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21 GRAMS (R) --
A- The filmmaking team of director Alejandro Gonzales Inarritu and writer
Guillermo Arriaga (Amores Perros) made this powerfully acted drama
(with Sean Penn, Naomi Watts and Benicio Del Toro) about three people whose lives
become intertwined by either accident or fate. Presented as an achronological
collage, this film puzzles over such religious issues as predestination, redemption
and grace. (Barton) (Reviewed in this issue.) AMC Palace 20, Canal Place
BAD SANTA (R) -- B Director Terry Zwigoff (Ghost World) and
Billy Bob Thornton hammer away at this one-note song of a movie about the world's
most morally corrupt Santa and his larcenous, diminutive partner. (Simmons) AMC
Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20
BIG FISH (PG-13) --
Young man Billy Crudup tries to learn more about his father Albert Finney, played
in flashbacks by Ewan McGregor, in this latest fantasy directed by Tim Burton
and based on Daniel Wallace's novel. Co-stars Jessica Lange, Alison Lohman, Helena
Bonham Carter, Danny DeVito and Steve Buscemi. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace
16, AMC Palace 20, Grand, Hollywood Cinemas 9
CALENDAR GIRLS (PG-13) --
Based on a true story about middle-aged English women who agree to pose nude while
performing various homemaking chores to benefit a cancer hospital, and starring
Helen Mirren and Julie Walters. Directed by Nigel Cole. AMC Palace 16, AMC
Palace 20
CHASING LIBERTY (PG-13) --
Presidential daughter Mandy Moore and boyfriend Matthew Goode break free from
Secret Service agents Jeremy Piven and Anabella Sciorra for a fun-filled trek
across Europe. (Insert Jenna Bush joke here.) Mark Harmon plays the president,
apparently earning an upgrade from the Secret Service agent he played on The
West Wing. Andy Cadiff (who?) directs. A similar film, First Daughter,
is also set for an '04 release. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace
20, Grand, Hollywood Cinemas 9
CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN (PG) --
C- Steve Martin grimaces his way through this updated remake of a 1950
adaptation of a memoir of a turn-of-the-century family. Here, the double-Brady-sized
clan moves to a snobby Chicago suburb while Dad pursues his dream of coaching
in the big leagues. The film finally jumps the shark when Martin calls the plays
while his team rushes a kiddy birthday party. (Tisserand) AMC Palace 12,
AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Grand, Hollywood Cinemas 9
COLD MOUNTAIN (R) -- B
The Weinstein Brothers double-dog dare you to love Anthony Minghella's (The
English Patient) epic take on Charles Frazier's epic novel of a Confederate
soldier leaving battle for the woman he loves. But the Oscar-friendly trio of
Nicole Kidman, Jude Law and Renée "Puffy Face" Zellweger are no match for
John Seale's cinematography or the old-timey music. Brendan Gleeson is a huge
bright spot as the redemptive Stobrod. (Simmons) AMC Palace 12, AMC
Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Canal Place, Grand, Hollywood Cinemas 9
ELF (PG) -- B-
Jon Favreau directs this silly story of a human orphan raised by Santa's elves
who must now find his way (and his biological father) in the big city. Will Ferrell's
big, hilarious heart (and his mustard-color tights) makes the tissue-paper-thin
tale a real charmer. (Carlson) AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20
FLICKER FILM FESTIVAL --
This latest installment in the Flicker series features short films from New Orleans
filmmakers and beyond, including animation, documentary, experimental and narrative
genres. Visit www.ten18.org
for more info. 9 p.m. Friday at The Howlin' Wolf
GOTHIKA (R) --
Halle Berry gets her first solo star billing as a criminal psychologist who suddenly
finds herself the primary suspect in the death of husband Charles S. Dutton. Grand
THE HAUNTED MANSION (PG) --
First, there was Pirates of the Caribbean; now comes another film based
on a Disney theme-park ride with Eddie Murphy as a man protecting his family from
ghosts. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Grand
HONEY (PG-13) --
When her career as a music video choreographer is compromised by her lascivious
mentor, Jessica Alba decides to open up an inner-city dance studio. Co-stars Mekhi
Pfifer and New Orleans' own Li'l Romeo. AMC Palace 16, Grand
HOUSE OF SAND AND FOG (R) -- B
First-time director Vadim Perelman loses his way in adapting Andre Dubus III's
novel about a recovering alcoholic (Jennifer Connelly) who loses her house in
a tax mix-up and tries to get it back from its new owner, a willful Iranian immigrant
(Ben Kingsley). Rarely has real estate been used with such symbolism, but there's
just not that much to appreciate once the fog clears, including Connelly's sleep-walking
and Kingsley's death stares. Shohreh Aghdashloo, as Kingsley's baffled wife, is
the one to watch here. (Simmons) (Reviewed in this issue.) AMC Palace 20, Canal
Place
IN AMERICA (PG-13) -- B+
Jim Sheridan's semi-autobiographical story is about a family of Irish immigrants
trying to find refuge in New York from the crippling grief they feel over the
loss of a son and brother. Strong performances by Paddy Considine and Samantha
Morton as the parents, and particularly by Sarah and Emma Bolger as the grade-school
daughters, assist this picture in transcending an episodic and spottily connected
script. Greater than the sum of its narrative parts, this film is ultimately wise
and affecting. (Barton) AMC Palace 20, Canal Place
THE LAST SAMURAI (R) -- A
Tom Cruise's newfound dramatic dignity provides the steady center of this stunning
epic film directed by Edward Zwick. Cruise's physical transformation from an alcoholic
Civil War veteran to a formidable samurai warrior is Oscar-worthy. Co-star Ken
Watanabe's wise warlord Katsumoto represents a shattering English-speaking debut.
