Archive for October, 2004

The Bourne Supremacy

With its breakneck, in-your-face guerilla photography and constant undercurrent of unbearable suspense, The Bourne Supremacy expands and improves on 2002’s The Bourne Identity, a smartly engineered film that single-handedly breathed life into an anemic genre: the spy thriller. Read the rest of this entry »

Confessions of a Dangerous Mind

Most people only know Chuck Barris as the host of the game show freak parade “The Gong Show,” even though his career includes being a producer (The Newlywed Game, The Dating Game) and song writer (Palisades Park). Oh yeah, and hit man for the CIA. Read the rest of this entry »

Cookie’s Fortune

Holly Springs, Mississippi is one of those quaint, quiet antebellum towns where everyone knows everyone else’s business. It’s a rare little corner of the world where racism and the pace of the big city never raise their ugly heads. Read the rest of this entry »

Scary Movie 4

For the moment, in the moment, Scary Movie 4 is pretty funny. Even though most of the jokes and barrage of physical gags lack the glue to make them stick, there’s plenty of rib-poking. These films are seldom smart, more the class clown than the valedictorian, but the jokes and references come at you so fast and furious there’s little time for an I.Q. test. Read the rest of this entry »

The Manchurian Candidate

With the Cold War over, a remake of The Manchurian Candidate should receive a chilly reception, yet director Jonathan Demme heats up the screen with a premise that is just as relevant and just as intense. Now the enemy comes from within, a global corporation who literally runs the world, intent on maintaining their grasp on everyone and everything. Read the rest of this entry »

Sphere DVD

Actor Dustin Hoffman and director Barry Levinson recently teamed up for two movies. One was the exceptional black comedy “Wag the Dog.” The other was the water-logged undersea thriller “Sphere.” “Sphere” the film is an exasperating experience. Read the rest of this entry »

Finding Nemo

Generally speaking, with the exception of “The Incredible Mr. Limpet” and those battery- operated singing bass wall plaques, fish are not funny. Maybe it’s because they spend so much time in school. Or maybe it’s because we just don’t understand fish humor. Read the rest of this entry »

City of Angels

When Hollywood needs a miracle, they turn towards the Heavens. How else do you explain Hollywood’s fascination with and audience’s acceptance of films about Angels? Maybe it’s because they’re eternal. Maybe it’s because Hollywood can reinvent the same film and make lightning strike twice. “Here Comes Mr. Jordan” becomes “Heaven Can Wait.” Read the rest of this entry »

A Cinderella Story

People who wear glass slippers shouldn’t go around kicking the crap out of fairytales. Take “A Cinderella Story.” No, please, take it. Take it far, far away, to a magical land where filmmakers believe fourteen year old girls are still looking for Prince Charming and Happily Ever After. Innocuous to the point of becoming irritating, “A Cinderella Story” updates the classic fairytale to present day San Fernando Valley, and the only happy ending is when the final credits roll across the screen. Read the rest of this entry »

Serial Mom

On the surface, Beverly Sutphin (Kathleen Turner) is your typical suburban housewife and loving mom. She keeps the floors and windows clean, and has dinner on the table every night at exactly the same time. She’s pleasant and polite, and always has a smile ready to greet her guests. Read the rest of this entry »