8 MILE (R) -- C+
Semi-autobiographical it might be, but 8
Mile is smaller than life. The raw energy and talent of Eminem is dampened
by a too-long script and Curtis Hanson's torpid direction. Kim Basinger and
Brittany Murphy give tired performances in a film only briefly invigorated by
its portrayal of Detroit's hip-hop club scene. (Carlson) AMC Palace 20, Downtown
Joy
ANALYZE THAT (R)
-- Director Harold Ramis and actors Robert
De Niro and Billy Crystal reunite for this sequel to the 1999 mob comedy Analyze
This. Here, Paul Vitti (De Niro) is fresh out of prison and dealing with
retirement from the "family business," while his shrink (Crystal) is dealing
with the pressure of taking over his own family business. AMC Palace 12,
AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Hollywood Cinemas 9
APOLLO 13 THE IMAX
EXPERIENCE (PG)
-- Ron Howard's 1995 film about the ill-fated
space flight (starring Tom Hanks, Kevin Bacon and Ed Harris) becomes the first
35mm live-action film to be digitally remastered for IMAX viewing. Entergy
IMAX
CATCH ME IF YOU CAN
(PG-13)
-- Steven Spielberg directs Leonardo DiCaprio
as Frank W. Abagnale Jr., who was notorious in the 1960s for assuming so many
different aliases and professions (doctor, commercial airline pilot) in his
con games that he earned the respect of the FBI agent (Tom Hanks) who pursued
him. Co-stars Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen and Jennifer Garner (TV's Alias).
Opens wide release on Wednesday
DIE ANOTHER DAY (PG-13)
-- Unless you've been living under a rock
for the past month, you know the James Bond series celebrates its 40th anniversary
with Pierce Brosnan sexing up American spy Halle Berry. The two team up to battle
the Axis of Evil. Directed by Lee Tamahori (Mulholland Falls). AMC
Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20
DRUMLINE (PG-13)
-- A street drummer in Harlem brings his own
sense of rhythm to a marching band after getting a scholarship to a college
in the South. Directed by Charles Stone III (those "Whazzzup?" Bud commercials,
and Paid in Full). Co-stars Nick Cannon and Orlando Jones. AMC Palace
12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Downtown Joy, Hollywood Cinemas
9
EMPIRE (R)
-- Drug dealer John Leguizamo tries to quit
while he's ahead, only to find out that he's been ripped off by investor Peter
Sarsgaard and girlfriend Denise Richards. Debut from writer-director Franc Reyes.
Excellent supporting cast includes Ruben Blades, Sonia Braga and Isabella Rossellini.
AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20
FAR FROM HEAVEN (R)
-- A
Todd Haynes' stylized, almost painterly drama
tells the story of a white 1957 suburban Connecticut housewife whose husband
is grappling with his homosexuality, while she takes refuge in a friendship
with her black gardener. This picture is smart, understated and profoundly affecting.
Julianne Moore, Dennis Quaid and Dennis Haysbert are all superb. (Barton) Canal
Place
THE FILMS OF NICK ZEDD
(NR)
-- Screening of several films by Zedd, of the "Cinema of Transgression" scene,
including such classics as Lord of the Cockrings and Elf Panties:
The Movie. 9 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, Dec. 25-30 at Zeitgeist.
FRIDA (R) -- B+
Salma Hayek shines in her portrayal of Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. So does Alfred
Molina as husband/artist Diego Rivera in this paradoxically vibrant and episodic
bio-pic from Julie Taymor (Titus), who does a marvelous job of literally
bringing Kahlo's art to life. (Simmons) Canal Place
FRIDAY AFTER NEXT (R)
-- Ice Cube and Mike Epps reunite for the third installment of the Friday series,
this time with the pair working as mall security guards and trying to catch
the thief who stole their holiday presents. AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20,
Chalmette, Downtown Joy
GANGS OF NEW YORK (R)
-- A
Martin Scorsese's look at ethnic and religious violence in 19th century Manhattan
is cinematically brilliant. It has stunning production design, haunting cinematography,
searching themes, and great acting headed by Daniel Day-Lewis and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Artistically stimulating as this picture is, however, it doesn't offer sympathetic
characters and in failing to do so, abandons any hopes of touching our hearts.
(Barton) (Reviewed in this issue.) AMC
Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Canal Place, Hollywood Cinemas 9
HARRY POTTER AND THE
CHAMBER OF SECRETS (PG) -- C-
This second installment is boring and utterly
conventional -- all two hours and 50 minutes of it. It's pretty apparent that
too much time is spent on how everything looks and not enough on how any of
it feels. Kenneth Branagh as the wryly pompous Gilderoy Lockhart is one of the
only bright spots. Stay home and read the delightful book instead. (Carlson)
AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Hollywood Cinemas
9
HAUNTED CASTLE (PG)
-- Combination of live-action characters and
computer-generated scenes fill this 3-D version of the Faustian tale. Entergy
IMAX
HOT CHICK (PG-13)
-- A popular but rather bitchy teenage girl
gets a little comeuppance when she is magically transported into the body of
Rob Schneider, who then proceeds to get into a series of wacky situations. Look
for Adam Sandler as a bongo player. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace
20, Chalmette
THE IMAX NUTCRACKER
3D (NR) -- The classic holiday tale comes to the very, very big screen.
