Short Subjectives July 11 2001

Opening Wednesday
?FINAL FANTASY: THE SPIRITS WITHIN: *** (PG-13) Unbelievable imagery and kickass action sequences trump trippy-dippy dialogue and arbitrary plotting in this all-CGI adaptation of the popular video role-playing game, the first such film to be brought to the big screen by the game’s creator (in this case, Hironobu Sakaguchi). The eerily convincing digital actors are voiced by the likes of Steve Buscemi, Ming Na, James Woods, and Alec Baldwin, who is ironically much more life-like as a computerized cartoon.--Eddy Von Mueller

Opening friday
?ALL ABOUT ADAM (R) Adam (Stuart Townsend) meets a waitress (Kate Hudson) and then proceeds to seduce her, her two sisters, and even her brother. Also starring A.I.’s Frances O’Connor. Directed by Gerard Stembridge, written for the screen by Gerard Stembridge.

THE CLOSET *** (PG) A meek accountant (Daniel Auteuil) passes himself as gay to keep his job in this conventional but satisfying French comedy. It’s clever in its satire of political correctness and “gaydar,” although it’s very much like the kind of sitcom that voices support of homosexuality without actually dealing with gay people as individuals. Gerard Depardieu’s rugby-obsessed he-man goes to hilarious extremes to prove he’s not a homophobe. --Curt Holman

HIMALAYA (NR) Featuring a cast of mostly non-professionals, the film tells the story of a generational power struggle for the leadership of a tiny mountain village. Its proud old chief and a headstrong young caravanner clash as they make their annual salt delivery trek across the Himalayas. Directed by Eric Valli, the film is spoken in Tibetan with English subtitles. Starring Thilen Lhondup, Gurgon Kyap, and Lhakpa Tsamchoe.

LEGALLY BLONDE (PG-13) Based upon the unreleased novel of the same title by Amanda Brown, a young woman with blonde hair (Reese Witherspoon) is dumped by her boyfriend Warner Huntington III (Matthew Davis) when he goes to Harvard for law school. To show him that she’s more than just good looks, she enrolls at Harvard law school herself, eventually taking on a big murder case in Beverly Hills. Also starring Selma Blair and Ali Larter. Directed by Robert Luketic.

THE SCORE (R) An aging thief (Robert DeNiro) has retired to live off his riches and run a Montreal jazz lounge until he’s blackmailed into doing by a young upstart (Edward Norton) to pilfer a centuries-old scepter. Marlon Brando plays DeNiro’s fence; Angela Bassett plays DeNiro’s girlfriend. Directed by Frank Oz.

Duly Noted
?AMORES PERROS *** 1/2 (2000) (R) A trio of stories set in a dystopian Mexico City revolve around a life-altering car crash in Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu’s gripping first feature more indebted to the indie free-styling of Tarantino than the art film legacy of Bunuel. July 13-19 at GSU’s cinéfest.--Felicia Feaster

BODY HEAT (1981) Ned Racine (William Hurt) is a seedy small town lawyer in Florida. During a searing heat wave, he’s picked up by married Matty Walker (Kathleen Turner). A passionate affair commences but it isn’t long before they realise the only thing standing in their way is Matty’s rich husband Edmund. A plot hatches to kill him — but will they pull it off? Showing at the Summer Sizzles Film Series, July 13 at 8 p.m. in the Atlanta History Center.

CITIZEN KANE (1941) In Orson Welles’ groundbreaking motion picture, multimillionaire newspaper tycoon Charles Foster Kane dies alone in his extravagant mansion, Xanadu, speaking a single word: “Rosebud”. Attempting to figure out the meaning of this word, a reporter tracks down the people who worked and lived with Kane. Their stories reveal much about Kane’s character, but can you sum up a man’s life in a single word? Showing at the Coca-Cola Summer Film Festival at the Fox Theater, July 16 at 8 p.m.

DEAR DIARY (1994) Winner of the Best Director award at the 1994 Cannes Film Festival, Nanni Moretti is one of Italy’s finest comedian-directors, comparable to America’s Woody Allen. Moretti appears as himself in this comedy tinged with anxiety. Italian Summer Festival at the High. July 13 at 8 p.m. in the Woodruff Arts Center, Rich Auditorium.

