(207) 594-4401 or (800) 559-4401
Summer at the movies
The Sum Of All Fears (PG-13; 131 min.) This Tom Clancy book-made-film is about preventing nuclear attack in America. Unfortunately, Clancy’s tale seems amateur without the threats of Middle East and terrorist networks we’ve grown sophisticated to since Sept. 11. The story involves a neo-Nazi Austrian billionaire about to set off a nuclear device in a football field. Ben Affleck plays Jack Ryan, good guy/CIA analyst. While the story is engaging (when the big event finally happens), it’s an only fair thriller. Affleck should be applauded for really trying, but he doesn’t have the stuff Harrison Ford had to keep this franchise going. Morgan Freeman as a presidential advisor seems lost in the shuffle and the plot line was confusing.
Undercover Brother (PG-13; 83 min.) Who can the government call on to help when a sinister underground movement threatens to overthrow them? Not Austin Powers, but his “brother” (so to speak). Eddie Griffin stars as Brother, a mack-daddy style spy who trades in his afro, his mojo and his eight-track stereo to go undercover. Griffin gives soul energy to his performance. He’s joined by very white agents Neil Patrick Harris, Chris Kattan and Dave Chappelle, who draft him into their B.R.O.T.H.E.R.H.O.O.D. This film — produced by Brian (“Liar, Liar”; “The Nutty Professor”) Grazer and screenwritten by Michael McCullers (an “Austin Powers” writer — has heightened 1970s coolness. It’s sort of “Shaft” with a funny bone.
Insomnia (R; 115 min.). The halibut fishing capital of Nightmute, Alaska doesn’t get dark — a problem for baggy-eyed, big-shot detective Will Dormer (Al Pacino), who arrives in town to investigate a young woman’s murder and can’t get any sleep. Eager local detective Ellie Burr (Hillary Swank) is wowed by Dormer’s skills. The murderer is a control-freak mystery writer (Robin Williams), who taunts the sleepless detective. Directed by Christopher “Memento” Nolan, “Insomnia” will keep you wide awake, despite some bothersome plot issues.
Enough (PG-13; 115 min.). Jennifer Lopez plays a working-class waitress named Slim who finds her life transformed when she marries a wealthy contractor Mitch (Billy Campbell of TV’s “Once and Again”). When hubby turns into a cheating, control freak maniac — out of nowhere — Slim takes off, with help from her underground gal pal (Juliette Lewis). She puts daughter Gracie in a safe place, then mentally and physically transforms herself, including a new hairdo. Despite its lack of plot logic, this movie will give some a vicarious thrill, while the adventure of the final scenes will keep other viewers from saying “enough, already.”
Spirit: Stallion of The Cimarron (G; 82 min.). There’s nothing more graceful than a horse galloping with flowing mane and, in “Stallion,” this is depicted with fluid perfection. Not since Disney’s “The Lion King” has anyone tackled animals so honestly. DreamWorks offers an original horse tale of a wild and rambunctious mustang stallion journeying through the untamed American frontier. Spirit defies being broken, although he befriends a young Lakota brave named Little Creek. The movie is a departure from the usual kiddie fare, although the story’s branding, bullet injury and inhumane treatment of horses is not depicted on screen. Grownups and children will enjoy this part history lesson, part love story.
Thirteen Conversations About One Thing (rated R, 103 mins.) What could that possibly mean? The story slowly unfolds to introduce lifestyles of everyday people in a city. Each person strives so hard to have their own space and walk down the street without wanting to know one another. Gene (Alan Arkin) a miserable insurance adjuster can’t seem to find the glass half full. Walker (John Turturro) a moody physics professor with his wife Patricia (Amy Irving) are just as miserable. Troy (Matthew McConaughey), a hot shot Assistant District Attorney has the right attitude but falls victim to a bad situation. And, finally, Beatrice (Clea DuVall), a young cleaning woman has a stroke of bad luck. All have one thing in common, asking one question: How do we find happiness? Skillfully and playfully weaving each storyline — kill `em with kindness prevails as the notion of kharma strikes with relevance in our increasingly frenetic, disjointed world. A movie with a strong concerned cast that while entertaining, leaves us with a lesson much like the Dalai Lama advises “want what you have; don’t have what you want. A lot of talk, “Thirteen Conversations” tackles inner issues that make for an entertaining story. Spread the word.
The Lady And The Duke (rated PG-13, 123 mins.) From the autobiography of Grace Elliott, comes the story of a beautiful English woman (Lucy Russell) who lived in Paris during the French Revolution. Her memoirs center on her lover the Duke of Orleans (Jean Claude Dreyfus) trapped in the middle of the bloodshed and guillotining. While the Lady is a Royalist, he is a leading Revolutionary, an activist. Together this Tracy-Hepburn team, tell their story as human inserts on a Paris streetscape chosen by director Eric Rohmer instead of building expensive sets. The illustrations eerily make a surreal effect as though the heartbeat — the people, stand heads and tails above their literal backdrop of a revolution. Managing to feel barely authentic yet really alive the story rolls out slowly, almost losing the audience (as European films sometimes take awhile to kick in) then slowly, steadily builds to a second half where the blood begins to flow both in the hearts and on the screen. Sophisticated and well done for the more acquired palate.
Triumph Of Love (rated PG-13, approx. 105) A princess (Mira Sorvino) is determined to restore her homeland’s throne to its rightful heir, a young prince with whom she falls in love (if it were only that easy). One day a beautiful princess (Sorvino) is walking through the woods when low and behold, she witnesses a beautiful man, Prince Agis (Jay Rodan) bathing in a pond, nude. Determined to win him over she goes to great lengths including seducing Hermoncrates (Ben Kingsley) the great Philosopher at the castle where Prince Agis resides. Hermoncrates is a woman-hater onto her games, or as he says “ won’t expose himself to your dangerous gender”. But it doesn’t stop there. She also poses as a wealthy merchant (man) seducing his sister and enjoys posing as a gay man to get closer to Agis, who seems smitten with her as a male. If this sounds confusing it is. Think “Tootsie” when Hoffman’s character Michael Dorsey plays a man, a woman, a lesbian and a gay man except this is wordy and complex. Sorvino tries to tackle her men and role with much energy and annoying husky-fake male vocals. Overall, this “Dangerous Liaisons” attempt of a period piece seems unnecessary and will send you fleeing from the theater and into the twenty-first century. u