may 17. 2002 * J u s t o u t 45
A bout
a B oy
Chris and Paul Weitz ( American Pie)
directed this adaptation of a novel by Nick
Hornby (High Fidelity) about a spoiled man
(Hugh Grant) who tries to pick up chicks by
posing as a single dad. Sounds like an
episode of Three’s Company, but things get
serious when he meets a troubled kid
(Nicholas Hoult) who turns his life around.
—Jim Radosta
dance here), but instead they come off as a
bunch of arrogant bullies, squatters and
showoffs who are fixated on their glory days.
-JR
^
H ollywood E nding
No surprises here; it’s vintage Woody Allen.
He’s a neurotic New York hypochondriac
whose filmmaking career is essentially over. His
producer ex-wife (the ravishing Tea Leoni)
wants to help him make a comeback with a
new script, but, alas and alack, her new fiancée
(Treat Williams) runs the studio and can’t
stand him. The question is, who could? Tired is
the notion that beautiful young women would
continue to fall for this annoying old man.
Still, he’s hilarious and so is the film.
— Lisa Bradshaw
H uman N ature
About a Boy: It’s not as cheesy as it looks
< & > < C % >
What could’ve been a profound statement
on the human condition ends up being a trite
satire on rigid gender roles— men are homy,
women are needy. Yawn. At least Rhys Ifans
(Hotting Hill) entertains as a wild child forced
to return to civilized society. Ambitious yet
ultimately unsatisfying.
D ogtown and Z-B oys
So, what becomes of all those cute skater
dudes when they grow up? You’ll wish you
never asked. This documentary about the
creators of extreme skateboarding would
have you believe they were revolutionary
pioneers (hyperbole is in annoying abun
-JR
P anic R oom
< C £ >
In the “for what it is” category: For what it
is— an action suspense thriller, basically—
Panic Room is a success. Director David Finch
er (Seven, Fight Club) offers the usual showy,
technophilie camera tricks, and it’s filmed in
his patented
slick, dark
Dank ’n’
Damp<ovision
(which actual- "
ly does befit the
story). We also get
to see Jodie Foster dis
play the fiercest maternal
instincts this side of Linda Hamilton in
Terminator 2: Judgment Day.
— Christopher M cQuain
J
What's popped
f
I
and what's flopped,
In a theater near you.
S pider -M an
After he’s bitten by a mutated spider, Peter
Parker (Tobey Maguire) develops superpowers.
He leams the hard way that with great power
comes great responsibility, and he uses his abili
ties to save lives and battle the evil Green
Goblin. Well acted, spectacular special effects,
a fun plot that stays true to its comic book
roots— what more could movie audiences want
in a summer film?
•
—Andy Mangels
dud, bottom of the bag
<&>
only if you’re really hungry
<jÇi
good effort, pass the salt
£S><&£S><&
mmmm, tasty!
< g i < $ > < g > £ S > < £ ‘ get the big tub o’ com
dark scenes work, and a brooding Hayden
Christensen plays the man who will be
Darth Vader with barely subdued anger.
Plus, less Jar-Jar Binks, and Yoda kicks ass
with his light saber!
— AM
Y T u M ama T ambien
<^(£§><5^yt> S tar W a r s : E pisode II—
A ttack of th e C lones
W hile its title might sound like San Fran
cisco circa 1980, the latest George Lucas
film is anything but gay. A lternating
between dark and depressing scenes and end
less chases, you can alm ost count off the
video game opportunities. Thankfully, the
Using storytelling quirks similar to those
in Amélie, director/co-writer Alfonso Cuaron
somehow achieves the impossible: A teen sex
comedy that actually shows sex. A buddy
movie in which one friendship’s limits truly
are put to the test. A coming-of-age
road trip where the characters arrive //
in a much different place by the end
of their journey. Don’t miss it.
—JR ,
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