Scheduled to Open Friday
ALONE IN THE DARK (PG-13) -- When a detective of various phenomena (Christian Slater) searches for his friend¹s killer, the investigation leads him to a spooky island in this film based on the fourth installment of the popular video-game series. Directed by Uwe Boll and co-starring Stephen Dorff, Tara Reid and Will Sanderson.
HIDE AND SEEK (R) -- Grieving widower Robert De Niro doesn¹t seem to mind that his daughter (Dakota Fanning) is using an imaginary friend to get over the suicide of her mother -- until the friend becomes not so imaginary. Directed by John Polson (Swimfan) and featuring Famke Janssen, Dylan Baker, Amy Irving and Elisabeth Shue.
Now Showing
ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER¹S THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (PG-13) -- C+ It¹s been proven that large-scale Broadway shows can still be turned into spectacular movies: Chicago and Evita dispelled all doubt. Too bad director Joel Schumacher¹s version of the Phantom phenomenon is just a ghost of its stage self. The movie is plagued by poor lighting, weird lip-synch issues, and an overall starved visual imagination, although it does have enough great moments (the rising and, later, crashing chandelier comes to mind) to make it a sentimental favorite. Gerard Butler is an amazing Phantom, arguably the best we have seen to date; Emmy Rossum shines as Christine, although probably not enough to merit that Golden Globe nod. (Carlson) AMC Palace 20, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, Movies 8, Prytania
ARE WE THERE YET? (PG) -- Ice Cube attempts to woo Nia Long by driving her kids to Vancouver, but Philip Daniel Bolden and Aleisha Allen believe that no one is good enough for their mom and plot to make the trip a nightmare in this family comedy. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette 9, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9
ASSAULT ON PRECINCT 13 (R) -- The lines between good and bad blur when besieged cops (led by Ethan Hawke) and precinct inmates join forces on New Year¹s Eve to beat back a group of hitmen trying to rescue a recently arrested crime boss (Laurence Fishburne) in a remake of John Carpenter¹s 1976 thriller. American debut by director Jean-Francois Richet; co-starring Gabriel Byrne, Ja Rule, Maria Bello, Brian Dennehy, John Leguizamo and Drea De Matteo. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Causeway 4, Chalmette 9, Grand, Hollywood Cinemas 9, Movies 8
THE AVIATOR (R) -- A Martin Scorsese¹s biography of Howard Hughes offers an award-worthy lead performance by Leonard DiCaprio in a tale perhaps less interested in factual accuracy than in seeing Hughes as an emblem of American individualism, a brilliant visionary willing to risk a vast personal fortune in pursuit of innovation and excellence, his life a compelling rebuke to an era of insider trading and smug, facile patriotism in the age of Enron and Halliburton. (Barton) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Canal Place, Chalmette, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, Movies 8
BEYOND THE SEA (PG-13) -- C- This muddled, choppy, limp, cliche-riddled biopic of charismatic singer Bobby Darin would be graded even lower if it hadn¹t actually featured Darin¹s songs. Writer, director and star Kevin Spacey, whose odyssey to get this story to the big screen has been well chronicled, fails on almost every level except (maybe) his earnest attempts at singing Darin¹s classics (³Mac the Knife,² ³Beyond the Sea,² ³Dream Lover,² ³Splish Splash²). And even then, you can hear the off-key notes, the lack of a clear vibrato. A supporting cast of Kate Bosworth (as young wife Sandra Dee), John Goodman and Bob Hoskins has very little to do. In a year of biopics, this must be the worst. (Simmons) AMC Palace 20, Chalmette
BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS (R) -- B- Stephen Fry¹s adaptation of Evelyn Waugh¹s novel Vile Bodies is a scathing look at irresponsible hedonism among the British elite in the 1930s. The film is fitfully funny and Anglophiles or fans of the book may relish what Fry has rendered. But most American moviegoers will find the humor too arch and the characters too irresponsible to be worth wasting time on. (Barton) Chalmette
