[8] It’s formulaic, overblown and downright preposterous at times, but it’s also everything moviegoers want in a summer action movie. Speed has a tight, rapid-fire script, awesome sound design, a remarkably kinetic score, and surprisingly good acting for a movie of its type. Sandra Bullock gives a sweet, naturalistic performance as a woman stuck driving a bus full of passengers that will explode if it …
[6] For family entertainment, George of the Jungle isn’t too bad. With all the critters and punny humor, it should hold most kids’ interest, but for once I wish a kids’ flick could restrain itself from frequent potty humor. The respectable cast includes Leslie Mann (Mrs. Judd Apatow), charming as always even if she doesn’t have much to sink her teeth into. Thomas Haden Church …
[6] Kenneth Branagh directs and stars in this somewhat faithful adaptation of Shelley’s spectacular novel. While it hits most of the plot points, it doesn’t quite capture the essence of Shelley’s work — that if you tinker irresponsibly with nature (or play God), you’ll reap the whirlwind. This could have been achieved if Branagh gave a more believable performance. He and Helena Bonham Carter are …
[6] Lili Taylor and River Phoenix star in this ‘all in one night’ drama about a marine who participates in a dirty game where men try to win a betting pool by bringing the homeliest woman to a dance. Taylor has a juicy part and makes the most of it. Her character goes from innocently optimistic, to angry, to forlorn, and back again — and …
[7] When two down-on-their-luck brothers inherit an old house valued in the millions, the only thing standing between them and riches is the tiny little mouse that lives there. Nathan Lane and Lee Evans star as the bungling brothers in this somewhat dark family comedy penned by Adam Rifkin (The Dark Backward, Detroit Rock City) and directed by Gore Verbinski (The Ring, Pirates of the …
[6] Natasha Lyonne (American Pie, But I’m a Cheerleader) leads an esteemed ensemble cast in writer/director Tamara Jenkins’ story of a 1970s teenager coming of age on the outskirts of Beverly Hills. The family is struggling to make ends meet, always moving out of apartments before the rent is due. Alan Arkin plays the father, a divorcee with a gambling problem. David Krumholtz plays Lyonne’s …
[5] Hardware is a stylish, low-budget British sci-fi film about a man, a woman, and a deadly robot. It’s hard to shake memories of The Terminator, even though the tone of the piece is quite different. There are some interesting sexual overtones at play. Before the droid goes on the rampage, it watches the human couple (Dylan McDermott and Stacey Travis) making love. Later, when …
[8] Contact is a message-driven movie that may be too esoteric for a lot of mainstream moviegoers. It’s a character-driven drama with only a few moments of your typical blockbuster spectacle — but I applaud the movie for daring to tangle in an exploration of science vs theology. Jodie Foster gives an impassioned performance as Ellie Arroway, an astronomer (and atheist) who discovers a message …
[6] The third Evil Dead film gets a bigger budget and a more traditional plot, but the polish and structure don’t compensate for low-budget invention and madcap inspiration. Bruce Campbell is prime here, delivering a smattering of memorable lines and a few good scenes of physical comedy as a department store employee whisked back in time to 1300 AD where he must battle an army …
[6] A bunch of teenagers rally to save their music store from being taken over by a corporate chain. Empire Records takes place almost entirely inside its namesake and features an ensemble of talented young actors, including Liv Tyler, Robin Tunney, and Renee Zellweger. It’s a good cast all around, but my favorite is Ethan Embry, who exhibits a goofy charm in his asides to …
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