "Cathy come home" by the director ken Loach and = the=20 other is a tale of nuclear war called "Threads"......the other = two are=20 a russian film called "Come and see" and "Henry potrait = of a=20 serial killer".......anyone got any more?</DIV> <DIV>~ Gerry T ~~~~~ I think I = could turn=20 and live with animals, they are so placid and self contained, I stand = and=20 look at them long and long. They do not sweat and whine about their=20 condition, They do not lie awake and weep for their sins, they do = not make=20 me sick discussing their duty to God, not one is dissatisfied, not = one=20 demented with the mania of owning things, Not one kneels to another = nor to=20 his own kind that lived thousands of years ago, not one is = respectable or=20 unhappy over the whole=20 earth. &nb= sp; &nbs= p; = ; = &= nbsp; =20 Walt=20 Whitman. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</DIV></BODY></= HTML> - ------=_NextPart_000_0016_01BDE28A.CC424020-- [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 17 Sep 1998 14:45:40 -0700 From: Michael Dequina <michael_jordan@geocities.com> Subject: [MV] The Movie Report#158, 9/17/98 T H E M O V I E R E P O R T #158 SEPTEMBER 17, 1998 PLEASE HELP... ...keep the MR and Mr. Brown's Movie Site alive. I am undergoing a serious funding and resource crisis (_I_don't_even_own_a_computer_). You can help by renting or purchasing videos from Reel.com! Visit: http://www.reel.com/cgi-bin/nph-reel.exe?COBRAND=MRBR&OBJECT=welcome.html You can also help in other ways. Visit: http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/support.html Thank you very much. =>T H I S W E E K<= M O V I E S - -_Permanent_Midnight_ - -_One_True_Thing_ - -_Ronin_ - -_Six-String_Samurai_ - -_The_Young_Girls_of_Rochefort_(Les_Demoiselles_de_Rochefort)_ V I D E O - -_City_of_Angels_ - -_He_Got_Game_ - -_Hush_ - -_Lady_and_the_Tramp_ - -_A_Price_Above_Rubies_ - -_Wide_Awake_ For links to the official websites of all the current films, past reviews, exclusive Hollywood event photos, movie discussion board, movie theme MIDI files, and more, visit Mr. Brown's Movie Site at: http://welcome.to/mrbrown or http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown Please don't forget to sign the guestbook... Select reviews are available at CompuServe Hollywood Hotline: http://www.HollywoodHotline.com ...and the Eyepiece Network at: http://www.eyepiece.com ...and Albany Online at: http://www.AlbanyOnline.com all movies graded out of four stars (****) ~~~ =>M O V I E S<= N E W R E L E A S E S Hollywood Hotline Featured Review _Permanent_Midnight_ (R) ** Arriving fairly fresh off the blink-and-you-thankfully-missed-it run of Terry Gilliam's _Fear_and_Loathing_in_Las_Vegas_ is another adaptation of a drug-dazed book, this time a non-fiction one: _Permanent_Midnight_, the celebrated autobiography of TV writer Jerry Stahl. While the resulting film is nowhere near the disaster Gilliam's was, screenwriter-director David Veloz's glimpse at one man's real-life walk on the wild side rings just about as false as that surreal work. The true story of Stahl would appear to make an intriguing film. While he was a successful writer for such television shows as _thirtysomething_, _Moonlighting_, and _ALF_ (the latter recreated in the film as _Mr._Chompers_), Stahl also led the life of a heroin junkie. This double life scenario does hold some promise, and with the vibrant Ben Stiller playing Stahl, first-time helmer Veloz appeared to be onto something interesting. Veloz, however, shoots himself in the foot just about right from the get-go. Not content to follow Stahl's story straight ahead, he comes up with a woefully unconvincing framing story. We meet Jerry as he works in a fast food joint as part of a drug rehab program, and he gets picked up by a mysterious woman named Kitty (Maria Bello). Jerry and Kitty hole up at a motel, and in between (and sometimes during) attempts at sex, Jerry tells Kitty of his turbulent life: the out-of-control heroin abuse and the devastating effects it had on his marriage of convenience to a beautiful Brit (Elizabeth Hurley, trying her best in a thankless role) and his once-thriving writing career. The Jerry-Kitty subplot fails the test as a simple framework, yet Veloz somehow got the wrongheaded idea that this already-weak part of the story could serve as the film's emotional core. Past catches up to present by the end of act two, when Jerry finishes his story and he parts company with Kitty; just when one thinks that's the last of Kitty, act three's focus is on Jerry's inexplicable romantic feelings for her. According to