ON HOSTILE GROUND *** (NR) (2000) Striving to show the human side to the perpetually controversial, hyperbole-dominated issue of abortion, this riveting documentary follows three dedicated, altruistic abortion providers — a Montana physician’s assistant, a NY and a Maryland doctor who still perform the procedure at enormous personal risk.July 13 to July 19 at cinéfest. --FF

THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW (R) The cult classic of cult classics, the 1975 horror spoof follows an all-American couple (Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick) to the castle of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry), a drag-queen/mad scientist from another galaxy. It’s all fun and games until Meatloaf gets killed. Dress as your favorite character and participate in this musical on acid. Fridays at midnight, Lefont Plaza Theatre, 1049 Ponce De Leon Ave, and Saturday at midnight at Blackwell Star Cinema, 3378 Canton Road in Marietta.

Continuing
?A.I.: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE *** (PG-13). Steven Spielberg brings to light a long-developed Stanley Kubrick project about an android boy (Haley Joel Osment) who aspires to be human. Spielberg gives the first act a poetic precision evocative of the late filmmaker’s cerebral style, but subsequent sections uncomfortably blend elements of Pinocchio and Blade Runner, losing some of its pristine storytelling control. --CH

THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY *** 1/2 (R) Jennifer Jason Leigh and Alan Cumming wrote, directed and star in this zeitgeisty psychodrama of a hip Hollywood couple and their high-powered friends. Their evening of celebration turning into an Ecstasy-fueled meltdown where clothes come off, truths get told and everyone undoubtedly wakes up with an ugly “what did I say?” hangover. Though there is plenty of emoting on display, the film often feels like a keyhole glimpse into the reality of life in a Hollywood fishbowl, as well as the more universal anxieties about faithfulness, aging, children and career. — FF

ATLANTIS: THE LOST EMPIRE ** (PG). Disney’s change-of-pace animated adventure includes such cool stuff as flying machines designed like sea creatures and gizmos and plot points inspired by the work of Jules Verne. But the character — make that caricature — animation turns on ethnic stereotypes and uncomfortable exaggerations that heighten the script’s lack of inspiration. --CH

BABY BOY ** (R) Boyz N the Hood director John Singleton returns to his old stomping ground with the story of a 20-year-old African-American (Tyrese Gibson) who refuses to grow up despite being a father of two. Boasting a pertinent theme and the imposing presence of Ving Rhames, Baby Boy suffers from Singleton’s naggingly repetitive script, unpolished performances and contrived violence at the end. --CH

CATS & DOGS ** (PG) Cats rule — or at least that’s the intent of the purring pets on parade in this lackluster family film in which our canine companions seek to stop their feline foes from achieving world domination. “Cat people” will probably boycott this movie - their preferred pets are clearly the villains — but it’s safe to say that many die-hard “dog people” won’t be enamored of this film, either. --Steve Warren

CRAZY/BEAUTIFUL *** (PG-13) Blending typical teen fare of Romeo-and-Juliet-style star-crossed lovers with real insight into crumbling familyvalues and an ennui-adrift middle-class, this teen love story of an ambitious Mexican-American kid (Jay Hernandez) and a self-destructive rich girl (Kirsten Dunst) is more thematically complicated and respectful of its players than the usual bubble-headed teen chow.--FF

THE FAST AND THE FURIOUS ** 1/2 (PG-13). This loud, overblown B-movie about illegal street racing goes nowhere but gets there fast. Director Rob Cohen offers a handful of nail-biting set pieces, particularly the opening race and a climactic truck chase a la The Road Warrior. But though Vin Diesel makes a magnetic lead, Furious is bumper-to-bumper with bad dialogue, poor logic and clichéd characters. — CH

