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Scheduled to Open Wednesday
JOHNSON FAMILY VACATION (PG-13) --
Cedric the Entertainer tries to lead his family in a trip to a family reunion in this comedy co-starring Vanessa Williams, Steve Harvey and Shannon Elizabeth.
Scheduled to Open Friday
THE ALAMO (PG-13) --
The legendary siege of the San Antonio, Texas, mission, immortalized in the 1960 film directed and starring John Wayne, returns to the big screen. Directed by John Lee Hancock and starring Dennis Quaid, Jason Patrick, Billy Bob Thornton and Marc Blucas.
ELLA ENCHANTING (PG) --
Anne Hathaway (The Princess Diaries) learns that a gift from a fairy feels more like a curse in this fantasy film directed by Tommy O&185;Haver and co-starring Cary Elwes, Hugh Dancy, Minnie Driver, Joanna Lumley and Patrick Bergin.
DROWNING BY NUMBERS (R) --
Three women from successive generations, all bearing the same name, drown their husbands with the help from an idiosyncratic coroner in this film from Peter Greenaway and starring Joan Plowright, Juliet Stevenson, Joely Richardson and Bernard Hill. 5 p.m. Sunday, April 11, at the Bridge Lounge
THE GIRL NEXT DOOR (R) --
High school senior Emile Hirsch falls in love with his slightly older next-door neighbor (Elisha Cuthbert), who just happens to be a former porn star. Not to be confused with a 1999 documentary of the same title about real-life porn star Stacy Valentine. Co-stars Timothy Olyphant.
THE WHOLE TEN YARDS (PG-13) --
Bruce Willis and Matthew Perry reunite in this sequel to the modest 2000 hit, The Whole Nine Yards. This time, Oz (Perry) tries to coax hitman Jimmy (Willis) out of retirement to rescue Oz&185;s kidnapped wife (Natasha Henstridge), Jimmy&185;s ex-wife. Co-stars Amanda Peet.
Now Showing
50 FIRST DATES (PG-130 --
Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore (The Wedding Singer) reunite as a young man and woman who fall in love despite her short-term memory loss in this romantic comedy directed by Peter Segal. Co-stars Rob Schneider. Causeway Cinema, Movies 8
AGENT CODY BANKS: DESTINATION LONDON (PG) --
That precocious Frankie Muniz is back as the precocious CIA agent, this time heading off to London for an assignment that does not include Hilary Duff but former S. Club sensation Hannah Spearritt. Causeway Cinema
BARBERSHOP 2: BACK IN BUSINESS (PG-13) --
Tim Story is out and Kevin Rodney Sullivan is in as director, but the cast returns and is joined by Queen Latifah (in anticipation of her spin-off movie Beauty Shop) in this film about haircutters discussing everything from race to relationships. AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Grand
THE COMPANY (PG-13) -- B-
Robert Altman abandons some of his strengths in presenting this semi-documentary look at a season in the prestigious Joffrey Ballet. Plotless and almost completely devoid of character development, The Company makes some rather obvious observations (the life of a dancer is rough) and skirts around others (weight control, homosexuality, sexual politics). But the dance sequences are breathtaking in their simplicity, and some subtle details seep into the story. Stars Malcolm McDowell (as an Italian-American?) and Neve Campbell. (Simmons) Canal Place
DAWN OF THE DEAD (R) --
Ving Rhames, Sarah Polley and Mekhi Phifer lead an ensemble cast working with first-time feature-film director Zack Snyder in remaking the first of George A. Romero&185;s trilogy about zombies. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Grand, Hollywood 9, Holiday 12, North Shore Square
ELEPHANT (R) -- B+
Gus Van Sant&185;s nuanced response to the 1999 Columbine High School shootings won the Palme d&185;Or (best picture) and Best Director prizes at last year&185;s Cannes Film Festival, and deservedly so. Using an objective camera, Van Sant presents a film that is both elliptical and telling all at once, a mood piece on how abnormal behavior (youth violence in this case) can spring from such apparently normal surroundings. Sponsored by the New Orleans Film Festival. (Simmons) (Reviewed in this issue.) 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Prytania
ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND (R) -- A
Michel Gondry directed this typically wild and brilliant Charlie Kaufman script about young lovers who become angry with each other and contract with a neuroscience firm to have all memories of each other erased from their minds. Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey are very fine in the leading roles. The picture is intriguing, wise, and emotionally satisfying. (Barton) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 20, Canal Place, Causeway Cinema
THE FOG OF WAR (PG-13) -- A
Master documentarian Errol Morris won the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature for this typically arresting illustrated interview with Robert McNamara. It is an account of a brilliant man&185;s stubborn (and not necessarily successful) search for redemption. As we find ourselves involved in another war not so easy to be done with, all Americans should watch and learn the lessons of this film. (Barton) Canal Place
HELLBOY (PG-13) --
The Dark Horse comic superhero, a former child of Satan turned paranormal investigator, comes to the big screen in the form of veteran character actor Ron Perelman in this film directed by Guillermo Del Toro. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, Movies 8
HIDALGO (PG-13) --
Viggo Mortensen takes his testosterone act from LOTR land to 1890s Saudi Arabia in this fact-based story of a Pony Express rider who enters a dangerous desert race with a huge prize at stake. Omar Sharif, who knows a little something about the desert, co-stars. AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Holiday 12, Movies 8, Prytania