the script, Jerry and Kitty form an unbelievably strong bond during their nights together, presumably due to the "similar pasts" they purportedly share. But one is never given a clear idea of Kitty's past; she alludes to having similar troubles, but she never gets a chance to deliver her whole story (or, at the very least, _enough_ of it). Bello is terrific (she could very well have a successful film career after suddenly bolting from TV's smash _ER_), investing great warmth and humanity to her role, but, still, Kitty never becomes a fully developed character. The same, unfortunately, can be said about Jerry. Stiller's immersion into the role is admirable (he lost 30 pounds), and as a whole, he turns in an impressive dramatic turn. However, as written by Veloz, Jerry is less a person than a set of tics: shaking, manic talking. It does not help that one is never treated to a glimpse to what Jerry was like before the drugs, thus never lending the audience to a standard of comparison. Even worse, there's no clear turning point in Jerry's story; the film feels like it's missing a scene where he realizes his mistake and decides to turn his life around. While one pivotal event is _said_ to be his turning point, its depiction leaves little of that sense. I have not read _Permanent_Midnight_, but based on what I've read about it, the film is a pale shadow of what is said to be a work that is quite harrowing and even funny. Of course, what apparently makes the book work even more is that it is all based on fact. If I had not known that detail in advance, I would not have been able to glean it from _Permanent_Midnight_ the movie, which comes off as manufactured and synthetic as most Hollywood product. IN BRIEF _One_True_Thing_ (R) *** Although mine were a couple of the relatively few dry eyes left at the end of this adaptation of Anna Quindlen's tearjerking novel, I was not left untouched by this radical departure for director Carl Franklin (_One_False_Move_, _Devil_in_a_Blue_Dress_). After his homemaker wife Kate's (Meryl Streep) cancer takes a turn for the worse, English professor George Gulden (William Hurt) forces his daughter Ellen (Renee Zellweger) to leave her job as a big city magazine writer and become, in effect, nursemaid to her dying mother. The arc of the story is predictable, but only to a point; while familiar bases are covered (the never-close Kate and Ellen learn to bond; Ellen learns the importance of family over work), Karen Croner's script also has a surprising, and rather involving, mystery element to it, largely embodied by a framing device where Ellen interrogated by an investigator (James Eckhouse) for reasons that only gradually become clear. But the true thing of _One_True_Thing_ is the acting, which is uniformly superb. The usually spacey (as of late) Hurt's uncharacteristically focused performance is a noteworthy achievement, but his effort is upstaged by the excellent mother-daughter duo. Zellweger and especially Streep both bring their roles to vivid life with a multi-dimensional blend of warmth, vulnerability, and underlying strength. While the whole of _One_True_Thing_ may not be deserving of such kudos, the actresses' exquisite performances are what Oscars are made for. _Ronin_ (R) ** If you were one of the (surprisingly large) number of people who found _Mission:_Impossible_ confusing, steer clear of this sometimes exciting but downright incomprehensible action thriller directed by John Frankenheimer and written by J.D. Zeik and David Mamet. Here's what I could get straight: a group of independent covert operatives (including Robert DeNiro, Jean Reno, Stellan Skarsgard, and Sean Bean) is hired by a mysterious Irishwoman (Natascha McElhone) to steal an equally mysterious case of, yes, mysterious international significance. Why? Beats the hell out of me. About an hour into _Ronin_, I completely gave up on trying to figure out the wheres and whys of the plot, which also involves an Irish baddy (Jonathan Pryce) and even a Russian figure skater played by two-time Olympic gold medalist Katarina Witt (who, for the record, is really German). Somewhat contented but still left a bit empty by the technically proficient action and chase scenes (one extended car chase through Paris is a suspenseful highlight), I searched mightily to find something else to hold my interest. There was nothing in the characters; they are all so shallowly written I kept on forgetting their names. In the end, the only investment I had was in the case--namely, what was in it. Alas, remember _Pulp_Fiction_? There's your answer. Mamet was so upset by the Writers