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ANGER MANAGEMENT (PG-13) -- C
Adam Sandler does the dumbed-down version of his character from Punch-Drunk
Love in this tale of an essentially likable guy suffering from an implosive
anger problem who is ordered to seek help from crazy-like-a-fox Jack Nicholson.
(Carlson) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20
BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM (PG-13) --
B+ Gurinder Chadha's story of an English girl whose traditional Sikh parents
want her to learn to cook and find a good Indian boy to marry rather than follow
her talent and passion for soccer fails to break new narrative ground. But it
has a big, open heart and well-developed characters and introduces a luminous
new star in Parminder Nagra . (Barton) Canal Place, Hollywood Cinemas 9
BRINGING DOWN THE HOUSE (PG-13) --
Attorney Steve Martin meets convicted felon Queen Latifah over the Internet in
another salt-and-pepper comedy. AMC Palace 12
BRUCE ALMIGHTY (PG-13) --
Perennial whiner Jim Carrey is fed up with the world and tells just that to God
himself (Morgan Freeman), who turns over the reins and challenges Bruce to do
better -- or there'll be hell to pay. Directed by frequent Carrey collaborator
Tom Shadyac (Liar, Liar; Ace Ventura: Pet Detective) and co-starring
Jennifer Aniston, Nora Dunne, Philip Baker Hall and Catherine Bell. AMC Palace
12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Grand, Hollywood Cinemas 9
BUGS! 3D (NR) --
This latest IMAX offering charts the progression of a praying mantis and a butterfly
in the rain forests of Southeast Asia. Entergy IMAX
DADDY DAY CARE (PG) --
Dot-com bust victim Eddie Murphy tries his hand at a day-care center with his
buddies in this comedy directed by Steve Carr (Dr. Doolittle 2) and co-starring
Anjelica Huston and Louisiana's own Lacey Chabert (The Scoundrel's Wife).
AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Grand, Hollywood
Cinemas 9
THE DANCER UPSTAIRS (R) -- B
John Malkovich directs the screen adaptation of Nicholas Shakespeare's novel of
Latin American revolution. Javier Bardem (Before Night Falls) delivers
a transcendent performance as Agustín Rejas, a policeman set on the trail
of an anonymous Peruvian terrorist known only as Ezequiel. Shakespeare adapts
his own book for the screen, making subtle changes in timbre and motivation (not
to mention plot) hard to fathom. But Bardem's soulfulness and Malkovich's interesting
directorial touch combine for a moving, if not always successful, film. (Carlson)
Canal Place
DOWN WITH LOVE (PG-13) --
A female advice columnist (Renee Zellweger) goes against her better judgment and
falls for a swinging ladies' man (Ewan McGregor) in 1963 Manhattan in this romantic
comedy homage to the three Rock Hudson/Doris Day collaborations of the same era.
Supporting cast includes David Hyde Pierce, Rachel Dratch and former Hudson/Day
co-star Tony Randall. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette,
Grand, Hollywood Cinemas 9
HEAD OF STATE (PG-13) --
Chris Rock goes for the hat trick in writing, directing and starring as a Washington,
D.C., alderman who finds himself replacing the Democratic Party's dead presidential
candidate. Grand
HOLES (PG) --
B+ Adapted from Louis Sachar's prize-winning young adult novel, this Andrew
Davis film about a young teen in a stern Texas reform school mixes three narratives
over a 100-year period into an often magical brew about family, courage and friendship.
Solid performances and a subtle touch are marred only by an ending wrapped too
tightly and neatly. (Barton) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette,
Grand
ICE AGE (PG) -- B+
A woolly mammoth and other Ice Age animals help a human infant get back to his
family in this enjoyable animated film starring the voices of Ray Romano, Denis
Leary, John Leguizamo and others. Kicks off Hollywood Cinemas 9's Summer Kids
Movie Camp Series. (Simmons) 10 a.m. Monday through Friday at Hollywood Cinemas
9
IDENTITY (R) --
Ten Little Indians gets the postmodern treatment in this murder mystery
thriller from director James Mangold, which stars John Cusack, Ray Liotta and
Amanda Peet. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Grand
THE IN-LAWS (PG-13) --
Madcap adventures ensue when CIA spook Michael Douglas and foot doctor Albert
Brooks meet as their children are about to get married in this remake of the 1979
comedy starring Alan Arkin and Peter Falk. Directed by Andrew Fleming and co-starring
Robin Tunney, Ryan Reynolds, Lindsay Sloan and Candice Bergen. AMC Palace 12,
AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Grand, Hollywood Cinemas 9
INTO THE DEEP: 3D -- IMAX dives
deep underwater to explore sea life. Entergy IMAX
LEWIS & CLARK: GREAT JOURNEY WEST (NR) --
The adventures of the famous 19th century explorers hits the very big screen.