CLOSER (R) -- A Adapted from Patrick Marber¹s play, Mike Nichols¹ film examines the emotional and sexual entanglements of four young people in contemporary London. Searingly brave performances by Natalie Portman, Julia Roberts, Jude Law and Clive Owen make this picture particularly memorable. Its theme that many people use ³love² as a defense for self-indulgence rings sadly true. (Barton) AMC Palace 12, Causeway 4
COACH CARTER (PG-13) -- Samuel L. Jackson stars as the real-life high school boys basketball coach Ken Carter who, in 1999, received national attention for benching every member of his undefeated team for bad grades. Directed by Thomas Carter (Save the Last Dance) and co-starring Ashanti. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette 9, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9
CRIMSON GOLD (NR) -- Award-winning Iranian director Jafar Panahi directed this film about everyday people who are tested simply by the intricacies of daily life. Based on a true story. 7:30 p.m. daily through Thursday (except Monday, Jan. 24) at Zeitgeist
DARKNESS (PG-13) -- Teen Anna Paquin and her family realize the dream cottage they have moved into is haunted in this thriller written and directed by Jaume Balaguero and co-starring Lena Olin and Giancarlo Giannini. AMC Palace 20, Grand
ELEKTRA (PG-13) -- B+ This film should be a disaster, but it¹s actually one of the most surprisingly successful comic-book movies to date, reminiscent of 1990¹s Darkman in its fidelity to form and feel. Alias¹ Jennifer Garner reprises her Daredevil role as the scarlet-clad, ass-kicking assassin in a simply told, efficient tale that seems straight off the page. Director Rob Bowman (X-Files) and screenwriters Zak Penn (X2), Stuart Zicherman and Raven Metzner adhere to the inherent discipline of the comic-book dynamic: its spare dialogue, economy of story, fleet rhythms and visual constructs. The result is a three-dimensional experience of a previously two-dimensional world, a cavalcade of perfectly framed snapshots that are a Marvel to behold. (Carlson) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette 9, Grand, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9
FAT ALBERT (PG) -- TV series creator Bill Cosby makes his feature screenwriting debut and Joel Zwick (My Big Fat Greek Wedding) directs a cast of unknowns in this live-action version of Cosby¹s cartoon show about inner-city youths who learn life¹s lessons through voiceovers. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette 9, Grand, Holiday 12
FINDING NEVERLAND (PG) -- A- Marc Foster (Monster¹s Ball) directs Johnny Depp as author and playwright J.M. Barrie in this lovely little movie which documents the origins of the Scotsman¹s most enduring work, Peter Pan. A bighearted, imaginative film from Foster, Neverland is sure to be a classic, especially among those who never want to grow up. (Carlson) Chalmette, Holiday 12
FLIGHT OF THE PHOENIX (PG-13) -- A plane carrying laid-off oil workers back from a rig to Beijing crash-lands in the Gobi Desert, and the survivors struggle with the elements and themselves to rebuild the plane in this remake of a 1965 film based on Elleston Trevor¹s novel. Plane-happy John Moore (Behind Enemy Lines) directs Dennis Quaid, Tyrese Gibson, Giovanni Ribisi and Amanda Otto. AMC Palace 12, Movies 8
FORCES OF NATURE (NR) -- George Casey¹s documentary about the study of such natural phenomena as earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes. Directed by Kevin Bacon. Kenner MegaDome
HOTEL RWANDA (PG-13) -- A- Don Cheadle delivers a well-deserved Golden Globe-nominated performance in one of the year¹s best films, a fact-based story about how a Hutu hotel manager (Cheadle) helped save 1,200 lives during the Hutus¹ genocidal massacre of 700,000 Tutsis and their Hutu sympathizers in a short period of time in 1994. Director Terry George, who previously scripted In the Name of the Father and The Boxer, conveys the violence and horror with deceptively subtle camera work; Cheadle¹s face does much of the heavy lifting, and he does so with typical panache. (Simmons) AMC Palace 20