Guild's refusal to give him sole writing credit that he chose to be listed under a pseudonym (Richard Weisz); turns out he unwittingly made the right decision. (opens September 25) _Six-String_Samurai_ (PG-13) *** In this age of obscure taglines (for instance, _Knock_Off_'s: "There is no substitute"), it's refreshing to see a slogan that efficiently distills the plot of a film in a handful of words. Take, for example, that of this ready-made midnight movie: "Vegas needs a new king." That, right there, is all you need to know plotwise of this ridiculously fun no-budget actioner in which a sword-swinging, guitar-playing man with no name (Jeffrey Falcon), accompanied by an orphan (Justin McGuire), travels across a post-apocalyptic America to assume the throne of Lost Vegas vacated by the recently deceased Elvis. Needless to say, his journey is not without obstacles: a family of cannibals, fascist Communists, and even Death himself. Falcon, an American martial arts champion who had heretofore only appeared in Hong Kong films, possesses the necessary charisma and fighting skills for this larger-than-life hero; McGuire, on the other hand, grates as the token child. Nonetheless, the outlandish vision of Falcon and director Lance Mungia, who collaborated on the script, is as fresh and creative as anything you're likely to see on the screen in a long while. _The_Young_Girls_of_Rochefort_(Les_Demoiselles_de_Rochefort)_ (G) *** Director Jacques Demy and composer Michel Legrand's 1967 musical follow-up to their classic 1964 jazz opera _The_Umbrellas_of_Cherbourg_ is by no means the masterpiece that film was, but it is not without its frothy charms. Catherine Deneuve, who also starred in _Umbrellas_, and her real-life sister, Francoise Dorleac, respectively play fraternal twin sisters Delphine and Solange Garnier. Delphine is a dancer; Solange is a composer, and both have dreams that stretch beyond the boundaries of their small hometown of Rochefort--first and foremost being finding true love. Little do they know that their perfect matches are also wandering the local streets: poet/artist/sailor Maxence (Jacques Perrin) and American composer Andy Miller (Gene Kelly), respectively. Delphine and Solange's mother (Danielle Darrieux) also pines for a true love--a lost one--who, yes, also happens to be in town: music shop owner Simon Dame (Michel Piccoli). These six characters constantly run into each other, but, of course, each just as constantly misses his or her match. Although much of _Rochefort_'s creative team, from the director, composer, and lead actress to many of the dubbed-in singing voices are the same as those of _Umbrellas_, the two films could not be more different. While _Umbrellas_ was entirely sung but without a single dance number, _Rochefort_ is a more traditional musical, with spoken interludes between lavish production numbers and wall-to-wall dancing. But the most crucial difference is the tone; where the heartbreaking _Umbrellas_ was tragically bittersweet, _Rochefort_ is unremittingly sunny, which fits the light storyline. However, all the lightness makes this film, unlike the emotionally sweeping _Umbrellas_, a completely disposable entertainment. Nonetheless, _Rochefort_, while an overlong 125 minutes, is a delightful confection, made all the sweeter by Legrand's jazzy, toe-tapping score, Bernard Evein's candy-colored production design, and the energetic cast. IN CURRENT RELEASE (full reviews of the following in past MRs and at the listed URLs) - -_Armageddon_ (PG-13) *** <MR#149, 7/1/98> http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt36.html#armageddon - -_Blade_ (R) *** <MR#156, 8/28/98> http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt38.html#blade - -_Dance_with_Me_ (PG) ** <MR#154, 8/13/98> http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt38.html#dance - -_Dead_Man_on_Campus_ (R) * <MR#155, 8/20/98> http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt38.html#deadman - -_Ever_After_ (PG-13) *** <MR#152, 7/30/98> http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt37.html#everafter - -_54_ (R) * 1/2 <MR#156, 8/28/98> http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt38.html#54 - -_Halloween:_H20--20_Years_Later_ (R) *** <MR#152, 7/30/98> http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt37.html#h20 - -_How_Stella_Got_Her_Groove_Back_ (R) *** <MR#155, 8/20/98> http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt38.html#stella - -_Knock_Off_ (R) * <MR#158, 9/6/98> http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt39.html#knockoff - -_Lethal_Weapon_4_ (R) *** 1/2 <MR#150, 7/10/98> http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt36.html#lethal4 - -_Let's_Talk_About_Sex_ (R) no stars <MR#156, 8/28/98> http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt38.html#sex - -_The_Mask_of_Zorro_ (PG-13) *** <MR#150, 7/10/98> http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt36.html#zorro - -_The_Negotiator_ (R) *** <MR#151, 7/24/98> http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt37.html#negotiator - -_Next_Stop_Wonderland_ (R) ** 1/2 <MR#157, 9/6/98> http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt39.html#wonderland - -_Rounders_ (R) *** <MR#157, 9/6/98> http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt39.html#rounders - -_The_Opposite_of_Sex_ (R) *** 1/2 <MR#144, 5/29/98> http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt34.html#sex - -_Saving_Private_Ryan_ (R) **** <MR#151, 7/24/98> http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt37.html#ryan - -_Simon_Birch_ (PG) ** 1/2 <MR#157, 9/17/98> http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt39.html#simon - -_Slums_of_Beverly_Hills_ (R) ** 1/2 <MR#155, 8/20/98> http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt38.html#slums - -_There's_Something_About_Mary_ (R) *** 1/2 <MR#150, 7/10/98> http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt36.html#mary - -_Why_Do_Fools_Fall_in_Love_ (R) *** <MR#156, 8/28/98> http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt38.html#fools - -_Without_Limits_ (PG-13) *** <MR#156, 8/28/98> http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt38.html#limits - -_Your_Friends_&_Neighbors_ (R) *** 1/2 <MR#154, 8/13/98> http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt38.html#friends FUTURE FILMS - -_Lolita_ (R) ** 1/2 <MR#151, 7/24/98> http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt37.html#lolita (September 25) - -_Pecker_ (R) ** 1/2 <MR#153, 8/7/98> http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt37.html#pecker (September 25) O N T H E H O R I Z O N FRIDAY _The_Eel_ Making its West Coast premiere this week is this Japanese drama about a man (Koji Yakusho) attempting to reenter the real world after serving an eight-year prison sentence for murdering his wife. Winner of the Palme d'Or at last year's Cannes Film Festival. _Esmeralda_Comes_by_Night_ (R) Spanish-language comedy about a nurse (Maria Rojo) with multiple husbands. _Ill-Gotten_Gains_ (R) Before he starred in Steven Spielberg's _Amistad_, Djimon Hounsou had the lead this low-budget, black-and-white drama about a slave ship revolt. Eartha Kitt co-stars as the voice of a Claymation mask (no joke). _One_True_Thing_ (R) *** <see above review> Exceptional acting distinguishes this tearjerker about the relationship between a cancer-stricken homemaker (Meryl Streep) and her daughter (Renee Zellweger). _Permanent_Midnight_ (R) ** <see above review> Synthetic adaptation of TV writer Jerry Stahl's memoir about his addictin to heroin. Ben Stiller, Elizabeth Hurley, and Maria Bello star. _Rush_Hour_ (PG-13) Just when you thought there weren't any more inspired matches left to be made in odd couple buddy cop flicks, here comes this pairing of martial arts legend Jackie Chan and motormouthed comic Chris Tucker. _Six-String_Samurai_ (PG-13) *** <see above review> Amusing, kitschy, instant cult classic about a guitar-playing, sword-swinging man with no name (Jeffrey Falcon) out to become Vegas's new king. _A_Soldier's_Daughter_Never_Cries_ (R) The latest effort from the Merchant Ivory team is this drama detailing the coming of age of a young American girl (Leelee Sobieski) in Paris and the States. Barbara Hershey and the suddenly omnipresent Kris Kristofferson also star. ~~~ =>V I D E O<= N E W T H I S W E E K _City_of_Angels_ (PG-13) ** 1/2 Full review in MR#137, 4/10/98; and at: http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt31.html#angels Rent or buy at Reel.com: http://www.reel.com/cgi-bin/nph-session.exe?COBRAND=MRBR&OBJECT=moviepage.as p?MMID=41013 Would-be tearjerking romance "inspired by" Wim Wenders's classic _Wings_of_Desire_, in which an angel (Nicolas Cage) falls for a human (Meg Ryan). (Warner Home Video) _He_Got_Game_ (R) *** Full review in MR#140, 4/30/98; and at: http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt33.html#hegotgame Rent or buy at Reel.com: http://www.reel.com/cgi-bin/nph-session.exe?COBRAND=MRBR&OBJECT=moviepage.as p?MMID=41145 Spike Lee's engrossing drama about the turbulent relationship between an ex-con (Denzel Washington) and his basketball star son (Milwaukee Bucks guard Ray Allen, in an impressive debut). (Touchstone