Entergy IMAX
THE LIZZIE MCGUIRE MOVIE (PG) --
Movie version of the TV series starring Hilary Duff as a junior high school student
on summer vacation in Italy who falls in love with an Italian pop singer. AMC
Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Grand, Hollywood Cinemas
9
MALIBU'S MOST WANTED (PG-13) --
Jamie Kennedy tries to make it as a white rapper, much to the chagrin of his dad
(Ryan O'Neal), who's running for governor. Co-stars Taye Diggs. Chalmette,
Grand
MATRIX RELOADED (R) --
A The badass Wachowski brothers are back with a sequel that's equal, as
Matrix Reloaded rejoins Neo (Keanu Reeves) on his quest for digital self-fulfillment.
Amazing choreography by Yuen Wo Ping and the ever-ingenious imaginations of the
Wachowskis fuel a film packed with unbelievable action and that now-familiar mystic
sensibility. (Carlson) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20,
Chalmette, Grand, Hollywood Cinemas 9, Prytania
A MIGHTY WIND (PG-13) --
A Christopher Guest's latest mockumentary pokes fun at folk music by staging
a reunion concert. The humor is smart, subtle and so rich you may want to see
it twice to pick up lines and insinuations that flew by you the first time. Co-writer
Eugene Levy gives the best performance of his life as a damaged singer whose best
moments come on stage. (Barton) Canal Place
NUSRATI! LIVE AT MEANY (NR) --
Until his death in 1997, Pakistani singer Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan was for years
the world's great performer of the deeply spiritual Qawwali music that dates back
centuries. Before that, he spent his last years being exposed to Western audiences,
thanks to his collaborations with Peter Gabriel, Michael Brook and Eddie Vedder.
This concert documentary captures him live in performance with his eight-member
"Party" back-up band. 7:30 p.m.Tuesday through Thursday at Zeitgeist
PHONE BOOTH (R) -- B+
Colin Farrell holds this Joel Schumacher-helmed film together as a fast-talking
PR man trapped in a phone booth by an unknown sniper. A weak script and restricted
set make this one a challenge, but Farrell rivets the audience with his considerable
screen prowess. (Carlson) AMC Palace 20, Grand
SPACE STATION (NR) --
A 3-D look at the International Space Station. Entergy IMAX
SPIDER (R) -- B
David Cronenberg's creepy tale of a psychologically damaged man revisiting the
scenes of his childhood achieves the chilling atmosphere it strives for and offers
fine performances by Ralph Fiennes, Miranda Richardson and Gabriel Byrne. For
Cronenberg fans, of which I have never been much of one, this will probably hit
the mark. But he didn't aim for my heart. And I'm afraid I saw the resolution
of his plot from rather too far away. (Barton) (Reviewed in this issue.) Canal
Place
X2: X-MEN UNITED (PG-13) -- D
An overabundance of lead characters and an empty script make this one of the least
interesting comic book movies ever made. Half the cast is embarrassing (Halle
Berry, Famke Janssen, James Marsden); the other half ought to be embarrassed (Ian
McKellen, Hugh Jackman, Alan Cumming). Director Bryan Singer (The Usual Suspects,
X-Men) does next to nothing to bring his characters to life, obviously
only interested in setting up a third installment of the franchise. (Carlson)
AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Grand, Hollywood
Cinemas 9
| AMC Palace 12 734-2020; AMC Palace 16 734-2020; AMC Palace 20 734-2020; Canal Place 581-5400; Chalmette 277-9797; Downtown Joy 522-7575; Entergy IMAX 581-4629; Plaza 245-0102; Prytania 891-2787; Zeitgeist 525-2767
Compiled by David Lee Simmons
Contributors: Rick Barton, Shala Carlson, David Lee Simmons |
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