Entergy IMAX
INTO THE DEEP: 3D
-- IMAX dives deep into underwater to explore
sea life. Entergy IMAX
JESUS CHRIST VAMPIRE
HUNTER (NR)
-- Just in time for Christmas, this cult film features the savior himself joining
forces with Mexican wrestler El Santo and Mary Magnum to battle lesbian vampires.
Keep an eye out for the bolt of lightning guaranteed to strike during this viewing.
7:30 Wednesday-Monday, Dec. 25-30,
at Zeitgeist
THE LION KING (G)
-- The largest-grossing animated film of all
time gets the IMAX treatment, taken from the original digital elements instead
of the 35mm print. Opens Wednesday at Entergy IMAX
THE LORD OF THE RINGS:
THE TWO TOWERS (PG-13) A+
Director Peter Jackson presents this spectacular
sequel to The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Jaw-dropping
combat sequences, an expert use of digital imagery and a true devotion to the
heart of the Tolkien classic make movie magic. Ian McKellen, Viggo Mortensen,
Elijah Wood, Liv Tyler and many more return as Frodo's quest to destroy the
evil Ring continues. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette,
Hollywood Cinemas 9, Prytania
MAID IN MANHATTAN (PG-13)
-- Hotel maid Jennifer Lopez is mistaken for
a socialite (and is then wooed) by wealthy Ralph Fiennes in this romantic comedy
directed by Wayne Wang (The Joy Luck Club, Anywhere But Here).
Written by John Hughes, who championed the teen-comedy craze of the 1980s that
spawned Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club. AMC Palace
12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Hollywood Cinemas 9
REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES
(PG-13)
-- A chubby Mexican-American teenager from
East L.A. (America Ferrera) grapples with her self-image as defined by both
her weight and ethnicity in this film-festival favorite and feature debut from
director Patricia Cardoso. Copped both the Audience Award for Best Dramatic
Feature and a Special Jury Prize for Acting (for Ferrera and Lupe Ontiveros)
at this year's Sundance Film Festival and screened at October's New Orleans
Film Festival. Canal Place
THE RING (PG-13) --
B-
Despite some nice ideas and a great set-up,
Gore Verbinski's frightfest about a journalist (Naomi Watts) trying to unravel
the mystery behind a videotape that leads to death for all who watch it is ultimately
a disappointment. (Simmons) AMC Palace 12
A ROOM WITH A VIEW
(PG-13) -- A-
Director James Ivory and producer Ismail Merchant
began what almost feels like a period-piece franchise (The Remains of the
Day, Howard's End) with this breezy adaptation of E.M. Forster's
novel about British class and manners. The stellar ensemble cast includes breakthrough
performances by Helena Bonham Carter, Julian Sands and (to a lesser degree)
Daniel Day Lewis, with veterans Maggie Smith, Judi Dench, Denholm Elliott and
Simon Callow providing seasoned support. Part of the W's "Walk-in Movie Night"
series. Heaters and blankets provided. Admission $10; proceeds to benefit Crohn's
& Colitis diseases -- Louisiana chapter. Doors open at 7 p.m. (Simmons) 8
p.m. Sunday at the W French Quarter Hotel's courtyard
THE SANTA CLAUSE 2
(G) -- B-
Little kids should probably never hear that
Santa Claus is really the voice of Buzz Lightyear, but Tim Allen's charm provides
decent holiday glow to this seasonal sequel. The storyline -- Santa has to land
a Mrs. Claus to stay Santa -- makes for a few genuinely sweet moments. Meanwhile,
a fascist Santa clone (who might frighten a few small fry) makes trouble back
at the Pole, and a farting reindeer brings cheer to the little kid in all of
us. (Tisserand) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20
SPACE STATION (NR)
-- A 3-D look at the International Space Station. Entergy IMAX
STAR TREK: NEMESIS
(PG-13)
-- Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton
and the rest reunited for another voyage of the starship Enterprise, in which
the Romulans are negotiating for peace -- or are they? AMC Palace 12, AMC
Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Hollywood Cinemas 9
TREASURE PLANET (G)
-- Co-directors Ron Clements and John Musker
(Aladdin, The Little Mermaid) serve up Disney's holiday animation
offering, an outer-space version of Robert Louis Stevenson's literary classic
Treasure Island. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette
TWO WEEKS NOTICE (PG-13)
-- Marc Lawrence, who had a hand in
the scripts for previous Sandra Bullock vehicles (Forces of Nature, Miss
Congeniality) writes and makes his directing debut with Bullock playing
chief counsel to Hugh Grant's smug millionaire. Romance finally ensues when
she decides to terminate her services. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace
20, Chalmette, Hollywood Cinemas 9
WES CRAVEN PRESENTS:
THEY (PG-13)
-- No, the (former) master isn't directing; perhaps that's for the best.
Robert Harmon (The Hitcher, Nowhere to Run) directs this thriller
about a grad student who tries to get to the bottom of her old childhood fear
of the dark after getting another round of the willies at night. AMC Palace
16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Hollywood Cinemas 9
THE WILD THORNBERRYS
(PG)
-- The crew from the popular Nickelodeon series show up for its second
animation feature, this time without the Rugrats. Voices provided by Lacey Chabert
(The Scoundrel's Wife), Brenda Blethyn, Rupert Everett, Marisa Tomei,
Lynda Redgrave and Tim Curry (also of The Scoundrel's Wife). AMC Palace
12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Hollywood Cinemas 9