HOME ON THE RANGE (PG) --
A herd of cows joins forces to come to the rescue of a ranch in the Wild West in this latest animated flick from Disney (still reeling from losing Pixar a few months ago). Featuring the voices of Roseanne, Steve Buscemi, Cuba Gooding Jr., Judi Dench, Jennifer Tilly and Randy Quaid. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, North Shore Square
THE LADYKILLERS (R) --
The Coen Brothers return with this remake of the 1955 British comedy, this time starring Tom Hanks as the ringleader of a gang bent on using a boarding house as the springboard for an upcoming heist. Co-stars Marlon Wayans and J.K. Simmons. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Canal Place, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, Movies 8
MONSIEUR IBRAHIM (R) -- B+
Francois Dupeyron&185;s gentle story about a 14-year-old Jewish boy (Pierre Boulanger) and the aged Muslim grocer (Omar Sharif) who becomes his surrogate father and friend exudes such a compelling sweetness of spirit we can&185;t help but reflect on how our world has gone so wrong in the four decades since its setting. (Barton) (Reviewed in this issue.) Canal Place
MYSTERIES OF EGYPT (NR) --
National Geographic meets IMAX in this film about this ancient civilization&185;s pyramids, tombs, mummies and monarchies, starring Mr. Egypt himself, Omar Sharif. Entergy IMAX
NASCAR 3-D: THE IMAX EXPERIENCE (PG) --
The IMAX cameras go deep inside the race cars and race tracks of NASCAR land. Entergy IMAX
NEVER DIE ALONE (R) --
Rapper DMX stars as a hoodlum who tries to go straight in his hometown, which has been ripped by the violence he helped create. Directed by Ernest Dickerson. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, Movies 8
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
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST (R) -- A
A picture-poem that shouts over the storm of its own controversy. Director Mel Gibson brilliantly retells the greatest story ever told, focusing on the violent final hours of Jesus&185; life on Earth. A well-structured script and searing performances from leads Jim Caviezel and Maia Morgenstern power this unforgettable film. While a high level of blood and gore is sustained for nearly the entire film, Gibson uses the violence as a door, not a wall, creating a profound religious statement and startlingly well-made movie. (Carlson) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, North Shore Square
THE PRINCE AND ME (PG) --
College student Julia Stiles falls for classmate Luke Mably -- who also happens to be the prince of Denmark hanging out on the down low until assuming his duties -- in this romantic comedy from Martha Coolidge of Valley Girl fame (a long, long time ago). AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, Movies 8
RIVERS AND TIDES: ANDY GOLDSWORTHY WORKING WITH TIME (NR) --
Thomas Riedelsheimer&185;s critically acclaimed documentary of British environmental artist Andy Goldsworthy returns for a whopping fifth screening. 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Prytania
SCOOBY-DOO 2: MONSTERS UNLEASHED (PG) --
Freddie Prinze, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Matthew Lillard, Linda Cardellini and the computer-generated dog of the title return in this sequel to the 2002 hit. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, North Shore Square
SECRET WINDOW (R) -- B
Once again making much more of material than the material truly deserves, Johnny Depp plays a recently divorced, newly reclusive writer confronted by a violent man (John Turturro) accusing him of plagiarism. The see-it-coming-a-mile-away plot benefits immensely from a few genuinely creepy scenes (thanks to director David Koepp) and Depp&185;s divinely off-kilter sense of humor. It&185;s not the best thing from the pen of Stephen King, but represents another installment in his messed-up fascination with the habits and psychology of the writer. And it&185;s an interesting -- and twisted -- way to while away a few hours. (Carlson) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Holiday 12
STARSKY AND HUTCH (PG-13) --
Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson (Zoolander) reunite, this time as the popular &185;70s TV cop duo in this comedy co-starring Mr. Shizzle himself, Snoop Dogg. Bad news: Stiller and Wilson didn&185;t co-write the script, which appears to have had more than a few hands placed on it. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Causeway Cinema
TAKING LIVES (R) --
Salton Sea director D.J. Caruso adapts Michael Pye&185;s novel about an FBI agent (Angelina Jolie) sent to Canada to investigate a serial killer who assumes the identity of his victims. Co-stars Ethan Hawke, Jean-Hugues Anglade, Olivier Martinez, Gena Rowlands and Kiefer Sutherland. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Causeway Cinema, Movies 8
WALKING TALL (PG-13) --
Small-town guy The Rock returns to his hometown to take over the family business only to find his town overrun by bad guys in what could politely be called a sort-of remake of the classic 1973 film starring Joe Don Baker. (That film was based on the life of Tennessee sheriff Buford Pusser; this one not so much.) Co-starring no one in particular. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, North Shore Square
YOU GOT SERVED (PG-3) --
Two street dancers experience a personal rift just as they&185;re about to enjoy huge success in this comedy starring Marques Houston and Omarion and directed by Chris Stokes. Grand
| 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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Film Review
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