HOUSE OF FLYING DAGGERS (PG-13) -- Zhang Yimou¹s follow-up to the luscious and layered Hero tells the story about a blind dancer (Zhang Ziyi, of Hero and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) who becomes a pawn in a struggle between corrupt cops and rebels in ninth century China. AMC Palace 16, Grand, Hollywood Cinemas 9
IN GOOD COMPANY (PG-13) -- B Paul Weitz makes his solo directorial debut in this story of an unlikely connection between a whiz-kid business executive (Topher Grace) and the middle-aged man (Dennis Quaid) he¹s hired to replace. Not everything works, particularly a romance between the young man and the older one¹s daughter (Scarlett Johansson). But at its best, the picture promotes a hope for the human condition that proceeds from treating others with respect. (Barton) (Reviewed in this issue) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Holiday 12
THE INCREDIBLES (PG) -- A- Director Brad Bird follows up his animated mini-masterpiece Iron Giant with a CGI mini-masterpiece that depicts a family of superheroes trying to conceal their powers in a witness protection program. Like the best old Marvel comics (especially The Fantastic Four), the film succeeds by combining clever action sequences with fresh humor and honest character development. (Tisserand) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20
INTO THE DEEP (NR) -- IMAX cameras take a journey through the undersea world. Entergy IMAX
LEMONY SNICKET¹S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS (PG) -- B The wildly popular children¹s book series comes rather awkwardly to the big screen, with this debut based on the first three novellas about three young orphans who get bounced from household to household, searching for a permanent home (including the devious Count Olaf¹s, played by Jim Carrey). Director Brad Silberling works wonders with the moody cinematography and art direction, but clunky editing and a mixed bag of performances from his ensemble cast make this an only partially entertaining work. Daniel Handler adapts from his own material. That cast features Jude Law, Meryl Streep, Jennifer Coolidge, Cedric the Entertainer, Catherine O¹Hara, Timothy Spall, Emily Browning, Billy Connolly and Jane Adams. (Simmons) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Holiday 12, Movies 8
THE LIFE AQUATIC WITH STEVE ZISSOU (R) -- B+ Director Wes Anderson (The Royal Tenenbaums) continues to develop and expand his skills while not necessarily making a better film than his previous work in this ³comedic sea adventure² about a fading, Cousteau-like oceanographer (Bill Murray) and his wacky crew out to recapture their past filmmaking glory while dealing with myriad problems. Anderson, like his film¹s heroes, might be over-reaching a little in this effort, but you cannot help but enjoy his trademark wit, quirky ensemble characters (maybe too many characters this time) and visual underwater splendor, courtesy of award-winning animator Henry Selic. Co-stars Owen Wilson, Cate Blanchett, Anjelica Huston, Willem Dafoe and Bud Cort. (Simmons) AMC Palace 12, Causeway 4, Canal Place, Movies 8
THE LIVING SEA (NR) -- Entergy IMAX¹s premiere film returns, with a look at aquatic life, narrated by Meryl Streep. Oscar-nominated for Best Documentary Short. Entergy IMAX
MEET THE FOCKERS (PG-13) -- Jack (Robert De Niro) and Dina Byrnes (Blythe Danner) meet the parents (Dustin Hoffman, Barbra Streisand) of Greg Focker (Ben Stiller) after Greg marries their daughter (Teri Polo) in this sequel to the 2000 hit comedy, Meet the Parents. Jay Roach returns to direct. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette 9, Holiday 12, Hollywood Cinemas 9, Movies 8
NATIONAL TREASURE (PG) -- C+ Action-flick producer Jerry Bruckheimer¹s latest stars Nicolas Cage as a man who believes the Founding Fathers hid a vast treasure from the British and planted clues to its whereabouts on our currency and in invisible ink on The Declaration of Independence. Filled with stock chases, the picture is preposterously but cleverly enough plotted for brainless diversion, but it doesn¹t send you because Cage doesn¹t dare to take his character to the lunatic fringe. (Barton) AMC Palace 20, Movies 8