(Carlson) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20
LEWIS AND CLARK: GREAT JOURNEY WEST (NR) --
One way to celebrate the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase (remember that?)
would be to watch this IMAX film starring Kelly Boulware and Sonny Surowiec as
the famed explorers and their early 19th century trek westward. Entergy I
MAX
LIFE AND NOTHING MORE (NR) --
Zeitgeist presents this benefit screening of Abbas Kiarostami's middle film in
a trilogy examining the effects of the 1990 earthquake in Iran. Proceeds from
the donation-required screening will be given to the United Way International's
Iran Earthquake Relief Fund. 8 p.m. Tuesday at Zeitgeist
THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING (PG-13) -- A-
Director Peter Jackson provides a fitting ending to his groundbreaking trilogy.
Overly long and swimming in narrative and thematic deja vu, Return of the King
is nonetheless redeemed by the strength of the LOTR oeuvre as a whole and by its
own many moments of greatness -- the slow spiritual ascension of Aragorn (Viggo
Mortensen) to the throne of Gondor, the genderless courage of Eowyn (Miranda Otto),
the madness of Denethor the Steward (John Noble). (Carlson) AMC Palace 12,
AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Grand, Hollywood Cinemas 9, Prytania
LOST IN TRANSLATION (R) -- A-
Writer-director Sofia Coppola (The Virgin Suicides) continues to establish
herself as a filmmaker with her own voice in my pick for the best movie of 2003.
Coppola explores the relationship between a fading movie star (Bill Murray in
his best performance) and the young wife (Scarlett Johansson) of an L.A. photographer
(Giovanni Ribisi) while in Tokyo. Coppola's ability to resist temptation on several
levels and create space for her actors to play to their strengths are tremendous
assets. Plus, it makes karaoke cool again. (Simmons) AMC Palace 20
LOVE DON'T COST A THING (PG-13) --
Can't Buy Me Love gets the African-American treatment with nerdy Nick Cannon
(Drumline) offering to repair cheerleader Christina Milian's damaged car
if she'll briefly date him to make him look cool. AMC Palace 16, Grand
THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS (R) --
D Disappointing. Dull. Depressing. The utter mediocrity of the final installment
in what was going to be the greatest sci-fi trilogy ever undercuts the brilliance
of all that has come before. The Wachowski brothers' inventiveness and originality
peters out, as they largely forsake both Neo and the Matrix in favor of a narrative
focused almost singularly on the City of Zion. It's like we took the red pill,
and all the good stuff -- even if it wasn't real -- is gone. (Carlson) Entergy
IMAX
MONA LISA SMILE (PG-13) --
Director Mike Newell (Donnie Brasco) offers an alternative to the testosterone
of Master and Commander and The Last Samurai with Julia Roberts
as a Wellesley teacher who in 1953 teaches other women -- including Julia Stiles,
Kirsten Dunst and Maggie Gyllenhaal -- the importance of womanhood, with music
by women playing in the background. Co-stars Juliet Stevenson, Marcia Garden and
some men. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Grand, Hollywood
Cinemas 9
MY BABY'S DADDY (PG-13) --
An African-American (sort of) version of the popular Three Men and a Baby
movie (based on a French film), with Eddie Griffin, Anthony Anderson and Michael
Imperioli learning the baby-raising ropes. Yes, it's January. AMC Palace 16,
AMC Palace 20, Grand, Hollywood Cinemas 9
MYSTERIES OF EGYPT (NR) --
National Geographic meets IMAX in this film about this ancient civilization's
pyramids, tombs, mummies and monarchies, starring Mr. Egypt himself, Omar Sharif.
Entergy IMAX
OCEAN WONDERLAND (NR) --
IMAX takes its cameras to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia and the coral reef
of the Bahamas. Directed by Jean-Jacques Mantello. Entergy IMAX
PAYCHECK (R) --
Director John Woo (Face-Off) adapts a Philip K. Dick short story about
an engineer who loses his memory (don't all Dick characters?) and finds himself
framed by the company he was working with before his mind went blank. Stars Ben
Affleck, Uma Thurman, Aaron Eckhart and Paul Giamatti. AMC Palace 12, AMC
Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Grand, Hollywood Cinemas 9
PETER PAN (PG) --B+
Director P.J. Hogan (Muriel's Wedding) takes the J.M. Barrie tale to new
heights with this psychologically satisfying adaptation and visually lush production
starring Jeremy Sumpter, Rachel Hurd-Wood and Jason Isaacs. But with Tigerlily
in narrative exile and Ludivine Sagnier's Tinker Bell a boring buffoon, the film
misses instant-classic status. (Carlson) (Reviewed in this issue.) AMC Palace
12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Grand, Hollywood Cinemas 9
SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE (PG-13) -- B-
Nancy Meyers (Baby Boom) reunites with Diane Keaton and tosses in Jack
Nicholson for a weak romantic comedy about a cradle-robbing womanizer (Nicholson)
falling in love with a middle-age playwright (Keaton). (Simmons) AMC Palace
12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Grand, Hollywood Cinemas 9
STUCK ON YOU (PG-13) -- B+
The Farrelly Brothers' latest comedy concerns conjoined twins (Matt Damon and
Greg Kinnear) who move to Hollywood when one of the brothers wants to break into
film and television acting. Eschewing their former fondness for gross-out humor,
the Farrellys have made a movie that would appear to be about deformity but is
really about brotherly love. (Barton) AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20
| 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 |
Other Stories This Week in Movies:
Film Review
21 Grams
Peter Pan
House of Sand and Fog
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