THE GOLDEN BOWL ** 1/2 (R). The Merchant-Ivory filmmaking team has less success with Henry James’ novel than they do with the work of E.M. Forster. Regarding a pair of penniless lovers (Uma Thurman and Jeremy Northam) who marry a wealthy father and daughter (Nick Nolte and Kate Beckinsale), the film’s limited performances and heavy-handed symbolism keeps you from empathizing with the characters. --CH

IMAX Journey Into Amazing Caves (R) *** Nancy Aulenbach of Norcross, a cave rescue specialist, and Dr. Hazel Barton, a British microbiologist, explore caves in Arizona, Greenland and the Yucatan in search of extremophiles, “microbes which thrive in the harshest of conditions.” Through Sept. 3. Ocean Oasis (NR) *** Though indifferently structured, this portrait of the ecology of Baja California and the Sea of Cortes captures undersea life as never before and surfaces briefly to check out the desert and the mountains. With incredible cinematography, even by Imax standards, the images are so sharp you can look tiny fish in the eye and read personalities into their facial expressions! — SW Through Jan. 1, 2002. Fernbank Museum of Natural History IMAX Theater.

KISS OF THE DRAGON (R) ** 1/2. Romeo Must Die’s ass-kicker Jet Li plays a Chinese intelligence officer chased all over Paris by corrupt French cops. The propulsive action scenes reflect the signature style of producer Luc Besson (director of La Femme Nikita), but the brutal treatment of Bridget Fonda’s junkie-ho character can make the film too ugly to be fun. --CH

MOULIN ROUGE **1/2 (PG-13) Romeo + Juliet director Baz Luhrman whips into a fabulous frenzy this stylishly spastic post-modern musical about an impoverished writer (Ewan McGregor) in love with a consumptive courtesan (Nicole Kidman) in a bizarre rock’n’roll version of late 19th century Paris. Dazzling design and dizzying technique more or less compensate for an unsatisfying story and far too many smugly hip in-jokes. And feel free to sing along; 95 percent of the lyrics are lifted from songs you already know.--EVM

POOTIE TANG (PG-13) Adapted from HBO’s “The Chris Rock Show,” Pootie Tang (Lance Crouther) is a crime fighter, recording artist and hero to children. He must battle the evil Dick Lecter, CEO of a huge corporation who tries to get kids to smoke, drink, and eat fast food. Starring Andy Richter as a sleazy record executive, David Cross as a Pootie imitator, and Chris Rock. Directed by Louis C.K.

THE ROAD HOME *** 1/2 (G) His father’s death prompts a narrator to recall the story of his parent’s courtship in a remote Chinese village in this nostalgic, bittersweet film by China’s Zhang Yimou, one of the living masters of color and composition. Crouching Tiger’s Zhang Ziyi plays the young mother-to-be in a simple, poetic story with one gorgeous rural image after another. — CH

SCARY MOVIE 2 *1/2 (R) After a modestly amusing takeoff on The Exorcist, with James Woods, the story proper finds a smarmy professor (Tim Curry) inviting a group of college students to spend a weekend in a haunted house. While there, gay Ray (Shawn Wayans) turns the tables on a demonic clown, pothead Shorty (Marlon Wayans) gets smoked by a monstrous marijuana plant, and dopey Alex (Tori Spelling) gives an invisible entity a blowjob. If all this sounds rather desperate, you don’t know the half of it. — SW

SEXY BEAST *** (R) A stylish debut from video director Jonathan Glazer, in which a gangster (Ray Winstone) whose idyllic retirement in Spain is interrupted when his psychopathic boss (Ben Kingsley) demands he perform one more heist. The film has attitude to burn, though its two poorly fitted acts and smug slavery to flashiness makes it feel more like a pop flash in the pan than enduring filmmaking. — FF

SONGCATCHER Winner of the Ensemble Cast award at the Sundance Film Festival, SongCatcher takes place in the Appalachian mountains of 1907. A musicologist (Janet McTeer) is there to record the Scottish and Irish folksongs that the locals have preserved for generations. Soon, she finds herself getting involved in other ways, including helping them with their struggles with the coal mining companies, and the friend she finds in a local musician (Aidan Quinn). Directed by Maggie Greenwald.