Home Video) _Hush_ (PG-13) no stars Rent or buy at Reel.com: http://www.reel.com/cgi-bin/nph-session.exe?COBRAND=MRBR&OBJECT=moviepage.as p?MMID=40955 If only TriStar had hushed writer-director Jonathan Darby when he made the pitch for this insulting thriller. In yet another entry in the "-from-hell" genre, Jessica Lange plays a shrew of a mother-in-law to Gwyneth Paltrow, doing anything within her power to tear her son (Jonathan Schaech) and Paltrow apart. Never mind that the acting is poor all around--for what is supposed to be a thriller, _Hush_ is astonishingly light on thrills and suspense; come to think of it, the film is completely devoid of those critical elements. Something is terribly wrong when the film does not even offer a cheesy rollercoaster finale with the psycho in an over-the-top final confrontation with the hero(es). Imagine _Fatal_Attraction_ ending with Michael Douglas and Anne Archer doing away Glenn Close with... _verbal_insults_, and you get a pretty clear idea of how this complete bore closes with an all-too-appropriate hush. (Columbia TriStar Home Video) _Lady_and_the_Tramp_ (G) **** Rent or buy at Reel.com: http://www.reel.com/cgi-bin/nph-session.exe?COBRAND=MRBR&OBJECT=moviepage.as p?MMID=709 Disney's classic 1955 animated feature about the touching romance between a sheltered cocker spaniel and a mongrel from the wrong side of the tracks makes its long-awaited return to video. Available in both full-frame and letterbox formats. (Walt Disney Home Video) _A_Price_Above_Rubies_ (R) * 1/2 Full review in MR#137, 4/10/98; and at: http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt31.html#rubies Rent or buy at Reel.com: http://www.reel.com/cgi-bin/nph-session.exe?COBRAND=MRBR&OBJECT=moviepage.as p?MMID=40993 Unbelievable drama about a young Jewish wife (Renee Zellweger) seeking freedom from the constraints of her strict Hasidic community in Brooklyn. (Miramax Home Entertainment) _Wide_Awake_ (PG) ** 1/2 Full review in MR#136, 3/27/98; and at: http://www.godamongdirectors.com/mrbrown/movierpt30.html#wideawake Rent or buy at Reel.com: http://www.reel.com/cgi-bin/nph-session.exe?COBRAND=MRBR&OBJECT=moviepage.as p?MMID=40977 Occasionally affecting drama about a young boy (Joseph Cross) searching for God after the death of his beloved grandfather (Robert Loggia). (Miramax Home Entertainment) A L S O N E W T H I S W E E K _Deep_Rising_ (R) Rent or buy at Reel.com: http://www.reel.com/cgi-bin/nph-session.exe?COBRAND=MRBR&OBJECT=moviepage.as p?MMID=40898 It's "full scream ahead" when a giant sea serpent threatens a cruise ship. Treat Williams, Famke Janssen, Anthony Heald, Djimon Hounsou, and Wes Studi star. (Hollywood Pictures Home Video) _Incognito_ (R) Rent or buy at Reel.com: http://www.reel.com/cgi-bin/nph-session.exe?COBRAND=MRBR&OBJECT=moviepage.as p?MMID=40970 The stench of _Speed_2:_Cruise_Control_ so scared Warner Bros. that they gave little more than a small regional theatrical release to this adventure/thriller starring Jason Patric as an art forger who gets embroiled in intrigue. Could it really be any worse than _The_Avengers_ and _Tarzan_and_the_Lost_City_, just to name two of a variety of atrocious WB product given wide releases this year? Irene Jacob co-stars for director John Badham. (Warner Home Video) ~~~ =>N E X T W E E K<= More reviews, including: - -_Antz_ - -_The_Mighty_ - -_Slam_ - -_Urban_Legend_ 'til then... __________________________________________________________ Michael Dequina Chat Forum Host, The Official Michael Jordan Web Site http://jordan.sportsline.com mj23@michaeljordanfan.com michael_jordan@geocities.com | mrbrown@ucla.edu >My personal WWW sites< Mr. Brown's Movie Site: http://welcome.to/mrbrown Michael Jordan Beyond the Court: http://fly.to/michaeljordan A Michael Jordan Fan's Heartbreak: http://fly.to/mj23 Personal Page: http://welcome.to/w3md >Other WWW sites I work on< CompuServe Hollywood Hotline: http://www.HollywoodHotline.com Albany Online: http://www.AlbanyOnline.com Eyepiece Network: http://www.eyepiece.com "Oliver Stone doesn't know shit about basketball." - --Michael Jordan, on why he refused to work with the director on a hoops-themed Nike commercial __________________________________________________________ [ To leave the movies mailing list, send the message "unsubscribe ] [ movies (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ] ------------------------------ End of movies-digest V2 #92 *************************** [ To quit the movies-digest mailing list (big mistake), send the message ] [ "unsubscribe movies-digest" (without the quotes) to majordomo@xmission.com ]