OCEAN WONDERLAND 3D (NR) -- The Great Barrier Reef and the Bahamas are explored, with a focus on the diversity of marine and coral life, in this film using new HD digital 3D 1570 cameras. Entergy IMAX
OCEAN¹S TWELVE (PG-13) -- C- Steven Soderbergh and his buddy-buddy cast -- including George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Julia Roberts and Catherine Zeta-Jones, with cameos from Bruce Willis and Albert Finney -- among others, wink and grin through this crime flick with a script that would be lucky to get a passing grade in a screenwriting class. I have little doubt that this inside joke of a flick was a lot more fun to make than to watch. (Barton) AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Movies 8
RACING STRIPES (PG) -- An abandoned young zebra named Stripes (voice of Frankie Muniz) is rescued by a horse (Bruce Greenwood) and raised on a Kentucky farm with dreams of racing in the Kentucky Derby. Directed by Frederik Du Chau (Quest for Camelot) and starring Bruce Greenwood, with voices provided by Michael Clarke Duncan, Dustin Hoffman, Mandy Moore, Joe Pantoliano and Patrick Stewart. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Chalmette 9, Grand, Hollywood Cinemas 9, Holiday 12
SHARKS 3D (NR) -- Jean-Michel Cousteau presents this underwater, 3D look at such famous sharks as the Great White and the Hammerhead. Entergy IMAX
SIDEWAYS (R) -- B+ Sideways, like Alexander Payne¹s earlier works Election and About Schmidt, is a witty and delightful comedy with more than its share of drama. The loserly Miles (Paul Giamatti) and his aging TV star friend Jack (Thomas Haden Church) take a bachelor-party tour through wine country, in which the fruit of the grape serves as a not-always-subtle metaphor for life. Giamatti does his work well (he just might garner an overdue Oscar nod), and his chemistry with Church is a pure comic delight. Weak character development on Payne¹s part, however, makes you wonder why waitress Virginia Madsen would fall for a guy like Miles. (Simmons) Canal Place, AMC Palace 20
UNDER THE SKIN OF THE CITY (NR) -- Iranian filmmaker Rakhshan Bani-etemad looks at the life of a family of five living in cramped quarters in a large inner city. 9:30 p.m. daily through Thursday (except Monday, Jan. 24) at Zeitgeist
VOLCANOES OF THE DEEP SEA -- Actor Ed Harris narrates this look at life 12,000 feet below sea level, including the strange creatures that thrive near underwater volcanoes. Entergy IMAX
WHAT THE #$*! DO WE KNOW? (NR) -- C This ³documentary² is one part primer about quantum physics, one part rumination about how God perhaps works through sub-atomic particles (which are certainly curious stuff) and one-part narrative about an unhappy photographer (Marlee Matlin) who needs an attitude adjustment. Too much talk; too little light. (Barton) Causeway 4
WHITE NOISE (R) -- Widower Michael Keaton believes his recently deceased wife is trying reach him from the Great Beyond in this thriller directed by Geoffrey Sax and co-starring Chandra West, Deborah Kara Unger and Ian McNeice. AMC Palace 12, AMC Palace 16, AMC Palace 20, Grand, Hollywood Cinemas 9
THE WOODSMAN (R) -- B Kevin Bacon serves up a complex portrayal of a pedophile in this affecting but uneven drama co-written and directed by Nicole Kassell and based on Steven Fechter¹s stage play. Bacon constantly keeps the viewer waffling between sympathy and disgust, but is at times constrained by Kassell¹s penchant for obvious symbolism, unnecessarily visual technique and some loose narrative threads. Perhaps more important than good, The Woodsman ultimately offers something to think about. (Simmons) (Reviewed in this issue.) Canal Place
AMC Palace 12 734-2020; AMC Palace 16 734-2020; AMC Palace 20 734-2020; Canal Place 363-1117; Causeway 4 (985) 626-9853; Chalmette 9 277-9766; Entergy IMAX 581-4629; Grand 240-4100; Holiday 12 (985) 893-5444; Hollywood Cinemas 9 464-0990; Kenner MegaDome 468-7231; Movies 8 (985) 641-2110; North Shore Square (985) 847-1418; Prytania 891-2787; Zeitgeist 525-2767
Contributors: Rick Barton, Shala Carlson, David Lee Simmons, Michael Tisserand Compiled by David Lee Simmons
